No Matter What, This World Needs To End. (17.2)

…

The Soma, Ishtar, and Apollo Familias were dissolved and their assets spread among Hermes, Hestia, Dionysus, Miach, and my "god." The gods were supposed to be allowed to stay in Orario, but only Soma did. Arde's former god practically leapt for joy once he found out he could start from scratch. Ishtar and Apollo disappeared to parts unknown. If new gods arrived within a month's time, that would mean they went back to heaven. If none arrived, then I would have to prepare for the two. However, I had plenty of time to use what I had gained for my contributions.

A funeral. Many apologies. Tears. Didn't go. Didn't listen. Went on. Had to go on.

Most of the Apollo Familia was split between Dionysus and Miach. Those of Soma's Familia dissolved into Orario's underbelly with only one or two taken in by Hermes. Illion and that Renard went along to join Hestia's Familia. A seer and a priestess for Cranel's ever-growing party of females I supposed. Dionysus and Miach were putting their new adventurers to work. The former was investigating the murders and Miach was getting his business up and running. Hermes started contacting me regularly after I shared with him what I had. Hestia… I don't know what she had planned. I hadn't exactly had the time to visit them in their new castle or exchange words at the Hostess of Fertility.

Ilion wept. Swore to make right. Hoped she would leave Orario. Decided to stay. Need to protect her.

While Ishtar's whorehouses were sold away for Valis split between everyone, I took Soma's brewery, his stock, and his guild house along with the ability to call on the "Barbelas" for my "Familia." My rewards were a venue, piles of alcohol, and a half-decent set of Amazon warriors. Small, some would say even insignificant, but they had their uses. Orario's foundations, the underbelly which worked away from the prying eyes of the Guild and other authorities, worked off of money and power. Those three things were a great start.

Cancel request for regenerative spell. Leona disapproves. Many do. Don't care. Firmum Momentum must be exploited. Lightning arm adequate and doubles as weapon.

I had Soma's stock divided filled into vials and sold as the last of the brews that would be seen for a long time. Money flowed quickly as each finger-sized vial of alcohol was purchased. Cheaper than a whole bottle, but more expensive by volume, I recouped my losses from purchasing weapons made of the Asura. The Barbelas were technically spread across the Hestia Familia and the other Familias, but in practice, they were with me. No one exactly wanted a bunch of scantily dressed warriors with skills in more illicit professions in their Familia. They worked as muscle for the time being—a step up from being whores, but I doubted that there would be much clamor from the readers for defiled women to join their main character's harem. The pettiness of otaku was not to be underestimated. Soma's brewery would have to be filled with actual workers and professionals, though I doubted that it would be difficult to staff a god's brewery.

Arde comes. Apologizes. Not needed. Tell to focus on becoming stronger with Hestia. Does. Leaves. Lapel is wet.

Overall, I had a lot of work ahead of me. Changing the whole of Orario would take time, money, and an immense amount of effort. Hard work which I detested to my very core, but someone had to do it. Not only that but there was no doubt in my mind that the plot was still active. There was a killer capable of killing Level 4s and 5s by simply wringing their necks, Orario was under attack, and who knows how many more plots were unfolding.

The world needed to change. I had to change it. It had to be me.

…

Time passes quickly when there was a lot to be done. My days were spent training Loki's brats, farming the next few floors of the Dungeon, and making sure I was making progress in the Red Light District. The information network I had was like a vice that I just had to tighten with money and muscle. Information allowed actions to be taken and I had much information to act on. Ishtar's return to "Heaven" and Soma's refusal to return to his old work made a power vacuum that I was able to exploit.

Hecate visits. Words. Many words. I don't hear them. I say nothing. She leaves.

The distillery was up and running soon enough. Drinks flowed like water in establishments that chose to join. Those that didn't were told to leave. I hired people to clean up the gutters and streets. Halfway houses were made that could give some of those without jobs a fair chance. I dealt with the Guild through bribes and blackmail. Money flowed outward and was sucked up for some time, but soon enough my projects began to generate some money in turn. The Barbelas eventually all got to Level 4 from the Dungeon and became decent enough to train others. I had them do so. I kept an eye on them and when their replacements were finished, I disbanded them back to their Familias separately. There was no point in keeping around people I didn't trust, but they were assets that my allies could use. Their replacements were good enough and loyal.

Hestia questions me. Asks of methods. I answer. She leaves. The Alliance is strong.

There was no need for me to stay in the Hostess of Fertility any longer. I had a whole Guild House at my disposal. Time I spent traveling back and forth was time wasted. I could have read a report at my desk while eating breakfast instead of wasting my time. There was no point to staying. Time I spent there was time that could be used to check projects, have words with certain individuals, and progress my plans. The Red Light District was slowly turning into something respectable. Orario's underbelly which was once filled with destitute, depraved, and disgusting dwellers was slowly becoming decent.

