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Chapter 76: Furina Wants to Run Away
Having declined Heith's invitation, Aiden could clearly feel the gazes of the surrounding Freya Familia members instantly turn hostile.
It was a look mixed with contempt and disdain, as if they were looking at an ungrateful fool.
In their eyes, being able to join the Freya Familia and receive the Goddess of Beauty's favor was the ultimate honor. That someone would actually refuse was incomprehensible.
Of course, Aiden knew perfectly well that even if he had accepted, their gazes would have been just as hostile.
Because that would mean they had gained yet another competitor fighting for their Goddess's affection; he would be an enemy all the same.
The Freya Familia was just such a bundle of contradictions. Their entire existence revolved around that supreme Goddess of Beauty.
Aiden quickly led them into the Middle Floors.
When the new Middle Floor monsters—the Stone-Throwing Infant Apes and Guardian Zombies—began to appear one after another, even the elites of the Freya Familia couldn't help but be startled.
A few members, unaware of the Whopperflowers' burrowing habits, were successfully ambushed by Cryo Whopperflowers bursting from the ground, their legs instantly frozen solid.
This caused Heith's gaze toward Aiden to become even more peculiar and profound.
Aiden pretended not to notice throughout the entire journey, only silently swearing to himself that he would never be greedy for such petty cash again.
Finally, after a long trek, he led the Freya Familia to the Fourteenth Floor, right in front of the blue-purple swirling portal.
"Thank goodness, no one found it. The Domain is still here." Aiden let out a long breath of relief.
He had carelessly exposed some of his secrets just for the sake of a million Valis. If someone else had beaten them to the punch and he had lost out on the money too, he might have actually cried.
Heith stepped forward, reached out to touch the vortex, and closed her eyes to receive the Domain information.
A moment later, she opened her eyes, a satisfied smile on her face.
"It really is a Domain, and a Middle Floor one at that. You did well."
She handed Aiden a metal tag engraved with the Freya Familia crest. "Take this. You can return to the Guild and claim your reward."
Although the commission was posted by the Freya Familia, the reward was held in escrow by the Guild. The Guild would also deduct a portion for taxes and processing fees; by the time the money actually reached Aiden's hands, it would probably only be around 900,000 Valis.
"Can you make it back alone?"
Finally, Heith asked out of the goodness of her heart, "If not, you can wait for us to clear the Domain, and we'll take you back to the surface with us."
"No need." Aiden waved his hand and turned to leave without the slightest hesitation.
He didn't want to spend another second with this pink-haired girl. He could feel with one hundred percent certainty that this woman was suspicious of him.
"Heh."
Watching Aiden's retreating back, Heith let out an ambiguous chuckle.
She then turned around and issued orders to her squad: "Two of you stay behind and guard the entrance. The rest of you, follow me inside."
With that, she led several of her most powerful upper-class adventurers and stepped into the blue-purple vortex without a second thought.
As a Level 4 top-tier healer leading the elites of the Freya Familia, she had absolute confidence in clearing this insignificant Middle Floor Domain.
—————
When Aiden pushed open the door of the small house in the Seventh District, he was greeted by warm lighting and the aroma of food.
Robin, Tifa, and Hyacine had already returned. They were sitting on the living room sofa, enjoying a simple late-night snack prepared by Tifa while waiting for him.
Seeing him return safely, all three let out a sigh of relief.
"Welcome back. Good work today." Tifa handed him a cup of warm barley tea.
"Yeah, I'm back." Aiden took the tea, downed it in one gulp, and let out a heavy sigh. He collapsed onto the sofa, a bitter smile on his face.
"What's wrong? Judging by your expression, things didn't go smoothly?" Robin acutely picked up on his off-kilter mood.
Aiden rubbed the bridge of his nose and recounted exactly what had happened while he was guiding them, as well as the suspicions of the Freya Familia's pink-haired healer, Heith Velvet.
"—Long story short, I think I might be exposed," he finally concluded, his tone full of resignation.
After hearing his account, the atmosphere in the living room instantly grew heavy.
"That's what you get for being greedy."
Robin sighed in exasperation, tapping her temple lightly with her slender finger. "However, I was also careless. To think I actually forgot about this."
A look of self-reproach crossed her face.
They had grown so accustomed to the highly abnormal monster spawn rates and varieties whenever they were with Aiden. From the Hilichurls and Slimes of the Upper Floors to the Guardian Zombies and Stone-Throwing Infant Apes of the Middle Floors, these monsters that shouldn't belong to this world had become a common sight to them.
It was like frogs boiling in a pot. Being constantly surrounded by it, they had subconsciously ignored this glaring anomaly—an anomaly massive enough to draw the suspicion of anyone paying attention.
Any experienced adventurer who ventured into the Dungeon with Aiden, even for just a few hours, would easily notice it.
It would be strange if they weren't suspected.
"Th-Then we're doomed! Will Freya send people to kidnap you?!"
Furina, who had been quietly listening on the side, suddenly jumped up from the sofa as she realized the gravity of the situation.
Her beautiful heterochromatic eyes were filled with panic; all semblance of her godly composure had vanished. She began pacing anxiously back and forth in the small living room, the hem of her blue skirt swaying restlessly with her movements.
"I've heard about Freya's methods! If there's a child she sets her sights on, she'll use any means necessary to get them! No, we have to move right away! Wait, moving won't help; all of Orario is her territory! —Should we just flee Orario tonight?!"
The more she thought about it, the more panicked she became, even starting to seriously consider the feasibility of running away.
Seeing her acting like a headless chicken, Aiden couldn't help but laugh.
He reached out and grabbed Furina's wrist, stopping her pacing.
"Calm down, Furina. While it is a bit troublesome, it shouldn't reach that point."
"How can it not?! That's Freya! The Queen of Orario, the Goddess of Beauty, Freya!" Furina retorted excitedly.
"I know, but you forgot the most crucial point."
Aiden's gaze was calm and gentle, carrying a power that set people at ease. "Aside from you, no other god can engrave Falna onto me."
Those words struck Furina's mind like a bolt of lightning.
Oh right! She had completely forgotten about that.
In this world, Aiden could only accept her divine blood. This was the most fundamental bond between them, one that could not be severed by any outside force.
Even back when Aiden was teasing her, joking about joining the Loki Familia, she had been too caught up in her panic to remember this ironclad fact.
Only she, Furina de Fontaine, the God of Water and Justice, Focalors, could grant Aiden a Falna.
This meant that no one could ever snatch Aiden away from her.
Not even Freya.
If things really came to that, simply revealing this trait would make the Goddess of Beauty back down.
After all, what was the point of stealing someone you couldn't give your Falna to, someone you couldn't brand as your own?
"Besides," Aiden added, a hint of slyness creeping into his smile, "her charm has no effect on me."
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