However, Ryou remained calm and said, "You must be mistaken, this is a matter between her and me. As for you..."
Ryou deliberately looked Lefiya up and down with a challenging tone and asked, "On what grounds are you here? Are you her parents?"
Lefiya awkwardly shook her head.
"Are you her sibling?"
She shook her head again.
"Or perhaps her guardian?"
Lefiya hung her head, feeling powerless. Her slightly calmed mind finally remembered that in the entire Loki Familia, only the three captains and Goddess Loki had the authority to intervene.
"Or are you merely speaking as a friend or a fellow Familia member? Even if you are Ais's best friend, what right or reason do you have to stop her from accepting someone else's gift?"
At this moment, Ryou's figure seemed to magnify infinitely in Lefiya's eyes, like a giant, making her instinctively retreat under his imposing demeanor.
"Moreover, Ais and I are now fellow disciples. Ais's is now my Kouhai. In terms of closeness, I should rank above you."
Lefiya finally succumbed to his verbal assault and overwhelming presence. She suddenly turned and ran away in tears, shouting, "Miss Ais is being taken away!!!"
"Lefiya is completely defeated," Tiona said awkwardly, wiping sweat from her forehead.
Ryou shrugged.
"Well, I should get going too. Goodbye, Ais, Pretty boy." Tiona waved.
Just as she was about to turn away, she stopped and smiled, "Almost forgot, I wish you happiness! Goodbye!"
Before Ais could react, Tiona ran off with a smile in the direction Lefiya had gone.
"Ugh!"
Ais pouted in frustration as Tiona teased her and then ran away.
Ryou found it amusing and patted Ais's head. "Don't mind them. Let me put the ring on you."
After Lefiya's interruption, Ais didn't refuse this time. When Ryou took her hand to put the ring on her, Ais's expression subtly changed. Though it wasn't very noticeable, her cheeks blushed, and her eyes darted around, not daring to look at him.
Clink!
Just as Ryou placed the ring on Ais's left middle finger, a sudden noise came from the street corner. Ryou and Ais instinctively turned their heads.
They saw Syr standing at the street corner, looking at them in shock. In front of her lay a bag full of fruits and vegetables she had dropped. The elf girl, Ryuu, beside her, frowned slightly as she looked at the two of them.
"You, you two!?"
Syr suddenly noticed the ring on Ais's finger and Ryou's hand that hadn't yet been withdrawn. Her lively light gray eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of dust named despair and sorrow, becoming dull and lifeless.
Without saying a word, she turned and ran away. A single crystal-clear tear fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
Watching Syr run away, Ryuu's gaze towards Ryou turned icy cold, as if she wanted to pierce him with sharp blades.
Ryou met her gaze calmly.
After a moment, Ryuu sighed lightly, nodded as a form of greeting, and picked up the fallen items to chase after Syr.
Ryou watched Ryuu's departing figure and sighed deeply.
He had been prepared for this but hadn't expected it to come so quickly, catching him off guard.
He hadn't even secured one relationship yet, and already he was plunged into a chaotic situation.
It was indeed...
It can only be attributed to the Writer's twisted sense of humor.
However, Ryou had no regrets. Ever since he changed from being a homebody to a Harem EX Transmigrator, he was destined not to be a man of single affection.
The only thing he could do was—so long as she doesn't betray me, I won't betray her.
At this moment, Ais seemed particularly understanding. She didn't say anything, just held onto the corner of Ryou's clothes and silently watched him.
"It's alright," Ryou encouraged her, patting Ais on the head.
However, the plan to bring Ais back to the Gudako Hotel for a dessert offensive affection that evening fell through.
When Ryou and Ais returned to the Loki Familia, the entire Familia, especially a creature known as the single male dog, harbored an almost tangible resentment towards him.
Ryou seemed oblivious as he directly held Ais's hand and walked into the castle.
As a result, the resentment became even more palpable, almost readable.
Burn, burn, burn him to death!
Ryou found it odd that the person who resented him the most didn't immediately rush out, which was somewhat perplexing.
After scanning the courtyard briefly, Ryou quickly saw Goddess Loki talking with a young man with flowing blonde hair, dressed like a medieval noble.
So, there's a guest. That explains it.
Ryou mumbled to himself and, without any hesitation, held Ais's hand and walked over.
Would a son-in-law feel timid meeting his father-in-law for the first time?
Impossible.
