CHAPTER 4 BETWEEN TRANQUILITY AND TURBULENCE
The sun emerged from the eastern horizon, lighting up the landscape.
The first of the sun’s rays cleared Orario’s high city wall.
A cool air hovered over the metropolis.
“Aizuu…still not herself again today…”
Said Loki quietly as she leaned over the railing.
She was standing on a bridge connecting two of the towers. The stone bridge overlooked a garden far below.
Loki, however, was looking at the blond-haired girl sitting in a chair beneath one of the many trees on the narrow lawn.
“She was down in the dumps all of yesterday…”
“Aiz wasting time in this manner is beyond unusual; it’s strange.”
“Ya got that right…”
Another person, a demi-human, stood on the bridge next to Loki with her eyes on the girl below.
Her hair was like a constantly flowing river of jade, with eyes to match. Her feminine frame was long, thin, and absolutely radiating elvish beauty. Even her silky white skin was flawless.
Riveria stood on the bridge with an air of brilliant elegance. There was a stark contrast between her and the goddess with her elbows on the railing.
“Usually, it don’t matter if it’s after an expedition or whatever, she’s always headed ta the Dungeon…On the bright side, I don’t have ta worry as much when I can see her.”
“I am very much in agreement. So, then.”
Riveria turned her back to the railing. Her refined facial features, usually symmetrical enough to rival the gods’, twisted into a grimace.
In fact, she and Aiz possessed enough beauty to pass as goddesses themselves. A few of the divine women had made this mistake and become jealous in the past.
In Riveria’s case, it was because royal blood flowed through her veins. She was a high elf.
By and large, elves tended to avoid interacting with gods and humans, choosing to spend their lives in their forest homelands. Riveria had followed a different path and eventually ended up in the Labyrinth City.
However, other elves, including Lefiya, could instantly recognize her lineage and treated her with the utmost respect. While she tolerated it, the special treatment made her uncomfortable.
“The cause of her depression must be the incident at the bar.”
“I don’t blame her, Bete harassin’ her like that. For what it’s worth, Bete’s hurtin’ real bad, too.”
“Not my problem. He’s getting what he deserves.”
Two days had passed since the night at the bar.
Tiona led the charge to capture Bete after Aiz had run outside. Believing that he was the reason she left the table, they took it upon themselves to punish him. It took no time at all to tie him up and hang him by his ankles outside the bar. Riveria had taken part—he’d called her a hag, after all—by pinning his head to the ground with her foot as the Amazons prepared the rope.
The werewolf had no memory of this incident the morning after. He became extremely depressed after hearing the details. Tiona and Tione had taken it upon themselves to keep him out of Aiz’s sight.
Riveria sighed, hoping that the werewolf would learn from his mistakes.
“Then again, Aiz ain’t the type of girl ta get worked up over somethin’ like that…”
“Then there must be another cause?”
“Most likely. But that’s somethin’ only Aiz knows.”
Riveria tilted her head and glanced down at the garden.
The only other events from the other night that she could remember were the waitress who ran outside and the mysterious customer who dashed out before her. Everything happened so fast that Riveria didn’t know the full story, but she assumed that something Aiz couldn’t ignore transpired before the incident.
What’s more, it was just as Loki said. Only Aiz knew what the problem was; they had nothing to go on.
“What shall we do? Give her some space?”
“That’s the thing, ain’t it? If we fix her problem an’ she roars back to life, there’ll be no stoppin’ her from goin’ to the Dungeon.
“Ehh…” Loki groaned for a moment, letting her voice trail off until, “AH!” She spun to face Riveria.
“I’m leavin’ it to you!”
“…What?”
“I’m trusting ya, Riveria. Rather than me doin’ this and that, you’d be much better.”
Loki walked closer to the elf.
“You never planned on leavin’ her alone, even with the whole ‘shall we give her some space’—No need for that. You wanna ask her what’s wrong as much as I do, don’cha?”
