Ouka's thick brows furrowed as he listened to Lynn's words.
"Benefactor," Ouka began, his voice deep and resonant. "How do you plan to strike back?"
Lynn leaned back against a wooden stool, his fingers idly tapping his knee.
"I don't know."
His answer caught Ouka off guard.
"I don't know yet," Lynn added. "But given Apollo's current behavior—acting like a rabid dog snapping at everyone—a direct conflict is only a matter of time. They like playing dirty: backstabbing, harassing those around me... based on what I've gathered, he won't stop until he gets what he wants."
Lynn paused, his gaze sharpening. "With people like that, the best approach isn't waiting for them to bring more trouble to your door. It's walking right up to theirs and making sure they never have the chance to cause trouble again."
The dojo fell silent for a few heartbeats.
Ouka scratched his head, then looked over at Bell. Chigusa let out a small, quiet breath, while Mikoto watched Lynn thoughtfully.
"And you, Bell-kun?" Ouka asked. "What do you think? Your Familia only consists of you and your Goddess. Going up against the Apollo Familia is no joke."
Bell stiffened as his name was called. He took a deep breath and lifted his head. Those ruby-like eyes shimmered with a reckless determination that reminded Lynn of Alexander the Iron Fist.
"I... I want to help!" Bell's voice trembled slightly, but he spoke each word clearly. "Mr. Lynn saved me. I can't just watch him face this alone. And... and the people from the Apollo Familia threatened Goddess Hestia. The things they said... I can't forgive them!"
The image of Goddess Hestia's indignant, puffed-up face seemed to flicker before their eyes.
Ouka stared at Bell for a moment before suddenly bursting into a loud laugh. "Good lad! You look like a stiff breeze could knock you over, but you've got spirit!"
Wiping his eyes, Ouka turned back to Lynn with a serious expression. "Benefactor, you helped our Familia last time. We of the Take-Mikazuchi Familia remember our debts. Our Lord taught us that kindness must be repaid."
He looked back at Mikoto and Chigusa. Mikoto gave a firm nod, and Chigusa offered a quiet "Mm-hm."
Ouka turned back and slapped his thigh. "Alright! We're in! I've been sick of those Apollo Familia punks for a long time anyway. Always acting like they own the place."
Ouka's tone shifted, becoming grave. "But Lynn, our Familia only has five members in total. The Apollo Familia has at least a hundred. Their captain, Hyakinthos, is Level 3, and their executives are all Level 2. In a head-on collision, even with you, our odds aren't great."
"I never said we'd fight them head-on," Lynn said, standing up. "At least, not yet. What I need is for you to stand with me when the conflict becomes unavoidable. I don't need you to lead the charge. I just need to know that if this kid and I get surrounded, we won't be the only ones watching our own backs."
It was a blunt request.
Mikoto stood up and walked to Ouka's side. She turned to Lynn and performed a solemn, Far Eastern-style bow.
"Lord Lynn," her voice was clear and resolute. "We owe you our lives, a debt we can never truly repay. The Take-Mikazuchi Familia may be small, but we are not ingrates. What you ask is the request of an honorable warrior."
She looked up, meeting Lynn's eyes. "If conflict is inevitable, the Take-Mikazuchi Familia—every one of us—is willing to fight by your side."
Chigusa scrambled to her feet as well, whispering, "M-me too!"
Ouka grinned and reached out, bumping his fist against Lynn's. "Then it's settled!"
The sky had begun to dim by the time they left the Take-Mikazuchi dojo.
Bell followed beside Lynn, looking energized. He kept glancing at Lynn, then down at his fingers, muttering to himself. "The Take-Mikazuchi Familia agreed... that's great... but what are we actually going to do..."
"Don't overthink it," Lynn said, glancing at him. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, go back and tell your Goddess you're safe so she stops worrying."
"Ah! Right! Goddess must be worried sick!" Bell nodded vigorously and picked up his pace.
The two cut through several narrow alleys, returning to the secluded area where the abandoned church stood. The silhouette of the ruins looked even more dilapidated in the twilight.
At the church entrance, a young man wearing the uniform short-robe of the Apollo Familia was pacing impatiently. When he saw them approaching, his eyes lit up—specifically when they landed on Lynn—and he immediately forced a bright, calculated smile.
"You must be Mr. Lynn?" The young man hurried forward, pulling two envelopes from his robe. "My Lord, Lord Apollo, sent me to deliver these invitations."
He handed an exquisite, gold-trimmed envelope to Lynn, then waved a simpler one in the air. "This one is for Goddess Hestia and Mr. Bell Cranel. Is Mr. Bell here?"