The two gods stopped their conversation immediately.
Loki, who had intended to maintain her composure in front of the guest, couldn't bear the provocation and immediately jumped up, pulling Ais behind her protectively and glaring fiercely at Ryou, "You! Don't ever think of seeing my Ais-tan again!"
Ryou shrugged indifferently.
"Her legs are her own. Are you planning to lock her up?"
"You!"
"I suggest you mind your image, Goddess Loki," Ryou said, nodding towards the male god.
Loki followed his gaze and saw that god watching with an amused expression, his mouth slightly curved, and his eyes almost squinting into slits.
"Loki, don't mind me," he kindly advised when Loki looked over.
At this moment, Loki felt a surge of intense desire to beat up Ryou. Though she had felt it earlier, this time it was especially strong.
"Dionysus, let's continue our discussion and ignore this guy," Loki said, sitting back down and addressing the blonde male god.
Ryou's eyes flashed. So, it was the Greek god of wine. Then the person behind him must be...
He glanced at the elf girl standing behind Dionysus, dressed in white, with black hair and blood-red eyes.
She seemed sensitive to others' gazes. As soon as Ryou looked over, she sensed it and glanced back.
Ryou smiled and nodded, but the elf girl only gave him a cold look.
Meanwhile, the two gods at the table resumed their conversation without any reservation.
"As we were discussing, the accumulation of monsters on the twenty-fourth floor is now affecting adventurers' regular activities," Dionysus said seriously.
"Has the Guild taken no action in response to this situation?"
Once the serious talk began, Loki's playful demeanor disappeared, and her squinted eyes, which usually concealed her thoughts, revealed the wisdom of a trickster god.
"That's the strange part. Despite the severity of the problem, the Guild has taken no action, which is unlike their usual behavior."
"It sounds like the Guild is deliberately avoiding something..." Loki mused.
"What's so strange about that? Ignoring what needs to be managed, either to protect oneself and preserve strength or because one is the mastermind behind it," Ryou remarked casually.
However, this comment immediately silenced the surroundings, and the two gods and two girls stared at him in astonishment.
"It's just a casual joke, no need to take it seriously," Ryou said nonchalantly.
"No, that's a very interesting perspective."
Both Dionysus and Loki couldn't help but show thoughtful expressions.
Dionysus suddenly seemed to remember something and asked Ryou, "May I know who you are?"
"Gudao, a nobody from an unknown Familia."
Dionysus's eyes suddenly shone with scrutiny. "You are the Chef of the Gudako Hotel, the culinary magician, Gudao."
"I didn't expect a nobody like me to catch the eye of the wine god."
"No, no, you are no nobody. All of Orario is abuzz with the name Gudako, said to be the top hotel in Orario, where only the most distinguished guests can enter its doors..."
"It's only because of the favor of you gods that Gudako has gained a bit of fame. I've heard that you, God Dionysus, are Orario's top wine connoisseur..."
Seeing Dionysus and Ryou exchange endless flattery, Loki irritably knocked on the table.
"It seems we've angered Loki. I do enjoy various pleasures, so I will visit the Gudako Hotel in person someday."
"I have some expertise in mixing drinks as well. I look forward to your visit, Dionysus."
Ending their pleasantries at the right time, Dionysus said seriously, "Regardless of the internal details, we need to send people to investigate. What do you think, Loki?"
Loki thought for a moment and replied, "Indeed, Freya has been busy training her little rabbit recently, so it falls to me to handle this."
She then turned to Ais beside her and said, "Ais, can I trouble you to go?"
Ais nodded.
"Wait, Loki, how about taking my Filvis along? Only by acting together can trust be built between us."
"Dionysus-sama!"
Filvis exclaimed in surprise from behind him.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine," Dionysus said, holding Filvis's hand tenderly.
"Dionysus-sama..."
Watching the elf and god staring at each other affectionately, Loki quipped helplessly, "I don't recall agreeing to this."
"So, it's settled. Take my child along," Dionysus said sincerely.
Loki was hesitant but then heard Ryou say to Ais, "I understand. I'll go with you."
Loki immediately became furious. "You don't need to go!"
Since Ais had accepted Loki's order, she had been staring at Ryou without speaking.
Ryou, having his plans, quickly gave in under her gaze.
"I agree, but I'll send another child with yours!"
Although Loki was addressing Dionysus, she glared fiercely at Ryou.
