Danmachi: The Sign In System!

Chapter 69 - Monster Feria

The Monster Feria, co-hosted by the Guild and the Ganesha Familia, was a yearly spectacle— an event where Ganesha Familia members captured and tamed monsters, parading them in Orario's for a thrilling monster taming show.

It drew crowds, dazzling the city with its chaos and charm.

But beneath the fanfare, it served a deeper purpose: a calculated plan by Ouranos and Ganesha to prepare Orario for Xenos.

Ouranos knew Xenos—monsters with human-like intelligence —would eventually be exposed.

To ease their integration, he needed Orario's residents to grow accustomed to monsters.

The Ganesha Familia, known for taming monsters rather than despising them like other familias, was the perfect ally.

When Ouranos shared his vision, Ganesha agreed without hesitation.

He funded the Monster Feria annually, taming hordes of monsters and bringing them surface.

Over time, Orario's citizens became desensitized, their fear of monsters dulled.

If the Xenos' existence broke, the city might have enough mental cushion to accept them—or at least not riot.

Years of festivals had worked.

Crowds thronged the thoroughfare, their cheers echoing, the air thick with excitement.

Vendors lined the road, their stalls wafting warm aromas of sizzling barbecue and sweet confections.

Ribbons and fragrant flowers adorned the street, more vibrant than usual, while ropes crisscrossed overhead, strung with fluttering flags.

The banners bore twin emblems: ferocious lions for the monsters and elephant heads for the Ganesha Familia.

Children's laughter rang out, painting the scene in festive hues.

Orsted trailed quietly behind Hestia, Lili, and Tifa, his arms laden with half-eaten snacks.

The trio couldn't resist the street's temptations, darting between stalls to buy treats, taking a bite or two, then passing the rest to him.

Over twenty snacks now weighed down his hands, and no amount of nibbling seemed to dent the pile.

The scene felt oddly familiar.

Orsted's mind drifted to his past life, to snack streets where he'd seen boyfriends dutifully clutching food while their girlfriends shopped.

'Just like this,' he thought, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

Hestia, Tifa, and Lili were unstoppable, and as their familia companion, what could he do but indulge them?

Shrugging, he popped a piece of snacks into his mouth.

Meanwhile, on the second floor of a café overlooking the street, a figure in a dark blue hooded robe sat at a table.

The warm wood-grain decor framed her, but even with her face shadowed, her fair skin hinted at unearthly beauty.

Such was the effortless allure of Freya, goddess of beauty.

Freya gazed out the window, her attention fixed on the bustling street.

A faint creak broke her focus as the door opened, wood scraping against the floor.

Two presences entered. She turned slowly to face her invited guests: Loki and Ais.

Loki's light red hair and rumpled shirt gave her a careless air, while Ais, adorned in elegant attire with a sword at her hip, wore her usual blank expression, as if untouched by the world.

Loki yawned, scratching her head.

"Nobody visits a temple without a reason—bah, wrong line. This ain't the Twilight Manor."

"Anyway, you've been poking around lately, Freya. I was gonna track you down, but you beat me to it. So, what's your game?"

In the anime, Loki had summoned Freya to this café, but in this world, Freya had called the meeting.

Her lips curved into a foxlike smile. "Just looking for some fun, Loki."

"Thought I'd give you a heads-up. Don't worry—it won't step on your toes."

Loki's eyes narrowed."Knew you didn't invite me for tea."

"Let's be clear: if you mess with me, I won't hold back. I'll skin you alive."

Their gazes locked, a silent clash of divine wills rippling through the room.

The was café emptied to begin with, leaving only Freya, Loki, and Ais—they'd booked the place themselves.

Loki broke first, slumping slightly.

"It's about a guy, isn't it?" she asked, voice tinged with suspicion.

Freya's smile deepened, but before she could answer, her eyes flicked to the street.

Ais's gaze followed, her expression shifting subtly.

Loki, catching their distraction, turned to look.

'Isn't this, Orsted!' she muttered, spotting the familiar figure amid the crowd.

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