Selling Drugs in the Dungeons should be a profitable Business, no? Chapter 19

“You’re an idiot.”

Well, that’s a new way someone has greeted me soon after I wake up.

I blink and turn my head to stare at Ning Guang, her gaze flat and very deadpan as she lay squatting over the surface of water to my right, cheeks cupped in her hands.

“Greetings to you too?” My grinned greeting just makes her give me an even more flat stare back.

“What even made you want to fight a beast so far out of your league?” She questions, seeming more curious than disappointed or worried with my rather… crazy action.

I hum and turn my gaze up at the clear and familiar sky above.

At first it was because I needed to. After all, the Dragon had its sight on me, so I had to draw it away from Orario.

But after that… After that, it didn’t become a battle where I was trying to protect the city from the Apocalyptic beast- No, I was just trying to find my standing in this world.

Or, to be more precise, where I stand against the peak of this world.

I refused to stop until I was knocked out. I refused to stop until I left a true injury across that beast’s chest.

Stupid and dangerous, but oh well… I presume I got what I wanted.

Having found my answer, I give the breathtaking woman beside me a cheeky grin, “I had to see the peak of my Mount Fuji!” Ning Guang groans and flushes, hands moving to cover her face.

“Heavens… Please, don’t bring that up…” She whines cutely, looking as if she wanted to die on the spot, “I might just die of shame.”

I blink- Wait, don’t tell me… “So, you know about-” I trail off, not knowing how to bring up Cultivation Novels without really making stuff awkward and weird.

Long and thin fingers part to reveal a very embarrassed and beautiful red eye, “I…” She pauses, then drops her hands, revealing her immaculate flushed face, “After I gave you my knowledge on how to Cultivate, you kept saying ‘Just like those Novels!’, so it got me curious, and…”

I gape, “You didn’t…”

Ning Guang meekly lowers her head, “I did.” She squeaks out before releasing a sound akin to a boiling tea-kettle, “I never came off like that, did I…?” Now that question surely isn’t meant for me.

But goddamn am I not latching onto those news, “So you went around going ‘You dare?!’” I barely finish my words before openly cackling at her.

Ning Guang outright screams at me. “It’s not funny!”

“You’re right! It’s hilarious-Geh!” And now she’s choking me. Wish it was with those damn thighs though.

Still, her warm hands soon relent from further choking me, and her eyes nervously peer at me, “You’re not… mad that I went through your memories?”

I blink at her, then just shrug without care, “I’d have told you everything if you asked either way, so I don’t mind.” I pause, “Well, I’m actually worried about your mental state after going through all that.”

A cute snort escapes the woman before me, and her warm hands release my neck so to fall back down on her lap, “It’s the contrary.” A gentle smile lights up her immaculate face, “Having your memories to keep me company helped… quite a bit.” Oh… right.

She’s been alone in this place for nearly two decades, hasn’t she?

“How did this-” I point to me and her, then wave around, “-even happen?”

I mean, I died… Then kinda popped up in this world with magic and monsters, and Cultivation?

Still didn’t run into any other Cultivators, so thank the Gods for that.

Ning Guang sighs softly, “I truly do not know.” Shucks. “Before our Souls met, I was undergoing a Tribulation. There, I was besieged by some fools who caused the Tribulation to go out of control due to their interference.”

“In order to escape, I smashed a hole through Reality to enter the Void, but its unstable nature caused my Mortal Body to collapse.”

“I thought that was it for me… Until my Soul smashed into yours, nearly destroying it in the process. It took me a while to fix you up, and when I did you were kind of reincarnated.”

Well… that’s a lot to take in.

But first, “You smashed a hole through Reality?” Ning Guang just blinks cutely at me, as if she did not speak of a rather horrendous power feat.

“I am a God, Riley, so… Yes?” Of course, silly me. “I am sure that the Goddess you work for can also do such a thing… were she not restrained by a Domain.” None of Hera’s Domains are combat related if I remember right.

“Wait, is my Soul alright?” I kinda skipped over the fact that she ran over my Soul with hers and destroyed it.

Ning Guang winches lightly, “It is, though it took a bit of work and… You lost some of your memories.” I raise a brow at that.

“Pretty sure I remember everything-”

“The name of your father?” I pause, a pit of dread welling up in my stomach.

Blank.

“Your mother’s?” Blank.

“Your sister’s?” Blank.

“Your old name?” Another blank.

I release a slow, shuddering breath at the rather horrid realization I never even noticed.

Slowly, Ning Guang cups my hands in her warm ones, “It took me a while to make sure you could remember their faces at least, but that’s all I could fix.”

That’s… chilling, but I guess that’s alright. I never really call them by name in my mind, so… “I guess it is bad, but it isn’t such a big loss.” Ning Guang keeps her eyes on my face, as if searching for something.

“Do you even remember how you died?” I pause once more.

Rain, a blinding light, tree, pain-

“Pretty sure I killed myself.” I shrug without care, and Ning Guang flinches faintly.

Her lips part open, yet she decides to say nothing for some reason, letting a tense quiet fall between us.

Which I can’t stand, so- “Is there anything I can do to help your situation?” She perks up at my question, a sweet smile soon lighting up her face once more.

