章 214: The goddess's concern
Asuna, Yui, and Yuuki slowly stepped towards the stairs leading to the 18th floor. Fatigue still enveloped their bodies, but the feeling of pride and relief from defeating Goliath outweighed their exhaustion.
On the other side, Bors and Villy, along with a group of other adventurers, stood frozen in front of the stairs to the 18th floor. They still couldn't believe what they had just witnessed.
"Can you believe it?" Bors muttered, staring at Asuna, Yui, and Yuuki with eyes wide open as if looking at a treasure. He thought that if he could establish a good relationship with them, he would gain many advantages. For a businessman, connections were the most important thing, especially connections with strong adventurers. Although Asuna and the others couldn't yet be compared to Loki Familia and Freya Familia, Bors believed that in the future, there would be a place for them at the top of Orario. Therefore, Bors planned to welcome them warmly in Rivira.
Villy, still mesmerized by the sight, tried to speak, "They... they really did it. I can't believe they defeated Goliath."
Bors nodded, still in disbelief. He rubbed his eye patch, trying to clear the confusion from his mind.
Bors stepped forward, followed by Villy and the other adventurers. As they approached Asuna and the others, the atmosphere became tense. Asuna, Yui, and Yuuki sensed their presence and immediately took a defensive stance. They knew that in the dungeon, it wasn't just monsters they had to be wary of, but other adventurers as well.
"Who are you?" Asuna asked, her voice firm even though fatigue was still visible on her face. She glanced at Yui and Yuuki to ensure they were ready in case anything went wrong.
Bors raised his hands, trying to show his goodwill.
"Calm down, we're not enemies. My name is Bors, and this is Villy. We just wanted to meet the heroes who defeated Goliath. It's not an achievement that ordinary adventurers can accomplish," Bors said kindly, complimenting them.
"You must not have been to Rivira before; let me introduce you to it," Bors continued.
Asuna, Yui, and Yuuki exchanged glances. They felt slightly more at ease but remained cautious. "Then we'll be in your debt, Bors," Asuna nodded, sensing no malicious intent from them.
With that, they all began to move towards the stairs to the 18th floor. Although the atmosphere remained tense, they felt a bit more comfortable. Bors walked in front, leading the way, while Villy and the other adventurers followed behind.
After a while, they arrived at the 18th floor. The atmosphere here was different; the lighting was softer, and no monsters appeared.
Entering Rivira, several other adventurers were gathered, chatting and resting.
Bors led the group to a quiet inn. "Here. This place is the best inn around," he said. "You can take your time to recover."
Asuna nodded, her gratitude warming her heart. "Thank you, Bors. We appreciate it."
They all sat at a dining table, sharing food and drinks. Asuna, Yui, and Yuuki tried to replenish their energy. Yui used her Healing Touch to treat the small wounds they had sustained during the battle.
To avoid raising suspicion, Bors decided to leave them alone for a while. He knew that while he wanted to build a good relationship with them, he couldn't rush it.
Meanwhile, Noah set out to sell potato balls as usual, pushing his small cart along the bustling streets of Orario. The lively sounds of travelers and adventurers passing by filled the air, creating a vibrant atmosphere that was always enjoyable.
As he passed by the Hostess of Fertility, he saw Syr standing at the door with a cheerful smile. She was holding a package that looked like a food box. Her smile widened even more as she saw Noah approaching.
"Hello, are you going to sell potato balls again?" Syr asked with a cheerful voice, as if she had been waiting for this moment all day.
For several days now, Syr had been waiting for Noah on the street he passed. Even when Noah took a different route, he couldn't escape meeting Syr in the middle of the road. After several unsuccessful attempts to avoid her, Noah finally surrendered and walked past the Hostess of Fertility because he knew it was impossible to evade Syr, who was Freya. After all, Freya Familia, being one of the rulers of Orario, could monitor every corner of the city if she wanted to.
"Oh, Syr, did you bring me lunch again?" Noah asked, trying to put on a sincere smile, even though it was a bit forced.
The reason Noah was avoiding Syr wasn't that he disliked her. But every time, Syr would bring him strange lunches. Although they weren't poisonous or disgusting, they certainly weren't conventional, and the ingredients were always odd.
