[DanMachi/Percy Jackson] Prytaneum

Chapter 45: Heating part 1

After Hephaestus gave her warnings, she left with Welf, taking him back to her Familia home to rest and recover. Miach wandered out shortly afterwards, taking several vials of Nectar with him, and we promised to meet up and discuss things later. Thinking about it, I hadn't really spoken to the sole member of his Familia, partially because I didn't spend much time above ground or talk to many other adventurers. The way things were going, though, it seemed like I'd have time for a while, because I definitely had some things to think about.

I'd known from the beginning that searching for my friends in the Dungeon would be dangerous—it was full of monsters that wanted to eat me, for one thing. And for the most part, I was okay with that; my life was dangerous and always had been and I wasn't afraid of the risks if it meant a chance at finding my friends, however small it may be. But that was because the risk was mine. I was the one making the choice and I'd be the one who'd suffer if something went wrong. Even when Welf and then Lili had joined my party, it had been okay, because I always had a way out, a way to keep them out of danger if anything went wrong. I could rely on Mrs. O'Leary, then, to do what I couldn't and get them to safety.

But today had been an eye-opener. When we were attacked on the sixth, when Mrs. O'Leary exhausted herself, when things got worse and worse and worse...there'd been a very real chance of my friends dying—and of me bringing down other people along with them. Adventurers or not, everyone on the eighteenth floor had been evacuated because of me and if I'd made a mistake, if I'd misjudged things, if things had been just a little bit worse...

I couldn't just think about myself anymore. I couldn't just give up, of course, but I couldn't just charge forward without considering the risks to everyone else. If I was causing such powerful monsters to appear when they shouldn't...

I'd have to find another way. Whether it meant going straight to the heart of the Dungeon or something else, I couldn't keep getting people wrapped up in my affairs, not unless I was sure I'd be able to deal with things without anyone getting hurt. I'd start by dealing with things up here and then...then I'd think of something.

From what Hephaestus had told me, we should be fine here, at least for a little while. Whatever the gods had done to watch our fight, it didn't extend outside the Dungeon, so they shouldn't have seen us travel back here. Or, if they had, would be restricted from acting on it for at least awhile. Regardless, it might be the only chance I'd have to rest for at least awhile, so I took advantage of it and went to sleep.

It had been a long day.

I might have dreamt a little bit, but if so, it wasn't anything that stuck and, as such, probably wasn't too important. Instead, I closed my eyes and the next thing I knew I was waking up. It felt too early when I began to stir, but I heard the murmur of voices and opened my eyes slowly, squinting against the light. I saw two shapes at the table beside the couch and recognized them as Hestia and Lili before I covered my face with my hands and groaned.

"Mr. Percy," Lili said, kindly keeping her voice low. "Good morning."

"Percy," Hestia said, moving to my side and laying a hand on my arm. "Are you okay?"

"Mrph," I answered eloquently. "What time is it?"

"A little before eight, Mr. Percy," Lili answered and if I remembered correctly, that meant I'd slept for about twelve hours. Ugh.

"Right," I said, feeling miserable, but not wanting to stay on the couch any longer if it had been that long. I'd shower the rest of it off or something. "Morning, Hestia, Lili."

"Percy..." Hestia said again, voice worried.

"I'm okay," I assured her. "I was in the best shape by the time we were done; I was just tired. I'm surprised you woke up before me, Hestia."

"I..." She began before flushing slightly, glancing back towards the plates near the sink. She must have woke up because she was hungry. Frankly, I was pretty hungry too, but it didn't seem like the time to mention it. "There's too much to do to just sleep."

"You're right," I replied, sitting up at last. "Sorry."

"No, Percy," She replied quickly, looking chagrined. "I meant for me. After everything that you went through, you should rest for at least a few days. I...I heard you almost died."

I actually died. And almost died, several times.

But again, probably not the best time to mention it.

"I'm not going into the Dungeon for a while," I assured her, rubbing my eyes and blinking a bit. "But you're right; there's stuff we have to do. I'll feel better if I go soak for a while then I will if I just sit here, anyway."

