Chapter 10: New Heights

After coming back from their expedition, the members of Thor's familia were finally able to return home. Everyone was exhausted and after several days in the Dungeon, with a lot of intense fighting for most of them, going home was a pleasure beyond compare. And even more so since they had a place they could really call their home.

Everyone went about their business. Some wanted a shower and a hot bath to wash away the grime of their expedition, others just wanted to crawl into a real bed, and a few had a snack. The rest of the day was already planned, in the early evening Thor would do the status updates, an important event for them, and afterwards they were expecting a small banquet to celebrate their return.

And as announced, in the evening, the little familia gathered in their great hall for the updates. A large screen had been drawn around the back and most were chatting around the tables. In Thor's familia, updates were often done together, and rarely entirely in private. Thor's children functioned as a close-knit family group, there were few or no secrets between them. They mostly trusted each other and knew a lot about each other's status. It was this trust on which they had built up that was one of their main strengths. Their familia may not have been as big as others, but it was tight.

When they did big joint upgrades like this, they used to pass people around in ascending order of level, which meant that the lowest levels went first. One by one, they isolated themselves behind the screen with their god and presented their backs to them. Arrauth, Viclaer, Girkas, Adriel and Bricaena went through one after the other and Thor gave a summary at the end.

Nothing new for you unfortunately.

And nothing surprising, given that they had spent most of the expedition guarding the base camp.

But your participation against the Goliath did pay off, you all took some nice stat increases. No new magic or skills though, sorry. Keep working, it will pay off in the end, just like the others.

They didn't say anything, they didn't expect much, so they weren't disappointed.

It was then the turn of the three level 2 young women. Each of them quickly isolated themselves with the god of thunder, who gave a recap at the end.

Sorry girls, no real news for you either. But nice increases in your stats, between the descent and the Goliath, your efforts were not in vain either. Keep working, you're making progress, especially you Purhaan, you're really not far from level 3.

The three young women were a little disappointed, they had hoped deep down to get a level increase or at least a little something, but they would have to be satisfied with a nice increase in their stats.

Then came the turn of the twins, Andil and Linda. The two humans walked by together, inseparable as they were, laughing at what was said about them. Well, that didn't concern their familia who really knew them.

Sorry, the same to you, nothing more than a nice increase in your stats.

The two dark-haired humans said nothing and no one really knew how they felt about it. Their natural detachment made them hard to understand.

When Ygannea passed by, there was a little more activity, which could be seen in the form of Thargar the dwarf holding Girkas the young werevolf by the neck and Viclaer the chienthrope. Knowing that the elf was on the other side of the screen, shirtless and "lung power" unleashed sometimes made them a bit dumber than usual.

No, nothing for you either Yga. A nice advance in your stats, especially magic, but that'll be all.

It's not a problem, I didn't expect more, I was just watching most of the time. She said with a weary look.

Don't be so disappointed with your actions, you did a lot to help your comrades. Everyone is counting on you Yga.

The elf smiled, but said nothing and got dressed, letting her dwarf friend release the two idiots before taking her place.

Thargar the dwarf took his turn, not really knowing what to expect, but he had been at the forefront of the vanguard several times and it must have served some purpose.

Same thing, old pal'. No leveling up, no skill or anything. Just stats. However, your stamina stat has jumped a lot, it's S rank now. Pushing your skill limits two days in a row in such an intense situation paid off.

Ha! That's why you'll always need dwarves! replied the interested party with a mocking and amused tone. It's a pity he doesn't have a real elf to make a comical duo with, as Ygannea doesn't have any of the typical pointy-eared character traits.

Keep it up and the only thing I'm sure of is that you'll end up at least as resilient as Elgarm. replied the god in the same mocking tone.

The big guy finished and the next to pass was Ekkrit. Few saw the nezu without his cloak and hood, even within his familia. Once behind the screen, he undid the hood, revealing his head with rounded ears. He then shed the leather armour he wore to reveal his torso, which was covered in short, dark brown fur. Contrary to what prejudices about nezus said, it was not dirty, but on the contrary, rather soft and clean. Ekkrit still took care of his personal hygiene, if only because smelling strong was not recommended for discretion. He had just got into the habit of washing himself alone.

He sat down and Thor traced the line of blood down his back, revealing the falna tattoo. If it was indeed hidden under the fur, the divine blessing was well done, appearing to Thor in highlight, allowing him to deal with it. The god set to work and suddenly stood up, a joyful look on his face, before shouting to everyone's attention.

