...
{3rd POV}
Ember had officially joined the Thunder Lance Party, and without wasting any time, the group decided to head out for a multi-day hunt.
After loading their gear and supplies, they boarded a wooden carriage and began their journey toward the middle-northern region of the Altena forest—a zone known for a high monster population and dangerous terrain.
As the carriage rumbled along the dirt path, Ash glanced at the bags piled near his feet and asked, "Leader, are you sure our tents will be enough for all of us?"
The responsibility of carrying supplies had mostly fallen on Ash, Jasmine, and Aurielle.
They had packed tents, preserved food, spices, water bottles, medical herbs, healing and mind potions, camping tools, and other essentials for surviving in the wild for several days.
"Relax, Ash. You'll be sharing your tent with Tet," Lance replied casually, waving her hand as if assigning sleeping arrangements was no big deal.
Ash grimaced immediately and then gave Ember a stiff look, clearly unhappy with the decision.
"At least I'm not stuck sharing a tent with Jack…" he muttered under his breath, only to earn a sharp glare from the armored weretiger sitting beside him.
Jack's ears twitched irritably, but he didn't say anything.
Their mission would last at least three full days—maybe more, depending on how many monsters they hunted and how far they traveled into the forest.
They would spend the entire time camping, exploring, tracking monster trails, and mapping out the area.
Lance turned toward Ember and asked, "What about you, Tet? Any complaints so far?"
Despite the fact that Ember had joined them barely half an hour ago, he had agreed to accompany them immediately, treating the sudden invitation as a spontaneous adventure.
"I've stayed outside before. I can manage just fine. Worst case, I can sleep up on the trees," Ember replied calmly.
During his previous solo hunts, it wasn't uncommon for him to sleep high up among the branches where monsters couldn't easily reach him.
"I'm already starting to like you," Lance said with a grin, clearly pleased by his adaptability.
Nearly two hours later, the carriage finally slowed down and came to a halt.
The driver announced their arrival, and the group stepped off.
The dense forest loomed ahead, filled with towering trees, hanging vines, and the distant calls of various beasts.
"We're here. From this point on, we move on foot," Lance instructed.
Ember nodded, and she clapped her hands loudly.
"Everyone, get your things ready!"
As the others began lifting their packs, Ember stepped forward and offered, "Let me carry one of the bags and help out. I don't mind."
But Lance immediately blocked him with a raised hand.
"Tet, listen carefully. Me, Jack, and you— we're the front-liners. We take the hits and fight in close combat. It's their role to carry supplies and support us. Don't interfere with their jobs and just follow my lead."
Her tone was firm enough to make him stop in place.
Ember awkwardly scratched his cheek and nodded.
He wasn't trying to overstep; he was simply trying to be polite.
Jasmine, noticing his discomfort, gave him a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Tet, but really, it's fine. Carrying the supplies is our responsibility. You focus on staying safe in the front," she reassured him.
Aurielle and Ash also seemed to understand he was just trying to be courteous.
It wasn't uncommon for a newcomer to feel awkward when joining a fully functioning team.
"Alright then! We'll operate using our standard formation," Lance declared with a firm, authoritative tone that immediately made everyone straighten up.
"Jack, you'll take point right in front of me. Ash and Aurielle, you two will stay directly behind me. Jasmine, you stay behind them. And Tet you'll position yourself beside Jasmine. Your primary responsibility will be to protect her, as well as Ash and Aurielle, if the frontline gets breached."
Lance spoke with the confidence of someone who had led this party for a long time, and none of the members objected.
They simply nodded in unison, showing they were used to following her instructions without hesitation.
Ember nodded as well, accepting his assigned role, and the group proceeded deeper into the forest.
The moment the canopy swallowed them, Lance clapped her hands lightly and said, "Since Tet is joining us from today onward, everyone should properly introduce themselves. Make sure he remembers who's who."
Jasmine took the initiative to start.
"Tet, my name is Jasmine. I'm a Level 2 adventurer, and I come from the Aeshina Forest. My main role in the party is as a healer, but I also possess Ice Magic capable of both offense and defense."
She smiled politely, walking with a calm rhythm.
Ember nodded internally.
