[Tl/n: Don't worry, I'm not deleting anything. However, I've read some comments about how WN removes unofficial translations, so this is just a precaution.]
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It took quite a while to descend the mountain, and by the time they returned to the town, it was nearly nightfall. If they wanted to continue shopping, they would have to visit the night market.
Sol wasn't sure if there was such a thing as a night market in Ionia now, but he dismissed the thought quickly.
"I should go back to Orario first," he muttered to himself.
Sol and Alfia walked to a quiet, deserted corner. Ionia was vast, and finding such tranquil spots was easy.
"Are we going back already?" Alfia asked, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice.
She felt as though such a short amount of time wasn't enough to truly get to know this new world.
"It's getting late; we should call it a day," Sol said, his voice tinged with regret.
Though Orario and Valoran existed as separate worlds, the time on both sides was synchronized. Even though Sol was in Valoran now, time on Orario was still passing at the same pace.
In other words, it was already night in Orario.
"Originally, I had planned to visit Bandle City, but it looks like I'll have to look for an opportunity next time," Sol added.
"Bandle City?" Alfia asked, curious.
"Yes, it's where Lulu and the others were born and raised. It's a magical land," Sol explained.
"I see," Alfia said, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I'd like to visit there if I get the chance."
"There will be a chance, but I have to head back today, or Riveria will scold me," Sol admitted with a sigh.
He knew all too well that he had just sneaked out in a moment of excitement. If Riveria discovered he wasn't there, things would certainly go poorly.
But he knew it was inevitable.
It was like a man sneaking away to have fun with someone behind his wife's back—there was always that lingering 'fear' of facing the consequences upon returning home.
"You actually know how to come back?"
As Sol walked back through the portal, he saw Riveria sitting on the bed, her legs crossed. She scanned Sol and Alfia with a sharp, scrutinizing gaze.
A powerful aura emanated from Riveria, and even Alfia, who was at a higher level, felt a slight twinge of unease.
To the family, Riveria had become the de facto leader. When anyone interacted with Sol, if they were caught by her, it was always a bit awkward.
"We just went out for a walk, we didn't do anything," Alfia said, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.
"That's right, there were special circumstances this time! The new country had just been founded, so I took Alfia to inspect it first!" Sol quickly added, waving his hand in an attempt to diffuse the situation.
But Riveria's expression didn't change. It was clear that she wasn't buying it.
"You can keep talking, but I'm not so sure I believe you," Riveria said coldly, her unimpressed gaze cutting through him.
Sol could tell that the conversation wasn't going to go in his favor.
"Alfia, go back and rest. You've been running around with Sol-sama all day," Riveria said firmly, dismissing Alfia from the situation.
"Then I'll head back first. I'm really tired from walking around all day," Alfia said casually, sensing the awkward tension in the lounge as she made her way toward the door without hesitation.
'Really? You've got the nerve to come up with such a clumsy excuse?'
'You're an LV8 adventurer with recovery runes at that level, and you're trying to tell me you're tired from shopping? Do you seriously think I'll buy that?'
But it was clear that Alfia had already made up her mind.
Ignoring Sol's pleading, desperate gaze entirely, she pushed her speed to the limits of her LV8 capabilities. In the blink of an eye, she vanished from the lounge, leaving no chance for anyone to stop her.
Only the door that had just been repaired not long ago was left crumbling in the air.
It's a good thing for Sol though…
If the door had been broken, the family members might have gathered to watch, and Riveria wouldn't have been able to have her fit in peace.
It's a pity that things didn't develop as Saul imagined. After waiting for a long time, no melon-eaters appeared at the gate.
"Why isn't anyone watching?" Sol thought. "Where's everyone's gossip sense? Why's it not working now, of all times?"
Suddenly, Riveria spoke, breaking his thoughts.
"No need to wait. I've already informed the family that I need to speak with you privately."
Riveria shifted her posture slowly, resting her leg on the other knee with a calm, controlled demeanor that made Sol's heart race. Her smile was anything but friendly.
It was clear that this was going to be a lecture, and there would be no avoiding it.
"If you want to go out, you have to at least tell me," Riveria said, placing her hands on her hips, her fingers pinching the soft flesh of Sol's side in irritation.
"Hiss—" Sol winced, the sudden pinch causing him to gasp in surprise.
Riveria's strength, amplified by her LV7 level, left Sol feeling vulnerable. 'This hurts,' he thought.
"Do you know how long everyone has been looking for you? I almost went to the guild to report you missing!" Riveria scolded, her eyes flashing.
"I was wrong..." Sol quickly admitted, realizing that the best course of action was to take responsibility. After all, those who knew when to concede were often the ones who fared best.
"Next time, no matter where you go, you have to let me know. Even if you have to leave a note, understand?" Riveria's voice was firm.
"I understand!" Sol replied with a nod, Soloughly chastened.
"So, how was your trip to Ionia?" she asked, her tone shifting to something more inquisitive. "Did you find anything interesting?"
"Next time, I'll show you. There's a lot of martial arts in Ionia that I think the family could learn," Sol replied, eager to change the topic.
Martial arts were different from skills or magic, and there was no harm in adding them to the family's skill set.
Moreover, the martial arts of Ionia were far from trivial—they were highly respected techniques.
"Sounds promising," Riveria mused, "but how do we get them to learn Ionia's martial arts?"
Sol had already thought ahead. "It's not a problem. When the time comes, I'll bring back some catalogs of martial arts. We can have the kids practice according to those."
Some sects kept their martial arts teachings secret, which could complicate things, but Sol wasn't worried.
He would leave those difficulties to Karma. With her status, he was confident she could handle any issues that arose.