Dusk.
The setting sun sank behind the towering city walls, and the city was enveloped in the vast darkness of night.
Orario became more vibrant as it welcomed the night.
The sounds of cheerful singing and playing flowed from the pubs and squares. Lights shone throughout the streets. Adventurers who had just returned from the Dungeon mingled on the streets, and the place was crowded.
Lights of various colors illuminated the street, emitting a dazzling brilliance that was no less than the stars in the sky.
The entire row of shops on the bustling street were all tall and large, with luxurious and eye-catching displays.
Not only that, many pubs, casinos, theaters, and other high-end entertainment facilities that couldn't be seen elsewhere in the city were built with nobles as their guests. True to its name "bustling city", South Street presented a lively scene.
Conversely, the street across from it also showed the activity and excitement of the adventurers.
Among them, Host of Fertility was the most lively and charming.
Girls in light green skirts served dinner among tables of wine as light as butterflies wearing flowers.
Young men in black waiter jackets touched the hearts of many girls from the Familia with their smiles.
Mama Mia looked at this scene with pride and thought that her marketing strategy was excellent. There were more adventurers tonight.
However, the only bad thing was that this guy always flirted with the girls in her shop. Even Ryuu seemed a little dazed lately. According to Mama Mia's experience, it was estimated that this Elf girl wouldn't last a few days and she was worried that she would fall.
"The customers who made reservations for tonight are here!" Anya's words brought Mama Mia's thoughts back.
She saw the cat-eared Beteelinga girl with orange curly hair reaching her neck greeting the shop cheerfully. At the same time, the tavern door opened from the outside, and a group of adventurers entered the pub one after another.
First, a squinty-eyed woman with red hair and a short ponytail and a flat chest, none other than the main god of the Loki Familia – the God of Mischief, Loki.
Following her were the Level 5 members of the Loki Familia.
The leader, Level 6, Finn aka Braver.
Top executive/deputy leader, Level 6, Riveria aka Nine Hell.
Top executive, Level 6, Gareth aka Elgram.
Executive, Level 5, Tione aka Jormungand.
Executive, Level 5, Tiona aka Crusher.
Executive, Level 5, Aiz aka Sword Princess.
Level 3, Riveria aka Thousand Elf.
Executive, Level 5, Bete aka Vanargand...?
The adventurers who were familiar with the Loki Familia in the pub together sprayed wine, and the sound of their coughing that choked their trachea was inaudible.
Where was that annoying werewolf? And who was the silver-haired and fierce werewolf girl in the end?
"Damn! Who dares to laugh? Are you sure I won't stuff a barrel of wine into your mouth?"
Everyone felt guilty and immediately pretended to lower their heads and drink.
They secretly laughed in their hearts, and couldn't help but secretly look towards Bete, and found that there was a white-haired young man beside him, who looked very childish, and clearly looked like a beginner adventurer.
And most importantly, this young man didn't know how to hide it at all, and from time to time he would peek at Bete with an admiring gaze.
That secret love expression almost made the other adventurers laugh so hard that they couldn't stand upright.
Even if the other female waitresses pursed their lips, even Ryuu, who was so quiet, couldn't help but turn her face away, and the corner of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.
Seeing this scene, Shun sighed. After transforming into a girl, Bete was indeed much more pleasing to the eye. He could start a new life, Bell could meet the right girl, and he could successfully accept the heroine from the original work.
This wave was called a triple victory!
Thinking about this, Shun approached the table of several members of the Loki Familia and greeted them with a smile:
"It seems like we meet again."
"Hey, Brother, you're working here now!" It was obvious that Tiona was very surprised.
"Indeed, I didn't expect Takema to stay here."
"Yeah, what a coincidence." Aiz nodded in agreement with a rare attitude.
"Hahaha, after all, it was too noisy before, so I stayed here to pay off my debts."
Shun said with a smile, selectively hiding the fact that he lived here and lived a happy life every day whether looking for Ryuu or flirting with the two cat girls.
Finn looked at Shun and the girls from the Familia chatting enthusiastically, and his eyes became sharper.
Until Shun left, the members of the Loki Familia returned to their previous life.
Loki, who was drunk and crazy, was hung by everyone. Bete, who was in a bad mood, drank a lot and fell onto Bell's shoulder in a daze. Her white and fierce eyes made young Bell's face flush red.
The faces of the members of the Loki Familia looked strange when they saw such a sight. They thought it was no wonder that ordinary children would be lured into joining the Loki Familia.
The Loki Familia's dinner party ended with a noisy and smooth finish.
When all the family members left in a commotion, Aiz quietly stopped and left the crowd. It seemed like she was walking towards Hostess of Fertility.
❀❀❀
Shun, who was helping to pack things in the pub, was suddenly poked in the butt by Chloe.
"What's wrong?"
Shun looked at the cat-eared girl with short black hair in confusion, and the other party pointed to the blonde girl peeking outside the door.
"Sword Princess has been spying on you since just now."
Chloe's black cat tail swayed slightly behind her, and a playful smile appeared on her lips.
"Shun, you're not going to do anything to feel sorry for her, are you? For example, leaving the famous Sword Princess? Hey... you're not going to be a hidden bastard, are you?"
"You better be careful so that I end up leaving you!"
Shun grabbed her cat tail with malicious intent and teased her for a while, making the cat girl gasp and beg for mercy while smiling.
Syr was envious when she saw the two of them fighting from afar. The others covered their mouths and sneered, while Ryuu was working hard in the kitchen to wash the dishes.
After enough teasing of Chloe, Shun slowly walked out to meet Aiz who was peeking outside the door.
"Is something wrong?"
Aiz shook her head.
