"Something else?"
Hestia blinked, confused. She glanced at the two figures beside her—who seemed completely unfazed and were busy discussing the flavor of their meal—and then back at Focalors, who wore a gentle, enigmatic smile.
"Are you really sure you don't want the Hephaestus Familia to forge your weapons? I'm not just bragging, but in Orario, having gear custom-made by them isn't just a huge boost for adventuring; it's a serious status symbol."
In other words, being able to afford bespoke equipment rather than mass-produced items was practically a sign of luxury.
Focalors merely responded with that same smile.
"Alright, if that's how you feel," Hestia said, deciding not to press the issue further.
She truly had intended to get on good terms with Focalors. After all, both Furina and Sushang practically had "future star," "meta-breaker," and "ultra-SSR" written all over them.
Plus, Focalors clearly possessed a brilliant mind, so it was only natural for Hestia to think ahead and look for ways to build a connection. She wasn't the type of deity Hestia disliked; in fact, she was quite comfortable to be around.
Perhaps, if they ever reached the point of going on an expedition, their two Familias could watch each other's backs.
So, despite her earlier remark about "only being able to help squeeze in a table," Hestia had actually been prepared to swallow her pride—which was already non-existent—and shamelessly beg for a favor if Focalors had asked. Now that Focalors had declined, she had to shelf that thought for the time being.
Still… what exactly did she need to discuss with Hephaestus? It had to be something even more important than weapons.
Focalors wasn't particularly worried about gear. Sushang had already made it crystal clear: to master the Edge of Taixuan, one had to use the Xuanyuan Sword. Every disciple would eventually forge their own.
The sword wasn't just a weapon; it was a crucial medium for cultivating one's Sword Intent.
The only reason Furina wasn't using one right now was simply that she lacked the raw strength to wield such a heavy blade for long. Practicing with it was fine, but taking it into the Dungeon would be reckless.
In short, the weapon problem would solve itself the moment Furina became strong enough to use a Xuanyuan Sword consistently.
The four of them had a noisy but satisfying meal at the shop. Sushang had intended to share the story of her and Furina's first day of adventuring with Syr, but unfortunately, she wasn't at the store today.
Instead, they were served by a serious, cold-mannered elf girl.
Once the group parted ways, Furina finally brought up the details of the adventure to Focalors.
"The Ōmononushi Familia, and that thieving supporter," Focalors mused, sitting on the edge of her bed. "You suspect that the supporter might not be the 'second type' they claim to be?"
"I just feel it's a possibility," Furina said, waving a hand. "Actually, both Sushang and I feel that the guy, Lydi, wasn't lying."
"Indeed. In most cases, it's impossible to hide a lie from me," Sushang affirmed. "Unless one can manage to keep their internal organs and breath perfectly steady while doing it."
"The Edge of Taixuan can even be used as a lie detector?" Furina marveled at the wonder of that technique once again.
"It's just sensing the flow of breath, that's all," Sushang explained.
"I'll keep an eye on this," Focalors said after a moment of reflection. "Though we are merely travelers here, Justice is inviolable to Furina and me. Since the former Astraea Familia and the current Ganesha Familia have contributed so much to Orario, it is only right that I do my part as well."
Both she and Furina were gods of justice; tackling corruption and misconduct was their duty.
Furina wasn't surprised by this at all. She turned to Sushang and smiled. "In that case, let's go hunt down that little thief tomorrow."
She had already decided to intervene. However, as a member of the Focalors Familia, every move she made would be interpreted as the will of her goddess.
Even though she knew what Focalors would decide, it was important to stay on the same page.
"We'll start with this thief, then gradually spread our influence to the entire group of 'second-type' supporters to establish a better sense of order." Furina's voice was full of determination and passion.
She looked at the girl beside her. "Sushang, will you join me?"
"Of course! I'm here to protect you. If this is your decision, I'm more than happy to tag along!" Sushang nodded without hesitation. "Besides, I can't stand by and watch when there are no clear rules. If we can clean things up, that would be for the best!"
"But this isn't something that can be solved overnight." Focalors watched the two of them, their eyes shining with excitement, and smiled to keep them grounded. "Catching this supporter might be easy, but establishing order in a place that has none is no simple task."
They were well aware of that. The biggest hurdle was… manpower.
Without enough people, they couldn't possibly supervise everyone or discuss disciplinary measures. Even if they took the initiative to report the issue to the Guild, they would likely only be met with a lukewarm "we'll take it under consideration."
Here, strength was everything. Without it, you didn't even have the standing to take responsibility.
Growing the Familia and training enough adventurers would take time. Of course, there were ways to gain fame quickly to attract new members.
"Become Level 2 as fast as you can. Let all of Orario see your names," Focalors said. "Reaching Level 2 quickly will not only spark discussion and draw attention, but it will also allow us to establish the reputation of 'Justice.'"
"Even here in Orario, there are adventurers who harbor justice in their hearts and are willing to act on it. All you need to do is place the name of the Focalors Familia somewhere impossible to ignore."
That was a brilliant strategy.
Orario had something similar to newspapers, and adventurers were broadly split into two tiers: Lower and Upper.
Level 1s were the Lower tier, accounting for fifty percent of the population, while everyone else was Upper.
The adventurers who broke into the Upper tier and earned titles were reported in the paper daily, as they had not only crossed the threshold but also earned the recognition of the gods.
Among them, the fastest risers were granted a dedicated spotlight—just like the Sword Princess had been in the past.
And that was their next target.
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL