Early the next morning, after handing over the White Dragon Magic Crystal to Lili for fusion, Aston was taken out by Hestia for a stroll through the streets, under the guise of a date.
This was a genuine date; the entire day was spent walking, covering all the major streets of Orario without a moment's rest.
And they ate wherever they went.
Of course, it was impossible for Hestia to eat so much, so she would typically take a bite and then pass the rest to Aston for him to finish.
Only someone as powerful as Aston, with a strong metabolism capable of effectively digesting the nutrients in food, could handle Hestia's feeding spree.
This scenario inevitably made Aston reminisce about the dating scenes he had heard of in his previous life, where during dates, some girlfriends would buy food, take a bite, and then give up, leaving their boyfriends to deal with the leftovers.
His and Hestia's situation was exactly like that.
After spending an entire day like this, it wasn't until late in the evening that Hestia, still not fully satisfied, was reluctantly taken back to the Hearth Manor by Aston.
"Ah, that was refreshing, let's do it again next time." Sitting on the sofa, Hestia stretched lazily with a satisfied expression, excitedly exclaiming.
Aston had been away on expeditions, and even though they could stay in touch through communication devices, she missed him terribly, not having seen him for over half a month.
Today was the culmination of her longing to see Aston after all this time.
"Ah, as long as I'm on the surface, we can do it anytime," Aston said, sitting next to Hestia, as he sipped his tea and smiled.
"Right," Hestia nodded eagerly. "You know, it's been a while since I've had your cooking, Aston. How about you prepare something for everyone today? After all, you now have a clone that won't get tired no matter what."
Hestia had been missing Aston's cooking for over a month now, and she was longing for it.
Moreover, the most important part was that Aston now possessed a cloning skill, enabling him to create a clone that mastered all secondary vocational skills.
Hestia wouldn't mind letting the clone cook at all.
Otherwise, she would only want special treatment for herself and wouldn't have made such a request.
"Sure, I'll have my clone start on it right now," Aston responded with a smile.
"Great, I'm going to tell Eina and Lili right away!" Hestia jumped three feet high, her chest heaving with excitement, before quickly running out.
Soon, cheers from the members of the Hestia Familia echoed throughout the Hearth Manor.
Clearly, the news of Aston preparing dinner excited and thrilled the members of the Hestia Familia immensely.
Aston simply smiled slightly at this.
It was no wonder they were excited; tasting his cooking again after having experienced it before was naturally thrilling.
Aston didn't delay. He immediately ordered his automaton clone, which was busy concocting potions, to start cooking.
Soon, the rich aroma spread throughout the entire Hearth Manor, and a large number of Familia members gathered at the kitchen door, all eagerly anticipating the meal.
However, the automaton clone showed no reaction, simply following Aston's orders.
Meanwhile, after sharing the good news with the Familia members, Hestia returned to Aston's side with a frown on her face, seemingly preoccupied.
"What's wrong?" Aston asked curiously, noticing Hestia's demeanor.
"Ah, Lili and Mikoto have gone out and are not in the Familia," Hestia explained, finding it strange.
Lili and Mikoto joined the Familia around the same time and in very similar ways, so they got along very well and were often seen together.
However, it was unusual for them to be out this late and not back yet.
"Lili and Mikoto have communication crystals, right? Just contact them to check in," Aston suggested, nodding understandingly.
"Ah, I was just about to do that," Hestia replied, then pulled out a small crystal ball from her chest.
Aston was internally impressed by this convenience.
"Very handy," he commented.
Soon after, Hestia managed to contact Lili and Eina.
They were at the Takemikazuchi Familia, apparently discussing something.
However, upon hearing that Aston was cooking dinner that night, they immediately made their way back from the Takemikazuchi Familia.
They returned to the Hearth Manor in less than twenty minutes.
Although they came back quickly, the Hestia Familia had a large number of members, and Aston's clone wasn't able to prepare dinner so swiftly.
Since it wasn't mealtime yet when Lili and Mikoto returned, they came to where Aston and Hestia were.
"What happened?" Aston curiously asked Lili and Eina.
Hestia mentioned that when she contacted them, they said they had an important matter to deal with, and as their leader, Aston naturally wanted to know more.
"Mikoto had a childhood friend. They were separated when they were young. Recently, it seems that the Takemikazuchi Familia has found traces of that childhood friend, so she wants to search for them," Lili explained without hiding anything.
"Just as Lili said, Aston-san," Mikoto confirmed from the side.
Hearing the reason, Aston suddenly reacted and blurted out, "That foxy lady?"
"Eh? Aston knows Lady Haruhime?!" Upon hearing Aston's outburst, Mikoto was first surprised, then quickly became a bit excited.
"Well, I indeed know her."
"That foxy lady is also someone I've been wanting to invite into my Familia," Aston nodded slightly and said.
"Aston-san, Lady Haruhime is not a foxy lady!" Hearing Aston calling Haruhime a foxy lady twice, Mikoto couldn't help but correct him for Haruhime.
"That guy is indeed a foxy lady," Aston didn't change his statement and said with a smile.
"Um... Aston-san!" Mikoto was slightly upset.
"Well, you'll understand why I call her that eventually," Aston laughed, not minding Mikoto's reaction, and spoke plainly.
"Aston-sama, are you planning to invite Mikoto's friend to join our Familia?" Lili caught the implication in Aston's words and asked for confirmation.
"Ah, leave this matter to you two."
"I'll support you from behind. Feel free to do whatever you want, even if it means going to war with the Ishtar Familia," Aston nodded gently and instructed them.
The magic of that foxy lady is very powerful, capable of unconditionally increasing an adventurer's level by one.
And if the foxy lady's skill is used on oneself, the enhanced self's combat power would definitely break through Level 7 to reach Level 8.
Moreover, because I'm upgrading through limit breaking, this leveling skill used on me could enhance my strength much more than a regular adventurer.
Maybe it could even reach Level 9.
Such a powerful skill should not be missed, even if it means going to war with the Ishtar Familia.
The Hestia Familia is no longer afraid of such matters now.
At most, we'll just wipe out the Ishtar Familia and then pay a fine to the Guild.
"Yes, Aston-san!" An excited voice rose, not from Lili, but from Mikoto.
"Aston, is that Haruhime the same as Lili and Mikoto?"
"Ah, yes."
"I see!"
Lili: "?"
Mikoto: "?".