Bonds would not be severed by distance; instead, they would transform into the fuel to move forward.
Orario.
Haimer Familia residence, first-floor hall.
Hanasaka Warabi, Onigawara Rin, Inaba Tsukuyo, Nomura Satori, Kikakujou Mary, as well as Kyoubou and the little bear, once again stood in the spacious and luxurious hall.
Although it was merely a brief return of one hour.
It seemed to have blown away the last trace of dust in their hearts.
Haimer had returned early to sit on the sofa. Looking at his Familia, who looked as if they had undergone a baptism, he didn't speak, but merely quietly poured himself another cup of tea.
At this moment, silence spoke louder than words.
Amou Kirukiru similarly did not utter a sound.
However.
Such an atmosphere obviously would not last for long.
Bang—!
Not long after.
The heavy solid wood door of the mansion was pushed open from the outside.
The loud commotion instantly startled the girls, who were still immersed in their own emotions, causing them to unanimously turn their heads to look.
"I'm back—!!!"
Accompanied by a shout full of vigor.
A blue figure walked in.
It was precisely Hestia.
This esteemed Goddess truly had absolutely no image of a deity.
In her arms, she held a massive pile of paper bags and food boxes stacked even higher than her head, tottering precariously and looking as if it would collapse at any moment.
Her two hands weren't even enough; she could only raise her chin high to stubbornly press against the topmost box, her face squished out of shape.
"Look at what good stuff I bought!"
Hestia shouted while arduously maintaining her balance.
She was walking entirely by feel, nearly crashing into the doorframe several times.
"Roasted meat! Fried fish! And Mama Mia's privately stashed special fruit wine!"
"And this too! Freshly stewed mushroom soup right out of the pot, the aroma is simply phenomenal!"
"I ordered everything on the menu that looked delicious!"
"Hehehe, it feels so good to be rich! Is this the joy of splurging?!"
Hestia smugly wagged her head. Although her face couldn't be seen, just hearing her voice was enough to imagine that nouveau riche, cocky expression she had right now.
Finally.
Hestia shuffled over to the coffee table.
"Heave-ho!"
Along with a muffled thud like unloading cargo.
That tottering mountain of food finally landed on the obsidian coffee table without a hitch.
"Phew—I'm exhausted."
Hestia let out a long sigh of relief, wiping non-existent sweat from her forehead.
Then.
She raised her head, her face brimming with excitement, preparing to receive everyone's cheers.
"How is it? Amazing, right? Hurry up and praise me... Eh?"
Hestia paused mid-sentence.
She blinked those large, sea-blue eyes, her gaze sweeping around the living room.
Something wasn't right.
The atmosphere was a bit weird.
"You guys..."
Hestia scratched her cheek, the ahoge atop her head swaying in confusion.
"I only went out to buy some takeout."
"Why does it feel like every single one of you has changed into a different person?"
"What happened? Your expressions are all so weird."
As soon as these words came out.
The girls' hearts all skipped a beat.
Hanasaka Warabi subconsciously touched the corner of her eyes, averting her gaze with a guilty conscience.
How should they explain this?
Could they say, "Oh, we actually just went back to our hometown for a look, and incidentally said goodbye to some friends you don't know"?
"Uh... it's nothing!"
Hanasaka Warabi laughed nervously, attempting to gloss over the question.
"It's just..."
"Just that..."
As Hanasaka Warabi spoke, she winked at Onigawara Rin beside her.
Onigawara Rin's expression stiffened, and she turned her head to look at the ceiling.
Don't look at me, I'm not good at lying.
Hanasaka Warabi looked at Kikakujou Mary.
Kikakujou Mary picked up a book to block her face.
"Ahem."
Seeing that these girls were incapable of lying to Hestia, Haimer, sitting in the seat of honor, issued a light cough at the right moment.
"We just held a small activity while you were away."
"It's quite normal for them to feel a bit emotional."
"Oh..."
