66 Chapter 66 - Preparations for War
Chapter Size: 2477 Words.]
Third Person POV
Guild, Orario.
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Lucius left the imposing Tower of Babel with a disappointed look. The conversation with the guild representatives in the tribunal left him with a debt of 1 million to pay.
"My 1 million that I would bet on the war game! I hope the guild makes me pay this debt after the event." Lucius muttered, finding the midday sun outside the tower. As he walked to find his family through the bustling streets of the city, his thoughts were interrupted by familiar voices. In front of him, he saw Hestia, Bell, Lili, and even Riekling, the small and loyal goblin summon who had hidden underground during the church attack.
"Oh? I see you found me before I looked for you." Lucius smiled at them. "Find? Lili heard about what Mr. Lucius did for the whole city!" Lili exclaimed. All the people around them looked at Lucius, murmuring things, and they were still in front of the Tower of Babel, so there was a crowd gathered there.
Hestia couldn't contain the mix of emotions she felt when meeting Lucius after the confusion he caused in the city. Her expression revealed a mixture of anger and relief, as if torn between scolding him and thanking him for fighting on behalf of the family.
"Lucius Drakenar! Have you completely lost your mind?" Hestia began, her voice filled with indignation. "They destroyed our church; I understand your anger, but starting a war at Apollo's residence? Do you know how you caused chaos in the city again? How can you be so impulsive and irresponsible?" She shouted in her typical Loli behavior.
Lucius remained calm in the face of Hestia's reprimand, knowing that her words were justified. However, before he could respond, Hestia continued, her expression softening a bit.
"But... thank you, Lucius. Thank you for fighting for us, for facing those Apollo adventurers, and for our safety while fighting for us. I just... I just wish you had found a less... explosive way to do it." She said defeated.
Lucius sighed, understanding Hestia's concerns. "I know, Hestia. But I don't regret or apologize for all this. My intention was to protect you and defend our family, but I admit that things got out of control. Anyway, we'll overcome this together, as we always have. Although I'm 1 million valis poorer for it..." Lucius murmured the last part.
Hestia crossed her arms, but her gaze indicated a mix of irritation and gratitude. "You really need to learn to handle things in a less... destructive way or without causing chaos." She admitted and continued, "Now, what will we do?"
Bell beside her was equally lost; there was so much happening, and he seemed hesitant to take command. Lucius smiled at his family; he was a bit disappointed because he didn't even receive anything for the damages caused by Apollo, since Lucius was equally punished. The only good thing about this was that the destruction of Apollo's mansion was worth much more than the destruction of the church, so it would make Apollo a bit envious.
"Let's move forward. We have a war game to win; we need to stabilize temporarily and decide our plans." Lucius crossed his arms in front of the three members plus Riekling.
"HEEEE!"
"Yes, Lili thinks Lucius is right."
"You're right, first, let's find a place to stay."
"Maybe the inn above Miss Mama Mia's bar?" Bell suggested.
With the guild now out of the question, Lucius, Hestia, Bell, Lili, and Riekling, Lucius's goblin summon, returned to the slums and gathered their belongings that survived the turmoil.
"Thank goodness the books are intact..." Lucius murmured, cleaning Riveria's books from some dust but untouched. If they had been destroyed, it would lead to Riveria's retaliation.
"Take everything you can and need; let's organize things to go to the Hostess of Fertility," Hestia warned.
So they set out again under curious gazes on the still-bustling streets, as news of the confrontation had already echoed throughout the entire city.
Mama Mia, the bar's owner, greeted them with a mix of concern and curiosity. "What the hell happened to you? You're causing trouble all over the city! Especially you!" She pointed at Lucius.
Hestia sighed, briefly explaining the situation. "We were attacked, and our home, the church... well, it's no longer in good condition. Can we stay here for a few days, Mama Mia?"
The older woman frowned, but, looking into Hestia's worried eyes, reluctantly agreed. "Alright, but no trouble in here, understood?"
Nodding with a head tilt, the group settled into the inn's free rooms, under the curious gaze of the waitresses, which didn't escape Chloe and Anya Fromel as they approached Lucius.
"Lucius-Nyah!"
"Lucius, you're here-Nyah!!!"
