"Don't sweat the details." Loki planted her elbow on the table, acting like they were old drinking buddies. "Looks like you're waiting around to treat patients? Rough life, huh…"
"Yes." Xien didn't even blink. "What do you want?"
"Can you make a trip for me?" Loki leaned closer, eyes shining. "Some of my kids need treatment."
"No."
Xien leaned back in his chair, hands folded behind his head, and rejected her with absolute sincerity.
Loki nearly stumbled on the spot. She immediately dropped the act, hands on hips.
"Huh? Why? Didn't you say everyone gets one free treatment chance? You brat—breaking your word?!"
"I did say that," Xien replied calmly. "With a condition: people I don't dislike don't get excluded. You understand that part, Lady Loki."
"…So you're saying you dislike us?" Loki stared, genuinely baffled. "Why?"
Xien's gaze turned flat.
"Isn't it obvious? Orario's current mess—you know exactly what's going on. And you know who caused it better than I do." His tone sharpened, resentment cutting through like a blade. "Because of that, my familia is running itself ragged. We're drowning in patrols and triage. So tell me—should I not be annoyed?"
Loki instinctively took two steps back. For the first time, her expression stiffened—because if she followed his logic, he wasn't wrong.
"…About that," she said, then abruptly bowed with rare seriousness. "I'm sorry. I apologize on behalf of my familia. And please—because Astraea is my friend—help me out, okay? We'll pay extra. Come on. It's people's lives."
Then she did something so shameless it bordered on blasphemy.
She dropped to the floor, grabbed Xien's pant leg, and started bawling like a child—sniffling and smearing tears everywhere.
Xien's forehead twitched.
This is a god.
A god.
And she was wiping snot on his trousers.
His face darkened into a slowly forming "vein" mark.
"…Tch."
He exhaled, defeated—not by argument, but by sheer divine-grade nuisance.
"Fine," Xien said, voice heavy. "Forget the payment. If you agree to one condition, I'll go."
Instantly—instantly—Loki stopped crying, sat upright, and folded her hands like a well-behaved student. Even the stains on his trousers looked mysteriously… less severe.
"Okay! Say it!"
Xien stared at her for half a beat, then spoke clearly.
"Three months. Loki Familia will fully participate in city defense patrols—under unified scheduling—maintaining public order and security. No excuses. Do you agree?"
Loki blinked. "You want us to help stabilize Orario for the next few months?"
"Yes." Xien's eyes didn't budge. "Answer."
Loki's grin returned—this time softer, less mocking.
"Sure. Actually… we were planning to do that anyway."
Xien didn't ask for a "better" deal. He just nodded once.
"Good. Then move."
"Huh? You're not going to change the condition now that you know we already planned it?"
"No." Xien stood. "If you feel guilty, prove it by doing the job properly. That's enough."
Loki stared at him, momentarily speechless.
Then she puffed her cheeks, muttering, "You're really Astraea's kid, aren't you? Stubborn like a rock…"
"Are you coming or not?" Xien asked, already turning. "If not, I'm not going."
"Coming! Coming!" Loki hopped to her feet and followed, suddenly all sunshine again.
They hired a carriage—naturally billed to Loki—and headed to Twilight Manor.
Xien's first impression was simple: Big familia, big money.
The estate was vast and elegant to the point of oppressive. Not quite the ruinous grandeur of Hera's old palace, but in the same category of "normal people shouldn't be able to afford breathing here."
Loki led him through without resistance. The guards didn't even question her.
They stopped in front of a large door. Inside was an office-like space.
Loki didn't knock. She shouted.
"Finn! I'm back!"
From behind a wide desk, a small figure lifted his head.
Golden-haired. Calm eyes. A tiny body that somehow carried the pressure of a battlefield commander.
A prum—and unmistakably the one.
"Welcome back, Loki." Finn Deimne smiled politely, then looked at Xien as if he'd already read the conclusion two pages ago. "And this must be Astraea Familia's… 'Abundance Apothecary.' Xien, correct? It's a pleasure."
Xien's brows lifted slightly.
So the 'world's brain' has done his homework.
"Hello, 'Braver' Finn," Xien replied evenly. "I'm Xien. I'm here at your goddess's request—to provide treatment."
Finn rose from his chair. His tone was gentle, sincere.
"Then you're our honored guest. Please sit—though I'll be brief. Loki likely caused you quite a bit of trouble."
Xien's eyes slid toward Loki.
