The audience gradually began to leave. Yet the host, the elephant god Ganesha, remained.
Though his performance as host hadn't gone especially smoothly—
he had spent most of the event simply spectating, with many of his lines stolen by Liang Yue—
it didn't dampen his good mood in the slightest.
A Lv.2 adventurer who had slain Hyacinthus in a level-surpassing battle,
using unfathomable techniques that weren't magic but a skill-like sword aura—
all these factors stirred his curiosity toward this strongest rookie.
Back during the Soma Familia incident, he hadn't had the chance to meet Liang Yue.
Now, the opportunity was perfect.
Taking the special passage from the announcers' booth, the elephant-masked Ganesha descended into the arena.
The moment he arrived, he felt an incredibly sharp gaze.
Following it, he found—unsurprisingly—Liang Yue's probing eyes upon him.
Fresh from battle, Liang Yue radiated a sword intent so condensed it was nearly tangible, sharp and dazzling.
And that white demon hand, sinister enough to unsettle even a god—
Ganesha could not discern what it truly contained.
Still, being a natural "social terrorist," he smoothly struck up conversation.
"Liang Yue, with this War Game, you've shattered the old impressions most adventurers in Orario had of you."
"It truly was a spectacular display!"
Liang Yue, facing the sudden appearance of the elephant god, felt no alarm—only curiosity.
As for Orario adventurers' fixed impressions of him, he had little care.
Steady growth—
constantly improving his strength—
that was all that mattered to him.
Looking at the meddlesome god, Liang Yue smiled easily.
"Lord Ganesha, to be honest, I don't particularly care about how other adventurers see me."
…
Ganesha felt no falsehood in his words.
But compared to the personality he had expected, the youth was vastly different.
This was the same boy who had destroyed Soma Familia, boldly clashing wills with Uranus himself,
and now stood triumphant after sweeping away Apollo Familia.
Yet still—
he remained humble.
That humility, Ganesha thought, was likely the key to his achievements.
"But what you've accomplished is still something that's shaken the entire world!"
Even prepared as he was, Ganesha hadn't expected Liang Yue to achieve such overwhelming results.
Utter domination.
"Breaking the record for fastest level-up."
"Annihilating Apollo Familia in a War Game."
Miracle after miracle, all born from this one child.
If his own Familia had such a member—
Ganesha could hardly imagine the joy.
But he didn't continue talking.
Hestia's sharp, protective gaze made him hesitate.
Looking at her, Ganesha's expression turned complicated.
"I truly didn't think you'd be lucky enough to recruit someone with such potential—beyond even a hero. Countless gods must envy you."
If his words were aimed at Liang Yue, Hestia would have bristled.
But since the topic revolved around her child, the goddess's face glowed with unmasked pride.
Straightening her back, she clung tightly to Liang Yue's arm, as if declaring her claim.
"Luck is also a form of strength. So—what business brings you here, Lord Ganesha?"
She saw no reason for him to come merely to chat.
She kept her guard raised—though the presence of her friends Hephaestus and Takemikazuchi gave her some reassurance.
"No other business," Ganesha said.
"Just here to inform you of the post-War Game procedures. Apollo will be exiled from Orario. As for his assets—
they will all belong to you. It's best to settle them quickly."
"Liang Yue already thought of that," Hestia replied with a proud nod.
"… Mm."
Even as a social terror, Ganesha knew not to linger further.
Yet before leaving, he gave Liang Yue a meaningful look.
After the Soma Familia incident, Ganesha had kept tabs on him,
ensuring no more tragedies that might terrify the public.
Most adventurers, after a forced expedition, would rest.
But Liang Yue had gone straight into Dungeon exploration, even after meeting Hyacinthus.
The multiple Apollo Familia squads.
The banquets.
The restrictions imposed on this War Game—
Ganesha was no fool.
"Tell me truthfully. Was this War Game orchestrated by you from the start?"
…
A razor-sharp question.
Hestia, Hephaestus, Takemikazuchi, and all others nearby turned to look at Liang Yue.
The War Game's sudden occurrence.
The victory that seemed inevitable.
It all lined up too neatly.
Liang Yue, calm under the scrutiny, answered with casual ease.
"The War Game was recognized by the gods."
"… I see."
He hadn't denied it. That was answer enough.
Ganesha felt unsettled.
This boy seemed to be constantly exploiting loopholes in Orario's rules.
Explicitly forbidden from causing another Soma Familia massacre—
so he "legally" took down a Familia through a War Game instead.
To be targeted by someone like this was nothing short of disastrous.
Raising his hands in resignation, Ganesha swept his gaze toward the newly-joined Mikoto, offering a final piece of advice.
"When you go to place bets at the casino, best to ask a friend from another Familia to do it for you."
…
The atmosphere turned awkward.
Under the weight of the gods' stares, Liang Yue twitched his mouth, realizing the "loophole" he had revealed.
But he didn't care.
