Danmachi, Ch 216-220

Chapter 216 – From Now On, Be Your Own Example

Leaving Tsuna’s room, Aki and Alicia quietly walked down the corridor.

“Alicia, don’t you think it’s such a pity about Raul?”

Aki glanced at the ring on her right middle finger, feeling a pang of regret for Raul, who had failed to keep up.

“Raul always wanted to gain the talent for magic. He worked so hard for it. But now that he finally had a chance to obtain power similar to magic, he let that chance slip away.”

“Have you forgotten about how Raul misused the Familia’s funds before?”

Alicia hadn’t forgotten. Her tone carried a sharp reminder.

“If Lady Loki hadn’t been merciful last time, do you think Raul would still have a place in the Familia?”

“…”

Aki couldn’t refute that—it was true.

The only reason Raul hadn’t been expelled was because Loki had chosen leniency.

As punishment, he’d been made to take on the burden of plugging an information leak—essentially, to assume responsibility for the funds he had misused.

That punishment had even brought him an unexpected “reward.”

At least, a beautiful elf with an alluring figure had become the best compensation for his mistake.

He’d fulfilled Loki’s punishment for the misuse of funds—and at the same time, settled a personal matter of his own.

For Raul, it wasn’t entirely a bad outcome.

But after getting that elf, Raul had become too obsessed with her. In less than three months, he’d already planted his seed in her womb.

“Couldn’t Raul just tell Lady Loki about the child?”

“Obviously, that’s impossible. Even if Lady Loki has compassion for us, asking her to confront Lady Ishtar to take that elf away? That’s out of the question. Raul knows that too.”

“Really? There’s no way at all?”

“Don’t tell me you plan to ask Lady Loki to help him yourself?”

Alicia looked unimpressed by Aki’s sympathetic expression.

“Aki, you should think this through. Raul still hasn’t gathered the money to buy that elf’s freedom. The ransom price was deliberately set high by Lady Ishtar—but facts are facts. He hasn’t paid it. When Raul learned the elf was pregnant, what would you have done?”

“What else? Of course I’d work hard to earn enough to buy her freedom. We can’t let her stay a prostitute forever.”

Aki answered immediately, and Alicia nodded.

“Exactly. But Raul already spent everything he had trying to free her—and even bought a house for her outside. Do you really think he still has the money for another ransom?”

Alicia’s words made Aki freeze.

“Then… wait.”

A thought struck her—something that made sense of Lady Loki’s silence.

“Raul must’ve touched the Familia’s funds again, didn’t he?”

With almost no personal money left, and hiding the pregnancy of Liz the elf, Raul could only mean one thing—he planned to handle her ransom in his own way.

And that left him with just two options:

Either sell his most valuable weapon… or once again embezzle Familia funds.

But no matter which he chose, Raul had already lost all trust.

“Lady Loki must be furious. Doing the same thing twice… that’s the worst decision he could’ve made.”

“…Yeah.”

No matter how much Aki tried to justify him, there was no way to clear Raul’s name.

There were only two ways to raise ransom money that quickly.

Oh, maybe a third—selling Familia intelligence.

But Aki didn’t believe Raul would ever stoop that low. Doing so would mean betraying Loki completely, and he’d be expelled without a doubt. Even Liz, pregnant and all, would be dragged down with him.

That choice was nothing short of suicide—and Raul would never choose that.

“Aki, you don’t need to worry too much. The fact that Lady Loki hasn’t kicked him out means she’s decided not to act—for now. But given Raul’s current state, he’ll probably drift away from the Familia’s core soon enough.”

Alicia didn’t want Aki to dwell on Raul anymore—it wouldn’t help. His fate was already sealed.

Raul’s heart was no longer with the Familia. It was with Liz and their child. Even his act of misusing funds again proved that. His focus had shifted entirely away from improving himself. Within the Familia, that was no different from giving up.

Alicia raised her hand, gazing at the ring on her finger. A purple flame symbolizing “Cloud” flickered to life.

“The Joint Expedition is about to begin. We don’t have much time left to adapt to this power. Aki, you’ll train with us too, right?”

Aki took a deep breath, calming herself and setting aside her worries for Raul.

“Of course.”

Now that she’d let go of those thoughts, she could finally focus on herself.

