One of those guesses was meeting another woman.
And sure enough.
The women's guess was not wrong because a few moments later, when Eiji was walking on one of the main streets in Orario which according to him... the shape of Orario itself resembled a pizza cut into several pieces.
The area was not too far from the Seiya Familia's house, which also happened to be close to a building called I am Ganesha—the house of the Ganesha Familia.
They happened to be neighbors.
Because of his overly attractive appearance, people around thought he was a god. However, there were also people who thought Eiji was an adventurer from his clothes. For your information, he was still dressed like Blade from HSR.
That made a tall and beautiful woman with sky blue hair around there glance at him curiously. Eiji's attitude of looking around as if he was coming there for the first time didn't help either, it made her walk up to him.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you lost? Need help?"
Eiji glanced at the beautiful woman who approached him, his eyes sparkled slightly before he innocently answered. "Lost? Perhaps. I'm actually walking around here to get to know the neighborhood around my new residence better."
"So, you're new around here... I'm Shakti Varma. As the captain of the Ganesha Familia, I have an obligation to help any Orario citizen in distress."
This woman in front of him... Eiji certainly knew her. Actually, he had come here to create an accidental encounter with Mikoto who was walking with some members of her familia, they were not far from here.
How did he know Mikoto's location? Well, he had smuggled one of his shadow warriors inside her shadow.
The same went for all the beautiful women from Danmachi that he had met in person before.
However, who would have thought that another beautiful woman in the original work would take the initiative to approach him. Come to think of it, he was now standing not far from the Ganesha Familia house.
Far behind Shakti, he could see a giant statue of Ganesha, with the entrance located at its crotch. It was the headquarters of the Ganesha Familia, the largest family with the largest number of members in Orario, as well as having the largest number of first-class adventurers (Level 5), namely eleven people including Shakti.
Different from the Loki Familia and Freya Familia, or even the Hephaestus Familia. Ganesha Familia is the only family that functions as a military police force and security guard in the city of Orario in the DanMachi series.
It's not for nothing that Shakti offered to help him. She was basically a policewoman patrolling the streets.
Eiji certainly wasn't going to refuse! This was an opportunity, he had to make a change of plans and add 'Wooing Shakti, one of the SR (Super Rare) beauties hidden and often ignored by other Danmachi fanfic protagonists' to his list of 100 Danmachi Regrets.
"You can call me Eiji."
"Understood. Eiji, are there any places you want to visit around here? I can show you the way."
If it was someone else, Shakti would not be as enthusiastic as she was now. Perhaps because she had been single for a long time and her god often teased her to find someone to date as she reached her thirties, she was annoyed and often felt anxious.
It wasn't that she wasn't interested in dating, getting married and having a family of her own even though she was almost always busy with her work.
But... no man had caught her attention until she saw the man in front of her.
He was very handsome and his figure was her type. Shakti tried not to stare at him absentmindedly, and maintained her serious expression. In her heart, she felt a little embarrassed.
'Calm down, Shakti! You're not some amazoness who gets lustful at the mere sight of a handsome man!'
'Still, this man is the most handsome man I've ever seen... Is he a god or a human?'
Eiji read Shakti's thoughts and felt this would be easy. The corners of his lips lifted higher, he smiled until his white teeth were visible. "Shakti, you're a good woman... But, is it not too much trouble for you?"
Good? He thinks I'm a good woman? That means, he has a good impression of me, right?
Shakti couldn't help getting a little excited, she shook her head and replied. "No, I don't. As I said before, this is my duty as a member and captain of the Ganesha Familia. By the way, unlike other families, we are responsible for the security of the city."
She thought Eiji didn't know anything about her familia because he was new to Orario.
Eiji made an expression as if he just knew what he heard and said, "I see. Shakti, you're not only beautiful, you're also a woman of high status."
"Ah, my status is not that high..."
Shakti felt that she was being praised by the man who caught her attention, she was happy but humble.
[It's really an important matter that you said, host. Wooing another woman?]
Miss System, you have to see the big picture.
Shakti is the captain of the Ganesha Family. Establishing a good relationship with her is the same as gaining a new connection for the Seiya Familia.
[A good way to justify your words and actions.]
Ignore Miss System's sarcasm, she seems a bit jealous. Eiji held his chin with a thinking expression.
He knew Shakti was only interested in him, she was not in love with him yet. To woo her, he had to show that he not only had good looks.
However, it would be better if he could also hit many birds with one stone. He had an idea.
"I have decided. Shakti, do you know a place that allows one to gain fame quickly other than the dungeon?"
Shaki didn't expect Eiji to want to go to such a place. But in her opinion, it was natural for someone to want fame in Orario.
It made her think he was an adventurer and that was even better.
"I know and that place is one of my familia's new businesses. I can help you apply if you are confident in your power."
Shaki said that with a serious expression before explaining about the Colosseum. Originally, the Ganesha Familia only used the arena with many spectator seats to hold the annual Monsterphilia or Monster Feria festival. At this festival, they performed their skills in taming monsters from the Dungeon in front of the public.
