The next place I paid a visit is none other than the Hephaestus Familia home. The one who greeted me first is none other than Haruhime-san.
At this moment, she has fully matured compared to her previous self two years ago. Her fox tail swayed along the wind as she wore a red yukata.
"It has been a long time, Akasaka-san."
"Indeed. I apologize for my abrupt disappearance."
"There's no need to apologize…"
Every time she moves, there is a sense of elegance coming from her. It is a huge contrast compared to the Haruhime-san that I knew back then.
She embodied the title of an ojou-sama at this moment.
My gaze met with her pair of emerald pupils.
'..?'
For a moment, I noticed it shook. I matched it with the patterns that were stored in my mind before…
'Fluster..?'
When my attention was taken by her eyes, I began to notice her fox ears. They shook every now and then.
'...'
I…
I might know what this is.
'Should I..?'
While I was thinking on whether to test it or not, a black blur approached from the open door.
"Nooobuuuu!!!"
A certain someone rushed up and hugged me like a koala. Her arms are wrapped around my neck. Her legs are crossed on my lower back while her face is stuffed on my chest.
If not for [Reinforcement] that fixed the ornaments on my body, they would've fallen off.
"You've been the most reactive one during a reunion… Ein."
She is none other than the black-haired elf whom I saved from Dionysus' grasp.
Ein wore a black gothic dress. That is to say, her legs are freely exposed at this moment. I could tell she doesn't care, though.
"Ein!"
Another person rushed out from the door. She wore the opposite as Ein's black gothic dress—a white dress. Her face is reddened, perhaps to the embarrassment for Ein's actions.
When our eyes met, it grew even redder. Her pupils shook quite intensely due to the sheer amount of embarrassment she was feeling.
"Didn't I tell you it'll be alright? See?"
Ein removed her face on my chest and faced the flustered Filvis.
"You..!"
"Now, there's no need to make Filvis more flustered."
"I am simply expressing what she wouldn't."
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence came between the three of us. I am aware that Ein is a mirror image of Filvis. They know what is happening to each other. If Ein is being this affectionate with me…
It could only mean that Filvis feels the same.
"Ahem."
I broke the silence with an instantaneous teleportation magicka. A moment later, Ein was standing beside me.
"That was cheating…"
"You should consider Filvis' position sometimes."
"But…"
Filvis walked towards us and gave Ein a reprimanding look.
"I'm sorry about this, Nobu-kun. She might've been too excited to meet you again…"
Seeing her closer, it seems like her blush didn't lessen at all.
"It's alright. It's my fault that I disappeared abruptly, to begin with."
After talking with her, she brought the downcast Ein inside. Although, I have a feeling there's something more to it.
Sighing at the complexity of women, I turned to look at Haruhime-san. Our gaze met for the second time, making her fox ears tremble once again.
"Are you alright?"
"Ah? Uhm? Yes…"
I decided to shift the topic.
"Do you still remember my promise back then? That I would let you see my world? If you want, I could bring you over there today."
"What?!"
I could see the surprise in her eyes.
"I believe you have learned illusion magicka already."
"Yes."
Haruhime-san answered in a flash.
"Then it's all good. I could introduce you to the specialties of my world."
"...Akasaka-san is even stronger than before. Could I do that once I am stronger?"
"Visiting worlds? Yes, you can. Haruhime-san is also extremely talented. I believe you would reach the ranks of Magister soon enough."
"No… Akasaka-san might be overestimating me…"
Although her words sounded like that, the tremble on her ears couldn't be faked. If I am not wrong, it indicates that she's flattered or happy.
That's cute, to be honest…
'...'
I took a deep breath.
'Am I really following the path of my father?'
I shook my head inwardly.
'Even Galahad might frown at my actions…'
But then, it looks like there's nothing I could do. Just as other girls might like me, I am slowly appreciating their unique points. Coupled with the fact that I had this exact conversation with Hephaestus and Artemis years ago, I am not much adverse to it than before.
"...Ah."
I recalled something.
If I brought Haruhime-san, Filvis, and Ein to my world…
What would my parents think?
"Akasaka-san?"
Haruhime-san tilted her head slightly in confusion.
'That was…'
I was the only one who noticed its hidden lethality.
"It's nothing. I remembered something quite important."
"Is that so..?"
*****
More than two days had passed since Sirius' arrival and the announcement of his status as the first Level Ten adventurer. People and gods are still talking about him relentlessly.
"The first level ten… I can't believe we lived long enough to see a legend."
"Even the Zeus and Hera Familia didn't have a Level Ten. It could only mean that Sirius is stronger than them!"
"Do you even need to state the obvious? What I am wondering is whether he could defeat the Black Dragon or not."
Undisputed King of Magic.
Blacksmith From Heaven.
These are some of the titles they used to call him. There are even worse ones such as Dark Angel of Judgement, Black-winged Knight, Knight of Judgement, and so on.
Of course, the most famous epithet of his is none other than The Brightest Star.
To the common people, Sirius is a person to admire. His feats are no less than the other heroes'. All that he lacked was the confrontation against the Black Dragon.
