Today was unexpectedly chaotic.
Lady Hestia declared she had a "divine appointment" and promptly vanished to attend a banquet with the other gods, leaving us with only a vague promise to behave. Apparently, after schmoozing with wine-drunk divinities, she stopped by the Hephaestus Familia and spent half our funds on a surprise gift for Bell. Glares nearly had a heart attack when she heard.
Alexander and Frostbite took off for the coliseum, where Alexander wanted to "remind the city who the real apex predator is," and Frostbite followed, likely to stop him from demolishing the building.
Bull wandered off somewhere—either deeper into the Dungeon or just exploring Orario. No one could be sure. He left a note that just read, "Don't wait up."
Glares barricaded herself in her room with ledgers, receipts, and a teetering stack of gold coins, muttering threats like, "One more unnecessary expense and I'm charging everyone interest."
As for me and my three lovely chaos nuggets—the Hunters—we spent the day roaming the festival grounds of Orario (or Onion City, as Douplo insisted on calling it), marveling at the stalls, fire-breathers, and magical light shows.
The air was thick with the smells of grilled meats, roasted nuts, sugary frostings, and fireworks.
The festival carried on with music and laughter. We tried games where you toss rings over enchanted ducks, watched a fireworks show that accidentally summoned a minor storm god (who was very apologetic), and even got matching glowing bracelets that said "I <3 Orario."
By the time evening came around, the Hunters were full and glowing—literally. Alpha had eaten a glowing jellyfruit and now pulsed with faint bioluminescence.
Douplo challenged a mime to a duel (the mime won by sheer confusion), and Tri bought a pair of fake glasses and wouldn't stop calling herself "Scholar Tri."
As for me, I sat on a bench with an armful of festival prizes, a belly full of sweets, and three happy Hunters snuggled around me.
It was… peaceful.
[Grey]: So, ten out of ten day?
[Alpha]: Can we do this every week?
[Douplo]: Next time, I want to buy the firework dragon!
[Tri]: I think I understand economics now.
[Grey]: You absolutely do not.
We were still basking in the afterglow of festival joy, sticky fingers from sweet crepes, and dumb glowing bracelets on our wrists… when the screaming started.
People surged past us, panic rippling through the streets like a tidal wave.
Then the ground shook.
Not a festive shake from fireworks—no. A coliseum's cracking walls and monster roars kind of shake.
[Grey]: …Well, there goes the peace.
I turned to the Hunters. Their tails had gone still. All three had their heads cocked at the same eerie angle. That only meant one thing: hunt mode.
[Tri]: Something big's loose.
[Douplo]: I hope it's ugly. I'm in the mood for ugly.
[Alpha]: …Lady Hestia.
He was already gone before I could stop him—blurring through the crowd like a shot arrow.
I cursed under my breath and turned toward the smoke rising from the direction of the coliseum.
Just then, I spotted Alexander leaping from a broken wall, landing on the head of a massive troll, and kicking it straight into the stone steps. Frostbite was followed by a controlled burst of icy wind, freezing three bat-winged imps mid-air.
[Alexander]: Grey! You guys took your time.
[Grey]: We were eating strawberry crepes.
Before we could regroup fully, Alpha's voice cut through my mental link like a blade of alarm
{Alpha}: Lady Hestia! Bull's with her! Something's chasing them—silver ape, moving fast! I'm intercepting!
I spun on my heel, gripping my glaive.
[Grey]: Alpha's gone ahead to guard Lady Hestia and Bull! Douplo, Tri—help clear the monsters here. Don't let them spill out into the lower districts. Protect civilians first!
[Tri]: With pleasure.
[Douplo]: Time to serve some pain.
Their forms blurred as they launched into the fray—Tri dancing with blade and shadow, Douplo cleaving a minotaur in half with a roar of joy.
I took off toward where Alpha had gone, feeling the city's energy pulse with both fear and adrenaline. As I raced through the alleys, I finally spotted them—
Lady Hestia, disheveled and out of breath, sprinting through a plaza.