“It is appreciated, but unneeded. This world has quite the dense Qi around, so it’ll take me just a few years to recover at most.” She states, then pauses and tilts her head in thought, “Perhaps I could also replicate what these Gods living around you have done. Create a puppet for me to ‘live’ through while I recover.”

I blink, a sudden bad feeling rising up within me, “Why do I feel like you want to do that just to bring bodily harm upon me?”

She swiftly slaps me over the head. Hard.

Though I barely feel it.

“Because you’re a fuckin’ idiot!” Ning Guang hollers, grabbing and squishing my cheeks together while shaking my head back and forth, “I had hoped you’d take a different path with your swordsmanship, but no! You just became the same brute, idiotic and meat-headed barbarian I know and hated!”

I raise a finger in the air, “I’lltake that as a compliment.”

“It shouldn’t be!” I feel like she’s about to headbutt me. “How can you be so smart, and so stupid, at the same time!?”

“Pure skill!”

“AAAAAARGG-” Ning Guang screams once more, throwing her head back and running a hand through her hair, “Why didn’t you focus fully on Alchemy!? How are you even capable of doing both Alchemy and Sword Cultivation?!”

“Cause I am both smart and dumb?” My smart-ass self adds with a very big, punchable grin on my face.

A grin that makes veins throb all over Ning Guang’s face. I feel like she’s on the verge of an aneurysm.

I can be very insufferable sometimes!

“Punching you here won’t feel satisfying.” Ning Guang growls out while waving a fist at me, “Give me a few months to further stabilize myself, and I’ll create a puppet and use it to beat the crap out of you!”

“But why?!”

“Because you aren’t focusing on Alchemy!”

“I’m about to! I got everything I need for a long while!”

“I demand more from my disciple!”

I couldn’t help it. I use that moment to deliver a Critical Strike on her.

So I stand, take in a deep breath, point at her, and put on the most outraged face I could, then shout- “You dare!?”

Ning Guang screams and howls, tossing herself back and covering her face in shame while rolling left and right.

It’s like she is a Vampire and I just tossed Holy Water at her face.

“Why is it so cringe?!” The woman howls in clear pain and embarrassment, “All my pride-! I have lost all my face!”

I cackle in clear enjoyment at her pain, “Cultivation is no match for the power of Cringe!”

Ning Guang whimpers pathetically, “You use my dark past against me, so perhaps I should use yours too as mine weapon!” I just give her an unimpressed sniff, “You shameless cur!”

Yeap. Any bullshit I have done in the past will never not make me cringe.

Though a thought suddenly strikes me, bringing pause to my cackles, “Say, I actually require your help with something.” Might as well see if she can help too.

Ning Guang pauses, then sits up with a flushed pout, “Of course, go ahead. Humiliate me, then make use of me.” She grumbles cutely, looking nothing like a Cultivator. But just like a woman that is enjoying the presence of someone else wholeheartedly.

She must’ve been really lonely.

“A friend of mine is a… Demigod, and she seems to run the risk of having her own Divinity erode her mind and make her go crazy.” Ei’s problem is something I want to fix really quickly. Mostly as a present before I pin that damn vixen down.

It is fun to play and flirt with her, but even I have my own limits on how long I can hold myself back with her strutting around in all of her glorious and ravishing beauty.

And Meteria is all but pushing me for a Harem, apparently, while Alfia just doesn’t care as long as she has me and her sister.

I didn’t really want to pursue this thing, as I feel like both Meteria and Alfia are more than enough for me… But again, my dumb self gets attached and catches feelings far too fast.

Hence, helping Ei and then pinning her down.

Ning Guang nods in understanding at my words, “That is quite natural. Divinity isn’t something mortals can handle or safely use. They require a stabilizing agent, something us Cultivators call ‘Divine Matter’ or ‘Divine Bone’.”

I lean back and cup my chin in thought, “And can this item be found, or created?” And Ning Guang unfortunately shakes her head.

“It comes from Gods.” She reveals, and my eyes widen, “It’s their Ichor. It becomes a stabilizing agent for the rampaging Divinity, and also helps one wield it.”

A God’s Ichor… Hera said she did something to help Kirin last longer than usual, so- “Your friend Goddess did exactly that.” Ning Guang reveals, clearly seeing my thoughts, “And it would have worked… Were she not a Goddess limited by Domains.”

I pause at that, “What difference does that make?”

“Everything.” The fellow Goddess before me sighs out softly as she stands, “Where I come from, Gods have no limit to how they can use their Divinity. No Domain to tie them down to certain things or roles.” While Hera does.

Like all the other Gods in Orario do.

“Your friend has a Domain of her own within her Divinity, so she requires matching Divine Matter to help fix her situation. Until then, other Divine Matter can be used to give her more time.”

I sigh and palm my face, “So I must find out what her Domain is, and either find her Divine Parent or someone with a matching Domain in their set.” Ning Guang nods with a light smile at my words.

It’ll be difficult, I believe, but at least I have the prescription on how to heal her. Hera can help with the rest.