Lyon's palm across my face. Tears in her eyes. An unaccepted apology hangs in the air. I don't see her again.

There were escorts instead of whores. Hotels instead of brothels. Bars with bouncers and servers instead of places where fights begged to break out. I spoke to spirits managing stores and had them take in new stock from across the world. I didn't allow the same products to be sold anywhere else in Orario. Monopolies wouldn't last forever, especially on spices and delicacies, but I made sure to keep up with demand. Profits rose and I needed more clerks to spend it more quickly. I used Sophie to get access to the Guild's recruiting pool. I skimmed off of it, contacted the individuals, and gave them the offers they needed. The guild vetted people very well and they worked diligently and loyally. Soon I was spending Valis as fast as it came in.

Erisuis visits. Offers self-made elixirs. Tell her to use for herself. Offer syringes. Tell her to stay safe. Nelly comes. Shares news of investigation into murders. Share own information. Tell her the same. Pass on tips. Stay safe.

I had the sewer system reworked, created a simple post system, and began establishing training centers. Reading, writing, and fighting went hand in hand. I took in the Adventurers who gave up and no longer wanted to fight to teach the bodies that were throwing themselves at the Dungeon. I didn't train them myself or give them what I knew, but they were good enough after enough time. The Goliath ceased to be a threat soon enough. Rivira became a starting point rather than a goal. Making the average adventurer decent was a good way of progression. Less resources wasted on the first Floors. More supplies available in Rivira. Easier transport meant easier supply and less cost. Momentum. Caravans guarded by adventurers. I started that off the back of all my combined businesses. Winning against the Dungeon was just like winning a war. It mattered more on how fast, well-supplied, and many the soldiers were rather than skill and equipment. More bodies meant more dead monsters.

Orimoto ranks up. Point her toward destroyed Monster Farm. Remake and staff with new adventurers. Base of power. More efficient. More effective. Better for accumulating funds. Orimoto accepts all projects given. Can trust and count on. Doesn't speak often. Works and works.

I advance and work. Soma's new Familia makes some waves as he allies with Hestia and the others. The Loki Familia returns from an expedition with the Hephaestus Familia. They advance four floors and reach the next Monster Rex. They retreat and return with more information. They don't lose anyone. Loki gives me new recruits to train. I accept. The new faces and names get better training than the other adventurers in the training centers. They advance, they work, and they go back more knowledgeable and experienced. Other gods try to get the same training. I reject them. Only those of the alliance can get superior training. Soon they'll also be the ones with better equipment. Mortal blacksmiths slowly but surely congregate to my district, trying to be noticed by Hephaestus. Babel stands at the pinnacle, but sturdy weapons and clothes are always wanted by Level 1s and normal folk. Tension. Conflict. I was assembling a power bloc. Many faces just pass by. Words exchanged. Busy. Talking takes time. Hiryute. Greet. Alf. Say hello. Viridis. Pass on. Work needs to be done. More and more.

I was going to change Orario.

…

There is an attack by an Adventurer in my territory. Something I had come to expect. Too many greedy eyes looked upon my efforts, too many didn't like what I did, and many more wanted for nothing to change. Many Familias and even the Guild could see what was happening. How the balance was changing. Naturally, since they didn't know how to counter my efforts without making themselves seem terrible, they would work through others.

One Adventurer of great power put to the torch a single building on the outskirt of my territory after telling everyone within to leave. Those who went after him weren't able to defeat him. Level 4s who I paid better than they could earn in the Dungeon. A single, concentrated asset instead of a mass of mercenaries. It was the work of multiple parties in the dark. I was sure of it. I would have to find out who after I dealt with the attack myself.

My body creaked lightly as I took to the field. The gathered crowd parted. When was the last time I had fought? The Coliseum. That was… just a few weeks ago, right? It was still winter, of that I was sure. A month. It was amazing what money could do. Fast, good, or cheap. Fast and good cost an immense amount, but I supposed it was better than having a foundation that crumbled to dust.

Eventually I reached the burning building.

A young man in a white, hooded cloak watched it burn.

A black sword was in one of his hands and the other held an ebony knife.

They were familiar things in the hands of a stranger.

Gloved hands pushed back a pure white hood to reveal scarlet eyes and hair of the same purity.

My breath caught.

A familiar sensation clawed its way through my body. One that I'd felt before I crawled out of the gutter and when a boy covered in blood slammed into me. How long had it been?

"Sensei." Cranel spoke. He was taller. His shoulders slightly wider. His hair tied back while bangs framed his face. Older. Not by much. But older. "Laulos-senpai would be disappointed in you."

How long had I gone mad this time?

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