The Puppeteer of the DanMachi World Chapter 8

Ming Ge became aware of what kind of world this was, yet he still felt that something was off.

"Which two factions are the strongest in Orario?"

Ming Ge asked.

"The Zeus Familia and our Hera Familia."

Meitellia looked at Ming Ge curiously. "Did you think of something? Since we're the strongest in the world, you should have heard of our Familia's reputation even in a remote region."

Ming Ge fell silent, realizing exactly how this Orario differed from the one he remembered.

Talentless, white-haired Meitellia.

Her powerful older sister, who had taken part in the subjugation of the Sea Lord.

And Orario's strongest couple Familias.

Loki and Freya were not a couple, so the timeline had clearly been pushed much further back.

The Zeus Familia and the Hera Familia had been wiped out fifteen years before the main story began while subjugating the Sky King, the One-Eyed Black Dragon—after that, the hopes of the lower world had been shattered.

"So that's how it is."

Several pieces of information struck Ming Ge's mind.

First, this was an era of Familias formed jointly by gods and their children.

Second, the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia were the strongest Familias of this era.

Third, the two great Familias were currently subjugating the Sea Lord, Leviathan, and Meitellia's older sister, Alfia, would deliver the final blow and defeat it.

And right now, the two great Familias were still in the midst of subjugating Leviathan.

There was still time—Ming Ge realized that.

Chapter 6: The Tale of Heroes

After taking a turn around the area, the two did not continue sightseeing. Meitellia's body was too weak; after walking only that short distance, she was already exhausted.

Not only that, Ming Ge also needed to think about the future, so he soon brought Meitellia back to the church.

"You're tired, aren't you? Get some good rest."

Ming Ge dampened Meitellia's towel, then wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.

After spending the day together, the two had become much closer.

Meitellia did not reject such intimacy. On the contrary, she seemed to enjoy it, wearing an adorable expression.

"Here, have some water."

Ming Ge poured a cup of water and handed it to Meitellia with a soft laugh. "You really worked hard today."

"Since I worked so hard, then... is there a reward?"

Meitellia looked at him with innocent eyes, making her seem especially enticing.

Not in a seductive way, but through her innocence and cuteness, making people want to draw close to her.

Just as the saying went: We are drawn to cute things because we are natural nurturers.

That feeling was like instinct, difficult to resist.

Naturally, Ming Ge had no intention of resisting.

He gently kissed Meitellia on the forehead. The gesture clearly caught her by surprise, making her face flush crimson as she stood there blankly.

"This is your reward."

Ming Ge smiled teasingly, then gently rubbed her head.

"Mm, that was obviously a reward for yourself."

Meitellia puffed out her cheeks, looking incredibly adorable.

A smile touched Ming Ge's lips. He knew full well that Meitellia had little experience with the world. As long as she did not dislike him, taking the initiative to make a few advances would only improve their relationship.

And a kiss on the forehead was among the more gentlemanly forms of kissing, a reserved expression of affection that would not feel too abrupt.

It expressed love while showing that he cherished the girl; it was a kiss that represented tenderness and comfort.

It was also a probing kiss.

When Ming Ge saw that Meitellia was not angry, and that her face held more shyness and sweetness than anything else, he knew that their relationship had deepened in that brief moment.

"It's a reward for both of us."

Ming Ge said with a faint smile.

"Mm, that's such a sly way of putting it."

Meitellia laughed happily.

Meitellia was the type who appeared gentle and frail but was actually strong at heart and remarkably open-minded.

From their initial curiosity to later teaching her the common language of the continent, the two had gotten along very well. Since teaching inevitably required them to sit close together, they had already built a solid foundation of mutual affection.

On that foundation, although Meitellia was shy about Ming Ge's initiative, she did not avoid it.

Thus, the feelings between them progressed quickly.

After resting for a while, the two resumed their lessons.

Only, their teaching material had changed from ordinary introductory books to stories from the Tale of Heroes.

As she told the story, she taught him the written language and speech.

"This time, I'll tell you the Tale of Heroes about the world's first heroine. With the help of her friends, she saved a nation from monsters and defied fate—the heroine of 'Theater.'"

"A heroine?"

Ming Ge asked in surprise.

"That's right. Argo's heroine, the first hero who brought hope and renewal to humanity and ushered in the Age of Heroes."

Meitellia said gently, "It was an age of despair, but also an age of miracles. Now that the gods have descended, humanity has entered its second age—the Age of Familia Mythology."