Asahi scoured the 59th floor for any traces left by the corrupted spirits. Other than a pile of magic stones of high quality and opened cages, he found nothing. It seemed that the virga caterpillars were imprisoned in these cages.
He returned to the 58th floor where Finn's party was waiting for him.??
"You don't wanna go down?" Tiona asked as she hit Asahi's shoulder. "You sure?"
She was still adamant about exploring the 60th floor with him. Even Ais stared at him, a little fearful of Riveria's wrath. Riveria had patiently explained the dangers to stop Ais from requesting Asahi's help.
"Nope," he rejected. "I'll go alone later."
Or with his women. They didn't need to know about that.
"Without me?" Alise pinched his sleeve. "You can't abandon me like this."
With puppy eyes, she glanced up at him. She had been a level 5 for half a year without much growth. But this trip had opened a new path for her. The path to annihilate monsters while leaving her defense to Asahi. He didn't seem troubled at all by the task, so she might as well use the strategy to close the gap with Saeko and others.
'That's what I call a perfect team.'
"We'll decide later," he said and slapped her back.
'Klyscha.'
(Will do!)
Grayfia appeared just like last time and formed a magic circle. Asahi suppressed the bubbling affection for the maid and stepped into the circle with everyone.
And they returned.
Asahi took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of the trees. "Better."
"My Lord?"
Grayfia was a little confused by his outburst. He answered her with a tight hug, caressing her soft hair with his cheeks. "Your scent makes me feel at home… Grayfia, let's return."
"It was only a day… My Lord."
Grayfia felt her cheeks heating up from his affection.
"One day is a lot, you know!"
Everyone except Ryuu and Alise quietly left. Though they wanted to thank him for the expedition, it was better to let him spend time with his maid right now.
Alise awkwardly scratched her head, watching him embrace another woman.
'I don't feel anything.'
Asahi observed her confused expression from the corner of his eyes. Ryuu still stood for the meantime, her face revealing no particular emotion.
"We can do it later," Grayfia said, pushing him back. "You should eat something."
"Sure."
"Ummm, Grayfia-san?"
Grayfia turned around with her hands on her lap. Alise's bashful approach was suspicious.
"I," Alise stuttered a little and stared at Asahi. "I can't… Please tell her."
Asahi stood beside Alise and wrapped his arm around her waist. "As you can see, Grayfia. She is mine now."
Alise gulped, her heart hammering in her ears. Contrary to her expectations, Grayfia just smiled.
"So it happened. Shiori was right about my lord capturing you this time," Grayfia muttered as she turned to Ryuu. "What about you?"
Ryuu shook her head. "…No."
Her brief answer came as no surprise. Though her small blush was apparent to the three people around her. Asahi couldn't help but wonder what kind of delusions were going through the blonde elf's head.
'Should I wait for Loki?'
He shook his head. The goddess might be busy taking reports from her Familia.
Asahi returned to the door of the stardust garden and gently knocked. The door opened, and a brightly smiling Astraea.
"Welcome!"
'I knew this approach would make her happy.'
Astraea pulled Asahi to the meeting room and made him sit. In her burst of happiness, she didn't notice the unusually silent Alise. Standing near the table, the redhead was struggling to speak a word. Asahi's words couldn't free her consciousness from guilt.
"Astraea, your wish," Grayfia said, smirking at Alise. "Has come true."
"What do you—" Astraea paused and looked at Alise. A gasp left her mouth as she realized the meaning behind Alise's red face. "Alise, you?"
Alise replied with a barely noticeable nod. "…Yes. Astraea-sama, I'm s—"
"That's wonderful," Astraea said, giving a soft smile. "I was hoping you stopped suppressing your feelings and pursued your happiness. How was it? Did he bully you too much after?"
Astraea's barrage of questions overwhelmed Alise. Feeling Astraea's genuine care, Alise couldn't stop the happiness from pulling up her lips. "He bullied me… spanked my—"
Seeing Asahi's grin, Alise put an end to her complaints and turned to Ryuu. "You wanna say something?"
