.
.
.
----------------
"If you want to pick a fight, be a man and say it to my face." Bete said as his expression turned serious
'He exuded a certain pressure, it was the killing sense of a wild beast… A Demi human… A Level 5 Demi-Human pressure…'
'A Werewolf no less, one that grew amidst bloodshed with an ever increasing desire for power…'
'One that does not recognize the weak, only the strong.'
"Pick a fight? Are you serious?" Silver asked with a frown
I would like to but this is not the time.
"I'm already aware of why you're here, so I won't beat around the bush… Still."
"You're currently in my house, inside my office… It was already a lot when you spoke rudely with my goddess, broke my door, and tried to punch me in the face, and now, you're trying to pull me into a fight?"
'Bete just remained there, gazing at Silver.'
'Despite his immense anger, he still held himself on account of his Goddess wishes and orders, he is rash, but not completely irrational.'
'However, Bete would continue to push... Push as much as he could until this man in front of him bent, allowing him to finally beat him up... Or so were his delusions.'
'The man in front of him was more patient than he thought.'
"He's right Bete, just chill out and have some respect." Loki said as she pointed at the chair
Before I make you!
"..."
'But Bete only smiled.'
"Respect? Are you telling me to respect this twerp? A newbie that has barely even explored the Dungeon?"
'He looked at Silver and showed his sharp teeth in a wide 'smile' as he gazed at Silver.'
"He doesn't deserve it."
"EEK!" Lefiya said as she hid her head behind the couch, the pressure exuded by Bete at this moment was a bit too much for her to bear
'Deeming her meek personality, this stimulus was a bit too much for her... Even her could tell that both Silver and Bete were starting to lose their patience.'
"Bete…" Tiona said with a frown, already seeing that things were scaling down really quickly
'Tione shook her head, she had predicted this outcome from the very beginning, but in a sense, she was curious as to see what would happen.'
'Of course, if Bete were to go out of line, she would the be the first to discipline him... In the name of her Captain, who would've done the same, of course.'
'Hestia looked at Silver with worried eyes, she didn't know what to say. She was upset of course, but she could feel the sorrow and anguish in this child's heart, this rudeness was supported by something... Immense grief, hidden deep within.'
'Loki's eyelids twitched, she knew she shouldn't have brought him, she wanted to ask Silver some questions, but if a fight were to start and if he ended up being beaten up, how was she supposed to ask for his cooperation?'
'It would be shocking if he was still willing to talk with them at all…'
"Fine. Not like I need your respect, but so what? If fighting me is the reason you came here, then you may as well leave." He said as he pointed at the door
I have no time and my desire to fight him has dwindled, his act is simply that pitiful for me.
'His expression was dark, he knew Bete had a rough personality and that the way they met wasn't ideal, but his patience had limits.'
'In fact, if it wasn't for their difference in Level, Silver may have started a fight long ago to show the Werewolf what he was capable of.'
'Did this mean he was scared? Not quite, he simply felt that it would be an inconvenience for both him and the others around him were he and Bete to start fighting.'
"Leave? Not after coming all the way here…" Bete said with a frown
"BETE! ENOUGH!" Loki said angrily
'She had reached her limits, and it was time to chain this feral wolf before he caused her any more trouble.'
"TSK! Whatever." Bete said as he turned around
"..."
I don't really have anything against him, in fact, I would prefer him to be an ally instead of an enemy...
Not like this situation will put us as enemies in the first place, I'm not that petty, nor is he... Especially him.
He grew up being beaten and humiliated by many, some he outgrew, others he still can't such as Gareth.
And yet, he deeply respects them and treats them as friends.
Bete is simply... Hot headed...
But that doesn't mean I'll let him go unpunished.
'Silver only looked at him with an emotionless gaze before he raised his hand…'
"Silver?..." Hestia asked as she saw his cold look, it wasn't one she was used with…
'That was because she was used to the playful and confident Silver, the side he shows when he's around a happy and more controlled environment…'
'But this… This wasn't even the gaze he gave to the monsters of the Dungeon… This was a gaze reserved for those he scorns the most.'