But since the problems that occurred in this year's Monster Feria, the festival was considered too risky and was stopped. Eiji knew the details, or rather wasn't that one of the plots in Danmachi season one?
The problem was that the protagonist Bell caught Freya's attention and Freya used the Monster Feria as an opportunity to test him. She used her charms to release a monster from the Colosseum and told it to go after Hestia. Knowing his goddess was in danger, Bell of course couldn't stay silent and defeated the monster with great difficulty using the new sword Hestia had gotten from Hephaestus.
Freya was satisfied to see that, but the Ganesha Family was blamed and they apologized to everyone in Orario.
Shakti then explained that instead, Ganesha Familia started a new business and it was an adventurer-to-adventurer battle for prize money held regularly at the Colosseum.
In other words, it was a kind of gladiator match and some level 5 adventurers in Ganesha Familia served as supervisors in the event to prevent casualties. Ganesha himself hosted the event every time it was held once in two weeks
(A/N: This is not in the original work, it's a fanfic so I made my own arrangements for the sake of the plot. I also deliberately made Eiji believe that such an event existed in the original work.)
"Incidentally, that event is still going on right now. Are you interested, Eiji?" Shakti asked.
"There is such a place? I'm interested. Help me register, Shakti."
Eiji of course already knew there was such a place in the original work, it was the idea he was referring to.
"Alright, come with me. That place is a little far from the Ganesha Familia headquarters."
"I will trouble you."
Under the gaze of the people on the street including some Ganesha Familia members, Shakti walked side by side with a man and she even seemed to smile a little every time she spoke to him!??
Soon, just like the rumors about the captain of the Hermes Familia. Rumors about the captain of the Ganesha Familia dating also spread.
However, they would have been even more surprised to find out that the man in each rumor was the same man.
Eiji certainly heard the things people were saying from a distance, but he enjoyed the kind of misunderstanding they were thinking.
On the way to the Colosseum, he would often ask questions about the buildings he saw as if Asfi had never done it for him before.
Shakti would always answer, her initially serious voice gradually softening.
In no time, they became even closer to each other! As expected of the God of Conquest!
Leme laughed and continued to watch while eating popcorn.
[If Asfi sees me and Shakti now, will she get jealous?]
Eiji's inner voice was heard, it made Shakti realize that the man beside her was the man whose voice she had been hearing a lot lately.
She was surprised of course, but still didn't know his true identity. After all, Eiji had only said it directly from his mouth so far.
However, in the Hermes Familia house.
In an office that was supposed to be Hermes' workplace. Asfi sat in front of a pile of paperwork.
She heard Eiji's voice and was bothered by what he said.
"I'm not jealous... why should I be?"
Asfi's lips twitched, even though she said that, there was irritation in her eyes.
Since leaving the Seiya Familia house yesterday, she often thought of Eiji's face and she would never say that to anyone of course.
She couldn't possibly miss him!
Asfi adjusted the position of her glasses and looked back at the paperwork on the table before asking, "Still, Shakti? Is that the captain of the Ganesha Family? What is Eiji doing with her? Tsk!"
She clicked her tongue. If only her god was more responsible and did not always throw all his work at her, she might now be able to walk around the Ganesha Familia headquarters to meet Eiji by accident.
Unlike what it looked like on the surface, the thought of a woman being jealous was frightening.
A member of the Hermes Familia entered the office to tell Asfi about a common problem. But when she saw the gloomy aura and even the cold gaze of her captain, she was frightened.
Who provoked her!?
Is it their god? Hermes-sama?
"What's wrong, Lulune?" Asfi asked as she turned to her.
Lulune was a Chienthrope and one of the level 3 in the Hermes Familia.
"That... On second thought, I don't want to trouble you too much, captain. It's just a small matter where some of us want new equipment but I think our equipment is still good! I'll leave now!"
Lulune scratched her head while saying that before turning around and leaving the room as if running away.
"...?" Asfi was confused, but she didn't think much of it. She shook her head and continued her work.
...
In the Colosseum.
A place similar to a gladiatorial arena with many spectators who were now sitting in circular seats.
On a high podium, a god with a burly body and wearing an elephant mask stood holding a microphone.
He was Ganesha.
"LOOK! Two brave souls are clashing for steel in the sand of the arena! Sword against axe, determination against strength! Will the young adventurer buckle under the pressure of the onslaught? NO! Because I AM GANESHA! And under my gaze, only those with true courage will remain standing!"
His voice boomed throughout the arena through the loudspeaker magic device and he said that with a dramatic pose.
Hearing this, the spectators cheered loudly, "Ganesha! Ganesha!"
On the other side of the arena, not far from where Ganesha was doing his job as a commentator, Eiji blinked his eyes.
This place is really crowded, he thought.
Shakti walked up to her deity, she appeared from behind the curtain behind the podium with quiet steps, her hands folded behind her back. "Ganesha-sama, there is something I want to talk to you about."
