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"… Haaa… this sure looks like something Ganesha would do." Hestia mumbled as she looked at the Ganesha Familia's manor
(Image)
Silver looked at the massive home before turning to her, "This is your first time here, correct?"
"Yes, though I never even thought about it, to be honest."
'Who would like to come here anyway?!'
With a chuckle, Silver turned to face the entrance to the manor, paying attention to the people going in, "I didn't know Ganesha was so popular."
'Ganesha's parties are usually only for deities, so all of those people... Crazy to think just how many there truly are in Orario… in the world.'
'Most of them don't even look that unique, although if you look closely at them, you'll notice the strangeness each of them holds. Gods are simply too perfect-looking. Even if they hide their divinity and blend in, one can still notice something off about them… at least that's how I feel.'
'Most people don't seem to have that ability.'
While he glanced around a little, Hestia stepped up "Well, then… I'm off." She said as she stepped before him
"Do we set a time for me to come pick you up?"
"There's no need for that." She replied as she shook her head, "In the first place, I don't even know when it'll end. I'll probably stay for a little while, greet a few people and leave."
'Maybe eat something tasty while I'm at it too.'
She pointed at him before putting her hands on her hips, nodding to herself, "You should focus on your own things! I know you've been staying with me these past few weeks, and I'm thankful. Still, I know when to draw the line."
"Go adventure!… In moderation…"
He smirked, "Very well then. I've already finished my work for today, so I should be spending the rest of the day at the School District. Regardless, I'll be back before eight like usual."
'What is it now, anyway? About 4Pm?'
"I'll pass by around seven in case you want to leave together." He took a little leaf off her brushed hair, "Take care. Enjoy the party a little, just don't drink too much."
"I'm not a fan of drinking without good company! Besides, its not like missing a party like this will change anything, Ganesha throws several of them every year… I heard many skip them."
"Yes, but coming here every once in a while isn't that big of a deal. Take a look around and see for yourself how a big-name deity hosts an event. Who knows? Maybe one day it'll be your turn to host one."
"That's a bit far in the future… but I will! And uh… I uh…"
Hestia pouted faintly as she fidgeted with her fingers. After thinking for a few seconds, she raised her head…
"My? Isn't that Hestia?"
But then, a feminine voice echoed in the distance.
"Huh?!"
Hestia froze as she recognized the voice.
"And who's that cutie? Don't tell me it's her child?" Another goddess said out loud as she touched her chin
"Maybe it's her little boyfriend?" Another assumed as she crossed her arms
Hestia turned to the goddesses as they looked at her with threatening eyes… "Oh, no… c-crap! Silver, you need to… Huh?"
When she turned to him, she noticed how Silver had already turned tail!
"Silver!! You can't just run away like that!!" She exclaimed as she slammed her sandal on the ground
She did try to wear heels, but it didn't work…
As she looked at Silver running away, the goddesses approached her from behind, "Hestia! Come talk with us!~ Tell us everything!"
"G-Get away from me!"
…
/Around an hour and a half later…/
In his Elven disguise, Silver finished another thick book on magic theory, closing it as he covered his mouth, "Yawwn… enough of this."
'I need to do something else until the party's over.'
/Poof…/
Silver closed the large book in his hands and put it back in place before leaving the School District's library.
He stood outside for a few moments, enjoying the scenery as the students and faculty passed by. He might not say it, but he was starting to miss the life of a student. Seeing the kids in uniform pass by, laughing with each other, complaining about simple things… it reminded him of too many memories he had long buried inside his mind.
Despite that, Silver wasn't one to reminisce about the past. After enjoying the ocean's breeze, he focused once again on his many tasks left undone.
'It's a little strange, but the principles behind Magitech aren't that complicated. Though it'll take me a while to integrate the basics of magic studies as a whole.'
'I should thank grandma. While somewhat archaic compared to the School District's methods, that laid the foundation for me to understand all of this mess. I won't become a magitech engineer overnight, but I should reach the same level as the other students of the respective faculties within a few months… depending on how long I sit down to study, that is.'
'Anyhow, that is only a side hobby of mine right now. I'm more interested in the alchemical achievements of the school district… one of the strongest metals in the world is an example of that.'
'Oricalchum is the strongest metal in the world and was created in ancient times. Most of Orario's supply of it comes from the School District itself whenever it passes by.'