He nodded seriously.
"I'll be more careful next time."
"… Hah? Next time!?"
Ganesha stopped mid-step as he turned away.
For a moment, he felt relief that this child wasn't part of his Familia.
His knack for stirring trouble might even surpass his own!
The War Game was over, and motivations no longer mattered.
Still, under the gazes of Hestia and Hephaestus, Liang Yue offered a general explanation.
"I knew Apollo Familia's recruitment style would be a nuisance. Sooner or later, it would come to a War Game anyway."
No need to say more.
Instead, his attention shifted to Hephaestus.
Through the three battles just now, it was clear—
weapons and equipment provided a massive boost in combat.
The sharpness of first-class arms, combined with his core skill Blade Breaker,
had even shattered Hyacinthus's weapon in a direct clash.
Sliding the twin short blades back into their sheaths, Liang Yue bowed.
"Thank you, Lady Hephaestus. Without these weapons, the War Game would've been much harder."
"… Congratulations."
Though she had expected as much, hearing his direct confirmation still stirred her heart.
Taking back the weapons, she drew one from its sheath.
Even just holding it, she could feel the pure sword intent it carried—
and the faint, visible wear along the blade.
Despite the intense battles, the weapon was still at its peak condition.
Yet its durability had been consumed faster than even Ais Wallenstein's.
Recalling Liang Yue's talk of forging a weapon with the "Unbreakable" attribute, a bold thought crossed her mind.
"You have a special combat skill, don't you?"
"Something like that," Liang Yue admitted.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she turned to Takemikazuchi.
Finally, she asked, "Can you tell me?"
Blade Breaker wasn't a particularly esoteric skill.
Its prerequisite was mastering "No-Self Sword Qi."
In Orario, such a technique was virtually impossible to replicate.
After a pause, Liang Yue answered with an easy smile.
"It's simple. I squeeze out a weapon's durability to temporarily increase its sharpness. Once Apollo Familia's assets are sorted, I'll pay for repairs."
"… I see."
"So that's why you want a custom weapon with the Unbreakable attribute."
Hephaestus waved her hand dismissively, not fussed about repair costs.
Still, she couldn't help but marvel at the uniqueness of such a fighting style.
Miracles.
The kind of wonders only mortals could produce.
"For an Unbreakable weapon, Goibniu Familia would be the best choice. They've forged such arms before."
Knowing Hestia would be busy, Hephaestus didn't linger.
"Hold your victory feast after you're done with the paperwork," she said with a casual wave.
"Of course!"
For Hestia, her dearest friend, the celebration banquet was non-negotiable.
Proud and decisive, she and Takemikazuchi extended their invitations before leaving with Liang Yue.
Suddenly inheriting Apollo Familia's estate,
their Familia would grow explosively once they accepted everything.
"So much work ahead…"
Inventory checks, designing a Familia crest, considering new members—
Hestia's head spun just thinking about it all.
But the one thing she dreaded most—
was having to move out of the basement she'd shared with Liang Yue for over a month.
To move away without their relationship progressing further?
That, she could hardly bear.
Leaving the Colosseum, the news of Apollo Familia's annihilation spread across Orario without delay.
Walking beside Hestia, Liang Yue could feel the shift in gazes.
Where before there had been doubt, now there was only respect.
Power ruled here, just as it did everywhere.
And in Orario, where even Lv.2 adventurers were rare—
Liang Yue, with strength surpassing Lv.3, stood near the peak of the pyramid.
But most of the attention wasn't on him.
It was on Hestia.
With a prodigy who could surpass levels and an estate inherited from Apollo,
her once-mocked Familia suddenly became the top choice for adventurers.
Few members meant more resources per capita.
And admission required the goddess's personal approval.
At the Colosseum's gates, a crowd of eager adventurers gathered.
"Hestia-sama, are you accepting new members?"
"I'm a Lv.2 adventurer. Please let me join! I don't need special treatment—
just the chance to explore the Dungeon under Captain Liang Yue's lead!"
"And me as well!"
"For future Familia expeditions, you'll need more people anyway!"
…
If not for Ganesha's guards, the scene might have spiraled out of control.
This was something Hestia had never anticipated.
After being chased from Hephaestus's home, she had tried to recruit, struggled in vain, even been warned by the Guild.
In the end, only Liang Yue had joined her.
Even when Liliruca entered, she hadn't welcomed it wholeheartedly—since it stole time away from her child.
And now, to suddenly be swarmed by eager volunteers—
From a responsible god's standpoint, recruiting was necessary.
It would lighten Liang Yue's burdens and strengthen the Familia.
But in her heart—
she wished it could just be the two of them, forever.
Even so, smiling brightly at the crowd, she passed the decision along.
"Anyone who wants to join, please speak with Liang Yue. From now on, all Familia affairs are handled by him."
And she added with unshaken pride:
"I'll say this in advance—our Familia's future development will center around Liang Yue-kun."