Living My Third Life In Danmachi Chapter 26: Fels

Chapter 26: Fels

Freya bit her fingernail.

No matter how much she thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

After her last encounter with Luke Blade, she’d mulled it over again and again.

Could it be that she held back, using only a fraction of her power in an attempt to charm him? No, even so, there’s no way a mere Level 2 adventurer (now Level 3) could resist her.

If it hadn’t worked, then why would Luke have lashed out at her?

That left only one conclusion.

A human’s willpower had overcome a god’s power.

There was no other explanation. Realizing this, Freya smiled.

“Interesting.”

She wanted him.

But for now, simply watching him wasn’t a bad option either.

She knew Susanoo. They’d had a few interactions back in the heavens, and bringing Luke over wouldn’t be a problem.

Even if force were needed, it would be meaningless. She was the head of one of Orario’s strongest familias—the Freya Familia.

And by her side stood a quiet, unwavering presence: a boar beastman with steely eyes.

The strongest adventurer, known as the Boar King, Level 7. Ottar, the “Braver.”

“Ottar, there might be something I need you to do.”

“As you command, Lady Freya.”

The steadfast warrior bowed his head humbly and awaited her orders.

“I want to know more about that boy. What he thinks, how he’s lived, what drives his will.”

She had seen that golden soul countless times before. The radiant glow that often belonged to heroes. And without exception, those individuals always carried a powerful, unyielding determination.

To protect others.

For honor.

For loved ones.

Most great figures carry at least one of these driving forces.

But Luke is nothing like that. He doesn’t fit the golden hue at all. In fact, he embodies a deep, harmonious crimson—completely opposed to it. And yet, his brilliance surpasses that of most heroes.

It’s still incomplete, but if one were to compare it, his radiance might only match the greatest of heroes from long ago—the kind who, through self-sacrifice, could fend off a black dragon and claim one of its eyes.

What kind of will does such a person carry?

Reviewing this month’s list of adventurers newly ranked to Level 2, Freya smiled slightly.

“That boy is strong, but he doesn’t quite appeal to the gods. Some gods are content just to watch, and others judge purely by appearances. He doesn’t particularly interest them.”

By most measures, Luke is no more than decent. His expression is rough, his voice gravelly, and his personality is just plain odd. He’s hardly the type that gods would find appealing.

What draws attention is his bold approach and his status as a record holder.

“If the straightforward path doesn’t work, why not go around the back?”

This is a trial.

A trial given by a goddess to a man who walks the path of a villain, not a hero.

“Apollo would love this,” she mused.

Among this month’s “Ranked-Up Adventurer” list was a familiar name:

[Riseria Ljos Alf]

A name she recognized—an elf.

...

Riseria, credited with creating a grimoire, had advanced to Level 2.

“Just one step forward.”

“Congratulations. Looks like we’ll need to throw a party.”

Luke, uncharacteristically serious, offered his congratulations. Because Riseria had a clear purpose in mind, he believed her progress toward her goals deserved respect.

“If my teacher finds out I’ve reached Level 2, he might come by.”

“Your teacher?”

“His name’s Fels… He’s the one who taught me magic after I came to Orario. A bit of an oddball and eccentric, sure, but his magical skills are top-notch. He never expected me to become an adventurer, though. If he hears about it, I wouldn’t be surprised if he shows up.”

“I think I’ve heard that name before.”

Luke recalled a time when Riseria shared her story in a moment of frustration. Wasn’t it when the Loki Familia first approached her?

At the same time, a similar thought crossed Luke’s mind.

If her teacher came to see her, maybe another acquaintance would also come.

Her sister, Riveria Ljos Alf.

“…I’m prepared. There are a lot of things I want to say to her. In fact, I’d rather go see her myself.”

“Oh, you’ve overcome it, then?”

"If Lili’s working hard, I can’t just sit back. I’ve decided not to run away anymore."

Both Lili and Riseria had changed from the people they once were. While they might not be ready to face the entire world, they had gained the courage to confront themselves and the reality they lived in.

Rumi, however, was still someone they needed to keep an eye on.

"I should start looking for someone who can teach Rumi blacksmithing. I’ll save up and hire a private instructor."

"How about asking the Hephaestus Familia for help?"

"Relying on them too much isn’t ideal. If we end up in their debt, we’ll have to pay it back. I’d rather find someone who can teach the basics and go from there."

The familia’s main decisions were typically made by Riseria and Luke. Luke decided on the general direction, and Riseria worked out the details of the plan. Occasionally, Susanoo stepped in, but only when the situation was too complex for them to handle alone.

For the record, Lili was in charge of finances. Nothing moved forward without her final approval. Even if Luke got the urge to splurge, it all came to a halt if Lili didn’t open the treasury.

"By the way, The Lord of the Rings has really taken off lately. Looks like some money’s coming in."

"Honestly, it’s a great read. What’s next?"

"I already wrote The Hobbit—well, The Parum—and now I’m figuring out what to work on next."

Luke’s The Lord of the Rings was already selling across Orario, gaining popularity even beyond the city’s borders.

With royalties pouring in, the familia’s finances were steadily improving.