'So she's primarily a healer, but she can use offensive magic as well. That gives her more flexibility in a fight.'
In Danmachi, most healers had only one or two healing-type spells and very rarely possessed multiple magics.
Mages in this world weren't known for overwhelming versatility; instead, they made up for it with sheer destructive power and overwhelming firepower in their specialties.
Aurielle was next.
"I'm Aurielle," she said clearly, her purple hair swaying as she walked.
"I'm also a Level 2 adventurer. I was born in a village called Edas, up in the Beol Mountains. I am the primary magician of the group, specializing in high-output fire magic. I have both single-target nukes and large-scale area-of-effect spells meant for wiping out groups."
Her expression stayed composed, but there was pride in her voice.
Then the grey-haired, brown-eyed Elf stepped forward for his turn.
"I'm Ash," he said simply.
"Also Level 2. I'm the party's Archer and Scout. I handle reconnaissance, long-range support, and general battlefield awareness. I'm also capable of using Wind Magic for mobility, enhancing my arrows, or creating openings."
His tone was clipped and efficient, matching someone used to observing quietly rather than talking.
One after another, each explanation made Ember more aware of how well-structured and well-balanced the Thunder Lance Party was.
They weren't a group thrown together randomly—they had defined roles, teamwork, and clear synergy.
"Ash's Wind Magic, while not overwhelmingly powerful, is extremely versatile," Jasmine explained as they continued walking through the forest.
"He can infuse wind into his arrows to increase their velocity, making them capable of piercing through sturdier monsters that a regular arrow would struggle against."
Ash's cheeks reddened slightly at the praise.
"It's really nothing special," he muttered awkwardly.
"Compared to your magic—what was it again?" he asked, glancing at Ember.
Ember answered calmly, "It's a fire-type magic. I also possess a healing spell, but it is strictly self-healing. Meaning, I can only use it on myself, not on others."
Lance tapped Jack's shoulder.
"Jack, it's your turn to introduce yourself properly."
Jack nodded and spoke with a steady voice, "I am Jack Wills. I'm a Weretiger, and I serve as the Tanker and primary frontline defender of the party. I don't possess any magic, but my physical strength, endurance, and durability compensate for it."
His tone was dignified, almost stoic.
Unlike the others, he made sure to mention his surname, which hinted at a strong sense of identity or pride in his lineage.
Finally, all eyes shifted to Lance as she placed a hand on her chest and smirked confidently.
"I am Lance. As I mentioned earlier, I hail from the Wishe Forest. I'm a Level 2 adventurer and a proud Magic Swordswoman. I currently possess a single Thunder-type magic, which I've been using since I first learned magic."
Her voice carried its usual mix of authority and self-assurance.
Then she added with a casual shrug, "And just to remind you—every single one of us, except you, is part of the Athena Familia. So you're the lone outsider among us."
The way she said it wasn't mocking; it was more like stating a fact to help him settle in.
Ember nodded and began reintroducing himself in a more composed manner.
"Allow me to properly reintroduce myself. My name is Tithonus. I am from Alf's Royal Forest. I am a Level 2 adventurer and a Magic Swordsman by profession."
The moment he finished, Lance leaned closer with clear curiosity in her eyes.
"Since you're from the Royal Forest, I have to ask… have you ever personally seen any royalty or High-Elves? Or more specifically—Prince Ember? Have you ever seen him?" Her tone carried genuine interest, almost bordering on excitement.
Ember let out a small laugh.
"I was fortunate enough to see several High-Elves. And yes, Prince Ember running away from the Royal Forest is still a hot topic, even after all these years, isn't it?"
His voice carried a hint of irony that only he understood fully.
Ash burst into a small laugh and added, "Well, the commotion has cooled down by now, but… our captain still has a personal crush on Prince Ember."
His grin widened as he said it.
Lance immediately whipped her head toward him with a threatening glare.
"Ash, do you want me to beat you until you're black and blue?" she growled, her face turning slightly pink despite her attempt to act intimidating.
She quickly turned away, clearly embarrassed.
The others snickered under their breaths, while Ember simply blinked, unsure how to process being told that someone in front of him supposedly admired him... again.