Bell blinked, pointing at himself. "I-I am..."
"Perfect!" The messenger shoved the second envelope into Bell's hands with an urgency that suggested he was afraid Lynn might tear it up on the spot.
"Please be sure to attend on time. My Lord said this banquet is meant to resolve some of the... misunderstandings that have cropped up recently. He hopes everyone can sit down and talk things through."
He finished with a meaningful smile toward Lynn. "Mr. Lynn, you are the guest of honor my Lord specifically insisted on inviting. Please, do us the favor of attending."
Without waiting for a response, the messenger turned and hurried away as if he were being chased.
Bell held the plain envelope, looking lost as he turned to Lynn. "Mr. Lynn, this is..."
Lynn had already torn his open. The paper was high quality, faintly scented, and covered in flowery, flamboyant handwriting.
The content was simple: Tomorrow evening, at the Apollo Familia residence. A banquet is being held. Mr. Lynn is cordially invited to enjoy the moonlight and discuss the future.
It was signed with Apollo's flamboyant script, accompanied by a small sun insignia.
"Heh," Lynn folded the paper and slid it back into the envelope. "A Hongmen Banquet."
"A... Hong-what?" Bell didn't recognize the term.
"It's a dinner party hosted with ill intent," Lynn explained, pushing open the church door. "Go inside and see what yours says."
Inside the church, Hestia was pacing frantically. Seeing them return, she lunged forward, checking Bell over for injuries. Once she confirmed he was fine, she sighed in relief before tensing up again.
"Where were you? What took so long? Did you run into the Apollo Familia again?"
"No, Goddess," Bell quickly summarized their visit to the Take-Mikazuchi Familia before handing over the envelope. "On the way back, an Apollo Familia messenger gave us this."
Hestia took the envelope and opened it, her face instantly wrinkling in a scowl.
"An invitation? Inviting me and Bell-kun to Apollo's palace for a banquet tomorrow night?" She finished reading and slammed the paper onto the table. "Is he kidding?! That creep! He sends people to threaten Bell-kun, and now he's acting all buddy-buddy with an invitation? This is definitely a trap!"
Lynn placed his invitation on the table as well. "I got one too."
Hestia froze, picking up Lynn's letter. Her expression darkened further. "He invited you too... What is he planning?"
"Who knows," Lynn said, pulling up a chair. "But since he invited us, there's no harm in taking a look."
"Lynn!" Hestia cried. "That guy is up to no good! His palace is crawling with his Familia members. If he turns on you, there's only two of you. You'd be walking into a lion's den!"
"Walking into a lion's den?" Lynn raised an eyebrow. "Who is the sheep and who is the lion remains to be seen. I'm not afraid of a direct confrontation."
His tone was flat, but Hestia felt a sudden, inexplicable shiver.
Looking into Lynn's calm eyes, she recalled the feeling she'd had when she first met him—that beneath his slender exterior lay something that even she, a Goddess, couldn't quite see through.
Bell took a deep breath and stood tall. "Goddess, I want to go."
"Bell-kun!"
"I want to see for myself," Bell repeated, his voice firmer than before. "The things the Apollo Familia said, the things they did... I want to ask him to his face. Besides, if Mr. Lynn is going, I can't let him go alone."
Hestia looked at her child's stubborn face, then at Lynn's indifferent one, and finally let her shoulders slump in defeat. "You... you two idiots!" She stomped her foot but eventually relented. "Fine! You can go! But promise me, the moment something feels wrong, you run! No acting tough!"
Lynn looked at her and didn't object.
"Then it's settled," he said, standing up. "Tomorrow night, let's go see what this Sun God is thinking."
When Lynn and Bell stepped into the Apollo Familia palace, they were nearly blinded by the gold.
Solid gold pillars, a ceiling encrusted with jewels, and a polished marble floor that reflected the light of countless magic lamps. It was enough to make one's head spin.
The air was heavy with a cloyingly sweet perfume. Splendidly dressed gods and adventurers stood in groups, chatting in low voices while waiters carried silver trays through the crowd. The entire hall felt less like a home and more like a giant jewelry box.
"This is... a bit much..." Bell swallowed hard. His cheap adventurer gear felt painfully out of place amidst the opulence, and he instinctively shrank behind Lynn.
Lynn swept his gaze across the room, internally scoffing.
Doesn't even compare to the Erdtree. Tacky.
Apollo was currently surrounded by a crowd. Today, he wore a moon-white robe with intricate sun patterns embroidered in gold thread at the collar and cuffs. His purple hair was perfectly styled, and he wore a flawless, elegant smile as he accepted the flattery of a minor god.