"Such childish behavior is pointless, Goddess Loki," Ryou sighed.
"Since Ais is already aware of this, do you think she wouldn't sneak off on her own?"
Ais, looking adorably clueless, nodded in agreement.
Loki felt a surge of frustration, having raised a daughter only to see her side with an outsider.
"Damn it! Then I'll... Lefiya! Where are you? Come here!"
Loki gritted her teeth, thinking for a moment before shouting.
After a while, Lefiya arrived.
"Loki, what is it?"
Lefiya's eyes were red, indicating she had been crying, likely distressed by previous events.
But upon seeing Ryou beside Ais, her face immediately clouded.
"It's you!"
"Lefiya, first-class soldier! You are now assigned a difficult mission! Accompany Ais to the twenty-fourth floor to investigate. Your mission is to prevent this scoundrel from doing anything inappropriate to Ais. No, not even overly intimate actions like holding hands!"
"Yes! I guarantee the mission will be completed!"
Lefiya glared at Ryou with burning eyes, her resolute gaze seemingly saying, "You won't have any chance!"
Watching these two play house, Ryou found it amusing.
Loki, no matter how much you calculate, you never expected there would be a traitor in your ranks, did you?
Don't blame me for not warning you. When this lily elf, on whom you have high hopes, neglects her duties to pursue her fantasies, I won't miss this opportunity.
Thinking of this, Ryou sneaked a glance at the cold-looking Filvis.
Who would have thought that this seemingly cold and beautiful black-haired elf would have such deep psychological trauma, which just so happens to trigger Lefiya's maternal and sympathetic instincts?
...
Before setting off, Ryou returned to the Gudako Hotel, but Syr began avoiding him. Having no other choice for now, Ryou decided to let her cool down for a while.
Next, Ryou went to Revis's room, and finding that she had already gone out according to plan, he headed to the Tower of Babel with peace of mind.
After the four of them met in front of the tower, they entered the dungeon together.
Among them, except for Lefiya's lack of battle experience, the other three were very strong fighters, sweeping through the dungeon with ease.
Seeing that Ryou was skilled in both close combat and magic, Lefiya's face grew increasingly resentful.
She had placed herself in the position above Ryou in terms of magic, but now seeing that his strength surpassed hers, she naturally felt anxious and unwilling.
Ryou couldn't be bothered with her and, along the way, continued flirting with Ais, spreading dog food everywhere.
As for the black-haired elf Filvis, she remained completely detached from the team, even deliberately keeping a certain distance while walking.
Knowing her background, Ryou intentionally ignored her, and Ais, being naturally aloof and inexpressive, wouldn't actively talk to Filvis either.
This, however, was something Lefiya couldn't stand.
Despite her lily tendencies, Lefiya was otherwise quite admirable. Although she lacked battle experience and seemed delicate, she was brave, responsible, and compassionate.
Seeing Filvis so isolated, Lefiya took the initiative to talk to her. Naturally, at first, she was met with rejection.
Filvis bluntly stated that they were merely heading to the same destination and were not companions.
This only triggered Lefiya's stubbornness. She grabbed Filvis's hand and delivered a heartfelt "confession," making Filvis blush and significantly raising her affection for Lefiya.
Watching Lefiya's successful approach, Ryou was astounded. This—this is like cheating!
Raising affection so easily, who is the real protagonist of this harem story?
Ryou felt that Lefiya was far scarier than Bell, the timid rabbit.
Fortunately, Lefiya was a bit reserved in front of Ais; otherwise, Ryou feared he would be "NTR."
Ryou sweated inwardly. If he were to be outdone by a woman, he would become the biggest joke among transmigrators.
When the four of them reached the eighteenth floor, they learned from a talkative cyclops about Filvis's past, where she repeatedly joined teams but ended up as the sole survivor, earning her the nickname "The Banshee" among adventurers.
Lefiya's maternal instincts surged, and she completely ignored her beloved Ais, launching a fierce attack on Filvis.
Thus, Ryou witnessed the birth of a lily master.
In just one day, Filvis's attitude towards Lefiya shifted from cold and indifferent to neutral, then to natural, and finally, she occasionally initiated conversations and sometimes shyly glanced at her.
Master, please accept my kneel!
If it weren't for their opposing roles, Ryou would have had the urge to do so.
Unbeknownst to him, while Lefiya watched Ryou and Ais's display of affection and felt a surge of jealousy, she also couldn't help but feel a bit of envy.
