The talk with the seller went a lot differently than Gin had thought it would.
He had planned to talk to them, beg them not to sell the house until the auction was over, and kiss their asses as much as he needed to.
Reality was never that simple.
The seller was an old Hume Bunny man named Gus.
He and his wife used to work as farmhand leaders for the Demeter Familia, and his daughter had been an adventurer.
"Had been" was the key phrase here.
The daughter died during an expedition a month ago.
Her party had accidentally stepped into a monster house—a particularly nasty dungeon trap that rapidly spawned massive numbers of monsters.
Gin didn't need any extra exposition after that. Her cause of death could be easily imagined.
Gus was hoping to sell the house and move out of Orario.
He didn't state his reason, but Gin could make an educated guess. It had to be frustrating to watch people happily step into the dungeon every day when his daughter didn't make it back home.
Gin sighed, thinking back on the meeting.
He could tell Gus wasn't exactly thrilled to learn Gin was an adventurer.
It must have been complicated for him to see a solo rookie raking up enough money to buy a house, while his daughter met an untimely end even with a full party.
In a rare moment of prudence, Gin wised up and kept his mouth shut about how he'd landed a million Valis.
He didn't think the old man would like him any more if he knew Gin had lucked out after just three days of diving.
Honestly, Gin was pretty much impotent in that conversation. It didn't feel right to hustle a deal with grieving parents.
Luckily, he wasn't alone.
Hel was with him, and surprisingly, the couple took a liking to her.
Why? Because Hel was a goddess!
But as it turned out, she wasn't just any goddess.
She always said things about being the dead, the dark, and the silence.
Well, she wasn't just making stuff up to sound edgy, apparently.
She was an actual goddess of death.
One of the few who reigned over the afterlife and the circle of reincarnation.
The fact that she had only descended recently meant there was a real chance she had actually taken care of their daughter's soul.
Gus and his wife latched onto that fact pretty quickly. They were all too eager to converse with someone who could give them insight into their daughter's fate.
Hel had stayed silent the whole time the couple bombarded her with questions, not once interrupting or showing any kind of response.
The couple finally realized they were rambling and went silent.
'Oh Hel, this is awkward,' Gin had thought.
But the one to break the silence was Hel herself.
"Death will inevitably come and visit. The time of parting will undoubtedly be filled with sorrow," she started.
Her voice was soft, as if she were talking to children rather than adults.
Well, Gin guessed that to a goddess like Hel, all mortals were no different than children.
"Grieve and hold dearly to the memories of your darling until your spirit mends, O mourning mortals. But keep in mind that souls do not stay static. Your beloved darling will continue on a new journey after her respite in heaven, and so must you continue on your own."
"Will we… will we meet Tasha again, Goddess-sama?" Gin could hear the raw hope in Gus's tone.
Gin internally grimaced at that.
When the gods descended to the Lower World hundreds of years ago, they shed light on facts mortals normally wouldn't know.
One of those facts was how the afterlife and reincarnation worked.
Once mortals died, their souls were taken to heaven to be kept and 'cleaned' before being put back into the circle of reincarnation.
Being cleaned meant their entire memory, experience, and sins were washed away until the soul became a pure blank slate.
Gin knew that right about now, their daughter's soul was probably being scrubbed until no trace of her previous life remained.
He wasn't sure what kind of response they were hoping to get out of Hel, but he hoped she wouldn't be too blunt.
"Nay. I shall not utter empty promises that I cannot fulfill. False words to tempt you shall not escape my lips," Hel answered without hesitation.
Gin had hoped Hel could read the room and let them down gently, only to be reminded that social skills weren't included in her repertoire.
He could physically see their spirits wither at her statement.
Yet, despite all of that, Hel continued. Gently, solemnly, befitting a real goddess.
"Nevertheless, it is the truth that she will step upon this world once more when the wheel makes its circle. Thus, the one thing you can accomplish is to make sure that the world that greets her will be better than this one."
She placed her hands on their shoulders, softly comforting them like a mother.
"Live your life in her stead until it expires. Toil away and etch an improvement, no matter how small. That is the only sure way I know to honor your beloved's memory."
The old couple cried as if it were the first time they were grieving for their daughter.
Gin guessed that Hel's words meant a lot to them, considering her position as an actual overseer of departed souls.
