Beneath Babel Tower, in the Central Plaza, Cid still had no idea that someday he'd end up becoming a priest.
The pre-battle rally had just concluded.
With a passionate, rousing speech, Finn had dragged morale back up where it belonged. His delivery was excellent—maybe a hair behind a certain man with a small moustache, but still top-class.
When the speech ended, Cid headed straight for where the Astraea Familia was gathered.
As for all the stares around him—ignore them.
Whether people recognized him or not didn't matter. In Cid's heart, he was still just background scenery.
And besides, those looks were obviously aimed at Alicia and the others, so everything was fine. Totally fine.
The moment Cid stepped into their circle, Alicia clamped him in a headlock.
Before she could even start complaining about his "hiding his strength," something unusual happened.
A man and a woman pushed through the crowd and stopped right in front of Cid. The man wore a sneer like it was part of his face.
"Tch. They hype you up like you're something special, and you're just Level 2. You don't even look stronger than me. If you go to the front line, you'll probably die like it's nothing."
The werewolf spoke as he pleased, even though the human woman beside him kept tugging at his arm, trying to stop him.
He wasn't nobody, either. People recognized the tattoos on his face immediately.
Bete Roka. Nickname: Grey Wolf.
He was the same level as Cid right now, but he was widely acknowledged as a combat prodigy—someone with real potential to become a first-class adventurer.
"Grey Wolf," Niz stepped forward, blocking him, "are you here to pick a fight?"
Niz was a werewolf as well, and as a member of the Astraea Familia, she wasn't exactly obscure.
Everyone knew a Familia's leadership mattered.
In the Astraea Familia, Alicia was the captain, Kaguya was the vice-captain—and if they ever needed a third leader, by both reputation and ability, Niz was the obvious choice.
"Justice Fang?" Bete clicked his tongue. "I'm not talking to you. Hey, small fry—what are you, a man or not? Speak for yourself."
Bete didn't want trouble with Niz.
He was a pure strength-first adventurer. He had no reason to be hostile to a Level 3 werewolf like her.
But he also wasn't going to back down just because someone glared at him.
"Bete, stop talking!" Serena's forehead was slick with sweat; she looked like she wanted to drop to her knees and beg forgiveness. "Mr. Cid isn't even a front-line type to begin with."
Serena was no amateur—she had solid experience and talent.
After Bete joined the Veda Familia, he'd quickly become captain. Living with him for a while, Serena had learned he wasn't a bad person, and their relationship had escalated fast; they were a couple now.
But even she had to admit the truth.
Bete was unbelievably bad with words. Every time he opened his mouth, he managed to offend someone.
The Astraea Familia wasn't just strong—most of them were as gifted as Bete, if not more.
And Cid? Finn had effectively marked him as a successor. If that became public, Cid would end up with connections and influence that would only keep expanding.
The Veda Familia couldn't afford to make enemies of people like that.
"Cid," Alicia said, sensing something off, "what do you think?"
What did Cid think?
Cid had no opinion—only emotion.
He was moved.
After everything that had happened, someone was still willing to treat him like a small fry.
For that alone, Cid was ready to declare this werewolf his brother.
And honestly, being challenged by a tough guy like this—unable to properly clap back—was exactly the kind of fate a true background character deserved.
So, yes. This was perfect.
Cid even felt like applauding.
"This brother's just reminding me I'm not suited for the front line, so I shouldn't act tough," Cid said earnestly, calmly, warmly. "It's actually a kind warning. He just doesn't know how to say it. It's fine."
Cid was trying to look weak on purpose. If Bete could pile on some more mockery, even better.
Even now, Cid still had hope for his background-character career.
There was still time. He didn't have to accept defeat yet.
His "fame" was only a few days old, after all.
If something happened next—if the miracle aura faded—people would chalk it up to a flash in the pan.
And then Cid could go right back to being background scenery.
So he needed someone to step on him. Hard.
Someone like this dear werewolf brother.
But under Cid's hopeful stare, the werewolf brother went silent.
