Is it wrong to Speak in a Dungeon? Chapter 23

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[Red Light District – Sanjouno Haruhime]

Gazing at the rising sun, which she could barely make out from her small window, Haruhime’s ears drooped as the sun's rays tickled her face and pulled her from her restless slumber.

She shuffled her way out of the futon Aisha likely placed her in after she fell unconscious at the sight of her ‘client’, inspecting her seemingly untouched clothes with sorrowful eyes.

She knew better than to think that nothing happened. She was a prostitute, after all, even if she couldn’t bear the sight of a naked man and kept falling unconscious.

It was more likely that Aisha cleaned and dressed her up once her client was done. Oddly, her clothes didn’t feel new, but she chalked it up as the result of her sleeping inside them.

Haruhime took a deep breath to try to suppress the negative emotions bubbling inside her and shakily stood up, preparing to leave the room now that she had finished her ‘commission’.

*Wooosh…*

Haruhime’s eyes widened as a gust of wind suddenly flew into the room, making her hair flutter as she turned around to look at the now-open window.

Her eyes darted across the window frame in search of whatever it was that opened it, confusion marring her face as she saw nothing but the relatively quiet streets of the red-light district.

She hesitated momentarily before slowly approaching the open window carefully, peeking her head outside to stare at the relatively empty streets of the Red Light District.

Some men were trying to discreetly exit the district without being noticed, yet their feet were undoubtedly unstable from all of the alcohol and… fun they had engaged in yesterday.

Haruhime glanced at the surrounding roof tiles in search of anyone who could’ve opened the window, but she didn’t find anyone despite searching thoroughly.

She guessed it was just a silent gust of wind that pushed the windows open. Nothing to worry about.

Her ears suddenly stood ramrod straight as she heard the sound of something pouring behind her. Her body stiffened as she turned around, finding an unfamiliar figure sitting in the booth inside the room that normal ‘workers’ usually used to serve drinks to their clients.

Her breath quickened as she inspected the unfamiliar man quietly pouring two cups of tea. Her eyes widened, and she registered the powerful presence he exuded just by sitting there.

He seemed to notice her odd reaction, tilting his head in confusion at her anxiousness, yet she couldn’t spare the time to elaborate.

His presence… It was strong.

Haruhime was not unfamiliar with powerful presences, having grown up in the Far East for most of her life surrounded by numerous Gods and Executives like her sister.

She didn’t get to meet them often, but she encountered them occasionally enough. All high-ranking Executives had an aura of power around them, and all gods obviously had their own presence thanks to their divinities.

Yet, there were always exceptions.

Haruhime had seen Lady Amaterasu only once, yet her presence has left an unshakeable mark in her mind since. The aura of a Supreme Goddess was… stifling, maybe even humbling.

There was also Lady Tsukuyomi, whom she encountered once after the kids at the orphanage snuck her out of her mansion to play. She was not as unapproachable and untouchable as Lady Amaterasu, yet Haruhime could vividly remember her dazzling presence under the moonlight as she threw the kids around to show off with all the grace in the world.

Yet… This man exuded a presence that was not inferior to that of the two Supreme Goddesses. No, she’d daresay that his malice made him even more imposing than the untouchable and theatrical goddesses.

Haruhime shook as his eyes silently gazed into hers, almost as if they were bareing her soul to him. She didn’t know what to do, but one thing was for certain...

… Whatever this man intended for her, it was undoubtedly evil!

…

…

[Ten Minutes Later…]

“W-Wow! You truly did all of that just in the last week!?” Haruhime asked excitedly while I patted her head. Her tail swayed cheerfully behind her, and her eyes shone with awe.

“Mm. More or less.” I nodded while carefully caressing the ears of the blonde fox girl, sapping the negativity inside her as I did. “I arrived barely an hour ago in Orario.”

Needless to say, I omitted many things from Haruhime while detailing my exploits in the Far East in the last week. Like her big sister going traitor, my vow with Izanami, and anything that could leave her panicking or worried.

“I did not anticipate that the Far East would be in such a state after so long…” Haruhime muttered sorrowfully as she processed my words about the ongoing war and conflict.

Her tail suddenly went ramrod straight as I gently patted it, sapping away the newly formed sorrow from her body as she relaxed into my touch.

“You won’t have to worry, Haruhime. I have a sneaking suspicion that the thousand-year conflict will end in the upcoming few weeks.” I sent her a mysterious smile as she blinked in confusion before pouting, understanding that I wouldn’t divulge anything more.

“I hope so, Mr. Michael…” She eventually stopped pouting and nodded slowly, leaning into my hands more like she wasn’t as jumpy as a cat barely ten minutes ago. “Um… Mr. Michael?”

