No Loose End

In the middle of the room, a Pallum was currently prostrating in front of a goddess. Sitting around the former were the children of the goddess. The only male among them observed the situation with an awkwardness apparent on his face while the remaining two simply taking it in stride.

"If it's all up to me, I would hand you over to the Guild and be done with it." Hestia declared as she glared at the mortal in front of her. "Bell doesn't want that though, so you better be grateful."

"Li...Lily understand." The Pallum replied, her head remained on the floor.

"Um, Goddess, I think that's..." Bell's words were cut short when the Captain of the Familia raised her hand.

"Bell. Not now." Okita stated before lowering her hand. The boy simply nodded in response.

It was after five minutes have passed that Hestia allowed Lily to stood up. The latter did so, letting out a sigh as she rubbed her forehead. Seeing that there was now an opportunity, Okita walked towards the Pallum, who looked at her warily.

"So, there's something that makes me curious." The swordswoman state as she put her hand on her chin. "Your...former fellow Familia members were not surprised when I 'complained' about you stealing my stuff, saying that you often did it along with swindling the money acquired. And then there was their 'plan,' which makes me wonder the legality of the Soma Familia."

"Well, yes and no." Lily replied. "Our Familia focused on the creation of Soma Wine, with every other activity done to fund for the creation of the drink. Whether said activity is legal or not, all of it depends on the Familia member that performs it."

"Not only unruly but also criminals..." Hestia muttered. "Just what the hell is Soma thinking?"

"It's...not Lord Soma's fault. I guess? Not entirely at least." The Pallum stated, sounding rather unsure herself. "The point is, Lord Soma doesn't order us to commit any crime. In fact, he barely makes an appearance. Anything not related to wine-making is relegated to the Captain, Zanis Lustra."

"So, de facto speaking, the power and control of the Familia is at the hands of this Zanis Lustra." Charlotte stated while looking as if she was remembering something. "Soma is nothing more than a puppet king. Or god, I suppose."

"I guess there's first time for everything." The Goddess of the Hearth commented as she sighed. "So, what do we do now?"

Silence fell upon the room as everyone closed their eyes, thinking about their next move. After a while, Bell opened his eyes and looked at the shortest person in the room.

"By the way, Lily. Are you going to be alright? Won't other Soma Familia members be suspicious of you surviving despite being only a supporter?" He asked her.

"It's alright. Most of them are too obsessed with the real Soma to care about others." The Pallum replied as she waved her hand before sighing. "Though admittedly, that's also why they keep coming after me no matter where I go or the fact that I want to do nothing more with the Familia."

"Real Soma?" Okita muttered, curious about what she had just heard.

"Not every wine that Lord Soma made is successful. The one that failed is the one that the Familia sell and is available for all member in abundance." Lily started to explain. "The real Soma is only for select few of our Familia."

"Wait, those bottles of Soma wine on the shops, those are failure?" Hestia stated with a shocked expression.

"You have drunk it, Lady Hestia?" Charlotte asked.

"Yeah. Hephaistos once invited me, Miach, and Take to drink together. I might be exaggerating by saying that the price is through the roof but the taste..." The Goddess made a nostalgic face. "And you're saying those are failure?!"

"Imagine how the successful one would taste like." The Pallum stated. "That's how Zanis Lustra controlled the Familia. He gives each member a glass of real Soma and tells them that the one the bring the most money will receive an entire bottle."

"A glass of wine and it's more than enough to..." Bell muttered under his breath. "Um, Lily, no offense, but..."

"Yes, Bell?"

"You...don't act like some Soma Familia adventurers that we saw."

"I was like that years ago. Like others, wanting to have a bottle of the wine myself." She looked ashamed as she remembered the old time. "Several years of abuse as supporter and times of barely being able to feed myself knock back my sense."

"Anyway, for me, the most important is that the Soma Familia will keep coming for you as long as you can keep making money, correct?" Okita stated, causing Lily to nodded her head. "If it's up to me, we will severe contact as soon as possible since Hestia Familia has no need to get into a conflict with another Familia, but..."

The pink-haired Far Easterner looked at her Master, whose face showed that he completely disagreed with her opinion. She simply shrugged before folding her arms.

"I guess the other option is for you to resign from Soma Familia and join another." She stated before looking at her goddess. "How does one do that?"

"You simply go to your god and say that you want to quit. After that, you go to the Familia that you desire and ask their god that you want to join." Hestia explained. "Every time you join a Familia, there's a period of one year where you must stay in that Familia."

