Chương 135: Apollo's Exile

"Aaaah!" Apollo fell backward onto the floor. His earlier elegance had vanished completely. His face was pale and green, and his runny nose made him look ridiculous.

"W-wait, Hestia. I was only joking with you. Your children were too adorable, and I lost control for a moment..." The gods, who loved entertainment above all else, watched Apollo's misery with great interest. A chance to trip up a fellow god did not come often.

"That will not do, Apollo. Where did your confidence go?"

"Exactly. Do not be afraid, Apollo. Face your fear like a man."

"Show some backbone!" Apollo was furious at their teasing, but Hestia was already closing in step by step, and fear quickly swallowed his anger.

"Apollo, shut up. You said you would obey any demand if I won, correct? Hehehe..." Hestia looked at Apollo as he trembled like a cornered hamster.

"I will not ask for too much. I will simply use what you said earlier."

"No, no, no..." Apollo clutched his head.

"Apollo, all of your property is confiscated. Your Familia is dissolved. You are exiled from Orario forever, and you are never allowed to descend again." Hestia pointed at him with the merciless dignity of a victorious goddess.

"Nooooo!" Apollo screamed in despair. Under the gods' witness, the War Game between Hestia Familia and Apollo Familia ended in Hestia Familia's complete victory. Across Orario, people continued discussing the result with lingering excitement. At that moment, a white pillar of light rose from the top of Babel and shot into the sky.

"A god's return?"

"Apollo Familia's god was sent back to Heaven?"

"That is what happens after losing a War Game. If the Familia is dissolved, the god can be forced to return."

"He might be the first god sent back this year." Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The people of Orario looked up at the pillar of light. They were used to such sights. Every year, gods descended from Heaven, and every year, some returned. At the War Game site, Cael watched the fight end as the Hashira gathered around him.

"Everyone, let us go back. Lady Goddess must be desperate to see us." No one had suffered serious injuries. Aside from the three younger members' dirty clothes, the others barely looked ruffled. That was natural. Though the Hashira were only Lv. 2, their true combat power was Lv. 3-class, and some of them were closer to the middle of Lv. 3. Hyakinthos was also Lv. 3, but only at the lower end.

"Honestly, I thought we would get a real fight," Tengen said with his arms behind his head. He looked dissatisfied.

"This was not as satisfying as the Dungeon."

"Those people were Lv. 2, right? They fell too easily."

"They were not weak," Kyojuro said energetically with his arms folded.

"They simply lacked swordsmanship. I respected them and fought seriously."

"That is because all of you are too strong," Lili said.

"Ordinary adventurers are usually like that." Pop. Zenitsu's snot bubble burst. He opened his eyes unsteadily and froze.

"Aaaah! What happened? Where am I? Why does this look like an ancient battlefield? Why are so many people lying on the ground? There is blood everywhere! Are they dead? My whole body hurts!" Zenitsu collapsed and rolled on the ground clutching his leg, tears streaming down his face.

"Stop crying, coward! Stand proud!" Inosuke shouted.

"Zenitsu is the same as always," Tanjiro said with a small smile.

"Everyone seems even stronger than before. I need to keep working hard so I can keep up."

"This time, the greatest credit goes to Shinobu and Lili," Cael said.

"Shinobu's medicine took down nearly half the enemy, and Lili turned Apollo Familia's own command system against them. Without those two, this would not have been so easy." He looked at Shinobu, who was smiling quietly, and Lili, who was clearly waiting for praise.

"I only did what I should," Shinobu said with a modest smile.

"I did not expect my current medicine to work this well. It still cannot compare with proper potions, though. I will continue improving it." Lili's face lit up with happiness. She had helped Lord Cael. It was not only Lord Cael helping Lili. Lili wanted to help him with everything she had.

"Hehe. I will reward you properly when we get home, Lili." Cael crouched in front of Lili and rubbed her fluffy hair. Lili was so small and cute that crouching made it easier to pat her head properly.

"Lord Cael is definitely planning something bad again," Lili muttered, but she happily hugged his arm and rubbed her head against it. Tengen whistled. The others smiled knowingly. Only Zenitsu looked envious. If he were as strong as Captain, perhaps many girls would like him too.

"Let us go," Cael said, raising a fist.

"We accept the cheers of the whole city. This is our shining moment." Miss Eina, I once said that perhaps within a month, the whole city would see me differently. Now this is far beyond that. At the Guild, Eina watched the broadcast with bright eyes. So you can already stand on your own. And I was so worried about you. When everything ends, I am going to lecture you properly for hiding this much strength from me.

When Hestia Familia rode back into the city, all eyes on the streets turned toward the protagonists of the day. Cheers and congratulations came from every direction.

"Well done, Hestia Familia!"

"You people are amazing!"

"Congratulations!"

"Are you really Lv. 1 and Lv. 2? That was absurd!"

"Hey, Hestia Familia! Come to my tavern tonight. I will give you half off!" Hestia Familia became the stars of the day.

"Cael!" Hestia ran toward him barefoot, arms spread wide. The crowd opened a path for her, and she leaped into him, hugging his head tightly.

"Mm..."

"We won. We really won. Everyone won!" Cael's face was buried in a warm, soft darkness. He could barely breathe, but Hestia's joy was impossible to miss.