Hearing Haimer's words, Hestia nodded in half-understanding.
If Haimer said it, then it must be true.
A small activity...
Probably the kind of activity where everyone sat around in a circle, shared their dreams with each other, and then were moved to tears, right?
After all, these children had been fighting monsters and leveling up these past few days; it really was quite hard on them.
Hestia quickly accepted this explanation.
After all, her brain capacity wasn't that large to begin with, and right now, her focus wasn't on this at all.
"Whatever! Since it's a team-building event, we definitely need to eat delicious food to celebrate!"
Hestia instantly tossed her doubts to the back of her mind, excitedly pointing at the pile of steaming food on the coffee table.
"Hurry and try it! Hurry up!"
"I stood in line for a long time to buy this!"
"Let me tell you, Manager Mia didn't want to give me extra portions at first, but I argued strongly for it for a long time!"
Having said that.
Hestia impatiently reached out and uncovered a massive food box.
Whoosh—
Steam rose into the air.
Those pieces of golden-brown, crispy roasted meat, still sizzling with oil, were exposed to the air just like that.
That extremely rich meat aroma instantly filled the entire living room.
Gulp...
"Whoa—!!!"
"It's roasted meat! It really is roasted meat!"
"And it's even that large kind of meat with the bone in!"
"This is awesome!!"
Seeing this, Hanasaka Warabi immediately cheered and was about to lunge directly at it.
However.
Haimer noticed something.
In the spot where Hestia had just squeezed in.
Behind the mansion's oak doors.
There was still someone standing.
It seemed that because Hestia's presence was too strong and her voice too loud just now, everyone's attention had been drawn to her.
So much so that no one had discovered this person's presence right away.
But now.
As the noise slightly subsided.
That figure was ultimately noticed.
Wearing an outfit that was highly recognizable no matter where it was—the green waitress uniform of the Hostess of Fertility.
An apron with white lace trim was tied around a slender waist, accentuating a beautiful curve.
Beneath the green knee-length skirt was a pair of long, slender legs encased in black pantyhose.
Light green short hair, looking fresh and capable.
Without a doubt.
It was precisely the Elf waitress from the Hostess of Fertility.
—Ryu.
In her arms, she also held a massive pile of food boxes and paper bags, even taller than what Hestia had carried, almost burying her face entirely.
Her cheeks were bright red.
That blush even extended to her pointy Elf ears, so red it looked as if they were about to drip blood.
Her entire being exuded a strong aura of "I am air," "I don't exist," and "Please don't look at me."
Haimer blinked.
This was somewhat unexpected.
"Miss Elf?"
"Why are you here too?"
"!!!"
At this inquiry, Ryu at the doorway stiffened abruptly.
Just like a small animal playing dead being suddenly poked by a hunter.
Her already thoroughly red face instantly turned a shade redder, almost to the point of steaming.
She was discovered.
She was discovered after all.
At this moment, Ryu's inner self was practically collapsing.
She originally wanted to take advantage of Hestia drawing everyone's fire to quietly put the things down and slip away.
Who knew that now...
Not only could she not leave, but she also had to face... him directly.
"Um..."
Ryu's voice trembled terribly.
If one didn't listen carefully, it would even be drowned out by the chirping of insects outside the window.
"I..."
"It's... it's because Lady Hestia ordered too many things."
"She couldn't carry them all by herself..."
"So..."
Ryu arduously raised her head, her gaze darting about, just not daring to make eye contact with Haimer.
"So Mama Mia... asked... me to... come... help deliver them."
"T-That's it..."
Toward the end.
Ryu's speaking speed grew faster and faster, as if she wanted to spit out all these words in one breath to end this suffocating awkwardness.
After she finished speaking.
Ryu immediately lowered her head again, wishing she could bury her entire face into the pile of roasted meat boxes in her arms.
God knows how she had made it all the way here.
After all, just a moment ago.
Back in the tavern.
She had just cleared up the misunderstanding from Syr...
