Is It Wrong to Explore the Dungeon Even Though I’m Overpowered? (Danmachi SI- WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 48: A Step Toward the Unknown

Making my way home after my meeting with Rose, I walked mostly on autopilot, my thoughts still focused on the expedition scheduled for tomorrow. That is, until a flash of purple hair crossed my vision, and my eyes instinctively followed it.

To my surprise, it was none other than Sophia, Emma’s sister, the very girl we’d been trying to track down for days with little success.

Snapping back to full awareness, I quickly checked to see if she was alone, only to frown slightly when I saw her walking with several others. One of them I recognized as the Captain of the Aeshma Familia. The issue? Nearly all of them were triggering my Divine Protection of Doubt, which meant they were likely up to no good.

Deciding to tail them, I took to the rooftops and did my best to stay out of sight, following them all the way to Daedalus Street, a place that only raised more red flags about whatever business they had here.

At one particular intersection, they grew noticeably more cautious, glancing around to ensure they weren’t being followed before disappearing through a gate.

Frowning, I realized I couldn’t follow any further without risking detection. So, I opened Bounty Tracker to see if they were meeting anyone suspicious.

‘Dix Perdix and Gran from the Ikelos Familia. I don’t think I remember them, which means they must have appeared after I stopped watching the anime.’

I read the two flagged names silently, feeling my concern deepen. Both had villain tags assigned to them under their name.

‘I should ask Hestia or Artemis if they know anything about their god…’

With no further action I could take, I cast one last glance toward the gate, memorizing the location before turning around and heading home.

‘It looks like Sophia might be involved in something shady after all… Now I just need to figure out how to tell Emma, without her immediately running off and demanding answers.’

=====

When I got home minutes later, I had barely closed the door before a blur of blue launched itself at me with a happy squeal, wrapping me in a hug.

“Rein~! You’re finally back! I missed you!” Wiene beamed as she grinned up at me, her fair skin glowing with excitement.

“Look! Look! I look like a human now, just like you said I would! Does that mean I can finally go outside with you?” she asked eagerly, jumping down from my arms and spinning around in a twirl to show off her new appearance.

‘That’s right, when I left this morning, there were still a few hours left before the Anthropize perk would activate.’

Smiling, I took a closer look.

Her formerly grayish-blue skin had become fair and smooth. The gem on her forehead had vanished, and her long ears were now shaped like a regular human’s. Her cheeks and body no longer had any visible scales, and her nails had turned into normal, clean fingernails, no longer sharp enough to injure most people.

“You look great, Wiene,” I praised, patting her head gently. She immediately melted under my touch. “How do you feel? Any discomfort?”

Wiene shook her head rapidly, her long blue hair swishing around her. “Nope! I feel great~!”

She threw her arms around me again, and I returned the hug with a chuckle, continuing to stroke her soft hair.

“Haha, that’s good,” I said. “And to answer your question, yes, you can come outside now. There’s so much I want to show you.”

“Hihihi~ I can’t wait~” Wiene sighed happily, snuggling into my chest.

“Rein-kun! Welcome home,” Hestia greeted as she walked up, with Artemis and the rest of the Hestia Familia trailing behind. “I see Wiene already showed off her new appearance. She refused to leave your room all morning, she wanted you to be the first to see her like this.”

“Thanks. She sure did,” I said with a smile, greeting the others.

I quickly learned that Artemis’s Familia had gone to the Dungeon for the day, which meant talking to Emma would have to wait.

“With how she looks now, we don’t have to worry about anyone finding out she’s a monster,” Artemis noted after inspecting Wiene’s appearance.

“Thank goodness,” Lili sighed in relief, slumping her shoulders. “Lili doesn’t even want to imagine what kind of trouble we’d be in if someone found out.”

“That’s right,” I agreed, nodding. “But let’s save that talk for later. For now, I want to tell everyone about what the Guild wanted, if that’s alright.”

“Rem will make tea and snacks for everyone~” Rem chimed in sweetly, grabbing Ram’s sleeve and dragging her along, despite her twin’s reluctant expression.

“Sounds like a plan! To the living room, everyone! I call dibs on the spot next to Rein-kun!” Hestia cheered, pumping her fist in the air.

“That’s not something you can call dibs on, Hestia,” Artemis replied with a small frown as we all made our way to the living room.

Of course, the two goddesses were so busy arguing they didn’t even notice Est and Naaza had already flanked me on both sides, claiming the coveted spots, until it was far too late. They looked at my lap after that in hope only for it to be dashed as Wiene quickly took that spot too.

=====

One Long Explanation Later

Seated around the living room with everyone, I finally leaned back into my seat after explaining the Guild’s request. Est and Naaza snuggled into my sides, while Wiene leaned back on my chest getting more comfortable, much to the others’ slight jealousy.

“An expedition to the 25th floor, huh?” Hestia muttered thoughtfully, one hand on her chin as she looked down at the official request letter in her other hand.