"Have you ever actually seen Prince Ember in person?" Ember asked, unable to stop himself from feeling a bit nervous as the question slipped out.
His voice carried a hint of unease, though he tried his best to keep it subtle.
"Unfortunately, no," Lance replied, shaking her head with a small sigh.
"I've only ever seen a single portrait of him. But even that was enough to inspire me. It was because of Prince Ember that I decided to leave the Wishe Forest. About six months after news of his escape spread, I made up my mind, left the forest behind, and traveled all the way to Altena. I wanted to find him, and more importantly, I wanted to carve out my own path—just like he did!" she said proudly, her chest puffed out with admiration and excitement.
"Yeah, yeah—our perfect captain has a crush on someone who's like a whole decade younger than her. What shocking, groundbreaking news," Ash teased with a smirk, earning a sharp glare from Lance.
She looked like she wanted to hurl her spear at his face if she could get away with it.
Ember, meanwhile, let out a stiff, awkward chuckle.
He genuinely wasn't sure how to react to something like this without exposing himself.
Lance continued speaking, ignoring Ash as best as she could.
"A lot of people scold Prince Ember for what he did," she said, her tone firm.
"They call him irresponsible, or selfish for running away. But I don't agree with them at all. I actually admire him. Only after I arrived in Altena and joined Athena Familia did I finally realize what I was missing in my life!" Her voice was brimming with sincerity and genuine admiration for the prince.
'Ah great, another woman who somehow ended up having a crush on me,' Ember thought dryly, feeling a headache forming.
Honestly, it would have been better if he hadn't learned this at all.
Things were already complicated enough in his life with the secret identity that only few knew.
Thankfully, he always dyed his hair black, and that single habit had saved him countless times.
Black hair was commonly associated with ordinary commoners, and there was absolutely no reason anyone would believe the royal prince—who possessed a legendary heritage and the authority to command other Elves—would ever dye his naturally magnificent green hair pitch-black just to blend in.
The idea itself was absurd from their perspective.
'Important reminder: under no circumstances should they ever find out that I am the freaking royal prince she's admiring,' Ember told himself sternly, mentally carving the rule into stone.
As they walked deeper into the forest together, they encountered several weak monsters along the way—groups of Kobolds, packs of goblins, and even a few scattered Orcs.
None of them posed a real threat to the party.
Ash and Jasmine stepped forward to handle most of the encounters, swiftly and efficiently dispatching the monsters without breaking much of a sweat.
The others followed behind, chatting lightly or watching the battles while maintaining their formation.
...
Meanwhile, in the Royal Palace of Altena—
"Thank you, all of you, for attending this meeting despite your busy schedules," said a stunning woman dressed in the standard Olympian-style attire.
Her appearance immediately drew the attention of everyone present: long, silky white hair that flowed down her back, golden eyes that shimmered with a depth of ancient wisdom, and an outfit that, despite being only slightly revealing, did nothing to hide her outstanding and almost overwhelming physical features.
Yet even with her enchanting beauty and figure that could easily tempt any man, not a single male in the hall dared to entertain even the smallest improper thought.
Because the woman before them was not just anyone—she was their leader, the supreme ruler of Altena, their Familia Goddess, and the very embodiment of wisdom itself.
Goddess Athena.
"I called all of you here today for a particular and important reason," she continued, not wasting time on unnecessary pleasantries.
"We have recently received a formal request from none other than the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia."
"And what exactly might that request be, Goddess?" one of the attendees asked with curiosity.
Athena crossed her long legs gracefully and gestured outward.
"Merina, please… show them the design."
Merina immediately stepped forward and unfurled an enormous diagram that extended across the table, allowing everyone to clearly see the contents.
The moment the drawing was revealed, Gandalf's eyes widened.
"This… This is magnificent…" he muttered in awe.
Others leaned in, whispering among themselves in shock and amazement.
Athena nodded and explained, "It is a blueprint that represents the pinnacle and perfect union of advanced science and high-tier magic. A floating ship—an airborne vessel capable of sustained flight. This is the creation that both Zeus and Hera Familias hope to see built in the future."