Get out our best barrels for tonight and prepare a real feast my children, your brother Ekkrit just reached level 5!

There were unanimous shouts of joy from the familia and congratulations to the nezu. The latter said nothing, introverted by nature. He raised one hand and clenched his fist, a glint of determination in his eyes. Reaching level 5 put him in the realm of first-class adventurers.

After Thor had rescued him from his former organization, Ekkrit had found himself without any real purpose in life. It was while trying to reconnect with his origins that he discovered the true life of the nezus, who had been ostracised by prejudice and forced to live as outcasts in rotten places. He had then decided to change the way they were seen. But since he only knew how to fight, he decided to do it as an adventurer. Reaching level 5 proved to the world that the nezus had real potential and that they could be given a chance. Of course, he wasn't going to change people's minds overnight, but if he continued on this path and added a few more notable acts to his record, it would be a step in the right direction.

Your efforts are paying off, my friend. And your duel with the acid snake must have helped too. Well, there's a lot of new stuff. When it comes to developmental skills, you only have one choice: Luck.

Huh? Fun, we'll see how it goes.

Speaking of skills development, your Abnormal Resistance has skyrocket, it's just been upgraded to C rank. At this level, I don't think there are any natural poisons or toxins that work on you anymore.

There were two things that explained this about Ekkrit. First, the nezu had a reputation for being carriers of disease, which was not entirely true, after several generations of living in unhealthy places due to rejection by society, the species had developed a strong immune system and the nezu were more likely to be healthy carriers of bacteria and viruses, even with good hygiene. On the other hand, Ekkrit, like many of the assassins in his former organisation, had undergone mithridatisation, forced to absorb small doses of all kinds of poisons every day to accustom his body. It was these two things that had impacted his falna and allowed him to develop such a high level of Abnormal Resistance.

And that's not all, you get a new skill, it's called Black Blood.

Hmm? I'm curious, what does it allow me to do?

To summarize, you can transform your own blood into poison, of the power and virulence of your choice, from the small annoying thing to the deadly venom. However, there is a flaw, it is impossible to store it, the blood must be fresh.

Basically, I have to hurt myself to use it. It will still be useful.

Ekkrit got dressed and returned to the rest of his familia, who congratulated him warmly.

Then finally it was Mei's turn, she sat down and the god of thunder, the being she considered as a father, started to work. As he was behind her back she could not see him, but she felt that he stopped very quickly. Suddenly he stood up, took a deep breath and screamed at the top of his lungs.

MEEEEIIIIII! LEVEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLL SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIX !

It took them a little while to understand the news, time to clear all the earwax that their god's screams had caused them to drip. And Mei, next to the epicentre, had tinnitus.

You don't have to yell!

We don't care! Forget the feast, we're having a huge banquet! Tomorrow night and we invite all our friends!

Everyone shouted with joy, as the good news kept coming, Ekkrit's level rise, followed by Mei's, their first level 6, significantly increased their strength and influence. And for once, even the stingy Adriel had no problem protesting against a banquet, especially since their finances had improved considerably.

Could you please finish with me before you get drunk? I don't want to stay half-naked with the two idiots around!

Don't worry, Thargar has arguments to make with them. Well, you're right, let's get on with it. Said the god, getting back to work. Well, for the development abilities, you also have only one choice, but very interesting, Spirit Healing.

Is that what allows you to regenerate mental energy? In that case, it will be useful if I have to fight a battle as exhausting as the one against Udaeus.

Yes, it will. Ha! I found what was causing the imbalance in your falna, I think it's that skill that was just waiting to be fully manifested.

I gained a new skill?

If you can call it that: Avatar of Mjöllnir. A skill that allows you to connect to Mjöllnir. Okay, now you're going to explain to me what exactly happened during your fight against Udaeus.

Attentive, the deusdea listened to Mei's story as she tried to be as precise as possible. He listened silently, until she came to an interesting detail.

A vision?

Yes, of you, on an unknown battlefield, wearing a magnificent armour covered with runes and holding Mjöllnir in your hand. I have never seen it, but you described it so well that I recognised it immediately.

A vision from the past can happen, but it is extremely rare. When a god gives his falna, he does more than give a blessing that grants power, he establishes a link between him and his child. Some people are too quick to forget this detail. And this bond can sometimes act in strange ways, sharing visions of the Tenkai with the child. This is what happened to you, we have known each other for so long Mei, I have always considered you as my own child, the bond between us is strong and this kind of phenomenon does not surprise me too much.

