Danmachi: Strongest Familia

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Orario was experiencing a boom in development, its prosperity rising day by day. The various familias, elated by recent victories, rushed to recruit new adventurers and seize resources once held by the dark faction. Production and commerce-based familias, in particular, were thriving at an astounding rate.

One notable event during this period was the gods' council, convened to assign titles to the newly ascended adventurers. At Riveria's insistence, Sol begrudgingly reclaimed the title of "Nine Hell" for her, bidding farewell to the "Enchanter of the Dragon God" title, which now faded into legend.

On this day, Hephaestus arrived at the Sol familia's residence, accompanied by Tsubaki and a group of assistants. As part of her agreement with Sol, she intended to give Poppy, his familia's new recruit, some hands-on training directly in their own territory. She also planned to help set up several workshops. Although typically a task she delegated to others, the substantial deal Sol's familia offered warranted her personal attention—especially since Sol had commissioned five fully equipped workshops, a sizable investment by any measure.

This arrangement also allowed Hephaestus to cultivate a favorable relationship with the Sol familia, known for its high demand for premium weaponry. Potential future collaborations could be lucrative; one top-tier weapon, valued at tens or even hundreds of millions, could surpass the profits of selling thousands of ordinary items. Plus, Hephaestus was genuinely curious about this rising familia.

"Sol-sama is inside," Riveria informed her, guiding Hephaestus to the courtyard where Sol was lounging in a deck chair, basking in the sun with a relaxed, leisurely demeanor. Unlike other gods scrambling to recruit, seize resources, and expand, Sol appeared wholly at ease, his familia's strength allowing him this luxury.

"Well, Hephaestus! To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" he called out, smiling.

"I thought I'd come by and take a look at your familia's residence. Am I not welcome?"

"Not at all! Feel free to explore," Sol replied, shifting into a more comfortable position.

"By the way, I noticed your familia's residence doesn't have a name," she observed.

"I'm terrible at coming up with names," Sol confessed, frowning in mild frustration. "I'll think of something eventually."

"All right then, enough about that. Didn't you want me to train your child in forging? Yet, I didn't see any of them around on my way here."

"Ah, if you're looking for Poppy, she's in the dungeon on an adventure with a team," Sol explained.

"Poppy, the one you wanted me to train, went into the dungeon already? Isn't that a bit soon for a newcomer?"

Sol chuckled. "They're brimming with energy, eager to explore. It's typical for new recruits to form teams and head into the dungeon to gain experience before any major expeditions."

"You're letting an LV1 newcomer join an expedition?" Hephaestus's gaze held a mix of amusement and disbelief, clearly skeptical. While she understood that the Sol familia regularly ventured deep into the dungeon, the thought of involving beginners seemed risky.

The guild's requirements for the Sol familia were indeed stringent, expecting them to explore the deeper, more dangerous levels. Wouldn't bringing a novice along jeopardize the whole mission? After all, even seasoned adventurers faced grave risks down there.

"I've coordinated with the guild," Sol replied calmly. "This expedition is designed to be safe, more focused on training and assessment."

"With top-tier adventurers in your ranks, it's no wonder you're so confident," Hephaestus remarked with a wry smile. In her own familia, Tsubaki was their most advanced fighter, yet she showed little interest in adventuring, having leveled up mainly to boost her skills as a smith. Even so, Hephaestus couldn't deny her envy; every god dreams of nurturing powerful adventurers within their familia.

"The other members of my familia have matured considerably. Riveria's responsibilities are much lighter these days," Sol boasted, an expression of pride crossing his face, drawing an exasperated smile from Hephaestus. Recently, the Sol familia submitted a report to the guild detailing their adventurers' levels—Riveria, a powerful LV6 adventurer, led an elite team of elves that helped the familia ascend into Orario's highest echelon.

What Hephaestus didn't realize, however, was that Sol's motivation for frequent dungeon expeditions was primarily financial. The cost of expanding his familia's residence and purchasing adjacent land from the guild had nearly exhausted their funds. Even the equipment for Hephaestus's workshops was funded mostly by dipping into Alfia's savings.

——

Meanwhile, in the depths of the dungeon, a few members of the Sol familia were exploring the 15th floor. This expedition was led by the sisters Joan and Lan, whose goal was to acclimate the newer members to the dungeon's rhythm. They had planned to stick to the upper levels, but the newcomers' surprising strength allowed them to handle the low-level monsters with ease.

As they finished clearing a wave of monsters, preparing to rest and eat, they suddenly heard the rumbling approach of more beasts. A swarm of red-eyed creatures—hell wolves and little white rabbits among them—rushed toward them, far more than the usual numbers. It was as if a plague had swept through the dungeon, sending wave upon wave of monsters in their direction. In front of the horde, a group of panicked adventurers sprinted for their lives, their faces lighting up as they saw Sol's team ahead. Changing course, they ran desperately toward them.

"Help us!"

"Stay alert, everyone!" one of the sisters called out. "It's a monster parade—prepare for battle!"