Hyakinthos was deeply jealous of Aurora Polaris.
Every single day, Lord Apollo talked about him. He praised the boy's appearance, recounted his achievements, and spoke his name with an almost frightening passion. Then, every time, he'd sigh with a lovesick expression on his face. Watching it happen over and over again filled Hyakinthos with burning jealousy.
As early as three months ago, Apollo had already tried to recruit Ryoji. Back when he was still fighting in the arena, Apollo had extended an invitation to him. But Ryoji, who was only interested in joining one of the strongest Familias, turned him down.
Apollo had been ready to resort to underhanded methods, only to hear that Ryoji had joined the Loki Familia instead. As unwilling as he was to give up, Apollo had no choice. Provoking the Loki Familia was no joke. One wrong move could wipe out the entire Apollo Familia, and even Apollo himself might end up being sent back to Heaven.
But as Ryoji's fame continued to grow, Apollo heard his name more and more often. The more famous Aurora became, the more Apollo sighed. Recently, with Aurora's reputation reaching its peak, Apollo seemed to see no one else. Every day he lamented that his Familia wasn't strong enough to attract someone like Aurora, regretting it over and over again.
Hyakinthos watched all of these changes with his own eyes. He idolized Lord Apollo with all his heart, and because of that, his jealousy toward the Aurora he'd never even met grew stronger every day, tormenting him constantly.
And now... Apollo had set his sights on Bell Cranel. Maybe it was just to distract himself or change his focus. After all, Bell was nothing more than an ordinary-looking rookie.
Hyakinthos had gone to all the trouble of setting the stage, only for Aurora to get in the way. Of all people... why did it have to be Aurora? Anyone else would've been one thing. But it just had to be Aurora.
The fire of jealousy inside him burned even hotter. Still, no matter how jealous he was, the gap in their Levels was an insurmountable chasm. Hyakinthos understood that he couldn't put Lord Apollo's Familia in danger, so he buried his resentment deep inside and kept his head down. No matter what happened, he would never dare provoke Aurora.
But that rabbit...
A cold light flashed through Hyakinthos's eyes. As long as Lord Apollo got what he wanted in the end... losing an arm or a leg or two shouldn't matter much.
---
The Crozzo family was a legendary line of magic swordsmiths.
According to legend, the magic swords they forged possessed enough power to burn mountains and boil seas, standing far above ordinary magic swords. Long ago, the Kingdom of Rakia, led by Ares, had swept across numerous nations with the countless Crozzo magic swords they possessed, leaving forests and mountains alike engulfed in flames.
But for some unknown reason, the Crozzo family eventually lost the ability to forge magic swords, and the once-famous bloodline gradually fell into decline.
Before leaving on the expedition, Ryoji had been running all over Orario trying to find magic swords he could copy. During that time, a weapon shop owner had told him this story, so he'd remembered it ever since. And Welf Crozzo was a descendant of that very family.
"I'm sorry... but I don't forge magic swords anymore." Faced with Ryoji's question, Welf looked uncomfortable, but he forced himself to answer.
It wasn't that he couldn't. He simply wouldn't. He still possessed the talent to forge magic swords, and the ones he made would be no weaker than those of his ancestors. But he hated weapons that broke. He refused to create weapons that would eventually leave their owners. Because of that, he'd sworn never to forge another magic sword, dedicating himself instead to creating powerful ordinary weapons.
"I won't comment on your ambitions," Ryoji said, shaking his head, "but your way of thinking is too narrow."
"It's only natural for a blacksmith to love their weapons."
"But don't treat weapons and people as the same thing. By the time you realize what you've lost, it'll already be too late."
Welf fell silent.
Although Ryoji was disappointed that he wouldn't get to see a genuine Crozzo magic sword, he had no intention of forcing a blacksmith to make something against his will.
"Um... is that Amazoness from the other day okay?"
"You mean Tione? She's perfectly fine."
After answering Lily's question, Ryoji waved goodbye to the three of them before turning and leaving.
"Ryoji-san really is a good person." Watching the young man's departing back, Bell couldn't help but sigh in admiration. 'He looks about the same age as me... He only arrived in Orario a month earlier than I did... So why is he already so mature and accomplished... while I'm still so inexperienced?'
"Bell-sama isn't going to... turn gay, is he?!"
"Of course not!"
"...Don't treat weapons and people as the same thing..." Welf fell into deep thought. Lady Hephaestus had once told him something very similar. 'Was I really the one who's been wrong all this time?'
---
Early the next morning...
'Boom!'
A faint explosion echoed through the city.
Ryoji leaped onto the top of a nearby tower and scanned Orario with his exceptional eyesight. Before long, he spotted smoke rising from the northwest district, just across a street.
"Things are lively this early in the morning. That's Orario for you." With that comment, he returned to the courtyard and resumed practicing his swordsmanship.
The Loki Familia wasn't Orario's police force. They didn't have to get involved in every incident.
---
"It looks like the Apollo Familia attacked the Hestia Familia."
"Apollo again? Doesn't that god have any shame?"
"What a troublesome time."
By breakfast, some members had already gathered the latest news.
"Captain, what should we do?" Someone turned toward the Pallum captain.
The dining hall felt unusually empty today. Only a little over twenty male members were present, with none of the women in sight.
"We have no reason to involve ourselves," Finn shook his head. "And we're not exactly free either. We have other matters to deal with."
Those "other matters"... Judging from his tone, there was only one possibility.
"The expedition's aftermath has been taken care of. Our next task is a full-scale search for the remaining members of Evilus," Finn's expression grew serious. "Loki and the others are investigating outside the city, but we can't ignore what's happening inside Orario. Starting today, each executive will lead a search team to investigate the whereabouts of any Evilus remnants. Ryoji, you too. Stay out of the Dungeon for the next few days."
"Understood," Ryoji nodded.
"That said," Gareth stroked his long beard, "Orario's huge. We can't exactly wander around like headless chickens."
"I've already thought about that," Finn smiled. "The Evilus remnants have managed to hide in Orario for years without being exposed. That means they're staying somewhere isolated, or somewhere so well hidden that it's difficult to find. And in all of Orario, there's only one place that fits that description."
As soon as he said that, Gareth, Bete, Raul, and several others immediately understood.
"What? Where?" Ryoji blinked. 'How am I the only one who doesn't know this again?'
"Daedalus Street." Without keeping everyone in suspense, Finn answered with a smile.
'(End of Chapter)'
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