She paused for emphasis before continuing, "However, there is a significant problem. The materials required to build something of this scale simply do not exist in sufficient quantity in the Lower World. In fact, based on current resources and craftsmanship limitations, merely reaching the stage where we could begin constructing such a ship would take several hundred years."
"Hundreds of years?!" Gandalf shouted in disbelief, clutching his chest dramatically as if the shock had nearly given him a heart attack.
Several others grimaced—none had expected a timeline so unreasonable.
Athena raised a hand to calm the room.
"We will not be attempting to construct this exact floating ship—not anytime soon. Instead, we will begin by accumulating experience and slowly building up our technological foundation."
She leaned forward, her eyes shining with ambition.
"I want us to start developing and building magic-powered ships capable of traveling across the seas using magical energy as their primary fuel source. If everything proceeds according to my vision, then the knowledge and progress we gain from creating these smaller-scale magic vessels will drastically shorten the time required before we can someday attempt to construct an airborne ship like the one shown in the diagram."
Her voice carried a subtle but unmistakable excitement, something rare for the composed Goddess of Wisdom, showing just how grand she considered this future project to be.
"Is that so? Then when will we actually be able to build a ship like this, Goddess?" Gandalf asked eagerly, sounding far more excited than a man his age should.
Athena, showing no hesitation or mercy, replied flatly, "In about a century or so—"
Her blunt answer instantly killed Gandalf's enthusiasm.
The old man froze, his excitement evaporating on the spot.
"No! Absolutely not! I refuse to accept this!" Gandalf shouted dramatically, clutching his head in despair as if the world had personally betrayed him.
Merina smirked at his misery and said cheerfully, "Don't worry, Gandalf. When the ship is finally built, I'll make sure to put a beautiful bouquet of flowers on your grave. I'll even visit twice a year."
Gandalf's face twitched.
"Damn Elf!" he snapped through gritted teeth.
Merina only laughed softly, completely unbothered.
Athena watched the exchange and let out a long sigh as a flood of disappointment washed over her.
'The Lower World is ridiculously backward…' she thought.
The frustration she felt wasn't even concealed anymore.
It had taken her literal decades—decades—to teach these mortals something as basic as Athena's Three Laws of Motion.
Three.
And even then, half of them still mixed them up. '
These people couldn't even grasp the most fundamental principles of magnetism and electricity. If they possessed even a fraction more intelligence or intuition, constructing a ship of this level might take ten years, maybe fifteen—not an entire century.'
She knew the problem clearly: as long as magic was included in the explanation, they learned quickly.
They could grasp concepts the moment a magical analogy was inserted.
But the second magic was removed and the explanation relied solely on scientific logic, the entire thing suddenly became incomprehensible gibberish to them, as if she were speaking in ancient divine scripture.
To say that she led the country with the smartest individuals in the world was technically true, but compared to her own divine wisdom, they were still like primitive ape-men stumbling in the dark.
And she wasn't exaggerating or being dramatic.
Back in the Heavens, she used to design and construct actual spaceships alongside Hephaestus—massive vessels capable of bending and folding space itself for instantaneous travel.
Yet here she was, struggling to teach basic electromagnetic theory.
Suddenly, Merina looked at her with a suspiciously sweet smile.
"Goddess, why do I get the feeling that you're insulting all of us inside your mind again?"
Athena stiffened ever so slightly and turned her head away.
"I am not," she replied quickly—maybe a little too quickly—her voice carrying a hint of panic as she avoided eye contact.
"Oh? Really now?" Merina asked, clearly not believing a single word.
The elf's smile widened, her expression saying she knew exactly what was going on.
After all, Athena's habit of mentally calling them monkeys or ape-men was something Merina had noticed a long time ago.
And it definitely did not sit well with a proud, elegant elf like her.
Seeing their Goddess in such an awkward and uncharacteristically flustered state, the others present couldn't stop themselves from laughing.
Moments like these were extremely rare—almost legendary—because Athena, in their eyes, was practically flawless.
Yet somehow, whenever Merina was in the room, the normally composed and dignified Goddess always slipped up in the most amusing ways.
Trying to regain her composure, Athena crossed her arms and shifted the focus.