His gaze swept across the entrance. When it landed on Lynn and Bell, his eyes visibly brightened, and his smile deepened.
Lynn ignored him, heading straight for an empty table in the corner. He picked up a glass of what looked like fruit juice and took a sip.
Sweet. Too sweet.
Bell followed nervously, his eyes darting around the hall. Suddenly, he stiffened and whispered, "Mr. Lynn... Miss Ais is here too."
Lynn looked where he was pointing.
At the far end of the hall, near a massive floor-to-ceiling window, a few figures stood quietly. Leading them was the head of the Loki Familia, the red-haired Loki herself. She held a glass, listening to a god beside her with a look of indifference.
Beside her, a girl with long golden hair and a pale blue dress stood silently. It was the Sword Princess, Ais Wallenstein.
She seemed to have no interest in the event, but as her gaze drifted across the room, it eventually settled on Lynn.
Their eyes met briefly. Ais gave a small, subtle nod.
Lynn raised his glass in a silent greeting.
"She... was she saying hello to you?" Bell asked, shocked.
"Probably." Lynn set his glass down.
The banquet continued. Apollo seemed to be intentionally ignoring them, focusing on his other guests while occasionally casting meaningful looks their way.
Bell grew increasingly uneasy, his fingers nervously picking at the edge of the tablecloth.
Lynn, however, was perfectly relaxed. He took his time eating the hors d'oeuvres—which, to be fair, tasted much better than Orario's street food—while he mapped out the room's layout and the people in it.
Members of the Apollo Familia were everywhere, dressed in uniform white-and-gold robes with longswords at their waists. They looked casual, but their positioning was calculated, subtly controlling all the exits.
There were over a hundred of them. Most were Level 1, but several had significantly stronger auras, likely Level 2 executives. As for that pretty-boy Hyakinthos, he stood not far behind Apollo, casting cold, venomous glances their way.
Then there was a black-haired girl crouching in the shadow of a pillar, hugging her knees and staring into space. She wore the Apollo Familia robe but looked completely out of place.
Lynn looked at her a moment longer.
She seemed to sense it, lifting her eyelids to reveal hollow, pale blue eyes. She stared at Lynn for a few seconds before lowering her head again, muttering something too quiet to hear.
Strange girl.
Just then, a commotion broke out at the entrance.
A silver-haired Goddess walked in.
She wore a deep purple gown that flowed like the night sky. The neckline was perfectly cut, revealing elegant collarbones and a slender neck. Her silver hair was pinned back in an elegant bun with a few stray locks framing her face. Her beauty was breathtaking; every step she took seemed to hold a magical allure that made everything else in the room fade away.
Freya.
The arrival of the Goddess of Beauty silenced the hall for a moment before an explosion of hushed whispers followed.
"Goddess Freya is here too?"
Freya ignored the whispers. Her gaze swept the hall before stopping on Lynn and Bell.
To be precise, it stopped on Lynn.
Her purple eyes lit up slightly, and a playful smile tugged at her lips as she walked straight toward them.
"Apollo, your banquet is certainly lively." Freya's voice had a lazy, magnetic quality. She arrived at the table, but her eyes never left Lynn. "And this must be the Mr. Lynn who's been causing such a stir in Orario lately?"
Lynn looked at her but said nothing.
"I am Freya," the Goddess said, extending a hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Lynn took her hand. "Lynn."
Freya's smile deepened. "Such a polite child. I heard you don't have a Familia?"
"I have a God I believe in."
"Hidetaka Miyazaki?"
Freya tilted her head. "A name I've never heard. But no matter, faith can change. If you ever wish it, my Familia is always open to you."
She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping. "I promise, I can provide you with the best resources and training. A potential like yours shouldn't be buried."
Before Lynn could answer, an indignant voice cut in. "Freya! What do you think you're doing!"
Hestia had appeared out of nowhere. She had changed into a decent white dress, but because she'd been running, her twin-tails were a bit disheveled. She stepped between Bell, Lynn, and Freya like a protective mother hen, glaring at the other Goddess.
"Hestia?" Freya raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "You're here too? Oh, right, I forgot. These two are your 'guests'."
She put a heavy emphasis on the word guests.
"They're my friends!" Hestia barked, hands on her hips. "Don't you dare try to steal them!"
"Friends?" Freya chuckled. "Hestia, your Familia only has Bell-kun. Mr. Lynn is a freelancer. He's free to join whichever Familia he likes."
"You—!"
At that moment, a crisp tapping sound echoed through the hall.
