The couple went around the festival for an hour more and were almost done visiting all the shops and games. However, instead of toys, the prizes for the games were just more food or coupons for their establishments.
Kisuke and Yoruichi sat down on a bench, slightly away from the hustle and bustle to rest. It was also around this moment that Kuroka, Medusa, and Hestia, who were similarly going around the festival, found them.
"Yo! Kisuke-kun, Yoruichi-kun! Having fun?" Hestia happily greeted them and ran towards them.
"Yup, we're having a great time~!" Kisuke answered happily, "How about you three? Enjoying the festival?"
"Yup! I'm stuffed!" Hestia answered with a big grin.
Kuroka looked around before answering, "We're almost done going around, nya. And frankly speaking, there wasn't much to see."
Medusa, on the other hand, excitedly declared, "I've learned a lot, master."
Kisuke could only smile wryly at Medusa's response, "This is the time to take a break, you know."
"I'm fine, master! I'm happy about this."
Seeing a little girl calling Kisuke as 'master', made him the focus of attention yet again. The attention soon grew as people recognized the other girls who just became Level 2 from the Guild's announcement.
"Hey... Is that the Gigolo Master?" One of the bystanders pointed out.
"Yeah... He should be the one. As expected of the Gigolo Master, he has the looks." One of them replied.
"Looks like it wasn't just a rumor. Look at those beautiful women around him. A little girl even calls him her master! How envia--- Ehem! I mean preposterous! I hope a bolt of lightning drops on him from a clear sky!"
Even though they were far away, everyone from their group, except for Hestia, heard their words and the girls couldn't help but chuckle.
"Eh? Eh? What's going on?" Hestia asked in confusion.
"It looks like the effect of the actions he took that day are slowly losing their effects," Yoruichi answered while looking at Kisuke.
"Should I bomb the Freya and Loki Familia next? That should last longer, right?" Kisuke muttered under his breath.
But before he could put his plan into fruition, a few people came approaching and two of them gave Kisuke an intense gaze, "Ah~, Riveria-san, Wallenstein-san and Viridis-san. Good evening and it's been a while~."
"Good evening, and it's really been a while. I knew, if I just followed the murmurs around about 'the Gigolo Master', then I could find you." Riveria replied with a smirk.
"...Good evening." Ais nodded at him and greeted him back.
"G-good evening!" Although Lefiya wanted to glare at Kisuke, due to the rumors about his relationship with Ais, she actually got scared at the pressure which Riveria and Ais were emitting.
"We finally meet again. I already fulfilled my side of the deal, so you should have a proper reason for why you kept refusing our visit?" Riveria went straight to the point.
Without beating around the bush, Kisuke explained, "I'm sorry about that. I was too busy with some of the important stuff, so I couldn't entertain you."
"Yet Line can make it to your schedule, huh..." Riveria grumbled.
"Well, unlike the two of you, Line-san's lesson can't be easily self-studied, due to many unknown terms and new concepts that may be hard for her to accept." Kisuke then looked straight into Riveria's eyes, "And frankly speaking, I technically have Line-san's life, so it's pretty obvious who I should prioritize."
Riveria and Ais reeled back at his words and the intensity of their gazes weakened.
"But worry not, I plan to make amends to the deal. I'll be sure that you two will be satisfied."
Riveria immediately shook her head, "No. I trust that you'll fulfill your end of the deal. I just didn't like being delayed for some vague reason like 'you're busy'. I'm sorry about that."
"Please don't apologize. It's me who didn't meet my end and ramped up my schedule for other things."
Riveria ended up smiling wryly, "This won't end if we keep going like this. Let's put this behind and enjoy the festival. It's a rare rest, after all." She then gave Kisuke a cheeky smile, "And it seems you got all prepared for tonight. I could never have imagined you could look this way."
Kisuke turned to Yoruichi and the rest and asked them, "Do I really look that bad?"
"Nah, your shaggy hair is really striking," Yoruichi answered.
"Not to mention your hat always obscures your face, nya.", added Kuroka.
"Master also generally doesn't really take care of his appearance. The gap is just too much.", Medusa followed up.
"Kisuke-kun... Why don't you tie your hair and ditch that hat once in a while? I'm sure you'll be popular!", Hestia finished it.
However, Kisuke just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Nope. Too much effort. And I don't really like the idea of getting popular. Sounds like a pain. Besides, I like my hat! It's my favorite!"
Yoruichi, Kuroka, Medusa, and Hestia looked at each other before giggling at him, "Well, that's just how he is. Even in formal situations, he'll just dress up for the occasion and that's about it." Yoruichi commented.