Loki mimicked Riveria’s words—poorly—with a grin on her face.
The elf fought back an annoyed twitch but was still impressed by her goddess’s ability to see her true feelings. Her face relaxed.
“Go do your thing, Mama.”
Loki walked past Riveria, patting her on the shoulder before making her way to the open tower door. The elf silently watched as her goddess put her hands behind her head and disappeared from sight.
Riveria Ljos Alf had been a member of Loki Familia for longer than most could remember.
She had known Aiz for longer than anyone, with the exception of Loki herself. The two had developed a strong bond over the years.
“…Mama?”
Despite her verbal confusion, she couldn’t reject the idea.
Sighing quietly to herself, Riveria walked to the central tower.
“Aiz.”
The central tower was surrounded by a garden at its base.
The other towers blocked light for most of the day, but the efforts of other members of the familia were paying off. All of the plants were green and lush under the light of magic-stone lamp ornaments shaped like orbs.
Riveria emerged from the central tower’s wooden door and walked across the lawn toward Aiz.
“Riveria…”
“Up early, as usual. But for some reason your weapon is still.”
Aiz was sitting in a long chair in the shade of a tree.
The rapier, rather than her weapon of choice, was propped up against the roots. Riveria deduced that Aiz more than likely came down here with the intention of practicing but wasn’t in the mood.
The two made eye contact for a moment, but Aiz’s golden gaze fell to the grass at Riveria’s feet.
“…”
“…”
Silence, but for only a second or two.
Riveria thought about how to bring up the issue at hand but quickly realized that it wasn’t necessary.
She didn’t have to beat around the bush.
The two of them could get straight to the point.
“What happened?”
Aiz looked up but couldn’t make eye contact.
The girl’s expression was still normal, but Riveria could tell that a conflict was storming inside.
At long last, Aiz started to speak.
“About the Minotaur…When we were at the bar.”
“Yes.”
“I…That boy…I saved that adventurer, but…”
Riveria listened intently to Aiz’s story, feeling increasingly sick to her stomach as she came to understand Aiz’s dilemma.
She learned what really happened two nights ago. Regret that she hadn’t put a stop to it sooner surged through her veins.
For now, Riveria looked at the girl’s face with a new understanding. Aiz appeared just as aloof as normal but somber at the same time. The elf thought she sensed a hint of dejection.
While Aiz hadn’t physically harmed the boy, she had inflicted a different kind of scar.
Part of her was happy that something other than training in the Dungeon was making Aiz feel emotion. Now she had to make sure it went in a positive direction.
“What action would you like to take?”
The blond girl looked back at the ground. Riveria said nothing else.
The elf waited patiently for the girl to come up with her own answer.
“…I don’t know, but…”
The answer came.
“I should apologize, I think…”
Her voice was quiet, uneven.
“I see…”
“…”
The conversation ended. A gentle breeze surrounded them until the sound of a deep bell echoed from one of the towers.
It was to let them know breakfast was served.
“Continue your search until you have confidence in your answer. Should you ask, I will lend you my ear and advice.”
“Okay…”
“Time to eat. Let’s go.”
The two of them glanced toward the ringing tower. Riveria said her piece before turning away.
She had given the girl direction.
It was not her place to say anything more. While it pained her to watch the girl suffer through this dilemma, Aiz would grow. That’s what Riveria wanted.
It made her proud, like a parent, to watch Aiz mature in front of her eyes.
“Riveria…”
“?”
“…Thank you.”
Riveria looked at her over her shoulder and noticed a hint of warmth in the blond girl’s eyes. The elf’s expression softened as she walked out of the garden and into the tower.
The young girl’s face was still cloudy.
Giving encouragement wasn’t Riveria’s strong suit, so she would be overjoyed if their conversation helped the girl recover in any way.
I would hate to borrow Loki’s words, but…
Her goddess had hit the nail right on the head.
The other girls would be better at cheering her up than she would.