"Is it possible for someone to be stuck in a Familia for one reason or another?"

"Yes. The Guild is pretty lax when it comes to that as long as the problem remain inside that Familia and doesn't spread."

"Well, Lily was told that if I want to talk with Lord Soma, there's a sum of money that must be paid." The Pallum stated before her face became sour. "Lily bet the money will simply got 'lost' and no meeting will happen."

Once again, silence fell upon the room. For minutes, they tried to think up a solution to no avail. After several more minutes passed, all of them sighed in dejection.

"We need to collect more information." Okita said. "Lily, for now you will live in here. Do not go anywhere unless using a disguise. Bell, Charlotte, continue going to the Dungeon; act as if nothing happens. Same thing with you, Lady Hestia. Keep low-profile. Your safety is paramount."

"What will you do, Okita?" Bell asked the Captain of the Familia.

"Me?" She pointed to herself. "I simply will use something that I learned during my service to the Shogunate."

"It's...being a police, right?"

"Yep. Also, Charlotte, I have a task for you."

"Eh?"


As adventurers began to gather in front of the Babel, Okita sat on a bench, acting as if she couldn't care less about what was happening around her. She watched as people came and went, looking for a clue. As the sun rose further, indicating that she had been waiting for a long time, she finally saw one; an adventurer was coming out of the Dungeon. One of the armors that he wore was a pauldron with a symbol of a wine cup and crescent moon, the symbol of the Soma Familia.

Picking up a fabric that she put under the bench, the Samurai put them on, creating a hood and mask, only making her eyes visible. She then began to follow him, making sure that there was enough distance between them so that the Soma Familia adventurer didn't become suspicious.

The adventurer had no good intention. How he acted reminded Okita of Ishin Shishi; political activists who desired to bring down the Tokugawa shogunate. He watched his surroundings, especially when people from Ganesha Familia – the unofficial law enforcers of Orario – were nearby.

The Samurai picked up her pace when the adventurer took a turn towards an alley. When she looked at the alley and saw not even a hair of his, Okita immediately went it but to no avail; the man was gone. Hoping that she could still follow him, she jumped into the rooftop of one of the buildings and looked around. After few minutes, she managed to find him and decided to follow the adventurer from above.

Jumping from one rooftop to another, she kept her eyes on him. She stopped upon seeing him meeting up with a cloaked figure. The two of them looked around for a bit – likely making sure that no one was nearby – before performing a transaction; the adventurer gave a parcel while the cloaked one gave a big pouch.

They separated and went to their own way, pretending that they didn't know each other. For a while, Okita merely observed from where she stood. After making sure that they were far enough from each other, she began to take an action; she jumped from the rooftop and landed behind the adventurer.

"What the...?!"

Before he could react, the Samurai immediately grabbed his head and smashed him into the nearby wall. It was strong enough to leave it cracked. She let him go, slowly sliding to the ground as his head left a trail of blood.

Not even bothering to check his condition, Okita began her inspection and checked the items that he carried. There was the pouch that he received earlier which contained a lot of valis. When she inspected his bag, the Samurai found a canteen. The pink-haired Servant tasted the content and her eyes became wide. It was something made from grape and the taste was something that she never experienced before. This must be a Soma wine.

Looking back into the bag, Okita saw several parcels, similar with the one that the adventurer gave to the person that he met earlier. She picked one and tore it, flinching a bit as she didn't expect that it would contain powder.

"Why would someone put a powder into...?" She stopped talking when she took a closer look at the powder. "This is...!"


In the Hostess of Fertility, Bell and his companion had just arrived and took their seat. They were currently looking at the menu, searching for food and drink that interested them. Nearby, Syr had just delivered an order to a customer and was looking at Bell, waiting for him to ask for a waitress.

"So, Bell, I have never been here before." His companion, a black-haired Pallum in ponytail, asked. "What are you going to suggest?"

"Hmm..." The white-haired boy answered after thinking for a while. "I would suggest the pasta."

Accepting the suggestion, Bell called out a waitress, which Syr immediately answered. After taking the order, she returned to the kitchen, leaving the pair with some time to spent.

"Something wrong, Bell?"

"Ah, nothing. Just fascinated by how...through your disguise is, Li – I mean, Ezo."

"You're not really good when it comes to lying, right?"

The boy could do nothing except laughing in despair.

