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Chapter 34: Burning Sun
Seeing Furina look as though she were showing off her most precious treasure, Ryu turned her gaze toward Aiden.
There was a hint of scrutiny in those clear eyes, but mostly politeness.
She nodded gently. "Hello."
"Hello, Miss Ryu," Aiden responded with a smile. "Thank you for taking care of my Goddess previously."
Beside them, Syr merely cast a casual glance at Aiden.
However, with just that one glance, her body paused almost imperceptibly.
Those spirited gray eyes seemed to have been pricked by something invisible, reflexively closing for a split second.
This extremely subtle movement did not escape Aiden's eyes.
He looked at Syr thoughtfully.
If he remembered correctly, the true identity of this gray-haired girl working as a waitress at the "Hostess of Fertility" pub was none other than the Goddess of Beauty—Freya.
And the Beauty God Freya possessed a "Divine Sight" that could see directly through the soul brilliance of lower-world mortals.
Was that subconscious blinking just now because she saw his soul's light?
Aiden couldn't help but feel a trace of curiosity.
He wondered what his soul looked like in the eyes of this Goddess of Beauty.
Having struggled to survive in his previous life—a world like a giant dyeing vat—he had witnessed too much of humanity's darkness and complexity. Even though his mindset had changed a lot due to various experiences in this world, he never considered his soul to be pure or dazzling.
Not being pitch-black was already something to be thankful for.
Although curious, he wasn't foolish enough to ask directly.
The Freya Familia was undisputedly one of the two pinnacles of modern Orario, a behemoth he absolutely could not afford to provoke right now.
The two sides chatted casually for a while longer.
Ryu was very concerned about whether Aiden was adjusting well to life as a new adventurer, as she had heard from Furina that the Focalors Familia had only been established recently.
Aiden politely thanked Ryu for her concern and stated that everything was going smoothly.
Afterward, since Ryu and Syr needed to get the supplies back to the "Hostess of Fertility" as soon as possible, they took their leave first.
Before leaving, Syr blinked her gray eyes and invited them in a lively, playful tone, "You must come sit at our pub when you have time. Ryu and I will treat you well."
Aiden smiled and nodded in agreement, indicating he would definitely bring his companions to visit.
Watching the retreating figures of Aiden and Furina, the lively smile on Syr's face slowly faded. Her gray eyes narrowed slightly, flickering with a profound light.
Like a... burning sun. That child is a bit dangerous, she thought to herself.
Just now, out of habit, she had subconsciously glanced at Aiden's soul light.
And then, she was scorched by that brilliance.
Her Divine Sight had seen through the souls of countless mortals.
Some were radiant, some dim and mottled, some colorful.
But she had never seen a soul like Aiden's.
It wasn't a light, but a fire—a mass of incomparably intense flame that seemed as if it wanted to burn the entire world to ash.
That fire was so domineering and violent that when her gaze touched it, her Divine Sight transmitted a burning, stinging pain, preventing her from seeing through the roaring flames to the true color of the soul's essence beneath.
She had seen too many soul lights of lower-world mortals, to the point of boredom.
But for the first time, she saw a soul like Aiden's, filled with aggression and an aura of danger.
Although she was a little tempted... for Ryu's sake, she abandoned the idea of snatching him away immediately.
After all, while Aiden's soul light was dazzling, the ego and dominance contained within it were not the kind of pure, transparent light she pursued—the kind she could sculpt at will.
Moreover, she didn't particularly like the sensation of being burned.
However, there was one thing she could be certain of.
This boy named Aiden would become very strong.
Just like that Prum 'Braver' from Loki's house. The same type of person, she mused.
They were the type who prioritized their own will and would absolutely not waver.
Although she gave up the idea of adding him to her collection, seeing such a unique soul light was already a great pleasure for her.
A satisfied smile rose once again on Syr's lips.
Under Ryu's slightly puzzled gaze, she skipped along, humming an off-key tune, her steps as light as a cat that had successfully stolen a treat.
—————
The encounter with Ryu and Syr was just a small interlude on this leisurely street.
Aiden and Furina continued their stroll.
After this conversation, Aiden realized belatedly that his seemingly lazy Goddess, who appeared obsessed with manga, novels, and sweets all day, had unknowingly built a social circle he knew nothing about.
And the breadth and depth of this social circle far exceeded his imagination.
As they walked along the old stone paved road of the Seventh District, Furina was suddenly attracted by a wooden sign painted with a sky-blue potion bottle hanging in front of a shop.
The shop wasn't large; in fact, it could be said to be somewhat dilapidated. The words "Blue Pharmacy" were carved on the lintel.
"Miach, I've come to see you!"
Furina's voice was crisp as a silver bell. She practically skipped into the pharmacy, completely devoid of the goddess airs she usually tried to maintain.
Aiden followed her inside.
A faint, slightly bitter fragrance mixed with various herbs wafted over.
The space inside the shop wasn't big. The medicine bottles on the shelves were arranged neatly, but many compartments were empty, silently speaking of the shop's financial difficulties.
Behind the counter, a young man raised his head at the sound.
He had long, smooth blue hair like fine silk and a pair of eyes as gentle as lake water. His appearance was as handsome as a noble son walking out of a classical painting, his temperament gentle and tranquil.
"Focalors, welcome."
Seeing the visitor, a genuine, soft smile appeared on Miach's face. "You look very energetic today too. And this is?"
His gaze fell on Aiden.
"This is my Familia's Captain, Aiden." Furina puffed out her small chest proudly, pushing Aiden forward.
"So you are the child Focalors often mentions."
Miach's smile was very kind. He looked Aiden over, then, as if thinking of something, turned and took out a few exquisitely made blue elixirs from under the counter.
"Since you are an adventurer, frequenting the Dungeon must take a heavy toll. Consider these elixirs a meeting gift from me."
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