[104] The Injured Pair

He had only been gone for three days, who could have made her angry? Could it be Loki?

After a sigh, Hestia finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Aiden-kun, you've finally returned. Bell-kun's weapon is missing, and he came back injured."

However, hearing this from Hestia only deepened Aiden's confusion. Bell didn't seem like the type to get into conflicts with others, and lose his weapon... could this mean the plot was taking an unexpected turn?

His mind raced with thoughts of encountering Liliruca's involvement, the stolen weapons, and triggering Apollo's main storyline.

With these speculations in mind, Aiden crossed the threshold and entered the living room.

Immediately, Aiden saw Bell sitting despondently on the couch, his eyes lifeless, as if his spirit had been lost. His once handsome and youthful face was now grimy, and even the clothes Aiden had bought him looked ragged. Despite the use of potions, there were still scars on his face and body.

"What happened?" Aiden thought to himself, before clapping his hands together and saying firmly, "Welcome back, Bell."

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Bell regained some focus in his eyes. His lips moved slightly, "Senpai, you're back?"

"Yeah, I'm back." Aiden replied, his expression grave as he looked at Bell's pitiful state.

Overwhelmed with emotion upon Aiden's response, Bell raised his head, and tears long held back finally streamed down his cheeks. He stood up and bowed repeatedly, "Senpai, you've finally returned! I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..."

At that moment, Aiden felt a strong force pressing down on his shoulders, pushing Bell back onto the couch.

For the simple village boy Bell, the dual one-handed swords, each valued at over a million valis, were a staggering amount. Moreover, beyond their monetary worth, they were a gift from his respected senpai, and losing them was understandably devastating for Bell.

After seating Bell back down on the couch, Aiden smiled gently before Bell could speak, "No need to apologize. It's just a few million valis and a couple of swords. Let's first talk about what happened and how you got these injuries."

Upon hearing this, Bell lifted his head, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes, while explaining between sobs.

After listening to Bell's explanation, Aiden suddenly understood everything. At the same time, his anger surged, and for the first time, he made a resolute decision... a decision that could lead to harming or even killing someone.

Of course, it wasn't just because of Bell.

...

Meanwhile, in the Soma Familia.

As the sun set in the west, casting a blood-red hue, the crimson remnants of daylight draped over Orario, the bustling central city of this prosperous continent.

Inside a dilapidated house, Liliruca watched blankly as the sun descended. Her once adorable smile, which Bell had found so endearing, was now beaten beyond recognition. Her right hand twisted unnaturally, blood dripping from her nose, mirroring the colors of the setting sun.

Despite the excruciating pain, which normal people would find unbearable, Liliruca seemed indifferent. Her thin lips moved incessantly, murmuring apologies. Faintly audible amid her mutterings were the words "I'm sorry."

Liliruca was born to members of the Soma Familia, obligated from birth to serve as a low-ranking member of the familia.

Thus, perhaps from the moment she was born, the gears of fate had been misaligned for Liliruca.

The world had never been kind to Liliruca.

Born to smallfolk parents with no combat abilities, they incessantly demanded that young Liliruca earn money, neglecting their responsibilities as parents until they eventually perished, unknowingly killed while striving for money to buy the family's special brew... Divine wine.

Divine wine held the magical properties of enslaving members of the Soma Familia. All wealth and even life's sole purpose revolved around this wine.

In the cutthroat competition for divine wine within the familia, young Liliruca became an outcast by default. Her peers ignored the weak and vulnerable Liliruca, finding amusement in tormenting her. Every day was a struggle for survival in a hostile environment.

When Liliruca unfortunately drank the offered divine wine during a factional dispute, she too became enslaved by its magic.

With no companions to rely on, she struggled alone, working tirelessly to earn money. Yet, all her efforts were in vain. Liliruca lacked the talents of an adventurer, reluctantly transitioning to a support role.

And so, Liliruca suffered exploitation.

Whenever she served as a support member for adventurer parties, they would always accuse her in unison.

"You stole the magic stones, didn't you? You took the money. This is payback. No share for you."

Liliruca, wrongly accused, pleaded desperately, trying to explain it was all a misunderstanding. But they just laughed scornfully and kicked her out. Even when she was nearly killed by monsters, they ignored her cries for help and refused to provide any healing. All they did was give her a kick and warn her not to lose their belongings.

This was why Liliruca came to hate adventurers.

The people of the Soma Familia were even more unreliable. After exploring the dungeons, all that awaited was a scramble for measly rewards.

After the magic of the divine wine wore off, Liliruca tearfully escaped the familia.

Abandoning her title as a familia member, she pretended to be an ordinary person, struggled to find work, and finally achieved a semblance of stability in her life. But peace was short-lived. In the worst turn of events, her happiness was shattered by former Soma Familia comrades.

Through some means, the misguided adventurers raided Liliruca's residence, stealing her belongings and utterly destroying her home.

The once gentle and kind elderly couple who owned the flower shop promptly threw Liliruca out. Their eyes looked at her as if she were filth, a memory she couldn't erase.

Even in such places, the Soma Familia tormented its own.

She resented Soma, the god of her familia. She wondered why he established such a familia.

Soma meant no harm. He harbored no ill will. He was indifferent to Liliruca and the others, uninterested in their lives. He had no communication with the other gods or familia members; he merely brewed divine wine alone.

Soma did nothing and would do nothing for anyone. He might not even be aware of the current state of his familia.

Perhaps Liliruca was resenting the wrong entity. From a god's perspective, children like her might just be pitifully foolish. But Liliruca couldn't help but resent her own god.

As a result, Liliruca's only remaining choice was to continue living as a supporter belonging to the Soma Familia. Making the wrong choice... refusing to play the obedient servant to the factions... would only lead to torment, even death.

Even so, she risked being seen as a cash cow by some members of the familia, forced to do menial tasks by other adventurers.

"Yes, adventurers are all the same. Except for Bell-sama. Bell-sama is different..."

She remembered the elderly couple who had treated her like a granddaughter, despite knowing she had stolen their precious weapon. They were frail and vulnerable like her, yet they had protected her.

Protecting a thief like herself.

"I'm sorry, Bell-sama... If there is a next life, I will definitely be your supporter. I won't deceive you again..." Tears filled Liliruca's chestnut eyes as she struggled to sit up, gazing at the blood-red sunset with a smile of liberation.

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