“Thanks.” I smile kindly at Ning Guang, “This really means a lot to me.” After all, I do not want to lose Kirin. Nor do I want everyone else to lose her too.

The Goddess before me just waves my thanks aside, “You are my wonderful disciple, so of course I’d help you.” I playfully roll my eyes at her before turning my gaze to the surrounding Soulscape of mine.

It really ain’t so bad anymore, now that I think about it.

“We can only talk when I am here, can we?” I ask Ning Guang. It’s mostly just a gut feeling, and one that turns out to be true as I see the Goddess nod at me.

“I could talk within your mind while you are awake, but other Gods will very likely sense my Divinity seep out of you, so…” So it’s not worth the potential trouble it could bring me. Not that I’d care about it.

I sniff, then shrug, “Then I’ll just come here when I fall asleep.” Ning Guang blinks at me, then her breathtaking face breaks into a wonderful warm smile.

“I’d like that a lot.” Then she visibly and loudly cracks her knuckles. “Now, as your Master, I shall teach you how to properly use Qi. Your idiotic and reckless way of using it gets on my nerves. A lot.”

...

“You dare!?”

“Raaaaaaaaaah-!!”

                                                                             xxxXXXxxx

“I knew that I’d find you here.” Nemea perks up at the familiar voice.

Sharp eyes flick to the side, away from the ruined battlefield far ahead, to stare at the approaching form of Leonidas.

They at the muscular dark skinned man for a few seconds before snorting, “Got the Level Up you were seeking?” Leonidas chuckles and nods, and Nemea inclines his head in both respect and congratulations.

“Feels a bit lacking though.” Nemea sighs and crosses his muscular arms before his scarred chest.

“Everything would feel lacking after what we witnessed two days ago.” The giant of a man grunts out, eyes once more fixed upon the ruined battlefield where a Doctor and a God battled.

And where said God is currently resting, clearly not intent on leaving.

It’s suffocating presence of raw might was now contained. Restrained. They don’t know if it’s because the beast is asleep, or because it doesn’t want to suffocate the people of Orario with it.

“Has the kid woken up?” He asks Leonidas, who then shakes his head with a light frown.

“Stopped by there before coming here, and he’s still asleep.” He too crosses his arms, a light sigh escaping him, “Can’t really fault that. Any of us would be tired after throwing out all that power and tanking those two hits.”

“Talk about yourself.” Nemea snorts cockily, receiving a quick deadpan stare from Leonidas.

“Not everyone has your horrendous defense, dude.”

“Sucks to be you.”

“A punch to the nuts should still hurt plenty, I bet.” Nemea falls silent at that. “Thought so.”

“Cheater.” The hulking muscular man grumbles beneath his breath, and Leonidas forces himself to swallow the bark of laughter that threatened to spill from him.

So instead he focuses on something else, “What about you?” He asks, making Nemea snap his gaze back towards him, “Did you Level Up after your fight with Riley?”

Nemea grunts, then sighs deeply, “It wasn’t enough.” He reveals, fingers tracing the scar the boy left across his chest, “Maybe because we were both holding back so to avoid hurting anyone from the fallout of our clashes.” Despite having used his most beloved Spell to fight Riley, he had not mixed it with the Skill that grants him the terrifying defensive capabilities that made him famous.

He relied entirely on his physical might, just like Riley did. It was but a fight with pure physical power, just… toned down a great deal.

Had they truly gone all out, Nemea had no qualms in believing that the Dungeon Floor they had been on would have been utterly decimated.

Not that he really gave a damn.

A low quiet falls between them, their eyes never leaving the sunlit scarred battlefield, and the resting form of their strongest enemy.

“All of our hard work ain’t nowhere near enough to match that beast though…” How hard did he work to be where he is now? To boast the strength he wields now?

How many tears had he cried? How much blood did he spill? How much pain did he go through?

How many comrades did he see be claimed by the Dungeon? How many more was he unable to bury?

“But did we always work hard?” Leonidas asks softly, his voice but a whisper in the air.

Nemea’s eyes widen, “Didn’t we lose our sharpness, Nemea?” The man asks, turning away from the battlefield to face the golden haired man.

“Our blood doesn’tburn like it didduring our youth. We don’t carry ourselves we the same sharpness as before. We’ve grown dull, Nemea.”

The golden haired man had no words, for he knows that Leonidas is right.

“And then the kid arrived.” Leonidas jabs his arm and finger in the general direction of the Hera Familia grounds. “Like a wake-up call from the Gods above.”

“The board is changing, Nemea. I can see it and feelit in my bones and Soul. This whole bullshit-” His arm waves to all of Orario and towards the slumbering Dragon in the distance. “-shall end in our generation.”

“I’ll fucking make sure of it.” The ardent gaze filled with conviction and determination stirs something deep within Nemea.

And his eyes soon widen when a muscular arm and hand is offered to him, “But I can’t do this shit alone, buddy.”

Nemea stares at the offered hand, then looks up to meet those ardent sky-blue eyes alight with determination.

“I always knew that you were the better choice for a Captain of the Zeus Familia.” Nemea snorts, then gives a toothy grin as he clasps his hand around Leonidas’s wrist.

“So, where do we start?”

