Even after exchanging their spoils at the Guild, and the sun was still high. Luki and Lili had no commitments until the evening, so they planned to hunt monsters until then, while Ryuu still had her own business to attend to deeper down.
Unanimously, they decided to keep going for a bit longer. Quickly descending to the tenth floor once more and hunting the Specters.
Knowing their precise weakness—the monster core located inside their heads—Luki could dispatch them in a single blow, even after they shifted into intangibility.
Of course, doing so meant that one of the primary pieces of loot would be destroyed. Because of this, they still attempted to kill the monsters while they were tangible to maximize their profit.
Hours slipped away, and soon enough, Lili's bag was bursting once again, filled only with magic stones and spectral ash. They had hunted so many Specters that they eventually had to discard the cheaper loot just to make room for the more valuable items.
"This is where we part ways," Ryuu said, standing by the passage to the eleventh floor, which was nothing more than a hole leading downward.
"Are you sure you don't want us to come with you? The monsters lately have been much harder to kill," Luki countered, looking at her with concern.
Ryuu shook her head, a resigned expression washing over her face. "This is something... personal. Only I should do this."
She shifted her gaze toward Lili. "Furthermore, I am heading into the Middle Floors. It is not safe for Lili-chan with just the two of us. That was precisely the reason why you decided to hunt monsters only up here."
Lili lowered her head, looking utterly dejected. Once again, she was being a burden simply because she was weak, and she absolutely hated that feeling.
"If that is what you want... just watch your step," Luki said, casually slapping her shoulder before giving it a playful punch.
Ryuu stared at his hand throughout the entire gesture, and then went back to observing the rugged area, her expression entirely impassive.
After looking at him for a few moments, and without saying another word, she took a step backward and plunged into the dark hole.
Lili peeked her head over the edge to snoop down below, seeing nothing but a dense darkness that was most likely magical.
"Do you think she will be okay?" she asked, omitting her typical Luki-sama in the speech.
"Relax," Luki said in a casual tone, stepping closer to place a hand on her shoulder. "Ryuu-san is a strong and independent woman. She has probably done this kind of thing countless times. Everything will be fine."
"But that was before... adventurers shouldn't be walking alone through the Dungeon lately. It is too dangerous."
"I know, Lili. I know. It is almost as if it stopped playing around, and is now playing to kill adventurers just like we do to her monsters—unfairly."
Before the Dungeon's sudden shift, the environment could have almost been called welcoming. There was nothing genuinely dangerous because everything was highly controllable and predictable. If you possessed enough strength and did not slip up, you would hardly ever find yourself in many life-or-death situation.
Now, however, the monsters were stronger, more numerous, intelligent, better armed, and complex. Combine that with a volatile environment that always provided the worst possible conditions, and any combat—even with the weakest goblin—could become genuinely fatal.
Even with Ryuu being a Level 4 and possessing powerful magic, the monsters in the Middle Floors were now as strong as Level 3s, with the frequent appearance of elite monsters that could threaten even Level 4s. If she were to be surrounded by a swarm, there wouldn't be much she could do.
Luki secretly averted his eyes toward a corner of the wall, glaring intensely at the spot as if someone were standing right there.
'Don't you even think about pulling any tricks. If anything happens to her...'
Luki's eyes widened, his golden, star-shaped pupils flaring brighter and expanding further beyond the blue irises, while his wings spread open, their feathers bristling menacingly.
Whomever he was speaking to seemed to have gotten the message, as Luki stopped feeling the presence watching them.
"Let's go... we shouldn't keep Mia and the others waiting," Luki said, his features returning to normal as he turned around to leave.
"Yeah... let's go..." Lili murmured uncertainty, but followed closely behind him.
...
Luki and Lili stepped out of the Dungeon. The sky was now washed in a orange hue as the late afternoon took over. The bustling crowd at the Guild finally seemed to have died down a bit.
"Do you want me to walk you to the Hostess?" Luki asked, looking down at Lili with a slight, but not overly serious, concern.
"No, I can go by myself. Everything will be fine."