Mei said nothing, but had a small, tender smile. To hear from her adoptive father that he considered her as his child was always a pleasure. And so this sight was a sign of their deep and powerful bond. Mei then resumed her story and the resolution she had made before returning to the assault on the monster.

To become my Mjöllnir here?

To be truly worthy of being the captain of your familia, to be strong enough to support you.

You are not a weapon Mei, you are my daughter. But still, I appreciate the thought. And it explains a lot. Mei, do you know exactly what Mjöllnir is?

The shivati became pensive, the question seemed strange to her, but if he asked it, it was because the answer was not so obvious.

Your weapon and symbol, a short-handled hammer that can control storms, a very powerful divine weapon.

Mjöllnir is much more than a weapon, it is alive and has a kind of... spirit. It is not really conscious, but it is special, it is a weapon forged from the heart of an ancient star that was there when everything was created. This hammer is much more than a weapon, it has become a piece of me, but one that has a form of primal will. To simplify the concept, it is a living weapon, a being that lives in symbiosis with me.

Being separated from it must be hard for you. She said, realizing that it was much more than a weapon that he had left at the Tenkai.

But I would never have met you without it. Finally, to return to our case, Mjöllnir remains linked to me, and you are linked to me through the falna, which means that you and the others are indirectly linked to Mjöllnir as well. When you wished from the bottom of your heart to become my "Mjöllnir here on earth", the real one must have felt your determination and given you his blessing, which takes the form of this new skill in your falna.

And what does this skill actually do?

Well... no idea! It just says that you have a link with Mjöllnir, without specifying anything else. I guess it will act as a temporary enhancement or something. You'll have to find that out for yourself, explore this connection you have with him. Just be proud that he recognizes you as worthy of his help. And if not, we're done. He concluded by handing her the sheet of paper summarising her level rise.

After this session, they only had a hearty meal together, after which everyone suddenly felt like going to bed early. The after-effects of their expedition were beginning to be felt. Going down into the Dungeon for several days, fighting so many powerful monsters, was nothing like their hunts outside. Everyone enjoyed a real night's sleep in a soft bed without the constant pressure of the dungeon.

The next day Thor went out early in the morning, saying he had things to do. First, he made a detour to the Guild to officially announce the leveling up of Mei and Ekkrit. The announcement was officially relayed during the day and many people saw it. If the arrival of a new level 6 in a familia that didn't have one was causing reactions, it was Ekkrit who was attracting more attention.

The rat is level 5?

Holy shit!

Did he really take done the Ophiuchus by himself?

We'll have to keep an eye on him.

In the various words, there was still a lot of contempt, but some were beginning to show a little respect, because Ekkrit was proving himself through his actions and that was important in the community of adventurers.

As for the nezu, he was currently on a shopping spree, with the most unlikely person ever, Bell. Thor had decided to organize a nice party in their new home that evening and the nezu had gone to invite Hestia's familia. He had practiced a bit with Bell, testing his new abilities, always impressed by the young human's speed of progress, as well as his ability to assimilate lessons. Afterwards, he had gone to see Welf to have his equipment repaired, unfortunately, the blacksmith was only focused on metal work and hardly worked with leather, a material the nezu preferred.

However, he had recommended two other craftsmen from the familia of Hephaestus. Both were armourers who specialised in leather work. According to Welf, they were a bit special, but very talented in their field. Curious, Bell had gone with him. When they arrived in the workshop, their noses were assaulted by the strong smells of the different products used to treat the leather, this craft was not a job for delicate ones.

The workshop was run by a couple, a hume-bunny and a werevolf. And the two visitors discovered that stereotypes were not to be trusted here either. The female bunny seemed to be the dominant type and her male wolf husband somewhat submissive to her.

The workshop was filled with several pieces of leather armour, of various colours and shapes. It was obvious that there were both classic leathers and monster materials. Bell was rather impressed by the display of equipment he saw, proof that he was still discovering things. A detail that did not escape his occasional mentor.

Tell me Bell, have you ever thought of using leather equipment?

Oh... uh... no. he replied a little sheepishly, not having thought about it.

It's a common thought, a lot of people think that armor can only be made of metal, but that's reductive. Metals are strong, but even if leather isn't as strong, it's not a throwaway. Leather armour is lighter, more flexible, quieter and far less obstructive to movement. Personally, I like the protection of leather scales, ideal for fast fighters like us, who are not meant to take the full force of blows, but to keep our freedom of movement to avoid them.

