by Fujino Omori
“As for this renart—Haruhime, was it? I’ve never heard of her. She’s not on our list, either…Most likely, she’s a noncombatant.”
Eina runs her finger down the page in her file. I assume that’s Ishtar Familia’s roster.
A noncombatant…a member of the familia who hasn’t received a Blessing.
That makes a lot of sense. Leaving Aisha and others like her out, I get the feeling that most of Ishtar Familia’s members are in charge of the brothels…And Haruhime was sold to them, so they do their best to keep her true identity a secret. Her name appearing on that list would only cause trouble.
Eina asks me if I know anything and I immediately say no.
“Back to the topic of the Ishtar Familia itself, the Guild has assigned them an ‘A’ rank. They’re one of the most powerful and influential groups in Orario.”
“…”
“They’re on the complete opposite side of the spectrum from Hestia Familia. Especially Phryne Jamil…She once fought head-to-head against the Kenki. Miss Wallenstein was nearly defeated.”
“WHAT?!”
That little tidbit of information from Eina shakes me to my very core.
Miss Aiz—almost lost?
“You have to realize this was a few years ago. Ms. Jamil was at a higher level at the time…Ms. Wallenstein recently surpassed her by ranking up to Level Six.”
Eina quickly tries to reassure me, but it’s too late.
Phryne is already on a plane that my idol struggled to reach…
If that’s true, then Ishtar Familia truly is among the best of the best. There’s no denying that now.
Moments pass where I have no idea what to say.
“Is everything all right?”
“O-oh, yes…I’m fine.”
Coming back to myself, Eina’s explanation takes a sudden turn.
“I don’t have all the details on what I’m about to share with you. I’ve never been in charge of any members of that familia, but…there have been rumors that Ishtar Familia doesn’t report accurate information to the Guild.”
“Like, hiding their real power?”
“Exactly. Several rival goddesses raised complaints against them, saying that their members fought with strength well beyond that of their reported levels.”
I suddenly remember something that Hestia told me—that Hermes Familia had done something similar to this, lying about their levels.
“They convinced us to take action. The Guild launched a full investigation into Ishtar Familia, specifically pertaining to the level of the Berbera, under the threat of severe punishment. Goddess Ishtar was forced to show us all their Statuses.”
“And……?”
“…Innocent. Not even a hint of foul play.”
The declaration blindsides me.
“Every one of them matched our records to the letter. That’s when she went on the offensive, claiming that she had been falsely accused…She demanded the Guild be penalized and pay her a heavy fine. We agreed to all her demands.”
“Th-they took money from the Guild…?!”
“Yes, and quite a large sum at that. All her followers’ Magic and Skills had been revealed to the Guild, so she had a great deal of leverage…Ever since that day, we haven’t been able to take any real action against Ishtar Familia.”
Powerful enough to take money away from the acting government of the city…? Sweat is pouring out of my skin now.
“We were forced to level penalties against the familias that brought up the charges as well. Ishtar Familia wiped them out in their weakened state. Their goddesses were sent back to Tenkai. All this happened around five years ago.”
“…”
“It’s hard to explain, having watched all this happen. Everything turned out like some kind of script, all the actors played their parts…It felt as though we were all attached to strings and Goddess Ishtar was the puppet master.”
Eina crosses her arms, deep in thought as she tells me what she can remember from those days.
Their members’ Strength and Speed far surpass their reported levels.
A secret that even a full investigation by the Guild couldn’t uncover.
What’s Ishtar Familia got to hide?
“Bell…personally, I’m afraid of Ishtar Familia. Even without the brothel you mentioned earlier, it would be best to avoid those women whenever possible.”
That’s a clear warning based not only on their strength as a familia but also the very real possibility that they’re doing something shady.
Then Eina tells me that I should do everything in my power to avoid what happened with Apollo Familia.
I sit in my chair in complete silence. Eina looks over at me like I’m about to fall over some kind of edge.
I still see that renart’s face every time I close my eyes, but I have to say something. Since I have no response for Eina, I ask her a question instead.
“…Eina, does the Guild know…about the Pleasure Quarter, what’s happening…?”
I have to know if what Haruhime said is true.
Eina knows immediately that I’m referring to their business practices and averts her eyes.
“…Yes. The Guild has taken a neutral stance. We know what is happening behind closed doors there as well—but I think it would be next to impossible for us to do anything about it at this point.”
Haruhime was right.
They’re ignoring the truth in order to keep the peace.
Eina looks legitimately sad, too. The truth weighs heavily on both of us.
The city was filled with rays of afternoon sunshine.
While most adventurers were busy toiling away in the Dungeon underground, the citizens of Orario went about their business, finished their shopping, or tried their best to kill time.
Several gods and goddesses walked among them, finding ways to entertain themselves. One deity made a pass at an absolutely radiant elf. Meanwhile, a group of gods gulped down alcohol as they walked around, day drinking with abandon. Yet another one was playing with a group of children, kicking a ball back and forth. Deities were everywhere.