Beside her, Bull was half-dragging her with one arm while throwing stones—boulders—with the other at a raging silverback ape that was smashing through carts and walls in pursuit.
[Grey]: Of course it's a Silverback… Why wouldn't it be?
Just then, I caught sight of Bell—eyes filled with desperation, standing alone before the Silverback in the plaza's center. He was panting, bleeding, cornered… but holding something new.
A blade. No—a divine dagger. It shimmered in the light, unlike any weapon I'd seen.
Alpha and I were about to charge to his aid when a wave of monsters surged between us and the boy.
Goblins. Hellhounds. Something… smarter?
They weren't wild—they were guarding the path to Bell.
[Alpha]: That's not normal.
[Grey]: Something's guiding them.
We didn't have time to think.
They lunged at us like a living wall of claws and hunger. Alpha and I clashed with them, cutting, ripping, burning—a dance of violence in a storm of dust and screams.
[Grey]: Bell! Hold on!
But Bell didn't run.
He charged.
With a shout, I felt in my bones, he dodged the Silverback's blow, the divine dagger glinting in a perfect arc—
And plunged it straight through the Silverback's heart. This was seen by multiple people, the good ones and the evil ones.
The monster fell, crashing into the earth like a collapsed building.
We broke through the monster line just in time to see him collapse to his knees, shaking and bloodied.
[Alpha]: You insane little rabbit.
I knelt beside him, grabbing his shoulders.
[Grey]: That was amazing. But don't ever do that alone again.
Bell looked up at us, eyes wide and shining.
[Bell]: I-I didn't… know I could…
[Grey]: Well, now you know. Now rest.
Lady Hestia reached him a moment later, throwing her arms around him in a protective hug. Bull exhaled like a storm leaving the land.
I looked back at the ruined plaza, the scattered monsters, and the broken coliseum.
Festival day, huh?
Just how could all the monsters in the coliseum escape without being stopped by the Ganesha Familia?
Tri was covered in goo.
[Tri]: So… who wants the rest of those strawberry Crepes?
Douplo was dragging a still-wriggling monster corpse
[Douplo]: I got a souvenir.
I just sighed
[Grey]: Let's just go home…
Back at Hestia's Divine Palace of Doom and Hope, the chaos hadn't yet settled, but the moment we walked through the doors, another kind of storm was waiting for us.
Glares, our ever-dutiful financial warden, stood at the top of the stairs like a shadow cast by pure judgment. Arms crossed. Ledger in hand. Her expression could've cracked stone, and her voice cold as ice.
[Glares]: Lady Hestia. We need to talk. Now.
[Grey]: She's using the 'accountant tone.' We may need to rebuild half the temple after this.
Lady Hestia didn't even try to argue. With a nervous laugh and a comically exaggerated tip-toe, she was promptly grabbed by the ear and dragged off to her room by Glares, the door slamming shut behind them like a court verdict.
Meanwhile, the rest of us got to work.
Bell, pale and exhausted, lay unconscious on one of the luxurious velvet couches we'd "borrowed" from a noble's estate. I knelt beside him while Tri cleaned his wounds with surprising gentleness.
[Douplo]: Uh… guys?
Douplo was poking Bell's hair.
[Douplo]: Did Bell… lose his ears and tail?
We all stared. His usual demi-human traits—gone. The cute little ears, the soft tail—vanished. Completely human now.
[Alpha]: What the hell happened to him in that fight?
[Grey]: Either the knife did something divine… or the Silverback's curse did more than just hurt him…
We covered him in soft blankets anyway, propping his head up and making sure he was comfortable. For now, he was safe.
And then, because we're us, we went back to our favorite ritual.
Hostess of Fertility.
The warm lights, sweet smells, and laughter were like balm to a wounded soul. It was a welcome contrast to the chaos of the day.
Ryu greeted us at the door with her usual calm grace, although her eyes lingered a bit longer on our blood-stained cloaks and weapons.
[Ryu]: Rough festival?
I dropped into a chair.
[Grey]: You have no idea.
