Danmachi: Strongest Familia

Could it be that this small stall has some secret recipe capable of attracting such a large crowd? 

The girls of the Astraea Familia were momentarily stunned when they spotted Sol with their goddess. 

Although they were well aware of the relationship between Astraea and Sol after so many years, it was still a little awkward to stumble upon their goddess on a date. 

"Astraea-sama, we didn't interrupt anything important, did we?" 

Alise, the ever-playful team leader, was the first to break the silence, her tone teasing as she addressed their goddess with a knowing smile. 

After all, it wasn't a secret that Astraea hadn't returned home the previous night, and here she was today, leisurely shopping with Sol. 

Rumor had it that Ryuu had seen Astraea leaving the night before in the elegant dress she wore to the Assembly of the Gods. 

All in all, with such context and a missing night in the narrative, it wasn't hard to guess what might have transpired. 

Although these girls were innocent in many ways, they weren't entirely oblivious. 

As the children of the Goddess of Justice committed to eradicating evil and promoting good, Alise and the others had encountered far more of the world's filth than most. 

"Alise... everyone," Astraea greeted, quickly recovering her composure. "Did you also come to the Monster Festival?" 

"It's been a long time since I last saw Ryuu. That stubborn girl is already an LV5 now," Sol chimed in with a smile, shifting the conversation. 

"These children are only missing one major achievement to advance further. Their attributes have barely improved at this point." 

"Time truly flies. That child has grown so much!" Sol added, his expression warm as he walked alongside the rest of the Astraea Familia.

But Astraea found herself preoccupied. 

No, stop thinking about it... 

Thanks to the absurd events of the previous night, Sol's casual words now carried unintended implications in her mind. 

Damn it, what's wrong with me? she thought, frustrated with herself.

"Indeed," she responded after a pause, her tone slightly distant. "There's no real concept of time in the heavens, but the fleeting nature of time in the lower realms always makes one want to cherish it." 

Her voice was faint, as if trying to shake off the intrusive thoughts clouding her mind. 

Noticing her unusual tone, Sol glanced at her, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. 

Why does she look so flustered? What's going on in her head? 

Of course, Sol wasn't thinking anything inappropriate. If he knew what Astraea had misunderstood, he'd be the first to cry out for justice. 

The truth was simple: his earlier words were genuine praise, nothing more. 

Lady Justice herself, though, seemed to have fallen victim to the peculiar influence of the lower realms, her usual clarity of mind clouded. 

"Want something to eat?" Sol offered, sensing that a change of subject might help. 

He pointed to a stall nearby selling Astraea's favorite snack. 

Despite the swirl of unspoken emotions, Sol's affection for Astraea remained steadfast. 

After spending so much time together, he knew her likes and dislikes well—and distracting her with her favorite treat was undoubtedly the right move. 

——

"Yo, Sol, Astraea! Are you two out on a date?" 

The pair was strolling along happily when an irritatingly familiar voice called out from behind them. 

The voice was unmistakable—Sol recognized it instantly. 

Turning around, he confirmed his suspicion. It was Hermes. 

This guy is truly persistent, Sol thought. How does he manage to show up everywhere? 

And, as usual, he wasn't alone. Following behind him was his ever-diligent assistant, Asfi. 

"You sure know how to ruin the mood, Hermes. Can't you see this isn't the time or place for your antics?" 

"Don't be mad! I just happened to have an appointment nearby, and I figured I'd stop by to say hello when I saw you," Hermes replied with his trademark ingratiating grin. 

Not a trace of guilt could be detected in his tone, and Sol found himself increasingly tempted to punch him. 

"I have something important to ask. Can you come with me for a moment?" Hermes waved at Sol as though calling over an old friend. 

Unfortunately for Hermes, Sol had absolutely no interest in dealing with him. 

Because this guy's always wasting his time. 

"I'll just wander around nearby. Don't keep me waiting too long," Astraea said, stepping aside and leaving Sol no choice but to engage with Hermes. 

Really, Astraea? You had to be so considerate at a time like this? Sol thought with exasperation. 

Now that Astraea had cleared the way, Sol couldn't find a good excuse to brush Hermes off. 

"Fine. What do you want?" Sol asked gruffly, taking a bite of the food in his hand. 

Hermes' unwelcome interruption had drained all enjoyment from the snack—and from what was supposed to be a nice date. 

"Come on, your reaction is so cold!" Hermes whined, feigning hurt. When Sol didn't respond, Hermes quickly dropped the act and got to the point. 

"My time is valuable, Hermes. Get to the point," Sol snapped. 

"Alright, alright. I just need to ask you something." 

"Then ask, and I'll decide if I feel like answering." 

"Too much! Fine, it's about the two new familia." 

"You mean Kyle and Morgana?" 

"Exactly. You seem to know quite a lot about them," Hermes said, his curiosity obvious. 

Unlike most people, Hermes had absolute faith in his memory. He was sure he wouldn't forget two such strikingly beautiful goddesses. 

"What does it matter to you? There isn't a beautiful goddess I don't know," Sol replied dryly, throwing the question back at Hermes. 

That shut him up. 

Of course, Sol had a point. Back in the divine realm, it was no secret that he had been well-acquainted with many goddesses. Hermes knew this better than most. 

Damn, no matter how many times I think about it, I still get so jealous, Hermes thought bitterly. 

This is the life a god should live! Meanwhile, I get publicly humiliated just for sneaking a peek at a bathhouse. 

Hermes shook the thought from his mind and leaned in closer. "I'll tell you straight—someone's been following those two." 

"They're being targeted? But they've only been here a few days," Sol said, frowning. 

"Exactly. Most gods don't know them yet, but word travels fast. Newcomers like Kyle and Morgana are rare these days. The bigger familias are starting to take notice—and let's just say some of them are looking to recruit in less-than-ethical ways." 

With the scarcity of new talent in Orario, competition between familias had become fierce. 

"Still, Kyle and Morgana aren't exactly weaklings. Their familias may not be top-tier, but they're not easy targets either," Sol pointed out. 

"True, but they haven't officially registered their affiliations with the guild yet. That leaves them in a bit of a gray area," Hermes added.