Noah didn't dislike the attention from Syr, or rather Freya, the goddess of beauty. Unlike Ishtar, who was definitely a courtesan, it was still unknown whether Freya was a virgin or had engaged in many relationships. However, Noah believed that even if Freya wasn't a virgin, she wouldn't sleep with as many people as Ishtar. Of course, Noah hoped that she was still a virgin.
Syr nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. "Yes! This is a new dish I made myself. I want you to try it!"
Noah took the food box, feeling its weight in his hands. He didn't want to crush Syr's hopes, but he also felt a bit anxious about what was inside. Every time he opened that food box, he never knew what he would find—sometimes it was a strange combination, like pasta made from bizarre plants with overly spicy sauce, or dishes made with unusual ingredients.
"Thank you, Syr," Noah said gratefully, even though his heart was racing a bit. He felt thankful for Syr's attention, but sometimes he wished he could taste something more conventional.
"I hope you like it!" Syr replied with a cheerful smile. "I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this dish."
Noah promised to try it and continued on his way, but deep down, he felt like he was struggling against a wave.
Noah continued on his way, holding the food box that Syr had given him. The atmosphere in Orario grew busier as adventurers and residents moved quickly, creating a lively scene.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Orario, Asuna, Yui, and Yuuki enjoyed a quiet moment at the inn. After replenishing their energy with the simple food provided, they felt more refreshed. The atmosphere inside the inn was warm, and they could share stories about their experience fighting Goliath.
"Who would have thought we could defeat a monster that big?" Yui said excitedly. "I still can't believe we actually did it!"
Yuuki nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we should celebrate this achievement! Maybe we can explore Rivira a bit after we rest."
Asuna smiled, hearing the enthusiasm of her friends. "That's a good idea. We can use our time here to relax and explore."
The three of them wandered through Rivira. The 18th floor was larger than half of Orario, and besides the city of Rivira, there were also beautiful lush forests and lakes. Above the 18th floor, enormous crystals floated menacingly; magically, these crystals changed their brightness according to the time on the surface. At night, the crystals dimmed, emitting a soft glow like a starlit sky.
"They seem to have great potential," Bors said to Villy. "We need to establish a good relationship with them." They observed Asuna's group exploring the city.
Villy nodded, agreeing with Bors's words.
Meanwhile, Noah walked through the bustling streets, observing the various vendors and adventurers passing by. He opened the food box that Syr had given him, and a strange aroma wafted from within it. Inside was a type of pasta that looked unusual, accompanied by a brightly colored sauce that appeared both tempting and frightening.
He took a spoon and sampled a bit of the pasta. The unique taste and unexpected combination of ingredients immediately assaulted his palate.
"Syr always tries to make something different," Noah thought, recalling how she always found a way to make each dish feel special, even if it was sometimes odd.
Meanwhile, Syr stood at the front of the Hostess of Fertility, waiting for Noah to return. She felt happy every time she saw Noah, but she also felt a bit anxious. She wanted Noah to like the food she had made, and her hopes were always high whenever she provided him with a meal.
When Noah finally returned to the street, he saw Syr with a cheerful smile. "Hello, did you like the food I made?"
Noah nodded, although he felt a bit hesitant. "Yeah, it was quite... unique."
Syr laughed lightly, unaware of the doubts behind Noah's words. "I'm glad to hear that! I'll make more for you."
Noah could only smile, sensing how sincere Syr's attention was.
"So... Kamisama, do you have time this weekend?" Syr asked with a hint of hesitation and hope.
"Of course, what's up?" Noah asked, paying attention to Syr. As long as he was with her, he could feel that her nature and personality were genuine and not an act. He didn't know what to say about this side of the goddess of love.
"Would you like to accompany me shopping?" Syr asked, anticipation written on her face.
"Is this a date?" Noah asked playfully.
"What do you think...?" Syr replied, her tone teasing and flirtatious.
"If that's the case, then alright, I'll accompany you, young lady," Noah responded in the same tone.
"Then it's a promise!" Syr said enthusiastically as she ran off.
"Yeah, I'll pick you up!" Noah shouted.
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