The grin Leonidas gives him is downright feral, “By killing the fucking Behemoth.”

“I have a plan, but it requires Riley’s help and medicines beforehand.” Nemea nods, having heard about how good those ‘Pills’ are by the girls of the Hera Familia.

“What about Maxim?”

Leonidas snorts coldly, “We won’t tell him anything. I won’t share the glory of felling one of the Three Great Beasts with that coward.” Nemea could agree with that wholeheartedly.

The man was strong, insanely so… But that’s mostly due to his bullshit Skill. In a true fight, he highly doubted the man could truly get past his insane defenses, even if abusing the vulnerability of his brain and internal organs.

He is but a power-hungry fool led astray by the slimy words of Socrates.

“How much time do we have?” The Behemoth is known for being insanely slow, but it is also a walking calamity. The range of his poison is utterly enormous, spreading for fifty miles in all directions besides the one it is facing.

So it is best to stop it far away from Orario, so to make sure it doesn’t ruin any cultivable and farmable land, or even any large settlements outside Orario.

“It’s very far, so a year at most.” I fist slams against his chest. “I want to help you Level Up first before we go after that son of a bitch.”

Nemea sniffs, then shrugs.

“You had me at ‘kill the fucking Behemoth’, no need to convince me further.”

Leonidas could only throw his head back and laugh out of pure joy.

Finally… Finally he felt things change for the better.

The stalemate that lasted for more than a thousand years was finally broken.

                                                                        ….

“You want… A custom made sword, made by me?” Hephaestus repeats slowly, her lone eye full of interest and her brow raised curiously.

The ever serious and frowning Alfia nods heavily. “The best you can possibly make without your Arcanum.” Hephaestus sighs and pinches the bridge of her nostrils.

“You do realize what you are asking of me, yes?” Alfia nods, still serious, clearly not willing to back down one bit. Not like many Gods and Mortals have already asked such an outrageous request.

One she can grant, at the right cost. If she ever feels like it. “I can sell you my masterpiece, but it will-”

“No offense, Lady Hephaestus.” The Silence cuts her off, gaze sharp, “But your… ‘Masterpiece’, will surely be manure compared to His sword.” Hephaestus stills.

A part deep within her tells her she should be offended at having her masterpiece called ‘manure’… But another part of her locks onto a certain part of Alfia’s words.

“His sword…” Her mind goes back to that night. To that catastrophic battle. A battle she witnessed from afar, yet still one that left the entirety of Orario in awe and chaos.

A mortal without Falna and a single sword fought and matched the Apex of this world… And wounded it.

“Do you honestly and truly believe that your ‘Masterpiece’ can even scratch the scales of that Calamity?” Alfia asks, and Hephaestus breathes out.

Does she have that much faith in her masterpiece? In the masterpiece she requests those that wish to court her to surpass?

“That sword…” Alfia breathes in, heterochromatic eyes filled with reverence and a burning desire for battle. “That sword has a Falna, Lady Hephaestus. A Falna my Goddess placed upon it.”

A sword… with a Falna?

A sword with a Soul?

That means… That sword is capable of growing!

Hephaestus finds herself breathless at that mere thought.

The fire of her heart and forge soon started rumbling once more, an excited grin spreading across her lips as her fingers itch to find her hammer. “I will require ingredients.”

Alfia snorts and smirks, then opens and waves the bag she had brought with her.

Marvelous and flawless pitch-black scales the size of a Minotaur’s head slam and clatter upon her desk, blowing the air out of her lungs as her brain connect the dots.

Her lone eyes flicks up to stare at the smirking Silence, “Are these…?”

“His sword broke these scales off the Dragon’s body.” Divine fingers trace the area of the cut.

Smooth. Flawlessly smooth.

“Those scales proved a challenge for that sword, and I wish to fight him and match him blow for blow.”

“For that, I require a sword that can contend with his.” Heterochromatic eyes narrow with determination, “And only a God can forge a blade that can contend with his.”

A blade that nearly felled the Leviathan.

A blade that made one of the Great Beasts run away in fear.

A blade that matched the Apex and injured it.

The fire of her forge roars like an inferno, and endless plans and ideas flow through the Goddess of the Forge’s head.

A smirk of pure excitement adorns her features, “Give me one week.” The Silence smiles.

“One week, and I shall have a blade capable of matching his ready for you.”

And this blade shall be the greatest masterpiece she’ll forge in the Mortal World.

                                                                          xxxXXXxxx

Hera was inclined on waking up Alfia and just having her slaughter the mob outside, uncaring of the consequences.

Damnable idiotic Gods and Goddesses wanting to get their eyes and hands on what is hers.

Well, kind off. They weren’t holding back because they knew Riley didn’t have her Falna, so all the other Divines are all but swarming her gates and demandingto have him.

Because the dumb oaf will surely refuse the Falna if she wants to give it to him.

Something that really makes her want to strangle that dumb, handsome oaf.

Especially after all the bullshit he caused recently.

First the Leviathan, and then the damn Black Dragon?! He just attracts trouble!

And the moron runs straight into it too!

The sheer chaos after the wild battle outside the walls left Orario in chaos. Chaos that still has to settle, with how the damn Dragon just decided to go to sleep on the ruined battlefield where it fought Riley.

