A tall, broad-shouldered figure filled the doorway, flanked by two other members of the Ganesha Familia. His expression was serious, his eyes sharp and calculating. He had the demeanor of someone used to getting straight to the point.

"I'm Ganesha!"

The man said gruffly.

"I've heard what you two did. You've done a good thing, bringing these bandits in. But there's more to this than meets the eye."

He stepped forward, his voice lowering.

"There have been more than just simple robberies. These men were involved in something bigger — something dangerous."

Kaide nodded slowly, his instincts telling him this wasn't going to be a quick chat.

"What exactly are you implying?"

Ganesha's eyes hardened.

"The disappearances weren't random. These bandits were targeting adventurers on quests — those doing jobs outside the city. And we've been hearing rumors about something even darker going on. Something. . . cultish."

He sighed, clearly frustrated.

"It's still too early to tell. That's why we need answers, and you two might have just given us the lead we need."

Filyn straightened at the mention of cults.

"You're saying these guys are tied to some kind of organization?"

Captain Ganesha's expression darkened further.

"Could be. We don't know yet. But the last thing we need is to be left in the dark while adventurers keep vanishing."

He fixed his gaze on Kaide.

"We'll need you to answer a few questions. Tell us everything you know about this bandit group and what they were doing before you found them."

Kaide exchanged a glance with Filyn. This was more than they had expected, but they had already made their decision. They would cooperate, for now. They needed information, too. Information that could help them get closer to Hephaestus.

But first, they had to help the Ganesha Familia.

Kaide leaned back in his chair, considering Ganesha's words carefully. The room, dim and quiet, felt like it was closing in on him as he processed the gravity of the situation. The mention of cults stirred a sense of unease in his chest, and his mind raced with questions — what kind of organization could the bandits be involved with? And how did it tie into the bigger picture?Ganesha, noticing the tension, leaned forward, his eyes never leaving Kaide.

"We've been keeping an eye on the disappearance of adventurers for weeks now, mostly those who took quests outside Orario. It's not the usual rogue bandits picking off stragglers; it's something more coordinated."

He let out a sigh.

"These men — this group of bandits — might just be the link we've been searching for."

Kaide nodded slowly.

"I understand. But we only encountered them by chance. They were picking on a group of adventurers, and we intervened. That's all I can tell you."

Filyn, who had been silent up until now, spoke up.

"Yeah, they were pretty cocky about it, too. Talked about how they had gotten some good loot from adventurers they took down after a monster fight. Didn't sound like a random thing at all."

She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing.

"They were acting like they were part of something bigger."

Ganesha's expression darkened further at her words.

"That's what we thought too. They've been leaving too many clues for this to be the work of simple thieves. We're trying to piece together the puzzle, and your testimony helps, but. . ."

His voice trailed off, his gaze drifting to the unconscious bandits being guarded outside.

"There's still so much we don't know."

The tension in the room grew thicker. Kaide thought about the grimoire they had found among the bandits' possessions, the subtle magical energy pulsing within it. It could be nothing, but it could also be important. He had kept it in his Dimenswatch storage for now, not wanting to raise suspicion by examining it too soon. But perhaps now was the time to bring it up.

"I noticed something odd in the loot,"

Kaide said, his tone casual but deliberate.

"There was a grimoire among their stolen goods. It had a faint magical energy to it."

Ganesha's eyes sharpened.

"A grimoire? Did they seem like the type to know magic?"

Kaide shook his head.

"Not that I could tell. But it's worth mentioning.

The god nodded thoughtfully.

"It could be a clue. We'll need to check it out. And if it's anything related to their operation, we'll put it to good use."

Filyn gave Kaide a sidelong glance.

"I guess we'll be handing over the grimoire too."

Kaide shrugged, but a part of him was reluctant. The book might hold information they needed. Information about who these bandits were really working for. But there was little choice if they were to earn the trust of the Ganesha Familia and, in turn, Orario's authority.

"Fine,"

Kaide said.

"We'll hand it over after the questioning."

The door to the room creaked open, and another member of the Ganesha Familia stepped inside — a tall, sharp-eyed woman with short dark hair and an air of confidence about her. She nodded to Ganesha, acknowledging his presence before turning her attention to Kaide and Filyn.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Ganesha-sama,"

The woman said, her voice polite but firm.