The moment she thought about how she had mistakenly believed this God was a bad person, stalking him, monitoring him, and even issuing a challenge.
Only to end up getting pinned to the ground and utterly defeated with just one hand.
She was even forced to sign that shameful indenture contract to work as a maid here.
Looking back on it now.
She had simply been a clown.
Self-righteous justice, self-indulgent protection.
As it turned out, the other party had absolutely no malicious intent, and she had even gotten things completely wrong on Syr's end.
Heavens.
If she could do it all over again!
Ryu swore she would absolutely go back to a few days ago and break her own legs for acting without authorization!
It was simply too humiliating!
Fortunately.
Just as Ryu was so embarrassed she was about to explode on the spot, and was even already considering whether to just drop the things and flee in a panic.
Hestia, in a certain sense, helped her out.
"That's right, Haimer!"
Hestia picked up the conversation in a timely manner, leaning close to Haimer with a face begging for praise.
"You know I ordered way too many things!"
"Moving them all in one go was too troublesome."
"Thankfully, that Miss Syr from the Hostess of Fertility, who is always taking time off, finally came to work today. Mama Mia saw I couldn't carry it all, so she had Miss Elf help me bring it over!"
"What a good girl!"
"She didn't say a single word the entire way, just silently helped me carry such heavy things! No matter what I said to her, she just nodded!"
"She was a huge help!"
"Don't you think so, Haimer?"
Hearing Hestia's explanation, Haimer also roughly understood the situation in his heart.
It seemed.
The misunderstanding regarding Syr had finally been resolved due to Syr's appearance.
And then.
With a personality like Ryu's—who, despite being awkward, was inherently extremely earnest, extremely stubborn, and could even be said to have a bit of that unique Elven moral purity.
After realizing she had made a massive blunder and wronged a good person.
That sense of shame was worse than killing her.
This was also the reason why she suddenly didn't even dare to cast a single glance at him now.
She probably genuinely felt she had no face left to see him.
Such an Elf who was like a hedgehog with its spikes raised.
To suddenly shed that hard layer of defense and expose her soft belly.
Was surprisingly cute.
Haimer thought about it, and ultimately decided not to pierce through this paper-thin window of pride.
Gods were always tolerant.
Especially toward this kind of clumsily cute child.
"Since that's the case, thank you for going through the trouble to make the trip, Miss Elf."
"Put the things down first."
"Holding them all this time is quite heavy; your arms will get sore."
"Yes."
Hearing these words.
Ryu nodded lightly. Although she still didn't dare to look Haimer directly in the eye, she finally didn't look as much like a frightened bird.
Afterward, she carefully walked over to the coffee table.
And set down the food boxes in her arms one by one.
After putting them down.
Ryu took a few steps backward.
She swiftly retreated to an inconspicuous corner of the living room, trying her best to shrink her presence.
With her hands folded in front of her and her head lowered, that posture truly made her look like a respectful store clerk preparing to leave immediately after delivering the goods.
"Since the items have been delivered..."
Ryu took a deep breath, mustering the courage to excuse herself and leave.
Right now, she only wanted to quickly escape this place filled with Haimer's presence and return to the tavern, which, despite being noisy, made her feel safe.
After all, as long as she got away from here.
That suffocating sense of shame should lessen a bit.
However.
Just as Ryu turned around, preparing to leave.
Haimer suddenly gestured toward the table fully laden with food, then turned his head to look at the girls and blinked.
The meaning was clear!
The girls instantly understood.
"Speaking of which, since Miss Elf is already here, why don't you sit down and eat a bit with us? Why the rush?"
"Yeah, there's so much food, Miss Elf!"
"You might as well stay and eat together!"
Onigawara Rin, Kikakujou Mary, and the others also echoed, warmly inviting her.
Ryu was a bit dazed.
She opened her mouth, wanting to refuse.
After all, as an Elf with a good upbringing, rashly joining another Familia's dinner party was a highly discourteous act.