Then some moron leaked the news that the Behemoth is making a beeline for Orario, and the chaos further intensified.

Some morons – and Gods – outright started demanding that Riley be given to the monsters so to quell their rage. The Gods mostly because they do not wish for their fun on Earth to be ended, while the mortals clearly fear for their lives.

They were quite vocal about it too, right in front of her gates. In front of her home.

Where people that absolutely adore and love Riley reside, guarding his resting form like hawks and some even refusing to sleep to do so.

Needless to say that Meteria was the first to break and ask her sister to uppercut a God straight through the clouds above.

Did that make the Gods and the folks stop? Nope.

Is it pissing Hera off? A lot.

Three days since the oaf fought the Dragon. Three days of waking up to this bullshit and mob of idiots outside her would-be calm home.

She is seconds away from ordering a slaughter-

And then the wonderful, oh so wonderful scent of divine food fills her nostrils, and Hera melts while her stomach grumbles loudly.

She was fairly sure none of her girls had the breakfast turn this morning, as it was the weekday and the girls had finally started passing out and resting after the Dungeon expedition.

So it wouldn’t be until late Monday where they’d become fully working humans once more.

Hence, the logical conclusion in her mind was just one, and her thoughts fell on the far too reckless, stupid, amazing good and so damn-

-Handsome…

Her teeth nibble down on her lower lip harshly the moment she steps into the kitchen, eyes widening and drinking in all the wonderful goodness before her.

No, not the food. But he could be.

Long dark brown hair with reddish tips cascade down a naked and muscular back freely, looking oh so silky and smooth.

–Her fingers clutching and sliding through those locks–

A low, pleasant hum flowed out of his lips as he bounced around the kitchen, gathering further ingredients and cutting vegetables or just moving in ways that let Hera in awe while also stoking her hunger.

The way those arms flexed, the way that sculpted front – neither too muscular or too little – teased her by becoming visible and then disappearing every so often.

–Nails digging again a muscular back, lips leaving marks against a wondrous body–

Then, it slowly strikes her.

Hera realizes she wasn’t breathing, her teeth biting down on her lower lip a bit too harshly.

So she takes in a long breath that makes her aching lungs sigh in relief, and she lets reality settle in.

Riley is awake.

Riley is cooking.

Riley is shirtless, and Oh Gods above does she want to pounce on him.

His neck deserved a thousand hickeys. His back must be marked by her nails.

A low whimper escapes her lips, a full body shudder going through her form. This dumb oaf is trying to kill her…

Then, he yawns. His arms rise in a long shivering stretch, showing off more of that immaculate body of his before coming down with a low grunt.

Hera shudders at that sound, a heated inferno rising in her core as the far too handsome oaf distractedly pulls at the hairband around his wrist.

Then bites down on it to keep hold of it while his arms rise to gather his long hair, and Hera’s eyes remain transfixed upon his lips.

–She wanted them. Upon her lips, upon her neck, on her breasts–

Her lips were left red from her teeth biting into them, yet her cheeks were perhaps just as red. She could feel them burning.

As she could feel something else burn and ache with a need that she really wanted to be scratched. And filled.

Gods, if any of her girls wandered on this view, they’d die on the spot. Or outright just get pregnant from the sight alone.

Riley sighs as he ties his hair, and those wonderful eyes of his she could get lost in for hours on end finally notice her, then light up.

That alone makes the butterflies in her stomach go even crazier.

“Morning, Hera!” He calls out cheerfully, voice heavy and rough, clearly having just woken up himself… And Hera forces herself to swallow another whimper at the way her name rolled off his tongue.

–She wanted him to grunt it out, whisper it in her ears, make her scream his–

“Morning to you…” Did her voice sound dreamy? It definitely did. At least Riley doesn’t notice- Or he’s just sparing her the embarrassment.

Her eyes once more trail down his wonderful body. Both to devour it with her eyes and also notice how none of the vicious and horrid burns he sustained after the Dragon’s final blow left not even a scar.

All thanks to his Pills. “How are you feeling?” Riley hums, then rolls his shoulders a few times.

“A bit stiff and sore, but alright.” He drawls out, then pauses with a blink, “How long have I been out?” She rose a brow at that.

Meteria must’ve been asleep when he woke up. The girl spent all these days by his bedside to keep an eye on him and would barely leave even if it was to eat.

“Three days.” She answers, then takes a few steps forward, grabs a large wooden spoon meant to stir soup, and proceeds to snap it over his dumb head! “You absolutely dumb, reckless fucking oaf!”

Riley doesn’t even flinch from the blow, instead he merely raises an amused brow.

“Must you be so damn reckless when you so damn important!?” He was changing things. He was making her hope again after so many centuries.

“You really make me want to strangle you-” –Or feel his hands around her throat–“-with how stupid and reckless you are!”

Slowly, the Goddess takes in a deep, calming breath. “Meteria loves you. Alfia, loves you. You are the only one that can heal them, and you are the only that might even be able to heal Kirin-”

“Oh, right!” He suddenly perks up, cutting her off as he does so, his apologetic expression turning into one of realization, “I actually found it.”

