"You... what on earth happened to you?"
Riveria, somewhat taken aback as well, set down the black tea in her hand.
Her gaze lingered for a moment between Loki's legs and the hand pressed to her lower back.
After all, even though Riveria had never taken a partner, as an adventurer who had lived for several decades she of course knew what it meant when a lone man and woman spent half an hour in a bathroom and came out afterward with aching backs and weak legs.
But Riveria immediately dismissed this absurd notion in her heart. After all. It absolutely had to be her own mind running off the rails.
No matter how she thought about it, Lord Loki and Lord Haimer would never so easily do that sort of thing.
And yet the wretched state Loki was in... was genuinely a little strange.
It made Riveria unable to help frowning as she asked, "Loki, what exactly happened to you?" "Ugh, don't even get me started."
Gritting her teeth, Loki shuffled with great difficulty over to the long sofa and flopped down with a thud, sprawled out spread-eagle, sucking in sharp breaths through her teeth.
"Hsss—hsss!!!"
"That guy Haimer is still exactly like he was back in the Heavens—he hasn't got the faintest idea how to be gentle with a delicate lady."
"All I did was think that raw incense stone Ais gave him a while back looked pretty interesting, so I went to ask him to hand it over so I could study it, that's all!"
Loki's face scrunched into a ball as she huffily rubbed the small of her back.
The moment these words came out.
Ais, who had been standing quietly off to the side, suddenly turned a faint, somber gaze toward Loki.
"So then?"
At this point Tiona leaned in, her wheat-colored face brimming with gossipy excitement.
"Lord Haimer didn't go and beat you up after hearing that, did he?"
"Exactly! He really did just shove me right into the water and give me a sound thrashing."
Pouring out her grievances, Loki looked at Tiona with a face full of injured indignation.
"Boo-hoo... pity these old bones of mine. Ever since coming down to the Lower World, all I do is drink and sleep—how long has it been since I last moved around this violently."
"That bastard, going on about how if I want something I have to beat it out of him—but he was clearly just taking advantage of the fact that he doesn't have to hold back the physique of this mortal body right now, beating me one-sidedly."
"Damn it all."
The more Loki talked, the angrier she got.
"Just you wait, this guy—sooner or later I'll find a chance to turn the tables on him."
After hearing out Loki's explanation.
They realized it had only been Haimer giving Loki a beating.
Regarding a brawl between gods, Tiona just clasped her hands behind her head and pursed her lips.
"Oh, so that's how it is."
"Then you really can't blame Lord Haimer for that."
"After all, that was obviously a gift Ais gave to Lord Haimer—Loki, how could you go and ask for it? And besides—"
"And besides..." Maybe Lord Haimer never thought of you, Loki, as a delicate jewel that needed tender handling in the first place."
"Tiona! Whose side are you even on?!"
Hearing these words.
Loki's face instantly flushed bright red; she snatched up a cushion from the sofa and hurled it forcefully at Tiona.
Tiona nimbly dodged to the side. "It's just the truth."
Tione followed up with another jab.
"Who told you to go provoke Lord Haimer." Just then. A set of steady footsteps came from the direction of the bathroom.
Haimer wore a loose bathrobe, carrying the air of someone who had stepped straight out of a myth, the kind that made it impossible to look away. However. Haimer paid it no mind; instead he glanced at Lefiya, who still lay sprawled spread-eagle at the other end of the long sofa with a smile still hanging on her face.
"It's getting late." Haimer looked toward Riveria.
"Why don't we just let Miss Lefiya stay here and rest for tonight." Haimer pointed toward the second floor.
"Although most of the guest rooms on the second floor have been given to Rei and the others, there are still one or two left empty. Let's move her up there to sleep, and decide what to do once she wakes tomorrow."
Hearing this, Tiona immediately nodded in agreement.
"I think that works—just let Lefiya stay here for the night, as long as Lord Haimer doesn't mind."
Tione chimed in from the side as well. "After all, in the state she's in now, if we really hauled her all the way back and she caught a cold wind on the road, she might not be able to get out of bed tomorrow." Riveria pondered for a moment.
Her gaze fell on Lefiya's face, dead to the world in sleep. "Still, no."
Riveria shook her head.
"We can't leave Lefiya here by herself. This place is absolutely safe, but if she wakes up tomorrow morning and finds none of us here—just her, alone in an unfamiliar place—given her personality, she's bound to panic."
"Then she can just sleep with me."
Ais suddenly raised a hand. Her long golden hair swayed slightly with the motion.
Her clear eyes looked at Riveria, then at Haimer.
"I'll stay and look after Lefiya."
"Forget it, Ais."
Hearing this, Tiona couldn't help but speak up.
"If Lefiya opens her eyes tomorrow morning and sees that it's you keeping watch at her bedside taking care of her, I bet she'd be so happy she'd faint dead away all over again—and then it'd really never end."
At these words, Ais tilted her head, seemingly not grasping what Tiona meant.
Riveria, for her part, let out a sigh.
"In that case, I'll be the one to stay and look after her."