'It's made through some secretive alchemical process, or so I've heard. Maybe the School District has figured out some stronger compounds and alloys. Given all their technological development, I wouldn't be surprised if they had.'
Silver walked out of the library and walked to a vantage point overlooking the sea and Melen. Observing the twinkling lights as nightfall arrived.
Today was an unusually clear day; it seemed it was going to be like that until the new year.
'I would like to say I'm not in a hurry. But that would be a lie. How long does this world still have? Or is it all me being overly sensitive about it? The greatest heroes of a thousand years of development all fell, and the people of today can barely compare.'
'How are we supposed to reach their heights? The School District is the only place I've seen that's trying to catch up on the lost methods and develop new technologies for the destined fight. Everyone else is just… well, I don't know enough to judge them. But I know enough to say that the current adventurers of Orario do not compare to the tales my grandparents told me about.'
'And the tales I heard about here.'
"Should I go to the Dungeon?"
'Even if the world isn't ready, that is no excuse for me to complain and do nothing.'
"Perhaps it's the weather, but I feel a little down… huh?"
At that moment, Silver noticed a person walking on the street beneath him. The man's golden hair shone in the sunlight of the horizon, attracting his attention.
'That man is…'
"… Hm?…"
As if noticing his gaze, the man turned to face him, smiling as he did so.
The man's face was sharp and full of confidence. When he looked at him, he momentarily thought of the heroic fables he used to read when he was younger.
It was unmistakable now, Silver knew who that man was… and the moment he realized it, a smile crept onto his face.
He knew exactly what he'd be doing for the next few hours.
/JUMP!/
He jumped in the air, flying towards the man who stood there with a faint smile.
/LAND!/
Silver landed before him, causing a faint airwave that sent the man's hair flying.
"A bit of a rough greeting, isn't it?" The man said as he put one hand inside his pocket
Silver merely smiled, "Fight me!"
His smile deepened as he resisted the urge to laugh, "Sure."
Without hesitation, the man agreed. In fact, from the moment their eyes met, he understood all there was to it. What kind of person Silver was… at least as a warrior.
After all, wasn't the same? A long time ago…
"Follow me to the gymnasium. I'd rather not break the students' hard work, you see."
"Of course."
Silver smiled, following the blond-haired professor to a massive building in the upper ring, 'I did this on a whim, but to think he'd accept it… it was a hunch, but the rumors weren't wrong.'
When they arrived, he grabbed a simple blade, not even changing from his uniform, and put it on the ground.
"Well then, we're here. You may start whenever you're ready, "student"."
"…"
'From his wording, it looks like he's already a bit aware of my actions. Not unexpected given his position. In the first place, for me to be given a temporary pass, Idun must've reported my actions to the principal… and he came to know by default.'
'The Head Teacher of the School District, also known as the Knight of Knights… the man said to be the closest to becoming the last hero destined to take down the black dragon… and also the only other Level 7 known to exist.'
'Leon Vardenburg!'
(Image)
"I'm waiting. Do you need time to charge a special attack?" He asked as his smile turned into a faint smirk. He wasn't mocking Silver for he seemed more curious about him than anything
"There's no such thing." He said as he took a deep breath
'Now that I'm here, I'm a little skeptical of my decision, but there's no point crying over it… the way my grandparents taught me was based on their own experiences. The experience of an adventurer that grew during the time of the Zeus and Hera Familias.'
'And that way is… to be beaten up to a pulp.'
/Shaa…/
Silver's body transformed. His long red hair darkened, his long ears shortened.
Seeing this, Leon was visibly amused, "Oh? That's new."
Slowly, Silver went from being an elf to being a human once more. At least this time his uniform wasn't fake but real.
One of Leon's eyebrows rose, "So that's how you look. A shame she isn't here to see it."
"You mean Lady Idun?"
"She loves mysteries. To her, you're like that one thing she can't figure out. She did say you might be disguised, but after seeing you, I didn't believe it… mark me impressed."
"You learn something new every day. I've heard of disguising magic, but yours surpasses it."
"Aha… thank you, but it's not quite that…"
But Leon cut him right then and there, "Shall we?"
"…"
'A chance like this doesn't come again.'
/Crunk…/
Silver grit his teeth and hands as rays of reddish energy jumped through his skin.
