Danmachi: Luki's Adventure Chapter 3: 3- Options

It was a challenge to establish any kind of conversation when neither side knew what the other was trying to say. Still, with a lot of patience, awkward gestures, and even so scribbles on a piece of paper, Luki and Eina managed to reach a basic understanding.

First, Luki managed to communicate his na: Luki Bryan. He saw no reason to change it—after all, it was a connection to his past life and one of the few familiar things he still had. Even in such a strange world, the na still defined him.

Second, he managed to explain—or at least imply—that he was 18 years old. Although that was his apparent age, he began to question his true biological age after discovering he was an elf.

Unlike humans, elves normally had a much longer life expectancy and aged more slowly, making it hard to determine his exact age by human standards.

This discovery didn't co from soone telling him — it ca from a simple reflection. While glancing at the window glass, Luki caught sight of himself... and froze.

That wasn't his face.

The man staring back at him had sharp features, flawless skin, and pointed ears nearly identical to Eina's. Honestly, he looked a bit like Link from The Legend of Zelda—if Link had hit a proper growth spurt and gotten a major upgrade in the looks departnt.

Luki raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised.

'Huh… I'm hot now? Okay, not complaining.'

In the world of Orario, elves were one of many races coexisting with humans, dwarves, beastn, pallum, and Amazons, among others.

It was fascinating, although a bit strange, to realize he now belonged to one of those fantastical races. Luki's reaction, however, was surprisingly mild, but compared to being transported into an ani world, discovering his new race seed secondary.

Third, after more than an hour of effort and explanation, Eina finally managed to convey one essential piece of information: to beco an adventurer in Orario, it was mandatory to join a Familia and receive a Falna.

Luki, familiar with the concept thanks to the ani, quickly understood: Familias were like guilds in modern gas—but far more intricate. Gods and goddesses descended to the mortal world and could share their Falna, a divine blessing, with their followers.

Those who received this blessing beca part of their patron's Familia. Well-known examples included the Loki Familia, the Freya Familia, and the Hephaestus Familia.

The idea didn't bother him. He knew he'd eventually need to join one of those Familias. What caught him off guard was the requirent of having a Falna just to attempt exploring the Dungeon.

He had always thought anyone could just enter the first few floors, but it seed Orario had stricter rules than he had imagined.

What Luki didn't know, however, was that Eina had left sothing out. In practice, the Guild—and Orario as a whole—didn't prevent people without a Falna from entering the Dungeon. If inexperienced adventurers wanted to risk it without divine protection, no one would stop them.

After all, few survived past the fifth floor, and those who died didn't cause much of a stir. To the Guild, they were just fewer nas on the list.

Eina had lied to protect Luki. She could see in his eyes a gleam of determination and youthful stubbornness that would lead him to act on impulse. If he entered the Dungeon without a Falna, he would almost certainly et a tragic end. Convincing him to seek a Familia first at least gave him a better shot at survival.

Now, however, ca the most complicated part: choosing a god to join. Orario was ho to countless deities, each with their own personality, priorities, and leadership style. Luki knew this decision would be crucial.

It wasn't just about receiving a Falna. For Luki, it ant choosing a ho, a community, and a direction for his new life. The decision wasn't just strategic—it was personal.

As he pondered, he ntally outlined four possible paths: peaceful, easy, normal, and uncertain.

The Peaceful Path

The first path was to join a Familia like Hephaestus or Miach, gods who thrived in professions outside the Dungeon, such as crafting or alchemy. The idea was tempting. He would have a relatively peaceful life, far from the dangers of the Dungeon, with the stability of an economy based on a trade.

It would be a safe, predictable, maybe even comfortable life. However, there was a glaring downside: lack of power. These Familias didn't prioritize growth through Dungeon exploration, and without the Dungeon, becoming stronger in Orario was nearly impossible.

And in Orario, the only sin is being weak. No matter how safe it looked, this path didn't et the most important requirent.

The Easy Path

The second option was to aim high and try joining one of Orario's two most powerful Familias: Loki or Freya.

With the support of one of these goddesses, his future would be practically guaranteed. He'd have access to top-tier equipnt, powerful allies, and the best possible structure for adventuring. As long as he avoided reckless actions, he'd have a real chance to thrive.

