Chapter 40

The shopkeeper was naturally experienced. Seeing Falan's surprised expression, he shook his head.

"Fafna is indeed one. In fact, everyone at the Golden Ring is."

As for him, a god was not a human, so naturally he was not an adventurer.

After Fafna treated Falan at the counter, her expression eased somewhat.

"You're healed, Falan. Remember to come see us next time."

"..." So you really were sulking because I hadn't come by. I thought you were just busy.

Come to think of it, the names Golden Ring and Fafna reminded Falan of a story from Norse mythology.

In fact, many arrangements in this world were connected to stories Falan knew.

For instance, Argonaut, the First Hero from over a thousand years ago—his tale was connected to the Minotaur and the Great Dungeon.

"I won't forget next time. By the way, Senior Fafna, do you need any help?"

"No need. You're a guest now, not one of our servers anymore."

"All right..." Even so, Falan began helping out.

After all, he knew this senior had been sulking because he had forgotten to come by and visit.

So helping her out and humoring her a little should settle things.

Soon afterward, he saw the gentle Senior Fafna he had known for the past three years.

"All right, stop helping already. Is there something you wanted to ask?"

"About what the shopkeeper said earlier. Senior Fafna, you're all adventurers, so back then..."

The shopkeeper by the entrance answered, "Because our Familia no longer exists."

"Little Falan, don't be too naive. This world has gods, Familias, and adventurers. But that doesn't mean they will exist forever. Over a thousand years ago, this world was protected by a group of heroes."

"Adventurers will one day grow old and die. Gods will one day be 'sent back' to Heaven. Familias will eventually disappear as well. Especially during the age when the Evils ran rampant, countless Familias were destroyed because of them..."

The shopkeeper said no more, but Falan had his own guess. Could the Golden Ring have been a shop founded by survivors after some Familia was wiped out? Perhaps it was as the shopkeeper had said—adventurers were human too, and they would eventually grow old and die.

Even legendary heroes possessed strength comparable to gods, but they were still human. By now, they had grown old and passed into history. Like Captain Mia of the Freya Familia—although she had reached Level 7, she had still been forced to retire due to her aging body.

The strong devoured the weak; people were born, aged, fell ill, and died. These were laws this world could never escape. Just like the once-mighty Zeus and Hera Familias, said to have possessed Level 8 and Level 9 adventurers—hadn't they disappeared as well?

"Um..." Falan wanted to say something, but he did not know how to say it. As far as he knew, those who betrayed their Familia could no longer update their Status. For the people of the Golden Ring, whose Familia had been "erased," it had probably been a long time since their Statuses could be updated.

Yet the three from the Golden Ring had never joined another Familia since their own had been destroyed.

They must have had their own pride, so Falan truly found it difficult to speak.

The shopkeeper said, "Falan, I'm grateful that you care. In fact, Fafna and Luo En feel the same."

"Mm, Little Falan, don't look so hesitant. We're living quite well. In fact, after we stopped being adventurers, we've all been very satisfied with our current peaceful lives. Luo En is probably the only one who still has some thoughts about it."

"..." So that was how it was... Compared to joining another Familia, they had already grown used to their current lives.

Falan had originally wanted to use his current position as captain of the Soma Familia to see whether he could help the Golden Ring trio change Familias.

For the rest of the time, Falan chatted with Fafna and the shopkeeper. When the time came, Luo En finally returned from slacking off. After having dinner there, Falan returned to the Soma Familia, unaware that things became somewhat lively at the Golden Ring after it closed.

Luo En: "So Falan actually considered helping us change Familias?"

Sigurd: "That's the truth. We've watched that kid for three years. You all know his personality well enough by now, don't you?"

Fafna: "To gain a better life and become stronger, he works incredibly hard. He would even risk his life."

Luo En: "That's why I said we should have brought him into the Sigurd Familia back then."

Sigurd: "No. The Sigurd Familia has already 'died.' That has been true since the moment I 'faked my death.' We are a Familia planted by Uranus as a hidden hand, responsible for clearing out the remnants of the Evils."

Fafna: "Luo En, Lord Sigurd is right. Little Falan is not suited to join the Sigurd Familia. Once he joins, he will have to face Familia remnants of the Evils who live every day with blades at their throats."

Luo En: "All right, I get it. That's true. But didn't he gain Life Magic, the Backpack ability with spatial storage? Even if he doesn't join the Sigurd Familia, hasn't he already been targeted?"

Sigurd: "That was merely an accident. Little Falan gave us the chance to deal with two Level 5 captains of the Evils and even send that stubborn fool Ikelos back, but that is no reason for us to use a weak person as bait."

Fafna: "Then Little Falan is about to leave Orario. Should we follow him?"

Sigurd: "Have Luo En go with him. Luo En can't sit still anyway."

Luo En: "Hey, hey, hey. I'm still a member of the Sigurd Familia. Why are you two excluding me?"

Fafna: "Lord Sigurd handles the money and accounts. I can wash vegetables and cook. If you leave, we only need to hire a server to help out. Besides, Luo En, don't you really want to become an adventurer again?"

Luo En: "..."

Luo En was indeed tempted. If not for that desire, he would not have kept urging his god to recruit new members into their Familia.

Luo En: "Fine, I understand. I'll follow Little Falan. I'm absolutely not abandoning you two."

"..." *2