A labyrinth of endless, overlapping layers, a crucible for ferocious monsters.
It was a place only those who were determined to risk their lives, becoming desperate Adventurers, would go.
A city brimming with wealth and fame, where various races gathered and thrived, a playground for the gods!
—The Maze City, Orario!
“We’re almost there, Orario is just ahead.”
Walking on an ivory road that almost traversed the entire green wilderness, the Goddess, with waist-length aquamarine hair and dressed in light Adventurer gear, gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, gazing at the prosperous city in the distance.
Gazing at that—towering chalk giant tower.
The towering chalk giant tower, its spire piercing above the clouds, stood at the end of the green wilderness and in the center of the bustling city, creating an unprecedented visual impact.
“That is… Orario…”
Following behind the Goddess, Asta, carrying a backpack half his size, looked out as well, his expression like that of a young man visiting a metropolis for the first time.
Although the steel cities he had seen before were far more magnificent.
But when that grand city, enveloped by massive walls, whose full scope couldn’t be seen at a glance even from a distance, truly appeared before his eyes, the impact on his mind was indescribable.
Just gazing from afar, Asta could already feel an uncontrollable excitement to step inside as soon as possible.
“Ugh… Ah~~~ We’re finally here.
I’m so tired from walking all this way, I could die…”
Swinging her slender legs as she walked beside them, Lante couldn’t help but stretch her waist vigorously, subtly showing off her budding figure while also emitting sounds that could easily be misunderstood.
“Stop with the fake complaints.
How come you weren’t screaming about being tired to death when we were hunting before?”
Rethusa, who had appeared beside her at some point, playfully tapped the demi-elf girl’s small head, her tone doting but also with a hint of helplessness.
Along this journey, Lante had complained countless times.
It was getting to the point where her ears were almost calloused.
“Ouch!
Captain, how could you be so cruel and hit me?”
“I didn’t!
I clearly didn’t use any force just now!”
“But you hurt me!”
“…”
Is your head made of glass?
Is it really that fragile?
Rethusa immediately put on a grumpy face, turning her head slightly to indicate that she didn’t want to argue with that girl anymore.
Ahead, Asta, who was half a step behind the Goddess Artemis, noticed the bickering between the two behind him and couldn’t help but turn back to speak a fair word.
“Don’t sulk, Rethusa.
After all, Lante is still young… She just has that competitive, childish personality.
As adults, we need to be more understanding~”
“…Hmm, that’s true.”
Hearing this, Rethusa pondered for a moment, then nodded in strong agreement.
However, she wasn’t sulking earlier; she just felt very frustrated.
Like a Mama-san who has worried herself sick over her child, feeling frustrated because the child has grown up and become disobedient.
It was different from being angry.
“Ah!
Asta!!!
You’re talking bad about me again!
Believe it or not, I’m not done with you!!!”
Unlike the agreeable Rethusa, Lante, hearing Asta slandering her again, immediately stomped her foot in anger.
It is well known that children usually don’t like being called children by others.
As for why… who knows~
In short, they just don’t like it.
Lante also had this trait, and because of it, Asta had been chased and attacked by her many times these past few days when he teased her about her age.
“Hehe, I don’t believe it~ Come and hit me~~”
Moving slightly closer to the Goddess, feeling that he had entered a safe zone, Asta flashed a brilliant smile at Lante.
It was a bit heartbreaking to say.
Having or not having Falna made a decisive difference in this world.
It was an iron rule that ordinary people could never defeat Adventurers with Falna.
If the current Asta were to fight that little girl Lante, he would definitely be utterly crushed.
He himself knew this well, so when teasing Lante, he would absolutely not choose to do so when Artemis or Rethusa were not present.
Because only these two in the Familia could somewhat suppress Lante.
“You!!!”
Indeed, Lante, who had originally intended to go straight up and give Asta a good beating, had just raised her hand when her gaze caught sight of Artemis beside Asta.
Her raised arm froze in mid-air, her small fist seemingly trembling.
She was so angry…
“Don’t bully Lante too much, Asta.
You say you want to understand, but in reality, you’re the one who understands her the least these past few days.”
At this moment, the Goddess suddenly reached out and pushed Asta away from her, a hint of a smile in her emerald-like eyes.
“…”
Blinking, Asta, pushed away, looked at the smiling Goddess, his face full of innocence.
What was she saying…?
How could he?
But after meeting the Goddess’s eyes, which seemed to see through his soul, his innocent expression gradually turned guilty.
Alright… maybe just a little~
He would definitely change next time!
It had been over half a month since Asta met the Artemis Familia.
After more than half a month, Asta was finally about to arrive in Orario.
The team had now shrunk by four people from the initial twenty-two.
(The Artemis Familia had exactly twenty members, no more, no less; counting Artemis herself and Asta, twenty-two should be correct.)
Because before coming to Orario, Artemis first took the group back to the Artemis Familia’s stronghold, and only then did they depart from the stronghold for Orario.
Upon returning to the stronghold, most of the members remained there, with only Rethusa, the captain, and Lante, who insisted on coming along no matter what, accompanying them.
Unlike most divine Familias, the Artemis Familia’s stronghold was established outside Orario, located in a town not too far from Orario.
However, the Familia stronghold was rarely inhabited year-round.
After all, Artemis spent most of her time traveling all over the world with her Familia members.
As a hunting Familia, they were active outside Orario year-round, clearing out monsters that had escaped from the underground labyrinth and rampaged on the surface.
The Familia’s area of activity was very wide; they often accepted requests and then traveled long distances to reach their destinations.
… … … …
Orario’s South Gate.
The city gate, embedded in the magnificent stone wall, was massive; the thick rock walls on either side silently emphasized their sturdy defense, with just a crack wide enough for a carriage to pass through.
As the center of the world described in Adventure chronicles, countless people wished to enter and exit the Maze City almost every day; at this moment, a long line of people of various types stood before the city gate, waiting for inspection.
Standing at the city gate, the guards responsible for screening entrants inspected each person one by one.
They held a strange instrument in their hands, an instrument that detected traces of Falna.
An Adventurer’s Falna was bestowed by a god.
And that instrument would react to Falna; any being that had received Falna could not avoid it.
After all, not every god settled in Orario; Adventurers also existed in other countries.
To maintain the city’s order and safety, and to prevent ill-intentioned Adventurers from entering, this inspection was very necessary.