DanMachi Fanfic - Chapter 2: Lurking Destiny
The morning sun seeped through the cracks of the cheap inn's windows where Kira was staying. He had been awake since dawn, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes while contemplating his strategy for the day.
"Hestia..." he muttered. "In the original story, she was the one who accepted Bell despite having nothing. Perhaps she would accept me too?"
After tidying himself up and having a modest breakfast, Kira stepped outside with renewed spirit. His destination this time was the old church he knew would become Hestia Familia's headquarters in the future.
---
"Empty?"
Kira stood in front of the half-ruined old church. Its door was slightly ajar, indicating there was no lock or occupant. Carefully, he pushed the creaking wooden door and stepped inside.
The room was dusty and vacant. There were no signs of life or that this place had been inhabited recently.
"Damn," Kira ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Don't tell me Hestia hasn't descended to the mortal world yet? Where else should I go?"
He checked the entire church, including the basement that was supposed to become Hestia and Bell's living quarters in the original story. Everything was empty.
"Is this six months before the original story begins? Or perhaps a year before it starts?" he reminded himself. "Maybe Hestia truly hasn't descended yet... or perhaps she's living somewhere else first."
With dragging steps, Kira left the church and headed back toward the city center. His hopes were increasingly diminishing.
---
Meanwhile, in a room inside Babel Tower, the small goddess Hestia with black hair tied in twintails appeared to be lounging while reading a book. She was staying at her good friend goddess Hephaestus's place.
Suddenly, Hestia's eye twitched. She turned to the window with a confused expression.
"What's wrong, Hestia?" asked Hephaestus, who was working on a new tool design.
"I'm not sure," Hestia answered while rubbing her eyes. "It feels like... someone is talking about me? Or looking for me?"
"Perhaps your goddess instinct is detecting someone suitable to become a member of your Familia?" Hephaestus teased.
Hestia snorted. "That's impossible. I don't even have my own place yet. Besides, who would want to join a nameless Familia like mine?"
Hestia refocused on her book, ignoring the strange premonition she had just felt. Without her realizing it, fate was playing in mysterious ways.
---
Kira walked aimlessly amid the bustle of Orario city. His expression was dejected, a stark contrast to his confident demeanor on the first day. He had tried several other Familias this morning, but the results were the same—rejection after rejection.
"Why is it so difficult to join a Familia in this city?" he grumbled. "I thought with my physique and abilities, they would be fighting over me..."
He heaved a long sigh. His money was running low, and without a Familia, he couldn't become an official adventurer to earn money. His situation was beginning to feel miserable.
Feeling bored and frustrated, Kira decided to sit in a roadside café, ordering the cheapest drink on the menu. He stared vacantly at the people passing by on the street.
Suddenly, the hair on the back of his neck stood up. There was a strange sensation—like an intense gaze piercing his back. Kira felt an intimidating aura that made his heart race. With slow movements, he glanced behind.
In the corner of the café, a girl with silvery-blue hair was watching him. The girl wore a simple waitress uniform, but the aura she emanated was anything but simple. Her gray eyes stared at Kira with an intensity that was both frightening and captivating.
Syr... or more precisely, Freya in disguise.
Kira recognized that figure from his knowledge of the original story. Goddess Freya, one of the most beautiful goddesses in Orario who often disguised herself as a waitress named Syr Flova. And now, somehow, her attention was focused on Kira.
Instead of feeling afraid, a thin smirk appeared on Kira's face. This is interesting. The goddess of beauty is interested in me, eh?
With courage from who knows where, Kira raised his glass toward the girl, signaling a greeting. The girl looked slightly surprised, but then smiled faintly and walked closer.
He clearly knew Syr wasn't a waitress at this café but treated her as if she were one.
"Good afternoon," she greeted with a soft voice. "Are you enjoying your drink?"
"I am now," Kira replied casually. "It's not every day I get served by a girl as beautiful as you."
The girl chuckled. "My name is Syr. Syr Flova. I work at the Hostess of Fertility, but today is my day off."