Moreover... with her current state of mind, how could she possibly stomach any food!
But looking at these pairs of sincere eyes, the words of refusal Ryu had prepared in her heart simply wouldn't come out.
After all.
Aside from her excessively strong sense of justice.
Deep down, she was currently not very good at refusing the goodwill of these girls.
"I..."
Ryu subconsciously cast a glance at Haimer.
Haimer even gave her a slight nod, his gaze seemingly saying: 'Stay.'
"Pardon the intrusion..."
At this point, Ryu had no choice but to yield.
Surrounded by everyone, she was pulled over to sit beside Hanasaka Warabi.
Her entire body was so tense she didn't know where to place her hands or feet, her back held ramrod straight.
She only dared to rest half of her bottom on the edge of the chair.
"???"
Seeing this, although Hestia didn't grasp the situation and didn't quite understand why everyone was so enthusiastic toward a shop clerk, she didn't mind either.
After all, Gods had a very high tolerance for mortals, let alone a mortal who had been a huge help to her.
And so.
Hestia unceremoniously plopped her bottom down onto the seat right next to Haimer.
"Come on, come on! Let's eat, let's eat!"
"I'm starving to death!"
"To buy these things, I didn't even eat lunch! My stomach has been growling forever!"
Saying so.
Hestia reached out and grabbed the largest piece of bone-in roasted meat. With zero regard for a Goddess's image, she opened her mouth wide and took a massive bite.
"Awoo—"
"Munch munch..."
"Delicious! It's so delicious!"
Hestia chewed the oily roasted meat, letting out happy humming sounds, her eyes narrowing into slits.
"As expected of Mama Mia's cooking!"
"This heat control! This sauce! This texture! It's simply criminal!"
Seeing the sauce smeared around the corners of Hestia's mouth, Haimer was somewhat speechless. He picked up a napkin and decisively reached over, wiping away the grease around her mouth for her.
"Eat slower, no one is fighting you for it."
Haimer quietly retorted.
"I am not!"
Hestia immediately shot back self-righteously, her mouth still stuffed with meat.
"I'm not fighting to eat! I'm taste-testing, understand?!"
"If I don't try it, how will I know if it's delicious or not?!"
"I'm doing quality control for everyone!"
She certainly had a whole set of twisted logic.
At this.
Haimer was thoroughly speechless, and just let Hestia eat as she pleased.
Regardless, this glutton's eating habits would probably never change in this lifetime.
Seeing Hestia's uninhibited eating display.
The girls, who had originally been somewhat reserved, now threw courtesy out the window.
The slight tinge of melancholy brought about by their recent parting was completely dispersed by this rich, mundane liveliness.
"I want this one!"
"That fried fish is mine! Don't fight for it! It's Kyoubou's favorite!"
"If it's Kyoubou's favorite, why is it going into your mouth?!"
"This mushroom soup is so fresh! Tsukuyo, do you want to try some?"
"Fruit wine! Pour me a cup of fruit wine!"
The living room gradually became lively.
The clinking of chopsticks, the sounds of chewing, laughter, and playful banter.
Wove together into one.
Haimer looked at these energetic girls, not in a hurry to eat.
Instead, he was enjoying the atmosphere of this moment.
This is true life.
Meanwhile.
Ryu was sitting in the corner.
Holding a piece of roasted meat that Hanasaka Warabi had forcefully stuffed into her hands, eating it in tiny bites.
Her movements were gentle and elegant, perfectly conforming to Elven etiquette, without even making a single sound.
However.
Ryu's gaze still covertly drifted toward the seat of honor from time to time.
Only to see.
Haimer turning his head, listening to Hestia complaining about something while spewing meat crumbs. With a trace of helplessness on his face, he smoothly handed her a cup of water.
That naturally exuding gentleness.
Made Ryu space out a little as she watched.
After all, she had once thought.
That this God named Haimer would be an extremely dangerous deity.