“Gahh—”
Tiona crossed her arms and growled under her breath.
“Miss Tiona…?”
“What’s with that sound?”
Lefiya and Tione looked up from their empty breakfast plates. Tiona appeared to be deep in thought on the other side of the table.
“Aiz, something’s still bugging her.”
The blond girl had sat next to her while they ate, but she was already gone.
The four of them had eaten together, as usual. And as usual, whenever a topic came up, Aiz stayed relatively silent and answered any questions that came her way in a few short words. Everything seems completely normal.
Except.
Tiona knew.
She didn’t think that Aiz was depressed, but something seemed off about the blond-haired girl.
“She’s still angry at the mutt, don’t you think? We can just leave her alone.”
“No, I don’t think Bete had much to do with it at all. Well, I’m not saying he’s innocent, just that Aiz doesn’t really care about him one way or another.”
“After all you did to Bete at the bar, that’s what you think…?”
“Something else is getting her down.”
Thinking wasn’t Tiona’s specialty.
She could tell that Aiz had a problem, but it was highly unlikely that she would be able to offer any useful advice. In fact, she’d probably make things worse if she tried to get involved.
Tiona’s only option was to make Aiz have fun and to be her carefree self, in order to force a smile out of the blond girl.
“Lefiya, Tione. You have any plans today?”
“No, can’t say I do.”
“I was going to help the general…”
“Good, you’re free. Join me for the day!”
“Weren’t you listening?”
Tiona ignored her sister.
The young Amazon couldn’t stand to see Aiz’s dreary face much longer.
She wanted to see the smile that was as delicate as white flowers on a distant mountaintop being pulled apart by the wind.
Tiona considered herself Aiz’s best friend. It was time for her to take action. She jumped up from the table, her chair sliding against the wall in the process.
“I’ll go find Aiz!”
She tore out of the dining hall with the same vigor as entering a Dungeon cave.
Stubborn as a wild boar, there was no stopping her once Tiona decided to do something. She flew through the hallways like a bird that just learned how to spread its wings.
Rooms, rooftops, storage areas, the common room. She opened every door within reach on her way up the main tower. She was greeted by the startled eyes of other Loki Familia members every time hinges shrieked. The Amazon made it all the way up to Loki’s private quarters, but the goddess wasn’t there. In fact, only the stench of alcohol occupied the room. “Ugh,” she grunted as she pinched her nose. Closing the door once again, she took off down the spiral stairs.
She zigzagged through each of the towers in turn.
“…Oi.”
“Uwahhh?!”
It happened as she turned a corner.
A thin leg blocked off the narrow hallway like a fallen log. Tiona came to a screeching halt and glared at the one blocking her progress: Bete.
“What’s the big idea? You’re in the way, Bete! Move!”
Tiona had become much more direct when speaking to him after the incident at the bar.
The werewolf didn’t seem perturbed by her anger. Instead, he jerked his chin toward the window across from him.
“If yer lookin’ fer Aiz, go ta the garden.”
“Huh…?”
Bete looked at the stunned expression on Tiona’s face before moving his leg out of her way.
Lips pressed together, the gray-furred werewolf scratched the back of his head and walked away in the opposite direction, sulking.
Tiona watched him leave for a moment before squinting and sticking her tongue out at his back.
She did, however, go to the garden.
“!”
Aiz was there, just like Bete said.
She was sitting in a long chair next to a tree, looking at the sky.
Tiona’s face lit up as she dashed across the lawn.
“AIZZZZZ!”
“…Tiona?”
The blond girl’s golden eyes blinked a few times as the Amazon jumped into view.
Tiona grabbed ahold of the girl’s thin arms and pulled her out of the chair.
“Let’s go shopping!”
The two girls joined up with Lefiya and Tione before heading out into the city.
Tiona led them to a shopping district relatively close to their home on the northern edge of Orario, North Main Street. This area was inhabited by many Guild employees and wealthy merchants. Each house was well decorated and luxurious, while each store was bright and colorful.