And at that moment, Gin realized once again that Hel—despite her constant chuuni outbursts—was a bona fide, honest-to-god goddess!
...
After that, the negotiation went pretty smoothly.
They didn't give him a discount, and frankly, asking for a cheaper price after that emotional display would have been a total asshole move. However, the couple did agree not to sell the property before the auction ended.
Gin bowed to them repeatedly in gratitude and left the premises in a fairly good mood.
Now, he was eating at a café in the Third District with Hel.
Treating her seemed like the correct action to take after her performance.
"My goddess, were you the one to take care of their daughter's soul?"
Hel quietly finished her sandwich before responding. "I am not certain. I make no distinction, my champion. To me, all of your souls are the same."
That statement alone would sound pretty cold, but Gin liked to think he knew her better now.
He waited quietly for her to continue, and as expected, she didn't disappoint.
"All of them look beautiful." A smile formed on her face as she looked at him. "Do you know, my champion? Souls have different tints to them. Their life journey grants them their own colors. Not one soul is ever the same as another."
This might have been one of the few times Hel ever sounded genuinely excited.
Gin watched as she gestured toward him and the surrounding people.
"All of you fascinate me. Be it the souls of heroes or villains, braves or cowards, those who die fighting or those who die peacefully in their own beds. All of them are beautiful in their own way. Of course, your own is no different, my champion."
"I-is that so?" Gin cleared his throat, taking a sip of his drink. "May I know what kind of soul I have?"
"Your soul is an ever-changing myriad of colors. It is not a pure soul devoid of taint. Every time you take a step in your journey, your color morphs ever so slightly, as if adopting one part of your surroundings. It is fascinating beyond words, my champion."
Gin felt a weird sense of pride well up at her words, even though something like a soul was completely outside his control.
"Thank you, my goddess."
'I'm definitely not blushing by the way!'
"This might sound obvious, but I do vow that my soul is forever yours, milady."
"Umu, I am grateful for your loyalty, my champion. Let it be known that watching your soul grow gives me a curious joy like no other."
She gave him another smile, this time with a mischievous quality to it. "Although sometimes I do wonder. What kind of colors will it take if I dye it with my own?"
"The answer is obvious, no?" Gin answered with a smile of his own. "No matter what kind of color it is, it will be a color that I'll be proud to have. Because it will be our color."
Hel looked surprised for a second before her expression softened into a truly beautiful smile.
"Umu. Well said, Gin. My dear champion. I shall wait with bated breath for that day to come."
At that moment, Gin was confident that even compared to goddesses of beauty like Freya and Ishtar, Hel would still triumph.
Because to him, her smile right now was the most beautiful of all.
...
The next day came around as usual.
Right now, Gin had a pretty good idea of his schedule.
With his hunt for the Jack Bird finally over, he could focus on making his way down to the lower floors.
For now, he would keep exploring the first four floors until most of his stats hit G. He also needed to gather enough money to treat the Astraea Familia members.
Other than that, following his session with Rehmer, it seemed like a good idea to look for party members.
Sooner or later he'd have to work in a team, and there was a good chance he'd be the leader.
He needed to get some experience now.
Oh, and since he would be leaving Twilight Manor in four months, maybe this was a good time to ask Loki to act as a middleman to contact Riveria Ljos Alf.
Concurrent chanting was too useful of a technique to leave unmastered.
Gin decided to look for party members so he could make better progress.
Well, "looking" might not be the right word.
He only had so many people to ask. His list of acquaintances was limited to Raul and Aki from the Loki Familia, and the Astraea Familia.
The Astraea girls were strong. Too strong for his current level.
If he asked to party with them now, he would either be...
A) a baggage carrier at best, or B) the actual baggage!
Yeah, he could only ask Raul and Aki.
They were both Level 1 like him. He actually got along with them, and both were front-liners, which meant they would be useful to shield him from harm.
Yep. Raul and Aki sounded perfect.
He decided to ask them during breakfast.
"A pwartii?" Raul said mid-chew.
He noticed the dirty look Aki threw at him, promptly shut his mouth, and swallowed. "Sorry, a party? For the dungeon?"
"Yeah, you, me, and Aki. The three of us," Gin nodded. "My Guild advisor actually told me to try adventuring in a party for once."
"Oh, that's actually a pretty good idea! I'm in," Raul cheerfully replied.
