Seeing Furina proudly present Faen as if she were showing off her most precious treasure, Ryuu's gaze shifted toward him.
There was a hint of scrutiny in her clear blue eyes—but more than that, simple courtesy.
She inclined her head slightly. "Hello."
"Hello, Miss Ryuu," Faen replied with a polite smile. "And thank you for taking care of my goddess."
Meanwhile, Syr merely gave Faen a casual glance.
But in that single glance—
Her body paused, almost imperceptibly.
Her lively gray eyes seemed to be pricked by something unseen. She instinctively closed them for the briefest instant.
It was an incredibly subtle movement.
But Faen noticed.
He looked at Syr thoughtfully.
If he remembered correctly, the gray-haired waitress from The Hostess of Fertility was in truth the goddess of beauty herself—Freya.
And Freya possessed the divine ability often referred to as the "Discerning Eye," allowing her to perceive the brilliance of mortal souls directly.
That unconscious blink—
Had she seen his soul?
A faint curiosity stirred in Faen's heart.
What did his soul look like in the eyes of the goddess of beauty?
In his previous life, he had struggled through a world steeped in moral ambiguity and ugliness. He had seen the worst and most complicated sides of human nature.
Even now, despite the changes in his mindset after reincarnating, he had never believed his soul to be pure or radiant.
If it wasn't pitch-black, that alone would be a blessing.
He was curious—
But not foolish enough to ask.
The Freya Familia was one of Orario's two undisputed pillars. An existence he absolutely could not afford to provoke.
The conversation continued lightly for a while.
Ryuu asked with genuine concern whether Faen had adjusted to life as a new adventurer. She had heard from Furina that the Focalors Familia had only been established recently.
Faen thanked her politely and assured her everything was going well.
Soon after, Ryuu and Syr excused themselves—they still needed to return supplies to The Hostess of Fertility.
Before leaving, Syr blinked playfully and said in a cheerful tone:
"Come visit our tavern sometime. Ryuu and I will make sure to treat you well."
Faen smiled and promised he would bring his companions by.
---
As Faen and Furina walked away, Syr's bright, lively smile slowly faded.
Her gray eyes narrowed slightly, a deep light flickering within them.
Like a burning sun…
That child is dangerous.
Just now, out of habit, she had glanced at Faen's soul.
And she had been scorched.
Her divine sight had seen countless mortal souls.
Some shone brilliantly.
Some were dull and fractured.
Some shimmered with multicolored hues.
But she had never seen one like his.
It was not a beam of light.
It was a flame.
An extreme inferno that seemed capable of burning the entire world to ash.
It was so domineering, so violent in its intensity, that when her gaze touched it, her divine vision had stung with searing pain.
She could not see through the raging flames to discern the true color of the soul beneath.
She had grown almost bored of mortal souls.
But for the first time, she encountered one so aggressive—so dangerous.
It was… enticing.
Yet, out of consideration for Ryuu, she abandoned any immediate thought of claiming him.
Besides—
Though Faen's soul burned brilliantly, it contained an overwhelming sense of self and dominance. It was not the kind of pure, transparent brilliance she preferred—one that could be shaped and polished by her hands.
And she had not enjoyed the sensation of being burned.
Still, one thing was certain.
That boy would become very strong. Really strong.
Just like that prum "Braver" from the Loki Familia—
The same type.
The kind who stands unwavering at the center of their own will.
Though she had given up the idea of adding him to her collection, simply witnessing such a unique soul was pleasure enough.
Syr's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Under Ryuu's slightly puzzled gaze, she began humming an off-key tune, her steps light and bouncy—like a cat that had successfully stolen something delicious.
---
Their encounter with Ryuu and Syr was but a small interlude on the leisurely street.
Faen and Furina continued their stroll.
Only after that conversation did Faen belatedly realize—
His goddess, who seemed to spend her days indulging in novels and desserts, had quietly built a social circle of surprising breadth and depth.
Far more extensive than he had imagined.
They walked along the old stone-paved road of the Seventh District when Furina suddenly stopped.
Her attention had been caught by a wooden sign hanging outside a modest storefront, painted with a sky-blue potion bottle.
The shop was small, almost shabby. Above the doorway were carved the words:
Azure Apothecary.
"Mihe! I came to see you!"
Furina's voice rang like silver bells as she practically skipped into the store, completely discarding her usual goddess-like composure.
Faen followed her inside.
A faint, bittersweet herbal fragrance greeted him.
The space was small. Bottles were neatly arranged on shelves—but many slots stood empty, silently revealing the shop's struggling business.
Behind the counter, a young man looked up.
He had long blue hair smooth as silk and matching blue eyes gentle as a calm lake.
His features were refined, almost like a noble stepping out of a classical painting. His aura was serene and warm.
"Focalors. Welcome."
Mihe smiled sincerely. "You look energetic today. And this is?"
His gaze shifted to Faen.
"This is the captain of my Familia—Faen," Furina said proudly, pushing him forward.
"So you're the child Focalors often speaks about."
Mihe's smile was kind. After studying Faen briefly, he seemed to remember something.
He reached beneath the counter and produced several finely crafted blue potions.
"If you're an adventurer who frequents the Dungeon, your consumption must be considerable. Please, accept these as a small welcoming gift."
The clear liquid inside the bottles shimmered softly in the light.
=====================
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