"If you say so..." he murmured, casually taking the heavy loot bag from her. "I will keep an eye on you at all times. We never know what kind of stupid shit might happen these days. Just... if anything goes wrong, scream and make a huge scene so I can notice you. I'll be by your side in an instant."
"Uhm. I know that Luki-sama will always be protecting me, wherever you are."
"Hey, where did that romantic vibe come from?"
"Sorry. It was bad, right? I guess I picked the wrong time to say it," she said, looking back up at him.
"Meh... not really. Where I come from, we'd probably call that cheesy. But I guess that's just how love works, right?"
Then, quite naturally, the two leaned in and sealed their lips for a brief moment before pulling apart.
"Take care, Lili," Luki said, straightening his back as he watched her start to walk away.
"See you soon, Luki-sama," Lili waved with a warm smile, stepping forward at a casual pace.
Luki keep watching her figure distance herself for a few moments, wanting to make absolutely sure that nothing unexpected would happen. Then, he tossed the heavy loot bag over one shoulder, his sword on the other, and headed straight toward the Guild.
Luki entered the Guild. Knowing exactly where he was going, he walked straight toward Eina's counter.
Eina had just finished putting a stack of papers into a drawer and stretched her back, massaging her tired shoulder with one hand while feeling a slight headache coming on.
"Rough day?"
Eina looked up and saw her absolute biggest troublemaker of a advised—and also the one she was closest to outside of work.
"Don't even get me started... I am completely wiped out," she complained, reluctantly forcing herself back into a professional posture. "Exchanging loot?"
Luki placed the bag on the counter. "Monster crystals and spectral ash," he said.
"Argh... calculating the price of ash by eye is so difficult," she groaned once more, making a comically defeated face. "The gods really should invent some kind of machine or magical item that tells you the price of an item just by pointing at it. My melted brain would thank them."
She then pulled the bag to her side and opened it. With the sluggish movements of someone who wanted to be anywhere else but there, she pulled out the monster cores and analyzed them meticulously from behind her glasses.
"But wouldn't you lose your job that way? That's kind of the only reason adventurers come to you."
"Are you implying that my advices has been completely useless, Luki-san?" Eina asked, narrowing her eyes at him in a mock-glare.
"No, I mean, it's not really like that, you know. Like... adventurers can still function without counseling, right? Especially those from already established Familias. But even so, everyone still needs someone to appraise the price of the collected items."
"Hmph... as much as I'd like to disagree, you're right. My role loses a lot of its weight for non-rookies... or freaks of nature like you."
"Ouch..."
"But that doesn't mean that's all I do. How many times have I gone above and beyond my duties to help you?" she asked, starting to examine the shimmering dust inside the bag.
"Many times... but it's not technically your official job to do that, so it doesn't count."
"Doesn't matter. All I know is that if I didn't have to do this chore anymore, I wouldn't mind it one bit. Just imagine: you get here with your loot, wanting to exchange it for Valis right away, so you deposit it inside a machine that instantly analyzes the price—even if it's for a slightly lower value—and dispenses the money from the other side. Easy, fast, and efficient."
"Yeah... that would be nice. That way, you'd actually have time for other, more important tasks."
"Exactly. That being said, you made twenty-six thousand Valis in total," she said, packing everything back and tying the bag shut.
"What? All of that?!" he raised his voice slightly, looking genuinely surprised.
"The dust left behind by Specters is a magical fertilizer for regular crops, making them grow much faster. And it can also be used in alchemy to make things that I honestly have no clue about. To be exact... this is actually considered a bit low."
"Huh? I don't think I've ever made this much money in a single run! I'm more than satisfied!"
"That is true, but the monsters you defeated are all equivalent to Level 2 adventurers. The price for their magic crystals used to be much higher in the past. However, now that they've become a more common drop, the price dropped once the demand stabilized."
She then stood up, taking the heavy loot bag with her. "I'm going to the back to store this and grab the money. My station is completely out of cash. I'll bring your bag back in a bit."
"Thanks."