"Well, I don't particularly mind, but I don't know if the captain will give us permission or not." Aki, on the other hand, paid attention to the details as usual.
Captain… Loki Familia's Captain.
Finn Deimne.
Level 5.
He was one of the most famous adventurers around. Despite being a pallum—a race said to be the weakest among the gods' children—Finn managed to fight his way to the very top of Orario. Gin had never met him, but he'd heard the rumors.
Most of them were so good he might as well be the Pallum Hero.
Both of them were captains of their respective familias, but comparing Gin to him right now was like comparing a termite to a flying dragon.
'Well, no worries. I'm just going to ask permission to make a party, not challenge him to a duel to the death. No need to be scared.'
"Why don't we just ask? He should be here, right?" Gin said.
"He's probably inside his office, yes."
"Then let's go after I finish two more portions."
"Dude, that's your eighth plate already."
....
"Captain, excuse us, may we come in?"
"Is that you, Raul? Of course. Please come in."
The three of them entered the room. Raul and Aki stood at attention almost immediately.
The boy—no, he might look like a boy, but he was at least fifteen years older than Gin, he was a man.
Anyway, he glanced at the three of them with an easy smile before focusing on Gin.
Gin gave him a slight bow and introduced himself. "I apologize for picking this time to introduce myself despite staying here for almost two weeks now. I am Gin Hvergel, a familia member of Goddess Hel. It's an honor to meet you, Sir Deimne."
Raul and Aki looked at him in confusion, as if the sight of Gin introducing himself properly was alien to them.
Gin wondered what kind of image they had of him.
Probably not a decent one.
"I am happy to make your acquaintance as well, Gin Hvergel. I am Finn Deimne, captain of the Loki Familia. Please pay it no mind; as long as Loki gave you her permission, you are not obligated to ask for mine or the others'." Finn offered his hand, and Gin promptly shook it. "Is there another reason for your visit?"
Gin exchanged looks with Raul and Aki.
He might be the one asking to form a party, but asking for permission to borrow someone from a different familia sounded pretty personal.
They seemed to notice and took the lead.
"Uhh, yes. Captain, Gin proposes making a party with us to gather experience in team battles. We would work as a three-man party and explore the dungeon's upper floors."
"I see. Raul, can you tell me the merit of joining a party with him?"
"Eh?"
"Gin is a rearguard, if I am not mistaken. Both of you are vanguards. It might seem easy to say that the reward amount both parties receive will be fairly distributed. But as vanguards, the two of you will take more damage compared to him, which means you will have to spend more on potions and equipment maintenance, not to mention your risk will be higher." Finn tapped his desk.
"To me, that's the most apparent con of creating a party with him. I am curious if there is a comparable pro to working together with him compared to adventuring with our own familia."
'Yikes, this guy is secretly brutal!' Gin thought.
He watched Raul squirm under Finn's gaze and decided to put his own neck out.
"May I, Sir Deimne?"
"Oh? Of course, Gin. Please share your thoughts."
Finn had basically pointed out the net gain disparity between vanguards and rearguards.
If they were from the same familia, it wouldn't be a problem, but they weren't. Gin had two options: shoot down his cons or bring out comparable pros.
Shooting down the cons happened to be easier.
"Thank you. I will, of course, chip in for the potion reimbursement costs. That means both Raul and Aki will gain a permanent thirty-percent discount on potions while they are adventuring with me."
"Reimburse, you said?"
"Yes. I will cover one-third of the potion costs used during our expeditions."
"I see. What if Raul and Aki start forcing themselves not to use potions because they want to be considerate of your wallet?"
"If they're ever in real danger, I'll force the potions down their throats myself."
Gin was serious.
Both of them were kind people and both were his friends. He would buy a hundred potions if it kept them alive.
Finn seemed satisfied with that answer. He nodded and motioned for Gin to continue. "I see, go on."
"It's hard to divide our earnings fairly because of our different roles in battle, correct?"
"Yes. I personally don't agree that dividing the reward equally three ways will be fair to them. They are at more risk fighting in the front compared to you, Gin."
That was true. Everything Finn said was true. That was why Gin had thought of the fairest way to handle it.
"Then we'll divide the reward fairly according to our individual merit."
"That would be harder, no? I can see you arguing over who performed better during the exploration. Who will get the final call on the decision?"
"Our goddesses. Hel and Loki."
"Oh?"
