The Epic Story of the Heroic Spirit of Emiya Giant Warrior

The Loki Familia's creditors were emotionally stable, which was good news.

“I don’t know.”

Finn answered honestly: “Loki should know something, but since she hasn’t said anything explicitly, it means we don’t need to know…”

Hearing this news, Riveria closed her eyes and frowned.

To most people, the god Hermes was just the head of a small to medium-sized Familia with unremarkable strength. But people like Finn and Riveria, with their positions, naturally knew some of this god's peculiarities.

Riveria reminisced.

Finn: “Eighty years ago, my father wasn’t even born yet… Continue.”

Half a month later, at the edge of the Great Tree Sea.

Hermes: “The so-called ancient monsters all originate from the Great Pit beneath Orario, the labyrinth city, which is suppressed by Babel. After the gods descended, humans who received the gods’ grace suppressed the monsters. They blocked the entrance and cleared the monsters that remained on the surface.”

The Traveler God brushed the dust off his coat as he continued to tell his Familia Captain, Asfi Al Andromeda, about the world's secrets.

“However, sensing the Dungeon's movements means it was already about to awaken, give or take a few years.”

“In ancient times, without the protection of the gods’ grace, it was a formidable enemy that people could not kill, so they could only choose to seal it. But with Orario's current strength, as long as there are no accidents…”

“Artemis—”

Seeing that figure, and realizing her state, Hermes' voice became more serious than ever before.

He said in a low voice.

The Moon Goddess's mournful voice dissipated in the wind.

129

The Great Tree Sea was a secret realm tens of thousands of miles away from Orario. Even riding a flying dragon would take nearly a month for a round trip.

After that slight tremor, the Dungeon had no further movements, and most people had already forgotten about it.

The goddess Loki, who understood the Guild's intentions, seized this opportunity and, through a combination of enticement and coercion, obtained many benefits from the Guild, including a 50% reduction in this year's taxes, which greatly eased the Loki Familia's financial problems, and dispelled much of the members' resentment at being forbidden from expeditions.

The city maintained a superficial calm, while under the surface, undercurrents were already surging.

However, all of this had nothing to do with the pallum girl, Liliruca Arde. She was a genuine small fry in the city, both in terms of size and status. Rather than worrying about the world-class crisis in the shadows, the girl needed to worry about her own future.

In Orario, not all Familias had their own residences. Many gods themselves lived nomadic lives, let alone providing housing for their adventurers.

It's just that people usually pay more attention to those glamorous great factions and don't focus on these small Familias.

The rented room was small, but because of the pallum's size, it wasn't too cramped for Lili. Compared to the Soma Familia's sizable mansion, Lili still preferred this place.

The Soma Familia had offended a terrifying person they couldn't afford to provoke. That person came to their door and defeated all the members of the headquarters in a single day. The Familia Captain's criminal record was also dug up.

Clean and efficient, cutting the weeds and eliminating the roots, ruthless, with the power to control everything… The terrified survivors of the Soma Familia called that boy the Sword Demon.

However, for Liliruca, not only did she not resent the adult who destroyed the Soma Familia, but she even worshiped him as an idol or even a god.

Looking at the figure in the portrait, Lili softly recited his name: “Wemiya-sama…”

Lili's parents were members of the Soma Familia, so she had belonged to the Soma Familia since she was a child. Later, her parents, who were addicted to Soma wine, died during an adventure, and Lili became a supporter because her own strength as an adventurer was insufficient.

The adventurers ordered her to lure away dangerous monsters, stole all her income, forced her to steal the belongings of other adventurers, and even directly beat her.

“Wemiya-sama, actually, we had already met before that day…”

“I was in Babel's plaza, looking for an adventurer-sama who needed a supporter. The moment I saw you, I had a feeling in the dark that as long as I could hold your hand, my future would be saved.”

Wemiya never lingered his gaze on her for even a moment, yet he still saved her.

Lili's eyes became more and more firm.

As usual, Lili left the rented room early. She went to Babel. Her itinerary had always been like this for some time. She worked in the tavern at night, washing dishes until late at night to maintain her daily expenses. During the day, she stayed at Babel, waiting for an opportunity.