"Quite a bit," he said flatly. "If I didn't agree, she would've camped in my familia's home until someone called the Guild on her."
Loki had already begun inching toward the door like a guilty cat.
Finn sighed, the weariness of a leader who'd apologized for a god's behavior his entire life.
"…I apologize on her behalf. And thank you for coming despite everything. Our situation is—unfortunately—serious."
Xien waved it away. "I know. That's why I'm here. A goddess who's willing to throw away her dignity for her kids is rare."
Loki immediately straightened, proud as if she'd just received a medal.
Finn's smile softened. "She is our family's pride. Our—how should I put it—overly enthusiastic guardian."
Xien stood. "If you're done talking, give me your hand. The sooner we finish, the sooner I can go back and eat lunch."
Finn paused, then chuckled.
"…You noticed." He extended his hand. "You're sharp. My condition wasn't obvious even to some of my own."
"It was obvious enough." Xien took his wrist, gaze narrowing. "Your breathing rhythm is wrecked. You're forcing yourself through work while your body's screaming. As a healer's diagnosis: you're trying to die early."
Finn laughed helplessly, accepting the scolding like a man being lectured by a doctor who didn't care about his rank.
"An accurate, ruthless evaluation. I can't refute it."
Green light flowed.
Touch of Abundance—clean, fast, decisive.
A few seconds later, Xien released him.
Finn's eyes widened.
The fatigue that had been coiling in his bones—gone. The tightness in his chest—gone. Even old, minor damage he'd stopped noticing—gone.
Not "suppressed." Not "managed."
Gone.
Finn's expression changed subtly—more than gratitude. It was respect. A recalculation.
"…Incredible," he murmured.
Xien shrugged as if he'd just fixed a loose strap. "Next."
Finn nodded once, composure returning.
"We have two more—our executives. Please follow me."
They walked through the manor's corridors to another room. Finn knocked.
"Gareth. Are you awake?"
A steady, tired voice answered. "Finn? Come in."
The door opened to a room that smelled heavily of medicine.
Weapons and armor lined the walls—more like a war storeroom than a bedroom.
On the bed lay an older dwarf, wrapped in bandages like he'd been run over by a charging bull.
Gareth looked up, eyes steady even through pain.
Finn introduced them. "Gareth, this is Xien of Astraea Familia."
Xien nodded. "I know who you are. 'Dvergr's Heavy Sword'—Gareth Landrock. I'm honored to help."
Gareth gave a slow chuckle. "Sorry I can't stand and thank you properly."
"You can after you're fixed." Xien held out his hand. "Now. Hand."
Gareth didn't waste time. He reached out.
Green light again.
A short moment later, Gareth sat up, then stood—testing weight, rolling shoulders.
The bandages suddenly felt like overkill.
He looked at Xien like he'd just witnessed a miracle that didn't bother calling itself a miracle.
"…I'll remember this," Gareth said, voice low and sincere.
"Good," Xien replied. "Next."
Finn knocked again—this time more carefully.
"Riveria. We've brought a healer. May we enter?"
A woman's voice answered, calm but faintly weary. "Finn… a healer? …Fine. Come in."
They stepped into a room that was—unexpectedly—soft.
Bookshelves dominated the space, but in corners there were small decorations with a delicate, almost "girlish" charm.
Then she appeared.
Green hair like a forest in moonlight. A beauty too refined to be real. Her posture was upright, but her eyes held the thin strain of someone who had pushed her mind past its limit.
Riveria's gaze settled on Xien, complex emotions flickering briefly.
"Astraea Familia's Xien," she said. "I didn't expect our first meeting to be like this… Forgive the unsightly state."
Xien smiled lightly. "Lady Riveria, it's not unsightly. Everyone gets hurt. I'm just a healer doing my job. If anything, this is… fate arranging introductions."
For a moment, Riveria's expression eased.
Then she spoke with quiet sincerity.
"You helped Eina Tulle. And now you help us. Your kindness reaches further than you likely realize."
Xien blinked. "Eina… you know her well?"
Riveria's gaze softened—almost maternal.
"She is family."
That single word carried weight.
Xien nodded slowly, understanding snapping into place.
"…Then I'm glad I could help."
He stepped forward and held out his hand.
"Let's fix you up. After that, you can scold Loki properly for dragging me here."
From behind, Loki made a strangled sound of protest.
Finn—already resigned—covered his face with one hand.
Riveria… allowed herself the smallest smile.
"Very well," she said, and extended her hand.
....
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