North Main was wide enough that several young merchants set up kiosks in the middle of the road. The four girls weaved their way through throngs of humans and demi-humans on their way down the street.
“I can hardly believe this, forcing me all the way out here…”
“It’s good to get out, you know? You said it yourself not too long ago, how nice it would be to have a full day of shopping!”
“Um, Miss Tiona, what exactly are we shopping for?”
“Clothes! Lots and lots of clothes! That sound good, Aiz?”
“S-sure…”
Tiona grabbed hold of Aiz’s hand and practically dragged her forward.
North Main Street was known as a fashion district.
Many races that called Orario home had a variety of tastes and needs when it came to clothes. Short and thin prums couldn’t shop at the same places that short yet robust dwarves would go. Each race had its favorite types of fabric and designs as well. In fact, their preferences were so different that clothing stores had to be careful to tailor to only their target customers. Otherwise, squabbles between races would never end.
That’s where the merchants came in.
They built their shops to cater to one specific race and then built up a relationship of trust with individual customers. Several deities had taken note of this and built their familias around the industry. So much so that many people considered Orario to be the trendsetter of the fashion world.
And it was here, on North Main Street, that fashion giants catering to all races had shops running up and down both sides of the street.
“Miss Tiona, wouldn’t it be better to explore the smaller shops in the backstreets? They’re cheaper and a lot less crowded.”
“Of course! The place that Tione and I really like is just around the corner!”
“Huh, a place that you and your sister like? Wouldn’t that mean…?”
Lefiya’s words trailed off as a sense of impending dread overtook her. Tiona giddily led Aiz by the hand, paying no attention to the elf. The crowd thinned out almost immediately as they turned the corner and found that shop right away.
“Th-this is…”
The pupils of Lefiya’s eyes shrank as she looked up at a large sign that used a vibrant purple color scheme.
Her gaze fell to the white open doors. It was just as she feared. This shop was for Amazons.
“It’s been ages! Perhaps this might be fun after all.”
“Come on, Aiz, let’s go!!”
“Huh, um…”
The twins ushered Aiz inside. Lefiya hesitated, a bead of sweat running down her face. Clenching her eyes shut, she followed the other girls inside.
The shop’s inventory was hell on earth—for anyone other than an Amazon, at least.
All of the clothing on display at the other end of the counter would make anyone with a shred of shame want to avert their eyes. Since all Amazons were female, the bright and colorful fabric was sold in two-piece sets that didn’t cover much more skin than the outfits dancers wore in a red-light district. The traditional patterns had a unique flair to make the wearer stand out from the crowd. Even the clerk, also an Amazon, wore an outfit that most would describe as underwear.
Tiona and Tione ran into the shop, grabbing the first garments that got their attention and talking with the clerk. A blushing Aiz and a beet-red Lefiya looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
“Aiz, want to try this? You have a sleek body, so this should look amazing on you.”
“Wh-why are you making Aiz try on clothes at a place like this?!”
“What’s the problem? We’re already here anyway. I found a good one for you, too, Lefiya!”
“I-I refuse!”
The elf violently shook her head side to side as Tiona held up a short skirt with high slits in the sides. Meanwhile, Aiz was desperately trying to avoid eye contact while quietly shuffling her feet backward.
It might be the influence of the gods and goddesses on earth, but the fashion world was starting to break down traditional barriers between the fashions of each race.
While many chose to wear only what they were accustomed to, people who wore clothes of other races from time to time out of sheer curiosity did exist.
“Aiz, how about this? It matches mine…”
“E-ehh…”
Tiona held up a pareo-style skirt and a piece of sturdy fabric of the same color to wrap around her chest.
Aiz glanced from the clothes to Tiona’s outfit, blushing so hard that her face almost matched the clothing.
“No—I won’t allow it!!”
Lefiya had reached her limit. Nervousness had overpowered her shame. Shoulders shaking up and down, she stepped in front of Aiz to protect her.