Hmm... Day off? Does she work at this café or not?
"Kira." He extended his hand. "A new adventurer still looking for a Familia."
Syr took his hand. The touch was brief, but Kira could feel hidden strength behind her soft hand.
"May I sit?" asked Syr.
"Of course, I would be honored," answered Kira, pulling out a chair for her.
Syr sat gracefully. "So, you're looking for a Familia? Which ones have you tried?"
"Almost all on the Guild's recommendation list," Kira sighed. "Strangely, they all rejected me. I thought with my abilities and..." he deliberately showed off his arm muscles, "...physique, they would be interested."
"Mmm, impressive indeed," Syr commented, her eyes glinting. "But Familias don't just look for physical strength. They look for compatibility... of souls."
Kira smirked. "Souls, huh? And in your opinion, where does my soul fit?"
Syr gazed at him with such intensity that Kira felt as if he were naked before her—not physically, but his soul.
"You... are interesting," Syr finally said. "There's something different about you. Something other adventurers don't have."
Of course, I'm a reincarnation from another world with knowledge about this world's future, thought Kira, but he only smiled.
"Is that a compliment or criticism?" he asked lightly.
"Both, perhaps." Syr smiled mysteriously. "But I think I know a Familia that might suit you."
"Oh?" Kira raised his eyebrows. "And which Familia is that?"
"Freya Familia."
Kira pretended to be surprised, though in his heart he had already guessed it. "Freya? The goddess of beauty? Isn't her Familia known to be very selective?"
"Indeed," Syr nodded. "But I... have connections there. I can recommend you."
"Wow, you have connections with an elite Familia? Seems like I'm lucky to have met you, Miss Syr." Kira looked directly into Syr's eyes. "Or should I call you... Freya-sama?"
The atmosphere around them instantly changed. Syr's eyes widened momentarily before returning to calm, but a dangerous flash was clearly visible there.
"What do you mean?" she asked with a voice that remained gentle, but with a threatening undertone.
Kira chuckled. "Just kidding. But seriously, why do you want to help me? We just met."
Syr looked at him for a long time, as if weighing something. "Let's just say I can see... potential. You're different, Kira. And that difference is intriguing."
"You know," Kira leaned forward, bringing his face closer to Syr's. "Usually I'm the one making women interested, not the other way around. This is a new experience that's... pleasant."
Syr didn't back away despite their proximity. "Very confident, aren't you."
"You haven't seen everything yet," Kira winked. "So, how do I meet Freya-sama?"
"Follow me," Syr stood gracefully. "I'll take you to Folkvangr."
Kira stood as well, taking out a few coins to pay for his drink. "Lead the way, beautiful."
As they walked side by side out of the café, Kira knew he was playing with fire. Freya was a dangerous goddess—beautiful yet deadly. In the original story, her obsession with Bell nearly destroyed many things.
But Kira wasn't Bell. He possessed knowledge and awareness that the original protagonist didn't have. And if his plan succeeded—if he could join Freya Familia without becoming the goddess's puppet—he could gain the power he needed to realize his ambitions in this world.
"By the way," said Kira as they walked. "You're even more beautiful than what people say."
"Oh?" Syr turned with a small smile. "And what do they say?"
"That you're the most beautiful goddess in Orario."
Syr stopped. Her eyes gazed sharply at Kira. "You—"
"I mean, the most beautiful waitress," Kira quickly corrected, pretending to be unaware of the slip he had deliberately made. "Sorry, my tongue slipped. But you are as beautiful as a goddess."
Syr observed him for a moment before continuing to walk. "You're dangerous, Kira."
"I'll take that as a compliment, Syr-chan."
They continued walking through the streets of Orario toward the southern district, where Freya Familia's magnificent building—Folkvangr—stood. Though Kira appeared relaxed, his mind was working hard, formulating strategy after strategy. Because he knew, the step he was about to take could be either a blessing or a curse.
With each step toward Folkvangr, Kira was getting closer to a destiny that would change the entire storyline of this world.
Freya-sama, I'm coming for you.