Danmachi: The Focalors Familia — Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Dungeon City Orario

It was a metropolis whose sheer magnificence defied the limits of mortal description. Countless buildings of vastly different architectural styles stood shoulder to shoulder, a sprawling sea of stone and mortar that stretched all the way to the distant horizon.

In the very center of this sprawling expanse, a pure white giant tower pierced through the sea of clouds. It looked as though it had been carved by the hands of the gods themselves, a colossal pillar of ivory shooting straight into the heavens. It stood there in absolute silence, a monolithic bridge connecting the mortal realm to the divine, looking down upon the entire world with an air of eternal sovereignty.

Seeing this miraculous structure with his own eyes for the first time, Noah found himself deeply captivated. A deep sense of shock surged within his chest, stealing the breath from his lungs. Yet, this initial awe was fleeting, quickly replaced by another, far heavier emotion. Within a matter of seconds, the light of amazement in his eyes dimmed, shifting into a complex melancholy.

This was Orario.

It was the final destination Alfia had ever reached. It was also her ultimate stage, the place where she had chosen to end her own life.

“Why are you making such a sour face? Shouldn’t you be smiling at a time like this? You have arrived in Orario, the place all adventurers yearn for.”

A cold, crystal-clear voice broke through his quiet mourning. Before he even realized it, Artemis had stepped up to his side. She completely ignored the instantly heated, teasing gazes of the young women in her own Familia, choosing instead to look at him with a quiet, measuring intensity.

“Yeah…”

Noah snapped back from the heavy weight of his memories. He turned his head, meeting Artemis’s pure green eyes, and allowed a faint, genuine smile to curl at the corners of his lips once more.

“I should be smiling.”

“That is right.” Artemis nodded with visible satisfaction, her tone carrying that characteristic sternness she reserved for those she cared about. “What is the point of an adventurer always dwelling on the past?”

Having delivered her piece, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving behind a dashing, unhesitating silhouette.

Standing a short distance away, Furina puffed out her cheeks in a dramatic pout. She crossed her arms, feeling thoroughly robbed of her moment. She had clearly been preparing a grand, inspiring speech to encourage Noah, only for the spotlight to be stolen right out from under her.

On the other side, Robin silently lowered the hand she had just half-raised to comfort him. Her intelligent eyes drifted from Noah to Artemis’s retreating figure. Understanding the unspoken dynamic, she simply offered a gentle, knowing smile and said nothing at all.

When the caravan finally reached the towering outer gates of Orario, they were met with a seemingly endless line of travelers. The sheer clamor of thousands of voices rushed toward them like a physical tide. Various races that usually only existed in the pages of fantasy epics were now gathered here in the flesh, breathing, arguing, and laughing under the midday sun.

Proud elves with sharp features impatiently adjusted their ornate robes, refusing to mingle with the dust of the road. A heavily bearded dwarf carrying a massive iron battle axe boasted to his companions in a booming, alcohol-roughened voice. There were energetic Pallums, standing only half the height of an ordinary human but practically vibrating with enthusiasm, alongside fierce Werewolves and Beastmen who made no effort to hide their twitching ears and swaying tails.

Woven into this chaotic mix of races were wealthy merchants, their wagons groaning under the weight of exotic specialties from the outside world, all coming to seek their fortune. Beside them stood wide-eyed youths, their expressions a volatile mix of anxiety and burning ambition, eager to carve out their heroic legends in this legendary city.

Every single person, carrying their own unique desires and burdens, came together to form this vivid, breathing portrait at the center of the world.

Tasked with maintaining order and guarding the gates of this great city were seasoned adventurers clad in polished light armor, their faces obscured by iconic elephant-shaped masks. They belonged to one of the most powerful factions in Orario, led by the elephant-headed god Ganesha.

This massive Familia, officially rated as the highest S-Rank by the Guild, possessed an astonishing eleven Level 5 First-Class Adventurers and well over a hundred high-level combatants ranked Level 2 and above. With a total membership reaching into the thousands, they were not merely a dominant force for Dungeon exploration. They were deeply partnered with the Guild, undertaking the immense burden of security for all of Orario, effectively serving as the absolute police force of the city.