Only if these people knew that he single handedly defeated it…
"Sirius…"
Currently, the boy who held his gift blankly stared at the dagger on his hand.
For unknown reasons, he was the one chosen to wield this masterpiece. The dagger was something crafted by Sirius and her goddess, Hephaestus. The two blacksmiths gave life to this dagger, turning it into an extremely precious masterpiece.
Its power lies in one thing: its ability to grow on its own.
It has nine seals that could be unlocked with every level up. Each ability is a game-changer that could make the boy's adventures more flexible.
Such was the power of the god-given skill, [Miracle Maker · Creation Forge].
"I shouldn't disappoint him..!"
If Nobu's journey as an adventurer reached its end, Bell Cranell's had just begun.
*****
"I heard you mentioned bringing those girls back to your world…"
"Ahem. I will also bring you two to… you know, meet my parents."
"..!"
Upon bringing up the matter of meeting my parents, Hephaestus showed a fluster.
"Your parents…"
"Actually, they are looking forward to meeting you both."
"I see…"
A momentary silence overcame the two of us.
When she looked at me, I immediately understood her thoughts.
Another round of cuddling came, but this time, it is Hephaestus. Unlike Artemis' shyness, she is more proactive. It doesn't mean that she isn't shy, though.
Since she sat in front of me, I could feel her curves. Only now did I discover her lethal body figure hidden underneath a pair of baggy long sleeves and pants.
Placing my neck on her shoulder, I felt her body jump slightly. I kept my hands somewhere safe—on her stomach. This pair of hands are dangerously close to certain areas.
"How are they..? Your parents?" She asked me.
"Well… They are supportive. When I said that they are eager, they are that eager to meet you two. Tou-san has a humor you might not understand well, though."
"Such as..?"
"He told me I was a destined harem protagonist in a manga."
"..."
Although Hephaestus wasn't directly exposed to my world's culture, she knows well-enough what a "harem" is.
"Kaa-san got angry as a result and asked if he wanted to follow suit. Tou-san had no choice but to coax her with sweet words…"
Hephaestus laughed at the family dynamic that we have.
Suddenly, she asked me a question:
"Did you learn from your father on how to coax a girl..?"
"No…"
Even a Magister could fall in complex matters such as romance, more so when harem is added on top of that. Suimei is a born harem protagonist while I am not.
That's what I am inclined to believe.
"Really?"
"I am still learning how to please my two goddesses. That's why… I am sorry in advance if I make things awkward sometimes."
"..."
Hephaestus fell silent for a while. Since I am behind her, I couldn't see what expression she was making.
"You… that's what makes you…"
Although she cut off her mumbles, I heard what she said in the last part.
(...cute.)
Uhm…
Well…
Being attacked by these acts from the time I returned here made my heart more prone to fluster. I could keep my calm against enemies like Goetia and the Twilight Syndrome. But, being with my goddesses is another matter.
The two of us fell on our own world.
*****
After Nobu went to the Hephaestus Familia Home, he decided to meet up with the executives of the Loki Familia.
Coincidentally, he ran onto an acquaintance on the way there.
"Nobu."
"How is it going, Aiz?"
"Mn… I wanted to dive into deeper floors but Riveria stopped me."
Unexpectedly… or as expected, Aiz was about to sneak off the Twilight Manor and head to the dungeon alone. Ever since Nobu's arrival, she felt an urge to become stronger even faster.
Deep within, Aiz knew she wouldn't be of much help if her strength is still lagging behind Nobu. Despite not telling anything, she is aware of his position as a Magister as well as the responsibility that it entailed.
Simply put, Magisters spearheaded the Magician's World in a bid to end the Twilight Syndrome. That was a common knowledge amongst every magician, hence Nobu felt there was no harm in telling them this.
However, Aiz is unknowingly putting herself in a situation she had landed onto in the past.
"Aiz… The floors above eighty would be dangerous for the current you. Lady Riveria is right to stop you."
"But… I stopped improving."
"You experienced this plateau before. What did we do at that time?"
"We… went out together."
"Ah..?"
It was Nobu's turn to be confused.
He was pertaining to the time he helped her train through [Alice's Wonderland]. While it's true they went out together after that, he didn't expect Aiz to answer it.
"Then..!"
When Aiz had a bright idea, Nobu saw a flash of twinkle in her golden pupils. He is more than familiar with her, to the point that he knows Aiz is much more expressive than what her stoic look tells.
She bears several similarities to his past as Galahad, and this aspect is one of them.
"It will be solved if we go out together."
'...'
Nobu fell silent. He didn't know whether Aiz was serious about this idea or something else.
"We can do that."
He chose to agree with her as it is a way of making up for two years of separation.
"I'm going to meet with Finn-san, Gareth-san, and Lady Riveria. We could do this after that."
"Mn."
At this moment, yet another girl began her offensive.
*****
A/N: Firstly, I apologize for the lack of updates this week. I had a lot of projects (probably around seven) this week that I had to accomplish. I tried to put some time here, but I couldn't write properly after having 5 hours of sleep this week… and some random chest pains.
Anyways, the schedule should return to normal soon, though I am not certain on a chapter every two days. The rest of my projects are catching up (college things).
Happy Reading~!