She shifted the topic to Ryuu's silence. Astraea narrowed her eyes on the blonde elf. "Ryuu, you also like—"
A loud noise interrupted the conversation. Soon, the culprit revealed itself, none other than the trickster goddess. Beaming with joy, she skipped to Asahi's table and wrapped her arms around his neck. Astraea watched with wide eyes as Loki showered kisses on his hair.
Loki rubbed her chin on his head. "You did it, boy! My Familia is the second to reach the 59th floor. Astraea, thank you."
"You should thank him," Astraea shook her head. "I didn't do anything in the dungeon."
"Ah, dun be shy. Ya seduced him into your Familia. Cause of yer virgin charm, he met me."
Asahi hit Loki's chest with the back of his head and pushed her hands. "Virginity is overrated."
Virginity changed absolutely nothing about a woman's worth. Even a prostitute could have the heart of gold, and a virgin lady could bear a poisonous mind.
Loki looked down, a grin on her face. "I agree on that."
Loki pulled herself away and sat beside him. Grayfia kept staring at Loki, receiving a cheeky smile from the goddess.
"Ya want me?"
"No."
"So cold~. My heart cracked open."
Asahi ignored the goddess and looked at Ryuu, who sat at the corner of the table, cupping her face in her hands. Noticing him, she coughed and squeezed out a smile.
"I'll get some snacks for everyone."
'She escaped.'
Asahi shook his head. Loki began questioning why he stopped the expedition. She had heard it from her Familia, but she wanted his opinion on the danger level beyond the 59th floor.
"Your Familia won't survive without a solid plan," he honestly stated. "The corrupted spirit has made her move. You should wait until I kill it."
He was going to encounter the spirit at some point. After all, he had every intention to conquer the dungeon and see the dungeon master with his eyes. With all the deities and adventurers hyping the dungeon as a mother, how could he not be curious?
Loki gave a heavy sigh. "I think so too. But Finn wants another attempt. This time without ya."
"You will let Ais go there?" Asahi said with a frown. "She can't handle the spirit."
"Ya should go with her," Loki said, spreading her arms. "I'll give ya anything in return."
"What can you—"
Loki shushed him with a finger on his lips. "Even me and my support."
With a proud grin, she offered herself in exchange for his help. The deal was only about him transporting her Familia. Nothing more, nothing less. Yet, she was dying to break Zeus's records, dying to rub her achievement in Hera's face, dying to carve her Familia name in golden letters for the future generation. As a goddess and a woman, she had sensed Asahi's interest in her. Even if she wasn't a goddess of beauty, she had confidence in her face.
'He won't reject me.'
Asahi stared at Loki. Her ambition to surpass Zeus and Hera drove her nuts. This desperation was out of her character.
He lightly bit her finger. "Not interested."
The rejection froze Loki's grin. "Why?"
"Not interested in doing sexual favors," he said with a shrug. If he was going that route, he could've approached every goddess with the offer to lend his strength. No goddess in her sane mind would reject the strength he represented.
Astraea and Alise looked at each other and smiled. If he were to agree, Astraea would have felt disappointment in silence but Alise would've preached him over his lust.
Loki stared at him as though assessing the weight of his words. She released a sigh and nodded her head. "I misjudged yer character."
Her impression of him was skewed. Asahi in her eyes was lecherous, who wouldn't hesitate to pounce on any beauty.
'He rejected Ishtar…' Loki scratched the back of her head. 'I made a mistake in haste. It's cause of his stupid charm.'
She felt like her decisions were influenced by him. She headed out of the manor with the intention to give him support or normal favors instead of becoming his woman. However, she became too reckless in front of him, throwing an offer to lower herself.
'I exploit other's weaknesses, not reveal my own!'
She couldn't help but smile awkwardly at her blunder.
"Sorry..."
Her apology stunned Asahi more than her abrupt offer.
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