/Step!/
He stepped forward as he grabbed a sword.
"Let's go!"
/Vanish!/
"!"
Silver vanished, reappearing beside Leon.
/CLANG!/
He struck with everything he had. His bulging body boosted his stats as high as a Skill would, his Plasmids in action to increase the weight of his blade, its speed, decrease air resistance, and unleash all the slumbering potential within his body and more!
Yet even that… did not even do as much as make his blade tremble.
"You surprised me. How did you get here?" He asked as he twisted his wrist
"Ugh… HUPP!"
Silver's blade was forcibly sent up, shattering his stance as Leon delivered a fatal quick against his abdomen!
/Shua!/
"Oh?"
As his feet collided with Silver's body, it turned into fog, passing right through!
Silver tried to make use of the window of opportunity by slashing down with his blade, but Leon turned into an afterimage, striking his head with the back of his palm and sending him flying across the gymnasium.
/SMASH!/
As Silver fell on the smooth hard ground, sliding across half the arena, Leon placed his sword on the ground again, pensive, "Interesting array of abilities you have there, young man."
"I haven't heard or seen you chant anything. I must say that I'm starting to understand why Idun is so interested in you. Body transformation magic like this is unheard of."
'This might be more interesting than I originally thought.'
"Ugh…"
His face bleeding, Silver wiped off the red drool as he pushed himself off the ground.
'I didn't even see him move. I didn't even have the time to activate my Plasmids.'
'If that's the case…'
Silver stepped forward as his muscles trembled. The bizarre sight of Silver's body shifting under his skin did not result in a single reaction in the composed knight.
"Have anything else to show?"
"Huff… you'll see!"
/CRACKLE!/
Silver's right hand turned into a living pyre! He raised it high above his head and immediately after, the whole gymnasium was covered in crimson flames!
In the chaos, his body turned to cinders right before Leon's eyes, surprising him yet again.
"Impressive. Body transformation all the way to this, I can't quite see to pinpoint what your magic is."
He raised his blade, "Let's make this a little more interesting."
/SWIPE!/
With tremendous force, he slashed horizontally across the arena, wiping out all the flames with the mere air pressure alone!
/SWIPE!/
But at that moment, Silver reappeared above him, piercing with his blade!
Leon smiled, ready to block when he noticed three other presences around him.
One from behind, with his hands pointing forward.
The second from his left, striking at his legs.
And the last before him, piercing at his chest.
Leon's eyes opened a bit more. 'Truly…' he thought to himself as the world around him slowed down to a halt.
'Seeing something like this makes me want to stop working for a while. How can I leave a kid like this alone?'
'The joy of teaching always comes back to me, it seems…'
Leon raised his blade, but rather than striking at the surrounding entities, he shoved it down on the ground, piercing deep into the earth!
/SPLURT!/
Blood gushed out of the ground as the four figures struck at Leon's body!
/SLASH!/
/PIERCE!/
/BLAST!/
While their strikes inched towards him, without even leaving behind an afterimage, Leon struck all clones swiftly, going back to his previous stance before the impact of his strikes even rippled throughout them.
/POOF!/
They all turned to smoke at the same time as Silver crawled from underground, phasing through the earth as he clenched onto his bloodstained shoulder.
"Ugh…"
Leon smiled apologetically, "For a moment there, I thought I had hit your head. Glad to know I got it right."
"Huff…"
'He's different from Ottar. It's not that he was unskilled. Ottar made his own combat style while this guy carries on a systematic martial style... he is a knight indeed.'
Silver's eyes were tense. Somehow, he felt this man was even more problematic to deal with than the King.
But at the same time… that only made him more excited.
"HUPP!!"
/BURST!/
Silver took his hand from his shoulder and clenched his training sword as he activated his Plasmids to their maximum power.
His shirt burned to cinders as his bare body was exposed to Leon. His injuries quickly healed as his flesh fused together as if alive, lightning jumping through his exposed veins…
"Good enough for the warmup." Leon said as he put his sword between him and Silver
"Ugh..."
'He's starting to get in my nerves. One thing is to be beaten up in silence and the other is to be beaten up like this!'
With a faint smirk, he stepped forward, his blade hanging beside him, "Don't disappoint me kid, my expectations of you have risen substantially ever since we met."