Luki leaned against the counter to wait, staring blankly into space while monitoring everything with his sixth sense. In the corner of his mind, he could feel the silhouette of Eina depositing his items somewhere in the back, and Lili walking carelessly down the street outside.
Not long after, Eina finally returned, carrying Luki's same bag, but now heavy with coins.
"Here it is. Have a good day, and come back soon," she said.
"Thanks, Eina-san. Make sure you take a break, you look like you really need one."
"Tell me about it..."
Luki turned around to leave. However, what he failed to notice was the way Eina stared at his back, looking as if she were deeply contemplating something.
Until finally, she seemed to make up her mind and called out to him.
"Luki-san, wait!" she called out, her voice laced with uncertainty.
"Huh? Eina-san?" He stopped and turned around to face her.
"Are you, by any chance, I don't know... free later today?" she asked.
Luki turned the question over in his head. 'Well, honestly, no. I definitely have to meet up with Lili later, but it's not like I have to rush over there this exact second.'
"Depends, what's the occasion?"
Eina cleared her throat, tapping her fingers nervously against the counter "I wanted to discuss something with you, and... well, I was thinking it might be better to talk about it over a drink, you know? Just to wind down a bit."
Luki's three eyes widened slightly, and he gave Eina a thoroughly strange, suspicious look.
"Are you... asking me out on a date?" he asked hesitantly.
Eina's face instantly turned bright red, her jaw dropping in sheer panic as she began waving her hands frantically in front of her.
"What?! No! No, absolutely not! That is not what I meant at all!" she stumbled over her words, her professional composure completely shattering as she lowered her voice to a desperate whisper. "It's about serious business! Good grief, Luki-san, don't just jump to conclusions like that!"
"Ah! Why didn't you just say so from the start?" Luki asked, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Because you didn't give me a chance!" Eina snapped, her whisper harsh but desperate as she looked around to make sure no other advisors were watching. "Who even makes a sudden assumption like that? Just because a woman wants to talk to you doesn't mean she is immediately into you!"
"Sorry, sorry," Luki chuckled, raising his hands in a mock surrender. "It's just that you're already, you know... kind of strangely attached to me. My brain just automatically connected the dots."
"Attached?!" Eina's voice cracked slightly. She leaned over the counter, glaring at him with a mix of indignation and sheer embarrassment. "Listen here, you might be a little cute, and I will admit I have a thing or two for you, but it is absolutely nothing like that!"
Luki's grin widened, a playful glint appearing in his eyes. "Oh, so you do admit you're interested in me."
Eina froze, her eyes widening behind her glasses as she realized exactly what had just slipped out of her mouth. The blood rushed to her face so fast she felt dizzy, her cheeks turning a deep, undeniable crimson.
"I—that is—I didn't—! That was a—a figure of speech, Luki-san! A—A professional slip! I meant I appreciate you as an person, not—not that I... you... oh, gods above..." She groaned, burying her face into her palms, her shoulders trembling from the sheer social fatality of her own words.
Seeing Eina react like that, Luki fought with every fiber of his being to hold back his laughter, desperate not to cause her any more embarrassment.
'So she does have feelings for me, huh...? Meh, not that surprising. After that whole chapter where she literally ran and jumped into my arms like a koala, I probably should have seen something like this coming.'
Now that the reality of the situation had finally sunk in, Luki found himself at a bit of a loss. He couldn't exactly just pretend he hadn't heard that and carry on with their casual friendship as if nothing had changed.
Don't mistake his thoughts—Luki was a loyal guy when it came to his relationships. The situation with Lili had only unfolded after extreme circumstances that would naturally form an unbreakable bond between two people, and even then, it was only consolidated after receiving explicit permission from Hestia herself.
But now that he literally possessed the highly acclaimed green light to pursue other women, Luki would seriously question his own masculinity if he didn't take advantage of it—or at the very least, admit he had fantasized about the prospect once or twice.
'But that does not mean you should go running after every single skirt and pretty face you see, young man! I am still right here. If you want to make things official with anyone, it can only happen with the explicit permission of your first wife—which is me!' Hestia's voice suddenly echoed sharply within his mind.