Lily – who had taken an identity as a young Pallum boy named Ezo – sighed as she supported her head with her hands. She planned to simply spent her time inside the church until Bell approached her and asked if she wanted to accompany him to get something to eat. The ingredient in the kitchen had been depleted, causing Charlotte to visit the marketplace while also telling them that she wouldn't be back before the sun was almost set.

The Pallum still had some food in her belongings but she doubted that it would be enough for both of them. As such, she accepted his offer, not forgetting to put on a disguise before exiting the building.

This was also an opportunity.

"So, if it's not bothering you..." Lily opened her mouth.

"What is it?" The boy tilted his head a bit.

"Why do you decided to help her?" She asked. "Despite everything that she did, you're still willing to listen to her. Any other adventurer would hand her over to the Guild or even just leave her in the Dungeon to be no one's bother."

At first, Bell was confused by what the Pallum said. It didn't take him long to realize that she was referring to herself, likely using the method because Lily was disguising as a boy. He put his hand on his chin, thinking on how to explain his motivation.

"Well, if I have to say it..." He spoke up, sounding as if he was preparing for an incoming danger. "...because she's a girl."

Lily's eyes widened upon hearing that. She then closed her mouth with her hand and giggled, likely thinking that it was a joke. Hearing nothing from the boy that indicated that he did, her expression became unreadable, realizing that no, he was not joking. Not at all in the slightest.

"So, let me get this straight..." The Pallum sounded like she was holding back her anger. "This girl, the one who swindle and take the money that's rightfully yours, the one who would steal from you if not for your other companion, the one who almost got you killed, is forgiven by you...because she is a girl?!"

"To be fair, I was never in danger of getting killed, you know?" He replied, trying to calm her down to no avail.

"You're a special kind of stupid, you know that?"

"Haha..."

"Nevertheless, you're also the stupid who saved her. So, I guess whatever flaw you have can be forgiven."

Bell simply smiled at the remark. Not long after that, Syr returned, carrying the dishes that they ordered. The two of them decided to eat a bit first before continuing the conversation. After more of less five minutes, Lily spoke up, restarting the talk.

"On another topic, who is the captain of your Familia?" She asked after chewing down the pasta.

"You mean Okita?" Bell said before biting on a toast.

"Yep. When she protected me from the Ants, I saw how she fight. The sheer power of her swing, the technique that she used, there's no way that she's an amateur." Lily spun her fork on the pasta. "Yet I never heard of her."

He understood what she meant. Every time an adventurer level up, the Guild would be noticed and the news spread across the city. The rarity of high-level adventurers meant that many people would recognize them, like Ais "Sword Princess" Wallenstein and Ottar "King."

It made sense that Lily was curious. From what he knew, Servants were on par with high-level adventurers. Maybe even more.

"What do you think is the level of Okita?" The boy suddenly asked.

"Eh?" Lily didn't expect the question but answer regardless. "Hmm, judging from the speed, strength, and skill, I would put them her as Level 4. Maybe someone who has just recently become Level 5."

"Nope. She's Level 1. She joined the Familia not long after I did."

"Hah?! Are you making fun of me, Bell?"

"Of course not. You said it yourself, I am bad at lying."

"I suppose..." The Pallum nodded her head. "Still, it's unbelievable that she's that strong despite being Level 1."

"It might have something to do with the fact that Falna doesn't take a count of what happened to someone before it was given."

"What does that have anything to do with the Captain?"

"It's...complicated."

Bell wondered how he would explain it.


Inside the Blue Pharmacy, Okita was leaning on the table as she waited for her request to be done. She had been told by Naaza that it would take quite some time, perhaps even half an hour. Having nothing else to do, Saber decided to just stand around in the shop doing nothing.

"It's done."

The Samurai looked at her as the Chienthrope appeared from the back of the building, mask covering her mouth and nose.

"Just as you suspected." She said as she looked at the paper in her hand. "The powder that you bring? It's opium."

Okita simply nodded her head. She had heard about opium before; how the British Empire used it to weakened the Qing Empire and showed between the two empires who was the mightiest. She didn't remember much about the politics between the Shogunate and the foreign powers but the war likely contributed to it. If even China was unable to repel the Western powers, what hope a tiny island could have?

"Is opium something that's illegal?" The Samurai asked. "The man looked around to make sure no one see him and the transaction occurred in an empty alley."

"No, but it is heavily regulated." Naaza explained. "It is used freely only in the Entertainment District. Usage outside of the area requires permit that's only allowed for medical institution – like this shop for example – and exceptional cases."

"That's indeed quite strict."