Bete shifted awkwardly, like he'd been pinned. Like Cid had somehow nailed something he didn't want seen.
The crowd's expressions grew stranger by the second.
Finally, Bete stamped his foot, red-faced and furious.
"Don't misunderstand! That's not what I meant!"
Then he turned and stormed off.
Everyone watched him go, then looked at each other, all wearing the same baffled, crooked expression.
Mariu: "Wait… did Cid just say the right thing again?"
Lyla: "No way. You can't call that tone 'good intentions.'"
Alicia: "Kaguya, that wolf's way of talking kind of sounds like you."
Kaguya: "Shut up! I talk way better than him!"
Seeing that everyone was smiling and nobody was taking it seriously, Serena finally exhaled in relief.
Then she looked at Cid with even deeper respect.
If nothing else, his composure and his ability to read people were genuinely admirable.
"Thank you so much for understanding, Mr. Cid," Serena said, bowing deeply. "Next time, I'll bring Bete properly to apologize!"
Then she ran after Bete.
Cid: "…"
Wait. That was it?
Where was the classic background-character scene?
Cid had already decided what angle he was going to use when he got kicked flying!
What a waste of emotional investment!
Honestly, Cid was starting to feel cursed. Why was it so hard to find a proper, textbook bully in Orario?
His reputation was high, his apparent strength was low—he was the perfect stepping stone.
If someone crushed him in public, the other guy would become famous, and Cid would return to being a nobody.
That was a win-win.
Cid was even willing to cooperate at full capacity!
And yet, the first guy who looked promising turned out to be a paper tiger.
Still, remembering Bete's nasty face, Cid decided the guy definitely had the raw materials.
If there was ever a chance, Cid needed to recruit him to help complete the proper background-character plotline.
He wasn't sure when he'd find another candidate.
"Cid, we're heading into the Dungeon next," Alicia said. "You be careful too."
Alicia had a mountain of complaints saved up.
Because of Cid, she'd been catching a lot of snide talk lately.
Some gods were calling her a sister-obsessed freak who spoiled her brother rotten.
She didn't even know what that term meant, but she could feel the malice behind it.
It was the first time since her rise to fame that Alicia had been targeted like this.
But after hearing Bete earlier, she strangely felt calmer.
Her little brother was still her little brother—still someone who looked weak, someone who needed his big sister's protection.
Let them say whatever they wanted.
But if this operation went badly… she might not be able to protect him anymore.
So it was worth saying goodbye properly.
"It's fine," Cid replied, a little helpless. "If there's danger, I'll hide."
In his memory, Alicia hadn't been this sentimental.
What was going on with her lately?
For this mission, the team assigned to deal with the Great Evil was the Astraea Familia, plus Riveria and Ais.
All familiar faces.
Normally, given the sheer power of Cid's magic, he should have been on that team too.
But Finn's condition was too unstable. To ensure someone could still coordinate if things went sideways, Cid had been forced to stay behind.
To be honest, neither choice was friendly to him.
If he stayed in the open under everyone's eyes, how was he supposed to act as Shadow?
After parting from his companions, Cid started walking back.
Tonight was the last real rest before the decisive clash tomorrow.
The Hestia Familia's temporary base was in a relatively busy district, and Cid passed plenty of people along the way.
To his relief, at least among ordinary citizens, he was still just a nobody.
But before he could enjoy that relief for long, two familiar figures appeared ahead—blocking his path like they owned it.
"Yo," said a god with a smile that didn't belong to anyone decent. "Formerly righteous boy. Mind sparing a moment?"
The evil god stood there with a tyrant at his side, appearing far too casually for people who could shatter a city.
The street was crowded, but they ignored everyone—looking only at Cid.
A few adventurers recognized them and immediately fled in blind panic.
Against tyrants, numbers meant nothing.
By all logic, on the eve of the decisive battle, they shouldn't have time to bother a Level 2.
But when gods decided to be unreasonable, "logic" was the first thing to die.
Cid thought for a moment, then smiled shyly.
"Sure. I've got time."
....
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