"But I thought you'd want to know about the latest developments."

Ganesha raised an eyebrow.

"Go ahead."

She hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"We've managed to get some intel on the bandit group. One of our scouts overheard them talking about a recruitment of sorts — something about the bandits preparing for a big event. But they weren't specific about what it was."

She looked between Kaide and Filyn.

"What do you make of that?"

Kaide's thoughts immediately jumped to the possibility of the bandits being involved in some larger scheme — something connected to the cult-like rumors Ganesha had mentioned earlier. But he kept his expression neutral.

"It sounds like they were preparing for something,"

Kaide said slowly, mulling it over.

"But what kind of event are we talking about? Could it be something to do with the missing adventurers?"

The woman nodded.

"That's what we're trying to figure out. But these bandits aren't the only ones involved in this. We've seen strange movements from other factions around Orario, too — groups we don't usually deal with."

Filyn crossed her arms.

"Great. So, we're talking about something bigger than just some random bandit crew? Sounds like we've stepped into a mess."

Ganesha gave a grim smile.

"You've got that right. But if you're serious about helping, this is where it starts. We need all the information we can get. And if you want to earn favor with the Ganesha Familia, then this is your chance."

Kaide nodded, his mind already working through their options. The stakes were rising faster than he had anticipated. But this could be the break they needed to learn more about Orario and get closer to Hephaestus.

"We'll do what we can,"

Kaide said, looking Ganesha directly in the eyes.

"But we'll need to know more about these groups you've been tracking."

Ganesha's gaze was sharp.

"We'll share what we know, but not until we've finished questioning these bandits. We've got a few more things to figure out first."

Kaide and Filyn exchanged a glance. The next few hours were bound to be filled with interrogation and perhaps more danger than they had expected, but they were ready. This was the beginning of their journey through Orario — and the first step in meeting Hephaestus.

For now, they would play their part and cooperate. But Kaide knew one thing for sure: the deeper they dug, the more they would uncover — and they had no idea just how deep this rabbit hole went.Kaide leaned back in his chair, the weight of the Ganesha Familia's questioning lingering in the air. The events of the night were starting to blur together — too many questions, too many pieces of a puzzle that didn't quite fit. He glanced at Filyn, who seemed more than ready to get some space. The whole situation had been tense, but they'd done what they needed to.

As the conversation turned toward logistics, Kaide turned to Captain Ganesha and Shakti Varma, who had just entered the room to wrap up their discussion.

"Before we get started, there's one thing I wanted to ask,"

Kaide said, his voice calm but direct.

"Would it be alright if I kept the other non-important loot from the bandits? You know, the stuff that doesn't seem to have much value?"

Ganesha gave a thoughtful nod, his sharp gaze never leaving Kaide.

"I don't see why not. As long as it's not dangerous or tied to the bandits' operations, feel free to keep what you like. Just remember, we'll need to look through everything you give us."

Shakti Varma, standing slightly off to the side, folded her arms with a nod of agreement.

"That's fine, but if there's anything suspicious in there, we might take a closer look."

Kaide gave a respectful bow.

"Of course, Captain. Thank you."

As the sun dipped lower into the horizon, the night's cool air began to settle in. Shakti looked at her watch before speaking again.

"It's already getting late. You're both welcome to stay at our Familia residence for the night. We'll have someone supervise you while you're here. We'll get to the rest of the questions in the morning."

Kaide and Filyn exchanged a look, both agreeing silently that they were more than ready for a break. They hadn't expected to be thrown into such a tense situation, and a few hours of rest seemed like a good idea.

Shakti turned to one of her subordinates, a tall, confident-looking woman with short, cropped hair.

"Ardee,"

She called,

"I want you to look after our guests. Make sure they're comfortable and that nothing goes wrong."

The younger woman — Ardee Varma — nodded eagerly.

"Understood, Captain!"

Filyn gave Kaide a playful nudge.

"Looks like we've got a babysitter,"

She joked.

Ardee, appearing somewhat shy but friendly, smiled warmly.

"Don't worry, I'll show you around and make sure you're settled in."

The group made their way through the Ganesha Familia headquarters, passing through a few halls before arriving at a modest room. There were two simple beds, a wooden desk, and a window that looked out onto the quiet streets of Orario.