"Right," Hestia said, but she didn't let go of my arm. "Just..."

She trailed off and didn't finish whatever it was she was about to say. In the awkward silence that resulted, I glanced towards Lili and coughed lightly.

"You two have already met, I guess," I said to try and break the silence. "I invited Lili to stay her for a while because of everything that happened with her Familia. I hope that's okay."

"It's fine," Hestia answered quickly, glancing towards her. "We've already spoken."

"Right," I replied as that topic got shut down. "Um...and, uh, Lili said...erm, well."

"I've already asked Lady Hestia if I could join her Familia," Lili cut in gently.

"Of course," I said, feeling dumb. Feeling like I was trying to explain another expulsion to my mom, I looked at Hestia inquisitively. "Uh...and?"

"She explained what happened to me," Hestia said. "And I can't ignore the danger she involved you in...but I also can't ignore the lengths she went to in order to help you. We discussed things and I asked her about her intentions, but...in the end, I said yes. I've already changed her Status."

"Cool," I said, perking up and feeling relieved. "Welcome to the family, Lili."

"Yes," Lili said, smiling brilliantly at me. "Thank you for having me."

"Did everything go okay?" I asked. "You said it had been six months since you last updated your Status, right? It must be a relief to finally get it changed."

"It's..." Lili hesitated and looked uncertain. "Not what I expected."

"What do you mean?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

She reached into her cloak and drew out a piece of paper before moving over to the couch and handing it to me. Having seen similar things many times, I knew what it was at a glance, and frowned at it.

"Should you be showing me that?" I wondered.

"It's fine," Lili replied. "As member of the same Familia, it's not much of an issue. And...both Lady Hestia and I agreed that it might be best to show you."

"Right," I said before patting my pockets and then withdrawing my own Status sheet. "Then, um, I should show you mine, too? Right, Hestia?"

Hestia inhaled slowly, closing her eyes and then nodding.

"Yes," She said, though she sounded a bit reluctant. "As she said, we're part of the same Familia now and I'm already sure about her feelings, so I don't have any particular objections. But Lili, you should already know how dangerous it could be if his Status was revealed, right? Especially with what's happened..."

"I know, Lady Hestia," She replied, taking the page I offered her and looking down at it without opening it, seeming uncertain. "I don't want to put either Mr. Percy or Lady Hestia in any danger."

Hestia sighed at that and nodded.

"Well, if it's you, it should be fine," She said, looking at Lili. "I already know you meant what you said, so...I'll believe in you."

"Uh...what?" I asked, looking between them. "What's going on?"

"Read it," Hestia said, nodding towards the page in my hands. "You should understand if you do.

Frowning slightly, I obeyed.

Liliruca Arde
Lv. 1
Strength: I 84
Endurance: H 163
Dexterity: G 258
Agility: E 404
Magic: E 457

Magic:

Cinder Ella: Transformation Magic.

Your seal is mine. My seal is mine.
Echoing message of midnight.

Briar Rose: Support Magic.

Every rose has its thorns. And so, I bless these thorns with roses.

Skills:

Artel Assist, <Unsung Hero>: Increases Status when the weight of equipment exceeds a certain limit. Status increase and weight is proportional.

Penelope, <The Loyal, Faithful Heart>: Prevents the user from being turned against allies due the effects of mental Spells and Abnormalities.

Looking up from the page, I glanced between Hestia and Lili, raising an eyebrow.

"I gained a new spell and skill," Lili explained, seeing my confusion. "The second in each section. It's probably because..."

"Because you resisted Zanis," I guessed, looking at the paper and remembering how Lili resisted the effects of Soma.

"And you," Hestia said bluntly, making me blink.

"Me?" I asked. "What'd I do?"

"Somehow, I'm not surprised you can't see it," Hestia said with a sigh. "But I noticed it when I changed her Falna. Percy, we need to talk about your Status, especially now that you've become a Level 2."