Hera pauses, her anger and worry and lust all but forgotten and replaced by confusion, “Found what?”

He grins a big, dumb and punchable grin, “The way to heal Ei. I found it.”

Hera freezes for all but a second.

Then she makes a decision. “Fuck it.”

She throws herself at Riley, arms wrapping around his neck and soft lips smashing against his with a hunger, need and love she neededto release.

Things she needed to make him feel and understandand knock into his dumb, reckless head.

He barely even freezes in shock before he returns the kiss, causing her to release a much needed mewl of desire out.

Her feet soon leave the ground, and her behind lands on the kitchen counter, legs crossing behind Riley’s back and his fingers tracing the plump flesh of her bare thighs.

To think that going to sleep with a simple loose shirt on would actually turn out in her favor for once.

Their tongues met as their kiss deepened, and her fingers danced through his long and soft hair while her other hand hung over his muscular back.

Her breasts pushed and rubbed against his chest, her nipples hardening and grinding against the rough texture of her shirt in a very pleasant way that sent shudders down her back.

Well, further shudders, because Heavens be damned was Riley a fantastic kisser. Or maybe she just lost her touch after centuries of not being sexually active.

Despite what many other dumb and depraved Gods might think, she never slept or touched her Familia members.

They were her daughters in all but blood.

She pants heavily through her nostrils, teeth nibbling at Riley’s lower lip as his hands slowly roam up her thighs and curvaceous waists, the Goddess being completely bare beneath.

So rough and calloused hands traveled up her spine, the rough feeling further heightening her enjoyment and pleasure.

And finally, his hands found her breasts, and squeezed.

Her nerves sang. Her back arched and a moan flowed out of her lips, “You asshole…” She breathes out through a pant, her lips trailing hungry kisses down Riley’s sharp jawline and down his neck. “I’m not letting you go.”

Her nail dig into his back possessively, “Fuck all the other Gods and whatever bullshit comes up… I am not fucking letting you go.” Riley chuckles heavily, a deep baritone and heavenly sound that makes her shudder.

“Good.” He whispers right in her ear, turning her into putty and nearly making the knot in her stomach come undone, “Because I don’t plan on leaving.”

Relief flooded her very Soul, and Hera allows herself to fully melt against the man that is making her heart throb once more.

She knew it. There was a deep fear within her since they first met that Riley was never going to be tied down.

For all her show of ‘chaining him into the basement’ it was because at first she didn’t want for someone that could heal Meteria just up and disappear.

But then she further realized through time passing that Riley is a free Soul. He is someone that does not wish to be tied down by others and will only tie himself down if he wants to.

He doesn’t care about Gods and their standing, he doesn’t care about the Dungeon and the monsters and even the Three Great Beasts.

All he cares about is living as he desires, and right now… Right now he desires to be here.

With them.

“I’d like for this to be my new home, if you’ll allow it.” Sunset-like eyes stare into hers, and Hera wonders if she ever stood a chance in not-falling for this dumb oaf.

Something changed. He seemed- No, felt happier. She could feel it and see it.

His eyes are brighter, his smile is far more natural than the previous mask of politeness he used to wear.

Was it the fight against the Black Dragon that did this?

“You don’t even need to ask, you dumb oaf…” Hera whispers softly, receiving a chuckle in turn before her lips join his once more.

Fucking Meteria somehow called her falling for Riley too. That girl is getting a mean noogie once she wakes up.

With a content sigh, Hera breaks the kiss, “As much as I’d love for us to get all dirty, I’d rather be more prepared before we rock each others world.” Riley snorts, then openly chuckles and helps her of the kitchen counter.

She never truly took notice that he is a head taller than her… That makes him even sexier in her eyes.

“I do want to serve breakfast too.” Riley hums, looking towards the piles of prepared eggs, stripes of meat, jars of orange and lemonade juice, and so much more.

Hera’s stomach grumbles lightly, “Don’t bother. It’ll be a while before the girls wake up.” Riley blinks, then pouts and sulks. Now she feels bad. “Don’t worry, it won’t go to waste.” Like hell the girls will let his divine food go to waste.

They would gladly murder a God instead of throwing away some of Riley’s personally cooked food.

And Hera would, of course, approve.

“Then what the hell am I gonna do now?” The dumb oaf sighs out, her teeth once more nibbling at her lower lip when his sigh turns into a yawn and stretch.

Then she remembers something, “All the ingredients you gathered in the Dungeon are already in your shop, so maybe you can take me there and show how these Pills are done.” Totally not a date.

Or a way for her to steal Riley for herself and smooch him some more while no one is around.

And, well, to show him off to the other Gods because she is that petty.

His face lights up like a kid being handed candy, bringing a warm smile to her face, “Good! I’ve been looking forward to refining some Pills for a long while now.” Not only handsome, but also cute.

What a dangerous combination.

“Give me a bit to get ready-” Her stomach grumbles again, “-and devour your fantastic breakfast, then we can depart.”

Riley snort, then rubs a hand over his stomach, “I should go and get some clothes… Without waking up the slumbering Meteria.”

“I shall pray for your safe return.”