Yes. Goddesses could tell if a mortal lied. If anyone lied about their contribution, they would be easily outed.
Just the presence of their goddesses would serve as a deterrent for any foul play.
"At the end of every expedition, we will gather the total reward and discuss the fair payment of each individual. We will have the goddesses with us during the conclusion to prevent foul play."
"What if both Hel and Loki lie? Hel will favor your side, and Loki will favor Raul and Aki."
That was easy.
There were two supremely good goddesses right here in Orario. If you asked which gods hated injustice the most, the answer was obvious.
"We'll ask either Ganesha-sama or Astraea-sama to be the tie-breaker."
"I see you really thought this through. Impressive, Gin."
No, the only thing Gin's brain cells did was throw dice around. This was a completely spontaneous idea. The fact that it worked surprised him as much as Finn.
Well, that shot down the cons nicely.
"Raul, Aki."
"Yes, Captain!"
"I don't mind letting both of you form a party with Gin. However, please keep in mind that I want both of you to prioritize our familia's expeditions."
"Of course, Captain!"
"Well, you are dismissed. Oh, and Gin."
"Yes, sir?"
"Lend me your time for a while later. There is something I want to talk to you about."
"Uh? Of course?"
"Great. I will see you later, then. Good day."
And with that, the three of them retreated from Finn's office.
As they walked down the corridor, Gin wondered what to do next.
They could go directly to the dungeon after grabbing their equipment.
The three of them only planned to explore the first four floors anyway. He had done well enough exploring the first floor solo, and the next three shouldn't be that much different.
The only new monster that would appear was the Dungeon Lizard. It was nothing special—just a lizard the size of a big dog.
It might be a little faster than a goblin, but that was it.
He wasn't going alone this time either. Raul and Aki were with him. They might be Level 1, but they were more experienced.
Everything should be okay. More than okay, even.
But no matter how shallow the floor, rushing into the dungeon blindly seemed like a bad idea. He was going to fight in a party for the first time.
Wasn't it better to plan things out first rather than decide stuff on the fly?
"Raul, Aki, do you guys mind if we chat for a bit?" Gin asked.
"Sure, what is it, Gin?"
"I just think there are things we should decide on before going in."
"Ah, I see. You mean strategy, equipment, provisions, stuff like that?" Aki listed the obvious topics.
"Yeah, pretty much."
"That's a good idea, but it's just the three of us here. I don't think there will be a lot to discuss," Raul shrugged.
Gin agreed, but it was still better than nothing.
Just like cooking, it was better to prepare the ingredients beforehand, even for simple meals.
"I'll start then. What will we focus on? Fighting experience or money?"
"You mean prioritizing either the number of defeated enemies or magic stones gained?"
"Yes, exactly. Of course, we can do things normally, but crushing the magic stones to end battles faster and gain Excelia quickly is another option, right?"
Defeating monsters and getting magic stones might seem synonymous, but you could actually destroy the magic stone inside their bodies to kill the monsters instantly.
Gin had never needed to do that before, but if they didn't care about monetary gain and wanted to focus purely on Excelia, it was an option.
"It's not a good thing to waste magic stones like that, though. If we do it too often, we'll be in the red in no time."
Aki's worry wasn't groundless.
Adventuring was, at its core, a job. He couldn't blame her for dwelling on the money. There were some people who didn't care about money, but they were in the minority.
Gin didn't care about money just for the sake of it, but money brought food to the table. A fair amount of money was needed to support both his and Hel's livelihood.
"Of course, Aki, I'm not saying we should do it to every monster we encounter. Maybe just a couple here and there, you know?"
"Oh, if we want to defeat as many enemies as we can without destroying their stones, we could just buy some stamina or mind potions and use them if we get tired," Raul joined in. "I know a pharmacy that's pretty cheap. They might give us freebies too."
"That place sounds kinda fishy, man."
"Raul, you shouldn't cut corners on important matters," Aki sighed. "If we really need potions, it's better to visit the Dian Cecht Familia. Our familia is a regular there anyway."
"Guys, cut me some slack, I know, okay? I'm just throwing the idea out. It's better to have more options for a discussion."
Gin looked at Raul for a moment and decided to throw the guy a bone. "Oh, what the hell. Aki, why don't we humor Raul just this once? I'm not exactly swimming in money right now," Gin grunted. "If it's legit, then great. If the place is shady, we can just get the hell out."