Although the Artemis Familia spent the vast majority of their time traveling the outside world, they commanded significant respect in Orario. The masked guards simply verified their identities with a courteous nod and waved them through. As for the newly arrived Focalors Familia, a simple, temporary registration of their basic information was all that was required at the gate. Formal Familia registration would demand a personal visit to the Adventurer Guild headquarters later on.

The moment the three of them stepped through the massive stone archway, an atmosphere of overwhelming prosperity washed over them.

The wide, carefully paved stone streets were bustling with heavy traffic. The multi-story shops lining both sides of the thoroughfare displayed a dazzling array of goods. Many of the polished glass windows showcased exquisite, high-end products powered entirely by Magic Stones. There were street lamps designed to ignite on their own as dusk fell, complex bathing devices capable of automatically regulating water temperature, and various beautiful ornaments humming with faint, contained magic. These high-value technological marvels, which would easily fetch a fortune in the outside world, were treated as perfectly ordinary household commodities here.

Adventurers wearing heavily scarred armor and carrying all manner of weaponry could be seen on every corner. Some stumbled out of lively taverns in groups of three or five, laughing loudly as they bragged about yesterday’s haul from the deep floors. Others hurried purposefully toward the Dungeon entrance beneath Babel, their eyes burning with the unmistakable, addictive desire for combat.

Elves clutching beautifully carved longbows, dwarves resting massive battle hammers on their broad shoulders, humans with sharp longswords strapped to their waists… Although Noah had lived in this world for quite some time now, witnessing this vibrant, chaotic scene in person still widened his eyes. An indescribable thrill of excitement surged in his chest, making his blood run hot.

With their safe arrival, the commission was officially completed. The Artemis Familia’s escort mission had come to its end. The inevitable moment of parting had finally arrived.

“Wuu… Big Sister Robin, Lady Furina, you absolutely must come and find us to play when you have the chance.”

Lenti held tightly to Robin’s hand, the rims of her eyes flushed red, her young face a picture of absolute reluctance. The other girls of the Familia quickly gathered around, exchanging warm, lingering farewells with the new friends they had grown so close to during their long journey.

However, when their gazes shifted toward Noah, the warm affection vanished, instantly replaced by a collective, burning resentment. They glared at him with the distinct disappointment of watching someone utterly fail to live up to expectations.

Lenti puffed out her cheeks, refusing to hold back as she complained in a voice that was perfectly audible to everyone present. “It has been a whole month, Mr. Noah. You are far too useless. You have not made any progress at all.”

Noah felt as though a physical arrow had just pierced his chest. His expression darkened instantly, a dry, exasperated sigh escaping his lips.

Standing just a few steps away, Artemis’s cold, breathtakingly pretty face sank into an expression of absolute frost. A genuinely dangerous, furious aura began to radiate from her slender body, dropping the temperature in their immediate vicinity.

Sensing that their goddess was truly angry, the teasing girls instantly paled. They stuck out their tongues and shrank their necks into their shoulders, desperately trying to look cute and harmless to escape her divine wrath.

Artemis ignored her trembling dependents. She turned her attention to Furina, the harsh, stern light in her eyes softening significantly. “This is your first time in Orario. If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to me. Our Familia will be staying in the city for a while.”

As she spoke, she reached into her tunic and handed a neatly folded slip of paper to Noah. It contained the exact address of their temporary residence.

Just before turning to leave, Artemis paused. She seemed to remember something else, a rare flicker of hesitation crossing her features before she spoke again, her voice a fraction quieter. “If… you cannot find a suitable place to stay for the time being, we have extra rooms there. It is more than enough for the three of you to live.”

“Artemis!”

Upon hearing this, Furina was moved beyond measure. Abandoning all her usual theatrical dignity, she threw her arms around the goddess in a tight, affectionate hug.

“You are so considerate. I really regret not interacting with you more when we were back in the Celestial Realm.”