Bell listened to the nezu, aware that he was sharing valuable experience with one of his own. The hume-bunny then came towards them, smiling.

Ha! I see I'm dealing with a expert! Is that so? Here are two customers I didn't expect to see in our workshop. My little wolf! Come and see the customers of the day.

Coming. replied her husband werevolf as he came out of another room in the workshop. The Rabbit Football in our workshop? I thought you had an exclusive contract with Crozzo?

Welfy has potential, but he's only ever been interested in his own speciality. Said his wife.

Ha! Actually, I'm going with a friend today. Bell said, cutting them off, although he had to admit that Ekkrit's words resonated with him. And Welf would probably not mind him completing the armour he was making for him with leather parts.

Ho! you are the nezu adventurer of Thor's familia, the Skorpionen, aren't you? Is it true that you fought the Ophiuchus solo?

Yes, he even left me some memories. Ekkrit said prosaically and folded back his cloak, revealing his leather gear, which seemed to have some wear. Letting their professionalism do the talking, the two craftsmen turned around and examined him from every angle.

What do you think, my little wolf?

Too damaged. The acid from the Ophiuchus has deaply corroded at the leather and weakened the whole thing. Honestly, I think it's better to craft a whole new equipment.

Yes, that was my idea too. At these words, the nezu placed a generous pouch of valis on the counter. Our last expedition was profitable, so we might as well make the most of it.

Didn't the acid snake leave you its scales after it died?

Unfortunately not.

Too bad, we could have made you some great stuff with that. But I have other materials in stock.

Bell followed the conversation from the sidelines, this little couple seemed to enjoy their work and didn't seem to mind working for a nezu. For them, business was business and a customer who paid well was always welcome, especially when he recognised the value of their work. They then wanted to take his measurements and the nezu agreed to go shirtless. Bell was curious, he wondered why people said so many negative things about the his species. The fur covering Ekkrit's body did not seem dirty, but rather soft. And underneath it, Bell could see the lean, thin, but powerful muscles of an experienced warrior. As he was getting dressed, his companion addressed him.

Did you find anything interesting Bell?

The question snapped the young man out of his reverie and he did not answer immediately, giving the female rabbit the opportunity to speak to him.

You wear Welfy's armour, don't you? Is it always the same kind of model? With the same weird names?

Bell let out an amused laugh. Welf was an excellent craftsman, but his ideas for names were really too peculiar.

I can suggest things that will complement his work perfectly.

When they came out an hour later, Bell had some new things in his arm and Ekkrit had placed his order. The two parted, each going back to their own business.

In the evening, the little familia received its guests. Hestia and all her familia had gladly accepted the invitation. Takemikazushi had come too, with Ouka and Chigusa, as well as Miach and Naaza, who owed Thor a debt of gratitude for getting rid of Dian Cecht. Hephaestus had also come, along with Tsubaki, who was curious to see if there were any customers to make weapons for. And Loki had come too, accompanied by Aiz, Lefiya, who was always following the blonde, but also Finn, who wanted to learn more about their expedition, followed by his two usual accomplices, Riveria and Gareth, and the two Hiryute sisters closed the march.

Thor opened the festivities with a toast, to the success of their first expedition and to Mei and Ekkrit's level rise, making one their first level 6 and the other their second first class adventurer. And as it was a party at Thor's, it was not a stuffy banquet, it was a party with alcohol and good food.

Bell was surprised to see three women in green waitress uniforms. He quickly recognized Ryuu, Chloe and Lunoire, three of Mama Mia's employees, who seemed to be serving. Curious, he approached Ryuu and greeted her, she offered him a small discreet smile, there was a certain complicity that had been established between them since their misadventure on the 37th floor. Like what, sleeping almost naked against someone, it brought closer.

I'm surprised to see you too, why are you doing the service?

The Thor familia hired us for the evening, there are two cooks from the tavern working in the kitchen.

I didn't know you did that kind of thing.

It's extremely rare, but it can happen for well-paying customers. And Thor has been generous.

Syr is not with you? the young man asked curiously. He would have thought that a young woman as curious as Syr would have done anything to be at the party.

No, she didn't want to come, she's at the tavern tonight.

Of course, Syr would NEVER come to Thor's house. Because she suspected he would guess. Thor should NEVER, EVER see Syr, otherwise she was sure he would understand immediately.

