Listening to Demeter's declaration, Takumi couldn't help watching with appreciation.
As expected of the goddess of fertility—those lush, tempting curves were like heavy fruit hanging from a slender branch. There was no way one hand could wrap around that.
"If I get the chance, I have to discuss agricultural irrigation and fruit-tree cultivation techniques with her."
Standing in front of the goddess statue in Amor Plaza, Takumi waited for Syr while his thoughts wandered.
Orario was basically an Authority treasure vault, just waiting for him to develop goddesses one by one.
If he collected eighty or a hundred Authorities, he'd be living the kind of life that was both obscene and glorious.
Right as he was daydreaming, a voice called out.
"Takumi-san~~"
That sweet sound snapped him back instantly.
He turned and Syr came into view.
She wore a dress chosen specifically for today—hemline around her knees, showing off long, elegant legs that were impossible not to notice.
A ribbon replaced the usual belt at her waist, emphasizing her trim, shapely curve.
Over her top she'd added a cute cropped knit cardigan, and on her feet were flat shoes that suited her legs perfectly.
She wasn't wearing makeup, yet she looked more graceful and beautiful than usual.
Beneath her swaying pale-gray hair, he could just make out a pair of earrings.
And unlike her everyday self, she carried an intelligent, mature elegance that felt like it belonged to a grown woman.
Seeing Syr like this, Takumi felt his pulse rise.
And as Syr looked at him—handsome, spotless in white—her breathing quickened, a faint blush spreading over her cheeks.
She pulled a pocket watch from her small handbag to confirm the time, then smiled softly.
"Takumi-san, you're so early! I even left before our meeting time on purpose."
After admiring him for a second, Syr glanced around like a cautious little cat, checking the surroundings.
When she realized no one was paying attention to Takumi, she hooked her arm through his and looked honestly shocked.
"People aren't rushing over at all… that's unbelievable!"
Right now, Takumi was the hero of all Orario.
If he stood in public normally, he'd be surrounded three layers deep.
Takumi only chuckled.
"A man has his tricks. I used a special technique so people can't recognize me."
Syr's bright eyes widened, and her smile turned soft and blissful.
"That's… perfect. I can have Takumi-san all to myself…"
"Syr."
Hearing the way her voice drifted, Takumi gently called her name.
Syr jolted awake, patted her flushed cheeks, and gave him a shy, apologetic look.
"Sorry… I kind of spaced out."
"It's fine. Let's go, Syr."
Takumi held out his hand.
Seeing his warm, clean palm, Syr's heart nearly jumped out of her chest.
"O-okay…"
Her pale-gray eyes flicked between his face and his hand again and again.
After a moment, she carefully placed her hand on his.
It was her first time being this close to him, and she was so embarrassed she lowered her head immediately—yet the bloom of red on her fair cheeks was unmistakable.
"Freya's girlish side is strong," Takumi thought quietly.
Even knowing Freya's true nature was yandere, her surface-level "first love" sweetness was honestly adorable.
…
The moment Takumi and Syr met up, Freya Familia was in chaos.
Because the cognition barrier around the two of them meant most people couldn't find them at all.
Only Alfia and Horn could still lock onto their location.
And the people watching from the shadows weren't limited to those two.
"Ahh—I'm not giving up!"
Hestia—legs wobbling—had forced herself to follow anyway, though her speed was basically "grandma crossing the street."
To keep her safe, Lili and Haruhime—also trembling in the legs—followed behind, exhausted and helpless.
"Thinking this is Takumi-sama's goddess… Lili just feels tragedy in her soul…"
"Hestia really is trying her best though…"
They muttered nonstop as they trailed behind.
And at that moment, Astraea Familia happened to pass by.
They'd originally planned to find Takumi and join him for the festival.
"Hestia… what are you doing?"
Ryuu walked up, unable to resist asking when she saw Hestia struggling forward like her life depended on it.
Hestia looked like she was about to cry, but then an idea hit her: she could recruit these girls.
"My child got kidnapped by some girl…"
She immediately explained, trying to organize the girls into her pursuit squad.
After hearing it, Ryuu, Kaguya, Alise, Leila, and the others all looked surprised and also… weirdly jealous.
"She even sent a love letter ahead of time… I didn't get the chance," Alise murmured.
Then she nodded with her usual energy.
"Alright! Let's go find Takumi!"
…
Completely unaware that a whole army was hunting him, Takumi strolled the streets with Syr.
Orario's vibe leaned medieval, but the food scene was absolutely modern-tier.
Fresh hot bread. Steamed vegetables—especially potatoes with butter. Fruit shaved into icy desserts.
Honestly, the gods had changed the Lower World in a thousand ways.
This festival's signature feature was basically a street-buffet system.
Pay 1,000 valis at the Guild to buy a magic-stone badge, and you could eat freely along this entire street.
Most vendors were cooking shops anyway.
If you brought ingredients that weren't suited to raw eating, they'd even prepare them for free.
After Syr explained, Takumi looked genuinely impressed.
"That's awesome."
He immediately took Syr by the hand and headed to the Guild booth to buy the badges.
And at the counter—he ran into Misha.
Takumi gave an awkward smile.
"Ahem. Miss Misha… you're selling festival badges today?"
Misha clicked her tongue.
"Takumi-kun, you brat… if Eina finds out, she's definitely going to get jealous."
Seeing Syr holding Takumi's hand, Misha wore a complicated expression.
She didn't say more—Takumi's reputation with girls was already a known thing.
And she'd heard the rumor that Hestia had dragged Takumi into her Familia by using her body.
Misha hadn't believed it before.
But right now…
She was starting to doubt her doubt.
Because if other people could do it… maybe she could too.
That thought sparked fast, and Misha's gaze on Takumi grew hotter by the second.