Tiona and Tione exchanged a glance and both nodded—with Riveria here, it was indeed the most reassuring arrangement.
"I'll stay too."
Ais spoke up again, her tone somewhat stubborn. "I can take care of her too."
In truth, she simply didn't want to leave so early.
Riveria naturally saw right through Ais's thoughts, and helplessly reached out to gently pat Ais's shoulder.
"You've already spent a long time in the Dungeon today, and then fussed about all evening after coming back—you really ought to get some proper rest. Be good, and head back with Tiona and the others."
Hearing Riveria's words.
Ais pressed her lips together and, in the end, could only nod obediently.
With everything settled.
Loki stretched out a hand and laid it on Tiona's shoulder.
"Come here, give me a hand up."
Tiona sighed helplessly and stepped forward to prop up Loki's arm.
"Whose fault is it that you're always making Lord Haimer angry, Loki—this is purely something you brought on yourself."
"Whose side are you even on?" Hearing this, Loki couldn't help repeating the question once more, pinching Tiona's cheek in displeasure.
The group bid Haimer farewell and headed toward the entryway.
Though Loki was still muttering under her breath, she made no more fuss.
"Well then, we'll be off too, Lord Haimer~"
Seeing this, Tsubaki also took her leave alongside Hephaestus.
Haimer nodded, standing at the doorway, watching the group's figures vanish into the night. "Click."
Soon the front door closed. Shutting out the cool breeze of the early-autumn night. Quiet settled back over the manor.
Aside from Riveria, who had stayed behind.
Remaining in the hall at this moment were Amou Kirukiru, Kisara, the Holy Emperor, Onigawara Rin, and Kikakujou Mary.
As well as Lili; and Rei and the others, who sat quietly in the corner of the side parlor. The earlier liveliness seemed to have dispersed all at once. Haimer turned around.
He looked at the group of girls present. "All of you, get to bed early." "It's been a long, hectic day, and you've all had some drinks—get a good rest." The girls all nodded.
Amou Kirukiru, who had been running herself ragged lately, was likewise a little tired and let out a yawn; so, with one last glance at Haimer, she turned and went back to her own room.
Only Haimer and Riveria remained in the hall.
Along with Lefiya, still sleeping soundly on the sofa.
"Let's go." Haimer stepped forward.
Riveria bent down and lifted Lefiya up sideways into her arms.
The elf's light body was hardly heavy to her.
Haimer led the way ahead.
Heading up the wooden staircase toward the second floor.
The second-floor corridor was laid with thick carpet, and the sound of footsteps was completely absorbed.
Haimer pushed open the door of the second-to-last guest room at the end of the corridor.
The room was very tidy, the bed already cleaned spotless. Riveria carefully laid Lefiya on the bed and pulled the blanket over to tuck her in. Then. Once Riveria had finished all this, she straightened up.
And turned to look at Haimer.
The Magic Stone lamp in the room gave off a soft glow that fell upon Haimer's flawless face, in which not a single imperfection could be found. "Thank you, Lord Haimer."
Riveria said softly.
To this, Haimer said nothing more, merely giving a slight nod.
"Rest soon. Good night, Miss Riveria."
"If you need anything, come find me anytime—I'll be in the master bedroom at the other end of the corridor."
Having gently finished his instructions, Haimer didn't linger any longer, and turned to walk out of the guest room.
The sound of his footsteps grew fainter down the corridor.
Riveria, meanwhile, stood behind the half-closed door, her gaze following the crack and fixed on Haimer's retreating figure until it disappeared around the corner. She stood there for a long while.
After all. At this moment.
As a member of the elven royal family acknowledged to possess exceptionally high wisdom, Riveria's heart was now churning with a great many questions.
Today she had observed very carefully.
Namely, the monsters Haimer had brought up to the surface.
They seemed to get along quite naturally with the girls of the [Haimer Familia].
This point sparked enormous curiosity in Riveria.
Because over the course of these few encounters.
Those monsters not only had names and emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and delight—but even understood human etiquette.
The deeper Riveria's contact with them went, the more incredible she found it. After all.
As a veteran adventurer, the monsters she had encountered were beyond counting.
But as for Rei and the others.
If she closed her eyes and didn't look at the inhuman parts of their bodies, Riveria felt she might genuinely come to believe they were living, breathing human girls.
It was utterly insane. What concerned Riveria even more was the topic Haimer had deliberately gone into the bathroom alone with Loki to discuss.
On the gods' chessboard, what exactly was being schemed?
At this thought, Riveria couldn't help letting out a soft sigh.
"I hope no trouble comes of it."
Perhaps the aftereffects of those few cups of fruit wine tonight were catching up with her; Riveria gently shook her head, finding that her thoughts kept drifting irresistibly into deeper places.
So as not to disturb tonight's sleep.
Riveria had no choice but to press her thin lips together, draw her gaze back from the corridor, gently close the door, and press those tangled thoughts down to the bottom of her heart for the time being.
She pressed the Magic Stone switch on the wall.
Letting the room sink into darkness.