Kaide looked around, noticing the practicality of the place. It wasn't fancy, but it was clean and comfortable. Ardee gestured toward the beds.

"You can rest here for tonight. I'll let you two settle in while I go grab dinner from the mess hall."

Filyn gave her a thumbs-up.

"Thanks, Ardee. We'll be fine."

Once the door closed behind her, Kaide turned to Filyn.

"You go ahead and enjoy your dinner with her. I'll stay here and rest a bit."

Filyn looked at him curiously but then shrugged.

"Alright. Don't go around breaking anything while we're gone, okay?"

Kaide nodded absently, already deep in thought about the bandits' loot. After the door clicked shut, he took a deep breath, stepping over to his bed. From his Dimenswatch, he retrieved the important items that he had stored in the inventory. He laid them out carefully beside him, sorting through the various pieces of stolen gear.

His eyes caught a strange item — a "normal safe" that hadn't stood out at first but now drew his attention. The safe had a simple, nondescript appearance, the kind of thing anyone might overlook in a pile of loot. Curiosity gnawed at Kaide, and he set it down on the floor.

He focused on it, trying to open it. The safe clicked, but instead of revealing the expected contents, it opened to reveal another grimoire — this one, unlike the others, lacked any magical aura. The lack of magic was unusual, but Kaide couldn't help but feel that this book was significant in some way.

He was about to inspect the grimoire further when a knock sounded at the door, making him freeze.

Who could that be?

Quickly, he stored both the safe and the grimoire back in his Dimenswatch before giving the door a quick glance. He moved over and opened it cautiously, half-expecting trouble, but it was none other than Shakti Varma standing in the doorway.

"Good evening, Kaide,"

She greeted, her voice calm and authoritative.

"I just wanted to check on you before we call it a night."

Kaide, still processing the strange book, nodded.

"Of course, Captain. Is everything alright?"

Shakti's eyes seemed to study him for a moment, as if weighing his words.

"Everything's fine. I just wanted to make sure you're comfortable here. We'll continue with the questioning tomorrow, but for tonight, you're free to relax. Just don't try to leave without anyone knowing."

She added the last part with a faint smile, but there was an edge of seriousness beneath it.

Kaide smiled back, trying to keep his cool despite the questions racing in his mind.

"Understood. Thank you for the hospitality."

Shakti lingered for a moment before nodding.

"You're welcome. Get some rest. We'll need your full cooperation tomorrow. I'm sure you'll have questions of your own."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Kaide to his thoughts once again.

He closed the door, and with a quiet exhale, sat down on the bed. He glanced once more at the Dimenswatch, the grimoire still fresh in his mind. There was something about it — something that didn't feel right. But for now, he would hold off on delving deeper. He needed to gather more information before making any decisions.

For now, he would rest. Tomorrow, they would take the next step in their journey through Orario.

|♪♪♪♪♪|

The early morning sun cast a soft light over the training grounds as Kaide stood off to the side, leaning against a post while observing the sparring match unfolding before him. Filyn and Ardee were engaged in a friendly but intense fight, their movements fluid and precise, each strike and block showcasing the skill they had honed through years of training.

Kaide couldn't help but notice the differences in their fighting styles. Ardee, with her swift movements, wielded a sword — an unusual choice for someone from a familia so closely tied to a spear-fighting legacy. He wondered why she opted for a sword rather than the traditional spear that her sister, Shakti, was known for. Was it simply a preference, or was there some deeper reason behind her choice of weapon?

His mind drifted from that thought, quickly jumping to the story idea he had been toying with — a tale that had been rattling around in his mind ever since his arrival in this world. He thought about Scathach Skadi, a legendary warrior who was skilled with both spears and runic magic.

The idea of a character capable of wielding such powers fascinated him. As he pondered, a particularly powerful move from Filyn broke his concentration and reignited his thoughts on magic.

He remembered another type of magic that he found intriguing — runic Enchantment magic, as seen in Kenja no Mago (Wise Man's Grandchild). He recalled a specific type of enchantment used there, one that allowed the caster to create powerful runes that could imbue items with magical properties. Now that was the kind of magic that could truly enhance a weapon, he thought, eyes narrowing with quiet excitement.

Combining it with enchantment magic from Minecraft, where items could be upgraded with added abilities or durability, was an idea he'd long been fascinated by.

