At Night in the White Falcon Party's Base, the boys are whispering to each other. They aren't whispering about the strongest weapons, armors, accessories, nor hottest girls in the kingdom like usual. They are whispering about today's battle and Haru who punished of both Robert and Rania mercilessly.
"Psstt…hey Arnold, Kaichou is really merciless this day, am I right?" Toval whispered to Arnold.
"Heck yeah, he scolded Robert for two heverra nonstop and did you see what the girls do to Rania?"
Since Rania is an Arachne, the girls forced her to bathe in hot spring for a long time and they also forced her to drink coffee. Rania was drunk and started to attacks the girls but they stopped her and do some unexplainable things to her. Meanwhile, the boys sit in silent around the campfire in the main hall because they don't want to get involved with "that".
They ignored the "heavenly scenery" and noises in the next room and they chose to focus eating marshmallow, grilling chicken, and drinking coffee while talking about something else to make their mind and ears busy. But that "heavenly" scenery and noises in the next room is irresistible until the boys clench their hips tightly except Toval, who stood and brace himself to take a peek in the next room.
He walks quietly to the next room, trying to take a peek from a door that slightly opened. But before even reaching the door, a claymore along with three greatsword and two zweihander's pierced the door from inside and almost pierced his balls, neck, hands, and legs.
"Oh my…it seems someone wants his banana got snip-snip, greased with margarine and fried into Karaage…"
As Luna's intimidation voice came out from inside the room, Toval's face turned pale and he ran back to the main hall. Looking and hearing at that, all the boys and girls laughed hard until it made Toval embarrassed.
"Ugh, scary, scary! The girls are scary! I swear that I don't want to get on their bad side."
"Most likely, you are the first one among us who will definitely get on their bad side, playboy…"
"Hey I'm not a playboy! I just randomly flirting with the girls and I—"
"That's a playboy, stupid." Arnold stared at Toval with annoyed expression.
"By the way, did you see Robert, Arnold?"
"I heard Leader punished him by ordering him to create ten new tunnels on this cave and two watchtowers outside. After that, Leader called Robert wives via [Divine Call] and they scolded him for a heverra nonstop."
"Damn…" Toval shook his head.
Meanwhile, when Arnold and Toval as well the rest of the boys were busy whispering to each other, Haru called other parties' leaders with [Divine Broadcast] and started a meeting with them. Mostly, they want to discuss about today's incident, construction progress and tomorrow's battle.
"Damn I was surprised back then, when we arrived there, hundreds of monsters attacked us. Moreover, there were ten of "them". I recall your party was the one who subjugated "them", wasn't it?" asked Zack.
"Yeah, we fought against "them" and killed "them". Robert also defeated "that flying thing" who had level around 600. That was crazy, wasn't it?"
"Dang, he did it alone?" Zack said that with disbelieve expression.
"Yeah, by rapid attacks until his Mana and Stamina almost depleted."
"He was lucky, Ishizaki-dono. It seemed like almost all of his attacks were landed in [Critical Hit]."
"Yep, you are right Kenzia-dono. Leaving that aside, did anyone here find out where the Guild Master is?"
"I still couldn't find him." Said Naval with worried voice.
"Where the hell that loud man's whereabouts is? Did the Demon get him—FUNYA?!"
"…Ow…ow…ow, why do you smack my head Rudolph-chan?!"
"Do not make a joke on meeting, you stupid Leader…." Rudolph's glare made Viorelle scared to boot.
"Alright, we will keep searching for him. Oh right, how's the construction?" Then, Nan drank his coffee.
"It's going smoothly. The construction teams said that they would go all out to complete this before tomorrow morning. Oh right, I have sent few of my party members as guards and scouts." said Zack.
"Me too, I have sent my men to there. Oh, I have been long thinking this, but why there is a high-ranked dungeon that appeared out of nowhere near the ruined village?"
"I guess that ruin is a natural dungeon that was born by demonic energy. That was an unexplored dungeon before Alberto-dono came. But it has a hidden quest to replace normal dungeon's boss with the high-ranked one. Color me surprised, Frantoire-dono." Said Nanderioelle with serious expression.
"…or that place wasn't a dungeon before, just a ruin of ancient civilization deep inside the hill. But because we triggered the quest by talking with that ghost, that place suddenly became a dungeon."
Every party's leaders agreed with my idea since it's the most reasonable one. There is no way a small village can endure monsters' attacks that appeared from the dungeon. Moreover, how can they defend against the monsters in the first place with that thin wall? Since a dungeon, normally spawn infinite monster day and night. After that, we had long discussion about tactics again and we agreed to come back the day after tomorrow at 9 A.M.E.