Orario’s Western District was a bit livelier thanks to the community service of one adventurer. One god made his way through the busy streets, staying out of sight until he arrived at another bar.
“Little Ahnya, call Mia for me. It’s urgent.”
“Meow, Lord Hermes again, meow?”
Hermes called out to the first waitress he saw the moment he stepped through the doorway of The Benevolent Mistress.
The catgirl reluctantly disappeared into the back of the bar. An even more annoyed female dwarf appeared moments later.
“I’m begging you, Mia, send Lady Freya a message for me!”
“This again? Told you last time, you got legs, use ’em. I ain’t doin’ it.”
“But this time she actually might kill me!”
Mia’s rejection made Hermes become desperate.
The god was alone. Quickly weaving his way through the tables and all the way up to the kitchen window, Hermes came close enough to the irritated dwarf to keep their conversation from being overheard.
“You see…Bell—oh, Bell!”
“What’s happened to the lad now? You do somethin’ to ’im?”
“It’s not my fault…I was powerless, helpless…I’m not the bad guy here…!”
“Out with it already…
“Before my fist goes through yer face,” she added with a twitch of the lip. Hermes’s already pale face went even bleaker under the incredible pressure of her sharp gaze. His mind scrambled to find the right words and shove them out of his mouth before she made good on her promise.
“Ishtar’s got her sights set on Bell…He’s in danger on so many levels!”
Mia’s annoyance steadily became dumbfounded amazement as Hermes explained the events that unfolded the previous night at Ishtar Familia’s home.
He revealed, under intense questioning by Ishtar, that the goddess Freya was rath
er taken with the boy.
“Please, Mia, send a message in my place! If I had to explain all this to Lady Freya in person…”
He could already see the look on the Goddess of Beauty’s face, a cold smile as she mouthed the words “Death, yes.” Hermes trembled every time he closed his eyes, her locks of silver hair whipping through his mind.
That’s when another person, a silver-haired human girl, appeared behind the terrified deity.
“How do you mean Bell is in danger, Lord Hermes?”
“UWAH?!” Hermes nearly jumped out of his skin in surprise.
He spun around and saw Syr smiling back at him.
“Earlier today, there was the faint but unmistakable smell of musk on Bell. You wouldn’t have had anything to do with that—now would you, Lord Hermes? What’s your answer?”
“N-n-now, Syr, my dear. Don’t you know it’s wrong for a mortal girl to scare a god?”
Her lips may have been smiling, but the accusation in her eyes exerted so much pressure that the tone of Hermes’s voice went noticeably higher.
That got the attention of the other employees. It wasn’t long before a small crowd gathered around the kitchen window.
“HYEHE!” More questions battered the usually charming deity. Mia massaged her temple and let out a long sigh.
It’s early evening. This sky is a beautiful shade of red as the sun sets in the west.
I did some more volunteer work after talking with Eina. But the goddess had insisted that I meet her in front of a store at this hour.
Lilly, Welf, Mikoto, and the goddess—still wearing her Jyaga Maru Kun street-stand apron—have gathered in front of an old door, and we go inside the rather shabby-looking bookshop.
“Hey, there! We’re here to help, as promised!”
“Ah, Hestia. You really came.”
Apparently, the goddess had made that promise a while ago.
She’d told each of us two or three times this morning to meet here, but none of us knew her plan until now.
“You’re so famous now, you threw these old bones for a loop. Thought you’d be too busy to keep a promise to little ol’ me.”
“Hee-hee-hee, you know how it is. But it’s too late to join now, you had your chance!”
“Ha-ha-ha, that I did. Big mistake on my part!”
This bookshop is the place where the goddess gave me her Blessing.
She took me here after we met, and I received Falna soon after. This is the birthplace of our familia.
The elderly human shop owner looks over Lady Hestia’s head and says, “Ah, been a while, Bell.” His soft white beard dances with each word.
“Nice to see you again, too,” I respond with a short bow.
“Okay, everyone. Just like I explained this morning, we’re going to help get the storage room back into shape. Think of this as some community service, so do your best.”
With that, we set to work.
I wonder what Haruhime’s doing right now…
I pick up the first pile of books I find in the storage room and carry it out, but my brain can’t stop thinking about her.
We spent only a couple of hours together, but that fleeting smile of hers won’t get out of my head.
I wonder if she’s waiting for her first customer…My cheeks flush red and I shake my head back and forth, trying to get that image out of my mind.
I sigh and go back into the first floor of the bookshop.
Welf, Lilly, and Mikoto are already inside, their backs to me as they focus on lining up books. The goddess isn’t in here, though. My best guess is she’s probably in another room with the owner, going over paperwork.
“…Um, Miss Mikoto.”
“What is it, Sir Bell?”
I set down the pile of books in an open spot and get Mikoto’s attention.
She turns away from the books…I have to ask her what’s been on my mind since this morning.
“Do you know a renart named Haruhime?”
“Wh-where did you hear that name?!”
Her whole body flinches for a moment before she rushes over to me.