And today, she finally waited. That flash of red hair, like burning flames, finally appeared above Babel, at the Hephaestus Familia's weapon shop.

The pallum girl's petite figure burst out with unimaginable strength. She forcefully squeezed past everyone in front of her and came before the goddess.

“My name is Liliruca Arde, please allow me to join the Hephaestus Familia!”

Showy, self-righteous; such a ridiculous appearance, as expected of a useless pallum; the kneeling posture is quite standard, I wonder how many times she practiced it…

“I possess magic, a unique special magic!”

130

Chapter 130: Different Paths and Growth.

The surrounding air momentarily froze when Liliruca shouted these words.

However, most people also realized that Lili was not lying.

The Soma Familia had been disbanded, and any former member of the Soma Familia was free to convert. The goddess Hephaestus only needed to smear a drop of divine blood on her back, and all of her ability values, magic, and skills would be revealed.

The girl possessed special magic, and at least Lili herself was confident that her magic was unique.

“Why do you want to join the Hephaestus Familia?”

Hephaestus asked.

Lili's forehead was pressed tightly against the ground. She answered: “Because Wemiya-sama saved me. No matter what, I hope to repay his kindness… I want to work for Wemiya-sama!”

Lv.1.

Endurance: I94.

Agility: I31.

Magic.

[Cinder Ella]

Increases carrying capacity.

In the Volcano Smithy of the Hephaestus Familia, the goddess mentioned the situation of the pallum girl who had just joined the Familia today to Wemiya.

Not the main store in Babel, but a newly built equipment store in the northern part of the city. Liliruca had temporarily become a shop assistant there.

Wemiya's training results in just half a month after obtaining the gods’ grace had already surpassed Lili's efforts over many years. It could be said that Lili had almost no talent in the field of “combat.”

In the Dungeon, Lili's only role was to serve as a supporter by virtue of her [Backstage Supporter] skill.

Liliruca had a good mind. Her memory was strong, her insight was keen, and she was particularly sensitive to numbers. Even without special training, she still showed extraordinary mathematical calculation abilities.

Riveria nodded, then changed the subject, asking, "Finn, what exactly happened in the Dungeon?"

Riveria: "Or, even if we understand, it might not be useful."

Finn nodded: "That's right. If anything, it might be a problem outside the city. Not long after the earthquake, Hermes borrowed the Ganesha Familia's wyverns and hurriedly left the city."

Finn: "Riveria, do you know something...?"

"I actually know a little. It was something from my childhood, before you were even born."

"I once read about it in a forbidden book, about ancient monsters sealed or slumbering in various places outside the city..."

As he spoke, he jumped off the wyvern. These creatures, raised by the Ganesha Familia from the time they hatched, had extremely fast flying speeds. With their help, the time to reach their destination was shortened by more than half.

"Precisely because they come from the Great Hole, these ancient monsters often resonate with the Dungeon. This one in the Great Tree Sea should have awakened due to the recent strong earthquake in the Dungeon. Its gradual revival has also triggered the Dungeon's tremors."

Asfi: "Ancient monsters... are you saying that the Black Dragon is one too?"

"That's right, the Black Dragon is one of them, and also the most restless... But, don't worry, the 'Scorpion' of the Great Tree Sea is not as strong as those dragons, snakes, bulls, and other monsters."

As Hermes spoke, he walked towards the figure who had released the smoke signal, guiding him down from the sky.

"You have broken our rules, committing an unforgivable error."

"I know. I do not beg for forgiveness, only hope for redemption."

Chapter 129: Liliruca Arde.

During Hermes's travels to and from the Great Tree Sea, the lives of Orario's residents and adventurers were no different from usual.

The Loki Familia's expedition had not restarted, but this time, it was the goddess Loki who noticed the Guild's unusual attitude—seemingly due to some unspeakable reason, the Guild hoped that the Loki Familia would not undertake an expedition at this time, and that their valuable combat strength should be kept ready for deployment at any moment.

Not only the Loki Familia, but also the Freya Familia and the Ganesha Familia reduced their actions in the deeper levels of the Dungeon. Even the Ishtar Familia, with only one Level 5 adventurer who was miserably defeated by Ryu and labeled the 'Weakest Level 1 Adventurer,' temporarily canceled their expedition plans to the lower levels.