We also agreed to dispatch scouts as observers tomorrow to observe the spots near the dungeon as anticipation. I asked all my party members to gather herbs, making potions, and maintaining our weapons and armors as I walk to the bedroom but when I reached there, I found Toval is crying by unknown reason while Arnold and Erick laughed over him. Well, as usual I just ignored him and headed to my bed. As I lay down on my bed, I hope Rania doesn't jump into my bed and break my bones like before.
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After the [White Falcon] Party's Leader fell into deep slumber of fleeting imaginary world, Robert and Rania climbed the cliff near the party's base and they sit there, while watching the Skoll that gracing them with its gentle light and the stars who showing them the rivers of universe. They also wear warm clothes and jacket who will protect them from the evil cold of Gaia's breathe in this cold momentary darkness. Robert lays down on a cold rock and stretching his back with relaxed expression as if he has released from chains of the world.
"Hmm…it seems you are in good mood now look at your expression. I bet you got a call from your wives?"
"Yep, I'm glad and feel relaxed after I saw them in good health and heard their noisy voices, though I don't want to meet them like that. How wicked of you, thanks nee-chan."
"Ufufufu…I was just making the situation better, you're welcome by the way."
"Heh, "make better" your ass, they were really angry at me before." Robert shook his head.
"Ufufufu…serves you right. Oh right, this is just my curiosity but…do you really love your…wives?"
After Rania said that, Robert's expression suddenly turned into either confused, depressed…yet sad. He turned his body to left, backing Rania as he took a deep breath and sighed. Looking at that, Rania quickly covered her mouth with her hands, as a sign of regret.
"Oh, sorry Robert-chan. I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine. Honestly, I'm also confused myself, whether I love them or not. Sigh…both of my marriages to them were just coincidence, stirred by nasty politic and "fate" written by The Maker Himself. But… I found no single falsehood from the way they talk to me and treat me…ummm…they do desire neither my foster father's money nor relations, but their only desire is I and I alone. I believe a pure love do exist, since if they don't, my mother will surely throw me away on the street after she gave birth to me. But I don't believe such two mere political marriages have a "pure love" inside it. If I'm wrong here, I wonder if I can return their honest and pure feeling to them or…or I can just secretly hurt them, while showing a fake smile."
Rania sighed, "My, my…Robert-chan…I can see clearly both Mira-chan and Fiel-chan are great women and you are very lucky to have both of their hearts. But seriously you are saying that despite you have already married with them? You sure such a silly person, Robert-chan."
"Honestly…I don't want to get married…at 16, which is my first marriage with Mira. My marriage with her was that shota and that shitty Empress doing…while Mira herself was the one who begged the Empress to let her marry me, as one of the requirements if someone wants to become one of the head priests in the great temple. But, when I asked Mira about this, I expect she would avoided my question by saying, "I don't know" or "What are you talking about?" but she answered my question honestly until she prostrated before me, begging me to forgive her and protect our marriage who still young at that time. I didn't expect that turn of event, but my feeling to her becomes mixed up until now…whether I can truly love and care for her or run away from her like what I'm doing until now."
Rania stay silent and walk closer to Robert. She sits on the rock that Robert used to lay down and she rubs his head. Meanwhile, Robert just closed his eyes and enjoying Rania comforting him.
"What about Fiel-chan? Could you tell me?"
"Fiel…hmm…she is just stupid. Well, I can't believe she wanted to commit suicide just because I marry Mira rather than her. Fiel is a genius, talented woman that maybe only born every 1.000 Eelvariash or…I don't know. She is the daughter of Queen Azalia's advisor and tactician that has a bright future and can swing any man she likes. But why did she choose me, a penniless orphan without upstanding background who just happened to be adopted into a Duke family in Northlandia? What makes her wanted to commit suicide just because I didn't marry her on that time. What is special about me? Handsome? Tall? White Skin? Amber eyes? Sharp nose? I have pointed ears? I have cool hairstyle? Elf? High Fertility Rate? You can find plenty others who are the same or even better than me in any other Elven Kingdom in this world. I—"
"Robert-chan…that's called "love". You can't understand it with your logic and mind, but with your heart."
Robert is taken aback after hearing Rania's words. He stares at Rania with his open eyes widely before he closed them again while smiling happily. A tear flows out from his right eye and Rania quickly wiped it with her hand.
"…Love…is it? Is there something…from me…worth…to be…loved?" Robert said that with sorrow in his voice.
"There are, a lot even. You can't realize it by yourself just because you are so dense, fufufu." Then, Rania rubs his head gently while poking his cheek. Meanwhile, Robert is enjoying that and smiling happily.
"Hear me Robert-chan, when a woman fell in love with someone, she will do anything to get her loved one, even if it seems unreasonable. For example, Ayumi-chan. Well…she…I mean her personality changed drastically because Haru hates a woman who has "princess-like" character…"
"Hmm? Did Ayumi nee-chan really change her personality? I can't see any difference from her since young…"
"Well…umm…honestly I do pity Haru-chan because he decided to propose…her. I hope he won't make…eh."