Haruhime suddenly raised her head to look at me hesitantly, clearly torn about what she wanted to ask yet still resolved to do so.

“Yes?” I already knew what she was about to ask, but I wasn’t about to act all uppity and all-knowing. Not when I wasn’t Hubris’d up at the moment.

“... I’m very grateful for you taking some time out of your day to tell me these stories, but I’m not sure why you’re here still…” Haruhime hesitantly admitted while biting her lip and looking away, clearly ashamed of herself for questioning me after I ‘took time out of my day to visit her’ or whatever.

“Oh, that’s simple.” I chuckled as Haruhime’s ears stood at attention. “I’m taking you out of here.”

…

“Eh?” Haruhime’s eyes widened as my nonchalant words registered. “Ehh!??”

“I don’t know why you’re so surprised, Haruhime,” I noted in amusement as the fox girl flushed and tilted her head at me. “I already informed you that I was building a Familia of Heroes, didn’t I? It’s not very hero-like to leave you here, now, is it?”

Haruhime’s mouth slowly opened and closed several times as I smiled at her, still unable to respond after I casually revealed that I was going to save her.

[Hypocrite…]

{Unashamedly.} I didn’t rebuke Edias.

Many girls were suffering what Haruhime was suffering in the red-light district. The only difference between them and Haruhime was that the fox girl was a Far Eastern princess with one of the most powerful abilities in the world.

Without that? I’d have only felt pity for her as I did for the rest of the poor girls. I was eventually wiping out the Ishtar Familia anyway, saving her, but I wouldn’t have directly acted beforehand like this if not for that.

I was a hypocrite, and I couldn’t care less.

Who said that you needed to be a good person to be a hero?

[So malicious… I love it…]

More like edgy, but if she likes it…

“I-I… I appreciate it, Mr. Michael, b-but I can’t…” Haruhime eventually managed to speak again, clearly struggling to say the words she knew she had to say ‘for my safety’. “It’s not safe…”

“Because of Ishtar’s plans for you, right?” I asked casually, smirking at Haruhime’s shocked expression. “Your level-up magic is too precious, and it's too dangerous to take you, correct?”

I chuckled amusedly once I saw her tail standing ramrod straight from shock behind her. She clearly didn’t expect me to know about Ishtar’s plans with the sacrificial stone and whatnot.

“... Y-you know?” she asked nervously, shuffling awkwardly before relaxing as my negativity-sapping touch worked its magic (jujutsu?) again.

“Obviously. I wouldn’t have come to get you if I was not aware of the entire situation, Haruhime.” I nodded my head amusedly as Haruhime flushed slightly. “I’m confident about safely taking you away and dealing with the consequences, okay? Don’t concern yourself with things like that.”

Haruhime remained silent as I began patting her head soothingly, humming a quiet tune without any sign of concern or worry on my face.

I wasn’t lying about being that confident. Maybe it was the Grand Hubris affecting even my base state, but I could barely put the Ishtar Familia in my eyes anymore.

There were only a few entities I still needed to stay wary of. A Freya wannabe with a frog for a Familia Captain was certainly not one of them. If I remember correctly, her entire motivation was merely jealousy of Freya.

She targeted Bell purely because she found out that Freya had her eye on him. That’s some NTR-villain-level nonsense that I had no tolerance for.

Haruhime slowly raised her head to look at my thoughtful yet unconcerned face, her expression indescribable as she seemingly processed everything I told and promised her.

I sent her a gentle smile and patted her head again before returning to my thoughts, chuckling as her ears flattened in embarrassment before she quickly looked away.

Haruhime… was essential for a certain experiment I needed to conduct. That’s without mentioning her value as a support due to her game-breaking magic. There’s also her status as a Far Eastern princess, which meant I had to save her due to my alliance with Amaterasu.

I also can’t deny that I find her cute. I would feel terrible leaving her without help for a few more months like she was supposed to in the original timeline. Fox girls are the best girls, after all.

Basically, I’m not leaving here without Haruhime.

“... I’m sorry, Mr. Michael… but I can’t come with you.”

Oh…

Oh dear.

“... And why is that, Haruhime?” I tilted my head at the ashamed girl as she shrank away and reluctantly moved away from my hands. She shivered slightly as the negative emotions coursing through her were no longer sapped away. “Do you not trust that I can guarantee your safety and take down the Ishtar Familia?”

“N-No! I mean—yes…?” Haruhime quickly denied my words and grabbed my hands before pausing, confused about how to explain herself properly. “I-I know you can do it, Mr. Michael…”

“Then what’s stopping you, Haruhime?” I asked curiously, squeezing her hand once she took mine in hers. I smirked as I saw her tail wag in response, but I didn’t point it out. “You should know that I’m capable of saving you. It won’t trouble me at all, and I can safely take you home without any trouble.”