Silver clenched his teeth as his tendons creaked like snapping iron, "... As if I cared!"
As Silver screamed his emotions out loud, Leon's eyes opened wide as his mouth… "Hahahaha! Right! Exactly!"
/Fwoosh!/
"!!!"
Leon vanished from his spot. The moment Silver processed something had changed, his training blade was already right before his forehead.
/CLANG!/
"UGH!!"
He barely blocked it, his legs almost giving in as blood ran down his arms!
"I should've done this from the start. You know, I understand exactly how you think. I used to be like that too."
"Here in the academy, keeping up with everyone's expectations can be quite tiring, but seeing you here remind me of why I chose this path."
/CLANG!/
He struck again. Like before, Silver only recognized his movements when his blade was already an inch from slamming against his ribs.
"UGH!!"
He blocked it again, but the impact traveled across his whole body! And even then, Leon quickly changed position, striking his head again!
Silver pushed his body to the limits, increasing his reaction speed as he tried to keep up with the man, but all he did was move a little faster than before.
'It's as if the blade is moving in and out of space! It's far more horrifying than the old fart's sword!'
With a single twist of his wrist, Leon pushed Silver around as if he was playing with a stray cat on the streets, "I've seen many kids like you. All have changed under our tutelage."
/CLANG!/
"But we don't have the time for that, do we? That's not why you came here, is it?"
He struck down from another weird angle, targeting his shoulders. But like before, when Silver barely blocked it, he snapped his wrist and struck his head again.
/CLANG!/
"I know the feeling. I did the same thing before."
While Silver battled to keep himself focused, Leon pierced his chest. Just when Silver barely parried the strike, his wooden blade struck down at his forehead again.
/CLANG!/
"ARG!"
/CLANG!/
Leon kept pushing Silver back as his blade danced in the air. What seemed like an effortless action to him was life and death for Silver! Each strike seemed to fracture a bone in his body, as if ten minotaurs were striking him at the same time!
And worst of all, why did he kept striking his forehead?!
"Not bad! You're well taught. I didn't expect you to react so well… let's increase the intensity a bit more."
/CLANG!/
Silver's sword was pulled downward by his immense force, "WHAT?!"
'I take back what I thought before! This guy isn't all that noble!… He's batshit insane!'
"I'll make things a bit faster, try to keep up."
And with that, he vanished.
/FWOOSH!/
"!!"
/SLASH!/
/CLANG!/
Leon's blade struck against Silver's stomach, but like metal clashing, it rang as it struck his skin.
At this time, Leon wasn't even surprised as he witnessed Silver's skin turn to metal. He only smirked at the sight, striking it again with a carefree gaze as Silver scrambled to defend.
/Smack!/ His blade struck his forehead again…
/CLANG!/
/Smack!/ And again…
/CLANG!/
/Smack!/ Silver's face was utterly red.
/CLANG!/
Blood falling down his lips as he felt his insides rupture, Silver's eyes turned white as a powerful flash of light burst straight into Leon's vision!
"…"
/SLASH!/
As Silver pierced at his neck, Leon swung his blade sideways, perfectly parrying his strike.
/CLANG!/
"W-What?!"
This was the first time Leon's smile faded.
"Weak. This light is too weak." He declared as his eyes looked straight into his despite the brightness, "If you want to blind me, then you need to show me a supreme light."
"The strongest of all lights. The one who will pierce the clouds."
/SMASH!/
Leon let go of his blade as Silver tried to strike him again, leaving him open. His fist collided with Silver's stomach, pushing him off the ground as he pummelled him straight into the reinforced stone wall!
"GUHA!!"
Silver spat out a few pieces of flesh and a torrent of reddish vomit as he had difficulty even breathing.
Seeing his eyes vaguely staring at his surroundings as he desperately clung to consciousness, Leon's smile returned to his face as he crouched next to him, disregarding the pool of blood and vomit before him.
"Still awake? Good. We're not ending this here, are we?"
"…"
'Crazy fucker…'
Silver grit his teeth with such power they cracked.
/Fuom…/
From beside him, a swirling dark vortex spat out a potion bottle. At the sight of the glistening Elixir, Leon chuckled. But just when he reached out to grab it, the bottle flew to Silver's mouth.