The power she’d gained—something akin to magic—was precious beyond words.

As an Adventurer with neither magic nor skills, she cherished every opportunity to move forward. Raul’s determination had always been her greatest source of inspiration—that was why she’d cared so much about him.

But even though her role model had fallen behind, that didn’t mean she would stop walking. If the one she admired could no longer lead the way, then she would become the one to stand at the front.

She glanced again at the ring on her finger.

A power she’d never possessed before… had now become part of her. What better opportunity could there be? Aki believed this was a turning point in her life.

As for Raul—she believed he would simply fade from the Familia’s inner circle. As long as Loki spared him, he’d still be fine.

“Still, I didn’t expect it’d be Bete who recommended us to Tsuna.”

“Hard to imagine, isn’t it? But we really should thank Bete later. Without him, we wouldn’t have had this chance.”

Chapter 217 – Raul’s Decision

In the final week before departure, preparations within the Loki Familia had become increasingly visible—though only to those inside the Familia.

The internal workload was enormous. Supplies had to be organized and stored in advance within the Rest Space, and even the layout of that space required meticulous planning.

Of course, it wasn’t just the Loki Familia working tirelessly. The Hephaestus Familia was doing the same. Only the Astraea Familia remained relatively idle.

Since Astraea’s group had temporarily joined forces with Loki’s, most of their supplies were now integrated into the Loki Familia’s stockpile. Naturally, any spoils from the Expedition would be distributed at the end according to contribution and need.

All three Familias were now firmly in a Joint Expedition state of readiness.

Yet, in the midst of this tense atmosphere, Raul displayed a completely different attitude from the other Adventurers.

“You don’t want to take part in the Joint Expedition?”

Finn looked at Raul with a trace of surprise.

He already knew what had happened from Loki—he understood why Raul had been distracted and unmotivated lately. But he hadn’t expected Raul to come to him personally… or to formally request withdrawal from the Expedition.

“Raul, are you absolutely sure?”

“Yes. Recently, there are some important things I need to take care of. I just can’t focus on anything else for now. Captain, please understand.”

Raul had his reasons.

Liz was now more than a month into her pregnancy. Though her condition was stable, the usual symptoms had begun to appear. Her body demanded more nutrients, and her emotions had grown increasingly sensitive. All Raul wanted was to make time to stay by her side.

“The Joint Expedition is important, I know that. But if I try to force myself to focus right now, I’ll only be a distraction to the team. Rather than being a burden, I think it’s better if I step back this time—and come back when my head’s clear.”

Raul understood perfectly well how critical this Expedition was.

A coordinated operation among three Familias—if this Joint Expedition succeeded, it would set the foundation for future joint missions. This was a test run, a rehearsal for larger collaborations, and a chance to determine how teams would be organized going forward.

Missing it meant falling behind by a wide margin.

But to Raul, Liz mattered more. Especially the life growing inside her—his first child. No matter what, he couldn’t let anything happen to either of them.

What a waste… Finn sighed inwardly.

He had always seen Raul as a future commander within the Familia, someone with natural leadership and potential. Now, with Tsuna’s guidance, that future seemed even brighter. If Raul ever awakened the power of the Dying Will Flame, his prospects would only multiply.

And yet… all of that was being abandoned.

Finn knew Raul would regret this decision one day. But by then, regret would mean nothing.

Still, what could he say now?

Finn exhaled softly, then picked up a document. With a steady hand, he drew a line through the name Raul Nord on the roster.

“Raul, your request has been approved. For this Joint Expedition, you’ll remain behind as part of the home defense unit.”

“Thank you very much, Captain.”

Raul’s expression brightened with relief as he bowed deeply in gratitude.

Not joining the Expedition was a heavy loss—but he had more important things to protect. The regret could wait. He’d make up for it next time.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Mm.”

Finn watched Raul’s back disappear through the doorway, then slowly shook his head.

That choice… meant giving up on his future.

“I can’t believe that kid actually gave up on the Joint Expedition,” came a gruff voice along with the creak of the opening door.

Gareth Landrock’s tone was rough and incredulous.

“Does he really not understand how important this Expedition is? Everyone in the Familia’s desperate to be part of it! Except for a few of the older ones who were told to stay behind, no one else has dropped out. And yet he just walks away? Unbelievable.”

