It wasn't until that luxurious carriage bearing the Guild's emblem had rumbled away into the distance on its wheels that the air on the first floor finally seemed to start circulating again.
The first to break the silence was, as always, the most straightforward among them—Hanasaka Warabi.
She had been sprawled against the window the entire time, watching the carriage disappear at the end of the street. Only then did she turn around, her face plastered with enormous confusion.
"That guy just now..."
"Was he really the chairman of this Guild thing?"
Warabi gestured to imitate Royman's exaggerated physique, furrowing her brows as she complained:
"I mean, his title sounds scary impressive—like he's the big boss running this entire city or something."
"But..."
"How come he seemed even more timid than a mouse?"
"The way he was bowing and scraping in front of Kami-sama just now—it was exactly like a mouse that had spotted a cat. He didn't even dare to breathe loudly."
"And the most ridiculous part..."
At this point, Warabi seemed to have discovered a whole new continent. She dug at her own ear and turned to look at Ryu standing nearby.
"That guy's appearance was, well... a bit hard to describe."
"But his ears were pointy too!"
"Don't tell me..."
"A guy who looks like that is actually an Elf too?!"
At these words, Onigawara Rin beside her couldn't help but nod as well, her face full of disbelief.
"Yeah!"
"I noticed that too!"
"Isn't it supposed to be that Elves—like Miss Elf here—are all supposed to be really beautiful and really noble-looking?"
"So how come that chairman..."
Rin thought for a moment, seemingly struggling to find a term that wasn't too rude, but ultimately gave up and spoke bluntly:
"Looked so greasy?"
"He didn't have a single shred of what an Elf should look like!"
"Our Miss Elf is so much more pleasant to look at!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
Kikakujou Mary chimed in from the side, her gaze switching back and forth between Ryu's refreshingly beautiful profile and the lingering impression of that greasy fatso's retreating figure, before arriving at her conclusion.
"As expected, only someone like Miss Elf counts as a proper Elf."
"That chairman has to be some kind of genetic mutation, right?"
"..."
Faced with this utterly merciless roasting from the Five Swords—which even carried a hint of looks-supremacist bias.
Ryu, the person in question, found her thoughts completely unable to process any of it at this moment.
After all, these children who had only been in Orario for a few days didn't understand. But she had been operating in Orario for so many years—how could she possibly not understand?!
The Guild Chairman!
Royman—the man everyone mocked as the Guild's Pig!
Though he was greedy, had a terrible reputation, and had practically been disowned by the Elf race already, he was undeniably a figure of genuine authority in Orario. More often than not, he was bold enough to negotiate directly with deities face-to-face.
Under normal circumstances, forget about him personally delivering things to someone's door while groveling like that—even if the patron deities of major Familias wanted to see him, they were the ones who had to go visit him!
And yet now—
The way Royman had looked just moments ago—terrified out of his wits, drenched in cold sweat from just a few sentences, nearly dropping to his knees...
Why?
Standing behind Royman was the great god Ouranos!
Why would he be this terrified of this... seemingly gentle and harmless black-haired God who even joked around with his Familia members?
"It seems..."
"This Kami-sama's background..."
"Is far more significant than I imagined."
And it wasn't just Ryu.
Even Chloe and Lunor off to the side—the two who were normally the most well-informed gossips—were shrinking their necks at this moment, exchanging a look of genuine alarm.
They may have loved gossip, but they also knew who they could afford to mess with and who they couldn't.
They had originally assumed this was just some new divine faction with a bit of strength. But now it was clear—the depths were truly unfathomable. At the very least, this had to be a Great God from the Heavens!
"Alright."
"Enough chatter over there."
Haimer clapped his hands, cutting through everyone's spiraling thoughts.
He reached out and opened the exquisite wooden boxes Royman had left behind.
A rich, fresh herbal fragrance instantly permeated the air.
Inside, several rows of crystal potion bottles filled with a pale golden liquid were neatly arranged. Even someone who knew nothing about such things could tell from the liquid's luster alone that these were no ordinary potions.
"Since these were sent with Ouranos's tacit approval, there's no need to be polite about it."
With that, Haimer opened the wooden box. Inside, over a dozen potion bottles were neatly lined up.