Ganesha looked back and smiled widely, "Shakti! My captain who is full of discipline! Isn't this wonderful? The boiling blood, the spirit of the youth! What's the matter? Did you bring a report of cheating at the spectator stakes?"
How did Ganesha Familia make money in an event like this when they themselves had to dodge the prize money champions?
Of course, apart from registration fees, food and beverage sales, and seats to watch. There is also betting among the spectators which is monitored by their side for safety and they charge 5% for it.
This business is actually more profitable than Monster Feria.
"There are no security issues. I'm here for technical matters. I want you to include one more name in this afternoon's main duel schedule. His name is Eiji."
Shakti said that because it was too late to register new participants in the normal way. That was because the event had started since this morning. The registration of participants was already closed. However, she could help Eiji in another way.
Ganesha then looked at the list of participants in his hand. "Eiji? Sounds familiar..."
He had forgotten about a god whose name was famous among the gods and goddesses since yesterday.
He also did not think that the Eiji Shakti was referring to was the same person because he wanted to fight.
"But I don't see that name on the official enrollment list. Who is he, which family is he from? Does he have a great winning record?"
Shakti was stunned and hesitantly said, "He's... the adventurer I just met. I don't know which family he's from. But I have a good impression of him. Very good."
Come to think of it, she hadn't asked if Eiji was really an adventurer because she was too absorbed in talking about other topics with him on the road.
From Eiji, she only knew that he was confident in his power.
Ganesha tilted his head, "Good impression? A Shakti Varma giving a personal recommendation just because of an 'impression'? This is rare! Is he as good as a Level 4 adventurer? Or does he have a secret skill?"
He's just so good-looking that I made an exception for him...
Shakti of course couldn't say that because it was too embarrassing. "He... only looks promising visually—I mean, technically! His movements are calm. I feel like he needs this stage to prove himself, and I want to help him apply. That's all."
Ganesha brought his elephant mask face closer to Shakti, trying to read her expression.
Shakti tried not to show any expression.
"Hmm... suspicious. But fine! If Captain Ganesha Familia herself vouches, then Ganesha has no reason to refuse! Eiji, huh? I'll make sure he gets a worthy opponent so he can shine!"
Shakti clenched her fists nervously. "Thank you, Ganesha-sama. Just make sure the opponent isn't... too strong so he doesn't get hurt badly, especially on his face."
Ganesha stopped laughing for a moment. "Huh? What did you just say?"
Shakti hurriedly turned to leave. "It's nothing! Prepare the schedule immediately. I'll guide him to the adventurer's lounge myself."
Knowing the content of the two people's conversation with his keen hearing, Eiji chuckled.
Who would have thought that Shakti would open the back door for him?
And just because... Yare-yare.
[Host, please control the narcissistic expression on your face now.]
"Ehem! Okay."
Soon, Shakti met him again and told him about the arrangement she had made with Ganesha.
Eiji thanked her and just agreed to her every word about him being careful.
"Eiji, where is your weapon?"
"Weapon? No need, right now... I'm a mage."
He decided to fight in mage style this time. It was also a good opportunity to test one of his new powers on a living target.
Shakti wanted to say that even though he was a mage, he had to carry a wand. But seeing Eiji's confidence, she stopped too much.
A few moments later.
In the center of the arena, a beam of magic light centered on Eiji who had just walked out quietly from the hallway.
Ganesha's voice boomed throughout the arena and even the surrounding area. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! PLEASE WELCOME AN ADVENTURER WHO MADE MY OWN CAPTAIN GIVE A SPECIAL RECOMMENDATION! WITH A FACE CAPABLE OF CALMING STORMS... HERE HE IS, EIJI!"
A face capable of calming storms?
"That's too much welcome." Eiji said without shame on his face.
The spectators who saw Eiji for the first time were stunned before becoming boisterous, especially the women, many of them were almost drooling and blushing.
That's natural but let me explain a bit... The combination of his face, white hair, golden eyes and even Blade-like clothes made his already excessive charm rise to a level that even made Shakti act out of character.
"Who is he?! So handsome!"
"Does he have a girlfriend?"
"I've fallen in love!"
Among the female spectators, a goddess who happened to be watching Ganesha's show today was surprised.
Her name was Demeter, she was a very beautiful mature woman with long wavy golden honey colored hair and orange eyes. Like Hestia, she was slender and had large breasts, making her appear very attractive in the eyes of men.
When she saw Eiji's figure, she narrowed her eyes coquettishly while placing one of her hands on her cheek.
"Ara. A very handsome man, even more handsome than the gods I know... It's a pity if he gets seriously injured in battle."
"I hope he is also strong enough."
Demeter decided to join the bet with the other spectators, she bet all the money she brought to Eiji as a form of support from her.
Eiji didn't know this, but his thumb twitched many times and his nose itched a little. Besides Shakti, he knew there were other beautiful women in the place.
They also seemed to be watching him, which made him very excited.
'I should go a little overboard.'