"…Fine, but if something's wrong with the potions, I'm blaming both of you."
"Nah, don't worry. We'll test them on Raul first, just to be sure."
"No, it's fine! The place is fine! The god in charge looks nice," Raul insisted.
"Raul, my friend. You do know that there's no such thing as a 'nice' businessman, right?" Gin placed a hand on his shoulder.
"They are urban legends. Like a secret underground city beneath Orario, or half-human half-spirits, or talking monsters. They're just stories, man."
"Gin, please apologize to every merchant out there. Raul, please grow up and learn to doubt people a little," Aki preached. "Anyway, are we going all out then? Use the potions we buy and hunt down monsters until we are done?"
"Yeah, Raul will tank and you'll be the main attacker. I will draw first blood from range and take down the strongest enemy." Gin voiced the simplest strategy he could think of. It was probably better to keep things basic for now. "If the enemy outnumbers us, I can use my spell to weaken them before they make contact. Will that work for now?"
"Yes, that's good enough for me," Aki nodded. "So are we focusing on Floor One, or are we going down to Floor Four?"
"Let's go as far as we can. It's about time I exit my comfort zone." Gin grinned. "Ah, but if we're forced to use our potions, then it's time to start retreating, yeah?"
"Agreed. It's not good to push ourselves too far. We're not as strong as Ais-san, after all…" Raul muttered.
Gin caught the mention and looked at him. Raul looked really dispirited.
"Dude, what's up with Ais? Is she really that strong?"
"Strong wouldn't be enough to describe her." Raul chuckled mirthlessly. "She's relentless. She'll rush from enemy to enemy without stopping, and after each exploration, she'll be drenched from top to bottom in monster blood. I still get shivers watching her fight."
Gin stared at him in disbelief and turned toward Aki.
Yikes.
Aki's expression was a mix between a grimace and a weak smile.
It was all true, then.
"Ais is in a whole different dimension than the three of us. It wouldn't be weird if she leveled up soon. There's no use comparing ourselves to her."
Gin couldn't really picture that deadpan shorty being that destructive, but Raul and Aki didn't seem to be acting.
He decided he wouldn't pick a fight with Ais, just to be safe.
...
After that, the three of them retrieved their equipment and headed out to the Blue Pharmacy Raul had mentioned.
Because it was located in the First District, Gin decided to make a stop at the Guild to report the forming of his new party and their dive plan to Rehmer.
"I see, the both of them are Level 1s from the Loki Familia? I am pleasantly surprised that you could find a party so soon after my advice." Rehmer observed his companions for a second before giving an approving nod. "Please keep in mind that having more people doesn't mean you should increase your recklessness in proportion. Do not let your guard down in the dungeon, Mr. Hvergel."
With that, Gin said goodbye and strode toward the Blue Pharmacy.
The first thing Gin noticed when he stepped inside the building was the aroma. Some of the scents were familiar—medicinal herbs common in the forest back home.
The other aromas were a weird mix of alcohol, burning wood, and something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
He turned his attention to the god standing behind the counter. He was looking at them patiently with a calming smile on his face, as if worried they might run away if he startled them.
As the three of them walked to the counter, he greeted them. "Welcome to Miach's Blue Pharmacy. How can I help you today?"
Raul elbowed Gin and Aki with a cheeky grin, proving his point.
Yep, Gin couldn't blame Raul.
The god, in short, looked nice.
"Uh yeah, hi. We're looking for some health, mind, and stamina potions."
"We have them all in stock. How many do you want?"
"How much are they, exactly?"
"They are 500 Valis for one vial each."
'That's the market price. Didn't Raul say this place was cheaper? Did he remember wrong?'
The god, Miach-sama, seemed to notice Gin's minor distress.
"Is everything alright?"
"What? No, I mean everything is fine! I was just a little surprised at the price. I thought it was going to be cheaper."
"Oh, I see. You are a beginner, I assume?" He chuckled.
"Yeah. This is actually the first time I've ever gone shopping for potions."
"I see. As I thought, 500 Valis is a little expensive, isn't it? I told my children that lowering the price is fine, but they scolded me for it." Miach laughed good-naturedly, as if being told off by his own children wasn't disrespectful at all.
"They said the other pharmacies would lose customers and blame us if we didn't standardize our prices. So we had no choice but to adjust them."
