"Does Lili want to join ?"
Hestia's voice was soft and gentle, filled with warmth as she looked at Lili, who had been staring at the ground with a downcast expression.
The others in the room turned their eyes toward the pallum girl, their curiosity piqued.
Feeling all eyes fall upon her, Lili nodded slowly. "Yes… Hestia-sama, Leon-sama… Belle has always treated Lili with kindness. And Lili… Lili really cherishes that."
Her voice was small, yet sincere.
"But Lili's situation… it's very complicated." She hesitated, gripping the hem of her skirt tightly.
She had long dreamt of joining the Hestia Familia—of growing up under the watchful care of Leon and the warm affection of Hestia, side by side with Belle.
She had imagined a future where her days were filled with camaraderie and peace, not the shadows and pressure she had known under Soma. But every ti she awoke, that dream would vanish like mist at dawn.
As for Leon's Familia—Lucifer Familia—she had considered it too. But even that was a fantasy. Everyone knew that Leon's Familia didn't expand. Adventurers from across the city had flocked to him in admiration, but none had succeeded in joining.
It was closed. Inaccessible.
"That's an easy fix." Hestia said, puffing her chest proudly. "I'll bring Leon with , and we'll go directly to the Soma Familia."
"I'm sure Soma won't mind letting you go."
"R-Really?!" Lili's eyes widened in disbelief, and a hopeful light lit up her face.
"Mhm. It's still early." Leon added, patting her head with a kind smile. "Let's go."
"T-Thank you! Thank you so much, Leon-sama! Hestia-sama!!" Lili said, bowing deeply, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
Without wasting ti, the group left the library and headed toward the base of the Soma Familia.
And just as Hestia had predicted, there was no trouble.
With Leon's strength, reputation, and fearso presence in Orario, none in the Soma Familia dared make things difficult. The na Leon alone was enough to silence any resistance.
When word reached them that both Leon and Hestia had co in person to speak with their god Soma, even the usually aloof and stern captain, Chandra, welcod them politely. He led them directly to Soma's office without delay.
"…Hestia?"
Inside the office, Soma was in the middle of brewing wine, his expression a mix of surprise and weariness when he looked up and saw her.
"It's a bit late for a visit, don't you think?" He asked, his voice cool, face shaded under his bangs.
"Big brother Soma, I ca to talk about sothing important." Hestia bead and clasped her hands together.
"Don't call 'Big brother'! You're not younger than !" Soma muttered flatly.
"Ehh, don't sweat the small stuff."
Soma sighed. "Fine. What is it?"
"I'm here to ask for soone." Hestia declared confidently, placing a hand on Lili's back and gently guiding her forward. "Please transfer Lili's falna to my Familia."
Soma's eyes fell on Lili. For a mont, he didn't recognize her.
"…You're one of mine?"
"You haven't renewed my falna in a very long ti…" Lili said softly, her head lowered.
"…A supporter, huh." Soma was quiet, thoughtful.
He didn't need to hear more. He knew what that ant—how often supporters in his Familia were neglected, invisible, discarded.
"…I understand." He said after a long pause. "Hestia, let's begin."
There was no resistance. No demands. No complications.
The conversion process was quick. With Soma and Hestia both present, Lili's falna was transferred without issue.
And when they stepped back out onto the streets, heading toward the library once more, Lili's footsteps were lighter than ever before. She almost skipped, joyfully hopping across the cobblestones.
"I should've done this much sooner." Leon murmured, watching the girl's delight.
"It needed to co from her." Hestia replied with a gentle smile. "It had to be her choice."
"You're right." Leon nodded. "Anyway, the past is done. It's just a dream now. From here on out… she's one of us."
Lili twirled around happily ahead of them. "From now on, I'm part of the Familia!"
Then Leon turned toward Hestia. "Hey, Hestia. I have sothing I want to discuss."
"Hm? What is it?"
"I have a way to help Belle and the others grow stronger. But… it's a little unorthodox."
"Really? Then just go for it!"
"…Don't you want to hear the details first?"
"Ah, right, yeah. Go ahead, tell !"
Leon: "…"
—anwhile—
Far across Orario, in a hidden underground cave, Dionysus stood in silence, gazing at a massive mural etched into the wall. The dim glow of magic stone lamps cast eerie shadows across the image of a colossal dragon.
He looked… tired.
For so long, Dionysus had operated from the shadows with Filvis at his side. She had been his sword and shield—handling the dirty work, keeping the wheels of his sches turning.
But now Filvis was gone. And without her, various factions had begun to whisper.
His position… was no longer secure.
"You've really made things difficult, Leon…" Dionysus muttered, eyes filled with venom.
"With Filvis gone, so many plans have unraveled. I didn't want to move yet but now…"
His voice trailed off. He turned his back on the mural and pulled a dark cloak over his shoulders.
"…Looks like I'll have to risk going deeper into the Dungeon."
With that, Dionysus disappeared into the shadows, the mural of the dragon behind him flickering with ominous light.
—The Next Morning—
The sun had barely risen when Hestia set out.
Today, the temporary assembly of the Gods was to be held in the grand hall on the 30th floor of the Tower of Babel. As one of the involved deities, she had to be there in person.
Leon remained at the library but not for long.
Soon after Hestia left, he created a thought projection, Lucifer and sent it soaring toward Babel.
When Lucifer arrived, the Assembly Hall was already loud with chatter. Gods milled about, gossiping, debating, and speculating.
The eting had yet to start. But the mont Leon's thought projection stepped into the hall, sharp-eyed gods noticed his arrival.
"Ohhh! Look who's here! Lucifer himself!" One god called out, standing up and waving enthusiastically.
Many heads turned. After all, Lucifer hadn't even bothered to show up at last night's feast. And now here he was.
"Well, well, well… didn't you say the air was too 'dirty' to sit near Apollo?" Loki teased, leaning back with a smirk.
Across the hall, Apollo's face darkened imdiately. Others nearby laughed, shooting him amused glances.
Leon just smiled and waved lazily. "Hey, Apollo. Want to co say hi?"
Apollo stiffened. His expression soured even further, but he said nothing. He rembered all too clearly what had happened to Dionysus. He wasn't about to push his luck.
Satisfied with the reaction, Leon strolled over to an empty seat, sat down, and closed his eyes, calmly waiting for the eting to begin.
One by one, more gods entered. And then, at last, a booming voice declared.
"The assembly begins now!"
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