Haruhime lowered her head in shame as I kept speaking, her shoulders beginning to quiver and shake. She was clearly trying to hold back her tears but was failing miserably.

“I-It’s because…” She started, her voice choked and slightly dry. “I-I can’t let someone like myself… be saved by someone like you…”

Ah?

I raised an eyebrow in surprise at her words, a feeling of realization crossing my mind as I understood what was bothering Haruhime.

“S-Someone as amazing as you… shouldn’t have their legend tainted by saving one such as myself…” Haruhime continued tearfully while raising her hands to try and wipe her tears. “I-I’m nothing but a dirty prostitute… Including me in your h-heroic tale will only make it worse!”

Haruhime couldn’t stop the tears from falling after her outburst, her negative emotions reaching an all-time high as she began outright crying.

“I-I always wanted to be saved by a h-hero… to be taken away to a h-happy ever after with my savior after they take me away from my hell…” Haruhime admitted while sobbing, her entire body shaking from the intensity of her cries.

“B-But now that I have the opportunity, I-I realized that I’d be the most selfish woman in the world if I allowed my s-savior to suffer the humiliation of saving someone like me…” She shakily continued, lowering her head further in shame as she couldn’t even look at the expression on my face right now.

“I-I can’t… I-I can’t let a hero like you bear the shame of saving me!” Haruhime declared, raising her voice as she shook her head aggressively while still crying.

…

Haruhime’s sobs were the only sound occupying the palpable silence after her declaration, an odd atmosphere entering the room as the young girl cried and cried into her hands.

“M-Mr. Michael–” “Hime.”

Her sorrowful words were cut by a soft whisper from me, a sudden feeling of weightlessness entering her body as I placed my hand back on her head.

She looked up at me with widened eyes of confusion and sadness, a slight ray of hope in her green orbs. Her eyes landed on the gentle smile on my face as I slowly pulled her closer, still patting her head and infusing her with the positive energy from my RCT.

“... You’re really a good girl, aren’t you?” I whispered again as she was pulled into my arms, all of the overbearing negative energy inside her disappearing in a second as an overwhelming feeling of joy and contentment replaced it.

“N-No I…” She tried to protest against my words but failed to muster anything once she was in my arms, her words dying out in a mumble as she pushed her head into my chest.

“... You are. Even at a time like this, you prioritize someone you only just met over yourself out of kindness.” I continued while gently running my fingers through her hair as her entire body shook violently, this time with relief rather than sorrow and sadness. “You’re amazing, Hime.”

She quivered in pleasure at the compliment, opening her mouth to try to protest but failing again as the positive emotions bulldozed through her body.

“M-Mr. Michael…” She eventually managed to stutter out, her eyes staring at me pleadingly. Begging me to take back what I said. Begging me to leave her and continue my tale without ‘tainting’ it…

Begging me to save her.

“You know… I’ve spoken to you about my aspirations to become a hero and create a Familia of heroes, yet…” I paused, as if contemplating my words carefully. “I truly do not believe I’ve become a hero, Hime.”

“M-Michael…?” Her eyes stared at me with confusion and distress, vehemently opposing my words after all she heard about me.

“Most of my actions thus far... make me out to be more of an Avenger than a Hero, no?” I mused thoughtfully, thinking of all my actions since arriving in this world. “I have indeed saved some people… yet also killed more.”

“I acted only when my family and loved ones were threatened. I trained, fought, bled… yet I’ve yet to do something that would truly allow me to be a hero.” I continued without minding Haruhime’s opposing stare, a soft smile on my face as my thoughtful eyes moved from the void I was staring at to Haruhime.

“Little Hime…” I suddenly called for her softly, brushing her hair to the side as she looked at me with confusion and joy. “Could you help me?”

“H-Help?” She asked in a croaked tone, sounding curious and eager to know how she could help me.

“Mm. I’ve still yet to become a hero worthy of creating a Familia of Heroes.” I nodded with a smile and gently scratched under her ear, making her squirm happily and look at me with bright, innocent eyes. “Won’t you let me become a hero, Hime?”

I raised her hand up and placed it on my cheek, my eyes staring directly into hers gently.

“Hime, Please…”

“Allow me to become a hero…”

“Let me save you… Let me become your hero.”

…

Haruhime’s eyes slowly widened at my request, tears gathering in her eyes. She barely paused for a second before diving into my arms and sobbing loudly, pleading for me to save her while I hugged her back and reassured her again and again.

It was done.

She was mine.

…

…

“A-Are you sure it doesn’t look too weird…?” Haruhime mentioned worriedly as she looked behind her, her eyes glancing at the second tail now swaying alongside her first one.

