Two days had passed since then.
On this particular morning, Lynn was jolted awake by the clamor outside his window.
He lay on the guest bed in Eina's house, staring blankly at a few thin cracks in the ceiling for a while before slowly pushing himself up.
When he stepped out of the room, breakfast was already laid out on the living room table—toast, fried eggs, and a glass of warm milk.
Eina was sitting on the sofa organizing documents. Hearing him, she looked up and offered a gentle smile.
"Morning, Lynn. How did you sleep last night?"
"Not bad." Lynn sat down at the table and took a bite of the bread.
He finished his breakfast in a few quick bites and wiped his mouth. "I'm heading to the Guild first to process what I gathered last night. I'll also see if I can dig up any interesting news."
"Wait," Eina called out to him. "Lynn, regarding your recent performance in the Dungeon… I heard some things this morning."
"What kind of news?"
"Rumors coming from the Loki Familia," Eina said, her expression a bit complicated. "It seems quite a few adventurers saw you partying up with Ais Wallenstein and Lefiya. Now, word is spreading about a mysterious rookie soloist with terrifying combat skills—someone who can precisely predict monster attacks at Level 1 and use strange footwork to dodge ambushes that even Ais couldn't avoid..."
Lynn blinked. "And?"
"And now, many Familias are interested in you," Eina sighed. "Especially the mid-sized ones; they love recruiting talented newcomers. I expect that when you go to the Guild today, you might run into people proactively approaching you."
"That's fine." Lynn stood up and slung the Bloodhound's Fang onto his back. "I'm short on cash anyway. If someone wants to pay me to be their muscle, I don't mind earning some extra change on the side."
"You..." Eina shook her head helplessly. "Fine, just be careful. Some Familias don't exactly use the cleanest methods."
"Don't worry. I'm used to it."
Lynn waved a hand and pushed the door open, stepping out.
A few days prior, in the Northern District of Orario, at the Apollo Familia residence.
This mansion was less a base for an adventurer Familia and more a palace for some high-ranking noble. The white marble exterior sparkled under the sunlight, the courtyard was filled with meticulously manicured roses and lilies, and several nude male statues stood by the fountain. They were in various poses, but every single one possessed perfect muscular lines and handsome features.
In the third-floor study, a red-haired man leaned back against a soft velvet sofa, toyed with a fist-sized ruby in his hand.
He looked to be in his early twenties and did not resemble a mortal—in fact, he wasn't one.
This was Apollo, the Sun God.
At the moment, he was lazily listening to a report from a Familia executive who was kneeling on one knee before him.
"So," Apollo turned the ruby with his fingertips, his voice carrying a hint of indolence, "just a rookie with a bit of talent?"
"Yes, Lord Apollo." The man on the floor kept his head bowed, not daring to look directly at Apollo's face. "According to what we've gathered at the Guild, his name is Lynn. His registered level is Level 1, but his actual combat power..."
"Level 1?" Apollo interrupted him, a disdainful smirk playing on his lips. "Is that even worth reporting? That Sword Princess from the Loki Familia was also freakishly strong at Level 1. Orario never lacks geniuses."
"But this man is different," the executive quickly added. "The combat techniques he uses are unlike anything seen in the Guild. It's not a skill; it's pure... technique."
"Technique?" Apollo arched an eyebrow.
"Yes. According to witnesses, he can perform perfect dodges the very instant a monster attacks. His movements are minimal but incredibly effective. He can also precisely judge a monster's attack range, always counterattacking from the very edge of their reach."
The executive swallowed hard. "Moreover, he uses a strange footwork that makes his body seem almost like a blur..."
"Enough, enough."
Apollo waved his hand, clearly disinterested in the minutiae of combat. "So he's just an adventurer with decent technique. Out of tens of thousands in Orario, it's not strange for an oddball to pop up."
He tossed the ruby onto the coffee table and stood up, walking to the window to overlook the courtyard. "Was this trifle really worth a special report?"
Apollo kept his back to the executive, his voice tinged with slight displeasure. "I told you to keep an eye out for beautiful youths with potential who are worthy of being brought under my wing—not just any brute who knows how to swing a sword."
Sweat beaded on the executive's forehead. "But Lord Apollo, this Lynn... he..."
"He what?"
"He is very handsome."
Apollo turned around.
The light from the window spilled into the study, illuminating his face. His handsome features seemed to radiate a glow in the sunlight.
"What did you say?" There was now a spark of interest in Apollo's voice.
"I said, that rookie named Lynn is very good-looking," the executive repeated. "According to descriptions, he looks about sixteen or seventeen. He has fine features and sharp eyes. Though his build is on the leaner side, his..."