'Oh, hey love. Where were you?' Luki responded mentally.
'Going for a light run. I noticed I gained a few pounds and had to burn them off. It is seriously tough to stay in shape when the food around here is literally divine.'
'I get it. But... what is this talk about a "first wife" and "permission"?' he asked, an amused grin forming in his mind.
'Hmph! What is wrong with that? I am a goddess, and I was the very first one here. It is only obvious that I should hold the title of first wife, even if the actual ceremony hasn't happened yet! Nobody is going to strip that rank away from me—not even that slut Freya!'
'Nobody is challenging your authority, Hestia.'
'Good. Let it stay that way. Now... let me get a good look at her.'
Suddenly, Luki felt a strange, shifting sensation ripple through his body, centering heavily around his eyes. It was as if a foreign presence had suddenly materialized within him, akin to the unsettling way he could sometimes feel the Dungeon's eyes watching from the walls, only this time, the intrusion was entirely internal.
'Uhm... well, I suppose she is somewhat cute,' Hestia mused, her tone dripping with analytical critique as she peered through his vision. 'Not a supermodel like me, of course, but she will do. Her emerald eyes and that brown hair actually complement each other rather nicely.'
She paused for a brief moment, her critical gaze shifting lower. 'Let's see... her skin looks well-maintained, though a bit pale from staying cooped up in this building all day. As for her proportions... hmm, she looks to be around an 84-centimeter bust, maybe a 60 waist, and... around 86 for the hips? Not bad, quite balanced for a half-elf, actually. And her personality seems proper, if a bit uptight. She is certainly a safe choice, unlike those wild, unhinged warriors you seem to attract.'
'Uhm... Hestia, what exactly are you doing?' Luki asked, a bit dumbfounded.
'Appraising my potential future sister-wife, obviously! I cannot just let anyone crawl into our tight little social circle. They absolutely must meet a strict standard of beauty, fashion, and personality.'
Luki fell silent, completely at a loss for words. Ultimately, he decided the best course of action was to just let her do whatever she wanted. Why waste his few remaining brain cells trying to argue, right?
Meanwhile, Eina—who was already practically melting out of sheer embarrassment into her chair—suddenly felt a sharp shiver run down her spine. It felt as if someone were intensely scrutinizing her every feature. It was deeply unsettling.
She peered up through her fingers and found Luki standing right across the counter. His gaze was actively scanning her entire body, looking her over with an intense, analytical focus.
Eina, who was already dying inside, turned an even deeper shade of red. But instead of screaming or making a scene—which would immediately draw the entire lobby's attention to her—she simply crossed her arms tightly over her chest to cover herself.
"Pervert..." she muttered, her voice trembling.
Luki's eyes snapped wide open as Hestia's presence finally retreated from his senses, though not before leaving one final parting message in his mind.
'Alright, she passes. Just a word of advice: this one seems a little traditional. You are going to have a bit of a tough time wrapping her head around the concept of a harem, but she is already heavily interested in you, which is the perfect first step. Want a tip? Move fast, dive right in, and make it so she absolutely cannot live without you. Go get 'em, tiger!'
With that, Hestia vanished completely, leaving Luki behind to clean up the aftermath of her actions.
"Ah, my bad," he started, rubbing the back of his neck as he skillfully pretended he had just been caught red-handed. "I didn't mean to—"
"No... it's fine," she interrupted softly, looking down at her desk. "I suppose... that should be considered the most normal reaction."
An incredibly heavy, awkward silence descended upon them once more. Both of them actively averted their eyes, glancing toward each other for a split second before darting their gazes elsewhere, completely unable to lock eyes for more than a moment.
"So... where and when?" Luki finally cleared his throat, breaking the tension.
"The Gilded Hearth," she answered, naming a well-known upscale tavern with a reputation for excellent steaks and atmosphere. "Three hours from now."
"Right... see you then, Eina-san."
"See you later, Luki-san..." Eina murmured in return.