“Of course not. Twice the tails mean twice the cuteness, you know?” I chuckled softly and raised a hand to gently cup Haruhime’s cheek, my eyes coincidentally catching sight of the new tattoo-like inscription on the back of my hand.

Haruhime’s face flushed deeply before she quickly moved into my chest. She hid herself in my embrace as her two tails began wagging happily behind her.

“T-Thank you.” She mumbled under her breath while hiding her face in my chest.

“No, I should be the one thanking you for agreeing to my selfish request.” I shook my head and moved the hand cupping her cheek to her chin so I could raise it and make her look at me, smiling as I saw her flushed and embarrassed expression. “Both of them.”

“I-It was the least I could do…” She muttered evasively while her eyes darted to look at anything else but me. “L-Lady Tsukuyomi and Miyu are inside, right?”

I recognized her attempt at switching subjects as what it was but didn’t call her out on it. Instead, I simply nodded my head while giving her one last caress before letting her go and turning to the entrance to Hestia Manor.

“Yes. Takemikazuchi’s children as well.” I informed her as she perked up despite her embarrassment. “I’m sure they’ll be overjoyed to see you again.”

{Status Report.} I simultaneously commanded Edias while speaking to Haruhime, wishing to ensure that Bell and the others were fine.

[... Operation Successful… Bell, Lefiya, and Welf… Successfully defeated Enhanced Goliath…]

Hmm? Lefiya? Was she there in the original?

Ah, I think she left with the first group in the original. It makes sense that she’d stick around with my Familia this time, though, as she promised to take care of them for me.

What a good girl… I’ll have to reward her later.

[... Welf is a member… of the Hestia Familia…]

I paused.

Bell did something.

[Bell did something.]

“I hope the rest of your Familia likes me,” Haruhime mumbled nervously, walking behind me and shyly grabbing the back of my clothes.

“They will. I’ll hang them upside down if they don’t.” I reassured her while meaning everything I said, making her feel both panicked and happy at my concern.

“T-That’s not necessary!” She quickly interjected before gasping as she saw me laughing, pouting a moment later as she realized I was ‘joking’. “... I pity the girls you know, Mr. Michael… I wonder what they think about you sometimes.”

What they think, huh?

…

“He’s a fucking idiot.” - Hestia

“He’s a fucking idiot, like me!” - Tsukuyomi

“He’s amazing.” - Liliruca

“He’s amazing!” - Tiona

“I can fix him.” - Ryuu

“I can fix him!” - Lefiya

“He’s… perfect?” - Amaterasu

“He’s PERFECT!” - Freya

…

“... He’s mine,” Edias helpfully said while slipping her head out from my cloak. Haruhime squeaked in surprise, then quickly bowed her head, knowing who Edias was after I introduced her as my Guardian Spirit (not helping the image of a hero she had in her mind).

“L-Lady Edias!” Haruhime greeted shyly while bowing as Edias patted her head before moving back inside me.

{Took a liking to her, huh?}

[... Fox Girls are epic… I learned from the best…]

Excellent.

“I’m home,” I called out as the door opened without needing to touch it. I unashamedly stepped into my home with Haruhime behind me, and the sound of two individuals running towards me quickly graced my ears.

“Minion!” “Michael!”

Tsukuyomi and Miyu greeted me together before freezing as they spotted the girl hugging me from behind and hiding from their sight. It didn’t stop them from immediately recognizing her, though.

“H-Haruhime?” Miyu asked hesitantly while staring at the girl next to me, her eyes moving down and widening as she spotted Haruhime’s two tails rather than the one she should have.

“... M-Miyu,” Haruhime mumbled before immediately being swept into a hug by the older girl.

“Well, you did say that you knew where she was and planned to take her,” Tsukuyomi muttered thoughtfully as she approached the flustered fox girl, extending a hand to touch Haruhime’s cheek and inspect her face. “... You sure didn’t waste any time, though.”

“Couldn’t let her stay there any longer.” I smiled at the sight of the two girls hugging, catching Tsukuyomi’s look as she caught the lie in my words.

I could’ve let her stay there longer. I just didn’t want to.

“That so?” Tsukuyomi smirked once I raised an eyebrow at her before returning to Haruhime and squishing her cheeks. “I’m glad she’s safe now, at least. Ahem…”

Tsukuyomi cleared her throat before placing her hands on her hips and puffing her chest out.

“Now that she has been saved, I swear by my name as Tsukuyomi, Supreme Goddess of the Moon, that I will do everything I can to ensure her safety from now on!” She declared dramatically, raising her nose and patting Haruhime’s head, a smug smirk on her face.

“Uh-huh.” I stared blankly at her without giving her her desired applause.

