"That's all the information."
"…Ron has already headed into the Dungeon to explore. Accompanying him is a Level 2 adventurer. As for the specifics, he also appears to be Level 2."
"At present, this is all the intelligence the Soma Familia has provided."
Compared to the elite strategy of the 'Apollo' Familia, the Soma Familia—whose overall level is comparable to the bottom tier—has one of the few advantages of possessing a large number of adventurers.
Carrying out search missions in the Dungeon is therefore relatively simple.
This was also the main reason Hyakinthos found Zanis. Since he had a conflict with Ron, and in terms of intelligence networks, he would at least be more flexible than the Apollo Familia.
If this were Orario…
There would be no need for other Familias to intervene. If they wanted to find him, even without launching any operation, they could bring Ron before the gods.
The bad news:
Ron simply did not behave like a normal person. He had almost no unnecessary social interactions. Every morning he went to the Dungeon, and at dusk he returned to Orario.
As for the remaining time…
He basically spent it with the goddess Hestia, leaving virtually no opportunity for contact.
Although he could not understand why Lord Apollo deliberately paid attention to an adventurer like Ron, he was clear about what he, as a follower, needed to do.
That was to carry out the god's orders.
Thinking this, Hyakinthos spoke in a calm tone: "I'll leave this matter to you, Daphne. You should know what to do."
"…"
The woman called "Daphne", she was at the age of youthful bloom, with quite proper features. However, her habitual frown easily gave people the impression of someone very serious and strong-willed.
After hearing Hyakinthos' instructions, Daphne showed no surprise. To be precise—when she joined the Apollo Familia back then, they had used the same dirty methods.
Even though she had clearly refused, Hyakinthos and the others had persisted relentlessly, constantly creating conflicts with her within Orario. Even when she fled outside the city, she had been unable to avoid them.
In the end, she had no choice but to join the Familia.
To be honest, her loyalty to the 'Apollo' Familia was not particularly high. Fortunately, the god did not restrict her movements and had even provided help to some extent.
As for the arrangements for this trip—
Most likely, they wanted her to act as a mediator between herself and the adventurer named "Ron," in order to prevent the conflict from escalating further.
"No problem."
"But whether I can actually persuade him, I can't guarantee."
Daphne did not make any promises. Her tone carried a trace of helplessness, and she even felt a bit of sympathy for the adventurer she had never met.
As for the specific reason…
It was probably simply because he was good-looking, right?
Just before setting out, she glanced at her close friend Cassandra, who was standing beside her, and at the girl's worried, absent-minded expression.
Knowing her personality, if the conflict intensified, she would definitely be caught in the middle and unable to choose.
"You're coming with me."
"Me… me?"
Compared to the steady and composed Daphne, Cassandra seemed like the complete opposite. Her long blue hair covered her cheeks, and even her gaze carried a faintly gloomy air.
Even so, it was impossible to ignore the girl's delicate and beautiful features.
Faced with the invitation from the close friend she admired in her heart, she hesitated for a moment, then recalled the nightmare that had jolted her awake in the middle of the night. After struggling briefly, she nodded heavily.
Cassandra found it hard to describe the exact scenes of the dream…
Only fragmented memories remained.
Roughly speaking, there was the figure of an adventurer with blazing flames atop his head—and the Apollo Familia being completely burned to ashes within the fire called "Sin."
The shattered scenes… seemed to foreshadow the destruction of the Familia.
Especially when she heard Captain Hyakinthos' orders, the unease that shrouded the girl's heart felt like an abyss, as if it would swallow her whole.
"No problem."
"…"
Following Daphne as they left the Apollo Familia's residence, Cassandra timidly lifted her head and looked at her close friend's slender yet unusually dependable back.
She hesitated for a moment.
Only after there were no members of the Apollo Familia around did she raise her head, her tone filled with pleading: "Um… Daphne, can we just drop this matter? Or rather, not get involved? I had a nightmare last night. I dreamed that something bad would happen."
"Really…"
"I'm not joking. If we get dragged into this, that frenzied flame will definitely burn us to ashes…"
"…"
"Don't worry."
What should one do when a friend is always acting mysteriously and rambling about strange things?
Daphne could not think of a specific solution. Most likely, being forcibly recruited into the Apollo Familia had left her with severe psychological trauma.
After all—how could Orario possibly have dreams that foretell the future!
She did not reproach her. Instead, she smiled and comforted her, saying, "We're only going to talk to Ron this time. Once he understands our experience, he should change his mind."
"In any case, we'll be Familia companions in the future. It wouldn't be good for things to become too tense."
"…"
Cassandra was momentarily speechless. But as she watched her close friend heading toward Babel Tower, despite her timid nature, the girl still gritted her teeth and followed.
Because she herself did not know what she could possibly do to make her companions believe her. Yet she also could not simply watch her close friend jump into a pit of fire. Perhaps there might be a turning point?
...
"If it's something very important, then of course you ask for leave, nya~"
"Anya slacks off mostly because the shop gets way too busy—running around in circles makes my head feel like it's about to explode, so that's why I sneak off."
After learning that Ryuu wanted to skip work, Anya did not ask for the specific reason. Because she knew that even if she asked, given Ryuu's personality, she absolutely would not tell her.
The silly cat could only guess on her own.
But looking at the fairy girl's face, as cold and distant as an iceberg, she ultimately received no answer. Leaning against the stack of hay piled up in the restaurant courtyard, her attitude became slightly more serious.
"You should just tell Mama Mia directly. I'm sure Mama Mia wouldn't refuse. On the contrary, if you skip work, she'll definitely get angry."
"And also, can you tell Anya, nya?"
"What is it that's so important to Ryuu?"
"…"
"Sorry."
She couldn't possibly say that it was Ron's inexplicable request that was giving her a headache right now. And if Anya found out—
Ryuu could already imagine, even with her eyes closed, how strange the looks from her restaurant companions would be, even if she returned safely from the Dungeon. Having experienced that kind of situation before, the girl kept her mouth tightly shut.
"I can't tell you for now."
Moreover, the reason she considered it important was because once she agreed to a friend's request, she had to complete it with full focus. It was absolutely not because she was worried about Ron.
Not only that, she was also deeply interested in the "Fog Gate" Ron had mentioned, and the "world beyond the Mist Gate." Thinking of this, she decisively stepped forward.
"Then I'll trouble you, Anya, to ask Mama Mia for leave on my behalf."
"This kitty is going to get beaten to death, nya!"
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