With a good nights rest to recharge his batteries Neme awoke on the start of his third day, prepared to hit the ground running once more, and reach the pinnicle of his speed and strength today, the minimum he felt of what was required to succeed in his mission to slay god Soma.
Except today was different, not because the sun rose in the west, or anything like that.
Typically whenever he awoke and headed into the dungeon only a few wary adventurers would glance his way, just keeping their eyes open as it were.
Though today as he approached the dungeon, his name was called out.
"Neme!"
The hearing of the name he'd chosen for himself didn't cause him to stop at first, it was only when his cloak was tugged on followed by the calling once more, did he finally realize that the person yelling out was actually calling for him.
But why?
Besides the innkeeper, he had no relations in this world, none at all.
Turning round with a hand cautiously on the hilt of one of his swords.
He came face to face with the Half-Elf guild receptionist Eina Tully.
Though seeing her only confused him more, why was she here?
Afterall he wasn't an adventurer, and because of that she and the guild had no authority to dictate anything to him as a free citizen.
But looking further her face was filled with worry and perhaps even a hint of grief.
"Neme, please don't go in, just… here take this, find a familia they can help you, don't just throw your life away."
A piece of paper was forced into his open hand, and just a casual glance shocked Neme, the list contained every single god with a familia or looking to start a familia in Orario, along with where their bases of operations were located, and locations those same gods were known to frequent.
In a true newbies hands this would be a map to locating a god and getting the chance to enlist in a familia, but for Neme.
Instead this sheet was a gold mine, easily months if not years of gathered intelligence to track the gods to the nth degree.
Having received this gift, Neme was unable to vocalize his thanks.
Seeing this Eina didn't linger.
She just gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder before walking back to her post at the tower counter.
Neme stood there watching as her back faded into the distance.
Fingers clenched tight on the information provided.
This would become his bible over the next few weeks.
Soma was simple, besides the quarterly Denatus meetings he never left his familia base, but Dionysus that slippery little viper once he sensed someone was targeting gods he would go to ground quicker than anyone.
And even once the divine killings started it was easy to assume that besides having their familia members accompanying them like bodyguards that the gods would simply accept house arrest until the killer is captured.
They couldn't even resist coming to earth after being in quite literal 'Heaven' even though the Earth was riddled with dangers, even if the Dark Age had passed after the fall of the Zeus, and Hera Familias with the rise of Loki and Freya.
Choosing not to idle any longer Neme resumed his plunge diving into the dungeon and making a beeline for the fifth floor.
~
Eina Tully
I requested a transfer from Misha to give her a chance to work at the guild building, but more so that I could work at the Tower of Babel.
I needed to see Neme again.
The hurt in his eyes, I just couldn't shake it.
That absolute devastating look of rejection…
If he continued on his path he would get himself killed and I couldn't have that on my conscience.
So camping out at the tower from the break of dawn I sat at the counter, watching dozens of adventurers come and go.
That is until a figure dressed in all black.
Like he was a moving shadow itself, rose from the city, ascending the tower steps leading up to the grand entrance leading towards the dungeon.
The minute I saw him I called out.
But he just kept walking on.
Like a soulless being trudging onwards towards the dungeon.
Even after calling out more than once he just kept walking, so without thinking I abandoned my post and ran after him.
Only getting him to stop when my hand reached out and grabbed his cloak.
But the way in which he stopped, stopped and turned to look at me.
Sent a shiver down my spine.
It was if he had stopped being human and was an animal instead, ready to bear its fangs at anyone or anything.
Though once he looked me in the eye his eyebrows shot up a bit, at least he remembered me.
Without giving him a chance to speak I spoke first.
"Neme, please don't go in, just… here take this, find a familia they can help you, don't just throw your life away."
Having said this I pressed a piece of paper into his hand.
Closing his fingers around it to make sure he would keep it, as he looked at it he became shocked once again.
I wanted to stay, to make sure he didn't enter the dungeon, to instead go out use the list I gave him and find him a willing familia to join.
But I remembered I had left my counter unattended.
That was bad!
So without saying anything else I gave him a quick reassuring pat on his shoulder before running back to the tower counter.
By the time I reached my post to resume my duties I could no longer see him standing there.
Good.
His life for now is saved.
The next time I see him should be when he comes to register his joining of a familia at the guild, perhaps I can get myself assigned as his Guild Consultant at that time.