Danmachi: Is It Wrong to Be the Main Character in Orario?

"God-sama, Lili wishes to leave the Soma Familia."

These words made Soma shift his gaze before turning to look at Loki.

"So that's your goal?"

"Do you think I came here for fun?"

Soma gave a slight nod. That did sound like something Loki would say. They rarely interacted, so she wouldn't have come just for something trivial.

"In that case, I don't agree."

Loki, who had been ready to wrap things up the moment Soma said "I agree," froze in place.

"Hah? Soma, you shut-in—are you seriously not gonna show me any respect?"

"Why should I?"

With just that, Loki's expression began to twitch. She stepped forward and grabbed Soma by the collar.

"You believe I won't kill you?"

"Then why haven't you?"

Soma's words seemed designed to needle her, and that remark nearly pushed even Loki's formidable patience to the brink.

"I... you..."

Loki's face flushed bright red with anger, while Soma looked at her impassively.

He couldn't understand why she was getting so worked up. She was the one who said she'd kill him, so why did she seem hesitant now?

Watching from behind, Finn looked on helplessly. Still, this confirmed his suspicions about Soma.

'This god really doesn't seem like someone who would abuse his own Familia.'

Judging from his logic and behavior, it was clear Soma didn't hold such intentions. He simply believed that if even Divine Wine couldn't be resisted, then such Familia members had no value. Still, Finn couldn't deny that this kind of thinking made Soma the most dangerous type of god among them all.

To put it bluntly, Soma didn't act like a god at all. He gave his Familia no guidance whatsoever, leaving them completely to their own devices. Had he set even minimal rules, the Soma Familia wouldn't be in such a mess.

Unfortunately, Soma seemed to measure worth solely by whether someone could resist the allure of the Divine Wine.

And since no one had, he saw no point in paying them any attention.

But that was exactly what made him so troublesome.

Liliruca, having calmed herself, stepped forward again.

This time, facing God-sama, she showed no fear—only firm resolve and unwavering will.

"God-sama."

Soma's eyes shifted again. With Loki still clutching his collar, he turned his gaze to the child who had just spoken.

A faint confusion gave way to recognition. This Pallum girl reminded him of something.

'That child from back then?'

The memory made Soma properly take in the sight of the girl before him.

"God-sama, as you said, those of us who can't withstand the Divine Wine are meaningless. Perhaps it's our failure that has disappointed you. That's why today, I want to challenge your Divine Wine."

"God-sama, if... if Lili manages to stay sane, please grant my request."

Liliruca took a deep breath and, for the first time, knelt to beg her God for a blessing. She knew her actions were highly irregular—almost criminal—but this was her final chance. Her future had to be her own to decide.

Soma looked at her, a bit surprised. After thinking for a moment, he gave his answer.

"Very well."

"If you can drink the wine I've brewed and keep your mind intact, I'll let you leave."

Soma had full confidence in his wine.

It was precisely because no one in his Familia could escape the Divine Wine's grip that he'd chosen to abandon guiding them.

As he said—if they couldn't even escape wine, what point was there in guidance?

Soma looked down at Loki, who was still gripping his collar.

Loki let out an irritated grunt but released him.

Soma, once released, didn't go to retrieve the fully brewed wine from the shelf. Instead, he poured a cup of the half-finished batch that had just been interrupted.

"Drink."

He wondered if this child would end up going mad from the Divine Wine, just like her parents had.

Liliruca didn't hesitate for a second. This was the path she had chosen herself.

She picked up the cup and drank it all in one go.

"!?"

The moment the wine slid down her throat, its rich, mellow flavor began clouding her mind.

Clink—the cup slipped from her hand and fell to the floor with a soft sound.

Her consciousness plunged into chaos.

Beliefs and determination unraveled in an instant.

Her legs could no longer support her.

Liliruca's face flushed red from intoxication, and an uncontrollable, mad-like smile spread across her face like someone who had lost her mind.

'So, the children of Genkai really are beyond saving.'

Soma felt no disappointment. This was simply the expected outcome.

Even Loki and Finn couldn't help but close their eyes at the sight.

But just as Liliruca's mind was about to be fully consumed by the Divine Wine, a figure appeared deep within her consciousness.

The voice of that figure echoed clearly in her ears. Even in her wine-clouded mind, Liliruca heard it.

'Freedom is never something the oppressed can expect. It is a right denied to them.'

'What worth do you have?'

'To whom should you prove that worth?'

'Then what strength do you have to stand before your Familia God?'

'Lili... has no strength.'

A trace of focus began to gather in her chaotic mind.

'Compared to Adventurer-sama, Lili is just a burden—a support who only holds others back.'

'But even so... Lili will keep moving forward!'

'Lili wants to live!!!'

Her scattered consciousness began to reassemble. A glimmer of clarity returned to her eyes.

"...Please..."

Soma's fingers trembled slightly. He lowered his head and, for the first time, truly looked at the child before him.

Loki and Finn, who had just shut their eyes, quickly snapped them open.

'This child... actually resisted it!'

Loki couldn't believe it. That such a child could resist Soma's Divine Wine and claw her way back to consciousness amidst such overpowering intoxication...

Even though she was lying on the ground, the chaos in her eyes was slowly receding, and reason was beginning to return.

"Please... wait..."

A single tear fell down the face twisted in a drunken smile. The uncontrollable grin gradually faded, leaving only the lingering flush of wine on her cheeks.

"Please, God-sama... don't give up on us...

Even if we were never guided by you, Lili understands... please don't give up on us."

The scene struck Soma like lightning, leaving him frozen.

This child, whom he had written off as hopeless, had shone with brilliance—resisting the Divine Wine through the sheer strength of her will.

A hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.

"Shut-in, this is something you've never seen before, right?

The children of Genkai are full of surprises. Maybe, without you noticing, they've grown into something beyond your imagination."

Snapping out of his daze, Soma looked down at the child before him, finally understanding—

The children of Genkai were not beyond saving.

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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