The two demihuman waitresses who had a bit of a crush on Lucius approached with smiles, hoping to chat with him.
"Hey, you two, keep working! There are still customers having lunch!" Mama Mia reprimanded them quickly and looked at Lucius.
"Brat! What did I say about not causing trouble here?" She said with a hawk-eyed look.
"I didn't do anything..." Lucius muttered.
Anyway, they settled into the room, the two waitresses interacted a bit more, and even Syr came not just to talk to Bell, but Lucius also got involved in the waitress's curiosity, which Lucius tried to avoid because he knew it was Freya there.
With that, they had some time to rest before starting to execute their plans. While Hestia tried to comfort Bell, who was still shaken by the series of events, Lucius delved into the remaining books of Riveria. He knew he needed to prepare for future challenges, especially those outside the dungeon; he wanted to improve his magical understanding.
That night, inside the cozy bar, in the light of his magelight, Lucius avidly studied the texts, absorbing knowledge of the history of magic. He knew the path ahead would be challenging, and he needed to strengthen himself in the dungeon, but he wanted to enjoy some time with his family here before taking the plunge.
Meanwhile, the noisy atmosphere of the bar provided a strange sense of normalcy, despite the extraordinary circumstances surrounding them.
Faced with the unstable situation, Lucius gathered Hestia, Bell, Lili, and Riekling for a brief conversation in the corner of Mama Mia's Bar as soon as he came out of the room.
"We need to strengthen ourselves," declared Lucius with determination. "Now that we're out of the guild, we won't have the same security. I will go to the dungeon to train and study. Hestia, take care of things on the surface. How long do you think it will take for the war game to happen?" Lucius asked Hestia.
"I talked to Hephaestus today; she said the preparation takes a few weeks." She said, and Lucius nodded.
"That's good; I'm sure Bell and I can reach level 3 by then." He said, earning surprised looks from the entire family.
"Level 3? What madness is this?!" Hestia was astonished, but she controlled her voice not to draw attention from other groups since they were already the topic of everyone's discussion tonight, sending not-so-subtle glances to their table.
"You know Bell's status; he can reach level 3 or close to it before the war game." Lucius spoke; it wasn't a secret that the small rookie had been more active in leveling up than shown in the anime.
Lucius didn't know that he himself was one of the causes of this. Bell felt like he was falling behind since the events in Rivira; he had his own adventures, but seeing Lucius doing much grander things, facing challenges fearlessly, even though he was crazy most of the time, he didn't back down with courage, and Bell was inspired by his growth. He wanted to be as strong and grow like Lucius, who always acted with confidence and a solution to the problems around them, even if it's reckless at times. Lucius doesn't hesitate like Bell does in the face of situations; his Liaris Freese was actively responding to these feelings and thoughts.
"I want Riekling to stay with Bell and Lili. I'll do a few more things tomorrow, and we'll meet here at night to discuss our next steps," Lucius said. He wanted to meet with Riveria tomorrow to discuss some matters.
"The day after tomorrow, I'll go for my dive into the depths of the dungeon. You need to find solutions for your own growth. Bell, I'm sure you can get help from one of your friends outside the family." Lucius stated the obvious, knowing that Bell would find Aiz anyway for training, and the young rookie nodded.
However, in the midst of the conversation, Hestia looked at Lucius with a mix of concern and understanding. "I don't like the idea of you going alone to the dungeon, Lucius. The city is in chaos, and we don't know who else might be down there trying to retaliate between the two families at war."
Lucius put a hand on Hestia's shoulder, trying to convey confidence. "I need to get stronger, Hestia. We can't rely on luck in this situation. I'll make sure we have the power we need to face anything."
Hestia sighed but nodded. "Let's discuss more tomorrow."
Lucius wasn't done and turned to Lili in this quiet part of the Hostess of Fertility, away from curious ears.
"You know, to strengthen yourself, you'll need a proper weapon, Lili, and I've already suggested the spear you've been using in the past few days," Lucius began, choosing his words carefully. "Bell is dedicating himself to improving his skills, and he trusts you. I want you to be prepared to face the challenges that will come, even if you don't have Hestia's falna; you're still part of this group."
Lili nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. "I'll do whatever it takes to help Bell-sama and protect the Hestia family."
