Chương 459: CH. 479: Bonding
Haruhime stretched her arms with a long yawn, her legs waving and beating the bed. She looked for Ray, only to find her adopted father sitting beside the Siren. He was wearing just shorts while Ray's skimpy top barely qualified as a swimsuit. In Haruhime's eyes, they may as well be in their undergarments.
Whenever she saw Asahi in bed, he was always naked or half naked with a woman.
Haruhime noticed a pair of curved daggers on the bed. Compared to her weapon, they looked extraordinary, divine even.
'Are they for me?'
Haruhime gulped as her anticipation rose. Most of the astonishing weapons wielded by her Familia were handcrafted by Asahi.
'I can't be a greedy girl.'
She will use her daggers until they snap. By that time she would have earned enough from the monster stones to afford a better pair of daggers.
"Haruhime-chan, are you tired?" Asahi asked as he put on a shirt.
Haruhime took off her lingering gaze from the shiny daggers and shook her head despite her muscles being sore and heavy. "I'm not, Otou-sama."
Today wasn't her day to rest. She had to kill more monsters and earn more Excelia.
Asahi smiled mischievously. "You liar."
"Otou-sama…" She looked down as if she was a child who got caught stealing. She lied to the Demon King, her father. "I'm sorry…"
Asahi kneeled before her bed and gently lifted her chin before stroking her soft cheeks. "I was just joking, geez. Don't make that face. I know you want to stay longer in the dungeon. What a hardworking girl."
Asahi channeled his Life Element through his hand. Haruhime's fatigued and broken muscles recovered quickly under his magic.
"I feel better," Haruhime whispered. "Thank you, Otou-sama."
"What do you feel about these daggers?"
The exotic curved daggers drifted towards Haruhime. She could grip them with the slightest of movement but she hesitated.
"They are cool… Did Otou-sama craft them?"
"Yup, take them. They will be your weapon from now on."
He intended to upgrade them down the line with some enchantment like Hephaestus put on Bell's daggers. The daggers could grow alongside Haruhime. Right now, they were beyond Haruhime's level.
Haruhime's eyes glittered with excitement. She slowly reached out and grabbed the smooth handle of the daggers. A big heart emerged from her head as she gazed at the Frost Bead Daggers. She stroked its handle, running a thumb over the flat part of the blade, all with a beaming smile.
She loved the gift.
'Who would have thought my first gift for my daughter would be… magic knives?'
(Let's hope she doesn't cut you like a certain someone.)
'...'
"She likes it very much," Ddraig shared her opinion.
'You woke up? Feeling good now?'
"That Yuriko woman almost killed me…" Ddraig's voice shook in fear. "My soul grew stronger after surviving her attacks."
'Thanks for helping Yuriko.'
Ddraig didn't expect to hear words of gratitude, so she couldn't respond.
'Haha, I'll meet you later.'
Asahi told Ray to return for the time being. "Haruhime, get dressed. I'll take you out."
Haruhime came to the painful realization that she took off her clothes before sleeping. Only thin underwear covered her body.
Haruhime dashed to the bag that stored her clothes and quickly dressed herself in her red kimono.
'She is still an airhead.'
Despite her hardships, Haruhime remained a shy and timid girl at her core.
Asahi came down to the dining room of the inn and all eyes stopped on him and Haruhime. Haruhime shrank a little under numerous gazes. Most of the adventurers present lived full time in Rivera. Only some recognized Asahi from his face.
Asahi gripped her wrist, showing an encouraging smile. "You are part of Astraea Familia. These mobs can't do anything to you."
Haruhime stood with more confidence, realizing that nobody could hurt her with his presence.
"This is better."
He strode out of the inn with Haruhime and flew around the 18th floor. The green forests, the waterfall, and vast plains—the various sights brightened Haruhime's mood.
After some bonding time, he took her to meet Astraea who was having breakfast in his Underworld Palace alongside Shizuka, Yuriko, Saya, Rika, and Grayfia. He naturally joined them to eat a couple of dishes with Haruhime.
"Astraea, can you update her status?" Asahi glanced at Haruhime. "She went through a lot yesterday."
"Oh, share some of it with your okaa-san too," Astraea said with a motherly smile. "If you don't mind."
Haruhime retold Astraea about all the things she experienced yesterday as Astraea guided Haruhime to her room.
"They are getting along well," Yuriko said with a dreamy smile. "Like me and Saya."
"Mooooom!" Saya's face turned red as if she recalled her mother getting along with her to serve Asahi. "I'm going back to Maya. Klyscha-sama!"
Saya tried calling for Klyscha's teleport support but nobody listened to her.
Asahi pinched her cheek and pulled it. "Hey, Cutie. Wanna hang out together?"
"Take me to space. I wanna touch stars."
She had a whim to explore space, which came from watching some mecha anime battle it out on the moon.
"Why don't you touch some grass instead?" Asahi chuckled. "Well, I'll take you to the moon tomorrow. Happy?"
"Very much," Saya said before disappearing in thin air.
"I want to add Shizuka and me into that mother and daughter example," Rika said once the moody Saya left the room. "She has always been a mommy to me."
Shizuka pouted her cheeks at Rika's teasing. "I am not that old~."
"Haha, age doesn't matter. Nee-san is at the peak of her beauty."
Shizuka smiled brightly at the compliment.
"Dear, Ruby left in the morning," Yuriko said while nibbling on chocolate. "And Nyx came to see you. She will come again tomorrow."
"Ruby left? Didn't she leave yesterday?" Asahi tilted his head, puzzled. "Fuck Nyx. Call me when she returns."
"She came to meet me," Shizuka added with a pondering look. "She wanted to ask something about Aa-kun."
"What something?"
"I've agreed to keep it a secret."
"Nee-san."
No matter how much Asahi tried, he couldn't coax an answer out of Shizuka.
Afterwards, Asahi went to Astraea's room, where Haruhime was having her status updated. Asahi watched the whole process in fascination, mesmerized by Astraea's care in every needle stroke.
Haruhime Sanjouno
Level One
Strength: E-430 → D-580 Defense: F-309 → E-413 Dexterity: D-540 → C-689 Agility: E-462 → D-570 Magic: I-0
Magic ( )
Skills ( )
Her magic had no growth since she never used any spell. This growth alone surpassed any Haruhime had achieved in the anime. Being a fighter on the frontline and supporting others from back with magic were two completely different roles.
Haruhime glanced at Asahi as if she wanted him to say something. She tried her best to hide her anticipation but she wasn't clever enough.
Asahi walked up to her and stroked her hair, pressing down her fox ears as he did. "You're close to Level 2. If you get it in one month, I'll reward you with a magic item."
Since she took the adventurer job seriously, he may as well encourage her.
Haruhime's tail wagged back and forth as her face relaxed. "I'll do my best, Otou-sama!"
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