[Tri]: We saved a god, two idiots, a hero, and half the plaza.
[Douplo]: Also, I brought this. Want it?
He dropped a monster claw on the table. Ryu just raised an eyebrow.
As plates of food and mugs of drink were brought in, we let ourselves finally breathe.
[Grey]: So, Alexander. You and Frostbite vanished into the coliseum like a pair of maniacs. What happened in there?
Alexander, of course, didn't need a second invitation. He leaned back in his chair, drink in hand, a cocky smirk dancing on his lips. The firelight glinted off his armor, still scratched from the fight.
[Alexander]: Oh, you know. Just another average day—me, the crowd, and a beast big enough to shake the whole arena when it roared.
[Douplo]: What kind of beast?
[Alexander]: A Minotaur, but not the usual kind. This one was armored. Not just in brute strength, but magic resistance. They called it the Ironhorn.
[Tri]: And you fought it for fun?
[Alexander]: Frostbite held the east gate to stop the monsters from spilling out, while I leapt from the stands—like a hero descending from the heavens! The crowd gasped! The monster roared! And then...
He stood up, kicked over a chair like it was part of a performance, and mimed a great sword swing.
[Alexander]: I cut clean through its enchanted axe, broke its horn off with a headbutt, and rode it to the ground like a madman.
[Alpha]: You are a madman.
[Grey]: Let me guess, you posed in front of the crowd afterward?
[Alexander]: Of course. Gotta keep morale high.
[Douplo]: Did you bring back a trophy?
[Alexandere]: I tried. But Frostbite ate it. Said he was hungry.
[A brief silence.]
[Tri]: ...Classic Frostbite.
Just then, Frostbite, who'd been gnawing on a massive roasted leg of something since they sat down, gave a proud nod.
[Frostbite]: Tasted like rage and iron. 8/10.
Everyone burst out laughing. Even Ryu gave a small, rare smile before sliding a new round of drinks onto the table.
The Hostess was alive with music, food, and family. Outside, the city nursed its wounds from the Silverback's rampage. Inside, the madness of the day melted away into warm light, warm food, and the warmth of comradeship.
I raised my mug
[Grey]: To the Hestia Familia.
Everyone raising theirs
[Everyone]: To the Familia!
[Next day]
I groaned.
My head throbbed like it had tried to wrestle a Minotaur in its sleep—and lost. Worse still, there was a dull, gnawing pain in my stomach. Not the "I ate too many Crepes" kind, no. This was the "something's wrong and it's probably my own fault" kind. I didn't remember drinking that much... but judging by the faint scent of something spicy and burning in my sheets, someone might have convinced me to try Douplo's "celebration brew." Never again.
Dragging myself out of bed and down the polished halls of our chaotic fortress, I finally stumbled into the dining hall.
Everyone was already gathered, seated around the massive long table, happily chewing through plates of food like nothing had happened yesterday. Hunters were grinning, Alexander was laughing loudly while waving a fork around, and Bell sat stiffly with a bandage on his shoulder, blinking at me with tired eyes.
They all turned to me at once.
[Glares]: Madam Grey. You finally woke up. It's been a while.
[Grey]: How long's... a while?
[Tri]: You've been out for almost a full day. Pretty sure you died and got better.
[Douplo]: We checked twice. You were alive. Just unconscious... and snoring like a thunder beast.
Groaning as I slumped into a chair
[Grey]: Why does my stomach feel like I swallowed a volcano...?
[Frostbite]: Because you challenged a lava lizard to a drinking contest. You lost.
I stared blankly. That sounded both unlikely and completely possible.
[Glares]: Anyway, while you were recovering from your... adventures, we received a few letters from other Familias. Most are just standard festival thanks. However—
She held up one envelope trimmed in gold and shaped like a beast's tusk.
[Glares]: This one is from Lord Ganesha himself. He thanks us for our efforts, especially Alexander, in helping to contain the coliseum chaos. He also sent a token of gratitude—a silver pass that grants access to next month's Dungeon Games event.
