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After some time to readjust in his room, Mika felt his usual self returning. After all, he was a seasoned traveler between worlds.
In the evening, summoned by Ayu, he emerged from his room and joined Yahweh for dinner, seeing her in her true form for the first time in a while.
"Ugh, I don't want to be back!" Yahweh complained, savoring the meal Ayu had prepared.
"I haven't had enough fun in that other world yet." As the designated "support" member, she always found herself burdened with tedious tasks in each new world.
Though, she didn't particularly mind.
"We've been in that world long enough. Any longer, and we would have struggled to readjust," Mika countered.
"While life as Emperor was a novel experience, it eventually became tedious."
"The only reason we stayed so long was the abundance of forging knowledge to learn and apply."
"Otherwise, with our near-invincible status in that world, why would we stay for so long?"
"After all, Airmid, Mellie, and I have all reached the limits of our Falna at our current levels."
Airmid and Mellie nodded in agreement.
After years of training in the other world, they had reached the peak of their potential at their current levels.
Mika was at the Level 5 limit.
Airmid and Mellie were both at the Level 4 limit.
What they lacked now was a great achievement to trigger their level ups.
Mika had already decided: Zald and Alfia would be their stepping stones.
"Alfia, I won't be so easily defeated this time," he thought, recalling his previous encounter with her.
…
After dinner, Mika enjoyed a relaxing bath and returned to his room.
"Ah, no matter how many times I travel, nothing beats my own bed," he sighed contentedly, stretching out on the familiar mattress.
But his moment of peace didn't last.
After a while, his door creaked open, and Mellie slipped inside.
Seeing that he had noticed her, she placed a finger to her lips. "Shh! Don't let Airmid hear."
Mika tilted his head, puzzled.
Mellie climbed into his bed and snuggled against him. "Your bed is so small, it can only fit two people."
"So I let Airmid take a bath first. Then, while she was relaxing in her room, I snuck over here."
"Now she won't know a thing!"
"Is that so? What a cunning plan, Mellie!" Airmid's voice echoed from the doorway, startling them. She stood there, her expression unreadable, her gaze fixed on Mellie.
Mellie could feel the weight of her stare. She burrowed deeper into Mika's embrace, hiding her face against his chest.
But Airmid's frown only deepened.
"You sly fox, Mellie."
"If I hadn't noticed your little scheme, I wouldn't have known about your earlier…activities." A blush crept across Airmid's face as she climbed onto the bed and reached out to pinch Mellie's cheeks.
"If I hadn't been wary, you would have tricked me again!"
"I'm sorry! I surrender!" Though Airmid wasn't actually hurting her, Mellie couldn't speak.
Airmid released her grip and snuggled against Mika's other side. "I'm sleeping here tonight!" she declared.
Mika chuckled wryly, feeling the bed shrink beneath the three of them.
"I can't exactly tell them the bed is too crowded, can I?" he thought, then, with a laugh, he wrapped his arms around them.
"Alright, then let's all sleep together." He turned off the light and pulled the covers over them.
It would be a sleepless night.
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Seven days passed quickly.
At dawn on the eighth day, a knock echoed from the front door.
Mika, Airmid, and Mellie, already awake and dressed, exchanged nostalgic glances.
Before their journey to the other world, Ais would knock on their door every morning at this time.
Mika quickly opened the door.
"Long time no see, Ais," he greeted her with a smile.
"Yes, long time no see, Sensei," she replied, returning his smile.
To Mika, it had indeed been a long time—Years.
But to Ais, eager to continue her training, even a single day felt like an eternity.
"Let's begin our training!" After seven days of rest, Mika was eager to resume their sessions.
"Yes!" Ais replied excitedly.
"You two have fun training. Airmid and I are going out," Mellie announced.
After seven days of inactivity, she was restless. It didn't matter that it was still early morning.
…
After Airmid and Mellie left, Mika and Ais began their sparring.
After their training session, as Ayu wiped the sweat from Ais's brow, Mika asked, "Has anything important happened in Orario during the past seven days?"
"Important?" Ais tilted her head, seemingly clueless.
Mika sighed inwardly. He shouldn't have asked her such a question. Ais wasn't the type to pay attention to current events.
"Oh, I remember!" she suddenly exclaimed, as if a thought had just struck her.
"Riveria has been very busy lately. She barely has time to teach me."
