Danmachi: The Venerated One (REUPLOAD)

“Huh? You want to take Belle away? Is that what you were after all along, you pervert!?”

Hestia said with an annoyed expression.

The more she looked at Apollo’s face as he sent Belle lecherous looks, the more irritated she became.

“How mean, Hestia. After all, you and I were so deeply in love back in heaven…”

“Liar! You kept harassing me even after I already turned you down. You were like a leech that refused to let go, you creep.”

The Goddess of the Hearth said as she turned around and grabbed Belle’s wrist.

“Anyway, this is such a waste of time. We have no reason to accept a War Game.”

Hestia declared, dragging Belle toward the exit.

Her mood had already soured because of Apollo.

She wanted nothing more than to get out of there as soon as possible.

“Hoh… are you sure you want to leave? You’ll regret this.”

Apollo said with a smirk, staring at their departing backs.

“I will not. Belle, let’s go.”

“Ah… yes.”

Belle replied as she sent Judas a fleeting glance.

“See you.”

She said briefly as Judas gave her a nod in return.

'I thought about stepping in to help... but they don’t really need it. I wouldn't want to ruin her chance to turn the Apollo Familia into her personal excelia farm.'

Judas watched them step through the exit amid the loud chatter around them.

“Ah! My personal apologies for the dramatic scene, everyone! Please, let us continue the party!”

Apollo announced grandly, throwing his arms in the air.

“Hey... I shouldn't need to remind you, but it isn’t appropriate to interfere in another Familia’s business.”

Loki remarked casually, sauntering up to Judas's side.

“I know… it’s just… I almost acted on impulse back there.”

Judas paused, turning his gaze toward Loki with a raised eyebrow.

“Is there something on my face?”

Loki was giving him an intense, scrutinizing look... like a detective trying to unravel a particularly stubborn mystery.

“Hmm… nothing. It’s just… did you finally hit puberty or something? You feel a bit different lately.”

Loki mused, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

Judas felt his lip twitch.

“Anyway, let’s get out of here. I don’t want to stay any longer.”

He turned and headed toward the exit.

“Hey! Wait for me!”

Loki called out, hurrying after him.

As they reached the doors, Judas caught sight of Hyakinthos out of the corner of his eye, leaning casually against a stone pillar.

'They're probably going to launch their attack on the church tomorrow, aren't they?'

As if sensing Judas's gaze, Hyakinthos turned.

Their eyes met for a brief second before Hyakinthos let out a disdainful scoff and looked away.

The Apollo Familia captain did not view the Loki Familia in a positive light at all, especially after Bete had personally stepped in to stop him from beating up the Little Rookie.

Judas didn't give it another thought as he and Loki boarded their carriage and began the trip back to Twilight Manor.

'Tomorrow is going to be very interesting.'

…

A day passed, and the City of Heroes was blessed with another beautiful morning.

“Eh? That actually happened back at the banquet?”

Lili gasped in shock, adjusting the heavy straps of her massive backpack.

The two were getting ready and gearing up to meet Welf for another dungeon exploration.

“Yeah, the Apollo Familia actually declared a War Game on us… I don’t know if this will bring us any trouble.”

Belle said as she told Lili about the events of last night.

“I’m not talking about the War Game! I’m talking about the fact that you actually got to dance with Mister Judas! I am so jealous!”

Lili wailed, throwing Belle an envious glare.

“Ahaha…”

Belle laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her head with a deep blush.

As for the impending threat of the Apollo Familia, neither Hestia nor Lili seemed particularly anxious.

'I guess I was overthinking it.'

Belle thought, seeing how unfazed Lili was.

After all, they possessed the ultimate trump card... her aunt, Alfia.

While living under the same roof as a woman with spartan-like discipline was exhausting, having someone of her terrifying caliber by their side made it impossible to feel threatened by outside forces.

‘Speaking of which…’

“Where did Mother go? I haven’t seen her anywhere this morning."

Belle asked as she looked around.

“She went out to buy some vegetables for tonight’s dinner.”

Hestia said as she suddenly sprang up behind her.

“Don’t be too nervous, Belle. If Apollo and his thugs show up, I’ll smack their faces to kingdom come.”

She added, puffing out her chest so proudly that her oversized bust bounced.

“Ah, alright… Goddess, we’re off to the dungeon.”

Belle said as she and Lili walked to the door.

“Good luck, you two!”

Hestia waved cheerfully.

Smiling, Belle took one step through the door when her instincts suddenly flared, warning her that danger was coming.

“!?”

She snapped her head up.

Perched high on the surrounding rooftops were several dozen adventurers clad in identical black uniforms, looking down at her with hostile eyes.