“I won’t allow you to force Miss Aiz to wear this…this obscene combination of so-called ‘clothing’! She deserves something…something more modest, more elegant! Yes, something like we elves would wear!”
Thud! Lefiya slapped both of her hands onto her chest, desperate for an example of acceptable garments. The surface of her cheeks radiated so much heat Tiona had to take a step back.
Despite the rage of the elf, Tiona decided to try a different approach.
“But wouldn’t you like to see Aiz in this?”
Lefiya froze.
Slowly but surely, the elf’s dark-blue eyes fell to Tiona’s chest and pareo.
“Wh-why would I?”
“But you were thinking it?”
Lefiya denied it over and over, her cheeks close to maroon at this point, until she grabbed hold of Aiz’s hand.
“Miss Aiz, I shall introduce you to an elf store! As unworthy to be your guide as I am, you will see the best we have to offer!”
“L-Lefiya…”
A very confused Aiz was pulled back out onto the street. If the elf had been more conscious of her actions, she would have been extremely embarrassed.
Tiona and Tione looked at each other. They wore exactly the same grin, one mirroring the other, as they watched the events unfold. Returning to the clerk the clothes they’d picked out, the twins followed the other girls out the door.
Aiz was pushed, pulled, dragged, and led to store after store the rest of the morning.
“““OHHH!”””
Three voices gave their approval.
Aiz had just pulled back the curtain to a fitting room. She stood there like a shy doll as the three girls looked at her with approving eyes.
She wore a white, sleeveless top paired with a miniskirt. A beautiful floral pattern was sewn into the shirt just above the hem as an accent. It was a very simple combination, but the blond hair and feminine figure of the wearer made the garments come to life.
“Y-you look amazing, Miss Aiz!”
“Really, really amazing! Loki’d be all over you if she were here!”
“Your skin is so clear and these clothes show off your body…Well, I’m a bit jealous, actually.”
Aiz was surrounded by compliments.
The armor she wanted to be wearing and weapon that should be at her side were nowhere to be seen. She asked them if it was strange for a knight like her to be so vulnerable, but the other girls quickly waved off her objections. The blond girl looked at the floor, cheeks turning bright pink.
Tiona and the others couldn’t help but smile after seeing Aiz react like a fish out of water.
“Aiz, let’s go with these!”
“O-okay…”
“All that running around, and we wind up at a human store anyway.”
“Well, it’s the easiest. Miss Aiz doesn’t have any strange tastes, so a place like this makes the most sense.”
Tiona was in an extremely good mood, while Tione and Lefiya looked around the store with curious eyes.
They’d lost count of how many places they’d visited. After bouncing from store to store, they finally settled on a human shop to find clothes for Aiz.
“Tiona, how much…?”
“Don’t worry about it! This is a present from me! Wear them to your heart’s content!”
Tiona didn’t allow Aiz to object. The blond girl simply nodded and let the Amazon pay at the front counter. The transaction complete, the four girls left the shop together.
It was almost noon at this point. The sun’s rays poured into the city, making the brick buildings and stone pavement sparkle around them. The four girls made their way through dozens of clothing stores, all bursting with different colors, surrounded by the noise of the lively backstreets.
Aiz kept wearing her new clothes. The ones she had been wearing before were wrapped in a cloth and in a bag hanging from her shoulder. She would never have chosen to wear anything as cute as this on her own; she felt exposed and out of place. The others couldn’t help but giggle as the blond girl acted more and more awkward.
“Should we get some lunch? I’m pretty hungry.”
“It might be a little early, but why not? Lefiya, know of any good cafés around here?”
“Let me think. If I remember right, there should be a good one just a little ahead of here…”
The three girls were talking among themselves when Tiona suddenly felt a set of eyes looking at her.
The Amazon looked over her shoulder and saw Aiz hunched over and looking back at her.
“What’s wrong, Aiz?”