/CRACK!/
Silver crushed the bottle with his teeth. And as the immensely powerful potion's medicinal power ran down his throat, the glass shards phased through his jaw, falling on the ground.
"Right, that was a short-sighted answer." Leon said out loud as he walked back, turning around as he reached for the center of the arena again
As he reached the same position as before, he pointed his sword at Silver, "I'm waiting."
"Ugh… cough!"
Silver walked off the wall with trembling steps as he took another potion and spilled it over his head.
"I'm… huff… not done yet."
"I can see that."
"Huff… has… anyone ever said… you're damn insane?"
"… Hahaha! Many times." He said as his memories passed through his eyes, "But so what?"
"Can you do anything about it?"
"…"
Silver couldn't answer when he could barely breathe.
Holding in his laugh as he opened his arms slightly, Leon said, "Right… well kid, welcome to the mud. From here on, you can't fall much further."
"Let's continue. Today, I'll show you what lies beneath the mud. The world few had the honor of witnessing."
"You can take that much, can you?"
Silver took a deep breath as he grit his teeth in pain,"I have to, somehow… I have something to do around seven, you see."
"I wasn't thinking that far, but if that's your will, then so be it."
"Shit…"
"Let's begin… what's your name again, student?"
"… Mellios Silver. Just use my last name."
"Nice to meet Silver. I'm Leon Vardenburg, you may call me Professor Leon."
Silver smiled like him, blood still stained his teeth, "In your dreams!"
Leon smile never wavered, "Keep up the attitude. You'll need it."
With that, Silver walked to the center of the arena again.
No more words were exchanged.
/FWOOSH!/
Silver charged at Leon like before.
/CLANG!/
…
/Several hours later…/
As Silver left the School District, Leon watched the sea from afar as his chipped training sword rested beside him.
/Step…/
"You could've been a bit gentler, you know." A voice rang behind him
Leon slowly turned to face the newcomer, "So you were watching."
"From the moment you poured an Elixir on his head."
"That was… about when I knocked him out for the second time?" Leon wandered as he brushed his hair, "How did you know?"
"There proves my point… besides, everyone would notice you entering the gymnasium with a student. You even blocked it off. Do you think I wouldn't notice it when half the school already knows?"
Leon reached to the back of his head as his smile fadded, "Haha… sometimes I forget about that."
She closer her arms, "And? Don't you think you overdid it?"
"Hm… each person has a breaking point, and with that kid, he has yet to reach it. I thought I'd be able to push him that far, but I failed. This is the first time it has happened."
"Like a raw chunk of metal that refuses to melt... each time he rose up, I increased the weight on my hands, but midway through, I feared crushing him and held myself."
"However, at the sight of his abilities, that thought process was my undoing. It prevented me from pushing him further."
Leon turned to the ocean again, "He is the very definition of why I set out of Orario. Everything's in the right place. I never thought I'd meet someone like him. All he needs is someone to push him out of his comfort zone."
"And 'that' wasn't enough? I think I saw one of his eyes pop out for a moment!"
Leon smiled awkwardly, a rare sight to anyone, "I'm surprised too. He has an unbelievable amount of willpower; it's the highest of anyone I've ever taught."
"Never once did I see him waver. Most tend to hesitate at such physical torture but he embraced it, knowing it would make him stronger."
"The last time I saw someone with such a mentality... I wasn't that much older than he is now."
"Sigh… you sure were acting strange then. Far more "jovial" than usual for our modern Hero. Did you stop to think what would happen if someone saw you then?"
"Haha… when I saw him jump after me, it made me remember when I was his age too… I couldn't help but think that it was finally my turn to do the same."
"Of all we have taught in the past decade, not one has ever come to me with such… enthusiasm. I had to answer in kind."
'He took it all far better than I ever did. He might even have already realized what it took me, their defeat, to do so and is now working towards a shared goal.'
Idun complained, "Can you blame them? No one wants to go through all that!"
"Exactly… but unfortunately, the world gives no room for such luxuries, yet I'm too soft to enforce it on those kids. That's why… when he came to me… I couldn't help but let go a bit as well."
"Haaa… they say men never age… maybe they were right."
Leon smiled as he turned around, facing Idun, "To you, I'm still that kid dreaming of being a Hero, what else can I say?"