Her ears twitched as the mages suddenly raised their staffs.

The next second, brilliant flashes of light flooded her vision, surging straight toward them.

‘A magic bombardment!’

Belle reacted immediately, she grabbed Lili and Hestia by their collars, yanked them back inside, and slammed the heavy wooden door shut.

A series of explosions rang out as the mages of the Apollo Familia bombarded the church with magic, loud enough to be heard throughout the district.

“Hey, look over there! Is that smoke?”

“It’s coming from where those explosions are. Are people fighting over there?”

“Nyaa~ A fight between Familias?”

“Sounds like it.”

Citizens across the street gathered, pointing and whispering at the rising dark clouds.

As for the Hestia Familia, faced with the continuous barrage of magic, they had no choice but to retreat.

“Lili, this way!”

Belle called out, scooping Hestia into her arms and dashing down a narrow alleyway.

She stole a glance backward just in time to see the abandoned church collapse into a heap of burning rubble.

“That damn Apollo… They actually launched a full raid and destroyed our home!”

Hestia fumed, her face red with rage.

“And where is that tyrant of a woman when you need her? Of all the times, she just had to go out.”

“Miss Belle! Goddess Hestia! Above us!”

Lili yelled, pointing up toward the rooftops.

Following where she was pointing, they saw even more members of the Apollo Familia with weapons in hand.

“They’re everywhere... they've completely surrounded us.”

Belle murmured, sweeping her gaze across the area.

She counted at least thirty enemies in her immediate line of sight alone.

'There are too many to fight off head-on, and I can sense dozens more hiding in the shadows.'

With her stats, Belle was confident she could take on a veteran Level 3.

Most of these people were merely a bunch of Level 1s, with only a few actually being Level 2.

But with their numerical advantage, and with her needing to protect Lili and keep Hestia out of harm’s way, she judged that her options for fighting back were limited.

“Belle, watch out!”

Lili yelled.

While Belle was thinking of a way out of their predicament, several attackers lunged toward them from different directions.

Belle narrowed her eyes and raised her arm toward them.

“Firebolt!”

A sudden burst of crimson flames and crackling lightning erupted from her hand.

The attackers' faces went pale right before the spell slammed into them, blasting them backward into the stone walls.

“Gah!”

They cried out in pain as a billow of smoke engulfed the area.

One of the Apollo Familia’s mages used wind magic to clear the dust cloud, only to discover that Belle and the others had already disappeared, leaving behind several unconscious members sprawled across the ground.

“They escaped while the smoke covered them, huh?”

One member of the Apollo Familia said with a frown before Luan shouted at the top of his lungs, pointing ahead.

“Those bitches are over there! Everyone! Don’t let them get away!”

Without hesitation, the mob of attackers surged forward in pursuit.

The game of cat and mouse between the Hestia Familia and the Apollo Familia continued for several minutes.

Explosions continued to echo throughout the streets as the attackers relentlessly pursued them, giving Belle, Lili, and Hestia no chance to rest.

“These guys should just give up already.”

Daphne muttered with a heavy sigh, watching the chaos unfold from a high vantage point.

“Once Lord Apollo takes a liking to someone, he’ll chase them to the ends of the earth.”

“Just like what happened to us…”

She turned to her companion, only to pause.

Cassandra had frozen in place, her body trembling violently, every drop of color drained from her face.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you sick?”

Daphne asked, stepping closer.

“I see it… I see it…”

Cassandra whimpered, clutching her head as she collapsed to her knees.

“The Witch’s wrath… and the Rabbit’s flames consuming the sun… Oh no… Oh no… We’re doomed… We’re completely doomed…”

“Hey! Hey! If you’re not feeling well, just tell me.”

Daphne knelt down, grabbing Cassandra by the shoulders in alarm.

Cassandra looked up, her eyes wide with absolute terror.

“Daphne… messing with the Hestia Familia… It was a mistake. We have to run… We have to leave the city right now!”

…

Back at the Abandoned Church... or at least what remained of it.

The Apollo Familia had already left the scene, and only curious citizens had arrived to inspect the aftermath.

When they saw the wreckage, with the smell of burnt wood filling the air, some couldn’t help but shake their heads.

That was when a silver-haired woman walked forward in complete silence, her footsteps making no sound.

Carrying a bag full of groceries in her arms, she slowly opened her eyelids, revealing her heterochromatic eyes as she took in the scene of destruction before her.

The air itself seemed to freeze.

“Gagh!”

“W-What… is this…?!”

“I… I can’t… breathe…!”

The onlookers suddenly choked on their breath, forced to their knees as an unbearable, suffocating pressure crushed down upon the entire street.

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