The possibilities for weapons and magic were endless. A combination of runic magic and enchantments could result in a weapon that was far beyond anything normal, something that could grow stronger with use and provide an edge against even the most formidable foes.

He could already picture it: A three sectioned staff — the weapon he chose to wield — imbued with runes that could enhance speed, power, and durability. It would be the perfect weapon to complement his skills.

His train of thought was broken when he heard footsteps approaching. He looked up to see Shakti walking over, a smirk on her face as she watched her younger sister and Filyn trade blows.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

Shakti remarked with a nod toward the sparring match.

"Filyn is giving Ardee quite the challenge. For someone without a falna, she holds her own very well."

Kaide couldn't help but smile at the observation.

"Yeah, she's definitely got a natural talent for hand-to-hand combat. It's amazing how well she's doing without a status to boost her abilities."

Shakti chuckled.

"It's rare to see someone with such raw talent and willpower. Ardee's been sparring with her for hours now, and she's still struggling to land a decisive blow. But don't get me wrong — Ardee's no slouch either. She's just used to more structured fights, you know? Sword training and all that."

Kaide glanced back at Ardee, who was breathing hard but still standing tall. There was something admirable about her persistence. He hadn't expected the younger Varma sister to be such a fierce fighter, especially considering her preference for a sword rather than the spear. It made him curious again about her reasons for switching from the more traditional weapon of her familia.

Shakti seemed to catch his curious look.

"You're wondering why Ardee uses a sword instead of a spear, aren't you?"

She asked, with a knowing glance.

Kaide nodded.

"Yeah, I am. Given your choice of weapon, it seems odd to me that she would choose a sword over a spear when you could give her pointers."

Shakti's expression softened slightly, a hint of fondness appearing on her face as she watched her younger sister.

"Well, it's a bit of a personal choice. Ardee's always been the one to push against tradition. While I'm more than happy to wield a spear and carry on the legacy of our familia, Ardee prefers to carve her own path. She's been experimenting with swordsmanship ever since she was a child, and while she's not as fast as me with a spear, she's definitely a fierce fighter in her own right."

Kaide smiled thoughtfully.

"Sounds like she values independence over tradition."

Shakti nodded, her smile widening slightly.

"Exactly. Ardee's determination is one of the things that makes her such a good fighter. She doesn't follow the rules, but she's always adapting, always learning. And that's a strength in its own way."

Just as Shakti finished speaking, Filyn landed a hit to Ardee's side, causing the younger woman to stumble backward, grinning despite herself. Filyn laughed and held out a hand to help her up.

"Good fight, Ardee. You're getting faster."

Ardee, slightly out of breath, grinned back.

"You're not bad either, Filyn. I thought I'd have you pinned for sure. I'll get you next time."

Shakti, watching her sister, let out a small laugh.

"Well, maybe you'll have better luck with someone a little less skilled."

She turned back to Kaide, her eyes glinting with amusement.

"Filyn seems to be skilled enough that it makes it hard to beat her, even for some of our less seasoned warriors. Ardee will get there, though. I have no doubt about it."

Kaide chuckled.

"She's certainly got the heart for it."

Shakti's smile turned more serious.

"That's what counts in the end. Skill can be learned, but determination is something you either have or you don't. Ardee has plenty of it."

Kaide nodded, appreciating the sentiment. His thoughts briefly returned to the idea of magic and weapons, and how determination could help him in his own journey. Maybe, just maybe, combining all these thoughts — swords, spears, runes, and enchantments — could lead to something incredible.

"Well, it looks like I've got some thinking to do,"

Kaide murmured to himself, though just loud enough for Shakti to hear.

She raised an eyebrow, amused.

"You're not planning on fighting someone right now, are you? You'll have to wait until Ardee gets some rest."

Kaide chuckled, shaking his head.

"No, nothing like that. Just... thinking about some personal projects. I'm sure I'll need to be prepared for whatever comes next."

Shakti grinned.

"Smart. Always be prepared."

She patted him on the shoulder before looking back at Ardee and Filyn.

"Come on, let's give them a break. We'll get some food before you both head off on your next mission."

Kaide smiled, following her toward the others. Whatever lay ahead for him in Orario, he knew that this world had a lot to offer — and he was determined to make the most of it.

|♪♪♪♪♪|

Chapter 14

Ganesha Familia's Favor

3422 Words