"Sigh… what now?" She asked as she stepped beside him, watching the horizon
"I'll do what I've always done. To train as many as I can so Heroes may rise. I'll scatter as many seeds as I can until the promised time. And he seems like a fitting candidate for extra nurturing."
"After what you did to him today, do you think he'll come back?"
Leon turned around, his arms on his back, "You seem to have a misconception about him. I never had a choice in this. He essentially ordered me to be here tomorrow."
"He was the one who came to me. Our training was never in my hands." He replied in an amused tone as he walked back onto the streets
"But what about your work? Aren't your policy about not giving any student preferential treatment?"
"You said it yourself. It's not that I'm giving him preferential treatment. I'm just offering him my teachings like any other… if anyone wants to join in, I'd be more than happy to do so."
"As if anyone would do that…"
"It takes immense will to take the path of a Hero. Both of us know that."
Leon left with a faint smile, already anticipating tomorrow.
Idun remained near the parapet, "Haaa… this will sure cause a commotion if those kids hear it?"
"Professor Leon is giving private lessons to an unknown student… no matter how much I try to convince them otherwise, they'll never let go of this…"
Idun scoffed as the stiff wind brushed her golden hair back.
'That's what he deserves. Tricking me for so long… let him deal with the consequences of that. Maybe we should make it an event… a Battle Royale for their dear professor's attention.'
'That would be interesting. I should discuss it with Baldr.'
Idun smiled faintly as she turned to leave, the dark night looming over her head.
…
"Ugh... my whole body's numb..."
On the busy streets of Orario, Silver walked to the Ganesha Familia home with a heavy coat covering his body and head.
Despite trying his best to hide himself, he did not stand out at all as everyone looked the same way as they protected themselves from the cold.
'… She should be waiting. I'm not that late.'
Silver reached the domain of the Ganesha Familia, the enormous building in the distance already visible amidst an array of bright lights.
As he noticed some deities around, despite the party still being in full swing, some had already taken their leave.
He looked around for Hestia, but didn't find her as he approached the building.
"… Should I just go inside and call for her? I don't care how the gods would react, but I don't want her to feel isolated."
That was until he heard a commotion from the side, "Arg!… For the last time, don't kick me, Hestia!"
"Hm?"
Silver turned to the source of the screams. There, he saw Hestia with a fully flushed face as she was barely kept up by a man on the side road.
The man had long black hair tied in an unusual style he immediately associated with the Far East. His clothes were simple, and his suit could even be said to be cheap. His expression was one of distress as he looked around for someone as he tried to keep Hestia at bay.
(Image)
"I'll show her next time!" Hestia screamed as she puffed angrily, only yo almost fall again
"…"
'I smell trouble…'
Silver approached the duo, being noticed almost right away.
"Excuse me… what happened to my Goddess?"
"Silver? Silver, listen to me!!!"
Silver caught Hestia as she stepped forward, almost falling face first on the ground, "Ugh… you smell of booze. And your dress... what happened? And why is there spaghetti everywhere?" He asked as he shook his right hand, shaking off some cold noodles
"It was that damn flat screw's fault!"
But almost immediately after she fell into his arms, Hestia closed her eyes and fell asleep.
"What?…"
"Haa… you're finally here. You must be her child, Silver, correct?" The male deity asked as a sigh of relief escaped his lips
"Yes, I am. But who would you be, deity-sama?"
"No need for formality. I appreciate the act, but this isn't the Far East. Besides, me and Hestia are old friends, I'd rather not ask for such in matters between us."
He looked at him with a faint smile but then... awkwardness... "Although uh... what happened to your face?"
"Let's not talk about it." Silver replied plainly as he touched the massive bruise on his forehead
'No matter how much I tried to heal it. This damn bump just doesn't go away. That darned monster...'
The god gave Silver a formal bow worthy of a samurai, "I... I see... well, I'm Takemikazuchi. Our territories were close by in Heaven, so I got to know her a bit."
"Oh! I've heard of you. She told me about you." Silver said with a smile as he nodded, "A Top-Class gigolo." He added as he cleaned her hair
"P-Pardon?! I don't really try to be like that…" He said awkwardly as he scratched the back of his head
"I know. She knows too… but she likes to say it makes things even worse. Anyhow… what the hell happened?"
