Time flowed on. The child became a boy, and at last, he was ready to become an adventurer.
"Is it finally tomorrow?"
"Yeah...! Dad! We're finally going to Orario!"
"....Bell? Just in case... what did I tell you to call me once we get there instead of 'Dad'?"
"Big brother!"
"R-Right...? You'll call me your brother, right?"
As Akumo fretted over Bell's form of address, worrying about a potential slip-up, Alfia approached from behind and struck him over the head.
THWACK—!
"Ouch!"
"What nonsense are you feeding the child?"
"Alfia... wait! There could be misunderstandings because of the title, you know?!"
"Ho? And what sort of 'misunderstanding' are you so terrified of? I'd love to hear you explain it clearly."
'Ah...'
After being thoroughly grilled, Akumo stared blankly into space, agonizing over his next move.
"There are very few people who even know you're alive to begin with..."
"Just buy a suitable building. That will be enough."
"Are you sure?"
"Somewhere without unnecessary noise would be preferable."
"Haha..."
With a desperate hope that no major incidents would occur, Akumo began packing his bags alongside Bell and Alfia.
"I'm telling you now, Bell. You are to choose your own Familia."
"Yeah! Just like you said, Dad, I'll try to do as much as I can on my own."
"Good, good. That's my boy."
Pat-pat—
"And I'll say it again, don't call me Da—"
WHACK—
"Say that again."
"My apologies..."
And so, a Pioneer, a personification of silence, and their child began their journey toward Orario.
**
"So..."
"We are a married couple."
"Hmm...?"
The guard looked at the robed woman standing before him. Was it the beauty radiating from beneath her hood despite her efforts to hide it? Or was it the sheer, terrifying aura she projected?
Shiver—
"Haha, we've just come from farming in the countryside. Our boy here has always admired Orario..."
'The air just turned freezing for a second...'
"I see."
Akumo deliberately wore a robe and altered his voice to deceive the guard. Sensing no major red flags, the guard stamped their documents without much suspicion.
"Whew..."
"You two seem to have a very affectionate relationship. You look young, yet you already have a boy that size."
'If I argue here, Alfia will actually kill me, won't she?'
"Ahaha... you could say that."
Only after Akumo forced a laugh and gave that reply did the stinging glare from Alfia behind him dissipate.
"I'm an adult now too!"
Bell wasn't pleased with being treated like a small child, but Akumo led him through the gates and officially entered Orario.
"Whoa...!!"
Passing through the main gate, they were greeted by the sight of the colossal Babel and a massive gathering of people. It was a scale incomparable to the countryside. Humans, Elves, Beastmen, Dwarves—a parade of races Bell had never seen. His eyes widened, shining with the intent to memorize every detail.
Akumo smiled warmly at the sight. Alfia also stroked Bell's hair, speaking in a quiet tone.
"This is Orario."
"Orario...!"
"The place where heroes are born, and where they endure their trials."
'Please grow up healthy, Bell.'
Shortly after, Akumo told Alfia he would take Bell to the Guild, while she should head toward Ouranos to handle their temporary identification.
"....Fine, I suppose it doesn't matter."
"Hm? Is something wrong?"
"It's nothing."
'It's been a while since I've seen that bone woman.'
For some reason, Alfia let out a small, faint laugh and began walking slowly toward the place where Ouranos resided.
**
"Excuse me..."
"Don't butt in."
"Wait a moment."
'Ah... how did it come to this?'
There was once a tragic genius. One who constantly honed their talent, eventually achieving results that no mortal could believe a lower-world dweller capable of. Yet, those results were lightly shattered by the whim of a God.
They had used immortality magic on themselves to gain an undying body, but as a price, their flesh and blood had withered away. Left with a form so hideous that not even skin remained to receive a Status update, they had named themselves Fels—the Fool.
"Is that any way for a ghost barely clinging to life by a Hero's grace to speak?"
"I could say the same to you, seeing as you also only exist by a Hero's grace."
Alfia glared at Fels, mocking them with a smirk. Fels retorted with a sharp, biting tone of their own.
"Sigh..."
Was it a miracle granted to one broken by divine whim? In their long life of serving under Ouranos, the Fool had finally met a Hero.
—'Your name is... Fels? Why would you choose such a...'
—'...I don't think you're a fool.'
—'No matter what happened... you carved out your own path, didn't you?'
That encounter had allowed Fels to affirm their own existence and finally escape a small portion of the curse of immortality.
—'[O Moon, enfold us. O moonlight without malice or intent, take pity upon the life of the living. O balance held between sun and earth, O shining moonlight, sing the melody that blesses even the first night.]'
The Hero's brilliant moonlight had opened the Sage's heart, and the Hero had become their friend. All without knowing the massive ripple he had caused within the Sage's soul.
"Hmph..."
"Still a woman who refuses to listen to reason!"
Clicking their tongue at Alfia, Fels shot a sharp glare at Akumo. Akumo hurriedly intervened between the two, trying to get straight to the point.
"I have my reasons for returning, so please understand..."
"Is that Zeus's child?"
"Yes. So, I'm asking for an alias for Alfia."
At those words, Fels guided Akumo and Alfia toward Ouranos. At the end of a long corridor lay a massive hollow.
"You have come, Pioneer."
"Yes, Lord Ouranos."
Ouranos looked at Alfia and Fels standing beside Akumo and let out a faint chuckle, as he often did.
"It seems you are all doing well."
"Yes..."
'Are we... doing well?'
Akumo felt a internal twinge of doubt, but focused on Ouranos's words to finish the business at hand.
"Your request was to ensure there are no issues regarding Alfia's identity or records."
"If a price is required, I will meet it as best I can."
"There is no need. The Guild... no, Orario itself is already a recipient of your achievements and grace."
"But still..."
"Of course, while the nightmare was something everyone overcame together, no one can deny that you were the one who ignited the spark of victory."
Ouranos looked at Akumo with a rare smile. He then instructed Fels to create a new identity for Alfia.
"Do you have a name decided?"
"Lupia Cranel."
"I wonder if you're even trying to hide it..."
"I have a perception-distorting necklace, so I won't be caught easily."
"Well, with the Pioneer by your side, I suppose it'll be fine."
Fels's shadow seemed to ripple with a hint of annoyance, but Alfia merely laughed it off as they were seen out.
"I'll come by again, Fels."
"I'm not exactly waiting for you."
"Hmph, though who knows when that will be."
"Alfia..."
**
A few days later, Bell Cranel joined the Familia of a certain Goddess.
"Which one did you say it was?"
"I believe I heard it was the Hestia Familia."
"In that case, should I buy a building nearby?"
"Stop that. It'll just draw unnecessary attention."
"Yes... My Lady."
'Is it just because she hates noise...?'
"If it's too close..."
"Alfia...?"
"....."
Met with Alfia's silence, Akumo felt like a man standing before a lioness. He had no choice but to be dragged along in her wake.
"It's already been about fifteen days since he became an adventurer. I hope nothing happened in that time."
"You were in the Loki Familia, so I suppose it's natural for you to be out of the loop."
"Sorry..."
They walked for a while, enduring the constant nagging, until the location Bell had told them about came into view.
"This is..."
"A church. A fairly dilapidated one."
"It might have its own sort of charm?"
Just as they were about to enter the crumbling church, a voice began to drift out from within.
"Bell-kun!!"