In the early morning, a girl woke up in a small house. This was a house specifically rented out to low-level adventurers. The price was very low, but the environment barely justified the rent.

In fact, in terms of numbers, half of the familias only had a simple residential house as their headquarters. For example, the Takeimikazuchi Familia was like this, or they simply didn't have a fixed base at all.

Liliruca Arde was once a member of the Soma Familia, or rather, she should be called a "former Soma Familia member"—Lili had not left the familia, but the Soma Familia no longer existed.

Finally, the familia's head deity, the wine god Soma, was imprisoned in the confinement room by the Guild. The familia was forcibly disbanded, and the former captain died inexplicably in prison.

That lord forged his fame in this battle—within half a day, the Soma Familia, a large and influential faction with two Level 2 upper-level adventurers, had its god imprisoned, its familia abolished, and its captain killed.

On the wall beside Lili's bed hung two portraits. One was of the goddess Fianna, worshiped by the Pallums, and the other was a picture of that man, depicting him wielding swords and fighting Amazonian female warriors.

For Lili, the Soma Familia was not a home, but an inescapable hell.

After that, Lili's life lost its color. The scum adventurers of the Soma Familia took the greatest pleasure in bullying the weak, and as a Pallum and supporter, Lili was the target of their wanton malice.

Lili endured this cursed life until that day when a sword descended from the sky, severing all curses and shackles.

Standing before the portrait, Lili clasped her hands together in front of her chest. She lowered her head and whispered to herself.

"But you don't need a supporter, and I couldn't hold your hand..."

"But, you still came to save me."

In Lili's eyes, it was all like a predestined arrangement.

In her heart, wasn't this like a god? A god doesn't watch over the world, but reaches out to save you at critical moments.

Due to prolonged sleepless nights, deep dark circles had appeared around her eyes, but the girl's eyes grew brighter, shimmering with a captivating fanatical brilliance.

"Perhaps, it's today."

Lili thought, her heart beating especially fast today. The girl felt that this might be a sign.

It wasn't Wei Gong, but the goddess Hephaestus whom Lili had been waiting for for a long time.

After a long time, the goddess visited the familia's equipment store on a rare whim.

With a "thump," Lili's knees hit the ground, making a crisp sound.

Under the goddess's surprised gaze, the Pallum girl prostrated herself, her forehead pressed against the ground.

The gazes of the people around focused on her, most of them showing mocking expressions—a mere Pallum, actually trying to reach the sky in one step with such an ugly method.

The people around were brewing malicious mockery, however, before them, Lili shouted another sentence.

"I used to be a member of the Soma Familia, and I possess a special magic!"

People subconsciously wanted to refute the Pallum girl's words—a rare special magic, actually appearing on such a weak Pallum, such a thing was really unacceptable.

Even a trivial Pallum wouldn't weave a lie that would be verified immediately.

In fact, it wasn't even necessary to go to such trouble. Just standing in front of Lili, the goddess Hephaestus discerned that this girl wasn't lying.

However, just because someone possesses a rare magic or skill doesn't necessarily mean they are qualified to join a large familia. In Hephaestus's eyes, she was more concerned about other aspects.

The goddess Hephaestus looked at Lili carefully from top to bottom. After a long time, she slowly opened her mouth: "Come with me."

Liliruca Arde.

Strength: I35.

Dexterity: I39.

Magic: I22.

Transformation magic, changes appearance.

Skill.

[Ater Assist]

She didn't take Liliruca back to the familia's headquarters, but sent the girl to an equipment store run by the familia.

To put it bluntly, Lili was completely unsuitable to become an adventurer. She had no talent in any of her abilities. Even after being an adventurer for several years, all her ability values were still pitifully low.

Not only that, due to the Pallum's innate physical limitations and the effects of malnutrition in her childhood, her strength was even lower than that of rookie adventurers of the same level. Even with God's Grace, she might not be stronger than an average adult human male.

However, the goddess Hephaestus didn't look down on Lili because of this. A king has a king's talent, and a chef has a chef's talent. Lili was actually a very talented girl, but her talent wasn't in the field of adventurers.