“Huff… Hmph! Minion, you must enact my will now that I’ve sworn!” Tsukuyomi demanded, pointing her finger at me while still raising her nose. Her dramatic pose made it so she couldn’t see me as I approached and picked her up by the scruff of her neck. “Eek!”

“Miyu, I’m taking Tsukuyomi for a second. Take care of Hime for me for a moment.” I instructed Miyu while placing Tsukuyomi over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes, smiling as I saw Miyu stare at me with both obedience and gratitude.

“Yes, sir!” She pointedly looked away from her Goddess as she thrashed and pleaded for help from her.

“Let me down, minion! This position is humiliating for one such as me!” Tsukuyomi demanded while flailing her limbs around like a child, pouting as I ignored her and took her to an isolated side room. “Haah?? You beast! What do you intend to do to me in this room!?”

“Didn’t you offer me your body some time ago in exchange for Miyu’s freedom?” I raised another eyebrow at her, and Tsukuyomi blinked and paused momentarily, humming thoughtfully.

“True! Very well, this one shall grace you with her presence this once as thanks.” She nodded her head proudly before squeaking as I threw her onto the couch with an unamused face.

I was actually very amused, she just didn’t need to know that.

“I never said I was actually after that.” I rolled my eyes as she gasped scandalously as if my denial was heretical. “There’s something I need you to do before my Familia gets back.”

“Hmph… Denying the coveted body of this Supreme Goddess…” She mumbled angrily under her breath before running a hand through her hair dramatically. “Your loss! Anyways, what does my minion require of me?”

“I need you to stay at Takemikazuchi’s place for a few hours until my Familia heads to the Wargame.” I didn’t hide anything from her, finding no reason to be obscure.

“Oho?~” She blinked and tilted her head at me in confusion. “That should not be an issue, but may I ask why?”

“I don’t want them to know that I’m here yet. You, Miyu, and Hime would alert them of my presence.” I briefly explained the problem before elaborating as I saw her confusion. “The added pressure of my absence should help them grow during the wargame.”

Tsukuyomi blinked.

“You’re a bitch.” She stated blankly with dull eyes before they shined, a smirk replacing her blank expression. “I love it!”

“So?” I ignored her insult and remark in favor of hearing her answer as her smirk expanded, and she placed one leg over the other on the couch.

She’s really acting like I didn’t yeet her on it a minute ago.

“Hmph. Such a task is of no issue to one such as myself! Nice thinking, minion!” She leaned her head back and let out one of those ojousama laughs, completely ignoring the incredulity on my face.

[... She’s ‘special’…]

I think I like her.

[?????????]

Holy shit. Is this what I look like to Amaterasu? I doubt it’s to that extent, but she likes me for a reason, right?

[... I need an adult…]

I am… probably an adult in this world’s standard.

{Also, you’re several thousan-} A sharp pain in my gut stopped me from continuing that sentence. Message received.

“I’m assuming everything went well with Takemikazuchi and the few Familia members he left here?” I asked Tsukuyomi to make sure as she smugly nodded and crossed her arms. “Good. Choose a few of them to take you, Miyu, and Haruhime back to their place while the rest remain here to receive the others.”

“Normally, one such as myself does not take orders, but I will allow it this once!” Tsukuyomi hopped off the couch and sauntered over to me, the smirk on her face fading as she placed a hand on my shoulder to pull me down and whisper.

“Michael… Are you sure your Familia will do fine without you in the wargame?” She asked worriedly once I was within earshot of her whispers.

Is this what the kids call Gap Moe? Or is that a different thing?

“They’ll be fine. I raised those idiots.” I smiled and reassured her by patting her head as she flushed indignantly and pouted. “Plus, I’ll still be there even if I don’t inform them.”

“Ah! Hiding in the shadows to allow the youth to grow… You are indeed a cunning one, my minion!” Tsukuyomi’s face brightened up at my words, and she stepped away with pride, returning to her usual behavior now that she was reassured.

“I’ll also be chatting with Hestia to handle the game conditions without letting the children know,” I informed her as well to reassure her further as she nodded approvingly.

“It seems my minion has it covered already. Then I don’t need to advise you any longer.” Tsukuyomi smirked smugly and gave me several enthusiastic pats on the back before hopping towards the door, pausing right before she left. “... Don’t keep your Familia waiting for too long, though, Michael.”

“I won’t.” I nodded knowingly as she skipped away, watching her signature as she approached Miyu and Haruhime, who met up with Takemikazuchi and his kids, and began instructing and ordering them dramatically.

She’s handling her part of this. I’ll have to do the same, then.