“Well, with Reinhard-sama’s ridiculous ability to get dropped items from every monster slain,” Lili said with a nod, crossing her arms beneath her chest, “Lili guesses it shouldn’t take very long to collect what the Guild asked for.”

“We’ll still need to plan to stay down there for more than a day,” Naaza added from her spot beside me, her tail slowly swaying. “The Dungeon is unpredictable, so it’s always best to be cautious.”

“Speaking of preparation,” I said, already shifting gears in my head, “I need to start crafting some of the items Rose recommended. If I want to finish before the day ends, I better start right away.”

I was already thinking about making plenty of Undine Cloth for everyone and ensuring we had a solid stock of Umbrosia in case of poison, though with Naaza’s help in potion-making, I doubted there would be any issues.

“Before you get started, Rein,” Artemis said, pulling my attention back to the present, “there’s something you should know, something that someone forgot to mention again.”

She threw a deadpan look at Hestia, who blinked… then widened her eyes and turned red with embarrassment.

“I’m sorry, okay~?” Hestia whined, covering her face with her hands. “Today’s just been filled with so many surprises…”

“Right. That’s why Hestia-sama woke up at noon today,” Ram added flatly, causing Hestia to slide down in her seat in defeat.

“Raaam~ You’re supposed to support your Goddess!” Hestia groaned, shooting her a small glare.

Ram, unfazed, smirked haughtily and covered her mouth with one hand. “Sorry, Hestia-sama, but this Ram is a proper maid and only serves one Master, Reinhard-sama.”

“As always, Nee-sama, you’re completely correct,” Rem added proudly, puffing out her chest. “Rem also has only one Master.”

“Hehe… so, what is it I should know?” I asked, a bit nervously, scratching the back of my neck to move the conversation along.

“Right!” Hestia perked up, giving me a thumbs-up and a cheeky grin. “Rein-kun, we had two interesting visitors today who want to join our Familia. Since you’re the Captain, I told them to come back later when you were home.”

Blinking, I absentmindedly ran my hand through Wiene’s hair at her insistence. “Oh? Possible new recruits, huh? And the fact that you didn’t immediately say no, and called them interesting, must mean you approve?”

“Yep~ They seem like good girls,” Hestia replied with a small pout. “Even if I’m still a little annoyed that only girls have joined so far, but whatever. I’ll keep their identities a surprise for now. I’ll call you if they show up again.”

“Alright then. I better get started,” I said, standing. Est and Naaza reluctantly moved away from me.

“I’ll help, Rein~!” Wiene said excitedly, hopping down and turning to me with an expectant look.

Knowing I couldn’t say no to her, I nodded. With that, everyone split off to prepare for our first big expedition tomorrow, while Wiene and I made our way to the forge.

‘I wonder who it was…?’

=====

Several Hours Later

It took a while, with a few quick trips to Babel to get the right materials, but I eventually managed to make enough Undine Cloth for everyone. It would be a big help for the water-heavy floors ahead. Combined with the Wild and Environmental Defense perks, it should make traversing the Water City fairly easy… well, ignoring the monsters, of course.

While I worked, Wiene did her best to help, handing me tools and materials, and overall just enjoying the time spent together. She especially seemed interested in anything related to exploring the city, so I told her about the various places I’d visited so far.

By the end of it, I promised her that after our expedition, I’d take her anywhere she wanted to go. Her response? A surprise hug and a kiss on the cheek, which caught me completely off guard.

When I asked where she’d learned that, she simply answered that she saw everyone else doing it… and wanted to try it, too.

‘Note to self. Wiene is incredibly impressionable. I should really warn the others to be more mindful of what they do around her.’

Eventually, just as the sun was starting to set, Rem came to find us.

“Reinhard-kun, the guests have arrived,” she announced.

“Just give me a moment to finish cleaning up and I’ll be right there. Luckily, I managed to finish everything just in time,” I said, looking up from where Wiene and I were tidying up around the forge.

“Then let your Rem help too~” she chimed in cheerfully. “She is your personal maid, after all. This kind of stuff is exactly what she should be doing.”

Without waiting for a response, she joined in.

“Thanks, Rem,” I said, giving her a quick head pat as I walked past.

“Yes, thank you, Rem~” Wiene echoed with a warm smile.

“Hihihi, it’s nothing, really,” Rem giggled happily, eyes closed in delight, and if she’d had a tail, I was sure it would’ve been wagging.

With the three of us working together, we finished cleaning up the forge in no time. Then, led by Rem, we made our way back inside toward the living room.

As I entered, my eyes immediately locked onto two unfamiliar faces nervously sitting side by side, with Hestia sitting across from them, mid-conversation.

“And there he is now,” Hestia declared, quickly noticing our presence and waving us over.

