Chương 127: Toward the Battlefield

"Heh, let us see your strength, boy."

"Did they really defeat the Monster Rex, or was that just bragging?"

"Try not to embarrass yourselves too badly."

"I want to see these people suffer a little."

"You people are sly, Hestia Familia."

"Apollo Familia is in trouble."

"What are you talking about? Apollo Familia is obviously stronger."

"Hahaha, idiot." On the road, adventurers who had come to watch the spectacle talked among themselves. Some even called out to Cael's group. Cael smiled faintly. Some people knew their strength. Quite a few adventurers had witnessed the Monster Rex battle. But something that unbelievable was hard to accept when retold.

"We are more famous than I thought," Tengen said, folding his arms as if he enjoyed the attention.

"I am starting to look forward to warming up against our opponents."

"So many people! So many people!" Inosuke would have jumped off the carriage if Tanjiro had not held him back.

"I am nervous," Tanjiro said.

"A War Game against another Familia, and I heard everyone will be watching. If we perform badly..." Beside him, Zenitsu snored with a round bump on his head. Tanjiro remembered Cael walking over with an unusually gentle smile and chopping Zenitsu on the head with one hand. His mouth twitched.

"Good luck, adventurers. Please win." A sweet-looking girl with short gray hair waved to Cael and the others. She wore the uniform of the Hostess of Fertility.

"..." Cael's expression stiffened, and his gaze drifted away. So she had already come in that guise. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Syr Flova appeared to be the niece of Mia, owner of the Hostess of Fertility. In truth, she was Freya's other identity, used to enjoy life and search for humans with beautiful souls. It made sense. Mia had once been the Lv. 6 captain of Freya Familia.

"If Freya sends me something later, should I accept it or not?" Cael wondered.

"If I accept, she will definitely cling harder and bring endless trouble. But refusing also brings trouble." He did not have long to think before the carriage left Orario's residential district.

"Meow, meow. That little witch is very active today," Anya whispered to the elf beside her while wearing the same tavern uniform.

"She even went to greet those boys first. My instincts say there is a plot, meow."

"Anya, gossiping behind someone's back is impolite," the elf said seriously. Her voice alone revealed a stubborn temperament.

"If Syr heard you, she would be hurt."

"Fine, fine. Ryuu always lectures me. So boring." Anya covered her ears with both hands, then blinked.

"By the way, that boy Syr greeted looked familiar. Have we met him before? We see too many people every day, so someone I only met once is hard to remember."

"I remember, Anya," another cat-eared waitress said with a sly grin.

"That boy came to eat here with Goddess Hestia before. You acted as if you wanted him to pat your head, and you said stroking your tail would probably feel good." She grabbed Anya's tail from behind.

"Ah! My tail, meow!" Syr's clear eyes reflected shifting colors as she watched the carriage leave. All of them carried soul light. The brightness differed, but every one of them had the potential to become a hero. Why? Why were all of Hestia's children young heroes? Why had Freya not found them first? Jealousy nearly swallowed her. Soon, noon arrived. The sun hung high overhead, and Cael's group reached the War Game site.

The place was an uninhabited area outside Orario's busy districts, near the outer side of Adventurers Way. It had been built specifically for large-scale War Games. Usually, the small city was empty. Now armed "soldiers" patrolled the walls every few dozen steps. Outside the city was a field of scattered rocks, useful for hiding.

"At full speed, we can run up those walls," Cael said to the Hashira.

"But doing that while being attacked by soldiers on the walls will not be easy. So we feint from three directions and wait for the right moment." His eyes flashed.

"Also, Tengen prepared his newest gunpowder. It should be extremely flashy. Flashy enough to put a lot of people to sleep."

"I will go to the east gate," Kyojuro said.

"Then I will take the south gate," Sanemi said.

"I take the west," Tengen said with a grin.

"I will lead Shinobu, Obanai, Mitsuri, and the three younger ones against the north gate. We gradually draw most of their fire. Lili will find a chance to open a gate. Once that happens, we seize it quickly and break through. When we reach their general, we win." Cael projected two swords and stared at the small city, waiting for the gods to announce the start.

"Understood," Kyojuro said brightly.

"Then let us meet inside the city." At the same time, in the central plaza of Orario's residential district, a giant elephant-headed statue stood proudly. Large words beside it read: I AM GANESHA. The plaza was packed. Everyone discussed the "festival" witnessed by the gods.

"After several years, Orario finally has another War Game!" shouted a muscular man wearing a mask as he jumped onto the stage.

"Ganesha Familia will provide live commentary. I go by Flame Blazing Flame, and I will be your host today. Our main commentator will be the patron god of Ganesha Familia, Lord Ganesha!"

"I am Ganesha!"