[Alexander]: He knows talent when he sees it.
[Bell]: Wait, did... did we get invited to the Dungeon Games?
[Alpha]: Looks like it. Want to fight another Silverback?
[Bell]: N-No, thank you.
He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. Everyone else chuckled or sipped from their mugs.
I smiled a little at the banter—until something clicked in my mind. A spark of realization lit up behind my eyes, and I leaned forward, resting my chin in my hands as I stared directly at Bell.
[Grey]: Oh, right. Bell.
[Bell]: Hmm?
[Grey]: Today, you'll be heading into the dungeon... solo.
He froze, the juice in his mouth suddenly much harder to swallow. Everyone at the table paused.
[Bell]: W-What?! Alone?!
[Alpha]: You're not dead. You beat a Silverback. Seems fair.
[Frostbite]: You need the confidence. You hesitated yesterday. A solo run will sharpen your instincts.
[Douplo]: And it'll be funny if you get chased again.
[Bell]: W-Wait, can't we talk about this?!
[Glares]: I approve. You need to show growth, Mr. Bell. Besides, your expenses are the highest after Lady Hestia.
He paled.
[Alexander]: Good luck, little hero. May the dungeon be kind… and may your tail rest in peace.
[Bell]: I already lost the tail!
Everyone laughed. I even had to cover my mouth to avoid choking on my tea.
But beneath the humor, there was purpose. Bell needed this. He had the potential—we'd all seen it. Now it was time to push him into the fire... so he could forge himself into something stronger.
[Later, in the shadows of Orario's bustling streets]
Crouched beside me was Alpha.
[Alpha]: Boss, why are we stalking Bell again?
I was watching Bell with binoculars made from squids.
[Grey]: To make sure he doesn't die.
Tri came from upside-down on a lamp post.
[Tri]: But didn't we let him go alone so he could get stronger?
[Grey]: Shut up, Tri. And learn how to count again.
[Douplo]: He's still technically solo. We're just... shadow support.
We followed Bell through the crowd, ducking behind fruit stands, stray cats, and a very confused old elf. Bell didn't seem to notice us—or maybe he was just too absorbed in the conversation he was having with the elf-eared guild receptionist, Eina.
She seemed worried, lecturing him like a big sister. Eventually, she dragged him to a shop—probably to buy armor, since his last set had Silverback-smashed written all over it.
He paused outside a window, gazing at a mannequin in glistening gear, but then the shop door swung open and—
Lady Hestia.
All four of us froze. Even Bell looked like he'd seen a ghost.
[Tri]: Did she just pop out of the shop like a monster from a mimic chest?
[Grey]: Of course… she was helping him.
After a round of heartfelt yelling (on Hestia's part), we learned she had tried to buy Bell a special armor—but had been stopped by none other than Glares, our money manager. Apparently, if you don't pay back loans in our Familia, Glares starts charging interest that hurts the soul.
[Douplo]: ...Respect.
They all left together and walked to a more modest store where Bell tried on a simpler but well-fitting set of armor—light, flexible, and clearly tailored for his combat style. Eina even gave him a green armguard as a gift, telling him it would protect him better than luck.
We were watching from a rooftop.
[Alpha]: Looks good on him.
Tri was disguised under a sunhat and holding a cane
[Tri]: Almost makes him look like a main character.
I was wearing a wig and granny glasses
[Grey]: He is the main character.
We followed Bell, now freshly armored and striding like someone who thinks they're ready for the world.
Of course, we were in disguise.
[Disguises: Three elderly ladies and one very suspicious child with a mustache.]
[Mission: Observe the cinnamon roll's solo quest without scaring him... or the public.]
We were still following Bell, now in full old lady cosplay. Alpha had a floral shawl. Tri had a fake humpback. I carried a suspiciously heavy purse full of enchanted rocks. Douplo had… a beard?
Tri was hunched over with a fake cane
[Tri]: Why do I have to wear the granny dress with the chickens on it?
I was knitting with shadow tendrils some kind of cute scarf.