"What about your opinion on this matter, Arcesius? Do you genuinely believe you can create a functional Magic Ship within a decade?" Her tone carried a slight challenge, almost provoking him on purpose.
Arcesius immediately straightened like a soldier receiving a royal command. "Goddess! Now that you have personally spoken such words, I will accept this as a direct challenge!" he declared with fiery enthusiasm.
His eyes practically sparked with determination.
Arcesius was one of the five individuals in all of Altena who possessed both the mystical aptitude and the mage-development capabilities required for such large-scale projects.
The other four were Gandalf, Merina, Autolycus, and Amphithea.
These five were essentially the pillars of magical research within the kingdom.
Just then, Athena snapped her fingers as a sudden memory resurfaced.
"Oh right, I recall you recently sold a Magic Grimoire to an elf, didn't you, Gandalf?"
The room immediately turned to him.
Gandalf sighed with a helpless smile.
"Nothing escapes your notice, does it, Goddess? Haha… yes, I did sell one. I obtained information on the buyer as well. His name is Tithonus Ber. He belongs to Aurora Familia in Argon Town. He's originally from Alf's Royal Forest. Beyond that, I haven't uncovered much else."
Athena nodded thoughtfully.
"It's not every day someone can afford a Magic Grimoire. They're expensive, rare, and heavily regulated. Anyone capable of purchasing one becomes a person of interest by default. We must always keep track of our potential buyers and understand their background thoroughly."
She leaned back, tapping her finger against her arm.
"Still… the surname Ber feels oddly familiar, doesn't it?" she remarked.
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Ber… Ember. The prince who escaped from Alf's Royal Forest and vanished without a trace over seven years ago."
The moment she said it, everyone present felt the memory rise to the surface.
The missing prince, whose disappearance caused chaos and endless rumors for years.
Gandalf shrugged carelessly.
"Still no news of him? If you ask me, the boy is probably long dead by now."
His words earned immediate glares from the elves—especially Merina and Amphithea—who clearly did not appreciate someone casually declaring the possible death of a royal elf, especially that royal elf.
Merina crossed her arms sharply.
"Gandalf, must you always say the most tactless thing possible? Do you want the entire elf community to riot against you?" she muttered.
Amphithea frowned deeply.
"Watch your mouth. You may not care, but some people still hold hope."
Gandalf, realizing the hostility rising around him, coughed lightly and looked away—but not apologetically, just awkwardly.
Athena simply observed them, her eyes gleaming with a strange mix of interest and calculation.
The room buzzed with low murmurs as the topic of the missing prince resurfaced, a topic most had unofficially given up on yet could never fully forget.
"I mean—come on, it's practically as if he just disappeared into thin air. No trail, no rumors, not even a vague sighting anywhere. Anyone would start doubting his survival at that point, right?" Gandalf said, his voice carrying a defensive edge as he tried to justify himself.
Athena smirked slightly, resting her cheek against her knuckles.
"Gandalf, you should really watch your words. Altena has plenty of elf supremacists scattered around, and they might take offense to your careless comments," she teased, though her eyes warned him that she was only half-joking.
Still, she continued with a contemplative tone.
"Regardless, I genuinely wonder where he escaped to. I personally reviewed the details of his escape plan back then. And I must say, it wasn't something a typical elf youth could have put together. The entire thing was nearly flawless, cleverly executed, and it caused Larfal no small amount of headaches. I can admit he displayed remarkable wisdom for his age."
Gandalf opened his mouth to retort, but Merina stepped in before another argument could start.
"Alright, alright, let's stop circling this same topic for the thousandth time. We've discussed the missing prince enough for one lifetime," she said, waving her hand dismissively.
Her interruption earned a subtle pout from Athena, who had actually been enjoying the momentary shift in discussion.
With Merina dragging them back to the original issue, the room's atmosphere returned to the earlier seriousness surrounding the construction of magic ships.
The diagrams, plans, and future expectations once again became the primary focus.
None of them—neither Athena nor her elite council—had the faintest clue that the very elf they were casually discussing, the same prince whose disappearance once shook the entire continent, was now walking around under the name Tithonus.
They remained completely unaware that the youth they assumed dead was out there, alive, and unknowingly crossing paths with their kingdom.
To be continued...
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