"By the way, how is Loki-sama?" Kisuke suddenly changed the subject.
"She's not going out these days due to security reasons. We don't know how the remnants of Evilus will move at this point, nor the Familias backing them. Aside from that, she also has some fear of coming across a 'buff magical girl'... I don't know what that means, though." She then narrowed her eyes at Kisuke, "Do you know anything about it?"
Once again, Kisuke just shrugged his shoulders, "Who knows~?"
Riveria wanted to ask further since this concerned an infiltrator in their base. But before she could continue, she and others heard Hermes' voice ringing out from a distance.
All of them simultaneously looked towards the people who were gathering and Hermes speaking on a stage.
"Friends, lend me your ears~!" Hermes started. "Listen if you stand far. Watch if you stand close!"
"This voice... I haven't seen Hermes-sama since the 18th floor. I wonder what he's up to?" Kisuke muttered.
"Let's go take a look. It might be something interesting." Yoruichi dragged Kisuke towards the crowd. Those who were left behind looked at each other before following them.
"Call out your name if you think you have what it takes!" Hermes continued, "Now! Which intrepid hero will pull this spear free!"
"What is he up to?" Yoruichi muttered in question. But as the two of them got close and saw a spear which was encased in ice, their eyes widened, "Kisuke... What is that?" She whispered.
Kisuke stared at it before answering, "I don't know... But as you might have guessed, it's a very strong weapon. And the ice covering it is derived from Divine power. So it's probably a Deity's weapon? But why?"
================================================================================================================================================================================================
Editors:
Alexander: Hoho, so Artemis is next? That's bound to be interesting.
28th00: I kinda like how Bestia is just wandering around and having fun while giving a completely innocent opinion/advice. Time to fix the plot! Honestly, Artemis got done SUPER DIRTY in that movie, and she's one of Hestia's only friends, right? Hell no! WE DO NOT LET OUR BESTIA CRY! Also, Antares is messing with souls, that's a big NO NO, like, seriously. Isn't like a really big Menos Grande with super regen?
"This legendary spear can only be freed by the chosen one, who will be blessed by the very Goddess of Purity!" Hermes explained.
"Not only that! He or she will also be invited to a grand trip around the world! A trip officially approved by the Guild!" Hermes added.
"Yaaa!!!" The crowd cheered after hearing about the price. And since the Guild approved of it, they can be sure that this wasn't a scam.
"Each person can only have a single try which costs 5,000 Valis! Now Heroes, come and challenge this legendary spear!" Hermes ended his speech.
"What is he up to? Some sort of trick again?" Hestia muttered as she walked up to Kisuke and Yoruichi, "But it sounds interesting. Want to give it a try, Kisuke-kun?"
"Let's watch the liveliness for a while~," Kisuke replied.
"Let's try it too, Ais-san!" Lefiya proposed to Ais.
Ais nodded at her and said, "Okay. Let's do it." She then faced Kisuke and said, "I won't lose." Before going away along with Lefiya who was confused at her sudden declaration.
"Why is she so strangely competitive against you, nya?" Kuroka asked in confusion.
Kisuke shrugged, "Beats me." He then faced Riveria, "What about you? Are you going to try it?"
Riveria looked at the spear for a while before shaking her head, "That spear gives me a weird feeling. I don't think I'll be able to pull it out."
Kisuke and co chose to stand by and watch how the people tried to pull out the spear from its ice encasing but to no avail. Adventurers after Adventurers, they couldn't even crack the ice casing. Ranging from Level 2 to 4, no one was able to do it.
A few moments later, Lefiya finally decided to take her chance and went up to the stage. However, like everyone else, she failed to even shake the spear, "Owww... No, it doesn't move an inch..." Lefiya fell on her knees after trying to exert herself.
"Ouch~! Isn't that too fast to give up now, Lefiya-chan?" Hermes announced before looking around, "Now, the next challenger? Who is it?"
Before anyone else could say anything, Ais walked up to the stage.
"Oh, that's...! Renowned Sword Princess! A Level 6! Ais Wallenstein is on stage!" With Hermes' words, the crowd started cheering and clapping loudly as the challenger is now someone strong and from a very prominent Familia.
"Oh? She already leveled up?" Kisuke asked.
"It seems that you're really busy if you're unaware of that. She leveled up right after the expedition along with Tione, Tiona, and Bete." Riveria answered.
"Congratulations~!"
"They also let out an intention to challenge you," Riveria smirked at him.