Gareth couldn’t make sense of Raul’s decision. To throw away a chance like this—it was beyond comprehension. Does having a kid really change a man that much?

The thought unsettled him. He suddenly felt a strange fear toward the idea of starting a family. Maybe, as long as he was still in his prime, he shouldn’t even think about women. Better to wait until retirement, when he could finally afford the time and energy for that kind of life.

“Reproduction and raising offspring are important stages for any race,” said Riveria Ljos Alf calmly from behind him. “But Raul is too young to take on the role of a father. At his age, he should be seeking ways to grow and refine himself. Those responsibilities can come later—after he’s achieved something greater.”

It was true—marriage and childbirth at sixteen or seventeen weren’t rare in this era. For ordinary people, that was already a suitable age. Common folk didn’t have the chance to pursue power; they became merchants or farmers. For them, early marriage and childbearing were natural.

Farmers had the time to raise their children, and they needed young labor to support their fields as age and strength faded.

But Adventurers were not ordinary people. Their lives couldn’t follow the same path.

Adventurers faced monsters far stronger than themselves, and death was always near. For most, even surviving another day was uncertain. That danger made them prone to chasing pleasure, not thinking about the next generation.

Only those with considerable strength and experience—and often after retiring from the Dungeon—would begin to consider family.

For ordinary people, Raul’s timing would have been perfect.

But as an Adventurer—one with real talent and accomplishment—it was far too early.

And that was what made Finn, Gareth, and Riveria all feel the same quiet regret.

Chapter 218 – The Reason the Familia Keeps Itself Silent

From early morning, Orario was unusually lively.

Especially in front of the Hephaestus Familia’s home—every God in Orario had their eyes on that place. It wasn’t because of anything else, but because a rift the height of a massive gate had been opened there. The artisans of the Hephaestus Familia were already at work, hauling all sorts of materials into the spatial tear’s inner side.

“Well, well! Looks like Loki’s not even trying to hide it anymore!”

The Gods watching from afar instantly understood what this meant—Loki was ready to publicly reveal one of her child’s abilities. The zipper-like tear led to another space entirely, and the children of Hephaestus were busily moving supplies into it.

The message was as blatant as it could be: “My child has spatial powers. I’m done pretending.”

Though rumors about Loki’s child’s abilities had long circulated, this was the first time such an obvious display had been made right before their eyes.

“That’s definitely pure spatial manipulation. But… doesn’t it feel like it’s not the full extent of it?”

“Puppet.”

A Goddess suddenly spoke that one word, and at once the others around her caught on.

“This isn’t true spatial manipulation—it’s spatial control being used through a Puppet. Which means Loki’s been concealing her child’s real power all along. That ability must go far beyond what we’re seeing now.”

“Indeed. If any of us had a child with that kind of gift, we’d keep it secret too. Loki must have a reason for letting this one show off. That reason is probably to disguise the child’s other ability—something tied to their control over Puppets.”

None of the Gods were fools. Each of their minds worked quickly and sharply.

If Loki was willing to let the child she had kept hidden for so long display this power, then clearly, she was doing so to mask another, even greater one.

They suspected that whatever other ability that child possessed had already surpassed the limits of the Falna system itself—something not inferior to spatial power, and perhaps even more extraordinary.

“For a child of the Loki Familia to create a space where both people and materials can enter and move freely… this Expedition of theirs will definitely bring back some unprecedented results.”

“Spatial abilities are just too broken. No need to worry about carrying supplies—just store everything inside the created space. It lightens the load and ensures the supporters’ safety. And if they can even live inside that space, then there’s no fear of danger while traveling through the safety floors.”

“No wonder Loki kept her child hidden. But what I’m curious about is—if she’s showing off the spatial power now, what exactly is she trying to cover up?”

Loki’s child’s spatial ability had opened the Gods’ eyes.

The diversity of the children below truly exceeded their expectations—there were even mortals capable of manipulating space itself. Yet amidst their astonishment, curiosity grew stronger. Just what kind of power was this ability meant to conceal?

Every God there had the same thought.

Whatever Loki was hiding had to be something even more unconventional than space itself.

And as for what that power might be—well, that needed some serious investigation.

“Investigate? Heh~ With Loki’s personality, do you really think she’d let us dig up anything that easily?”