"Apparently, many of the Magic Stone shops in the city have been attacked by the dark faction."
"Especially in the industrial district. I heard the damage was quite severe."
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"Magic Stone shops and the industrial district?" Mika frowned.
He knew that behind every action of the dark faction was a motive.
If they attacked adventurers or citizens, it was to disrupt the city's peace.
If they targeted storehouses, it was for supplies.
But attacking Magic Stone shops and factories?
Was it for the Magic Stones themselves?
Or perhaps for money? After all, Magic Stones were a form of currency in Orario, exchangeable for valis. In a sense, they were like gold in his previous world.
"But if they wanted money, wouldn't merchants be easier targets?" After all, compared to Magic Stone factories protected by adventurers, merchants were far more vulnerable.
"But perhaps they're after the Magic Stones themselves."
He vaguely recalled something from the Danmachi lore. Although he hadn't read the prequel stories, he had read some side stories. There were monsters that could enhance their strength by consuming Magic Stones.
Could there be similar beings within the dark faction?
He pondered their possible motives.
Seeing him lost in thought, Ais didn't interrupt. After resting, she went to the courtyard and began practicing her swordsmanship.
Since Mika was occupied, she would train on her own. As she practiced the Wind Breath techniques, attuned to the rhythm of the wind, she became immersed in her training, a gentle breeze swirling around her.
…
"The atmosphere in the city feels…Heavy." Mellie and Airmid walked through the streets, observing the subdued merchants.
Seven days ago, before their departure, the streets had been bustling with activity.
This sudden shift was unsettling.
"What happened?" Airmid wondered aloud.
The heavy atmosphere dampened their earlier cheerful mood.
"Look, it's Alise and the others!" Mellie spotted the four members of the Astraea Familia approaching.
"Alise!" They ran towards each other, smiles lighting up their faces as they reunited.
"Long time no see, Alise, Gojouno, Ryuu, Lyra!"
"Long time no see, Airmid, Mellie!"
"How was the expedition?" Alise asked.
To explain their seven-day absence, Airmid and Mellie had told them they were going on a dungeon expedition.
After all, they usually assisted other Familias with patrols, so requesting time off was normal.
"It was quite fruitful. Mika has reached Level 5!" Mellie announced cheerfully.
"What?!"
"So fast?!" Alise, Gojouno, and Ryuu were astonished. They had fought alongside Mika in the dungeon and knew his strength. At the time, he was only Level 4.
Now, he was Level 5—a first-tier adventurer. His strength must have increased dramatically. They couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
"Actually, he qualified for the level up during our last expedition, but he wanted to maximize his stats before advancing. After seven days of intense training, he finally felt ready," Mellie explained.
"I see," they nodded. It seemed plausible.
"Enough about us. What happened to Orario?" Mellie asked, turning the conversation to the city's unusual atmosphere.
The smiles on Alise, Gojouno, and Ryuu's faces vanished.
"It's the dark faction," Ryuu said, her voice filled with anger. "After you left for the dungeon, they launched a surprise attack."
"We didn't know their objective, so we were caught off guard."
"They targeted the Magic Stone shops and factories throughout the city."
"And they've attacked twice in the past seven days."
"The dark faction is that brazen?" Airmid asked, surprised.
"Well, nearly half of the Loki and Freya Familias are currently deployed outside Orario," Gojouno explained.
"Apparently, many nations and elf settlements have been attacked by the dark faction. They likely refocused their efforts on Orario after Finn and the others thwarted their plans elsewhere."
Ryuu's expression turned grim at the mention of the elf settlements being attacked.
Alise patted her shoulder reassuringly. "But Finn and the others are back now. Such large-scale attacks shouldn't happen again."
"However, the consequences of their previous attacks are still being felt."
"As you know, Magic Stones are unique to Orario, so many people are employed in Magic Stone-related industries."
"But now, with those industries targeted, many have lost their jobs. Other businesses, fearing further attacks, have also closed, leading to even more unemployment."
"Without jobs, these people have no income. The entire city is suffering."
"For now, only a small portion of the population is truly destitute. But if this continues, Orario could descend into chaos."
Airmid and Mellie's faces darkened as they listened. They now understood the situation and the potential for further unrest.
As Alise had said, this was just the beginning. Greater hardship lay ahead.
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