DanMachi: Starting with a Sword Soul Template

Chapter 112: War Game Invitation! Shakti's Bold Guess

The banquet was located at the Apollo Familia's home base. As a "mainstay" force in Orario, relying on their continuously accumulated wealth, the manor where the Familia resided was exceptionally prosperous.

As night fell on Orario, the grand manor was brightly lit.

The main character of the banquet was Liam. Having decisively rejected Apollo's invitation to transfer Familias, Hestia's mood was filled with tension.

She knew very well that the process would definitely not be as smooth as expected.

But since Liam had instructed her to go, Hestia couldn't refuse. It was just that she vaguely felt he had a plan.

The Familia had survived the dangerous compulsory expedition during its initial creation stage…

She didn't think that this gathering of the gods, which seemed like a Feast at Hong Gate (a trap), would be particularly dangerous. She chose to stand at the main entrance of the manor.

There were many familiar faces from the Godly realm around.

There wasn't much time left before the banquet began. Hestia proactively linked arms with Liam and suggested with a smile.

"Shall we go in?"

"Of course."

As a banquet hosted by a god, the scale would certainly not be low. The main objective was, of course, the initiation of a "War Game."

During this time, it didn't prevent Liam from enjoying the feast.

The quality of the food was definitely higher than at "The Hostess of Fertility" restaurant.

As for whether they would add something to the food, Apollo didn't have the guts to cause trouble at a banquet attended by the gods.

Otherwise…

The outcome would most likely be the same as in the original work, being subjugated by a joint force of Familias!

There was no dedicated guide, but there were obvious monitoring gazes around. Following the steps of the other invited gods.

Liam's gaze, as he sized up the manor's decorations, was also full of scrutiny.

The Apollo Familia, which could be considered a "mainstay" force in Orario, the assets they possessed were something the Hestia Familia currently…

Simply couldn't grasp, nor had the channels to acquire.

Marble floors, wallpapered walls, paired with various exquisite collectibles, even the chandeliers were all made of crystal.

A model of light luxury in a medieval style.

Also noticing Liam's probing gaze, Hestia, visiting the Apollo Familia for the first time, was also shocked by the luxurious scene.

The main reason was also Hephaestus.

When she was freeloading at her close friend's house, if one had to speak of luxury… it was completely out of the question, very much in line with her status as a solitary goddess.

Now, visiting the Apollo Familia.

And Liam's perfectly reasonable gaze, some words felt like a fishbone stuck in her throat.

Hestia didn't know how to express it at all. The Familia hadn't yet developed and was still in its most difficult stage.

Just in terms of environment…

A magnificent manor was in every way better than the basement of an abandoned church, right?

"Can we have such conditions in the future?"

She didn't dare to even consider it. Currently, even her own debt would take a year of part-time work to repay.

The journey to the banquet hall, this not-so-long road…

The process, however, was extremely difficult. Occasionally turning her head to observe Liam's eyes, there was no change from beginning to end.

Just as she was about to sigh in relief, a sudden conversation made Hestia's mood instantly tense up.

"Lady Hestia, what do you think of this place?"

"."

She really wanted to say it was just so-so, completely lacking the feeling of a home, but Hestia couldn't bring herself to say it. She paused her steps.

She looked at Liam, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

And realizing the change in the young woman's expression beside him, Liam smiled faintly and then said, "We can also be like this in the future."

A sudden turn of events.

The sorrow between Hestia's brows vanished instantly. Staring at the young man's side profile, she finally nodded fiercely, "I believe in you!"

"."

It was just that at this moment, she hadn't yet realized the gravity of the situation.

Very naturally, she linked arms with Liam. Her steps towards the banquet hall were exceptionally firm. As long as she had Liam's words.

Even if there really was danger.

Hestia also believed that they could get through it no matter what!

Following the footsteps of the guests, they soon arrived at the manor's reception hall where the banquet was being held. One could see the effort Apollo had put in.

The banquet was prepared to a very high standard.

What really interested Liam was probably the very sumptuous dinner.

"Let's enjoy the feast first."

It certainly wasn't about eating and taking away. To be more precise, this banquet was using the future assets of Liam's Familia.

Apollo, who had organized this banquet of the gods, sat on the balcony of the reception hall's second floor, his eyes fixed on the hall below.

Until the appearance of Liam and Hestia.