Across the street from the Hephaestus Familia, on the second floor of a tavern, Hermes chuckled over his drink.

No one knew Loki’s temperament better than he did. He’d been quietly investigating her Familia for some time, but the entire Loki Familia was sealed tighter than iron—there wasn’t a single crack through which information could slip.

“Asfi, how do you think Loki managed to turn her whole Familia into a solid wall? No matter what I try, those kids’ lips are sealed tighter than a vault.”

The best way to investigate a Familia was always through its members. That’s what Hermes had been doing. But even the children who were once on good terms with him acted like their mouths were sewn shut.

If it were only one or two, he wouldn’t have cared much—but for every single one of them to behave the same way? That was worth paying attention to.

“How did Loki pull this off?”

Asfi watched her god’s frustrated expression and shared what she had gathered.

“Lord Hermes, I don’t think this is difficult to explain. You’ve approached many of Loki Familia’s Adventurers, but every time they realized you were trying to gather intel, they went completely silent. You’ve tried various ways to win them over, but nothing worked. I believe they’re well aware that speaking would bring them trouble.”

“And by ‘trouble,’ I don’t mean from Lady Loki herself. I think the real trouble lies with that hidden prodigy you’re trying to investigate.”

Asfi’s words made Hermes pause in realization.

So Loki wasn’t the obstacle here. The real barrier was the one being investigated.

“Asfi… you’re saying the child we’re looking into might be even more troublesome than Loki herself. That they’re the reason the entire Familia refuses to talk, refusing to leak even a shred of information. But why?”

Why could a mortal child accomplish something even Loki couldn’t? Hermes couldn’t quite figure it out.

“I think the answer lies in the ability Loki is trying to conceal. If that ability benefits not just Loki herself, but the entire Familia—perhaps even every single member—then it’s only natural they’d keep it secret on their own.”

‘People protect what profits them most.’ That, I think, is why the entire Loki Familia is united in silence.”

“For the good of the Familia… and every member within it…”

Hermes repeated Asfi’s words, a thoughtful look flickering across his face.

“Asfi, starting today, investigate every member of the Loki Familia. If your theory is correct, then the truth we’re after lies hidden within all of them.”

“I understand, Lord Hermes.”

Chapter 219 – A Bond Beyond Companionship

The Hephaestus Familia’s high-profile actions spread through the Labyrinth City in an instant.

All across Orario, Gods and Adventurers alike were caught up in wild speculation about the Loki Familia’s mysterious prodigy.

But no matter how vivid their imaginations, none of them could possibly fathom the power Tsuna truly possessed—something far beyond imagination itself.

“Your choice was a bit much, don’t you think? You didn’t just blatantly display that child’s power—you practically announced to every God that he’s hiding even more. You’ve shoved that kid right back into the spotlight.”

Astraea’s tone carried clear concern. There was no question that the boy was talented—if it were her decision, she would have kept him shrouded in the dark a while longer, at least until he was strong enough to protect himself.

“I know,” Loki replied. “No one wants Tsuna to stay in the shadows and grow stronger more than I do. But this Joint Expedition will inevitably expose his strength. Rather than let it leak out piece by piece, I’d rather use this chance to let his power surpass all the floors we’ve conquered before.”

Loki understood Astraea’s worries perfectly. Yet during this Expedition, there was no avoiding it—Tsuna’s ability would be revealed in some form. She could keep the Loki Familia’s mouths sealed, yes, but what about the Hephaestus side?

That was why the power displayed by Hephaestus’s children would be limited strictly to Tsuna’s spatial ability. Everything else would be carefully controlled to prevent too much attention once the Joint Expedition concluded.

It was necessary to emphasize Tsuna’s “space” and “Puppet” abilities above all else. Let the curious Gods speculate as much as they wanted—as long as Tsuna kept the rest hidden and Loki’s children stayed silent, the truth would remain buried until Tsuna had grown strong enough to protect himself.

“This time, Tsuna will make his spatial power known,” Loki said. “Let the Gods guess all they want—they’ll never get it right. The only one who worries me is Freya.”

“Freya…”

Astraea fell silent for a moment after speaking the name. Indeed, Freya was the one Loki needed to fear most. What made her dangerous wasn’t just her cunning or ruthlessness, but the divine authority of Charm that far surpassed Ishtar’s.