[Grey]: Because you picked last, and that one's cursed. Now hush
We watched as Bell, now walking alone down a quiet stone staircase, spotted a little girl in a red cloak hunched over near the wall. She looked hurt—dirty, poor, and very much in trouble.
Bell, being the adorable cinnamon roll that he is, immediately went over to help her.
[Grey, sighing fondly]: "Classic Bell."
Then out of nowhere, a man with slick blue hair came stomping down the stairs, yelling something about thieving scum, and tried to hit the girl. Bell jumped in, trying to shield her, and nearly got decked himself.
The man kept swinging—until a sharp, clear voice cut through the air like a knife:
[???]: Enough.
Everyone froze. Even the wind.
We turned our heads to see Ryuu, a waitress of the Hostess of Fertility, standing at the top of the stairs. Calm. Cool. Dangerous.
She didn't raise her hand. She didn't need to.
[Blue-haired man]: Dammed
He backed off faster than a drunk running from a bar tab.
Bell turned back to the girl, only to find her gone. Vanished like a whisper.
[Tri]: Was she even real?
[Alpha]: No… she's just fast. Real fast.
[Douplo]: Definitely a thief.
[Grey]: Mark her as: 'Suspiciously adorable child #001.'
After some time, Bell returns to the Castle, and the next day starts
[Next Morning – Hestia's Divine Palace of Doom and Hope]
The sun peeked through the giant crystal-glass windows of the ridiculous, over-decorated castle we now called home. Glitter sparkled in the air—probably from some leftover enchantment someone (Tri) had messed with the night before.
Bell walked through the massive entry hall, yawning, hair still messy and armguard tightly strapped on. His new armor looked slightly scuffed—a good sign. He'd clearly tested it out.
[Bell]: Morning…
[Glares]: Morning. Try not to get killed. We're still paying off the last medical bill.
[Alexander]: He lives, surprisingly.
[Douplo]: You smell like alley bread and regret.
[Grey]: Good. You're early. Time for your daily crawl.
Bell blinked.
[Bell]: Wait—again? I just went yesterday!
[Alpha]: Exactly. Now it's tradition.
[Tri,]: Also, Grey said you're not allowed back until you bring her three cool things, one of them edible.
[Bell]: …I-I'll do my best?
[Dungeon – Lower Floors]
We stood at the edge, watching from a shadowed corner as Bell, dressed in his new armor and glowing slightly with nervous confidence, approached the Dungeon gates. At his side was a small figure in a brown cloak—head down, movements timid, yet oddly practiced.
[Douplo]: That must be the supporter he hired.
[Tri]: Kinda small. Hope she doesn't die immediately.
[Grey, arms crossed]: That's a Soma Familia member. Keep an eye on her. She's not just shy—she's hiding something.
[Alpha]: I'll tail them. If anything smells off, I'll be there.
Alpha flicked his hood up and vanished like mist into the Dungeon. The rest of us split.
[While Bell and Alpha went deeper]
The Dungeon welcomed us like an old friend with murder issues.
Tri, Douplo, and I cut down a few overgrown goblins, took out a couple of needle rabbits, and ran into a semi-rare venom toad that decided Douplo looked delicious.
[Douplo]: GET IT OFF ME!
[Tri]: You smell like poison bait!
We cleared the floor quickly, harvested a few useful drops, and retreated to the surface. Honestly, it was light work compared to the last disaster involving rampaging apes and collapsing plazas.
[Later – Back at the Castle]
We regrouped at Hestia's Divine Palace of Doom and Hope. Bell hadn't returned yet, and Alpha was still in the Dungeon with him, watching from the shadows.
We cleaned up, counted loot, and gathered in the meeting hall.
[Glares]: Still no financial profit. Congratulations. You're all liabilities.
[Grey]: At least we're stylish liabilities.
Then the door creaked open, and in walked Alpha.
He looked calm, but something in his tail twitched.
[Alpha]: Bell's alive. But that girl... she's up to something.
[Chapter end]
[Sorry for the long chapter]