To ask whether he was nervous, Bell Cranel was certainly nervous.
Especially since.... he had chosen to stand against a colossal force like the Loki Familia.
He had never seen Finn, Riveria or Gareth in action, nor did he know the extent of their strength.
But he understood the simple truth: there are no weaklings behind great fame.
Just by looking at the might of the Sword Princess and the Night Weaver, one could grasp a glimpse of how unfathomable the others must be.
The thought of becoming an "opponent" to such people shook the heart of the fourteen-year-old boy to its core.
As for the god Hermes, he narrowed his eyes, taking in every reaction of the boy, and then considered why Fron had come here in the first place, finally, some things became clear.
'Fron Argon… a frightening fellow. Not only did he come as a persuader and to flex his strength, but also to apply psychological pressure?'
'No, wait… that doesn't fit Fron's personality. These methods must have been devised by that 'Braver.' Brilliant, even before the battle begins, they've already set the stage.'
Once again witnessing such tactics, even Hermes could not help but harbor some caution.
But when he thought further, he realized that he wasn't the only one who had placed Bell Cranel on the stage and had expectations for him. Behind the boy were also the expectations of an ancient god, and the gaze of a certain goddess.
The Guild, as administrator, could not directly clash with the Loki Familia. But that other Familia, one that could rival the Loki Familia, could.
For the sake of Orario's order, the Guild would surely prohibit both sides from open combat. And within this scheme, Hermes, as one of the hands behind the curtain, saw things quite clearly.
The other Familia didn't even need to take action. Simply standing there as an obstacle, buying a little time for the boy's growth, would already be enough.
Having sorted out the situation in an instant, Hermes once again put on his trademark sly smile.
....
Leaving aside the undercurrents stirring in Daedalus Street, in the northwest and north street of the city, adventurers and armed monsters had already begun tentative skirmishes.
For a time, the citizens were gripped by fear, and the entire city grew restless under the chaotic situation.
As the saying goes, "troubled waters breed opportunity."
The hidden Evilus group , also moved into action.
Concealing themselves, some mingled among ordinary citizens to gather information, while others spread rumors and false reports in adventurer-populated areas, disrupting the Loki Familia's arrangements.
For them, this was instinct. The more chaotic the city became, the more advantageous it was to them.
Weakening the Loki Familia's influence, in effect, didn't that just strengthen their own?
....
"Fron, something's not right."
Guarding his assigned sector, Fron listened as Cruz gave his report.
But someone's mind was elsewhere. His thoughts were blank, pupils unfocused, like a man asleep with his eyes open. In truth, it wasn't much different: Fron hardly cared about the Xenos, nor about their influence, nor even about Bell Cranel's choice.
In his view, these were trivial matters.
Power was truth. A fist was authority. Strength was influence.
What of the Xenos? What of Bell Cranel with his so-called "cheat"? So what? As if no one else was a cheat.
On another front, the key to Knossos was already in hand. Two of the enemy's financial backers had been rooted out. The secret passage to the outside world had been sealed. The whole situation was nothing less than trapping a dog in a cage.
The Evilus could not stir up any true storm. At most, their mad tactics, self-detonation, labyrinth traps, warranted a little caution.
But if exposed, and if the major Familias rallied, the Loki Familia, the Ganesha Familia, and others, then this so-called war would end in a complete, one-sided crushing. The enemy would be left to cling to life only by hiding within the Knossos.
No, the truly thorny problem before him was this: hidden deep within Knossos was the Spirits Ritual. Its exact state was unknown, and that was what troubled him.
Thankfully, so far the situation was still unfolding according to his expectations. Through the surface-level chaos of Orario, the undercurrents beneath, and his memories from a past life, Fron could more or less grasp the hand behind some of the schemes.
But if the situation veered toward the unknown, who could say whether Enyo, might unleash something utterly beyond his calculations?
It was for this reason that Fron had lowered his activity level, kept a low profile, and hidden himself from the enemy's sight.
All to avoid forcing them into desperation, where, unprepared, he might face the sudden detonation of magic that could blow Orario sky-high.
"Ah? Oh. If they haven't entered our patrol zone, pretend you didn't see them. If they do enter, hmm…. report it to the Ganesha Familia. Isn't it their job as guards to deal with such people? As for us, our only target is the monsters."
"Understood."
Once Cruz left to pass on the message, Fron remained alone on the rooftop. He tilted his head upward, revealing beneath his hood a pair of azure eyes.
Night. Heavy rain. Standing beneath a makeshift awning, Fron warmed his hands by the campfire.
His gaze turned toward a certain direction, eyes deep with thought.
In the depths of night, his passive mental focus had been amplified to its peak. His heightened perception faintly sensed it, eyes, watching him from that direction.
It was the instinct of a powerful adventurer. Even though darkness and rain obscured all vision, he knew.
But just as he lifted his head to look, the feeling of being watched vanished.
"An illusion? Impossible…. Hah. So, the one moving the pieces on the board is also watching this battle destined to become the turning point, eh?"
His lips curved upward at the thought.
"Campfire and a rainy night, I like this kind of white noise."
....
The golden-haired god quietly withdrew his gaze. His expression, once serene, now carried a faint shadow.
"What keen insight and perception. Truly worthy of the reputation of the Night Weaver, Fron Argon."
Murmuring softly, the god did not look back. He simply gave a calm order.
"Filvis. Track the Loki Familia. Carry out the mission."
"Yes, Lord Dionysus."
....
"Rational monsters, huh. The intelligence you bring really is fresh."
"Indeed. That's the very fuse to ignite this incident. A truth deliberately hidden from most, known only to a few...."