If Freya’s interest was piqued, her actions alone could alter the entire outcome.

The key was to make sure she never became too interested.

“Loki, are you sure this won’t catch Freya’s attention?”

“Oh, it absolutely will. You and I both know what kind of creatures we Gods are. If you or I were in her shoes—learning about this kind of hidden power secondhand—wouldn’t you be curious too?”

Astraea had no answer to that.

It wasn’t a difficult question, and the answer was obvious. Gods were beings driven by curiosity for the unknown. Whenever something mysterious appeared before them, they could never resist the urge to uncover it. It was their nature.

“Do you and Hephaestus… have some sort of understanding?”

Astraea chose not to press further about Tsuna’s exposed powers. Loki clearly had everything under control. What caught her attention instead was the bond between Loki and Hephaestus.

Astraea’s Familia numbered only a handful, but the Loki and Hephaestus Familias were much larger. Even if Loki had succeeded in pulling Hephaestus into this expedition team, the way things stood now made it clear—they had some kind of unspoken agreement.

After all, even joining the same expedition didn’t erase the fact that each Familia still had its own interests to protect. Yet Hephaestus had gone so far as to stake her own Familia’s safety on Loki and Tsuna’s success. She wouldn’t do that unless there was a powerful reason.

“…”

Loki’s lips curled into a knowing smile. There was an understanding between her and Hephaestus—an inevitable one. Even though Hephaestus had been pulled into the plan, it wasn’t the same as Astraea. She hadn’t joined as part of a merged Familia, but rather because she’d been forcibly drawn in by a secret of the world itself.

Their alliance wasn’t particularly formal—but another kind of connection bound them far closer.

They had both fallen for the same mortal boy. They had both accepted his proposal.

They were no longer just partners. They were sisters.

And there was no need to hide that from Astraea.

Loki raised her left hand and pointed at the ring on her finger.

“Hephaestus wears one too. Hers is a different design—but it means exactly the same thing.”

“…A ring…”

Astraea’s eyes widened slightly as the realization hit her. She recalled seeing Hephaestus recently—on her left hand, a ring of a different make but similar significance. The meaning between them was unmistakable.

“Loki… don’t tell me you both received those rings from that boy?”

Loki’s smile bloomed into a brilliant grin.

“What do you think?”

Meanwhile, outside the Hephaestus Familia, the transport work was finally complete. The craftsmen taking part in the Joint Expedition had entered the alternate space prepared for them.

Once the loading was done, the rift in the wall began to close, folding in on itself until it vanished completely from sight before the Gods.

Inside her residence, Hephaestus watched the scene unfold and smiled faintly.

“Perfect. Tsuna’s ability has been fully displayed, and the Gods now believe he’s hiding something even greater. Soon enough, some of them—especially those nosey ones—will turn their attention to me, hoping to dig up more about him.”

“But none of my children have ever interacted with Tsuna directly. Only Tsubaki and I have. And the two of us are the last people who’d ever talk.”

Everything had been carefully planned—every step meant to buy Tsuna more time to grow, to divert the Gods’ investigations elsewhere, to prevent too many of them from focusing on Loki’s child.

Everything was to delay the inevitable pursuit of Tsuna’s secret.

Hephaestus lowered her gaze to the ring on her hand, her smile softening, before she rose from her seat.

“Well then… it’s time I found a new place to stay.”

She couldn’t remain in her Familia for now—not unless she wanted to be swarmed by curious deities.

Until the Joint Expedition returned, she would be taking refuge with Loki.

Chapter 220 – Three-Man Team: Tiered Advance

The Joint Expedition force quickly completed its assembly.

On the surface, it appeared to consist only of members from the Loki Familia and the Astraea Familia. The Hephaestus Familia had sent only Tsubaki; the rest of their craftsmen, unsurprisingly, had entered the Rest Space to recuperate.

The front-line assault on the Dungeon didn’t require their assistance. Their role would come later—repairing weapons and armor for the Adventurers once the expedition advanced deeper into the Dungeon.

The gathered expedition naturally drew the attention of the watching Gods.

Their eyes, however, were not on the familiar faces of the Loki or Astraea children—they were searching for one person, someone unfamiliar.