As for the elf, she excused herself and went back to work. It was then that Bell felt a large, powerful hand rest on his shoulder. With a cold sweat, he turned his head slightly and saw Thor's smiling face, a pint in his hand. Something told him he wouldn't be able to escape him tonight either.

While the food and alcohol helped everyone get in the mood, Mei had taken a little time out to get some fresh air before being joined by Aiz. The blonde seemed to have avoided alcohol for the moment, aware that the last time had forced her to say compromising things.

Level 6? Loki's swordsman asked soberly.

Yes, thanks to the Udaeus.

Did you really face him alone?

Yes, sorry I stole your little personal achievement.

I don't care, I'm not interested in glory. If that had been the case, then she would have blamed Bell for destroying her record of progress. But Aiz only wanted power, nothing else mattered to her, even if she had been mellowing for some time. Don't listen to those who say you're copying me, Udaeus is powerful for a level 5, your victory, you earned it.

Thank you, Mei replied with a smile. Mei replied with a smile, not expecting to hear Aiz trying to console her. She must have been more attuned to the rumors than she thought. Well, it's a celebration, anyway, according to Thor. So, would you like to join me in a toast? Look what I found. The shivati then took out a bottle of baijuu.

I... I'm not sure that...

What's the matter? Afraid to tell me anything juicy again? Or that a cute little rabbit will hear them? the oriental teased. Aiz blushed and turned her head the other way, determined not to offer Mei any new weapons to tease her with.

N-no! I... I don't know what you're talking about!

You refuse to drink with me? And I thought you were my friend. Mei then brought out her best fake tears, a technique that Aiz could do nothing about and, believing she had offended her, finally agreed to share a drink... then a second, then a third. She had just been tricked.

The party continued in full swing into the evening, even if some tried to show some moderation, whether it was Ekkrit, out of habit, or Finn, who did not want to repeat the mistakes of the last party. The two of them even talked a little bit with each other. They had vaguely similar goals in life and the prum respected the nezu for his abilities. Unfortunately, their conversation quickly turned sour when a certain amazoness came towards them.

Captain. Tione said in a lilting, cheerful voice that made prum break out in a cold sweat.

Y-yes Tione?

Captain, your glass is empty, so let me get you a refill. She said with a smile that was particularly creepy, leaving little doubt as to her intentions.

There's no need to bother you about this, Tione, really... he tried in vain.

But no... I'm happy te serve you...

He didn't know why, but Ekkrit had unconsciously taken a step back. As for Tione, she knew very well what she wanted and what Finn was capable of doing, especially to her, when he had enough alcohol in his blood. This time, she would manage to get crunched again, and if she could get pregnant to have a symbol of their love, that would be perfect. As soon as her back was turned, the prum retreated.

Captaiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnn! she said, running after him.

Good luck friend. Said Ekkrit simply.

And while a certain prum was running away from an overbearing amazoness, a certain blonde swordswoman was regretting that she couldn't refuse her new friend anything, especially when it came to alcohol. Not feeling like saying no to her, Aiz had ended up having a few glasses of baijuu with Mei and could already feel the blushes rising in her cheeks. The two young women sat down on a vacant couch in the great hall, continuing their cheerful conversation.

Now that the shivati was a level 6 herself, Aiz was once again eager to confront her, but the oriental beauty had pointed out that if they did that tonight, two elves would be very likely to sulk. And indeed, the blonde could already feel the inquisitive look Riveria would give her in that case, just like Ygannea with Mei.

However, their conversation was somewhat interrupted when a certain white-haired young man walked past them, staggering, his cheeks flushed, which left no doubt that he too had alcohol in his blood.

Ho Bell... Master Thor has forced you to drink again. Come and sit down for a while. As she spoke, Mei stepped aside and patted the couch to encourage the young man to join them.

Yes... thank you... he replied in a slightly troubled voice, before sitting down between them, not even embarrassed to be next to his idol. Only, Mei still remembered the last conversation she had had with Aiz when the latter was under the influence of alcohol and fomented a demonic plan.

Oh Bell! You look so tired, my poor boy, why don't you lie down and rest for a while? Here, let me give you a lap pillow...

As she spoke, she grabbed the young adventurer by the shoulders and began to tilt him towards her, while Aiz looked on. For the latter, time suddenly seemed to slow down, as she slowly watched Bell's body descend, her head inevitably moving towards Mei's thighs, ready for her to settle down comfortably.

