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Chapter 80: Start
While the Gods were in an uproar over Reborn knocking Apollo unconscious, Hestia sat in her seat, while Reborn sat cross-legged on the table, waiting calmly.
"Good grief, you really are..."
"What's the problem? I'm not a part of your Familia. You won't get into trouble."
"I'm already in trouble!!"
Because word had gotten out that Hestia was acquainted with a lunatic who assaulted Gods, the surrounding deities were deliberately keeping their distance from her. Hestia felt incredibly awkward and isolated.
"You really pulled a stunt like that on a God."
"If Apollo's dependents find out, you're in for a world of hurt."
"Hephaestus!! Také!!"
Just as Hestia was wallowing in her misery, a red-haired woman wearing an eyepatch over her right eye and a black-haired man dressed in ancient, plain clothes—a kantoui and trousers—approached her.
The red-haired woman was Hephaestus, the Goddess of Forging and head of the Hephaestus Familia that Welf had previously belonged to. She was also Hestia's close friend from their days in Heaven.
The black-haired man was Takemikazuchi, the God of Martial Arts and head of the Takemikazuchi Familia, which Mikoto had transferred from. Like Hephaestus, he had known Hestia since Heaven, and currently worked at a different branch of the Jagamaru-kun food stalls.
"Friends of yours?"
"Yeah. Hephaestus and Takemikazuchi. My friends from the divine realm."
"I see. I'm Reborn. An acquaintance of Hestia's. I'm not her dependent, so don't get the wrong idea."
"You seem to dislike the idea of becoming a dependent. Do you hate Gods?"
"Nah, it's just that there's only one person who gets to give me orders. I have no intention of serving under anyone else's banner, that's all."
W-What's with this kid...?
He looks like a baby, but he speaks like a grown man...
As Reborn spoke, the image of the 9th Boss of the Vongola Familia, Vongola Nono, flashed through his mind.
Hephaestus and Takemikazuchi felt a profound sense of dissonance. It was impossible to reconcile Reborn's mature, experienced words with his infant appearance.
"Thank you, both of you. For helping me out."
"Don't mention it. I would've scolded you if you'd just sat back and done nothing."
"I nearly got your dependents killed. As far as we're concerned, this still doesn't fully repay our debt."
"Besides, it's too early to relax. You may have bolstered your ranks, but the enemy still outnumbers and outclasses you. Your overwhelming disadvantage hasn't changed."
"Not a problem. I trained Bell specifically to overturn that overwhelming disadvantage."
Hearing Hephaestus's warning, Reborn simply smirked confidently.
"Besides, the Hestia Familia has him."
.....
Thirty minutes before the start of the War Game. Near the Ruins of Shreme Castle.
"I knew this from the start, but hearing it again really makes you realize this is a massive, do-or-die gamble."
"We've prepared contingencies in case the plan fails, so it won't mean instant defeat if things go wrong."
"Our victory condition is to defeat their captain. All Mr. Cranel has to do is achieve that."
"Bell, leave the rest to us and fight to your heart's content."
"Yeah, got it!"
Tsuna and the others were going over their final confirmations.
"By the way, Ryuu... Are you really okay with this? Using Crozzo's Magic Swords..."
Looking at the two magic swords Welf had forged, Tsuna remembered the story of the elves' homeland being destroyed by them. He worried that wielding the cursed blade would bring up painful memories for her.
"I don't mind. To me, there is nothing more important than saving a friend."
"I see. Thanks. I'm really glad you're here with us, Ryuu."
"P-Please don't say things like that right before the final battle...! It throws off my rhythm...!"
Tsuna's earnest gratitude caused Ryuu to frantically avert her eyes. Despite the mask she wore to hide her identity, she couldn't completely conceal the furious blush spreading across her face.
"H-Hey... does this mean..."
"That certainly seems to be the case..."
"Ms. Ryuu, since when...?"
"I-It is a misunderstanding!! I harbor no such impure feelings!!"
Welf, Mikoto, and Bell instantly picked up on the fact that Ryuu was highly conscious of Tsuna. Ryuu desperately tried to clear the misunderstanding.
"Impure feelings? What do you mean?"
"P-Please don't ask me that!!"
"Eh!? Why!?"
"This is gonna be a rough road..."
To think that even Ms. Ryuu...
Watching Tsuna's utter obliviousness to Ryuu's flustered reaction, Welf realized her feelings were completely one-sided. Bell, meanwhile, was simply shocked to see the usually cool and collected Ryuu lose her composure so spectacularly.
"I understand your pain entirely, Lady Ryuu. How many times have I felt the exact same way..."
"P-Please do not pity me!!"
The man Mikoto loved, Takemikazuchi, was just as dense as Tsuna and completely oblivious to her feelings. Because of this, Mikoto felt an intense surge of kinship with Ryuu. But Ryuu, mortified by the unsolicited sympathy, instantly snapped back at her.
.....
Thirty minutes later.
"It's about time."
Back on the 30th floor of Babel, Hermes checked his pocket watch and confirmed that it was time for the War Game to begin.
"Alright, Ouranos. Permission to invoke the power."
『Permission granted.』
Hermes spoke toward the ceiling, and for some reason, Ouranos's voice—who was supposed to be in the underground altar—echoed through the room.
Instantly, floating mirrors materialized inside Babel and all throughout the streets of Orario, projecting a crystal-clear image of the Ruins of Shreme Castle.
These were the Divine Mirrors. Artifacts capable of displaying events happening far away, and the only manifestation of Arcanum permitted in the lower world.
"Bell..."
"Fight with your Dying Will, Bell."
.....
The scene shifted back to the outskirts of the Ruins of Shreme Castle. The heavy, resonating strike of a gong echoed across the battlefield, signaling the start of the conflict.
"Let's go."
"Yeah!!"
"Right!!"
"Yes!!"
"Understood."
Following Tsuna's command—who was already in Hyper Dying Will Mode—the group charged forward to conquer the Ruins of Shreme Castle.
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