Shun turned to leave, but the girl behind him was still following.
After walking a few steps, Shun stopped.
Aiz immediately stopped.
Shun turned sideways.
Aiz immediately followed and turned around, trying to keep her back from his sight.
Seeing this scene, Shun moved the corner of his mouth, took a deep breath, and turned around.
Aiz immediately blinked, and then without hesitation, she spun with him as the center, staring at his back for life and death.
Seeing this, Shun stopped and sighed deeply.
"Even though you're a natural idiot, but someone who can reach your level is still very strong."
"You really want to know my skills?"
The girl in front of him looked at him innocently like a small animal, nodding obediently. The innocent appearance coupled with her beautiful face like a fairy was truly adorable.
"I… I want to understand why Takema can become a hero."
Generally, every adventurer's skills represent their essence.
Aiz, who wanted to become stronger, wanted to understand why Shun was so strong, so she wanted to see the other party's skills, and wanted to know how to become as strong as him.
"But you should know better, right?"
Shun looked at her expressionlessly and said calmly:
"Every adventurer's status is completely confidential, and even members of the same Familia shouldn't know it. Don't you think you're a little rash and disrespectful?"
Hearing Shun's reprimand, Aiz lowered her head, as if she was being scolded by a teacher and forced to stand still when she was a child, pouting in frustration. Even her shoulders were slightly raised, looking frustrated and defeated.
"What's your expression..."
Shun, who was originally serious, suddenly broke through and playfully flicked the girl's forehead.
"I don't know. You really think I've given up on you."
Aiz didn't show any resistance to Shun's contact, but blinked and looked at him expectantly.
"Well, after seeing it later, how about you agree to make a deal with me?"
"Really?"
Aiz's eyes lit up, and she felt that the world was colorful again, and her slight depression suddenly disappeared.
Her appearance was like a small pet returning home after seeing its owner.
"Really! And don't worry, I guarantee you won't lose in this deal."
Shun hesitantly reached out and grabbed Aiz's hand. After seeing that she didn't mind, he pulled her into the small forest on the edge of the street.
In the dim environment, Shun took off his shirt, revealing his perfectly trained figure in front of the girl.
At this moment, Aiz felt a little thirsty. She didn't understand why, but she still swallowed and her eyes couldn't help but stare at him.
After seeing his upper body, her eyes fell on Shun's back.
When Aiz truly saw the outrageous abilities and skills, she was speechless.
It was outrageous!
This man's skills were truly shameless!
Although Aiz knew that she was a genius, no one could match Shun.
And...
"Strangely... Does he also have ability values higher than S?"
At this moment, Aiz felt like her worldview was going to collapse.
If Shun, who could defeat Level 5 without any Falna, was promoted with ability values beyond common sense, how strong would he be when he reached Level 5 or Level 6 in the future?
After being hit again, Aiz underwent deep self-isolation.
"You look anxious."
Shun knew that Aiz had been stuck at Level 5 for too long, and her mentality was almost out of balance.
"I can feel it Aiz, you really want to become stronger, don't you?"
"Mm...."
Aiz nodded listlessly.
"Then, this time we agree."
Shun, who seemed to have expected it, said:
"There's a special Breathing Technique and wind attribute swordsmanship that's suitable. If you master it, you might be able to achieve an SS breakthrough in your agility attribute."
"Moreover, this suitable swordsmanship greatly enhances martial arts, helping you challenge powerful enemies faster, and achieve extraordinary achievements in advancing to Level 6."
Shun's words made Aiz immediately raise her head and look at him expectantly with blinking eyes.
"Want to?"
Aiz nodded quickly, with a gaze so easily fooled that it made Shun feel like he could cheat her eight times in one night.
"Then, let's make a deal."
"Aiz, how about you show me your Ariel magic a few times, and I'll also give you Wind Breathing and suitable swordsmanship?"
Shun put on his clothes at the same time, and hesitantly put it on Aiz's head. After seeing that she didn't show any discomfort or resistance, he decided to touch her head.
Aiz looked very cold and difficult to approach, but Shun, who had already read the original work, knew her character well.
Aiz was actually a very understanding girl.
The range of her facial expressions was very small, so it often gave others a cold impression, but after truly interacting with her, you would find that she was not good at expressing her thoughts.
Once there were ups and downs of emotions in her heart, she would react very straightforwardly, everything was written on her face, so you could understand her well.
"If you agree, I'll meet you tomorrow morning to teach you Breathing Technique and swordsmanship. How about that?"
Aiz's slightly dull face was stunned for a moment, then she showed a confused expression.
"Just demonstrating magic...? It's a bit unfair..."
"It's nothing, it's just a normal transaction."
Shun waved his hand and left, but the girl who was watching his back continued to stare at him until he entered the shop.
"Thank you..."
The inaudible voice of gratitude echoed in the forest.
Although Aiz didn't show her emotions, she wasn't a fool who didn't know anything.
Compared to the valuable Breathing Technique and swordsmanship, she didn't have to pay anything to demonstrate magic a few times.
This wasn't a reciprocal transaction.
❀❀❀
That night.
After returning to Twilight Manor, Aiz ran to Riveria's room with a pillow in her arms.
And seeing the girl she raised looking for and relying on her after a long absence, Riveria showed her motherly nature.
"Did something happen?"
Aiz didn't speak, she just took Riveria's hand and placed it on her head.
Riveria smiled and stroked her fine golden hair, then she hugged her grown-up daughter who had fallen asleep with her eyes closed for the first time in a long time.
She didn't realize that the golden eyes of the 'daughter' in her arms blinked, but there was a confused expression.
"Only when he does this... it feels so warm..."