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They walked back to the old church as the sun began to set.
Welf stopped at the wooden door before they went inside.
He looked at Bell.
"I made a choice today,"
Welf said.
Bell turned around.
"What is it, Welf?"
"I want to join your family,"
Welf said.
"I want to join the Hestia Familia."
Bell smiled wide.
"Really? Are you sure?"
Welf nodded.
"I am sure. Other families only want me for my magic swords. They only care about the weapons I can make. But you all treat me like a person."
Welf looked at Elias and let out a small laugh.
"And to be honest, with Elias here, you don't even need magic weapons. His power is way past anything I can forge."
"Your armor kept them safe,"
Elias said.
"We still need you."
"Thanks,"
Welf replied.
"I will go to the Hephaestus Familia tomorrow. I need to talk to my Goddess about leaving. I want to do this the right way."
Later that night, the church was quiet.
Bell, Welf, and Lili were fast asleep inside.
Elias sat on the roof, looking up at the stars.
Dee climbed up the ladder and sat down right next to him.
She leaned her head against his shoulder.
"The dungeon was terrified today,"
Elias said quietly.
"It was,"
Dee agreed.
"The dungeon hates divinity. It creates all those monsters just to fight the Gods and their holy power."
"But I don't have divinity,"
Elias said.
Dee smiled and reached for his hand.
"Death is another matter completely. I am not just a goddess of death, Elias. I am death itself. My existence is beyond divinity."
Elias looked at her, then down at his own hands.
"And me?"
"You are my boyfriend, silly"
Dee said softly.
"Our existence are tied together. Because of your Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, your existence is connected directly to mine. You are the being closest to me."
Elias thought about the dark lines he saw on the Goliath.
He thought about how easily reality fell apart under his blade.
"To something as old as the dungeon, we represent the absolute end,"
Dee explained.
"It is totally normal for a small creature like the dungeon to be so afraid of us."
Elias let out a brief sigh.
"A giant maze filled with endless monsters is a small creature to you?"
"Compared to death?"
Dee asked, squeezing his hand.
"Yes. Everything is."
"Enjoy the quiet,"
Dee said.
She looked down at the empty streets.
"It will not last."
Elias turned his head.
"What is coming?"
"The next part of the story,"
Dee answered.
"A God named Apollo has noticed Bell. He is the God of the Sun."
"What does he want?"
Elias asked.
"He wants Bell,"
Dee said.
"He is greedy. When he sees something he likes, he takes it. He will try to ruin Hestia just to get him."
Elias frowned.
"We will stop him."
Dee nodded.
"He will not fight directly. He will force a War Game. It is a big battle between families. His army against ours."
"What are the rules?"
Elias asked.
"If we lose, Bell belongs to Apollo,"
Dee explained.
"And if we win?"
"We take everything Apollo owns,"
Dee smiled.
"It is a big risk for them. But Apollo is proud. He does not think he can lose to a small family like ours."
Elias looked back up at the stars.
"A God of the Sun,"
He whispered.
"Can a God die?"
Dee leaned closer to him.
"Normally, no. If they take a fatal hit, they are just sent back to heaven."
She touched the side of his face.
"But with your eyes, Elias... yes. You can bring an end to a God."
Elias closed his eyes.
"I don't want to kill a God. I just want Bell to be safe."
"I know,"
Dee said softly.
"Let's hope Apollo decides to play fair, then. If he pushes too hard, he will find out what happens when the sun meets the absolute end."
The next morning, Hephaestus sat in her large office.
Tsubaki stood next to her desk.
They were talking about weapon supplies.
Someone knocked on the heavy door.
"Come in,"
Hephaestus said.
Welf walked inside.
He looked nervous, but he stood very tall.
"Goddess,"
Welf said.
"Captain Tsubaki. I have something important to say."
"Speak,"
Hephaestus told him.
"I want to leave,"
Welf said.
"I want to join the Hestia Familia."
Tsubaki crossed her arms. She frowned.
"You cannot leave, Welf,"
Tsubaki said.
"You have too much talent. If it was about magic swords then"
"I will never make them,"
Welf replied firmly.
"The Hestia Familia does not want me for my blood. They want me as a blacksmith and a friend."
Tsubaki opened her mouth to argue.
But Hephaestus held up a hand.
"Let him go, Tsubaki,"
Hephaestus said gently.
"But Goddess—"
"He has made his choice,"
Hephaestus smiled at Welf.
"You look happy, Welf. You finally found a place where you belong. I understand. I will approve your transfer."
Welf bowed low.
"Thank you, Goddess. I will never forget your kindness."
Hephaestus leaned forward.
Her single red eye looked very serious.
"Before you go, Welf, I need to ask you something."
"Anything,"
Welf said.
"Did something happen in the dungeon yesterday?"
Hephaestus asked.
"The Gods felt a strange tremor. Some adventurers swore they heard the dungeon scream in pure fear."
Tsubaki nodded.
"It felt like the world was ending for a second. It was unnatural."
Hephaestus watched Welf's face closely.
"You were with Bell Cranel's group,"
Hephaestus said.
"You were with Elias and Dee. Did they do something to cause that abnormality?"
Welf swallowed hard.
He remembered the massive Goliath turning into grey sand.
"Yes,"
Welf admitted quietly.
"The floor boss spawned early. It was a giant trap. But Elias... he killed it in a single strike."
Tsubaki's eyes widened in shock.
"One strike? That is impossible."
"It is true,"
Welf said.
"He didn't use a magic sword. He just swung his weapon, and the monster ceased to exist. The dungeon screamed right after."
Hephaestus leaned back in her chair.
She let out a long breath.
"I see,"
Hephaestus said.
"Thank you for telling me, Welf. Those two hold a power we don't understand."
"They are good people,"
Welf said quickly.
"They protect their family."
"I believe you,"
Hephaestus said softly.
"Now go. Hestia is waiting for you."