Take's expression grew a little heavy, "It happened a little too fast. In one moment everything was fine, but the second I turned to take some food… when I returned, they were already in a heated confrontation."
"They?"
"Hestia and Loki, of course."
Silver rolled his eyes, 'But of course.'
"And this food in her hair?… Everywhere?"
Take looked away as he thought about it, "Somewhere amidst their heated arguments, Hestia was eating a pudding while Loki was complaining about her, saying she was, "undignified"… when Loki lost her composure and took a step forward, Hestia tried to create distance but ended up stepping on Hermes' foot… when he screamed, she was startled and…"
Silver had the urge to face palm, "Threw the pudding on her face?" Silver asked as the image formed in his head
"Exactly… Loki then went on to… throw the first plate of food she got her hands on. It didn't help that someone grabbed a full plate of spaghetti for her…"
"Right… throwing fuel on the fire… she must've been pretty drunk then."
"Haha… not quite. Hestia drank afterwards because she was upset about her dress being ruined. Even I can tell its expensive."
Silver closed his eyes and exhaled, "Haaa… I think I got the gist of it. Thank you for taking care of her."
"It's nothing. There were several candidates. I was just the one planning on leaving early, so I took the chance to do so. She'll need plenty of rest tomorrow… she drank quite a bit."
"I can tell… thank you once again. I'll make up for this one of these days."
He shook his head, "It's nothing, really. Just helping out a friend. I had hoped our first meeting in the lower world would be under better conditions, but reality often proves deceptive."
He looked at a clock tower in the distance, "Its getting late, I must also return to my children, for they're likely worried about me. I wish you and Hestia a good night and a pleasant new year…"
"Wait... I'm thinking about doing a New Year's feast. Interested in joining? Bring as many people as you like."
"Oh? If so… then I'd be elated. We'll also be doing one back at our Familia home, so if you're interested, why don't we fuse ours?"
"No problem for me… it was just going to be me and her, anyway. Some company wouldn't be bad... I'll leave it to this one tomorrow for the details."
"Then we shall meet each other on New Year's Eve." Takemikazuchi said before turning around and leaving
"... To think I would meet him so soon."
'Takemikazuchi, an overseas god of war. I didn't know he was in Orario. The book of deities did not have his name on it. Perhaps he arrived recently?'
'Seems like we'll be meeting each other frequently from now on.'
"Mnn... ugh... buuh..."
"Oh no..."
After looking left and right, Silver turned himself and Hestia invisible before teleporting away from the crowd.
...
"BLEERRG!!"
"Yeah... let it out... sigh..."
"BLEERRG!!"
"Haaa..."
In an alley not too far from the party, Silver patted Hestia's back as she puked the excess alcohol she had ingested.
So unbecoming of a deity...
'And there she said she wasn't going to drink...'
"BLEERRG!!"
"... Why does this scene looks so familiar to me?... I can't remember."
Patting the deity on the back, Silver helped her for the next few minutes.
...
After Hestia calmed down, Silver carried her back home before helping her get into bed.
After taking a shower and eating something, he put some ice on his forehead before closing his eyes and letting himself drift into dreamland...
...
/Meanwhile.../
"BLEERRG!!"
"Sigh, I told you not to drink so much. Why don't you ever listen? And why do I have to be the one to watch over you?"
"Ugh... s-shut up, Gareth. It's all that y-yuck... that midget's faaaault... BLEERRG!!"
"Just what did she tell you to make you drink so much? You know what? I don't want to know. Just don't come complaining to me tomorrow after your head starts hurting. I'm not going on another wild-goose chase for that damn grass to help with your hangover again."
"... water..."
"Sigh... next time I'll have it done through rock, paper, and scissors. Dammit... how am I supposed to drink tomorrow after this?"
"D-Don't worry, Gareth, I got your back... yuck!..."
"Before that, you need to survive this."
"Don't say such ominous things... ugh! It's coming again..."
"BLEERRG!!"
...
/A few hours before the new year.../
...
.
.
.
Notes
Quite a few new characters have been introduced here and far more will be in the future.
I'd say one more chapter before we finish this "introduction" and a few more before Silver goes on an expedition.
So far, everything we've seen in the last ten chapters is new content. Most plotlines haven't even begun because the original started at the New Year instead. It's about a month of extra work.
That's about all from me, thank you for reading and peace!