Because if Meteria wakes up with a shirtless Riley around? Well, that bed is getting demolished.

She taught that girl well.

                                                                             ….

“Well now…” I blink and try not to outright gape at the mob waiting, screaming and hollering right past the main gates of the Hera Familia.

I just stepped out for some air while waiting for Hera, and then their screams reached an all-time high.

I… I can’t even understand y’all. They are all talking together, so I can’t understand shit.

“Has been like this for the past few days.” Hera grunts out as she steps outside right beside me, my gaze switching from the gathered crown and Gods to her shorter form.

Her clothing is quite open and revealing – which me likey– but is also not something I’ve ever seen. It’s just a bunch of black and red stripes thicker than her arms wrapped around her body in a way that it covers her modesty but also tease the outside world of the supple treasures below.

Supple treasures I groped.

Never expected Hera to throw herself at me, and like hell I could resist a mature woman throwing a wagon of affection and desires at me through a wonderful kiss.

She really is a wonderful woman.

I hum at her words, “They cause any problems?” I’d be annoyed if they did. I have several ways to show my displeasure, after all.

Mainly using my Sword Will and leaving everyone absolutely stark naked in the middle of the street.

“Nah. Meteria just asked Alfia to beat anyone that ticks her off up, so…” It’s absolutely hilarious how Meteria uses her sister as an attack dog.

And how Alfia takes that role quite seriously.

“Not everyone seems happy.” I point out, noticing quite a few unhappy faces among the crowd. I can also sense several Gods among them.

Hera grunts and wraps an arm around mine, “The Behemoth is heading for Orario, so they want to ‘sacrifice’ you to quell the anger of the beasts.” Seriously? I really did piss of the Dungeon enough that it just threw all Three Great Beasts at me.

Must be because I split the 25thFloor in half during my bout against the Leviathan. Pretty sure I managed to somehow hurtthe Dungeon too with that slash, hence why it’s so mad.

Still, I’m not too worried about the Behemoth yet. From the little I remember being told to me, while it wields horrendously deadly poison and a size that surpasses the Dragon and Leviathan both, it is also insanely slow.

So it should take a long-ass while for it to get here. Long enough for us to prepare.

What I’m worried about is it’s Qi. If the Leviathan wields, then so does it and so does the Dragon.

The Dragon didn’t use it in our fight, but I know and could feel that it had Qi inside of it.

So I’m more worried on what powers the Behemoth has with its Qi.

“Plus, they are just scared shitless because the Dragon hasn’t left.” What?Hera openly snorts at my face, “Yeah, the big guy is sleeping in the area where you two fought. Has been since he knocked you the fuck out.”

With a beam straight to the face. Dude had to take me out in the most exaggerated way possible.

I sigh and scratch the back of my neck, then shrug. I’ll probably go visit the fucker later today, see why it’s still hanging around.

“You don’t seem to hate it, even though it destroyed your home.” Hera points out curiously, and I hum softly at that.

It’s because I never cared about that home in the first place. It mostly was a convenient resting place until I was fully prepared for my travels.

“I never had anything of value left there, so…” I shrug, and Hera’s arm clutches tightly around mine. “And I have a theory on why it destroyed my home in the first place.”

“Oh?”

“The Dungeon can clearly exert some kind of control over the Three Great Beasts. Perhaps it left them with one last order after creating them, one about annihilating humans or whatever… But the Dragon slowly got loose of that order, yet still has some impulses it needs to quell sometimes in order to regain control over its mind.”

This, again, is mostly a theory of mine. Yet it explains why the Dragon was mad with the Dungeon after I woke it up, and was also mad with itself for having lost control.

I don’t think it wants to erase humankind. It only wants a worthy challenge, a good battle.

And by destroying all of us, it will never be able to get it.

The Leviathan is smart too, but not as smart as the Dragon. There is a difference I can’t quite place between the two, but while one wants to obey its parent and creator, the other wants to do its own thing.

That, at least, is the thought that springs up when I think of the two beasts.

“I’ve heard of smart monsters before.” Hera hums with a thoughtful frown, “Through the years, many of my girls have seen humanoid monsters capable of speech within the Dungeon, though either the Dungeon hides them, or they are good at hiding themselves.” Interesting… Intelligent monsters capable of speech, huh?

Why isn’t the Dungeon weaponizing them? Why just use constant mindless beasts that just fight until death or run away when overpowered?

The more I think about it, the stranger the damn Dungeon gets.

“So…” I start, giving the mob beyond the gates the stinky eye, “How do we get past them?”

Hera sniffs, “Usually threats of bodily arm and mutilation works from me works… But well, you are so unique and special that these idiots will push through that and keep on insisting.” Must you solve everything with violence, woman?

And why do I like that- “Hm?” I blink and flick my gaze towards one of the distant rooftops.

Huh, someone- No, several people are watching- And they just disappeared. They noticed I noticed them, huh?

They are good though, I could only pinpoint their general location just because I felt watched.

Oh well, I sensed no hostility, so I won’t go after whoever they are. For now.

“I have an idea.” I raise a brow as Hera steps in front of me with a satisfied smirk and a slight flush on her cheeks. Her hands come up to rest on my shoulders, and one of her heeled feet rise up, “Pick me up, you oaf.”