The liquid within was a pure, crystalline pale gold that shimmered with a captivating luster under the light. Just looking at it, one could sense the powerful life force contained within.
—Specially supplied by the Dian Cecht Familia: high-concentration, full-spectrum recovery potions.
Not only could they instantly heal most external injuries, they could also rapidly restore stamina and mental energy in a short period. In the Dungeon, these were practically a second life. Top-tier goods that money couldn't buy on the open market.
"Take them."
"Since you're heading into the Dungeon for training today, and without Miss Tsubaki leading the party."
"These things can save your lives when it matters most."
"Each of you take one bottle, just in case."
"Although I'd rather you never have to use them."
"But..."
"The Dungeon has never been a place that plays by the rules."
"You never know which comes first—an accident or tomorrow."
"These can keep you alive when it counts."
"Keep them on you. It's always better to have the insurance."
"And don't be stingy about using them."
"Compared to material things like these, your lives—even a single strand of your hair—are worth infinitely more in my eyes."
"Yes! Thank you, Kami-sama!"
Hanasaka Warabi was the first to accept a potion, looking like a child who'd just received a new toy. She held it up toward the sunlight streaming down through the central courtyard, watching the golden liquid slosh inside, her face brimming with excitement.
"This is really for us?"
"It looks so fancy!"
"Naturally."
"These are recovery potions specially supplied to the Guild by the Dian Cecht Familia."
"The quality is definitely far superior to anything sold on the open market."
Haimer smiled and distributed the remaining potions to the other members of the Five Swords.
Hanasaka Warabi, Onigawara Rin, Inaba Tsukuyo, Nomura Satori, Kikakujou Mary.
One bottle each.
Finally, a few bottles still remained in the box.
Haimer glanced at them, thought for a moment, then took two bottles out separately and set them aside.
"This one is for Kirukiru."
"When she wakes up, it should help with her body's recovery."
"As for this last bottle—I'll keep it stored here for now."
"Alright."
With the supplies distributed, Haimer slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping over this group of vibrant young women.
He didn't say anything sentimental.
He simply smiled and gave them a gentle nod.
"Go on."
"Same thing as always."
"Stay safe."
"I'll be waiting for you to return victorious—in time for dinner."
"Yes! Kami-sama!"
The girls responded in unison, their voices crisp, clear, and brimming with energy.
Then, one by one, they rolled up their sleeves and turned to head for the door.
However.
Just as the girls were filing out through the front entrance, Inaba Tsukuyo—who had been silently trailing at the very back of the group—suddenly found her footsteps growing hesitant.
She watched the confident backs of her companions ahead of her.
Then turned to look back at Haimer, who was standing in the hall seeing them off.
A flicker of conflict passed through those ruby-like eyes.
After all, this morning—from the moment she woke up until now—because of last night's mortifying accident, she had been behaving like a turtle with its head retracted the entire time.
Avoiding eye contact, not daring to speak, even eating breakfast with her face practically buried in her plate.
Although Kami-sama hadn't blamed her and had even gently comforted her, there was still a knot lodged in Inaba Tsukuyo's heart that she couldn't untangle.
—Dissatisfaction with herself.
"This won't do..."
"I... I can't keep being this timid..."
Looking at Haimer, the impulse in Inaba Tsukuyo's heart finally conquered her shyness.
And so.
"Phew..."
Inaba Tsukuyo drew a deep breath, as if trying to squeeze out every last ounce of cowardice from her chest.
Then.
Right as the other girls were about to cross the threshold—and even with Ryu and the others still watching from nearby—Inaba Tsukuyo, the small figure who always quietly followed at the tail of the group, suddenly stopped, turned around, and with her little feet clad in white stockings, went patter-patter-patter as she jogged back to stand before Haimer.
"Kami-sama."
Because she had run a bit too quickly, and on top of that was nervous, her voice carried a slight tremble. Her exquisite, doll-like face was flushed bright red, the heat even spreading to the roots of her ears.
But she didn't give up.
She tried her hardest to open those moist red eyes wide—still shimmering with a timid haze—and looked straight at Haimer without flinching.
"Um..."
"I..."
The words reached her lips, only to stall.
What did she want to say?
Did she want to apologize for her loss of composure this morning? Express her determination to work harder? Or did she want to say something else entirely?