…

…

[Hestia Familia Manor – Hestia POV]

Hestia groaned as she supported Bell through the door into their home, grumbling and glaring at the sheepish Hermes walking in front of her as she felt aches all across her body.

She told them! She told them all that her children would be juuuuust fine. But noooo, she apparently doesn’t understand the dangers of the deeper levels of the dungeon.

Bitch, please. THE DUNGEON ITSELF IS PART OF HER FAMILIA!

She withheld another grumble and allowed Bell to walk by himself as he stepped inside, followed by Lily, Welf, Lefiya, and the Takemikazuchi kids accompanying the group.

“Sleep.” Hestia’s eyes widened as the familiar back of her second child nonchalantly walked in front of her and spoke. All of the children immediately fell like puppets whose strings were cut, their bodies almost falling to the ground if not for an invisible force catching them. Her Familia Captain slowly turned around to look at her with a smile. “Been a while, pipsqueak.”

“MICHAEL!” She screamed in joy without caring if Hermes and his group saw her or not, lunging towards her child with all of her strength as his arms easily caught her.

“Oh? What’s this? Did my Goddess actually miss me during my absence?” He asked teasingly while running his fingers through her hair, untying her ribbons to allow her hair to fall to her back as the weight of her twin tails disappeared alongside all the stress she had accumulated during his absence.

Never again would she take all of the stress Michael handled on her behalf for granted. She never knew that Gods were supposed to handle all of that paperwork, but now she was eternally grateful that Michael never allowed her to undergo such torture. She only got a paper or two back when he was here…

That’s without mentioning all the problems that popped up in his absence. The world seemed so easy back when Michael would hear of a problem and immediately resolve it, yet she now knew that reality was not so kind.

Hestia barely held back tears as she felt her child’s arms wrapping around her, his unique physiology immediately sapping away the negativity that had been plaguing her for weeks and allowing her to feel free and unrestrained once again.

“How interesting… I thought I was your least favorite child, wasn’t I?” He teased her again as he saw her unkempt state, clearly trying to infuriate her so she didn’t feel bad.

He failed, for once. Hestia didn’t mind. Not anymore.

“I-I missed you… We missed you…” Hestia mumbled while hugging him tighter and holding back another sob. He didn’t respond, but she didn’t expect him to. He didn’t understand the effect his absence had on her.

He always spoke about how he expected her to be the pillar of their Familia, to act as their advisor and family… Yet she never realized that he was already that pillar for her and her Familia.

Despite his silence, the house was always louder whenever he was around. Whether it was Bell begging him for more stories of his otherworldly heroes, Lefiya asking him random questions about himself and training, or simply the soft hums he released while cooking for them in the kitchen.

Fuck, she missed Edias! The literal incarnation of the Dungeon, yet somehow a part of her home nonetheless.

Hestia was a step away from breaking down after all of the pressure she felt in the last two weeks.

“... It’s okay now, Hestia.” Michael eventually broke the silence, whispering reassuringly in her ear while patting her head. “I’m back. I’m here.”

Hestia didn’t know how much she needed to hear those words until that very moment.

She let out a soft breath before collapsing on Michael’s shoulder, the drain from the last few hectic hours and past two weeks catching up with her body now that she was undoubtedly safe.

Michael was right. In all of Orario, there was nowhere safer than by his side.

…

[POV Switch]

“Oh dear… It seems she fell asleep,” I noted with a blink as I felt Hestia dozing away on my shoulder. I couldn’t hold back the smile on my face as I felt the familiar warmth of my Goddess again, the comforting feeling of her domain of Family soothing me again for the first time in days.

“Well, isn’t this quite the pleasant surprise!” Hermes noted with an upbeat yet awkward smile as he stared at me, clearly very confused at how I had arrived here from the Far East.

He avoided my command because I stepped in front of him and Hestia, alongside Perseus (His captain, whose name I forgot), and… Ryuu.

“It seems my debt to you increases with every passing day, Ryuu,” I commented exasperatedly at the elf as she snapped out of the reverie she seemed to enter at the sight of me and blinked.

“... It was nothing. Your Familia would’ve handled things even if I wasn’t there. They’re… strong.” Ryuu shook her head and stared at the children peacefully dozing away behind me with a complicated gaze. “I’m almost envious.”

“You have nothing to be envious of. They have a long way to go before they can match you.” I chuckled at her words and stepped towards her, my eyes catching sight of a few bruises across her exposed arms below her cloak. “And you’re clearly lying. If the Goliath was strong enough to cause injuries like these to someone like you, I’m afraid of what it could’ve done to my Familia.”

Not that Edias would’ve allowed it to attack my kids with that much force. Enhanced monsters made using her special power are completely under her control, unlike normal run-of-the-mill monsters.