In fact, the amounts were substantial enough to make Eina’s face go pale, so it was clearly a significant sum.

"Anyway, let me know if your teacher shows up. For now, get some rest. Let’s have a party tonight with everyone."

"Sounds good! Can we drink that wine from the Soma Familia?"

"Sure, let’s drink ourselves to death."

Luke responded with a laugh, matching Riseria’s enthusiasm.

...

Riseria had described Fels as an oddball, so I’d been expecting something unusual. But this?

“Nice to meet you. I’m Fels.”

“...What the hell is this?”

A figure in a black robe, looking ghostly, with a mask obscuring their face. Even their hands were hidden in gloves. This wasn’t just unusual—this was downright bizarre. And human? I wasn’t even sure if that applied.

It was impossible to tell if they were male or female, old or young. Were they some kind of Alraune? Unbelievable.

And clearly not an ordinary human.

I had this gut feeling, the same instinct that helped me sense gods, and it was certain: “They won’t die unless you truly intend to kill them.” In other words, a kind of limited immortality. While they didn’t seem to be a god or a spirit, something about them felt distinctly... off.

“Did you synthesize a Philosopher’s Stone or something?”

“......What are you talking about?”

“You’ve got that whole immortal-but-killable vibe. Like someone yelling ‘Then I’ll kill you until you die!’ while drowning you in fire.”

I mean, a thorough beating would probably do the trick too.

Seeing this person made me think of Fullmetal Alchemist for some reason. The vibe was uncanny. Are they some kind of alchemist? They’re certainly a winner in the mysterious department.

“An interesting idea. The Philosopher’s Stone is said to have been created by a sage long ago. I have no connection to it.”

“Honestly, I only know of two methods to make it, so I’m not sure on the details... but having one around would definitely be trouble. It just invites problems.”

“......Two methods?”

“Well, one’s mastering magic completely.”

Like someone pulling a Patchouli—maybe a gifted person devoting a century to perfecting magic could do it.

And the other...

“The other is forging it out of human souls. If it’s that method, I’m hunting down whoever did it.”

“.....What are you talking about? Human souls?”

“Human souls are a great energy source. But they’re mine now—just kidding. If you sacrifice an entire nation using something like a continental transmutation circle, you might be able to create a Philosopher’s Stone and reach godlike power.”

Fels remained silent. They might as well have been a corpse.

I might’ve cracked a Fullmetal Alchemist joke, but my audience took it way too seriously, leaving the mood awkward.

“It was a joke.”

“...”

“I said it was a joke.”

Alright, that’s on me. My bad. I apologize.

Time to change the subject before this silence gets any more unbearable.

“So, what brings you here? Riseria should be at home. If you can’t enter because you’re from a different Familia, I can call her out for you.”

“That won’t be necessary. I just wanted to pass along my regards. Congratulate her on having the courage to move forward.”

“Riseria really does call you her teacher. You must mean a lot to her. Still, wouldn’t it be better to meet her in person?”

“I’m quite busy. Besides, I wanted to have a word with you.”

“With me?”

Sure, being a record holder has drawn some attention, but I don’t usually have much to say to strangers.

“‘The Lord of the Rings’... that’s your book, isn’t it?”

...What? How do they know that? The Guild must’ve leaked my personal info. Someone hold me back—I might just march down there and wreck the place.

“I’ve had my share of dealings with the Guild. You could say I played a part in getting your book published. Think of me as, well, an editor.”

An editor, the magical word.

Back then, I had a computer to speed things along, but here? Everything’s handwritten, which means slow as hell on my end, while the publishing process stays the same.

Deadlines? Shudder.

“I’d love to chat more, but for now, let’s stick to business. Would you be open to writing something on commission?”

“Huh? I mean, sure. I can’t promise I’ll take on just anything, though—it depends on the content.”

"Alright, then. For the royalties... let’s say a nine-to-one split. You’ll get nine."

"Deal."

Originally, I was getting a seven-to-three split with the Guild, so a deal like this was too good to pass up.

The only catch is the kind of story he wants.

"This might sound strange... but could you write a story where monsters have intelligence?"

"Monsters that talk and think, you mean?"

"If that’s not possible—"

"It’s not impossible."

Talking monsters? Sure, in this world monsters don’t generally talk, but that doesn’t mean I can’t write about them.

There are plenty of stories in my memory where creatures humanity knows can talk. Some of those stories even became surprisingly popular.

Daily life with a monster girls, for example.

Monster Girl Quest.

...Huh. Those are all kind of… racy. In this world, would they call it “monster chic”?

"So the monsters just need to talk? What about the story?"

"That’s up to you."

Alright, then I’ll make them villains to keep things straightforward.

I know just the monster to use. It’ll be heavily nerfed and repurposed for a heroic tale, but it’s a perfect fit.

Last Embryo.

Sometimes a classic heroic story hits the mark. Time to test my writing chops.

I’ll craft a tale about a perfect, ultimate hero defeating the Demon Lord.

"Oh, one more thing. Seeing you gave me another idea I want to write about. Would you mind if I did?"

"Hm? You mean me?"

Time to start drafting Fullmetal Alchemist: Light Novel Edition.

This could actually be pretty fun.