Countless words surged to the back of her throat, only to jam together in a hopeless tangle.
Looking at Inaba Tsukuyo like this—having clearly mustered every ounce of courage to run back, only to freeze up at the very last moment from sheer embarrassment, so flustered she looked ready to cry—how could Haimer not understand what was in her heart?
And so.
Haimer said nothing.
He simply smiled.
Reached out his hand.
Naturally, effortlessly, his large, warm palm came to rest gently atop Inaba Tsukuyo's head of silky silver hair.
And gave it a soft rub.
"I know."
Haimer's voice drifted down from above.
"Tsukuyo has always been working very hard."
"And besides."
"What happened this morning wasn't Tsukuyo's fault."
"Being able to pick up on those things right away, and still maintaining that purity all the while."
"That is what makes Tsukuyo the most adorable."
His palm glided gently along her hair. Haimer kept his voice very soft.
"In my heart, Tsukuyo has always been a good child."
"So, Tsukuyo only needs to grow at whatever pace feels right for her."
"No matter what version of Tsukuyo it is."
"She will always be my most cherished member of this family."
"Mm..."
Feeling the warmth from the top of her head seep all the way down through her hair and into the deepest corner of her heart, Inaba Tsukuyo's body—which had been wound tight as a spring—softened bit by bit.
A mist of moisture rose in those red eyes. She nuzzled gently against Haimer's palm, just like a little rabbit being soothed by its owner.
"Mm..."
"Then... Kami-sama... Tsukuyo is heading out..."
With that, Inaba Tsukuyo turned away, face still burning red but wearing a small, contented smile, and hurried toward the door with quick steps.
And this scene, naturally, was witnessed in full by Onigawara Rin and the others who had just reached the doorway.
Rin's eyes went perfectly round, her face a mask of utter disbelief. Even the hand gripping her sword hilt clenched tight.
"Tsu—Tsukuyo..."
"She normally looks so innocent and well-behaved..."
"She actually... actually knows how to pull this move?!"
"What is this? Running back on her own to beg for a headpat?!"
That was way too underhanded!
And the look in Kami-sama's eyes just now, those gestures—the doting was absolutely off the charts!
It was bad enough that Amou Kirukiru alone was already putting immense pressure on them. Now even Tsukuyo—who normally seemed like the most honest and shyest of them all—had learned this trick too?!
This was outrageous!
"Damn it..."
"Even Tsukuyo has started making secret moves..."
"It seems..."
"It's not just that Amou woman."
"Even Tsukuyo's intentions aren't as simple as they appear!"
"No way!"
"I absolutely refuse to lose!"
In an instant, an unprecedented sense of urgency descended upon the remaining three.
What had originally been mere determination to catch up with Amou Kirukiru in terms of strength now clearly carried an additional layer of meaning.
If they kept dragging their feet any longer... by the end, they'd be left without even a drop of thin soup in this household!
"Let's go!"
"Into the Dungeon!"
"Today we're slaughtering our way straight through it!"
Rin gritted her teeth and let out a shout, not daring to look at Haimer even once more, terrified that she too wouldn't be able to resist running back.
...
As the Five Swords departed, trailing a murderous aura of mysterious origin, Chloe, Lunor, and Ryu also tucked away whatever stray thoughts they had. After tidying up the hall, they tactfully retreated to the kitchen to continue working, not daring to comment.
The first-floor hall quickly fell quiet once more.
Haimer glanced at the now-empty doorway and shook his head, a helpless smile hanging at the corner of his mouth.
These children really were full of energy.
"Alright."
"The little ones have all headed out."
"Time to go check on the two upstairs."
With that thought, Haimer turned and made his way toward the second-floor staircase.
Arriving on the second floor, the corridor was lined with thick carpet, making his footsteps completely silent. Haimer first passed by Hestia's guest room.
The door hadn't been shut properly, left ajar with a gap that was neither wide nor narrow. Through it, one could faintly hear movement from inside.
"Zzz... snore... zzz..."
A bout of snoring utterly devoid of any divine image—even carrying a certain rhythmic quality—was brazenly drifting out through the crack in the door.
Haimer pushed open the door, somewhat speechless.
There, on the spacious, soft bed.
The Goddess of the Hearth—who was supposed to be dignified and pure—was currently sprawled in a giant X-shape with absolutely zero divine image whatsoever.