An ambitious schemer who had malicious intentions toward Syr, or harbored some ulterior motive.
After all, a God capable of making the Ganesha Familia so fearful didn't look like an easygoing character no matter how you looked at it.
But looking at it now...
Ryu was already unsure.
After all, there were precedents of deities masquerading as benevolent Gods; Orario had no shortage of Gods who were glamorous on the outside but filthy behind the scenes.
Just as Ryu fell into self-doubt, poking a piece of mushroom on her plate with her fork.
As the banquet atmosphere grew livelier.
Knock, knock, knock—
A burst of knocking suddenly rang out from the outside.
Everyone's movements halted.
The living room instantly quieted down.
"Who is it so late at night?"
Hanasaka Warabi muttered indistinctly, a piece of unswallowed meat still dangling from her mouth.
"At this hour, aside from drunks, no one should be visiting, right?"
"Could it be a room inspection by the Ganesha Familia?"
The girls looked at each other in dismay.
"I'll go get the door."
Onigawara Rin put down her chopsticks.
She wiped her mouth, stood up, and adjusted her clothes, returning to the crisp composure of a swordswoman.
Then she walked toward the door.
With a soft click.
The heavy door was slowly pulled open.
In the night outside the door.
Stood a tall figure.
By the light from inside the house, everyone saw the newcomer clearly.
A woman exuding an aura of wild charm.
She wore red Japanese hakama, beneath the loose legs of which was a pair of feet wearing geta.
On her upper body was a simple white sarashi, tightly wrapping around her ready-to-burst ample chest, with a half-open jacket casually draped over the outside.
Revealing large expanses of healthy, wheat-colored skin.
Along with the distinct, muscular lines of her abdomen, brimming with explosive power.
Her long black hair was tied back casually behind her head.
She wore an eyepatch over her left eye.
Without a doubt.
It was precisely the Captain of the Hephaestus Familia, Orario's top blacksmith, and a Lv.5 first-tier adventurer.
「Cyclops Master」.
—Tsubaki Collbrande.
"Tsubaki-senpai!"
Onigawara Rin's eyes lit up after opening the door.
Tsubaki immediately grinned, revealing an extremely hearty smile, her white teeth exceptionally glaring in the night.
She rested her left hand on her hip, displaying the beautiful body curves that could only be forged by wielding a hammer year-round.
In her right hand.
She effortlessly carried a long bundle that could only be described as gigantic.
The bundle was tightly wrapped in thick canvas, even bound several times over with cowhide ropes.
However, judging from its angular shape, as well as the continuous clanking and clattering sounds emanating from within when Tsubaki hoisted it onto her shoulder.
Anyone could tell at a glance.
What was packed inside.
Were entirely lethal weapons.
"Yo!"
"Looks like you aren't asleep yet! I was worried I came too late and would disturb your rest!"
"Just in time, I'm here to make a delivery!"
After saying that.
Tsubaki patted the heavy bundle on her shoulder, emitting a crisp sound of clashing metal.
"I've repaired and brought your weapons over!"
"Furthermore..."
Tsubaki blinked her single eye mysteriously.
"On account of Lord Haimer's face, I've conveniently added a little surprise for you all!"
"I guarantee they are stronger than before!"
Hearing these words.
The eyes of the girls, who were originally eating, instantly lit up.
To a warrior.
There was nothing more appealing than a handy weapon.
"Please come in, Tsubaki-senpai."
Onigawara Rin hastily stepped aside to make way.
Tsubaki gave a hearty laugh, not keeping them in suspense.
Striding with her long legs, she stepped into the living room in just a few paces.
Tsubaki gently placed the bundle onto the floor.
The massive canvas bundle's sheer weight still caused the ground to tremble slightly, a testament to how heavy its contents were.
"Phew..."
Tsubaki rolled her shoulders, emitting a crisp series of cracking joints.
Then.
She squatted down and reached out to untie the knots on the bundle.
Rustle—
As the heavy canvas was thrown open.
