บท 142: CH. 144.5: Twilight Manor
Two girls stormed through the streets lit with the amber glow coming from the magic stone lamps.
"Ais, we are so done. Riveria-sama will bite our heads off."
Sweat pouring down her cheeks, the golden-haired elf girl, Lefiya, urged Ais behind her. In spite of Lefiya using every bit of strength from her level 2 status, Ais kept up with her without breaking a sweat.
Lefiya's face turned red at the realization. "S-Sorry, Ais. I'm holding you back."
Ais revealed a smile. "Lefiya… is a friend."
"Ais…" Lefiya's eyes moistened. She hardly stopped herself from stopping and hugging Ais. A new motivation sprouted in her spirit and her footsteps sped up.
A few minutes of running brought the two girls to their home; the manor erected with towers around. The central tower stood the tallest, the dwelling of their Familia's goddess, and the tower to its right was known as the maiden tower. Only the handpicked girls by Loki could enter the tower.
The surroundings were covered in thick shadows and no light flickered within the whole of the base. The main gate was guarded by two beastman girls absorbed in their talk.
The duo gave a slip to the guards and snuck inside the dark hallways flickering with a magic lamp. On their way to the room, Ais suddenly stopped and turned around.
"Did you two have fun?" A calm voice arrived followed by a lighthearted chuckle.
Lefiya's heart leaped to her throat. Riveria walked out of the shrouded corner, hands folded around her chest. The friendly smile on her face sent chills spiraling up Lefiya's soul.
"Was I not loud enough?" Riveria inquired. "Tell me, did you two have fun today?"
Fun… Lefiya's mind wandered to her little adventure in the Seolo Forest. The pair of rookie adventurers who excelled in combat and magic, far above their peers. The way he stroked her hair; Lefiya couldn't but fidget in her place. How could she let him touch herself so easily?
"Ais's words are rare but Lefiya, why are you silent? Where were you two? I left you two alone, so you could have fun… why are you so late?"
"I am… sorry," Ais apologized. "I took… Lefiya to the dungeon…"
Everyone encouraged Ais to do something other than crazily killing the monsters and training. So they left Ais in Lefiya's hands, hoping a girl of her age could help Ais overcome her social issues. But Lefiya's sense of adventure compelled her to choose the out-of-Orario quest, instead of some non-battle quests.
"It's my fault, Riveria-sama." Lefiya tried to bow her way out of the situation.
Riveria furrowed her brow. "You have to stop addressing me like that. I'm not royalty after I left the forest with Aina."
"But Riveria-sama…"
Riveria exhaled a deep breath. "The remnants of the Evilus are still out there, gathering their strength to strike down this city once again. I don't want you, children, to be dragged into this again."
Evilus, the evil group responsible for almost destroying the Labyrinth City Orario. The event left deep scars everywhere, especially to those who lost their family.
Meanwhile, Ais stoically stared at Riveria, who plopped her hand on Ais's head and brushed her hair. As kind as Riveria's touch was, it gave Ais no warmth, far from the kind that adventurer brought to her. His warmth coiled right around her scarred heart, forcing her to forget her vengeance. The feeling sprang to her mind and she closed her eyes. Was he manipulating her mind?
"Ais, have you eaten Jagamarukun?"
"...Yes."
"Good, cause you are forbidden to eat from Jagamarukun for a week now."
Ais's eyes hollowed instantly as though a chasm opened in her heart.
Lefiya panicked at her friend's state. "Riveria-sama, punish me instead of Ais."
Riveria grinned. "Alright, you aren't allowed in Ais's room for a week."
Lefiya joined Ais in staring into the void. Prohibited from entering her friend's room for a week, death would have been a better punishment.
Riveria hid her grin and led the two to their room. She returned to the courtyard, where the higher-ups of Familia gathered around the round table—Finn, their captain; Gareth, the top-level executive, and Loki, their goddess.
The scarlet-haired goddess swung her chair back and forth.
"Loki-sama…"
"Hai hai, Riveria-chan. Now you know my pain of looking after children without being a real mother."
Riveria's eyes twitched in annoyance. Before she retorted further, Finn spoke up, "Shall we continue the meeting?"
Riveria nodded and grabbed a chair. "Yes."
Loki's squinted eyes took in everyone's face. "Then where was I?"
Gareth, whose wide frame dwarfed the chair, stroked his long beard. "You only said about the new quest."
The goddess slapped her forehead. "Yes. Boys and girls, we got a quest to bring Cadmus spring from the old bastard. Gah, he is such a pain to deal with."
The old bastard she referred to was Dian Cecht, the god of one of two Familias selling healing potions.
Finn crossed his arms on his chest, annoyance brimming in his eyes. "Such a painful quest."
"Undoubtedly."
Riveria agreed. Traveling to and fro to the fifty-first floor was already taxing, and carrying gallons of water on top of that made it worse.
The top-class adventurers sighed in silence.
"C'mon, c'mon, you gotta cheer up. The reward they offered is well worth it," Loki continued. "An expedition for the deep floors was already pending. You can finish it on your way up. Also, collect some smithing materials while you're at it."
"We shall."
Riveria regained her lost motivation.
The attempt to map out the deep floors—the fifty-eighth and the above—kept the cycle going. After all, their rival familia, helmed by the silver-haired goddess, progressed faster than their own.
What lay beyond the fifty-ninth floor was still a mystery to the adventurers. The abyss of curiosity swallowed Riveria. With one arm wrapped on her chest, she rubbed her chin.
Loki stamped the clown mark on the quest papers.
Gareth pushed back the chair and stretched. "Loki-sama, I'll head to sleep then."
"You just want to savor your wine in the moonlight," Finn said, smiling. "Have a good night."
"You too, Captain."
Gareth strode out of the room.
"Now onto the hot topic in the city. The new rookie couple from the far east in Orario. I heard the woman is beautiful enough to rival Demeter while the man led every woman estray with his looks."
This matched the couple they met in the dungeon. Finn and Riveria shared a glance and then nodded at each other.
"About that," Riveria spoke. "The woman can cast quick trigger wind spells."
"Are you sure?!" Loki's high pitched question prompted Finn to nod.
Quick trigger magic, the gods always sought adventurers with this ability. A swift strike of magic could save lives in a pinch. Such an ability was always prized high.
"Yes, Loki-sama."
"I want that woman in my familia!"
This was why the two refrained from telling her before. Her obsession with collecting strong beauties was well-known throughout the city.
"Loki-sama, she is still level 1."
"Even better! I'll nurture the woman myself."
Riveria sighed. "She won't join alone without her husband."
"How strong is he?" Loki inquired.
"He is also a level 1 but… he is strong," Finn muttered with narrowed eyes. "like every time I see him my thumb twitches. I can't ignore the feeling."
"He also has a pair of magic daggers crafted by an unknown smith."
"Could this get any better?" Loki grinned. "I want the two of 'em."
Riveria shook her head. "Loki-sama, there is a chance they ran away from their home. Those rumors have been going around lately."
"The nobles from the far east," Loki clicked her tongue, the enthusiasm drained from her face. "Those bunches are a pain to deal with."
Their goddess feared something. Riveria smiled. "There is no need to hurry. He denied the guild's intention to join a Familia. I don't think he is in hurry."
"Fine… I'll wait for two weeks."
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