'A lack of emotion, he sees no excitement nor regret in what he's about to do next…'
'However, she also saw something else... Towards the end, for a brief moment, he smiled playfully.'
"Hm?"
'The fur on Bete's body started to rise, it where his instincts telling him that something was about to happen...'
'But what sort of danger could there be in here?...'
'However, why did the air around him felt so… Free?'
"Huh?!" Bete exclaimed as he was suddenly lifted from the ground
My legs... The air...
'He looked around, quickly realizing what was happening.'
"WHAT'S THE FUCKING MEANING OF THIS?!" He asked as he clenched his teeth, ready to attack Silver
'But even if he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to...'
"I'm helping you leave, can't you see that?"
"Are you out of your mind?!" Bete exclaimed as he lashed around, trying to move
"On the contrary, I'm very much aware of my actions."
"Next time, I won't refuse a fight, but today, I'm not in the mood to play around with you."
'Bete was now completely livid.'
"PLAY AROUND?! LET'S WHO WHO PLAYS WITH WHO! PUT ON THE GROUND AND..."
'Silver scratched his ear, Bete was so fucking loud...'
"Now… Get the fuck out of my sight." Silver said with a thin smile as he swiped his hand to the side
'Of course, Bete tried to struggle, but it was futile...'
'It was a very strange feeling, he felt as if he was floating on water, but no matter how much he paddled or moved around, he couldn't move from his position, at most, he spun around due to the friction with the air.'
"Goodbye, it was a pleasure meeting you again. Don't come again." Silver said with a small nod towards Bete as he swiped his hand to the side
/FWOOSH!/
"YOU SON OF A BIIIIITCH…" Bete exclaimed as he was launched from the window of the Office and into the horizon
"..."
'Hestia was dumbfounded, Loki face palmed, Lefiya was stunned, frozen in place, while Tione smiled helplessly...'
"PFFT! I... I can't..." Tiona said as she tried her best to hold her laugh as she saw a screaming Bete fly into the clouds
HAHAHAHAHA!
'Ais, on the other hand, was a little flushed as she chuckled.'
'Throughout the next few seconds, Silver remained at the window, looking at Bete until he flew further from what he could see.'
'He used several abilities in unison, all to make sure Bete was launched as fast as possible and as far away as possible, so much so became a little pale due to energy consumption.'
"..."
This far should be enough... Any more and I'll have to drink a potion to maintain myself.
"..."
'Everyone looked at him in silence, they couldn't believe what had just happened.'
'Silver turned around and looked at Loki, he bowed slightly and said:'
"I'm sorry, I may have gone a bit overboard."
What a terrible way to host a meeting. But the guests were at fault...
"... I'll overlook this matter as it was his fault, to begin with…" She said awkwardly
I should have been more adamant in refusing him… What is happening to me recently? I'm committing so many oversights…
"But tell me… What just happened?"
Bete wouldn't have allowed himself to be thrown away so easily...
This wouldn't have been possible if Bete had come with his equipment...
Bete's boots allow him to absorb all magic cast against him, and I'm sure this wouldn't have been any different.
'She let out a relieved sigh.'
I should be thankful he didn't bring them this time, else this would've escalated further...
"What happened? Nothing much, I just threw him outside since I was fed up with his attitude."
'Silver then smiled slightly.'
"I won't deny it, I did this mainly because I found it amusing, but at the end of the day, he's upset for what I did last time, that I can understand, but his foul personality was the cause of it."
"Don't worry much, like last time, I didn't really inflict any harm to him at all, nor did I submit him to the same humiliation, I simply threw him outside of Orario's walls."
"?! The walls?!" Lefiya gasped with a pale face
'Silver nodded.'
"The closest section, the one further SouthEast, it should take a while for him to come back, and hopefully, he'll cool off his head on the way."
'He looked at Loki and said:'
"I have nothing against him at all, on the contrary, I respect him for how far he came and for what he did to Orario, but if something like this happens again, I may very well consider hanging him naked in the middle of the Colosseum."
I'll give him respect if he respects me, even if he scorns me in private I won't care.