Apollo was lightly tapping a crystal glass with a silver spoon, drawing everyone's attention. With a perfect smile, he walked slowly to the raised dais at the center of the room.
"Distinguished friends, thank you for coming to my humble palace tonight." His voice was clear and melodious, possessing a natural charisma. "Tonight, the moonlight is like silver and the wine is intoxicating. It is the perfect time for us gods and children to appreciate the beauty and discuss the future."
He raised his glass with practiced elegance.
"Let us toast to this beautiful night, and to the peace and prosperity of Orario! Cheers!"
The crowd raised their glasses in response, a chorus of "To peace" and "To Lord Apollo" filling the room.
Apollo took a satisfied sip of wine. Once the noise died down, he spoke again, his tone becoming more serious.
"However, as you all know, even under the brightest sun, there are bound to be shadows."
He sighed, putting on an expression of deep sorrow. "Recently, a regrettable... misunderstanding has occurred between my Familia and some friends in the city."
The hall went quiet. Many eyes drifted toward Lynn and Bell in the corner.
Here it comes. Lynn speared a piece of fruit and popped it into his mouth.
"I, Apollo, have always advocated for beauty and harmony. Familias should help one another." Apollo's voice grew louder. "But I never imagined that someone would lay such heavy hands on my children!"
He made a sharp gesture.
Several members of the Apollo Familia, covered in bandages and looking pale, were helped onto the stage. Visible bruises and scars marked their skin. They limped and looked absolutely miserable.
A collective gasp went through the hall.
"This happened two days ago on the tenth floor of the Dungeon."
Apollo pointed at one member whose leg was heavily wrapped. His voice trembled with a perfect mix of anger and grief. "My children were simply exploring when they were attacked without provocation! The attackers were—"
His finger pointed straight at Lynn and Bell.
"—these two!"
The room erupted.
Countless eyes focused on them—some shocked, some suspicious, others just enjoying the drama.
Bell's face went white. He jumped to his feet. "N-no! That's not true! They were the ones who—"
"Young man!" Apollo interrupted him with authority, his face showing a look of disappointed tolerance. "I know that the young are hot-blooded and impulsive. My children may have been verbally offensive, but that is no excuse for such brutality!"
He looked around the room, his voice heavy. "Look at them! They are hardworking adventurers, the future of Orario! And now, because of a senseless conflict, some may never walk normally again!"
The "injured" members lowered their heads, their bodies trembling on cue.
Apollo took a deep breath as if composing himself, then looked at Lynn and Bell. His tone softened, becoming almost "merciful."
"But I, Apollo, as the Sun God, have a heart of light. I do not wish for hatred to grow."
He stepped forward, opening his arms as if to embrace the room. "Lynn. Bell Cranel." He called their names, his voice sickeningly sweet. "I am giving you a chance. A chance to make amends and start over."
His gaze locked onto Lynn, his purple eyes gleaming with predatory intent.
"Join my Familia."
Apollo's voice rang through the hall, clear as a bell.
"If you become my children, today's matter is wiped clean. I will forgive your transgressions against my members. Not only that, I will give you the best resources and the most dedicated training. With your potential, under the light of the Apollo Familia, you will truly shine."
He paused, offering a seductive smile. "This is both mercy and salvation. Accept it, and you will have a bright future. Refuse it..."
His smile faded slightly. He didn't finish the sentence, but the threat was unmistakable.
Dead silence fell over the room.
Every god and adventurer held their breath. Some minor gods looked on with complex emotions—envy at Apollo's boldness, pity for the weak Hestia Familia, or simple curiosity.
Hestia, who had been shrinking back, couldn't take it anymore. Her face flushed red with rage as she shoved through the crowd to the front of the stage. She pointed up at Apollo.
"Apollo! You're a liar! Your Familia was the one hounding Bell-kun! How dare you turn around and play the victim? You want them to join you? In your dreams!"
"Hestia," Apollo looked down at her, his smile remaining but his eyes turning cold. "This is not your place to speak. Your Familia members have sinned. As their God, shouldn't you have disciplined them better?"
"You—!"
Tink.
The sound of a glass being placed on a table echoed from the corner.
Lynn stood up and slowly walked toward the center of the hall.
His pace was steady and unhurried. The crowd parted for him. He stopped beside Bell and Hestia, standing under the brilliant golden light, directly opposite Apollo.
He looked up at the Sun God.
"Finished?"
Lynn's voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a strange quality that cut through the murmurs and reached every ear in the room.
Apollo's smile twitched.
Lynn didn't wait for an answer. He continued in a tone that sounded like he was merely stating mundane facts. "You invited us here just to put on this play?"
