"Things truly do not look optimistic."
Forced to join the Apollo Familia, Daphne indeed did not possess any particular loyalty, yet she also understood the simple principle of being in a position and fulfilling its duties.
Dispatching nearly eighty percent of their adventurers had a very clear objective.
Relying on the numerical advantage of their adventurers to track the members of the Hestia Familia—but why had the outcome… turned out completely different from the pre-battle arrangements?
She could not understand it.
The nearly thirty adventurers led by Miller had been surrounded by an unfamiliar elf. They had no possibility of victory; their defeat was only a matter of time.
When James and Stanley faced Ron directly, they had already been completely crushed.
Even the safeguard she had put in place—the pair of elite adventurers she had dispatched to take a detour along another street and carry out a flanking decapitation strike against Hestia…
Before the plan failed, the message that came back was:
A new member of the Hestia Familia who had only recently transferred in—Yamato Mikoto—had concealed her strength. In reality, she was a Level 3 adventurer.
"When they complete their rendezvous…"
"With the current strength of the Apollo Familia's members, can they truly win this War Game?"
Daphne stared at the sheepskin map before her.
She stood there in a daze. The unfamiliar elf who could single-handedly confront so many Familia members was likely around Level 4 in strength.
Perhaps even higher!
Mikoto had personally admitted to being Level 3—so what about Ron, the remaining one and also the target of this War Game?
"…"
There was nothing shameful about admitting defeat.
Who could have imagined that the Hestia Familia, established only one month ago, had quietly accumulated such formidable strength—and not by following the path of numbers?
An absolute elite doctrine!
As if noticing her close friend's dispirited state, Cassandra—who had not participated in the frontline battlefield—raised her head, her gaze concerned, and asked: "Did something happen?"
"The situation is very bad."
Daphne shook her head lightly, her expression grim.
She could not help recalling the prophetic dream Cassandra had described: in this War Game, the Apollo Familia would be completely annihilated in flames.
Could it be…
Had she truly misunderstood her?
"If the Apollo Familia is unable to withstand the Hestia Familia's attack next…"
"Then perhaps… the War Game is already over."
However, just as Daphne was about to relay the compiled intelligence to the god Apollo and the Familia captain Hyakinthos, a loud crash came from outside the manor.
It sounded as if the iron gate had been kicked open without the slightest restraint.
Immediately afterward, one of the adventurers stationed around the manor rushed inside with an extremely grim expression, heading straight for the meeting room where their god Apollo was.
"Lord Apollo…"
"Ron—he broke through our defensive line and has already reached the entrance of the Familia headquarters!!"
The moment he heard the report, Apollo's originally languid sitting posture straightened instantly. His gaze filled with fury as he looked toward the adventurer.
From the panic in his eyes… it was clear that the matter was real. His mind went blank, and immediately afterward an uncontrollable rage surged up, burning away the last remnants of his reason.
"Why?!"
"Even if the Hestia Familia found a supporter, with such a huge difference in numbers, how could Ron… reach the gate of our Familia headquarters?!"
Bang!
On the table beside the ornate court chair, the exquisite porcelain plate filled with fresh fruit was swept clean by Apollo in his rage.
The sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the silent meeting room.
The first to bear the brunt of it was Daphne, who served as the commander. Facing Apollo's furious and twisted gaze, now that matters had reached this point, she did not appear particularly flustered.
She merely stated the battle situation calmly.
"The Hestia Familia… most likely concealed their strength. Mikoto, who only transferred over not long ago, is already a Level 3 adventurer."
"Including Ron."
"According to the information relayed back by Familia members at the scene, Level 2 adventurers simply cannot hold him off. His exact strength is still unclear."
"As for the supporter who does not belong to any faction, I estimate that their level is around Level 4."
"…"
This was completely different from the intelligence they had gathered through various channels before the War Game. Even setting aside the unfamiliar elf who had come to assist, even though their numbers were small, the Hestia Familia in Orario was undoubtedly a D-rank Familia!
As if all his strength had been drained away, Apollo collapsed back into the luxurious court chair. He recalled Hestia's reaction that night at the ballroom, including the unusual wager set up by Hephaestus…
All the signs pointed to one conclusion: this War Game—initiated because he had taken an interest in Ron—had been within the other side's expectations from beginning to end.
'Seize all the Apollo Familia's property through a War Game?'
"…"
Just thinking of this, cold sweat continuously seeped from Apollo's forehead. At first, he had believed that Ron had not sought adventurer supporters because he had already given up struggling against defeat.
Hmm…
To be precise, he had long since dug a pit for him!
'Could Hestia have such brains?'
Recalling that one in the heavens—the Hestia who stayed secluded every day, never attending any gatherings of the gods, to the point of being nicknamed the "Virgin Goddess"—he did not believe this arrangement had been made by her.
Then, Apollo recalled the details of his first contact with Ron, when he had sent Hyakinthos with the highest level of courtesy to invite the other party to visit his Familia.
After all, at that time he had not yet fully prepared to extend a genuine invitation.
If they had not met face to face, and the appearance was truly unbearable to look at, there would be no need to waste each other's time—and Ron's reason for directly refusing had been:
"I have no intention whatsoever of changing Familias."
"…"
At the ballroom that night, the boy who had not voiced any opinion—harmless, almost like a little rabbit—quietly standing beside Hestia.
The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became…
Apollo finally realized it belatedly: the one who had been scheming against him, causing the situation to develop into its current state, was not a god, but that newcomer adventurer!
Noticing the god's stunned expression, even though the situation was more severe than ever before, Hyakinthos did not retreat. After being treated by his patron deity and having his appearance restored to new life, he had already made his decision.
'No matter what, I will protect Apollo.'
Even though the fury deep within had already twisted the handsome face of the youth—whose beauty rivaled that of an elf—his movements remained elegant, and his tone was fervent: "Lord Apollo."
"It has not yet reached the worst situation. No matter what, I will protect you…"
"…"
At this point, Hyakinthos looked toward the core members gathered in the meeting hall and returned to the cold expression he had at the beginning. Even his tone now was filled with resolve.
"Protect Lord Apollo's honor."
"No matter what—"
"We will defend against the invaders to the death, eliminate any factor that could threaten Lord Apollo, and remove every disadvantage. Everyone, prepare for battle!"
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