"Now that's strange~. I'm just a miserable Level 2 and a humble store owner! I can't have top Adventurers challenging me or else I won't be able to make a living!" Kisuke protested.
Riveria could only twitch her mouth at his shamelessness, 'After wiping the floor off with three of our top Adventurers?' However, she chose not to speak out since she had a feeling that she would only garner more headaches. Even then, she still hadn't given up her goal of whacking Kisuke's head with her staff, 'I can only bide my time. Wait until I can get hold of your weakness! I'll be sure to use it well. Hehehe.'
Little did she know that her thoughts were spilling to her expression in the form of a bad grin and suppressed giggling, "What's wrong with her?" Kisuke whispered to his companions.
"Who knows~?" Yoruichi whispered to him.
"It's 100% your fault, nya." Kuroka also added.
"You broke an Elf, master," Medusa also commented.
"Kisuke-kun, it's about time for you to learn how to handle people with care. In your hands, people are just little fragile things." Hestia ended it with a reminder.
Hearing their replies, Kisuke chose to not dwell on it and just watched Ais trying to pull the spear out.
"Now! Witness the strength of the Sword Princess!" Hermes stated.
"You can do it, Ais-san!" Lefiya cheered from the side.
But even with her immense strength, she failed to make it even budge. A few seconds later, Ais let go of the spear and said, "No... I can't..."
The crowd became less excited after seeing Ais fail, "...No way... Even Ais, who's a Level 6 Adventurer couldn't do it?" Lefiya muttered.
But before Ais went off the stage, she looked towards Kisuke and asked, "...Won't you try it now?"
The audience looked towards Kisuke's direction and saw him being surrounded by beautiful women, "It's the Gigolo Master!" One of the onlookers shouted.
"It really is the Gigolo Master!"
"Damn! He really has too many women, while I'm just drowning in my own tears at night!"
"Look! Even Nine Hells is beside him! What's their relationship!?"
"That bastard! How did he trick them!?"
"Wait, didn't the Sword Princess just call out to him!? What about the rumor that both of them have something special going on!?"
"What!? Even the Sword Princess!? Just how long are his claws!!?"
"This is ridiculous! How can it be that he's been left alone until now!?"
Yoruichi grinned at Kisuke and said, "It's tough to be popular, ain't it?"
But with a bad grin, Kisuke replied, "I've memorized their faces." He then started to walk towards the stage.
Off to the side, Kuroka and Medusa noticed that Riveria was making a slightly weird expression with a very subtle blush on her cheeks, "Riveria-san?" Kuroka called out to her which also caught Yoruichi's attention.
Riveria was startled and immediately answered, "W-what is it?"
"Is something wrong?"
Calming herself down, Riveria feigned a cough, "Ehem... There's nothing."
Kuroka, Medusa, and Yoruichi looked at her with narrowed eyes, which made Riveria panic, "I-I was just surprised that those people would associate me with that womanizer!"
The three then looked at each other and communicated through their eyes, 'It's a bud, right?' Kuroka asked the two.
'It's a bud...' Medusa confirmed.
'And it's potential to bloom is big.' Yoruichi added.
'What should we do, nya? Snuff it out?' Kuroka asked again.
Medusa only looked towards Yoruichi for her decision.
But instead of saying yes or no, she instead asked them, 'Are you fine with that?'
Medusa and Kuroka looked at each other and thought for a moment before they simultaneously communicated, 'Let's not!'
It was thanks to Yoruichi's leniency that they were able to get close to Kisuke. For them, it didn't feel right to stop others' feelings from developing, even if it was the right thing to do.
Yoruichi smiled, 'Then let's see how this goes~. Besides, it still isn't set in stone.'
Kuroka and Medusa nodded, increasing their respect for her, 'As expected of the main wife.'
Riveria and Hestia, on the other hand, were a bit bothered at their silent communication, "Please don't leave me out!" Hestia protested.
"You need to develop a bit of womanly instinct first before you can join." Yoruichi mercilessly cut Hestia down.
"W-womanly instinct!? Am I not a woman!?" Hestia muttered in shock.
Kisuke reached the stage and he could see Hestia complaining about something, 'What are they doing?' However, he couldn't give them his full attention, as he already started to inspect the spear while also ignoring half of the audience's gritting teeth.
"Oho~! Looks like our next challenger is the infamous, Gigo---!!" But before he could finish his words, Hermes shivered as Kisuke faced him with a big grin. His instinct was telling him not to step on this land mine, "Ehem, the newly arising Green Crusader!"