Meanwhile. Inside the master bedroom. On the broad cloud-silk cotton bed.
Haimer, however, was not there.
Instead it was Hestia, who had washed up early and wore a thin spaghetti-strap nightgown.
She lay sprawled spread-eagle in the very center of the bed, her two slender arms hugging a pillow that carried Haimer's scent.
After last time, when they had shared a bed.
Hestia had built up just a little bit of nerve.
Tonight she had deliberately rushed up early to lie down.
Her original plan was that when Haimer came in and saw her, he would surely sigh helplessly and then lie down beside her.
That way, she could smoothly keep sleeping here, and prevent Amou Kirukiru from seizing a future chance to launch a night raid on Haimer—
But as it turned out.
Probably from running around after Haimer all day, plus eating too much at dinner.
Hestia's eyelids soon began to droop and fight; once her upper and lower lids stuck together, they wouldn't part again. "Hai... mer... ah... mm... hah~"
"Snore~"
Before long, Hestia murmured, and the even sound of her breathing drifted out from under the covers. "Click." And it was a moment later that the door was pushed open.
After Haimer left Riveria's side and walked into the room.
He saw at a glance Hestia, with one long leg still draped conspicuously outside the covers.
Her drool was nearly dripping onto the pillow she hugged to her chest.
Her sleeping posture could only be called utterly undignified.
Watching this scene, the corner of Haimer's eye gave a twitch.
This girl really was exploiting the fact that she was the Goddess of Virginity, banking on his principle of never violating her vow of chastity, and brazenly treating his bed as her own.
At this thought, Haimer, speechless, walked over, gripped Hestia's ankle, and stuffed the exposed leg back under the covers.
Then he pulled the corner of the blanket over and tucked it in.
Just as Haimer stood by the bedside, wondering whether he should pinch this girl's nose while he was at it and teach her a little lesson.
Suddenly. From out in the corridor came a faint set of footsteps. Haimer turned his head to look. And saw.
A small figure had appeared at the edge of the doorframe. Long silver-white hair cascaded down over her shoulders; Inaba Tsukuyo wore a slightly oversized nightgown, her bare feet planted on the carpet.
"Kami-sama."
Inaba Tsukuyo said softly.
Haimer turned to face her, looking at the slight-figured, blind girl who stood there like an exquisite doll.
Because he knew clearly that the words Loki had used in the bathroom to probe whether he would leave had, without a doubt, fallen word for word into Inaba Tsukuyo's ears.
Haimer was also acutely aware of the purpose behind Inaba Tsukuyo coming to find him so late at night.
She was, after all, a child. Toward the god she yearned for most in her heart, the one who had pulled her out of her self-doubt.
Inaba Tsukuyo, in the end, couldn't keep it bottled up.
"Kami-sama..."
"Will you... abandon us?"
And so. Inaba Tsukuyo stood there and bit her lower lip.
Hearing this, Haimer helplessly stepped out of the master bedroom.
He reached out, gently gripped the solid-wood door handle, and pulled the door shut, sealing off the sound of Hestia's snoring inside the master bedroom. The wall lamps in the corridor gave off a warm yellow light.
Haimer walked up to Inaba Tsukuyo and bent down slightly.
Gently stroking the top of her head.
Inaba Tsukuyo instinctively flinched.
But soon she relaxed completely, like a cat that had strayed for a long time and finally found its master, and even nuzzled up against his hand of her own accord.
"You mustn't carelessly believe what Loki says."
"Although I have my own purpose here in the Lower World, at least until I've seen you all grow fully, until you possess the strength to face every storm in this world—"
Haimer stroked along Inaba Tsukuyo's hair.
"—I will absolutely never leave you."
As Inaba Tsukuyo listened to these words.
Her tightly pressed lips loosened slightly.
But in her heart, Inaba Tsukuyo understood very clearly.
That these words of her god did not, in fact, directly answer her question.
What the god meant was that when they no longer needed protection, the god would leave.
There was clearly something off about this.
Sensitive as she was, Inaba Tsukuyo perceived the expiration date hidden behind that promise.
Yet she didn't dare show it.
She cherished her god's caress.
And she knew all too well her own standing—that to receive her god's present favor was already a miracle she could scarcely dare hope for. And so. Inaba Tsukuyo tilted her head up slightly; though her eyes could not see, she was certain she was gazing at Haimer's face. "Kami-sama." "Tonight..."
"Could you stay with Tsukuyo?" "Of course. Anytime at all."
"Let's go." "Back to your room."
Haimer reached back and took hold of Inaba Tsukuyo's wrist, gently pulling her along as he turned and walked toward the other end of the corridor.
Inaba Tsukuyo followed obediently behind Haimer; in this moment her heartbeat seemed to quicken half a beat, and her steps on the carpet suddenly grew much lighter.
Inaba Tsukuyo's room was located toward the middle of the second floor.
So before long. Haimer pushed open the door and led her inside.
The room had no lights on. After all, for Inaba Tsukuyo, in the dark of night, whether the lights were on or off made no difference to her at all.
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