"There was an incident of how an entire Familia went into ruin because many of its members became addicted to it. The Guild, not wanting to lost another source of income, created many laws about it. Entertainment District is an exception so that the Guild could monitor the drug and prevent the creation of black market."

"The last one doesn't exactly work."

"Well, it could have been worse."

The swordswoman nodded her head. She then picked up a pouch of valis and put it on the table.

"Considering that I am here, I'll buy the medicine as well." Okita stated. "The one that Lady Hestia specifically ordered for me."

"Of course." The Chienthrope replied. "So, how's your sickness?"

"Much better than usual."

"I will suggest that you take a rest until you're healed."

"I...will consider it."

After the box of medicine was given, the Servant gave a bow to her and exited the shop. As she walked back to her home, the plan to solve the problem was slowly created in her head.


"So, everyone ready?"

Bell, Lily, Hestia, and Charlotte nodded their heads at the question given by the captain of their Familia. Satisfied with the respond, Okita began the meeting.

"I have been searching around Orario. Just as Lily said, many people of the Soma Familia are involved with criminal activity." She spoke up. "One of them is opium smuggling."

While Bell and Hestia showed signs of surprise, Charlotte and Lily – on the other hand – showed no sign of it. Especially the latter since she likely already knew or at least suspect about it.

"Miss Corday, your turn!"

"Of course." Assassin nodded her head. "When I infiltrated the mansion of Soma Familia, I overheard their conversations and created a list of the kind of activities that they're involved with."

"Wait, how do you manage to infiltrate it?" The Pallum asked. "Soma Familia is nowhere near the top but they're not a bad one either."

"You'll be surprised of how people will ignore you if you act as if you're in the right place." The Frenchwoman explained. "I simply walk around the mansion, acting as if I am one of them."

"With the list, we can hit them where it hurts." The Samurai continued. "First part of the plan is to get rid of the members that're involved in these activities."

"Okita..."

"Relax, Bell. Knowing you, we will simply beat them up and hand them over to the Ganesha Familia. Make sure to do this when they're doing their illegal stuff so that we have solid proof and remain untouchable."

"Basically, Soma Familia couldn't do anything to retaliate since what we're doing is within the frame of laws and not that uncommon." Hestia said with a smile.

"Correct. The second part is to attack the mansion. With their members jailed, even Zanis Lustra will have to participate in the defense as well. This is a distraction for the last part."

Saber stopped talking for a while to turn her attention to Lily, who fidgeted under the gaze.

"We will bring Lily to Soma and convince him to let her go."

Silence fell upon the room as the plan was revealed to the rest of them. Hestia closed her eyes while nodding her head, satisfied with it. Bell was tilting his head while looking around, still in the midst of understanding the plan. Lily showed the most reaction; looking nervous but at the same time hopeful.

"So, any objection?" The captain asked.

"None from me."

"I agree with the plan, Okita."

"Nope."

"Li...Lily wished that this will work."

"Alright then. If that's the case, then let's execute the plan!"


Inside his office, the Captain of Soma Familia – Zanis Lustra – slammed his hand on the table as he received yet another bad news.

Three members of his Familia had been arrested by the Ganesha Familia on the charge of counterfeiting money.

He had known about it of course. In fact, he received a substantial amount of cut from their operation. With their arrest, not only he received less money but it also hurt his other sources of income.

It was thanks to these "anonymous informers." Oh, he had an idea of who they were. Who else could they be but the members of Soma Familia who abandoned it, unable to cope with their environment any longer?

Now, it was a matter of finding them. The most recent one, Liliruca Arde, he was pretty sure that her location was...

BOOM

"The hell?!"

Zanis had his thought interrupted by the sudden explosion. On cue, one of the Familia members entered his office.

"Captain, we're under attack!" The guard informed him. "Someone set up an explosion on the warehouse and is currently fighting the others!"

"What?!" The glasses-wearing human exclaimed. "What are you doing here? Go and take care of it!"

"T-That's the problem, Captain! The intruder, they're strong! Our people are overwhelmed!"

"Damn it! Damn it all!"

He immediately went to grab his sword. Before long, he and the guard exited the office, heading towards the warehouse to deal with the intruder.


"That should be all." Charlotte stated as she observed two people coming out from the mansion. "Are you ready, Lily?"

"Y-Yes." She replied, nervous but nonetheless ready. "Lily will play her part!"