Satisfied, Kisuke turned his attention back to the spear while also ignoring the booing in the background, 'Hmm... So is this really a Divine item? The quality of this equipment is way beyond what I've seen in this world...'
'Though I haven't seen much of it, I already saw the equipment of every top Adventurer in Orario and I can safely say that this spear is several tiers above those. Even higher quality when compared to the initial state of the Artificial Sacred Gears that we made.'
'And is this even a spear? The shaft is a bit short and the head is too big, it's more like a giant arrow for bows.' Kisuke was roused from his deep contemplation thanks to Hermes' call, "Uhmm... Kisuke-kun? Are you going to do it?"
"Ah, sorry about that. I'll try it now." Without further ado, Kisuke touched the shaft of the spear, but before he could exert any effort, a voice entered his mind, 'I found you?'
"Hmm?" Kisuke immediately inspected his mind and his surroundings for any hostile actions or intent. In the same second, however, inscriptions emerged from the spear's shaft, lighting it up. Hurriedly inspecting what's going on, Kisuke felt how the spear scanned his soul but didn't do anything to stop it.
Although his soul was scanned deeper than Freya did, it didn't reach the important parts and he couldn't see anything else it does aside from gathering information. Thanks to his curiosity, he let it go through him.
A second later, the ice encasing the head of the spear suddenly bursts into pieces, freeing the weapon.
Hermes frowned after seeing this since he was expecting someone else to pull out that spear, 'So he also has what it takes... Just who are you?'
Yoruichi ran up to the stage and gave him a hug, "As expected of my hubby~!"
And as expected, it only garnered a jealous crowd. Of course, this was on purpose and Kuroka and Medusa didn't want to let go of this chance to mess with him as the two of them also ran out and jumped on him both shouting, "As expected of hubby~!" "As expected of Master!"
More fiery gazes of men landed on Kisuke, wishing that they were in his position right now.
Seeing that the situation was becoming volatile, Hermes continued, "C-congratulations, Kisuke-kun! You've just won a trip! Now let me introduce you to the sponsor that made this world trip possible!"
Yoruichi, Kuroka, and Medusa separated from Kisuke and looked towards where Hermes was pointing. Hestia, who lost her chance to join the fun, also looked back and saw a very familiar person standing at the back. In delight, Hestia shouted, "Artemis!? Is that you, Artemis!?"
Artemis who Hestia was referring to, had green eyes and long blue hair with two long bangs, two strands on the sides, and a partly braided tail in the back. She wore a white and pale blue outfit, long brown boots with a light brown design, a belt which she kept a piece of white cloth and a dagger in, gold bracelets, and various gold hair accessories.
"Do you know each other, nya?" Kuroka asked.
Hestia faced Kuroka and excitedly explained, "We were friends in Heaven! My best friend!"
Artemis smiled and started running towards the group. In response, Hestia also excitedly ran towards her to give her a big hug.
However, just as Hestia was about to catch Artemis, Artemis actually veered off from her and continued running towards the stage, more specifically, to Kisuke, "Huh?"
"I found you, my Orion!", shouted Artemis as she jumped towards Kisuke with open arms, which made the spectators drop their jaws as another beauty went to Kisuke's arms and this time, it's a Goddess.
Seeing this, Yoruichi and Kuroka took some distance from Kisuke while Medusa went behind him.
Kisuke, all this while, was focusing on inspecting the intriguing spear. So focused that he didn't really care about what was happening around him. If it was one of his girls jumping on him, he would gladly accept it. But if it was someone unknown, like Artemis, jumping on him while he was in his own little world, there was only one result.
The moment Artemis was about to collide with Kisuke, within a split second, he grabbed her hand and used his strength to toss her without mercy, "Wha!?" Artemis panicked and started flailing in midair, but fortunately for her, Medusa positioned herself to the spot where she would be landing and successfully caught the shocked Goddess.
"Are you alright?" Medusa asked.
"Y-yes, thank you." Artemis blankly answered.
It was at this moment that Kisuke finally woke up from his daydreaming, "What? What happened?"
================================================================================================================================================================================================
Editors
Alexander: Uhhh, I can already see the thief group descending again. But more importantly, poor Hestia, always being left out of the important stuff.
28th00: So, Yoruichi and Co have developed a terrifying level of eye language, that Hestia is not womanly enough to join in, for she is too pure for this world! Hestia is on a rollercoaster of feelings right now, I really feel kinda bad for the girl… Welp, time for them to save a Goddess. That's one way to repay Hestia, saving her best friend!