The Dungeon City of Orario was home to no small number of Familias.
Even though Aether had never gone to the Guild to ask for details, he knew well enough: at present, the gods qualified to attend the Denatus, meaning their Familias had at least one higher-level adventurer (Lv.2 or above), numbered in the dozens.
On average, aside from the reclusive gods like Soma, each Denatus saw more than thirty gods in attendance. And those gods together commanded more than half of all the adventurers in Orario.
The remaining Lv.1s were left for the smaller, lower-tier Familias to squabble over. If they were lucky, they might even snatch a few stragglers. Like a certain ribbon-wearing goddess in the future…
The fact remained: for any Familia, having even a single Lv.2 member was enough to spark envy. It marked them as having the potential to rise into the mid-tier power blocs.
And under this larger backdrop,
"Did you hear? The Miach Familia's members have been defecting one after another lately."
"I heard the god squandered a fortune and drowned in debt. A lot of their children have lost hope."
"Wait, wasn't that Familia on par with Dian Cecht's in medicine? How can they be broke?"
"You don't know? Their captain, a canine warrior, got badly injured in the Dungeon. A hellhound took her right arm clean off. She hasn't been able to fight since."
"And their Blue Pharmacy never really brought in much money, did it? Always giving aid to broke adventurers, half the time just being exploited by freeloaders."
"Now it's gotten so bad Miach-sama can't even afford the medical fees for a prosthetic arm for his child."
"Prosthetic?"
"Yeah, one of those new ones the Dian Cecht Familia developed."
"Ah… that explains it."
================
The place: Orario's Eighth District – the high-class residential quarter.
After breakfast, Lumine, along with Tione and Lefiya, made their way toward a pure white building not far from Twilight Manor. This was the sanatorium and apothecary operated by the Dian Cecht Familia.
Today, Tione had come to sell some monster materials they'd acquired during the expedition, like a unicorn horn, prized for its powerful detoxifying properties. Ground into powder, it became the key ingredient in a high-grade antidote.
The Dian Cecht Familia regularly bought such materials from the Loki Familia. Their relationship, much like Loki's ties with the Hephaestus Familia, was essentially an alliance. In other words, another logistics daddy.
================
"The Miach Familia has collapsed?"
Hearing the gossip from nearby adventurers, Lumine's attention was drawn over.
Yes. This was something that had indeed happened in the original timeline.
"Oh, I remember now." Lefiya, walking on Lumine's left, explained:
"It must have been on the first day of our expedition. Riveria-sama mentioned seeing Miach Familia members in the Dungeon."
"Could it have been that time?"
"Yeah… a common enough tale," Tione sighed, hefting her heavy bag of monster parts. "Many adventurers, once they hit Lv.2, start to think they're suddenly invincible. That's when they're most likely to act rashly."
As she said: the Naaza Erisuis, the Miach Familia's captain, had only just reached Lv.2, at the same time as the famous Twin Stars. Her promotion had finally filled the gap of their Familia having no higher-level members.
Meanwhile, their rivals, the Dian Cecht Familia, had long since boasted the Dea Saint, Amide Teasanare, the city's most renowned healer.
Compared side by side…
"Whether it was pride or some hidden strife in the Familia, the truth is simple: one reckless step by an adventurer, and the entire Familia can fall apart."
When she wasn't clinging to Finn, Tione's thinking was surprisingly sharp. She glanced at her companions.
"Lefiya, Lumine… we should be grateful our Familia has veterans willing to stand at the front. Being captain is a huge burden. Just last night I saw Finn still awake, stressing over the paperwork for this expedition. So hardworking… and so handsome…"
The first half of her words had been normal. But the moment she brought up Finn, she went straight back into fangirl mode.
Still,
The captain carries such a burden, huh? In my case… things are probably different.
The Frigg Familia didn't even have its patron goddess around in daily life. To update her Status, Lumine had to sneak to the Tower of Babel to see her elder sister.
================
"Amide, starting today, will reduce the sales of low-tier potions. From now on, we'll focus solely on the high-end line! Hahaha!"
"Dian Cecht-sama, please don't jump from one idea to the next. We still have a warehouse full of unsold stock… and potions do expire."
"Then raise the prices of the low-tier ones! I'll never complain about too much money."
"That's basically just driving customers away…"
"Hmph! I never intended to make money off paupers anyway. No poor folk in my shop!"
By then, Lumine, Lefiya, and Tione had arrived at the apothecary's front doors. It was still early; the shop wasn't yet open.
Exchanging confused glances, the two Loki girls seemed to share the same thought: What on earth is going on inside?
And then, the urge to gossip struck like lightning. They immediately plastered themselves against the wall, striking "cat burglar cracking a safe" poses.
Lumine's lips twitched as she watched.
================
"Dian Cecht-sama, forgive my boldness, but if you feel guilty for charging Miach-sama outrageous prices for prosthetics and indirectly causing their Familia's ruin, you needn't deal with that guilt in such roundabout ways."
"Cough, cough, w-what nonsense are you spouting?"
"I mean, though it was indeed your fault, no, your shameful greed, always blinded by money, dripping with tacky jewels like some nouveau riche…"
"Hey!"
"…Even so, no matter your failings, you cannot let them harm those who truly need aid."
The calm, steady voice of a young woman, reprimanding her own Familia god in all seriousness.
Finally,
"I had people check the stock of the Blue Pharmacy. In areas where we overlap less, we'll reduce future potion production accordingly."
With a soft sigh, she concluded her arrangement.
"…Tch. Fine, have it your way." The old man's voice replied, reluctantly yielding.
And then,
"Oh, and to the guests outside, welcome!"
Tione and Lefiya froze on the spot.
Forcing awkward smiles, they pushed the door open stiffly, raising their hands in a sheepish greeting.
"Uh… g-good morning, Amide."
"We came to trade the materials we acquired during the expedition…"
"Yes, I know."
The silver-haired, violet-eyed beauty, an XP-bar-breaker if there ever was one, gestured toward the counter as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Strictly speaking, the shop isn't officially open yet. But let's begin the trade."
=============
129+ Advance Chapters Available on Patreon! Patreon.com/Veltoria
200 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
Add to Library to support