Danmachi: Strongest Familia

Sol selected a few favorite dishes, found a quiet corner in the banquet hall, and sat down. As he settled in, more gods began to fill the venue, raising the energy of the room to a festive peak.

"Fellow gods, let's toast to our victory!" someone shouted.

"Cheers!" The hall filled with jubilant laughter and lively conversation as the gods raised their glasses. After the initial toast, they began mingling, enjoying drinks and boasting about the accomplishments of their top adventurers, many of whom had played critical roles in the recent battles. Those who had excelled quickly became the focus of the gathering.

"Sol, stop hiding back here! You can't convince me Riveria's still LV5!" Loki, already somewhat tipsy, stumbled over to Sol, who was quietly observing from his secluded spot, Riveria at his side. Her squinted eyes shifted back to Riveria, sparking with thinly-veiled jealousy.

Despite being a goddess, Loki's attention often seemed fixed on Riveria—a fascination even greater than her appreciation for Soma's divine wine. Sol smirked at the sight of her, removing her hand from his shoulder with mild irritation.

"Hmph, what can I say? My Riveria has a natural talent. She's only one rank away from a career upgrade!" Sol replied smoothly.

Riveria's impressive performance in the recent battle had, understandably, raised some questions about her level. Although the topic of concealing levels was touchy, Sol saw no reason to confirm anything, simply smiling as if oblivious.

"If that's true, then I can't wait to see Riveria-chan at LV6!" Loki mused, though she quickly turned her attention to the true target of the conversation.

"Instead of staring at us, maybe focus on Freya—Ottar's already reached LV7," Sol pointed out, redirecting her curiosity with practiced ease. Ottar's advancement to LV7 had been the biggest news since Erebus's return, and Freya was, after all, Loki's main rival.

"You're right… but something tells me Riveria-chan's power isn't far behind Ottar's," Loki said, trailing off.

"Of course," Sol replied with a confident smile. "Riveria's the best of my family."

Loki studied his face, but Sol's expression remained inscrutable, not giving her the slightest hint. Though she suspected that Riveria's strength might surpass LV5, Loki chose to hold her tongue. Challenging Sol's ambiguous claims openly would only create tension she didn't need, especially with the Sol Familia taking a more neutral stance. For now, Loki's true competitor remained Freya.

"Alright, I have to speak with Hephaestus. Later!" Loki said, giving a casual farewell. Sol took Riveria's arm and headed toward Hephaestus, whose vibrant red hair was easy to spot among the other guests. As Orario's most esteemed blacksmith, with Tsubaki as her first-tier adventurer, Hephaestus commanded high respect. Several gods had gathered around her, hoping to negotiate deals.

Noticing Sol, Hephaestus raised an eyebrow. "What brings you over here?"

"Why, don't tell me I'm not welcome," Sol replied, nudging his way through the crowd to stand beside her.

"Not at all, just a bit surprised," she replied, crossing her arms. Given that they rarely interacted in either the heavenly or mortal realms, she seemed genuinely curious. Even when her family forged equipment for his familia, it was usually Riveria who handled negotiations. Sol, as far as she could recall, didn't normally come to her for anything directly.

"I actually have a favor to ask," Sol said, glancing over at her.

"Something you needed to ask in person?" She leaned in, interest piqued.

"A new child in my familia has a talent for forging, so I'm setting up a workshop for them," he began.

"That's great news. What do you need from me?" She appeared to anticipate his request, knowing Sol wouldn't have sought her out unless it was a significant favor. Orario attracted plenty of adventurers daily, and although her family was the authority in blacksmithing, not all aspiring blacksmiths joined the Hephaestus Familia. Still, if Sol was arranging a full workshop, the child's talent must indeed be considerable.

"I'd like your family's help outfitting the workshop with the proper facilities," Sol said.

Hephaestus shrugged nonchalantly. "As long as you're covering the cost."

"Of course!" Sol agreed.

"You came to me for this? Why not just have one of your familia members talk to Tsubaki?" Providing equipment for a workshop wasn't a matter that usually required Sol's personal involvement.

"Actually, I was hoping someone from your family could teach them the craft. If the God of the Forge herself could do it, that would be ideal."

Though she understood the talent Sol had in mind, Hephaestus knew she'd be asking quite a bit from her own familia. Each established blacksmith had a unique approach to forging that they usually reserved for their familia alone. Even Tsubaki's techniques were proprietary. Opening up this knowledge was no small thing.

"Somehow, I knew you wouldn't make this easy," she replied, rolling her eyes but with a faint smile. "I'll consider it when I get back."

"Thank you," Sol said with a nod, catching the subtle shift in Hephaestus's expression that confirmed her willingness to help. Directly agreeing could set a precedent, inviting other gods to seek her tutelage as well. And Hephaestus, however generous, was no altruist.