Especially when he saw the handsome young man's appearance, and the many miracles he had created, an unusual blush appeared on his face.

"You're finally here…"

"Liam Moon."

Apollo decisively stood up from the sofa, his hands resting on the railing as he looked down, a pathological desire unconcealed in his eyes.

Even though his personal invitation had been rejected by Hestia.

And the Apollo Familia's coercive measures had no effect. The former made him a little angry, but the latter, forcibly taking Liam to be his dependant…

Made him, as a god, feel extreme pleasure. He paid no attention to the gods who had not yet arrived.

To be precise, the protagonists of the banquet were only Liam, Hestia, and himself.

The other gods were at most witnesses to the "War Game." Apollo didn't care whether the guests had had their fill of wine and food.

As the host.

When he looked at Hestia, his eyes were full of annoyance.

"The banquet of the gods held tonight is, of course, to celebrate 'Sword Soul' Liam Moon breaking Orario's, and even the whole world's, record."

"Now that the protagonist has arrived, I have something even more interesting to announce!"

"."

Her own dependant broke a record, yet it was another Familia's god celebrating on his behalf. This matter itself was a joke.

Moreover, Apollo's latter sentence.

Completely made Liam and Hestia the focus of attention.

The guest gods present, including the trusted dependants accompanying them, almost without exception, all looked at them.

Among the invited Familias, there was naturally the Ganesha Familia, which maintained Orario's order.

Ganesha, the "social terrorist" elephant god, didn't try to steal the show. On the contrary, he watched with great amusement.

Accompanying him was the Staff of the Elephant God, Shakti, who, regardless of age or figure, still retained her charm.

As a keeper of the peace, upon hearing Apollo's words.

Her brow had already furrowed slightly.

But since it was an act tacitly approved by the Adventurer's Guild, she couldn't say much.

It was just that when she looked at Liam, Shakti's eyes were unavoidably filled with worry. Others didn't know Liam's style of doing things.

But she knew it very well…

Executing the justice deep in his heart led to the destruction of the Soma Familia!

If it were just that, Shakti certainly wouldn't be so vigilant. One had to know, this guy had done it at Lv1!

"It should be…"

"Fine, right?"

"."

And compared to Shakti's inner worries, Apollo, who was thoroughly enjoying being the center of attention, had no hesitation.

He decisively announced, "A child so full of the unknown."

"To continue staying in the hopeless Hestia Familia is a complete waste of the potential... that Liam possesses!"

"So."

"In front of this banquet, I'd like to ask the gods present to be witnesses."

"I announce that the Apollo Familia initiates a War Game against the Hestia Familia! The victor will receive everything from the other Familia!"

"!!!" Most of the gods who descended to the lower world were out of boredom. A diversion like a "War Game," they loved to see and hear about it.

Moreover, it was Orario's Apollo Familia.

Initiating a War Game against the Hestia Familia, which was in its startup phase but possessed a dependant like Liam who had created a miracle!

They were already the focus of all eyes.

Especially when faced with the "War Game" thrown out by Apollo, Hestia's already serious face was filled with complexity.

But even so, she still stood in front of Liam without hesitation.

Losing face?

Hestia didn't really care. Considering their comprehensive Familia strength, there was absolutely no possibility of victory. Refusing was also logical.

It was just that.

Just as she was about to refuse, Liam, standing behind her, had already given an answer.

"Lord Apollo, please allow me to ask... about the stakes of the War Game. The victor gets everything from the other party."

"All liquid funds, fixed assets, including Familia members, all belong to the other party?"

It hadn't reached the point where he needed Hestia's protection. With so many gods present as witnesses, Liam didn't mind pushing the atmosphere to a climax.

He stood beside the young woman without hesitation, looking up at Apollo.

And the first to turn her head was Hestia. She was already prepared to refuse, but she hadn't expected Liam to interrupt.

Most crucially, hearing his speaking style…

It seemed he was going to agree to Apollo's War Game!

Facing this sudden situation, and moreover, it was the mature and steady Liam making a decision on her behalf, she didn't question it.

Especially when facing the young man's calm and composed smile.

An inexplicable sense of confidence rose in Hestia's heart. She also looked up, at the god Apollo who was妄想 (vainly hoping/delusionally trying) to snatch Liam away with this War Game!

Her tone and stance were firm, without raising any other objections, "What Liam-kun says is what I say."