"His what?"
"His aura is very unique." The executive struggled to recall the descriptions he'd heard. "He isn't crude like ordinary adventurers, nor is he pretentious like a noble. He's just... very unique."
Apollo smiled.
He walked back to the sofa, sat down, and picked up a crystal wine glass, gently swirling the amber liquid inside.
"Now that's more like it." He took a sip of the wine. "Continue. What else do you know about this Lynn?"
"Yes." The executive felt relieved. "He claims to follow a god named Hidetaka Miyazaki, whom he calls the God of Smithing and Suffering. However, no one in the Guild has ever heard of that name."
"The God of Smithing and Suffering?" Apollo scoffed. "Sounds like some third-rate minor god. Probably from some remote backwater."
"Most likely. His accent isn't local either," the executive nodded. "Additionally, based on our observations, he doesn't seem to have joined any Familia. He's a soloist."
"A soloist?" Apollo's eyes lit up. "Interesting. If he has a god, how can he not have a Familia? To show that level of combat power at Level 1 and remain unattached... either his god forbids him from joining others, or he's so arrogant that he looks down on ordinary Familias."
He set his wine glass down, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest.
"I'll tell you what," Apollo said. "Send two people to observe him closely for three days. I want to know everything he does, who he interacts with, what equipment he uses, his personality... every single detail."
"Understood."
"The key point," Apollo added, "is to confirm if he truly lacks a Familia. If he does, then he... is a prey worth my personal intervention."
A determined, predatory smile spread across his face.
Present Day.
In the same study, two Familia members in civilian clothes stood before Apollo.
"On the first day," one reported, "we staked out the Guild entrance. Around eight in the morning, Lynn appeared. He spoke a few words with the Guild advisor, Eina Tulle, and then waited by the entrance."
"Waiting for whom?"
"The Sword Princess, Ais Wallenstein," the other took over. "She arrived around nine. After a brief conversation, the two of them entered the Dungeon together."
"Partying with the Sword Princess?" Apollo mused. "It seems the Loki Familia is interested in him as well. Go on."
"On the second day, we continued our stakeout at Babel," the first man said. "Lynn appeared around eight again, but this time he was alone. Strangely, after he entered the Dungeon mouth, we followed him in but couldn't find him. By all rights, with our tracking skills, we shouldn't have lost a Level 1 rookie..."
"He probably used some special trick," Apollo dismissed the concern. "Lower-tier adventurer gimmicks. What about the third day?"
"The third day was the most interesting," the second man said, his eyes gleaming. "We followed him to 'The Hostess of Fertility' on West Main Street. He had a meal there with a bald man who looks like a swindler—he sells junk at a street stall."
"Lynn associates with people like that?"
"Yes. And the waitress at the pub seems very fond of him. A grey-haired girl named Syr kept talking to him and even gave him discount coupons."
Apollo chuckled softly. "It seems he has quite a bit of charm. What about his equipment?"
"He carries a uniquely shaped curved sword with a red blade that emits a faint scent of blood," the first man noted. "He also has a silver knight's shield with very intricate craftsmanship and complex patterns. Additionally..."
"Additionally what?"
"He wears a ring on his left middle finger," the second man lowered his voice. "That ring is very special. It gives off a blue luster under the light, and its surface has patterns like stars. I've never seen that kind of material before."
Apollo narrowed his eyes. "A ring... how curious. Any other findings?"
"Yes." The first man pulled a folded piece of paper from his coat. It was covered in dense handwriting. "These are records of conversations we overheard outside the pub. The waitress asked Lynn which god he followed, and Lynn replied..."
He cleared his throat and read: "'Hidetaka Miyazaki. The God of Smithing and Suffering.'"
After hearing this, Apollo was silent for a few seconds before suddenly bursting into laughter.
"Hidetaka Miyazaki?" He laughed so hard tears almost came to his eyes. "What kind of ridiculous name is that? It sounds like some gibberish made up on the spot!"
His two subordinates joined in the laughter.
After laughing for a good while, Apollo wiped his eyes and sat up straight again.
"He seems quite devoted to his god."
"So," he summarized, "this Lynn is a soloist from a remote region, following some nonsensical god. His combat power exceeds his level, he is exceptionally handsome, and..."
He paused, a playful smile curving his lips.
"And he's close with the Loki Familia's Sword Princess, yet he isn't a member. A girl at a pub is making advances toward him, and he has a swindler for a friend. His weapons and armor are unique, and he even wears a mysterious ring."
Apollo stood up and walked over to a massive floor-to-ceiling mirror against the wall. The mirror reflected his perfect form.