No! the blonde simply said, before grabbing Bell and flipping him over to sit on her thighs. Far from being offended, Mei actually had a big sadistic grin on her face and the triumphant look of one whose demonic plan had just gone off without a hitch. Seeing her face, Aiz knew immediately that she had just been tricked and responded to Mei's smile with a childish, but adorable pout. As for Bell, his mind was too foggy to really understand what was going on.

Don't make that face, you'll thank me later. Mei replied to her friend. Unfortunately, things were likely to go badly, as a certain elf was approaching the three of them with a vigorous step. And since I'm nice, I'll even help you not to be disturbed.

Mei stood up and walked towards Lefiya who was angrily trying to get the filthy little human off HER Aiz's lap. Unfortunately for her, she was intercepted by Mei who blocked her path and gave her her most enchanting smile.

Hi there. You're Lefiya, the Thousand Elf, aren't you?

She didn't answer her, somewhat shocked by the human who had stopped her like that. No doubt aided by the alcohol she herself had swallowed, the young elf froze at Mei's presence and smile.

You know... the more I look at you, the cuter I think you are. As she spoke, Mei let two fingers brush against the elf's cheek and play with a lock of her hair. Although Lefiya was not as uptight as the other elves, this gesture made her slightly startled.

How would you like to get to know each other better... just the two of us... Mei concluded, whispering her last words in her ear before blowing lightly on it. Lefiya jumped up and ran off in the opposite direction, as Mei looked on in amusement.

Obviously, the shivati had not expected to attract the elf to her bed tonight, even if she would not have said no if she had been pleasantly surprised. For her part, Lefiya suddenly needed some fresh air. Mei had just disturbed her very badly. She had felt for a while that her attachment to Aiz was really strong and naturally she had ended up questioning her orientation and her attractions. A pretty young woman like her had obviously been hit on occasionally, but often by gruff adventurers with the subtlety of a barbarian. But this was the first time a woman had tried to seduce her so openly, and Mei had qualities she found in Aiz. For a moment, her beer-fogged mind pictured Aiz doing the same act to her as Mei had done, and she turned into a ripe, beautiful tomato.

As for Aiz, Mei couldn't keep her quiet because, of course, a certain goddess with pigtails stormed in and shouted "Wallenwhatthis" at the blonde to get her to release her Bell. Mei thought it would be nice if one day someone would talk to her about her hyper-possessiveness and the fact that it spoke volumes about her lack of confidence.

But on the whole, the party ended without a hitch. Everyone drank heartily, enjoyed the food prepared and served by the Hostess of Fertility's staff, joked, told stories or listened to the thousand boasts of a completely wasted Thor.

Finally, in the middle of the night, everyone went home, the last to leave being Mia's employees, to whom Thor offered a small bonus for their work. And after all that, everyone went back to their beds, alone, or accompanied for the lucky ones.

Things were quiet the next day, as everyone had to sleep it off, and it was the day after that that business started again for Thor's little familia.

In his office, the god of thunder was sitting in front of several letters and papers. Adriel was also sitting on a couch in front of a coffee table on which several documents were scattered. Mei, Ekkirt, Ygganea and Purhaan were also present in the room, silent.

Well. Adriel, are we financially ready?

Yes, Sire, even with all our expenses, we still have enough to launch our first project. However, the consequences for our image are uncertain, as is the reaction of the Guild or the other gods.

As far as these idiots are concerned, I don't care. Of the only ones who really have power and influence, Loki will follow me and Ganesha has already assured us of his support. Only Freya's reaction is uncertain, but we'll deal with that in due course. As for the Guild, well, once they have the facts under their eyes, they will have to deal with it, especially since they have a debt to pay in this matter.

In that case, we'll follow you, Master Thor. Mei said simply. Her god and father at heart nodded in response and then sealed a first letter.

Purhaan, take this letter and bring it to you-know-who.

The rabbit stepped forward and took the letter.

Go for it my little North Star, I'm counting on you.

The hume-bunny bowed and left to accomplish her mission. Thor then sealed another letter.

Ekkrit. The nezu moved nimbly to stand beside his god, who handed him a letter. For Ganesha and in person only. Wait for his reply and bring it to me.

The nezu said nothing and disappeared, leaving to accomplish his mission.

Yga. When the day comes, you had better go and ask Bell Cranel to accompany you to do what you have to do. His presence should make things go smoothly.

I think so. replied the elf.

Well, everyone knows what's going to happen. After this, even more people will be watching, so be ready for that.

And with these last words, the deusdea concluded their little meeting.