Danmachi: Strongest Familia

"Um… Janna-sama, are these really the new members of your Familia?" Misha asked, glancing nervously at the group.

Renata turned her head with a steady, intense gaze that made Misha shrink back involuntarily. The woman's aura was overwhelming, unlike anything an LV1 adventurer should possess. Even her own guild boss had never given her this level of intimidation.

"I apologize; these children can be a bit… spirited," Janna said, offering Misha an apologetic smile.

"It's fine, but it might be best if they don't get too rowdy around here." Misha had not expected this new goddess to gather four Familia members in a single day. Perhaps Janna was onto something promising, though these four didn't look the part of "good people." She couldn't help but wonder why a goddess as holy as Janna would choose such a rowdy crowd. They didn't seem to fit her at all.

"Well, everyone, please follow me to the lounge," Misha said, watching as Jinx and the others eagerly filed in, already horsing around. A twitch of irritation flickered at the corner of her mouth. Normally, new Familia members only needed to register at the front desk. But this wild bunch didn't look like they'd sit still for that; who knew what they might get into if left unattended? Giving them an empty room seemed safer.

"Thank you, Misha. Please handle the adventurer registration for these children," Janna requested.

Misha nodded, but as she led them, her eyes drifted to the doorway, which barely reached Mundo's chin. She went silent. The towering brute would never fit through it, and she doubted this situation had a simple solution.

Mundo, noticing nothing of Misha's dilemma, raised a massive butcher knife he'd selected from Sol's warehouse and smashed the doorframe into fragments, clearing the path with brute force. For some reason, despite Sol's selection of weapons, Mundo had taken an instant liking to that oversized kitchen knife. He looked every inch the crazed giant wielding it as he strolled along.

Seeing the crushed door frame and Misha's distress, Janna quickly took responsibility. "Renata, let's handle the compensation for this damage after their registration."

"Tsk, Mundo, pull another stunt like that, and I'll shove your head somewhere unpleasant," Renata snapped. After some thought the night before, Janna had appointed Renata as temporary Captain of the Familia. None of the other three were up to the task; entrusting Jinx or Mundo with leadership would likely put the Familia on the guild's wanted list in mere days. And Singed showed no interest in leading. Only Renata remained capable enough for the role.

"Sometimes," Janna mused, "you have to pick the tallest blade of grass." Not that Renata was lacking in skill—her business acumen was unmatched. Few in Zaun had Renata's sharpness, and it was doubtful anyone in Orario could rival her in managing a Familia.

Renata stepped forward, seeing the need to establish some decorum. "I am Renata Glasc. You may call me Madam Glasc. These are Singed, Jinx, and the big oaf is Mundo."

Jinx, unimpressed with Renata speaking on her behalf, pushed forward eagerly. "Hey, Renata, I can introduce myself! I'm Jinx, certified lunatic—and I've got a doctor's note to prove it!"

She leaned in toward Misha, who was visibly uneasy at the bizarre self-introduction. Enthusiasm, she thought, perhaps—but self-proclaimed lunatic? Who introduces themselves that way? Can someone like this really be an adventurer?

It seemed Janna's Familia was not the most stable. More than one of its members appeared to be mentally… unique.

"Jinx!" Renata's sharp tone cut through the lounge, pulling Jinx back in line. Renata's patience with Jinx ran deep; she acknowledged Jinx's talent, yet her energy was constantly expended in chaotic ways. Extending a refined hand from her robe, she firmly grasped Jinx's head and gently but firmly pulled her behind her.

Only then did Misha notice Renata's unusual arm, its gleaming metal glinting under her robe. It looked like a prosthetic but was unlike any she'd seen—far more advanced and luxurious. Prosthetics in Orario weren't unheard of, though they were still a rare sight, typically crafted by skilled pharmacists at a high price.

"Madam Glasc," Misha stammered, intimidated by Renata's intense presence, "is… is your arm all right?"

Renata tilted her head, almost proudly. "Of course. It's an alchemical prosthetic crafted to surpass human limitations, far more flexible than flesh and bone."

Unlike many who wore prosthetics as a silent badge of shame, Renata displayed hers with pride, as if her artificial arm embodied her alchemical prowess. Her confidence was contagious, casting an air of awe over Misha and those around her.

"Did you… choose to replace your arm willingly?" Misha asked, curiosity piqued.

Renata smiled, an edge of satisfaction in her gaze. "Naturally. How else could I demonstrate the greatness of alchemy?"

It crossed Misha's mind that Renata might be the real problem child among them.

"You're an alchemist?" she asked, pausing in her registration work.

"Is there any other alchemist in this city worth noting?" Renata replied coolly, her voice laced with a challenge.

At her side, Singed finally looked up from the concoctions he had been silently observing, his curiosity clearly piqued. Another alchemist in this world, he mused, might have techniques he hadn't encountered. He would have to find time for a serious conversation.

For now, he supposed, he could catch up on some much-needed rest.