Danmachi: Strongest Familia

Vex had no intention of staying longer, let alone settling down. Yet, she pushed herself hard to reach the deep layers of the dungeon, managing to attain LV2 in only a few months—surpassing even warriors like Kled in her swift advancement. Her exceptional talent was undeniable.

But as she leveled up, her enthusiasm started to wane. The attribute gains slowed, and Vex could already feel the spark of excitement dimming.

——

"What should I do?"

"Just help her get familiar with the dungeon, and assist with combat when needed," Sol explained. He didn't impose too many expectations on Vex, understanding her temperament all too well. He knew pushing her too far could backfire.

"Fine, but I only know my way to the 17th floor," Vex replied, her voice carrying a hint of reluctance.

"True. I'll figure something out," Sol I'mreplied, arms crossed, thinking. If Vex wasn't enough to guide Eina, he would need to find additional help. Among the familias close to Orario, there were few suitable allies for this.

The solution came to him quickly. The Astraea familia's adventurers—three LV4s in total—could certainly help guide a newcomer, and perhaps Vex could accompany them as well. After all, he had already spent quite a bit of effort bargaining with her.

"I'll arrange for a few others to come along. Just join them then, alright?" he concluded.

"..." Vex's expression turned wary. 'With others involved, shouldn't she be free from this task?' she wondered, sensing the situation was spiraling further out of her control.

"Alright then, it's settled!" Sol declared cheerfully.

"Yes, yes…" Vex muttered, her agreement lacking enthusiasm as she brushed Sol's hand off her shoulder. Sol merely smiled, content that she had agreed, knowing that if she hadn't, he would have had to ask Alfia instead. And that would have been overkill.

They would need to keep more members in reserve in the future, so that the entire team wouldn't be stretched thin when the next expedition arose.

"Vex-san, please guide me well!" Eina, now beside her, beamed up at her new mentor.

The faint dark aura around Vex didn't faze Eina at all, thanks to her immunity through her dragon's blood.

"Uh, maybe… don't talk to me so much," Vex replied awkwardly, feeling ants crawl under her skin at Eina's boundless enthusiasm. She didn't fare well with people this animated.

Reluctantly, Vex's solitary days were over. She was now on an unavoidable journey of mentorship.

——

Astraea Familia

"I see. You want my children to bring Eina-chan along for a few days, right?" Goddess Astraea asked, seated across from Sol in her family's living room.

Sol, sitting opposite like a gentleman, explained the situation. He hadn't mentioned that Eina was his child—he didn't want to stir up trouble. However, Astraea had already noted Eina's resemblance to Sol and sensed a similarity in their aura. Yet, Sol sidestepped this by attributing it to her half-dragon lineage.

"Consider it repayment for that favor I did you," he added with a lighthearted smile.

"There's no need for that," Astraea replied. "As it happens, Alise and the others are preparing for an adventure with some newcomers."

She gave Eina a gentle pat on the head, clearly taken with the child's well-mannered demeanor. If Eina hadn't already joined the Sol familia, Astraea might have tried to recruit her.

——

With Astraea's familia, Eina and Vex embarked on daily adventures, returning late each evening. At least this arrangement allowed Sol to see Vex more often; previously, they'd sometimes go weeks without crossing paths.

Finally, with Eina busy, Sol could relax. He indulged in Aina's gentle hospitality, his mind momentarily drifting from Orario's affairs. But soon enough, he received a visit from the Loki familia.

Finn had come, seeking assistance in their upcoming raid on a dark faction stronghold, and inquiring when Riveria and her expedition team would return.

"I'd love to help, but my own are already off on an expedition," Sol replied with a helpless shrug. Having little to do with the situation, he couldn't offer more, leaving Finn disappointed.

But Sol's interest piqued at the mention of those 'evil gods' among the dark factions. Villains made for ideal stepping stones, he thought, for the foundation of Valoran. And even if Riveria hadn't yet returned, Alfia, at LV8, was more than sufficient.

As the days passed, Sol kept a close eye on the Loki familia's plans. He frequently asked Eina about the Astraea familia's activities, knowing that if the Loki familia decided to strike against the dark factions, they would seek to ally with Astraea's forces.

This kept Sol occupied, along with the chance to relive fond memories with Astraea. The two gods were rekindling their old bond, though Astraea's family members looked upon Sol with varying degrees of wariness.

In particular, Ryuu's gaze seemed disapproving—a reaction likely due to her pure elf nature and natural aversion to what she deemed as impure influences. Sol knew this would take time for her to accept.