The problem, however, was getting in.

The Loki Familia was known for focusing on exceptional talent and pre-existing bonds. Most mbers either had personal ties or such impressive skills that they were accepted imdiately. Luki, a complete unknown with no apparent talent, would hardly be considered.

As for the Freya Familia, that wasn't even an option. Not because of the goddess herself, but because of her followers. Her mbers were fanatically loyal—and dangerous. If Freya showed any interest in Luki, they would kill him before he even got close, just to protect their goddess's undivided attention.

'No, thanks,' Luki thought.

The Normal Path

The third path seed the most balanced: joining the Hestia Familia.

Luki knew Hestia from the ani. Her warm personality and genuine kindness were trustworthy. She was a goddess who cared for her own, and her Familia was made up of good people.

However, choosing Hestia ant giving up any head start. She had no resources, no influential mbers, and no power to make Luki's life easier. Everything he achieved would co through his own rit, with lots of effort and perseverance.

Still, there was sothing comforting in that idea. Knowing he could grow alongside trustworthy allies was a major attraction. 'If I'm going to fight for myself anyway, maybe it's better to be surrounded by people who truly care.'

The Uncertain Path

Lastly, there was the riskiest path: joining an unknown Familia, one that never appeared in the ani.

Orario was ho to hundreds of Familias, each with their own goals, cultures, and dynamics. So could be great choices, offering unique opportunities and strong support. Others, however, could hide dark secrets—ties to Evilus, slave trafficking, or abusive practices.

In this path, Luki would depend entirely on luck and Eina's recomndations. He'd have to trust her judgnt, but even so, there were no guarantees. Appearances could be deceiving, and a friendly smile might mask evil intentions.

This was the path of uncertainty, where every step would be taken in the dark.

'Which path should I choose? Am I willing to give up getting stronger for a peaceful life? Should I try to catch the attention of the strongest Familias? Maybe a loving Familia like Hestia's is better... Or should I take a shot in the dark, which could lead to greatness—or ruin?'

Luki remained silent, his eyes fixed on the table in front of him. Each possibility carried its own weight, and he knew he couldn't make this decision lightly.

As he reflected, Eina watched patiently, understanding the importance of the mont. Despite the language barrier, she could see the seriousness on Luki's face. It was a decision he had to make on his own.

After a few minutes of contemplation, Luki finally opened his eyes. There was a new determination in his gaze. He leaned slightly forward, scanning the papers spread across the table.

During their conversation, Eina had suggested they move to a table in the corner of the guild hall. There, away from the main commotion, they could talk without bothering others or being interrupted. The table was covered in sheets describing the various Familias in Orario, with images of the gods and detailed information Luki, unfortunately, couldn't understand.

With quick, precise movents, he began looking for sothing specific.

— Have you decided? — Eina asked, even though she knew he probably wouldn't understand her words.

Luki kept flipping through the papers until he finally found what he was looking for. He held the sheet firmly and showed it to Eina, pointing confidently at the image of a goddess.

Eina's eyes widened slightly as she recognized the na and face.

— Huh? Her? — she asked, surprised. — Are you sure about this? We can talk about other options… How about Thor Familia?

She lifted other sheets and presented them to Luki, pointing at each one, trying to convey that they were safer or more promising choices.

Luki, however, shook his head firmly, rejecting the suggestions. He insisted this was his choice.

Eina sighed in resignation.

— Alright… you win.

She began gathering the other papers, organizing them thodically before putting them away. She kept only the sheet with the na of the goddess Luki had chosen.

When she finished, Eina turned to a fellow receptionist who seed to be on break.

— Kim! I'm stepping out for a bit. Can you cover my station? I'll owe you one!

— Okay! But don't take too long! — Kim replied, quickly taking over Eina's post.

— Thanks!

Eina stood up and, with a gentle smile, extended her hand to Luki.

— Then, shall we go et your goddess? — she said, even though she knew he wouldn't understand the words.

Luki didn't know exactly what Eina was saying, but he trusted her. There was sothing in the tone of her voice and the friendly glimr in her eyes that made him feel safe. Without hesitation, he took Eina's hand, feeling both the softness and the firmness of her gesture.