"."

"Of course."

After all, he was the highly anticipated "future dependant." Apollo's patience was exceptionally ample. Although he felt something was a bit strange.

But in front of so many gods.

And with Liam having just broken through to Lv2 not long ago, even if he had great talent, it was impossible for him to sublimate again in this period.

"No outside help is allowed in this War Game."

Considering Hestia's relationship with Hephaestus, Apollo, to be on the safe side, added a rule in front of the gods.

Throwing the difficult problem to Hestia.

Originally still considering how to refuse the other dependant from joining the Familia, the opportunity was perfectly delivered right to Liam.

"Then I will also propose a rule."

"And that is, no matter what, this War Game cannot be stopped!" The young man put away his smile, his tone rather relaxed.

He was worried that a one-sided slaughter would make Apollo end the War Game.

He couldn't possibly let the result he had waited for after playing cat and mouse in the Dungeon for this period be decided by the other god's light-hearted decision.

Holding the same thought.

Was naturally the initiator of the War Game, Apollo. With his Lv3 child, Hyakinthos, and numerous Lv2 adventurers.

No matter what, the advantage was on his side!

His tone was decisive as he made the decision directly, "That's exactly what I wanted."

"In that case."

"For this War Game, I'll have to ask everyone present to be witnesses!"

"The time for the War Game will be set for 3 days later. The combat method will be drawn at the Denatus." He continued to add.

Apollo cast a provocative look at Hestia.

His smile was pathological as he used the lowest form of goading, "I hope that at that time... a certain god doesn't disappoint her Familia's child!"

"."

There were many things she wanted to ask Liam, but the current situation was certainly not suitable.

Facing Apollo's ridicule, Hestia didn't mind, her voice rarely cold as she said, "Don't act as if you're already certain of victory..."

"Before the War Game has even begun."

"."

Since it had come to this, she had no intention of lingering. It was just that when she turned to look at Liam, in a very short time.

He had already slipped into a corner to enjoy the feast.

Hestia's expression was somewhat complicated. Just as she was about to ask, she met Liam's relaxed smile that said "it's only natural."

She helplessly walked to his side.

At this moment, the young man reminded her in a just-right voice, "Since we're already here…"

"And is it possible that this banquet was prepared by Apollo using our future Familia's assets?"

Not paying attention to Liam and Hestia's movements, the child obtained through a "War Game" certainly had to be doted on well.

Apollo's tone was high-spirited as he raised his wine glass.

And the dispute over the ownership of the "strongest new adventurer" was undoubtedly entertainment in the eyes of the gods present, who became witnesses.

It wasn't as serious as imagined; on the contrary, they discussed it with great relish.

"For this War Game, the biggest casino will probably open a betting pool, right?" A gambling-addicted god directly started discussing it at the banquet.

"Of course, we'll have to go take a look then."

"Will it be the new adventurer continuing to create a miracle, or the Apollo Familia... finally getting their wish?"

"I don't know the result."

"At the very least, the odds will be a pleasant surprise!"

"."

A chaotic banquet scene, with the topic all revolving around this "War Game." Shakti only felt an inexplicable headache.

Although it was an expected outcome.

Especially when she saw Liam's... attitude of remaining calm from beginning to end. Very rarely, her inner heart couldn't be calm.

"Like a premeditated plan?"

This bold idea gradually sprouted deep in Shakti's heart.

Still a Level 1 adventurer, Liam dared to take such a risk, to prove his value to the Adventurer's Guild.

When so many gods couldn't bring themselves to refuse?

She always felt that these things couldn't possibly have come from Liam. Could it really be as she thought!

Apollo sought for Liam to join his Familia.

Similarly.

Liam, who was seen as the "hunting target," his idea was to seize all of the Apollo Familia's assets to develop and strengthen his own Familia?

"This guy…"

"He really doesn't play by the rules!!"

Shakti's eyelids twitched uncontrollably. From an objective standpoint, wanting to develop a Familia at the fastest speed, the legal method.

Was a "War Game."

She shook her head lightly, reining in her complex emotions. She looked up at her Lord God, who was walking to the top of the stairs to discuss the War Game with Apollo.

The helplessness deep in Shakti's heart reached its peak.

"A social butterfly of a god, a trouble-making rookie."

"Why does it feel like this batch of adventurers is so hard to manage?"

(End of this chapter)

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