"It seems you are hiding something from me, nee-chan." Robert is looking at Rania with curious expression.
"A-a-a-ah-ahahahaha! Just forget what I said, Robert-chan! Promise me that you will love them, okay?! This also includes your wives in the future! Maybe you will have ten more wives in the future, who knows? Ahahahaha…"
"Hey, I don't have any intentions to add more woman as my wife. Having two wives have made my head spinning already but ten more?! Seriously, you are joking…and you still haven't answered my question, nee-chan."
"Ma…It's night already! Hoam, I'm so sleepy, bye!" Rania waved her hand as she jumped down from the cliff.
"Eh, wait, wait nee-chan!" Robert reached out with his hand but he is too late.
(Mira and Fiel…I do feel guilty that I trick them with fake love up until now, guess I will try…) Robert thought that deep inside his heart while gazing and wishing at the shooting stars that appearing in the beauty night sky.
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On the morning next daesh, exactly at 7.45 A.M.E in the forest south of the [White Falcon]'s Basecamp, eight girls are picking herb plants, mushrooms and fruits. They have been foraging from 5.30 A.M.E to avoid encountering dangerous beasts. They had planned beforehand to return to base around 8.00 A.M.E to start making potions and magical accessories.
Mainly, the girls picked up common until rare herbs that grow abundant near lake, river and hidden grottos. Well, those herbs normally can't grow in the spots near kingdom or rural town because they do need to absorb a lot of natural mana from magical leylines that spread over Gaia.
These leylines normally rich and abundant of pure nature energy if there is no populace live around them. If there is, a town or big city that built on top of these magical leylines, they will absorb the natural mana for their everyday activity and make these magical leylines grow thin, so the beasts and herbs can't live or grow normally on there.
Luna stretches her hand, "Haah…I'm tired, and we have been gathering these things since early morning…"
"Sigh….Move your hands, not your mouth Luna-chan."
"Leave that aside, Ayumi-san do you know where the Guild Master is?"
"I don't. The Guild Master is separated from us when that stupid Demon attacked us."
"That's one thing, oh I found you [Hirize Mushroom]!" Said Yuna happily while picking a mushroom.
"It's almost eight. Alright, let's go back everyone!" Hime waves her hand then she walks together with Ayumi.
When the girls entered the base, the boys have been skinning the animals and some of them are busy creating potion. Few boys were watching Erick making a potion and they praised him about his skillful hands that can make potion very fast.
Looking at that, Luna wants to be praised by everyone, especially Erick about her foraging result by showing off the rare herbs that she picked and brought from forest but Erick shows no interest on it and he just coldly asked her to put the herbs on table. Luna gets pissed off after Erick said a word of gratitude with mocking tone when she asked him to say it. If there's no Arnold and the Dwarves here, maybe a bloody fight will happen.
Seeing them, Khazim is laughing hard at them while holding his hammer but unfortunately, the hammer fell on his foot. It makes him scream in agony and everyone in the room laughed at him. Meanwhile, Ayumi approached to the boys who have been skinning the deer. She watched them carefully.
"Nee-chan, what's wrong?" Robert hangs the unskinned deer upside down.
"May I try to skin them, Robert-kun?"
"Huh, you want to skin them? Normally, a girl wouldn't want to try this. Here, takes this dagger."
Robert teaches Ayumi how to skin an animal but she failed many times that she ruined the meat. But she kept trying until she can skin them perfectly. She stopped when she reached a part near the deer's crotch and mumbling something.
"…imagine if this…Haru-san's…thing…then…he cheats…catch him…tie him…and…."
"What's wrong nee-chan?" Robert walked to her.
"Oh, I know!" She continues to skin the deer "around that area". When she reached "that thing", she ripped it and crushed it. She does this with a wide smile in her face. The boys who see that suddenly covered their crotch with their hand.
(Holy shit, that was fucking brutal Ayumi nee-chan. Wait, I remembered what Rania nee-chan said yesterday…)
Robert quickly glances at Rania but she keeps glancing away while whistling as if nothing happened. She plays dumb and slowly walking back to the main corridor. She is quickly running away when Robert approaches her and looking at that, he chases her to the corridor. At another place, Haru shuddered and suddenly grabbed his crotch unintentionally while feeling scared all of sudden.
A moment after that, a call from Zack suddenly came inside his head and made him surprised that he fell from his chair. He answered the call as he rubs his waist and Zack informed him the raid battle today is postponed due to wall from fifth until seventh floor collapsed. He told him that they could do the raid battle tomorrow. Then, Haru closed the call and walked out from his room.