“Sorry for the wait, I hope I didn’t take too long,” I said as I crossed the distance and took a seat next to Hestia. Wiene sat down on my other side, and, being the awesome maid she was, Rem quickly served us both a cup of tea.

Now finally settled in, I let my gaze drift over to our guests, and recognized them almost immediately. It was none other than Cassandra Ilion and Daphne Lauros. Which, honestly, was a little weird. This used to be their home, after all, before losing the War Game against us.

“P-Please don’t worry about us! We didn’t wait long at all,” Cassandra said quickly, waving her hands nervously. Beside her, Daphne remained quiet, eyeing me like she was trying to size me up.

“That’s good to hear,” I replied. “Anyway, nice to meet you again. Cassandra and Daphne, right?” I greeted them with a polite smile, causing Cassandra to slump in relief.

“That’s right. I’m surprised you remembered us after just one meeting,” Daphne said, blinking once. Her posture relaxed slightly when she saw my expression. She threw a curious glance at Wiene before turning back to me.

“Haha, well, I doubt I’ll ever forget our first War Game,” I said with a humble smile. “You two definitely left an impression. From the moment I met you, I could tell you were strong.”

“Strong, huh?” Daphne scoffed lightly. “Didn’t feel that way when we got taken out so easily…”

“W-What Daphne-chan means is that you’re a lot stronger than we thought at first!” Cassandra said quickly, jumping in to defend her friend, probably worried Daphne was being rude.

“It’s alright,” I reassured them. “If we’re going to be living and fighting together, then you shouldn’t be afraid to speak your mind.”

Both of them blinked at that.

“Y-You mean…?” Cassandra asked, her voice filled with hope, while Daphne gave me a strange look.

“Of course,” I nodded. “That first time we met, you were warning me, right? And you even apologized for your former god’s actions. That tells me everything I need to know about both of you.”

I turned to Hestia, who had been letting me take the lead until now.

“The fact that Hestia-sama even accepted you into our home already said a lot to me. Usually, any other person wouldn’t have made it past the front door. And I don’t see any reason to object. So, if neither of you has changed your mind, welcome to the Hestia Familia, Cassandra, Daphne.”

I stood up and extended a hand toward them.

“Let’s get along from now on.”

It took a few moments for them to process what I’d just said, but then Cassandra jumped up, almost tripping, and grabbed my hand with both of hers, her smile huge and her eyes glistening with tears.

“T-Thank you very much~! Please take care of us from now on,” she said, speaking so quickly she nearly bit her tongue.

“I guess I owe Cassandra a meal,” Daphne added with a faint smile as she took my hand next, once Cassandra had let go. “She told me we’d be welcomed. We’ll be under your care, Captain.”

“Wooo~ New members!” Hestia squealed, finally rejoining the conversation and somehow pulling all four of us into a group hug, giggling the whole time.

“New friends~!” Wiene cheered, throwing her arms up with joy.

Even Rem, still nearby, smiled slightly… though her words carried a different undertone.

“Great. More competition.”

=====

Following Day

After Cassandra and Daphne received their Falna, we held a small welcome party for them, which the Artemis Familia joined in on when they returned from the dungeon.

With everyone in such a festive mood, I decided to hold off on telling Emma what I’d learned about her sister. I resolved to speak with her after our expedition instead.

Since Cassandra and Daphne were still new and not yet accustomed to our party dynamics, it was decided that they would remain behind and guard Hestia and Artemis, a role usually taken by one of the twins, who would both be coming along on the expedition this time.

Thankfully, Cassandra and Daphne understood and didn’t seem upset about it. And now, we found ourselves at the front entrance with everyone seeing us off.

“Good luck, everyone~” Hestia said with a warm smile, her expression turning serious as she continued. “And remember the most important thing: come back alive and safe.”

“If things get too dangerous, remember, your lives are more important than the quest,” Artemis added, her voice calm but encouraging.

“You can count on us, Hestia-sama. Artemis-sama,” I said with a serious nod, Est already strapped to my waist in sword form.

The others behind me echoed their thanks, and then I turned my gaze to Cassandra and Daphne, who stood slightly behind Hestia.

“We leave the care of Hestia-sama and Artemis-sama in your hands, Cassandra, Daphne,” I said with a smile.

“Of course. Leave it to us,” Daphne replied seriously.

“B-Be safe, everyone,” Cassandra added with a nervous but supportive voice. We thanked her with a nod.

“Well then, let’s go. We’re off, Hestia-sama, Artemis-sama,” I said, stepping ahead with the others following behind.

“Bye, Rein~ Come back soon!” Wiene called out, her voice tinged with sadness, but she still waved cheerfully, fully trusting that we’d return safe and sound.

With a final wave, the Hearth Mansion slowly disappeared from view behind us as we made our way toward Babel, for what would be the first of, hopefully, many expeditions for the Hestia Familia.

‘I have to admit… I’m a bit excited for what’s ahead.’ I thought with a small smile.