"Lord Haimer!"
"I have not disgraced my mission!"
"These swords, whether it be rolled edges or chipped blades, have all been completely fixed!"
"Hardness, toughness, I've done another round of quenching!"
"Now, even if you go chop down a few more of those hard-shelled monsters, they definitely won't roll again!"
Saying so.
Tsubaki picked up a tachi.
"Black Crow!"
Onigawara Rin recognized her beloved sword at a glance.
She impatiently rushed over, carefully picking up the pitch-black tachi.
Her fingers gently stroked the blade.
The previously rolled edge now showed no trace whatsoever, repaired flawlessly. There was even a faint layer of purple luminescence flowing along that black blade edge.
"This is one of the surprises."
Tsubaki crossed her arms, looking at Onigawara Rin's infatuated expression, a confident smile belonging to an artisan appearing on her face.
"During the repair, I noticed the material of this sword was special. It was forged using obsidian steel mixed with the feathers of Dungeon Black Crows."
"Therefore, when I reforged the edge, I conveniently folded a bit of Adamantite into it."
"Adamantite?!"
Onigawara Rin's hand trembled, almost dropping it.
"Tsubaki-sama, isn't... isn't this too precious?!"
Onigawara Rin was somewhat incoherent.
"How much will this cost..."
"Consider it a freebie, no charge!"
Tsubaki waved her large hand, completely unconcerned.
"It was just some leftover scrap anyway; throwing it away would be a waste."
"Furthermore..."
"Watching you, a group of newly debuted rookies, actually turn the Dungeon upside down is a thrill."
"It really cleared up the stifling mood I've been in lately!"
"Alright, stop just staring. Everyone, come try out your tools and see if they handle well!"
"If there's anything uncomfortable, while I'm still here, I can make some on-site micro-adjustments for you!"
Hearing these words.
How could the girls hold back any longer?
Even Inaba Tsukuyo groped her way over at this moment, accurately picking up her famous sword, [White Heron].
Clang—
With a crisp drawing sound.
The snow-white blade was unsheathed.
Inaba Tsukuyo's finger rested lightly on the hilt, giving it a slight tremble.
The blade hummed softly.
That sensation of it merging into one with her arm made her heart flutter slightly.
"It's lighter..."
Inaba Tsukuyo murmured softly.
"That's right."
Tsubaki nodded, explaining.
"I noticed your combat style is a rapid quick-draw style, emphasizing one-hit kills."
"Although the weight is lighter, the inertia of the swing will be greater."
"This can increase your drawing speed by another ten percent."
Truly worthy of the caliber of Orario's number one blacksmith.
"Thank you very much, Tsubaki-senpai!"
The girls bowed in unison, their faces full of gratitude.
"Alright, alright, stop with the empty formalities!"
Tsubaki waved her hand, looking as if she couldn't handle such sappy scenes.
"Furthermore..."
Tsubaki sniffed, her gaze falling on that table full of sumptuous food.
"Looks like I came right on time!"
"What a fragrant roasted meat smell!"
"I smelled it through the front door!"
Hearing this, Haimer smiled, pointing to an empty seat nearby.
"Then why don't you sit down and eat a bit with us, Miss Tsubaki."
"As long as you don't mind that it's takeout."
"Then I won't hold back!"
Not standing on ceremony, Tsubaki pulled out a chair and sat down.
However.
Not long after Tsubaki sat down.
Her single eye's gaze casually swept across everyone at the dining table.
Finally.
Her gaze stopped on the green figure huddled in the corner, trying to lower her face.
As a seasoned Lv.5 adventurer who had fought hundreds of battles and spent years in Orario.
How could Tsubaki possibly fail to recognize the once famous Gale?
Even though her hair had been cut short and dyed light green.
Her signature ranger outfit replaced by a cute maid uniform.
And that sharp 'keep away from me' aura intentionally suppressed.
"Oho?"
Tsubaki still couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, recognizing the other party at a glance.
____
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