"Ah… is that so?"
"Yes, but this is the first time you're buying potions, correct? Then this will be a sort of commemoration day for you." He adopted a thinking pose for a moment before giving Gin a warm smile.
"Alright, just this once, I'll give you a special price of 250 Valis each."
'Wait, what!? He's giving a 50% discount just like that!? Is he a saint!?'
"No! You don't have to, Miach-sama! I can pay the normal price just fine!"
This was the first time Gin had ever gotten a discount and actually felt bad about it.
"Hmm… If you still complain after this, then that means the discount still isn't enough, right?" He smiled teasingly. "Then I will add another bottle of each to your purchase for free."
Gin shut up and practically shoved 1,500 Valis into the man's hands, actually terrified the god before him would keep adding bonus after bonus if he didn't stop him.
He got four Health, four Mind, and four Stamina potions in return—four times as much as he should have gotten for that price.
"Uhh, Miach-sama, won't you get in trouble with your familia if they find out?"
"Hahaha, thank you for worrying, but please don't. These potions are nothing but a small gift to a new friend. Let's just keep this a little secret between us." He winked.
Gin held firmly to the image of Hel kept within his heart, refusing to get swept away by this kind hunk of a god.
He looked at Raul and Aki.
Oh no!
If he didn't get them out of here soon, they would totally convert to his familia.
Loki and Finn would murder him!
"Uh, yeah, friend. I am happy to be your friend. I am Gin Hvergel of the Hel Familia. It's very nice to meet you, but we really have to head out now. Thank you so much, Miach-sama!"
Gin beat a hasty retreat, physically dragging Aki and Raul behind him by their collars.
"Thank you for your patronage, Gin. Please come again."
'What the hell was that… what in the freaking hell was that!? Is he secretly a god of beauty!? Was I being charmed!?'
'No, no! Calm down!'
"…O' Hel give me strength."
He brought up the memories of yesterday.
Hel's smile, her compassion.
Yeah… He was alright. He was definitely alright.
His heart calmed down, tranquil like the visage of his goddess. He let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
Miach-sama was dangerous!
He was definitely more dangerous than any monster he'd faced so far. Gin wasn't approaching that store again without Hel in tow.
He looked at Raul and Aki. Both of them were still visibly shaken. No, Raul was shaken. Aki, meanwhile, was biting her lower lip and staring wistfully back in the direction of the Blue Pharmacy.
He needed to snap them out of it somehow.
"Oi! Raul, Aki! Snap out of it!" Gin yelled.
'Hel gives me something to hold onto. Don't they have something like that too!?'
"Oh yeah, Loki! Don't you remember Loki!? Your goddess! The one waiting for you back home!"
The two of them looked at him blankly, seemingly picturing their goddess.
"Hahaha, Raul, Aki-tan, let's come and drink! We're getting a cute, big-breasted, bespectacled beauty soon! Yay!"
"…Loki? Oh, right. We need her permission to convert." Even Raul began joining Aki in staring back at the Blue Pharmacy.
"Miach-sama's chest looks better."
"OI KORA!"
Wow, their loyalty was paper-thin.
He couldn't blame them, though. Loki wasn't even close to Hel in charm. Bringing up Loki just ended up backfiring. Was there anyone who could chain them back to the Loki Familia!?
Ah, there was one.
Gin leaned in close to Raul and Aki, placing his mouth near their ears, and whispered.
"Ais-san."
'Flinch.'
A violent shudder ran through both of their bodies! They slowly turned their necks toward him in sheer horror.
"You don't think you can escape her just by jumping ship to another familia, right?" Gin whispered darkly. "…She's coming for you."
"Eeep!"
"Little Ais-san comes at night, Raul, Aki, sleep tight," Gin sang slowly, replacing the child-eating witch from the folk song with a deadpan little girl who didn't even reach his waist.
"Dude, stop that! Ais-san is gonna appear in our dreams, dammit!"
"I won't escape! I won't try to escape the familia, so please don't chase me!"
Okay, Aki was clearly overreacting now.
People were definitely going to misunderstand this.
The onlookers on the street were already staring at the three of them, and the only thing preventing them from calling the Astraea or Ganesha Familia was typical big-city apathy.
As Gin dragged the shaking duo away from the premises, he thanked the gods for creating apathy in the hearts of the masses!
-------
5000 words, next update on Thursday!