He adjusted his collar in the reflection and touched his own cheek.
"A beautiful youth with such potential and looks," Apollo smiled at himself in the mirror, "isn't he practically prepared just for me?"
The two subordinates glanced at each other and asked cautiously, "Does Lord Apollo mean..."
"I mean," Apollo turned around, spreading his arms wide, "that I will go meet him personally and bring him under my wing. With my beauty, my divinity, and the strength of my Familia, what reason could he possibly have to refuse?"
He spoke as if it were a matter of course, as if the outcome were already set in stone.
"But Lord Apollo," the first man hesitated, "he doesn't seem very interested in joining a Familia. And that god of his, 'Hidetaka Miyazaki'..."
"What obstacle is some minor god I've never even heard of?" Apollo waved a hand dismissively. "As long as I show enough sincerity and give him enough attention, he will naturally understand which god is more worthy of his loyalty."
He paced the study, growing more excited as he spoke.
"Think about it. A rookie with combat techniques that transcend levels—if he joins my Familia and grows under my guidance, what heights will he reach?" Apollo's eyes shone. "He can bring me glory, fight my battles, and win me cheers. And I can give him protection, resources, and... a god like me to rely on."
"Then... when do you plan to meet him?"
"No rush." Apollo sat back down on the sofa and crossed his legs. "Let me plan this properly first. The first meeting is vital; it must leave a deep impression. The location, the timing, the words... everything must be meticulously designed."
He picked up his wine glass, holding it up to the light to admire the color of the liquid.
"An unattached, solitary powerhouse with massive potential and outstanding looks..." Apollo murmured to himself. "He is quite literally the perfect prey."
He tilted his head back and drained the wine in one gulp, his purple eyes flashing with a light of absolute certainty.
"Lynn, was it?" Apollo smiled at the empty glass. "Soon, you will be mine."
Outside, the sun was setting, dyeing the entire mansion in a golden-red glow. The fountain in the courtyard continued to gurgle, the water droplets sparkling in the twilight. The Apollo Familia residence was quiet and luxurious, like a secluded paradise.
And its master had already begun plotting an "encounter" that was destined to be anything but peaceful.
"Oh, right," Apollo suddenly remembered, speaking to the two subordinates still standing there. "Go and check where Lynn usually spends his time. The Guild? Pubs? Or somewhere else. I want to know every possible location he might appear."
"Yes, sir."
"Also," Apollo added, "look into that bald friend of his. A swindler... people like that are the easiest to bribe. If we can get to Lynn through him, that would be even better."
"Understood."
The two subordinates bowed and exited the study.
Apollo sat alone on the sofa, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest. In his mind, he was already imagining the scene of meeting Lynn.
What kind of expression would that beautiful youth from the remote regions have when he saw a god like himself personally recruiting him?
Shock? Adoration? Or would he be moved to tears of gratitude?
Apollo believed it would surely be the latter. After all, in this city of Orario, what adventurer could refuse the favor of the Sun God?
He stood up and walked to the mirror once more. The god in the mirror was peerlessly handsome, radiating brilliant light. Apollo practiced a gentle, charismatic smile in the reflection.
"That's it." He nodded in satisfaction. "With this smile, he will surely be conquered."
Outside, the sky grew dark, and magic stone lamps lit up one by one. The night in Orario was just beginning.
In another corner of the city, Lynn was completely oblivious to all this.
He had just finished handling his business at the Guild and was walking back to Eina's house, mentally calculating where to go tomorrow to collect more "Runes" and perhaps test out his newly learned magic.
Laughter and shouting spilled out from the pubs lining the streets. Adventurers were finishing their day of exploration and letting loose.
As Lynn passed a pub, someone pushed the door open, releasing a warm breeze mixed with the scent of alcohol and food. He instinctively stepped aside to make way and continued forward.
The starry sky above was clearer than it had been a few days ago.
Lynn looked up at the twinkling stars and touched the Dark Moon Ring on his left middle finger. The ring was cold, but under the starlight, the celestial patterns seemed to glow faintly.
"Ranni..." he murmured softly, a small smile appearing on his lips.
Then he shook his head, brushing the thought aside. Now wasn't the time for that. He had more important things to do.
Lynn quickened his pace, his figure soon vanishing around a street corner.
Far away, in the third-floor study of the Apollo Familia residence, the Sun God was still practicing his smile in the mirror. He believed it wouldn't be long before that beautiful boy named Lynn was kneeling before him, swearing his fealty.
It was only natural.
After all, he was Apollo. He was the sun, the light, and the incarnation of beauty.
Who could possibly refuse the favor of the Sun?
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