Danmachi: The Venerated One

"Are you all enjoying the party!?"

Apollo spoke loudly as he descended the grand staircase, throwing his arms wide as Daphne and Cassandra trailed dutifully behind him.

Naturally, as the host, every eye in the room turned toward him.

However, as Apollo's gaze swept over the hall, it locked onto a white-haired, ruby-eyed girl standing in the middle of the dance floor.

He couldn't help but lick his lips in anticipation.

Then the lights around the hall suddenly went out, and a single spotlight shone on where Belle was standing.

'Hmm? Is that...?'

Apollo's eyes drifted to the young man standing right beside her, and his breath hitched for a moment.

'Ah~ Judas Spade... as expected, he is even more charming in person.'

A lewd, greedy grin spread across his face as he stared at the pair.

But a second later, he reluctantly shook his head, remembering that Judas was a prized member of the Loki Familia.

No matter how badly he desired him, Apollo knew that attempting to take him by force was a pipe dream.

Belle Cranel, however, was a completely different story.

Apollo had made sure to investigate Belle's background as thoroughly as possible.

A few months ago, she had arrived in Orario from a rural village alongside her mother, establishing the Hestia Familia shortly after.

With only two members in its ranks, the Hestia Familia was the textbook definition of a rookie faction.

As for the identity of this 'mother,' Apollo had surprisingly been unable to find much information... not even a single portrait.

But he hadn't thought much of it, simply dismissing her as an irrelevant civilian.

'Probably just an ordinary hag without a god's blessing.'

Apollo had assumed.

What he didn't know was that the Guild, specifically Royman, the head of the Guild, had personally suppressed any information about Alfia from leaking out.

As a former executive of the legendary Hera Familia, all records concerning Alfia were classified as top-tier intelligence.

Which was why, no matter how much Apollo tried to dig, unless he had access to the Guild's top-secret records, he would never find any information about her.

As far as the world was concerned, she had perished and disappeared fifteen years ago.

...

Meanwhile, back at the Abandoned Church…

"Someone is saying something unpleasant about me."

Alfia, who was sitting silently on the sofa, opened her eyes, revealing her piercing heterochromatic eyes.

"Eek!"

Lili, who was walking past carrying a towering stack of freshly folded laundry, froze as a suffocating wave of hostility suddenly filled the room.

She turned to see a prominent vein throbbing on Alfia's forehead.

'W-What's going on?! Why is she so mad all of a sudden?!'

Lili thought as beads of sweat dripped down her face, and she nearly dropped the freshly cleaned clothes she was carrying.

Although she wanted to ask what was wrong, she swallowed the words and continued walking with her head lowered, avoiding Alfia's gaze.

'You can't see me... you can't see me...'

The brown-haired pallum chanted repeatedly in her mind.

...

Back at the banquet...

Apollo suddenly shivered as he took his final step down the stairs, nearly stumbling on the smooth marble.

'What was that?!'

A sudden chill ran down his spine, leaving him feeling like a helpless prey pinned by the gaze of an apex predator.

"Lord Apollo... is something the matter?"

Daphne asked as she stepped forward beside him.

But Apollo didn't reply.

Instead, he scanned his surroundings with a wary expression while the onlookers watched him in confusion.

'Must be my imagination.'

When he realized that nothing was wrong, he regained his composure and straightened his suit.

'Heh... I must be getting too excited. Such a beautiful and outstanding jewel is about to become mine.'

'I may not be able to obtain Judas Spade, but Belle Cranel... hehe, Hestia, you can only blame yourself for being weak. Such a gem should not be wasted on a lazy shut-in like you.'

Stepping forward with confident strides, Apollo approached Belle, a creepy smile plastered on his face.

Uncomfortable under his predatory gaze, Belle instinctively took a step back.

Seeing this, Judas stepped forward and looked Apollo straight in the eyes.

"Is there something you want to say, Lord Apollo?"

Judas asked, his tone cold but not openly hostile.

Seeing this unfold, excited murmurs immediately rippled through the surrounding crowd.

"Something entertaining is happening."

"This scene... gasp*, could some drama be about to unfold?"

"Look at the way Apollo was eyeing the Little Rookie… but Veneratus Est stepped right up and shielded her like a boyfriend protecting his girl!"

"Oooh! Are we witnessing a love triangle?!"

"Wow, Veneratus Est and the Little Rookie... the two biggest rising stars in the entire city! Now that I think about it, they actually look amazing together!"

"Hehe, what big news! Quick! Someone spread the word!"

The gossip-loving deities and their accompanying children couldn't contain themselves, practically buzzing with excitement.

Hestia, who had been about to step in herself, paused when Judas beat her to it.

She let out a breath of relief before quietly flashing Belle a thumbs-up as if to say, 'Way to go, Belle!'

Listening to the surrounding crowd's speculation, Hestia couldn't help but feel a smug sense of pride.

Behind Judas, Belle felt her world turn colorful.

Her eyes glazed over with pure affection as she gazed at his broad back.

Apollo's sleazy smile froze as his gaze met Judas's sharp purple eyes.

"Veneratus Est... I have some business with the Hestia Familia."

Apollo said before letting out a fake cough.

"But if you want to have a talk, I can arrange a private room for us tonight."

He added, giving Judas a look full of desire.

"No thanks. You can just say your piece here."

Judas narrowed his eyes.

Seeing this, Apollo gave a calm smile before shifting his gaze back to Belle and then to Hestia, who stood to the side.

"Hello, Hestia. My children informed me that they had a bit of an unpleasant altercation with your familia the other day."

Hearing this, Hestia remembered Belle mentioning the brief conflict with the Apollo Familia a few days prior.

"Oh right, sorry about that."

Hestia said while scratching her cheek.

"My children were badly hurt because of that incident. I want sufficient compensation."

Apollo demanded, his tone hardening.

"What do you mean? I heard it was your children who picked the fight. It wasn't just our fault."

Hestia retorted defensively.

"Hmph… It doesn't matter who started it. The fact remains that my children were hurt, and I will not simply let it slide. You claim it isn't your fault? Can you still say that after seeing this?"

Apollo turned dramatically, gesturing behind him.

A single spotlight lit up, illuminating a trembling pallum heavily wrapped in bandages from head to toe, leaning weakly on a pair of crutches.

Belle recognized him instantly... it was the same pallum who had been throwing insults at her and Hestia back then.

"It hurts! It hurts so much!"

The Pallum named Luan wailed dramatically, as though he wanted everyone present to hear his cries.

'Did they rehearse this or something?'

Judas thought, watching the blatantly theatrical display with deadpan eyes.

"I heard it was your child who threw the first punch."

"I have witnesses who can testify. You won't be able to talk your way out of this."

Apollo declared with a smug, triumphant smirk, looking down at Hestia.

"This is ridiculous! This is clearly a farce."

Hestia snapped, glaring at him in irritation.

"So you refuse to accept responsibility, Hestia? Fine then!"

"The Apollo Familia hereby challenges you to a War Game!"

Apollo pointed a dramatic finger straight at her, shouting so the entire room could hear.

"Yes! A War Game!"

"Apollo is brutal!"

"I actually want to see this."

Hearing this, the crowd erupted with excitement.

"And if we win..."

Apollo added, turning his gaze toward Belle with a sleazy smirk and licking his lips.

"I will be taking your child, Belle Cranel!"

Loki, Freya, and the few people present who were actually aware of Belle's background looked at Apollo as though they were watching a monkey perform in a circus.

'What a fool.'

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