Ryuu stayed silent as I gently grabbed her hand with my glowing one, channeling my Reverse Cursed Technique through her as all of her injuries slowly faded.

I noticed a flush on her face as I held her hand, reminding me of a chat I had with Lefiya some time ago.

“... Ah. Elves have a thing against touching other races, right?” I asked exasperatedly while letting go of her hand as her injuries were fully healed. “Sorry about that… and about that one time.”

“Oh?~ That one time, you say?” Ryuu looked like she was going to respond, but Hermes cut in faster. The smirk on his face almost made me want to punch him.

“... It’s not a problem. Not with you.” Ryuu flushed a little at Hermes’s words and shook her head, freezing a moment later as she registered her words.

“Not with you, you say!?” Hermes’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates alongside his smirk. He was brought to his knees before he could comment as Perseus (I still don’t remember her name) pinched his waist harshly and began leading him away with a flush on her cheeks as well. “O-Ow, Asfi, please-”

I stared blankly at Hermes as he was pulled into the living room by Asfi towards where Takemikazuchi and the rest of his kids who didn’t go with Tsukuyomi were. A moment later, Take ran towards us with a hurried expression before pausing at the sight of his sleeping children.

“My apologies. I had to put them to sleep with my Familia so they could rest.” I apologized to Takemikazuchi while floating the children over toward him. He blinked at his floating children before smiling amusedly and shaking his head.

“It’s fine. They probably wouldn’t have rested if not for this anyway, so I’m thankful.” He admitted sheepishly.

“... Speaking of which, why did you make them sleep?” Ryuu asked, staring at the sleeping Hestia in my arms before turning to me, a small frown on her face. “I’d understand if you wanted them to rest, but you could’ve at least greeted them before putting them to sleep.”

I waited for Takemikazuchi to properly lead his floating children away before I replied, gently walking upstairs with my Familia hovering in front of me.

“I’m not letting them know that I’m back yet,” I explained, gesturing for her to follow. I then walked toward each of their rooms to tuck them in individually so they could rest properly.

“What? Why not?” Ryuu’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she watched me place Liliruca into her bed and pat her head with an RCT-infused hand before moving to the room across from hers to place Welf inside.

Damn, he has his own room. He really did join the Familia… Bell did Bell things and achieved one of my goals without even knowing it was one of my goals.

“... Because the wargame is the perfect time to facilitate their growth, especially after the Goliath.” I didn’t hide the reason from her and smirked as I saw her incredulous expression. “What? Is this not the perfect time for them to prove themselves in front of not just me, but even the Gods?”

“... That may be so, but they’ve already done enough fighting the Goliath, no?” She acknowledged with a nod before countering, a complicated frown on her face.

I took my hand away from Welf and stepped out of his room with Ryuu following behind, humming slightly at her words.

“... I can’t tell you why, but not quite.” I eventually shook my head and turned to her with an apologetic smile. “Bell and Hestia knew that they were never in any real danger inside the dungeon due to… certain conditions.”

That being, Edias. They may be confused about why Edias spawned the Goliath, but they shouldn’t have doubted that she would have saved them if things got out of hand.

Hell, I’m certain that Lefiya knows that this was a test from me. The smirk on her ‘slumbering’ face assured me of that fact.

“... I see.” Ryuu didn’t, but she knew there was something I couldn’t tell her because she wasn’t part of my Familia. I could feel that she was slightly hurt by my lack of trust, but it wasn’t easy admitting to her the reality of the situation.

Hey Ryuu, I actually kinda co-own the dungeon alongside… the dungeon, who is my wife/pet. So my Familia wasn’t really in any danger, they were just doing a little trolling!

Yeah, that’ll go well, I’m sure.

“You’ll understand eventually. I know we’ll get closer, and I’ll slowly reveal everything to you as we do.” I comforted her with a smile while finally moving towards Bell’s room, my smile softening even further as I floated Hestia out of my embrace for a moment to personally tuck him into bed.

He’s grown.

I’m proud.

My RCT-infused hand moved over his right eye, where he was once maimed by the Soma scum, and began healing his injuries while I watched over who I considered to be my little brother.

I missed them.

“T-That… Thank you.” Ryuu was slightly speechless at my words but didn’t refute them, turning away to hide the somewhat embarrassed flush on her face.

I brought Hestia back into my arms and chuckled slightly as she grumbled that she had lost my warmth for a few minutes. My gaze then moved to the last person I needed to tuck in.

Or, I would’ve if she was asleep.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice you were awake?” I asked the floating Lefiya while pinching her cheek as an atomic blush entered her face, her eyes quickly fluttering open alongside an ecstatic smile.

“S-Shishou!” She exclaimed happily without answering my question.

