Danmachi: Strongest Familia

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In the distance, Alfia advanced toward the group, her movements completely silent, her form low and swift as though she were gliding along the ground, defenseless yet fearsome.

Gareth roared, his sturdy frame moving to block her path as he spread his arms wide, intending to intercept. However, in an instant, the black-cloaked figure before him seemed to accelerate, leaving a trail of afterimages in her wake. Before Gareth and the others could react, she had already broken through their defensive perimeter.

The LV6 dwarf barely had time to turn when a sweeping kick lashed against his rock-solid torso. He was instantly lifted off his feet, helpless as the black-cloaked figure assumed a new stance beside him. In that moment, he sensed a premonition of defeat—but there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Despite his superhuman strength and endurance, Gareth lacked the agility of his peers. And more importantly, Alfia was beyond even his level.

For the first time, a hand emerged from beneath the black cloak—a swift, lethal strike that hit Gareth like a blade. He felt as though his skull had been crushed by Ottar's mace, and his body plummeted into the ground, creating a crater. Gareth lay there, unable to rise, dazed and incapacitated.

"Hey, old man! What's going on? Taken down that easily?!" Bete shouted, rushing forward. His chosen weapons were his boots, making him battle-ready at any moment. Alfia hadn't intended to follow up on Gareth, but hearing Bete's taunts, she leaped, neatly dodging his assault.

Without giving Bete a chance to recover, she spun sharply on the spot, her long leg striking his abdomen with perfect precision.

The impact felt as though his organs had shifted, and Bete coughed up blood, his body folding like a prawn before he was hurled backward, crashing into his companions, who had been ready to attack.

"So weak…"

The figure in black finally spoke, though her voice was obviously disguised, altered in a way that made it sound hollow and unrecognizable.

Bete struggled to lift his head, looking at the cloaked figure with a defiant glare, but her dismissive tone had cut deeper than any wound. Her voice seemed to regard him as mere trash.

Alfia had deliberately held back enough to keep Bete conscious. For him to truly learn his lesson, he'd need to feel every ounce of pain.

"You…" Bete groaned, struggling to rise, only to find the black-cloaked figure already standing over him.

She lifted her foot, bringing it down hard on his stomach, forcing him to vomit his dinner onto the ground.

"Disgusting," she sneered. "Garbage belongs with garbage."

Though he couldn't see her face, it was as if he could feel her contempt. Alfia raised her foot again, driving it into Bete's jaw, snapping his mouth shut and sending his body airborne from the force of the blow. Blood spurted from his mouth, a white canine tooth flying into the night.

Having vented her anger on Bete, Alfia felt her mood significantly lifted. She turned on several other Loki Familia members, beating them efficiently until each lay unconscious, following in Gareth's footsteps.

But Alfia had been gentler with them, merely knocking them out.

'It's about time to return, or Sol-sama will be waiting,' she thought.

Moving swiftly across nearby rooftops, she discarded the black cloak she had worn as a disguise.

"Finished already?" Sol sensed her presence immediately as she approached.

"It went smoothly." 

Sol, having spent considerable time with Alfia, could hear the satisfaction in her tone.

"That's good. Looks like it's about time to head back." Sol drained the last of his drink as Alfia returned right on cue.

"Mia, the bill!" he called out.

"That'll be 6,690 valis!" Mia replied.

"And for the kid who ran out earlier, put his tab on me as well," he added.

"Oh? Does Sol-sama know that boy?" Syr asked curiously, passing by with a tray.

"The new recruit from the Hestia Familia. I only learned about him today—though I hadn't expected to run into him so soon," Sol said offhandedly.

"Got it. The total is 12,100 valis."

After settling the bill, Sol and Alfia made their way back along a quieter route, hoping to digest their meals in peace. Along the way, they noticed a group hurrying in the opposite direction.

It seemed that someone had already discovered the beaten group.

Alfia hadn't chosen a particularly hidden spot for her assault. Instead, she'd relied on speed and precision, swiftly incapacitating them before anyone could intervene. Even without using magic, an LV6 warrior like Gareth was little more than a paper tiger to her.

The two took it all in stride, continuing to enjoy their calm stroll back.

After a short distance, Alfia unexpectedly broke the silence.

"Do you know where the Hestia Familia resides? I want to offer Bell some assistance."

Beating up Bete had eased some of her frustrations, and she couldn't deny that it had felt gratifying to teach the arrogant werewolf a lesson. But Alfia knew her true aim was to support her nephew, helping him find strength in ways beyond simple revenge.

Ensuring Bell's safety was what mattered most. If he couldn't protect himself, nothing else would matter.

Strength was essential for any adventurer, but joining a new Familia and developing his skills would be no small feat—especially for someone as inexperienced as Bell.

Even so, Bell had the potential to carry his Familia forward.

"Hestia's residing with the Erebus Familia former home at the moment, though you should have a little more faith in your nephew," Sol said, smiling. "He may be more capable than you realize."

"Perhaps. I'd hoped he wouldn't become an adventurer at all—that he'd live his life peacefully," Alfia muttered.

"Boys have their dreams," Sol replied. "And your nephew was raised by Zeus himself. You can't expect him to abandon his ambitions that easily."