Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

Quest 26- Outside Orario- Varga, The Capital of Israfan

After a few more days of travel, Cirrus could see the palace.

They built it high on a plateau that looms imposingly over the city below and the landscape. Going up it was a path spiraling up towards the entrance that could be seen from even outside the city walls which themselves cover the roofs of the city.

“That’s a rather impressive palace,” Cirrus said, looking at the place.

“I would be shocked if it wasn’t. The Varga is the capital of the country. So many merchants come here to sell their wares, with only 10% of the sales going to the city.”

“Ah… is that why it looks like an even more fortified Orario?”

“Yes, the monsters of the desert are rather tenacious. Thankfully, we hadn’t had too many confrontations with them.”

“Hm, those Desert Lizards and Vultures were rather annoying.”

“Well, let's hurry and finish the journey, shall we?” the merchant said with a smile.

“Hm.”

They rode to the gate and paid the entrance fee.

Cirrus feels like it will be the same as before hiding his gear and only wearing the cloak Fels gave him. They entered the city with no problem and parted ways with the merchant. Now Cirrus had to find Hermes and the rest of his Familia.

The capital city of Varga is very much like Orario in its multiculturalism, but that is as far as they compare. The city was a true capitalist dreamland, the strong devour the weak in the brutal ecosystem of their city is located in.

“… fuck, he never told me where he was.”

Using what he knew of Hermes, he went to each bar he could find. The one with the more beautiful women, the better.

‘He is a Greek god. I would be shocked if he weren’t hedonistic.’

Hiding using the cloak's invisibility, he looked to find bars and the red-light district. Up on the rooftop, he spotted a familiar feathered hat.

“Haha!! Come on, ladies! Let's go to another one!!!”

“Woohoo!!!!”

“… I really hoped I was wrong—hm?”

Up on another rooftop, Cirrus could see some people watching Hermes.

‘Well, this has gotten interesting.’

Cirrus continued his watch on Hermes and the people following him. Hermes went to a few more bars before walking back to the Inn, and from there the people following Hermes drew their weapons.

‘More violence, huh?’

In the Inn.

“Lord Hermes!” shouted Lydia. “You went out drinking again! You should have brought me along!!”

“Captain! Please, we're running out of money!!” said one of the Familia members.

“It's fine!” said Hermes. “We can just keep doing escort jobs!!”

“You're not the one doing them!!!” they shouted.

Suddenly:

Crash!!!

Trouble came through the window.

“HERMES FAMILIA!!!” shouted one of the men with masks.

“YOU HAVE OVERSTAYED YOUR STAY!!!!!!!!”

“Whoa! Whoa!” said Hermes. “Why are you all so angry??”

“YOUR FAMILIA HAVE BEEN STEALING ALL THE JOBS!!” they draw their blades as does the Hermes Familia.

“NOW!!! GET READY FO-!!”

Before they could finish, the leader fell over.

“!?!?”

They were all surprised, and soon more of them fell.

“I came all this way, and I had to do more work…” Cirrus then removes his hood, revealing himself.

“Ah!! Zephyr!!” Hermes said drunkenly.

“Come on… Lydia, can you sober him up?”

Cirrus then brushed off his shield and one of the Familia members takes him to a room.

The next day.

“Sorry! Sorry!” Hermes said, putting his hands together and apologizing. “I didn’t think some other Familia would try to get us out of the city for staying too long!”

“Hmm… so what have you gathered on Evilus?”

“Wait! Before that.” Said Lydia. “What of Solingen?”

“Oh, that, I took care of it. Poseidon has Chernobog, but not before he helps another Familia take a kingdom.”

“Y-you took on the Chernobog Familia on your own!” shouted Hermes.

“I watched them for months so, of course, I would prepare to take them out as fast as possible, and well, help from the city was useful.” Cirrus then takes a bit of his food. “So how far have you mapped on Vritra’s Familia?”

“Ahem!” Hermes clears his throat. “Lydia, if you will.”

Lydia goes and gets a map and lays it down. They filled it with various bits of information.

“Now where to start?”