The blanket had long been kicked onto the floor, with more than half her body exposed, completely defenseless.
That signature blue ribbon, loosened by her extravagant sleeping posture, still stubbornly clung beneath her excessively ample chest, tracing out a series of breathtaking curves that rose and fell with her breathing.
She was sleeping with absolute bliss—there was even a glistening drop of drool at the corner of her mouth, teetering on the edge of her cheek.
And on top of that—
"Hehehe..."
"Fried potato balls..."
"Delicious..."
"I want them all..."
Hestia was even mumbling in her sleep, smacking her lips from time to time, wearing a blissfully carefree, silly grin.
Looking at this scene, Haimer could only press his hand to his forehead in exasperation.
However.
Just as Haimer was about to pick up the blanket and cover her—
"Mm..."
Hestia seemed to sense a heat source nearby. She suddenly rolled over and latched onto the arm Haimer had just extended, wrapping around it like an octopus—hands and feet combined—as the soft warmth of her body instantly enveloped his entire forearm.
"Haimer..."
She called out in a daze, her voice soft and syrupy, dripping with dependence.
Haimer's movement paused.
"?"
Could it be... this girl was dreaming about him?
If that was the case, it seemed these past few days of looking after her hadn't been wasted after all.
Just as this thought crossed Haimer's mind, Hestia nuzzled her face against his arm, smacked her lips twice, and then followed up with:
"Haimer..."
"Lend me some money... I wanna eat a big feast..."
"..."
The flicker of warmth in Haimer's heart froze solid in an instant.
Then shattered all over the floor.
"I was a fool for feeling moved."
Haimer shot an unamused glare at the dead-to-the-world Hestia and tried to pull his arm free.
But seeing her clinging to him with an iron grip, the corners of her mouth still wearing that satisfied, slightly dopey smile—in the end, Haimer could only let out a resigned sigh and gave up trying to break loose.
"Fine."
"Considering you're one of the very few in the Heavens who wasn't afraid of me."
"I'll let it slide this time."
Haimer extended his other hand and, without the slightest ceremony, gave Hestia's chubby little cheek a light pinch. The sensation was as satisfying as ever.
"However..."
"That promise from back in the Heavens is coming due soon. I'm putting this on the tab."
"Sooner or later, I'm going to make you pay it all back—with interest."
After confirming that Hestia wasn't going to wake up anytime soon in this state, Haimer carefully extracted his arm, picked the blanket up off the floor and tucked her in properly, then turned and left the room, pulling the door shut behind him.
Leaving Hestia's room, Haimer made his way to the master bedroom at the end of the corridor.
He pushed open the heavy solid wood door.
The room's thick curtains were still drawn, with only the light from the doorway stretching a long shadow across the floor. The air still carried a faint, lingering trace of last night's amorous atmosphere.
On that disheveled bed, Amou Kirukiru lay quietly.
Her brows were slightly relaxed, her breathing steady and long, her chest rising and falling gently with each breath.
Last night's frenzied battle to the death—the double toll on both body and spirit—meant that even with her 『Adamantine Body』 skill, she wouldn't be recovering anytime soon.
Haimer didn't disturb her.
He simply stood by the bedside, watching her quietly for a while.
Toward this girl who dared to draw a blade against a God, who even tried to conquer a God—Haimer was, in all honesty, immensely fond of her. One might even say he held a degree of admiration.
After all, this kind of pure, unadulterated obsession was precisely the quality this world lacked the most.
And so.
After watching for a moment, Haimer gently placed the potion bottle he'd set aside for her on the nightstand, in the most visible spot.
Beneath the bottle, he tucked a small note.
On it were just a few simple words, written in sharp, decisive strokes:
[Drink this when you wake up.]
With that done, Haimer didn't linger. He turned and left, gently pulling the door shut behind him, sealing the room's tranquility back inside.
"Time to get to work."
____
👻🔥Seek: Walnut-chan🔥👻
🔥 New history: Group chat of the Dead
✅ Read 40 chapters ahead of everyone else.
✅ Get cool exclusive stuff and updates!
Let's hit these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = 1 extra chapter for the public!
🚀140 MEMBERS = 5 extra chapters on all stories for supporters!
👻 P - Walnut-chan