Chương 82: Eyes on Hestia Familia

A golden sacred gate opened.

"When you go demon hunting, I will join the fun too," Cael said as he watched the Hashira step into the World Gate.

"With everyone's current strength, once we find the demons, the fight should be almost over."

"Do not be late for the welcoming banquet tonight. It is for everyone joining Hestia Familia." The World Gate slowly closed and vanished into the air.

"Now it is just the two of us again, Lili." Cael looked at Lili, who was leaning against a Roman pillar, and opened his arms with a smile. Lili's cheeks reddened, and she eagerly threw herself into his embrace.

"Actually, you wanted to be affectionate in the Dungeon too, didn't you? There were just too many people around." Cael lowered his head and whispered mischievously by her ear.

"Not at all. Lord Cael is the one who keeps thinking strange things. Lili is only responding to Lord Cael's expectations." Lili buried her head in his warm embrace and spoke in a tiny, embarrassed voice.

"Still denying it? Stubborn Lili is cute too." Cael laughed and rubbed her head.

"Lili, could you turn into your elf form?"

"Lili refuses to satisfy Lord Cael's strange hobbies."

"Just once. Otherwise that Magic would be such a waste."

"Using it to satisfy Lord Cael's strange hobbies is the real waste."

"Then I might sulk."

"Lord Cael is so bad."

"Hehe." Meanwhile, the rumor Cael had planted was spreading rapidly throughout Orario. The Pleasure Quarter lay along the southwest side of the city, near Adventurers Way. It was Orario's busiest district after Adventurers Way, filled with taverns, restaurants, and entertainment shops. The busiest area belonged to Ishtar Familia. The entire district was part of Ishtar Familia's business. During the day, most doors stayed shut, but at night it became one of the liveliest places in Orario.

It was a city of night mixed with vanity, desire, love, and hatred. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Ishtar Familia, which controlled the district, was a true major Familia, one of Orario's upper powers and the ruler of its gray industries.

"Hah? Magic that can raise several people, or even an entire party, by two Levels?" The goddess Ishtar sat cross-legged on a suggestive pink sofa. She held a golden pipe between her fingers and blew out three rings of smoke.

"Yes, Lady Ishtar. The rumor has spread everywhere," said a lightly dressed Amazoness warrior kneeling on one knee.

"Tell me carefully."

"Yes. This is what happened, Lady Ishtar. I saw it with my own eyes. A group of Lv. 1 adventurers from Hestia Familia not only entered the Middle Floors, they defeated the Lv. 4 Monster Rex, Goliath."

"If I had not seen it myself, I would never have believed it. At first I thought they were hiding their Levels. But afterward, I bought information on Hestia Familia's members from Hermes Familia."

"I did not expect them to have become adventurers less than a day ago. Even Hestia Familia's captain became an adventurer less than a month ago. After the Guild confirmed their Levels, I can say for certain that the rumor about Magic that raises adventurers by two Levels is true." The Amazoness warrior grew more excited as she spoke. She had been there. She would never forget that sight.

"If we obtain that Skill and take their captain, Ishtar Familia will absolutely become Orario's strongest Familia. Even Freya Familia could be trampled under our feet."

"Something like that actually exists? It sounds like something out of a story. Magic that raises adventurers by two Levels. Can children of the Lower World really have that kind of power? Still, information bought from Hermes is worth reading." Ishtar looked over the information in her hand and frowned slightly.

"Is it true or false?"

"It is definitely true, Lady Ishtar. I saw it myself."

"Hermes's information is usually somewhat reliable. First, watch the movements of the other major Familias. If they move, it means this matter is true. If only ordinary Familias act, keep observing."

"Yes, Lady Ishtar."

"Even if it is true, it does not matter. We already have a similar trump card. Hmph. If that fool had not shattered the Killing Stone, I would already have marched up Babel and dragged that woman who calls herself a queen down beneath my feet." At the same time, on Babel's thirty-seventh floor, the entire floor belonged to Freya Familia. After joining Loki Familia to drive Zeus and Hera Familias out of Orario, Freya Familia had made this place its base. From here, one could look down over all of Orario.

"Oh? Orario feels especially lively today. Did something happen, Ottar?" The beautiful goddess sat on a luxurious red chair overlooking the city. She gently swirled a glass of wine in her hand.

"Most likely because of the rumor that just spread," Ottar said.

"Oh? Tell me." A faint, unreadable smile appeared on the goddess's lips.

"They say a group of Lv. 1 adventurers entered the Middle Floors and defeated Goliath. Afterward, rumors spread that they possess Magic that raises adventurers by two Levels and a Skill that ignores the enemy's Level to see weak points." Ottar spoke calmly, his expression unmoved.

"Magic that raises Levels and a Skill that sees weak points. Interesting. But when something sounds too neat, that itself becomes strange."

"Whose children are they?"

"They are said to belong to Hestia Familia."

"Hestia? Hehe. Hahaha." Freya suddenly laughed.

"Very well. Ignore it. It is only a clumsy little farce." If something was too neat, it was not normal. Magic that raised Levels? Whoever gained a child like that would guard the secret with everything they had. Announcing it widely, without trying to suppress the news? That meant someone had done it on purpose. Hestia's innocent mind would not think that way, so who was behind it? What were they trying to do? Let me see how much amusement this little farce can offer.