Adventurers were tough, after all. Even after fighting a nonstop battle like that, half a day's sleep was usually enough for them to recover.
On either side of the conflict, adventurers all shared the same tenacious vitality.
Inside the artificial labyrinth, Valletta opened her eyes and immediately felt like killing two people.
Everyone around her knew her temper well enough. She might not kill people in her sleep, but the moment she woke up? That had happened more than once or twice.
At a time like this, no one dared come anywhere near her.
With no outlet for the fury boiling inside her chest, Valletta could only smash everything around her.
"Finn! Finn! Finn! I'll never let you go! I'll never forgive you!"
The moment Loki Familia came up—especially Finn—Valletta could lose control with frightening ease.
Even if the Dark Faction's executives had been nearly wiped out, even if she was practically the only one left, Valletta had no intention of giving up.
Her wounded shoulder split open again from how violently she moved, sending a sharp pain through her and bringing cold sweat to her brow.
She did not care about pain that small, but it did calm her down a little.
"As long as I'm alive, I haven't lost. One day, I'll get my revenge. But…"
Right there, Valletta suddenly realized something serious.
Before the Great Feud, she had put off hunting for the traitor.
But she knew one existed within the Dark Faction.
And thanks to that traitor's efforts, one key item had gone missing.
"The Daedalus Orb. If that thing's in Finn's hands, then even the artificial labyrinth isn't safe."
Valletta drew in a deep breath. A chill ran straight through her bones.
If that item had really fallen into Orario's hands, then even this labyrinth could no longer be considered a secure refuge.
But if she left the labyrinth, she would lose any chance of ever avenging herself on Finn.
"Damn it, damn it—I need to run! No, wait, I still have a chance! That item might not be in Finn's hands! No, that's wrong too! If I don't run now, I'll really die!"
Her hatred for Finn and her desire to survive pulled her mind in opposite directions, leaving even Valletta unable to choose.
If Finn saw how desperately she valued her own life, he would probably be so moved he'd stab her a few more times.
Meanwhile, in Orario, a victory feast was underway at The Benevolent Mistress.
Compared to the Dark Faction's side, it was a vivid reminder that one person's joy and sorrow had nothing to do with another's.
Mama Mia stood in the kitchen, wrapped in bandages, cooking for adventurers who were themselves wrapped in bandages.
"Mama Mia, kitty's dying here! Kitty needs help, at least several helpers, meow!"
Anya was uninjured, but at this point she almost wished she were too hurt to move—then she could have skipped work.
She was so tired she felt like collapsing into a puddle on the floor.
She was only a weak, pitiful little catgirl. How was she supposed to serve this many customers?
"There aren't any helpers. If you've got the guts, go find some yourself."
Without even turning around, Mia kept cooking.
As the former captain of Freya Familia and a Level 6 adventurer, she had opened this tavern because she wanted to make sure everyone could eat their fill.
Ordinary taverns were afraid of adventurers causing trouble, and even more afraid of the Dark Faction. On top of that, supplies had been scarce lately, so most places could not even stay open.
Only this establishment could still do business under these conditions.
For the sake of the reason she had opened it in the first place, Mia was not about to falter now.
"Kitty can really ask adventurers to help out for a while, meow? There's one person kitty's wanted to meet for a long time, meow."
"If you can drag him over to work, even better. Go."
"Yes, meow!"
Anya darted out of the kitchen and headed straight for Cid.
He had only just arrived.
Both familias he belonged to had one thing in common: neither was exactly wealthy, so they normally would never come to eat at The Benevolent Mistress.
But today was an exception. Both familias had rendered great service in the war.
Demeter, who was also from the Greek pantheon and rich beyond reason, had grandly waved a hand and invited everyone to a meal.
Besides the two familias Cid had belonged to, Artemis Familia and Hephaestus Familia had been invited as well.
For the record, the so-called "pantheon factions" in this world were supposedly just a game the gods played in heaven.
Because he was not badly injured, Cid was the first to arrive.
He was in decent spirits too. He still had no idea the Guildmaster was secretly planning to "ambush" him, so he had no particular reason to feel down.
While Cid was waiting for the others, Anya suddenly appeared and grabbed his hand.
"Kitty understands, meow. Having a big brother or sister who's too amazing is really hard, meow."
Her eyes shimmered with tears as she spoke.
Who knew what kind of grievances she had suffered in the past.
"Huh?"
Cid wanted to ask whether they even knew each other.
She had just come up and said something like that out of nowhere—how was he supposed to follow?
Then he felt a sharp gaze stabbing into him.
"Tch."
Another catperson was staring this way, his expression fierce enough to hiss.
If Cid was not mistaken, that was Freya Familia's vice-captain, the one known as The Chariot of the Goddess.
Once he recognized him, Cid immediately realized who the catgirl in front of him was.
"So… you're The Chariot's counterpart?"
He remembered that in mythology Freya rode a chariot drawn by two cats.
When he had been researching Orario's current state, that detail had come to mind, so he had paid a bit of attention to both of those "cats."
But according to the information he had gathered, hadn't these siblings already fallen out?
Right now, that male catperson was not even lurking in the shadows—he was openly trying to kill Cid with his eyes.
Did that really look like a broken relationship?
"Kitty doesn't go by that title anymore, meow! Now kitty's a waitress at the tavern, meow!"
She planted her hands on her hips proudly, clearly delighted with her current identity and life.
Compared to being an accomplished adventurer in Freya Familia, she much preferred being a tavern waitress.
"So we really are alike?"
Cid thought about it.
According to the background he had found, this catgirl had fallen behind the front-line pace and, disheartened by her lack of progress, had chosen to leave Freya Familia.
The rumors said the siblings got along badly, but judging by Allen's reaction, he was obviously a complete siscon.
Anya's situation really did resemble the "extra Cid" setup.
Of course, at this point, hardly anyone still thought Cid had left Astraea Familia because he lacked ability.
"Your name's Anya, right? Then from now on, we're friends."
Anyone willing to treat extra Cid like an extra was one of Cid's best friends.
And with matching "setups" like this, it was even more fated.
"Friends, meow! Anya has a friend now too, meow!"
Anya bounced on the spot in pure delight.
Not far away, Allen was nearly exploding with rage.
"Mama Mia, kitty's back, meow."
Anya returned to the kitchen beaming.
"Where's the person? Why are you the only one who came back?"
Mia glanced over once, then returned to her work.
"Oh, right. Kitty had too much fun talking, meow."
Only then did Anya realize it and hurry back to Cid's table.
And there she saw the famous Crimson Justice Flower locking Cid's head in both arms.
Anya's tail shot straight up, and she immediately charged over and pried the two apart.
"You're not allowed to bully Cid, meow!"
....
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