I blink, then snorts and lower myself to do just that, silencing the crown when I pick up the beautiful Goddess in a princess carry.

“Now just go and hop over their filthy heads!” Hera waves off, cuddling smugly against my chest, while throwing a subtle middle finger towards the stunned crowd.

This is hilarious.

I hold back a snort and crouch down, then nearly crack the marble bricks before the Hera Familia main doors on take off.

A ‘Wooohooo!’ cry flows out of Hera as we soar through the air, then on a very distant rooftop, far away from the mansion and the mob.

I feel the stares come back, less numerous this time, but they swiftly disappear when they once more notice that I have noticed them instantly.

“We should be far enough away from those crazies.” I hum as I land back on a mostly empty street, then try and fail to put Hera down.

She just gives me a smooth smile, “What? I wanna enjoy this some more.” Of course you do.

I bet this is also because of the faces people make when they see us so close to each other.

I get that Hera is some kind of big shot Goddess and everyone fears her or something, but whey the strange faces when we are seen so close together?

Right, maybe something about her hating guys?

Eh, I don’t remember.

So I just keep walking, letting Hera guide me around the unfamiliar streets until we reach ones I remember that lead me back to my soon-to-be shop.

For a long while our walk is mostly quiet, until Hera softly speaks up, “Agnodice had a very bad fight with her daughter.” She reveals lightly, making me come to a short stop. “I wonder where I went wrong with that dumb girl…”

I breathe in and quell the anger that threatens to rise within my chest at the thought of that idiot.

“How is Agnodice?” I ask softly, and Hera sighs and shakes her head, making my stomach drop slightly.

“She is too kind. That idiot daughter of hers needs a rough hand to set her straight…” She pauses, then gives me a look, “One I believe you want be?”

I nod harshly, mentally deciding to make anything I have planned for that idiot a lot worse.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.” The Goddess in my arms sniffs, “But if I don’t see any improvement, I’m ripping the Falna off that bitch and banishing her.” Harsh, but very deserved.

I fear for Agnodice’s reaction to that decision if it ever comes to it. She’s a sweet woman, and far too kind.

Perhaps even far too soft of heart.

I sigh through my nostrils, then smile when my shop comes into view, “Shame, was starting to enjoy the ride.” Hera huffs much to my amusement as I set her down.

And unable to resist the temptation, I give her a smirk and wink, “I’ll give you another ride to enjoy whenever you feel like it!” Her cheeks flush and her mouth hangs open in clear shock.

Then she grins and nods at me, “That’s my guy!” Yeap, I’m liking this woman more and more.

She steps forward to open the shop for me, and we soon step into the very clean but bare front of the shop.

There glass panes and desks and see-through counters where I can expose my Pills, together with a lot of space for me to store them or even place boxes storing them without ruining the view of the shop.

The walls are painted a nice sky-blue color, while the floor is made of polished marble – I think– and the white ceiling has a crystal chandelier hanging from it.

It’s a lot better than the first times I came in here. Clearly Hera has made sure to renovate it to the point that she finds it satisfactory.

The front of the shop might seem unremarkable, but that’s because it’s not fully set up and the large window on the left of the door that shows the interior of the shop is closed and covered.

And I believe Hera wants to paint the front too, lest she wants to leave it a bright and catchy gold. Not that I mind.

“We’ll have to decide on a name for it.” She points out, then waves said finger around, “The shop, I mean.” Less of a shop and more of an Apothecary.

And once more, I am unable to resist the temptation, “Drugs Den.” Hera chokes on air and trips on her feet, then swiftly bursts out laughing.

“Oh man, you’re gonna get all kinds of clients then!” That’s what I hope. The interaction shall be hilarious.

And I can probably sneakily heal them for shits and giggles.

I lead the way into the back of the shop, which is a mix of living room and kitchen, with the ‘living room’ part being used to house my Pill Furnace and the tables I shall use to dissect the ingredients.

And my eyes soon fall on my large Pill Furnace, which I haven’t seen in quite a while. Hopefully the Item Spirit fully adapted to its new body by now.

So I spread my hands and smile, “Buddy! Long time no see!” The furnace rumbles, steam billowing out of the closed lid.

Hera pauses in her steps, “Of course this bitch has a Soul in it too…” Yeap, and it has been a while since I’ve checked up on it.

Bladey has grown well, so I feel bad for focusing on one and not much on the other.

The furnace rumbles once more, feet shaking and grinding against the floor quite harshly, “Yes yes, I am happy to see you too-”

Flames billow out of my Furnace as it bounces up, the lid slamming open and close with thunderous metallic slams.

Then starts stomping angrily towards me and Hera, looking like a very angry fire breathing demon.

Me and Hera totally do not scream like little girls at the sight.

A.N. Phew, tired as hell by the time I finished writing this.

Six in the morning, gonna eat breakfast and then sleep after posting this… Man, my life is fucked up.

Either way, hope y’all enjoyed this chappy!

Selling Drugs shall soon begin- And one of the waifus might catch a baby soon. Heh.

Guess who?

Toodles!