"Great. Fionna, the legendary Pallum, used a spear as her main weapon. That's why I'd like you to train and develop skills with the spear as well. It can be a dagger that Bell wields to protect you, but the spear will be welcome for your group too."
"HEE!" Riekling, who was watching attentively, brought a simple but approving and supportive response to his summoner's words.
"Fionna? Mr. Lucius, you can't compare me to the legendary Pallum!" Lili was clearly startled by the comparison.
"You wouldn't say that if I had a photo from my memories..." Lucius murmured quietly so that she couldn't hear.
"Anyway, this will be your weapon, Lili. You'll need to learn to use it efficiently. Bell will be your partner, and coordination between you two is crucial from now on, understood?"
Hesitating for a moment, Lili looked determined afterward. "I will do my best, Lucius. I promise."
"That's all I need to hear." Lucius smiled, encouraging her. "Bell can help you with physical training. Let's work together so that we can all face what's coming."
"Thank you, Lucius-Kun..." Hestia spoke beside them after hearing the interaction.
"Don't get emotional; I'm just doing the obvious." Lucius understood Hestia's intention.
"Even so, you always act seeking a solution in the worst moments..." Hestia seemed on the verge of tears with this.
"It's true, Mr. Lucius, you should be the head of the family..." Bell also spoke, with a recognizing look.
"No, I act alone; you're the commander, that's your role. But we're here to support each other. You're new, Bell, but you'll soon learn to lead as well. Learn everything you can and strengthen your friends like Lili and Welf," Lucius commented directly. He didn't want the responsibility, and he would act alone, as his style suggested.
Inside the Hostess of Fertility, the group remained united, preparing for the challenges that would come from both outside and inside the Orario dungeon. The determination of everyone was evident, and each member of the Hestia family was willing to grow and strengthen to protect those they loved.
The next day, after a morning meeting at Mama Mia's bar, Lucius headed to a certain district with the intention of meeting Riveria. However, he was stopped at the gate. With his family at war, Loki would remain in a neutral position, and it wouldn't be good to welcome Lucius or Bell into his home. But as he walked away, something happened, as it did with Bell. Riveria appeared in a hidden place to talk to him as soon as he left the main street.
"Lucius, your actions have consequences, and I know you're aware of that. But I see a determination in you to create chaos in this city." Riveria crossed her arms and spoke with a serious and disapproving tone.
"I acted in self-defense," Lucius said unabashedly.
"You're always like this; why am I surprised?" She murmured, already familiar with the habits of this human who became her student.
"Have you finished the books? I doubt you can now with this war going on after what you did at the banquet," she said, keeping her voice dissatisfied.
"Yes, Riveria. I won't be able to have my lessons with you in the next few weeks. I need to strengthen myself, ensure my family is safe and strong to face our enemies," Lucius spoke sincerely.
"So, what will you do?" She asked with a curious look.
"I'll return the books, but I need something to enhance my magical understanding. Is it possible?" Lucius asked, knowing his question was somewhat audacious.
"Hmmm... I have a book with my notes on magic; I can lend it to you as long as you don't destroy it, as you urgently need something to enhance your magic," she admitted and took out a notebook from her back somewhat surprisingly.
"Wait, were you already planning to give me this?" He raised his eyebrows.
"Of course, why else would you be coming to me in the midst of a war game? It's too obvious," she said with a neutral tone.
"I appreciate this. I'll ask Hestia to return the other books since I'm going to the dungeon alone," he informed her.
"I understand. Just be careful, Lucius," she said, but soon the duo heard a voice in the distance.
"WHY DID MOMMY DISAPPEAR WHEN THAT DAMNED AND FUN WIZARD CAME TO THE GATE?! WHERE IS MOMMY, SHE CAN BE CORRUPTED! FIND HER IMMEDIATELY!" Loki was shouting throughout the wealthy neighborhood.
"I guess I have to go. Anyway, good luck," Riveria said, nodding.
"Sure, after all this is over, I'll invite you for a date. How about that?" Lucius smiled at this, but the elf just kept her neutral face.
"Why not take Demeter-Sama or even Aphrodite-Sama for that?" She asked and turned quickly, leaving Lucius stunned by this attitude.
"Wouldn't she be jealous?" Lucius murmured, looking at the elf's retreating back.
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