The sun began to rise over the horizon, announcing the dawn of a new day once more. And, the guild had already put out several notices. Their board now filled to the brim with information, adventurers clamored to read it for themselves.
"Oh wow! The Freya familia is joining forces with the Loki familia for the war game!"
"Oh but doesn't that mean Hathor familia is joining the fighting as well?"
"Usually, that's what it would mean. But they won't be sending many of their members to the fight this time."
"Oh yeah, I see it now, they've already decided who they're sending to the fight. There's just 2 level 5s. Donathan, a human… And Legi, a dark elf."
"Aren't those two the ones who'd single handedly killed Valletta, and protected the gods from harm in the central square?"
"Yeah, it seems like it."
"No wonder they're only sending two. But why aren't they sending anyone from their new level 6s? Surely they'd be a bit stronger, right?"
"What are you, stupid?"
"Huh?"
"Everyone that's currently level 6, they're the ones who were victorious against that horde of dragons, with the exception of Loki familia's three level 6s, and Astraea familia's Alise."
"Ah, I see, sending them would make it too easy for them to win."
"Yeah… I'd bet all my money on the Astraea familia side winning the battle."
"Hey, uhm, everyone look at this, they're setting up another bulletin board."
"Really? You know what that means!"
The crowd waited, and watched with anticipation. And sure enough, it happened, the single announcement filling the board… Champion over Calamity, leveled up, and was now, a level 10. A real one.
"That's the first in history! Amazing!"
"I wonder if he's willing to take a few more lovers?"
"Heh, yeah right. With the way he and that Ardee lady have been joined at the hip ever since they were kids, I'm shocked he took anyone else as his woman."
"Perhaps it's because he's willing to accept more?"
"Nope, it doesn't seem like it. I was there in the guild the other day, and I can confirm that there is no way he's taking another woman for his own."
"Yeah?"
"See there, another notice… The guild's most beautiful woman Rose Fannett admitted her desires two days ago, and yesterday, Origin Wolf, along with his three women, and Goddess, arrived to take her home. Formally accepting her into the familia, and thus a god recognized marriage, one recognized as the final one. There will be no more."
"Oh wow! Lucky woman, wish it was me. He's the perfect mate, guess I'll have to look around again this year." A woman stretched, provocatively of course, accentuating all of her natural werewolf figure. "I wonder, would the Alpha be willing to just let me have his babies, without any other strings? No, but he might help find a mate… Perhaps I should just howl out and see who dares to come?" She shrugged. "I'll think about it later, there's still a few more months left before the season ends."
…
The Loki Familia expedition team returned half way into the day. They were practically wearing tatters… A testament to their training, however, it was clear by the look in their eyes, that the murderers in the familia… Were shaken… The cold sense of dread had fallen upon them when they realized they were screwed, and still clearly absent minded about something, something incredibly important.
"Everyone, take care of what you need to, Riveria, Anakitty, Raul, Bara, take care of the exchanges with the guild. Gareth, guide everyone back to the familia and get Loki to update their status, you can exclude those I take with me. And actually, Raul, you're gonna be with me instead, Noir too."
"Understood captain."
With the group splitting upon arrival to the surface, they all parted to handle their matters. Finn was off to find shops who'd sell them the required things for the next trip down into the dungeon. His head, held slightly lower than it usually did, as if he was in a deep, confused thought.
"You've got something on your mind, don't you, Finn?" Noir asked with a curious, and mentor-like tone.
"I do… I'm still trying to figure out what it is that he was trying to say I was missing… I know I'm missing something, but I can't for the life of me figure out what it is."
"Hmm, I see… I don't think you should ask what it is."
"Are you saying that you know what it is?"
Noir shut up for a moment, and then sighed, and shrugged at the thought.
"I have no idea what it is exactly. But whatever it is, it's enough for him to get frustrated that we've yet to grasp it, and also so damning to say what it is, that he can't just tell you. Perhaps this is his way of telling us to get stronger so he can feel less guilty in killing us." Noir chuckled.
"Huh? But, why would the city's hero want to kill us?"
"No, it's not you… He's got an admittedly valid reason for wanting us dead. We sorta played a huge role in killing his big brother, that was 8 years ago now. Fact is, the beating we received that day, is what made Finn, Gareth, and Riveria all level up to 5."
Raul stopped walking… He just heard something he couldn't believe…
"Tell me you're lying!"
"I wish we could say that, Raul." Finn sighed… "The fact is I'm the one who ordered his, and his wife's death. The wife, Meteria of Hera familia was rescued in time… Raul, I am a murderer."
Raul's expression turned, then his body. He ran full speed to the Loki familia home, Twilight Manor. His expression was of wild disbelief, the manor felt different, he questioned everything he'd ever done for the familia… He was lost, when he found himself drawn to Loki's room, he didn't even knock, he just turned the handle and entered.
"Oh! Huh? Raul? Watcha doing back now? Gareth said you were out with Finn. And… What's wrong?"
Loki had been in the middle of updating Gareth's status when Raul just walked in.
"Gareth?"
"You alright Raul?"
"Did… Did you really kill his big brother? Are you all really just, murderers?"
"I guess those two let it slip too soon huh… You were going to find out sooner or later, but yes. All of us upper ranks along with Freya familia's upper ranks worked together, to kill the remaining members of Zeus and Hera familia, to claim the top spot in Orario. We managed to kill his brother, but he was able to rescue his sister in time."
Raul's knuckles went white.
"HOW COULD YOU!?"
"They failed in their quest, and we wanted to be on the top-"
"Y- Y- y- you m-"
"Gareth, I finished your update, why don't you leave Raul to me for a bit."
With Loki's timely interference, Gareth was able to leave, and Raul stood there, looking confused, and angry… But more importantly he felt betrayed by every single one of the executives, and more importantly, his goddess…
"You were about to call him a monster, weren't cha?" she paused "I want you to know something, that whole ordeal was Finn's plan. I had made a deal with him years ago, that he could use my familia to improve his image as a hero for his people, the Pallums… I was shocked that he made the choice to go through with this. And even more surprised he ordered their deaths…"
"Lady Loki, you, and your familia's executives have betrayed every single one of the new members."
"Since you feel that way, I can let you leave. It's almost been a year now. Shouldn't be too hard. But you're gonna hafta fight in the war game either way."
…