Danmachi: The Focalors Familia Starting from the Dungeon

”If you want to build a Familia, then go out there and actually recruit! Daydreaming won’t get you anywhere,” Hephaestus retorted flatly.

”Ah, I know, I know!” Hestia bristled like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on, before quickly waving her hand dismissively. ”I’m making preparations! Once I thoroughly study all the knowledge of the lower world—like novels and manga—I’ll start recruiting. Just you wait, I’ll surprise you all! Hmph!” She puffed out her impressive chest confidently, earning only a deeper, exasperated look from Hephaestus.

Listening to them bicker, Artemis’s gaze drifted back to the white-clad figure in the courtyard, her eyes growing softer.

The training session finally wrapped up. With a flick of his wrist, Aiden lightly knocked away the wooden sword of the last girl, bringing the one-versus-many lesson to an end.

Though drenched in sweat, the girls of the Artemis Familia showed no signs of fatigue, practically glowing with excitement and satisfaction.

”Mr. Aiden, you’re amazing!”

”Yeah! It’s so much easier than Lady Goddess’s training...”

”And he’s so gentle!”

The girls chattered like a flock of birds, swarming around him with adoring eyes. Internally, their gears were turning—they couldn’t let such a perfect opportunity go to waste.

”You’ve worked hard, Mr. Aiden! Come inside for some tea!”

”Yeah! Lady Goddess is right upstairs!”

Without giving him a chance to refuse, the enthusiastic gaggle of girls practically carried Aiden toward the main house.

”Wait, I can walk myself...” Aiden laughed helplessly, unable to resist the enthusiastic crowd. He allowed himself to be half-pushed, half-dragged to the door of the second-floor reception room.

Pushing the door open, he saw the three goddesses inside.

”Lady Hestia, Lady Hephaestus,” Aiden paused for a moment before recognizing the visitors and bowing politely. ”Lady Artemis,” he added, his gaze finally landing on the host as he offered a warm smile.

”Oh my?” Hestia’s blue eyes instantly widened. Like she had just found a fascinating new toy, she bounded off the sofa, circled Aiden, and grinned mischievously. ”You’re so polite and respectful to me and Hephaestus, but it’s completely different when you look at Artemis! Tell me, do you like her?”

”Hestia! Stop talking nonsense,” Artemis panicked, her face immediately turning bright red as she scolded her friend without thinking.

However, to everyone’s surprise, the target of the teasing remained perfectly composed. Meeting Hestia’s gossiping gaze, Aiden nodded openly.

”Yes, I like Lady Artemis.”

The moment the words left his mouth, the air in the room froze. Artemis stiffened completely, her beautiful green eyes widening in shock, her mind going entirely blank. Hestia’s jaw dropped. She never expected this mortal boy to admit it so brazenly. This wasn’t how the script was supposed to go!

Looking at their stunned expressions, Aiden smiled gently and continued, ”Goddess Artemis is a pure Virgin Goddess, yet her beauty rivals that of any Goddess of Beauty. Her soul is dignified and powerful. I think no man could truly know her and not be conquered by her charm. Naturally, I am no exception.”

His words were honest and sincere—both a heartfelt confession and the highest form of praise. It was impossible to feel any disgust toward such an earnest statement.

”Hahahaha! Good boy!” Hephaestus was the first to recover. She slapped her thigh, letting out a hearty laugh as she walked over and clapped Aiden heavily on the shoulder. ”You’ve got guts. I support you!”

”That’s right, that’s right!” Hestia snapped out of her daze and excitedly gave Aiden a thumbs-up, her eyes gleaming with anticipation of a good show.

Only Artemis, caught between the cheering of her friends and Aiden’s unflinching gaze, was completely at a loss. Embarrassment, panic, and a sliver of secret joy she hadn’t even realized was there all tangled together, completely short-circuiting her brain. Ultimately, all those emotions erupted into a fiercely embarrassed demand for his eviction.

”You... get out of here!” she yelled, pointing at the door.

Faced with her flustered eviction order, Aiden wasn’t angry in the slightest. Instead, he chuckled, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, and slowly backed out of the room under the amused gazes of Hestia and Hephaestus.

As soon as the door closed, the girls of the Artemis Familia—who had been eavesdropping outside—swarmed him. The way they looked at him, it was as if he were a hero returning victorious from war.

”Keep it up!” Rethusa, the Captain, gave him a solemn thumbs-up, her eyes full of respect.

”That was amazing, Aiden! Lady Artemis didn’t even hit you!” Lante excitedly grabbed his arm, whispering eagerly. ”There’s hope! Our happiness is all riding on you!”

”Don’t worry, leave it to me,” Aiden smiled, offering a confident thumbs-up to the crowd of hopeful girls.

Just then, the reception room door was yanked open. Artemis stood in the doorway, her beautiful face dark, her gaze sweeping over her conspiring children.

”Lante, and the rest of you. Is training over? Go do extra laps, all of you.”

The girls immediately scattered like frightened birds, wailing as they ran back to the training ground.

Artemis’s gaze finally landed on Aiden. She opened her mouth, intending to say something harsh to save face, but as she looked into his smiling eyes, her tone softened involuntarily.

”...You should go home for now.”

”You got it,” Aiden waved with a smile, turning to leave under Artemis’s complicated, flushed gaze.

After leaving the Artemis Familia base, he headed straight for the Eighth District Main Street. He met up with Kashima Ouka of the Takemikazuchi Familia and Raul Nord of the Loki Familia at the Flame Peak Pavilion, a popular tavern for adventurers, to drink and chat.

The tavern was as boisterous as ever. Adventurers chugged ale and bragged about their heroic exploits in the Dungeon, the air thick with the smell of alcohol and roasted meat.

”So, you went to be an instructor for the Artemis Familia today?” Ouka asked, holding a massive mug of ale and looking at Aiden in amazement.

”You could say that. It was just a simple sparring session,” Aiden replied with a smile, taking a sip of his drink.

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