Assassin nodded her head before grabbing Lily and jumped from the roof of the mansion into the balcony. She looked through the door, seeing no one on the other side, and then opened it. The pair slowly walked towards their destination; none other than the room of the God Soma himself.

When they reached the door, Charlotte took a peek through the keyhole. Inside, a god with disheveled-looking appearance was busy writing something. Even the fact that his home was under attack was not enough to make him looked away from his work.

Showed just how apathetic he had become.

"Alright, Lily. This is it."

The Pallum simply nodded her head.

"Good luck."


As she walked towards Lord Soma, Lily wondered how she would convince him to let her go. While he was not an abusive god, he was indeed an apathetic one. The attack today proved that without question; doing nothing but simply writing something. Perhaps a way to make yet even better wine.

"Um, Lord Soma?" The Pallum opened her mouth. "It...It's me, Liliruca Arde."

The only reaction that the god showed was momentarily stopped his hand before continue writing again.

"I...I want to request a...discharged...resignation...from your Familia." She continued. "I...I can't live among the members of your Familia anymore. Especially under the leadership of the current captain."

"Why?" Soma, surprisingly, replied. "Aren't you no different than them?"

At that, Lily had no answer, remembering her dark past. Sighing, Soma stood up from his desk and went towards a cupboard. From it, he took out a bottle of Soma wine and a glass. The god poured the drink and walked towards his "child."

"If you really want to go..." He stated as he offered the glass. "Show me."

She looked at the glass in fear, not wanting to have anything to do with the wine. However, she also knew that it would be the only way for her to gain her freedom. Thus, Lily accepted the glass, intending on showing her resolve.

Slowly, she put the glass on her lips and drank the content. When her tongue tasted the wine, she was almost overwhelmed by it but managed to hold on. Wasting no time, she finished the entire drink and was now struggling inside her mind.

"Heaven...I can...I can reach..."

"No, don't! Fight it! Fight back!"

"Why do I even thinking of wanting to quit...?"

The Pallum fell to her knees, clutching her head as if she was in pain. Sighing, Soma simply turned around and walked towards his desk, already expecting what would happen.

"Lily..."

The god stopped on his track, eyes widened by what he had just heard.

"Lily...will...not...fail..."

Slowly, she stood up from the ground.

"Bell...trust me...against...his own Familia...his own goddess..."

Soma turned around, just in time to see her standing straight up, tears dripping from her eyes.

"So...have I...proven myself...Lord Soma...?"

Her legs suddenly lost their strength without warning. Soma, however, was able to catch her before she fell. Carrying the Pallum, he walked towards an ottoman and sat her on it. The god then went to her back and pulled her shirt up. Then, with movements that indicated a lack of practice and hesitance, he traced his blood on Lily's back for few minutes before pulling the shirt back down. With that done, Soma stood up and turned his eyes to look at the wall.

Right at Charlotte was currently standing.

Seeing that she has been spotted, Assassin dismissed her Presence Concealment and walked towards the two of them.

"I am sorry for intruding in." She stated as she bowed before the god.

"It's alright." Soma replied as he walked several steps back. "Take care of her."

"We will."

Charlotte picked up Lily and walked towards the door.

"Lord Soma...thank you, for everything..." The Pallum said, sounding sincere in her words.

When they reached the door, the Servant was about to open the door when the god spoke up.

"Liliruca Arde, I have done you wrong..." He said. "...and for that, I am sorry."

With that, a "parent" and a "child," in spite of everything that had happened, leave on a peaceful note.


"Can you walk now?"

"Y-Yes. Please put Lily down."

As requested, Charlotte put the Pallum down. The two of them then continued their journey back to the church. Not long after that, when they took a turn, the pair saw Okita leaning on the wall in front of them.

"I take it everything's well?" The Samurai asked them.

"Indeed." The Frenchwoman replied. "Yours?"

"Only injured. Well, except Zanis Lustra." Her tone became colder. "He's now...several inches shorter."

"Considering that it was thanks to him Soma Familia became as it is today, Lily believes you're doing the world a favor." The Pallum bluntly comment. "Anyway, thank you for helping Lily."

"Don't thank me. Thank Bell." Saber waved her hand as she began to walk. "As I told you before, I am more than willing to abandon you for what you did."

Lily said nothing in return, merely nodding her head. Charlotte and her then followed the pink-haired Servant, walking back to the church.


Answer to a review:

Journey to the End: Nope. Okita will remain normal, a Saber-class Servant.


And it's finally done.

If you have a question or suggestion, feel free to tell me.

Review, please!