How nice it would be to be this close to Miss Ais...
From the moment they set off, the team was superficially united but inwardly divided. However, although Ryou and Lefiya still appeared to oppose each other on the surface, the team's tacit understanding had grown significantly.
In this manner, the four of them, amidst banter and tussles, quickly reached the twenty-fourth floor.
This floor featured both sheer cliffs and dense forests, resembling a miniature primeval kingdom.
As they proceeded, they noticed a large number of monsters gathering and migrating en masse.
Such a vast number of monsters would be a nightmare for lower-level adventurers.
"According to information from other adventurers, it seems there's been an anomaly in the monsters' 'food storage rooms,' causing the monsters to accumulate and migrate," Lefiya explained, opening a map of the twenty-fourth floor.
"There are three 'food storage rooms' on this floor, located here, here, and here," she said, pointing to three areas on the map that appeared to be large spaces.
"Can you sense it, Ais?"
Ryou turned to ask Ais.
Ais closed her eyes and sensed the direction for a moment, then pointed to one of the areas.
"This way."
The direction she indicated led to one of the 'food storage rooms' marked on the map.
"Alright, we'll head in this direction and clear out the monsters along the way," Ryou said.
Trusting Ais, Lefiya naturally had no objections, and since Lefiya didn't object, Filvis also silently agreed.
Although there were many accumulated monsters on this floor, for Ais, a level 6, they were easily defeated in one strike—the only difference being how many she could take down with each strike.
Soon, they cleared out hundreds of monsters, leaving behind a ground littered with shining magic stones.
When they reached the entrance, they found it blocked by a disgusting, mucus-like substance.
"What's this? It's so gross," Lefiya, who was always tidy, said with a look of disgust.
"It looks like we've found the right place," Ryou said, his eyes hinting at a deeper meaning.
"It sounds like there's fighting inside," Ais suddenly remarked.
Ryou immediately understood and quickly raised his hand, beginning to draw an "F" in the air.
A scorching magical flame appeared out of thin air, rapidly burning a large hole through the green, vine-like plants blocking the entrance.
The sounds of fighting inside became clear.
A group of adventurers was surrounded by a large number of man-eating plants.
Among the adventurers was a dark-skinned beastman girl whom Ryou had met before. She and her companions were protecting a short-haired, blue-haired woman wearing glasses, who was in the center of their formation.
The woman with glasses had a bloody wound on her abdomen and lay motionless on the ground, clearly severely injured.
"I told you, you're all going to die here today!"
A middle-aged man with white hair, dressed in a manner full of "philosophical" flair, stood before a massive red crystal pillar, spouting threats.
Behind him, a giant man-eating plant, three times the size of an ordinary one, roared continuously.
The commotion from the burning of the entrance naturally didn't escape the notice of those inside.
When they saw who had arrived, their reactions varied.
The adventurers displayed expressions of joy at being saved, while the white-haired man with the "philosophical" air arrogantly shouted, "Who's come to die now!?"
Ryou couldn't be bothered to argue and immediately started giving orders.
"Ais, you handle the big one. Lefiya, release a large-scale spell. Filvis, you protect her. As for that lunatic, leave him to me."
But as soon as Filvis saw the middle-aged man, her delicate face twisted with endless hatred.
"Olivaz Acht! How are you still alive!?"
Filvis bent her knees slightly, clearly ready to charge at any moment.
Ryou quickly grabbed her shoulder with one hand.
"Calm down. Let's deal with the monsters first. As for this pervert, I'll leave him alive just enough for you to get your revenge."
Filvis slapped Ryou's hand away, her expression still filled with hatred, clearly not taking his words to heart.
"Miss Filvis..."
At this moment, Lefiya's voice, full of concern, came through.
Filvis gradually calmed down.
Seeing this, Ryou was speechless.
Indeed, no amount of words from others could compare to a single word from a lover.
Clearing his mind of distracting thoughts, Ryou pulled out a pair of uniquely designed gauntlets and slowly put them on.
These gauntlets subtly shimmered with a rainbow glow, as if a rainbow was flowing across them. They seemed to be intricately carved from transparent crystal, resembling exquisite works of art. Their texture was exceptionally soft, more like gloves than gauntlets.
These were the premium purple gauntlets—Elemental Fury—that Ryou had exchanged for a hefty 150,000 energy points from the system shop.
"Encounter!" -Nikke reference.