[Tl/n: New Book -
Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
Although the bombs sold to the Ares Familia were essentially defective, they were still crafted by Ziggs himself. And despite their flaws, their explosive power was nothing to scoff at.
In fact, they were even more terrifying than some of the most powerful explosives on the market.
"Don't play word games with me. If you have something to say, just say it."
"I didn't call you here for punishment this time," Ouranos said solemnly. "I just hope that in the future, you'll act with more discretion. You caused quite the spectacle."
"Am I not already discreet?" Sol scoffed. "With all that chaos last night, not a single casualty—except for Ishtar."
His voice was laced with sarcasm.
"Ishtar—the god of the Ishtar Familia—was killed in her own domain. If that's not the biggest farce, then I don't know what is.
Tell me, does that seem appropriate to you?"
Ouranos could only question Sol's so-called restraint.
"It's because I usually hold back too much that these blind fools think they can step all over me," Sol continued, his agitation growing. His expression darkened with anger, as if he had suffered a grave injustice.
Ouranos remained seated, quietly watching him unravel.
"This time, it was just a little warning—to remind certain people of their place."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Next time, if anyone dares to touch the Sol Familia's reverse scale, they'd better ask themselves if their bones can withstand our wrath."
Seeing that Ouranos wasn't interrupting, Sol took full advantage, continuing his speech without hesitation.
And Ouranos did listen—intently.
He understood Sol's mindset well.
Despite being a familia standing at the very top of Orario, the Sol Familia was almost too passive in their day-to-day affairs.
They had no interest in unnecessary conflicts. A few years ago, they had even entertained the idea of transitioning into a business familia.
Of course, Ouranos had rejected their application at the time. He couldn't afford to let such a powerful familia fall into complacency.
But who knew whether Sol had truly given up on that idea?
Judging from his current behavior, Sol was still as reckless as ever.
Fortunately, his adventurers remained diligent, which was a small relief to Ouranos, who had been observing them closely.
This recent incident, while disruptive, at least revealed the boundaries of Sol's actions.
And just like that, Ouranos found himself viewing the Sol Familia in a slightly better light.
"I don't fault you for wanting to protect your people," he finally said once Sol had finished.
He knew that in order to keep the conversation going, he had to start by acknowledging Sol's perspective.
"So, is there anything else you want to say? My patience for chatting with old men is running thin." Sol lazily glanced at his watch, feigning impatience.
Ouranos already admitted this wasn't about punishment—so what else was there to discuss?
"It's been many years, and you still haven't changed," Ouranos sighed, weary. "Always so impatient."
"I don't see a reason to change my temperament," Sol replied coolly.
Ouranos knew that if he didn't get to the point soon, Sol would leave.
And if he didn't take advantage of this rare opportunity to bring up that matter, who knew how long he'd have to wait for another chance?
"In fact, I've been observing your familia for quite some time," Ouranos said softly.
"You old man really has a habit of spying on people, huh?" Sol smirked.
"I'm being serious, Sol."
"Alright, alright, go on. I'm listening." Sol sighed, waving his hand before settling into a cross-legged position on the floor.
"What do you think of monsters?"
"Monsters?" Sol raised an eyebrow, glancing up at Ouranos with a hint of amusement. "You mean the ones in the dungeon?"
Ouranos' expression remained composed, his aged features unreadable. There was nothing unusual in his demeanor, yet Sol had a good idea of where this conversation was headed.
"Monsters are just that—monsters. Stepping stones for adventurers to grow stronger. Mindless creatures. What kind of answer are you looking for?"
"You're not wrong. To most people, monsters are simply monsters," Ouranos said, continuing his line of thought. "They lack reason, lack thought, and are natural enemies of all other beings."
He paused, watching Sol closely. But Sol merely lowered his head, his body shifting slightly—his face unreadable.
"But," Ouranos continued, his voice steady, "what if one day, monsters gained reason?"
"So that's what you really wanted to say?" Sol cut him off, his tone sharper now.
"You don't seem particularly surprised." Ouranos narrowed his eyes. "Could it be that you've encountered such an existence before?"
There was no irritation in his voice, only curiosity—and perhaps a touch of relief. Sol's reaction told him that he wouldn't need to waste time explaining the concept from scratch.
At this moment, Sol's stance was crucial.
As one of the most influential forces in Orario, the Sol Familia had a significant voice in the city. Their opinion on Xenos—the so-called intelligent monsters—carried a great deal of weight.
Until now, Ouranos had only discussed this matter with Ganesha.
The Monster Festival had been established as a way to gradually accustom Orario's citizens to the presence of monsters—an effort to prepare for the day when Xenos could walk openly under the sun.
And after much careful observation, Ouranos had finally decided that Sol was someone he could approach about this matter.
Sol was a bohemian—unconventional, indifferent to tradition, and more importantly, someone who surrounded himself with the strange and unfamiliar.
His familia was filled with unique and novel races.
In fact, when the yordles and vastaya first arrived in Orario, even Ouranos had initially mistaken them for a kind of Xenos.
But what truly solidified his decision was witnessing the battle between Shyvana and Asfi of the Hermes Familia.