"..."
'Loki suddenly had an intense headache.'
It was already hard to make him forget what happened last time, and it'll be even harder now…
Thankfully, nothing serious happened this time, but I doubt Bete will take lightly into being trashed around like that.
"I'll keep that in mind…" She said with a frown
And I'll make sure he understands that as well!
Besides... This was quite unexpected.
'She looked at Silver with a deep gaze.'
He really grew huh... Those moves Bete launched at him weren't something a Level 2 was supposed to evade, no matter how high his agility is.
So unless he has several Skills to increase that, it's impossible...
Not only that but his strength as well...
The only possible explanation is... He's level 3 already. And not a weak Level 3 at that...
This Level of growth rivals even that of what Ais showed me recently... No, it goes beyond that.
I thought at first that his fast growth was due to this Item while it was in his possession, but I may have been mistaken all along...
If that's the case... What is the source of his speedy growth?
'Silver nodded and went to take a seat next to Hestia.'
"Without further ado, allow me to properly welcome you all into the Hestia Familia's home, the Hearth Manor... This time, without interruptions."
/Snap!/
'Silver snapped his fingers, and the entire room seemed to vibrate as many shelves and drawers were opened at the same time.'
'Many pieces of cutlery, teapots, kettles, and more started to fly around the place.'
"Wow!" Exclaimed Tiona as she looked at the flying objects, organizing themselves on the table in front of them
"My apologies as we don't have that deep of a selection of tea and snacks..."
'Loki smiled.'
"Stop showing off and pour us some tea."
'Silver also smiled in reply.'
"As you wish."
/Creak!/
'The door to the Office opened, revealing Haruhime in her maid clothes, holding onto a large water bottle.'
'She seemed a bit flustered and even a bit confused...'
'But why as she here?... That's simple.'
'Not so long ago, Haruhime was calmly cleaning the main table as everyone finished their breakfast when she heard Siver's voice in her head:'
*Haruhime...*
"?!"
'All of the fur on her body stood up due to the surprise, she almost dropped the plate in her hand on the ground.'
*Sorry for startling you, but could you bring us a large bottle of water to the office?*
"O-Okay..." She said gently as she looked around
...
"Thank you Haruhime, can you pour some tea for our guests?" Silver asked the fox girl
"Tea?..." She asked as she looked around
'She immediately noticed the cutlery on the main table, but she also noticed that something seemed wrong... There was someone missing, right?'
'She quickly shook that off from her mind as she said:'
"In that case, give me a minute to heat the water..."
'However, Silver interrupted her and said:'
"Give me the water bottle."
"..."
'She tilted her head, a bit confused, but she complied...'
'Silver held the kettle with one hand and soon...'
/WHISTLE!/
'A large column of vapor started to be released from the kettle, the water was already boiling!'
"Heh..." Loki said with a small smile
Look at this guy, showing off again...
/Clap clap.../
'Haruhime clapped slightly in a cute way, in awe of his ability.'
"Here, be careful, it's a bit hot." He said as he gave the kettle back to Haruhime
'As she poured the tea for them, Silver said:'
"I would like to small talk and ask how your expedition went, but I doubt you came here for that..."
"So tell me, I'm all ears, what do you need me for?"
"Not beating around the bush huh... I like it." Loki replied
"It's simple, can you tell us everything you know about... This item over here?" She said as she pointed at the red scarf on Ais' neck
"..."
'But Silver remained silent.'
"You know something about it don't you?"
"I do." Silver replied plainly after thinking deeply for a little while
"In that case..."
"Please. I want to know." Ais said in a firm tone as she interrupted Loki
'Everyone smiled, they were just like her, they were very curious about this item.'
'Hestia wasn't an exception.'
"Hum... Fine, having you owe me more favors can't be that bad."
"You're making me regret this..." Loki said with a twisted expression
'Silver simply shrugged and said:'
"The answer is simple, but at the same, it implies something I'm not sure you're all quite ready to hear..."
"Please... Say it." Ais replied, her conviction not wavering in the least
"Where do I start?..."
...
.
.
.
Notes