She immediately wrapped her arms around my neck, pushing herself into the side that wasn’t being occupied by Hestia to hug me without minding the fact that she was floating.

“Yes, yes. I’m back, Lefiya. Jeez, you’re acting like I was away for a month.” I sighed exasperatedly while suppressing a smile as she clung to me like a puppy, holding onto me like her life depended on it.

“... I-It felt like a whole month, Shishou.” She admitted quietly while burying herself into my chest, her mind completely overwhelmed with my presence to the point where she didn’t recognize the other elf in the room staring at her.

Does Ryuu think that Lefiya is a weirdo for being so eager to touch me? The fact that Ryuu was okay with holding hands was enough to make Hermes start wowing and whistling, yet Lefiya was quite literally clinging to me.

Ryuu was staring with slightly widened eyes and a huge blush, so that may be the case.

[... This mushy stuff is bleh… When do we go back… to killing people…]

{Oh shut up, you’re just as happy as I am to be back.}

Damn Tsunderes.

“I’m here now. I won’t leave again… and if I do, you’ll be able to come with me.” I reassured the shy elf in my arms as she gasped happily and stared at me cheerfully. “Oh yeah, I got a new student, by the way.”

I have never seen a face morph so fast in my life. My eyebrows rose to the fucking roof as I saw the chilling expression on her face, her face cold enough to freeze the entire room solid.

“... A new student, you say?” She spoke ominously with a tone that reminded me of Freya a week ago after she sensed that I lost my virginity to the fucking dungeon- to Edias. “Is it… a girl?”

Oh dear.

[... Adorable…]

Absolutely.

“Oh, yes. Two of them, actually.” I didn’t shy away from her cold expression as it intensified, barely holding back a smirk as I felt her emotions twist and flow with great turbulence. “They were both too cute, so I decided to steal them away from the Far East.”

“Cute?” Her words became even icier as she heard those words, her face darkening as the emotions flowing inside her increased faster and faster-

“... You’re cuter, though, Lefiya.” I interrupted her little spell by leaning down to her ear and whispering, immediately breaking her out of her trance as she squealed and immediately pushed herself back into my chest to hide.

Very adorable.

I sent Ryuu a smirk as I saw her staring at me silently, making her deadpan for a few seconds before quickly turning away as she failed to hide the furious blush on her face.

Is it really that surprising that I’m holding an elf so close?

“... Fuckin’... Manwhore…” Hestia mumbled under her breath while she was sleeping. I almost dropped her right then and there, if not for the sleepy yawn that followed soon after.

I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that.

“Anyways, we should probably leave before Bell wakes up. I believe you heard me when I said I wasn’t allowing them to know I came back before the wargame, right?” I instructed Lefiya while gently pulling away from her and walking to the door, pausing as she grabbed my arm and held it closely while nodding.

“Y-Yes, Shishou.” Her face tried to look serious, but she was still blushing in ecstasy after my earlier words.

Ryuu nodded quietly and followed me out of the room, closing it behind us as I led the two of them to my office.

My face paled for a second as I contemplated the possibility of Freya being there before I remembered that I could sense her presence if she was. I think my Freya PTSD might have intensified after that one time Hestia walked in on us.

Brr. Bad touch (wo)man.

Thankfully, I didn’t find a mischievous Lust Goddess disguised as a maid inside my office as I led the two elves inside. I placed the small Goddess in my arms on the special couch I installed in my office for her to sit on while I worked whenever she wanted to bother me.

I smiled softly as I saw a few plates and papers that weren’t present before I left, realizing she may have come here while I was away instead of her study.

“... What is it that we need to know?” Ryuu asked as I moved away from Hestia, understanding that I brought them to my office to speak about something important regarding the upcoming wargame.

“You’re taking part in the wargame, right?” I answered Ryuu’s question with another, and her eyes widened in surprise. Then she nodded. “Thank you. I know you’ve already done a lot for my Familia, but I’ll have to trouble you a bit more.”

“... It’s not an issue, Mr. Michael.” She slowly shook her head again, slightly dazed, before her eyes refocused on mine. “Though, there’s something I need to ask…”

Lefiya stared anxiously between us as we locked eyes, sensing an odd shift in the atmosphere.

“Michael…”

“How did you know that we were attacked by a Goliath in the dungeon?”

…

…

Helo. Shitty internet. I'm honestly half expecting for this chapter to fail to be posted thanks to how terrible my internet is.

Sorry for late post. Its Ramadan! Fasting and writing is hard. Who knew?

I know the poll said that next chapter has to be Dungeon, buuuuut it might be hard to write Dungeon again so soon (especially when I'm dying from Ramadan) so forgive me if I decide to go for a quick Pretender. 

Much love. Ramadan Kareem.