He gestured casually toward the "injured" men on stage.
"Your people ambushed me on the tenth floor. Four Level 2s tried to corner me." He paused. "I beat them back alone. The ones who were too slow to run got their legs broken. You seem to have forgotten to mention that?"
A wave of hushed exclamations rippled through the hall.
Four Level 2s? Beaten back by a Level 1?
Apollo's expression shifted.
"Your people went to the Guild to harass my friend Eina and threaten her," Lynn continued, his pace deliberate. "You forgot to mention that too, didn't you?"
"And one more thing." His gaze swept over the pale Bell before returning to Apollo. "Your people publicly humiliated and assaulted this kid, Bell, just because he had contact with me. Afterward, they showed up at his front door to threaten him and his Goddess, trying to force him into your Familia. I'm guessing you weren't going to mention that either?"
The atmosphere in the hall shifted completely. Many gods began to look at Apollo with newfound scrutiny. The "injured" members on stage instinctively shrank back.
Apollo's face went from red to white, then to a sickly green. He struggled to maintain his composure, forcing a strained smile. "Mr. Lynn, you're joking. These are baseless accusations. My children would never—"
"Evidence?" Lynn interrupted, his lips curling into a faint, mocking arc. "Aside from your own family's testimony and those injuries—which we all know how they actually happened—what evidence do you have that I started it?"
He took a step forward. Even though he was standing below the dais, looking up at Apollo, his aura seemed to dwarf the God's.
"On the contrary, Lord Sun God." Lynn's voice turned cold. "Dungeon ambushes, harassment, coercion, bullying weaker Familias, and spinning lies in public... I've seen your 'recruitment' methods."
He shook his head, looking almost pitying. "To be honest, it's lower than the thugs on Orario's street corners."
"Insolence!"
A roar erupted.
Standing behind Apollo, Hyakinthos finally snapped. His handsome face was twisted with rage. He drew his rapier and lunged from the dais, the tip of his blade aimed straight at Lynn!
Apollo's face was hideous now. He raised a hand, stopping Hyakinthos before he could strike.
"Good. Very good."
Apollo squeezed the words through gritted teeth. He glared at Lynn, then at Ais, and finally settled his gaze on the trembling Hestia and the fist-clenching Bell.
Suddenly, he laughed. The mask of elegance was gone, replaced by naked, freezing malice.
"Since you want to be difficult, then we'll do it by the rules."
He turned to Hestia, his voice like poisoned ice. "Hestia. I, the Sun God Apollo, hereby officially challenge you and your Familia to a War Game!"
War Game!
The words were like a massive boulder dropped into a still pond.
The hall exploded into chaos!
"A War Game? Apollo is declaring a War Game against the Hestia Familia?"
"A Familia with only two people? That's just bullying!"
"What are the stakes? Don't tell me..."
Apollo savored the reaction. He raised his voice to drown out the noise. "The stakes are simple! If I win, Bell Cranel and Lynn—" He emphasized Lynn's name heavily. "—must leave their current status and join my Apollo Familia!"
"And if you somehow win," he sneered, as if telling an impossible joke, "the Apollo Familia will never trouble you again and will issue a public apology!"
He looked at Hestia, who was shaking with rage. His voice held a mocking pity. "Of course, dear sister Hestia, you could just surrender now and hand over your children. After all... people die in War Games."
"You wouldn't dare—!" Hestia screamed.
Bell stepped forward, shielding Hestia. His ruby eyes blazed with fury. His voice shook, but his resolve was unshakable. "We... we won't be threatened!"
He looked back at Lynn. Lynn gave him a small nod.
Bell took a deep breath and faced Apollo, shouting, "The War Game... we accept!"
Lynn added smoothly: "And if you lose, you and your Familia disappear from Orario."
"Fine!" Apollo clapped and laughed, his eyes flashing with the thrill of a trap successfully sprung. "Three days from now, at the Guild Arena! Hestia Familia versus Apollo Familia!"
He cast one last cruel smile at Lynn. "Enjoy your last three days of freedom, my dear... future children."
The banquet ended on a sour note.
Lynn and Bell, accompanied by a nearly faint Hestia, left the gilded, nauseating palace under the weight of a thousand complex stares.
As they stepped outside, the night wind hit them. Bell realized his back was soaked in cold sweat.
"Mr. Lynn... we really..." his voice was dry.
"We accepted," Lynn said shortly. "And we have to win."
He looked back at the silhouette of the palace in the distance.
Demolish the palace? Heh.
Change of plans. I think I'll just take it.
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Danmachi: My Primary God is Hidetaka Miyazaki? (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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