Lilly and Welf turn to listen as I start to explain what occurred last night. How I happened to find her in the red-light district, and how she happened to end up in Orario.
All of them listen intently to my story, but every so often I see Mikoto tremble. She straightens up each time, regaining her composure…She has one hand across her chest, her eyes locked on the floor by the time I finish.
“If it’s okay…Could you tell me how you and the other members of Takemikazuchi Familia know Haruhime?”
I want to know more about her. I made my request as earnestly as possible without sounding desperate.
Mikoto stands there for a long moment, collecting her thoughts. Finally, she slowly nods.
“…I have spoken of this before, but the six of us were raised by Lord Takemikazuchi and a few other deities in a shrine.”
Indeed, she told us that Ouka, Chigusa, and everyone else were orphans after the War Game was over. Each of them was taken in by the shrine under different circumstances, but they lived together like one big family.
“We traveled to Orario from the Far East for financial reasons…Our shrine was too impoverished to support children in need.”
More orphans coming in but almost no income to help feed them. The days of living off scraps had piled up, and something had to be done.
They met with the gods and goddesses of the shrine and made their decision. The oldest and strongest orphans, the ones able to fight, would travel across the ocean with Lord Takemikazuchi to Orario.
This city is blessed with an unlimited resource known as the Dungeon. They would make money with their own hands and send it back there to support their home shrine.
I’d felt like this since the first time I heard the story but…the fact that I came here just because I wanted to meet girls makes me want to dig a hole and hide inside out of shame.
Setting aside those feelings for the moment, I can tell Mikoto is about to get to the important part, so I focus on listening to her.
Even Welf and Lilly have stopped working and turn to listen to Mikoto’s story.
“I first met Haruhime long before the journey to Orario…About ten years have passed since then.”
Mikoto avoids making any eye contact, her gaze scanning the floor as she recounts those memories for us.
“Our shrine was located on a mountain. Lady Haruhime’s manor was located at the foot of it. Born into a life of luxury, she had never once left that manor. Her world was completely different from ours…but Lord Takemikazuchi took pity on her.”
—All of you, bring her into the outside world.
It was a strange order, but Lord Takemikazuchi had given it with a childlike smile—at least that’s what Mikoto says.
Lord Takemikazuchi is a god of war, more specifically of styles of combat. He’d been training all of them since the day they’d arrived at the shrine, so Mikoto, Chigusa, Ouka, and the others had no trouble sneaking into the manor and bringing Haruhime outside to play.
“So that would mean that you and Haruhime are childhood friends…?”
“Yes, it would. However, her family discovered our activities. After that day, their patrols became more frequent and thorough…”
Being nobility, the family couldn’t let this slide. Haruhime’s father was furious with them…Luckily, Lord Takemikazuchi stepped in and apologized on all fours, the dogeza technique, until her father agreed to let them off easy.
“He’s very quick to apologize, for a god.” I hear Lilly’s voice come from across the room. Judging by her tone, this is hitting her just as hard as it’s hitting Welf and me.
“We brought her outside many times. Climbing the mountain, chasing through the fields, splashing around in the river…But it all came to an abrupt end.”
“Was that when…?”
“Yes. It came at a time when shrine donations were increasing and all of us
were too busy to go to the manor…On the night before we were planning to make our first visit in weeks, we were informed that Haruhime had been disowned.”
She was chased out of her own home. Mikoto and the others searched for any clues as to her whereabouts but came up empty-handed…
This probably had something to do with that prum man Haruhime told me about.
From there, she was sold and came to the continent, to Orario.
Takemikazuchi Familia arrived here about two years ago. Haruhime had already been in the city for some time.
“My time with Lady Haruhime may have been much shorter than the years I’ve spent with Captain Ouka and the others…but we were more than just acquaintances. I would call her my friend.”
Mikoto fell silent to signal the end of her story.
There’s a great deal of remorse in her words…I can feel her pain from here.
A heavy silence falls around us.
“…Lilly thinks this is obvious, but…”
A soft voice breaks the uneasy tranquility on the first floor of the bookshop.
Welf is leaning against a bookshelf with his arms crossed. Lilly’s standing next to him. She continues.
“Please don’t think of trying to rescue that renart.”
“!!”
“Of course. We just finished a War Game, and taking action right now would cause another one, yes?”
We put everything we had into it and somehow managed to emerge victorious, but Lilly says that all came with a price.
Becoming famous is one thing. At the same time, however, information about us circulates much faster than before and more people want information about us. Many familias are researching us at this very moment.
That blast of cold truth pops the balloon of happiness that had been in my heart since those kids recognized me this morning.
“Ishtar Familia is completely different from what Apollo Familia was. Stop to consider what it would be like to fight their members one-on-one.”
“…!”
“As we are now, even if we manage to convince others to help us, we would be completely wiped out.”
The difference in strength is too great. That’s exactly what Eina told me…
Lilly’s words are so direct, so powerful that I can’t string together a response. Mikoto opens and closes her mouth many times, but she can’t say anything, either.