Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not even the soundtracks. Danmachi belongs to Fujino Ōmori, Final Fantasy XV belongs to Square Enix.

Is it wrong to seek answers?

Chapter 17: Information Collecting

(OPENING: Promare OST – Gallant Ones by Hiroyuki Sawano ft. Mpi & Benjamin)

INSIDE – TOILET – HOSTESS OF FERTILITY – ORARIO

When they entered the men's toilet, they went each for one of the free pissoirs. Noct was surprised by the pissoirs since he was told by Ignis that Pissoirs never existed in Eos before the industrial revolution. That was one of the things Ignis taught him, which was quite funny. Maybe that was the reason he remembered that at all.

While both were doing 'number one', he briefly looked to Edgar.

„Edgar, right, may I ask you something ?" he asked if he said his name correctly.

„Yes, what is it ?" Edgar asked curiously, wondering what Noct might want to know.

„you said that you were watching our fight, right ?" Noct asked while 'starting his business'.

„yes of course" Edgar answered while also 'starting his business'.

„among the others who witnessed our fight, was there someone unusual."

Now Edgar looked to him. „what do you mean? "

„We were on the 10th Floor, which is considered part of the Upper Floors, right" Noct explained „were there only low-class adventurers as usual or were by chance there also some of the stronger classes watching."

„well, since you fighting with 'King' was just so exciting, I didn't pay that much attention. " Edgar said, still trying to remember, „but when you both stopped the fight, I saw someone unusual."

Noct immediately turned his head to Edgar, „REALLY? tell me more about it "

Both were finished with 'Number 1' long ago.

„I couldn't saw him clearly since he was at distance with the other witnessing adventurers on a lone spot, but he didn't look like an adventurer at all since I couldn't see any weapons", Edgar explained, „now that I think about it, I also couldn't see his face, since it was hidden behind some kind of black veil."

„black veil? " Noct got more curious about Edgar's explanation.

„Actually, the whole clothes were black." Edgar remembered, „that person then briefly looked to me, seemed to realize that I was starring, so I continued watching your fight."

„my thought, that was one of those black market merchants from Rivira, " Edgar said.

„Rivira, you mean that safe haven in the Dungeon?" Noct remembered how Dia mentioned it, „didn't expect they also have a black market there."

„My advisor told me since there are many products banned in Orario like certain sorts of Potion, it's quite possible they make a fortune with them down there. Because of them, I've heard that they must hide their identities, which would explain the black veil " Edgar explained,

„really fishy that such a person hasn't been captured already, I mean a black market merchant wearing black clothes? sounds very obvious if you ask me." Noct said.

Both started to laugh by Noct's statement, „well, anyway, thank you for that information."

After washing their hands, they went back to their friends, only to realize that they were standing, waiting for them. Noct could also see Ryuu, Syr, the 2 cat girls, a brown-haired girl and some older women with long brown hair standing beside them.

INSIDE - HOSTESS OF FERTILITY – ORARIO

„there you are you two, " Bell said, „you both let a lot of time-lapse away for the toilet, " said.

„yeah, even Erika was getting 'concerned', right? " Seti said while grinning at her.

Erika, angry of course, punched him on his face, which resulted in growing a large bump on his left face to grow, also affecting his mouth.

Noct didn't want to ask how that bump could grow so fast on Seti.

Noct looked to one of his pockets, only to be interrupted by Bell:

„we've already paid, " Bell said.

„yeahh, Ih ahndh Behll ahgrehehd to shahreh fihfthyh fihfthyh" Seti said, his large bump troubling him speaking clearly, but Noct still could understand him somehow. Noct also saw how Seti touched the bumb, only to let out a small cry.

„that's what I call a lesson for life, boy, " the older woman with long brown hair said to Seti.

She then looked to Noct, „I think we both didn't meet each other" she said to him, „my name's Mia Grand, but everyone calls me 'Mama Mia', I'm the owner of this beautiful pub."

„really? ", Noct was surprised, not by what she said, but by the strength he could feel from her, 'she's strong', „I'm Noct Gar, maybe they told you that already." Noct said.

„yeah, which surprised me nevertheless, since they hardly pay attention to our customers THAT much." Mia said while looking to her employees, who got cleary extremely red this time, which confused Noct at first, only to remember again what 'beet red' meant.

„Anyway, the service is really good and the food also was delicious, tell that to the chef." Noct said, trying to distract himself from those thoughts.

This statement made the already red-faced waitresses getting so much more red, that they suddenly went away, saying that they still had work to do, which Noct could understand.

Mia, amused by her waitresses reaction, smiled happily to them, „I'll tell her that, and before I forget", she then looked again to Noct grinning, „I told that already to Bell, but if your moneybag gets heavy again, feel free to come here and 'ease' it if you understand." was her last sentence before the others started to go out again.

„we will, goodbye.", „ „ „ „ goodbye " " " " " were Noct's and his allies' final words before finally going out.

OUTSIDE – STREETS OF ORARIO – LATE EVENING

After the Hestia Familia Members said good night to their new friends, they decided to bring Lily home. They also noticed that it was full-moon, despite the sky is a little bit cloudy.

„you know I can go home on my own, master Noct." Lily said annoyingly after they finished about half of the way.

„I know, but as you both know, I wanted to talk more about Ravus, but I also didn't want Seti and the others to know about that right now, so .."

„so it's that, isn't it? "

„Yes, if I remember, Bell.." Noct looked to him, „you said you were seeing fighting him."

„well, it was more like 'feeling' it "

„'feeling' ?"

Bell explained to Noct about the Greatsword Battle Festival. In a nutshell, it was a staged battle organized by the Guild, who wanted to show a foreign ambassador the power of Orario's adventurers, but unfortunately, the adventurers were sick of the 'staging', so they got 'serious'.

Not that most of the spectators minded, actually they were more than happy about it. But Bell, who also was one of them, was witnessing the whole thing along with an Elf named Lefiya Viridis from the Loki Familia. Bell also told them that she doesn't like him, for some reason Bell didn't explain.

Anyway, as the 'battles' continued, the numbers of spectators increased rapidly, which resulted in both adventurers to fall out from the Tribune, landing on the arena itself. Since both of them made a name for themselves in Orario, they had no other choice than to participate in the already 'serious' battles.

After certain Battles, Bell said that suddenly, he, as well as the others, felt a strong energy output, which made him fly across the arena, landing on its edge.

„I didn't saw it, but I heard the battle host saying that 'King' and 'Silverlight' were clashing."

„and how was the battle, who won? "

„as I said before, I was too tired to notice it clearly, but after about one hour, as the battle host said, the battle ended undecided."

…...

'AFTER ONE HOUR UNDECIDED', Noct couldn't believe it. Ravus could take on Ottar for a whole hour.

Noct remembered how Ravus once met him and his 3 friends on one of Nifleheim's military bases, also how he attacked Gladio, who after seconds troubled holding back Ravus's pressure.

'if we would've continued, I might have to buy new teeth' Noct thought while thinking his battle with Ottar.

…...

…...

(ENDING: Jacob Lee – I Just Know (New Immunity Remix) )