It wasn’t difficult to pick out an unfamiliar Adventurer from among so many well-known ones. Their gazes soon locked onto a single stranger.

Among the two Familias assembled, there was only one Adventurer they didn’t recognize. And this one exuded an odd, unnatural aura—nothing like a human’s. More like a lifeless shell without self-awareness.

The Gods reached the same conclusion at once—

A puppet.

“Imagine letting a puppet stand at the forefront,” one God muttered. “Loki’s children truly have no intention of stepping into the spotlight themselves.”

“If it were your child,” another replied, “would you let one with such power stand in front?”

“Of course not. A child like that should only be revealed once they’ve matured enough. But Loki’s clearly focused on drawing out the greater power sealed within that puppet and its spatial ability. Up till now, we haven’t even seen the child’s real form because of it. How tantalizing.”

The curiosity born from the unknown made the Gods restless. The mysterious child hidden by Loki was now the center of every divine whisper. Aside from Loki, Astraea, and Hephaestus, no one had ever seen that child’s true appearance.

That sense of mystery—it made the Gods itch with anticipation.

Perhaps the child wasn’t even attractive. But until they saw for themselves, the excitement of that mystery wouldn’t fade.

Meanwhile, the key members of the Loki Familia and Astraea Familia had gathered at the Dungeon’s entrance.

Finn stood at the front, holding his long spear adorned with golden inlay. He didn’t make any grand speech of declaration; he simply stood there, calm and resolute.

“This Joint Expedition carries different goals for each of us,” he said. “But I believe, with our preparation, every one of you will reach the height you seek. Our objective this time is clear—the exploration of the unknown.”

“Everyone—are you ready?”

“Yes!!!”

Both Familias roared as one, voices firm and brimming with conviction.

Every Adventurer had their own reasons for joining. For many, it was the longing to advance—to gather enough Excellia to step into a higher realm of power.

Their destination was the deeper floors, where countless opportunities awaited. So long as they dared to risk their lives, Excellia would not remain a distant dream.

Flames of excitement blazed in every eye. The Joint Expedition had truly begun.

Even the Gods watching from afar couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.

“As expected of Loki’s children—their aura alone outshines my entire Familia combined.”

“Indeed. But aren’t they too energetic? Do they even understand what an Expedition truly means? They seem almost… thrilled.”

An Expedition was never safe. The Dungeon was full of change and peril; even the most seasoned Adventurer could fall victim to its deadly surprises.

Every veteran had been injured. Every one had faced death in the Dungeon’s embrace.

“Then—move out!”

With Finn’s command, the assembled force advanced into the Dungeon.

Once inside, they immediately broke into formation.

Before reaching Floor 18, they progressed in three-man cells, advancing in a tiered, rotating formation. Each group of three would face the monsters ahead with maximum efficiency—two in the front, one in the rear—covering and supporting one another seamlessly.

This strategy was remarkably effective, especially when facing packs of monsters.

“Ha!”

A dual-blade Adventurer darted forward, closing in on a Goblin before it could even react. In a single blur of motion, he slashed open the creature’s throat.

“Screee!”

Three more Goblins lunged from behind.

The dual-blade fighter shifted aside instead of pressing forward. The shield-bearer behind him stepped up to meet the charge head-on.

“Shield Bash!”

He drove his massive shield forward with all his might. The impact resounded with a dull thud, launching all three Goblins skyward.

“Whsshh!”

Behind him, the archer was already ready—three arrows loosed in perfect unison, striking each Goblin midair.

The four monsters were slain in an instant.

As soon as the three-man team finished their engagement, they pulled back smoothly, clearing the space for the next unit to advance.

Another trio stepped in without hesitation, keeping the momentum constant.

For these upper-floor monsters, the battles were little more than warm-ups. But the point of this rotation system was endurance—each group alternated attacks to manage stamina and maintain fighting condition for the long descent ahead.

The Goblins on these upper floors were simple foes. This stage was nothing more than a warm-up to prepare for what lay below.

As the party descended, the monsters’ numbers and strength would grow sharply. By the time they reached even the 10th floor, their opponents would be several times stronger. The Adventurers would have to push forward at speed, consuming stamina faster with every battle.

This was why the formation required no orders—only mutual understanding and flawless teamwork.

It was small-scale combat in motion, perfectly synchronized and utterly efficient.