“Tiona…”
She was about to say something when suddenly—SMACK!—something ran headlong into her.
“Ahh!” Tiona yelped in surprise.
“Whoa there. Sorry, Amazon! I’m in a rush!”
The young girl who ran into Tiona by accident made a hasty apology before rushing off on her way.
Judging by the way she talked despite her diminutive size gave the girls a clue as to her identity.
“That cute girl just now…She’s a goddess, isn’t she?”
“Looks like it. She seems really busy, though…What’s with you, Tiona?”
“Her boobs, they’re huge…but she’s so tiny.”
“…”
The other girls rolled their eyes at Tiona’s suddenly dreary tone.
The gods and goddesses never aged, but they came in many forms. From old, wizened men to young, cute girls, it wasn’t strange to encounter a deity with unusual features. In this case, it might at first seem that such a little girl couldn’t possibly have such an imbalanced physique, but if she was a goddess, that wouldn’t be strange at all.
Tiona watched the young goddess’s twin jet-black ponytails bounce from side to side as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
“Now that you mention it, aren’t there a lot of goddesses out on the street today…?” Lefiya said to no one in particular while looking up and down the street.
The other girls took a look around and, sure enough, quite a few divine women stood out from the crowd.
“Come on, fix this for me! I know I bought it here!”
“B-b-but my lady, we do only sales at this location…”
“Don’t be so stingy! The Banquet is tonight. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just make it look presentable!”
The young goddess from earlier was doing her best to convince the clerk at a nearby shop to mend a dress. “Ah!” Their conversation reminded Tione of something and the sound escaped her lips.
“Loki was talking about that. That there’s a ‘Banquet of the Gods’ coming up. She didn’t sound too interested in going, though.”
“‘Banquet of the Gods’…If I remember correctly, that’s a party that one god hosts for the others?”
“Yep. I hear it’s really formal, so maybe these goddesses are picking up their dresses for the big night?”
“Yes, that makes sense.”
From the look on Lefiya’s face, Tione’s explanation apparently satisfied Lefiya. Taking another look, the elf saw several of the divine ladies carrying long bags designed for dresses in their arms.
Soon after, the girls found the café and sat down at a round table.
“Hey, let’s go to South Main Street next!”
“The shopping center, huh…I’m fine with it.”
“Yes, I can go as well.”
“Come with us, Aiz! Even if it isn’t nighttime, that place is really lively and fun!”
Tiona smiled at the girl sitting next to her, but Aiz just kept silently staring at the table.
Her expression seemed guilty somehow. “Aiz?” Tiona called out to her to get her attention.
She slowly opened her mouth to speak.
“Sorry, Tiona…”
“…”
Her golden eyes didn’t budge. Instead, she worked up the courage to finish what she had been trying to say earlier.
She’d figured out that everything that had transpired today was Tiona’s way of trying to cheer her up. Aiz felt guilty about having so much done for her and tried to make herself smaller, not even trying to look up.
Tione and Lefiya didn’t know what to say. The girls were quiet, their table enveloped by the lively sounds of the restaurant around them.
Tiona, who had been staring at Aiz, abruptly moved.
She made a loose fist and lightly punched Aiz’s cheek.
“…?”
The blond girl looked up in surprise. Tiona’s eyes were half open, one eyebrow cocked high.
“You know, I didn’t buy you a present because I wanted an apology.”
Another light smack, a third.
Tiona batted at Aiz’s face like a cat playing with a feather.
The girl closed her eyes just before each hit.
Tiona finally put down her hand and locked eyes with Aiz.
They stared at each other for a few moments before the muscles in Aiz’s face relaxed.
“…Thanks, Tiona.”
A small curve in her lips, a tiny smile.
At last, Tiona got what she wanted. Overcome with a surge of happiness, she jumped out of her chair and drew the human girl into a hug.
“M-Miss Tiona, there is no need to hold her in public…”
“What’s this, Lefiya? Are you jealous?”
“I-it’s not that…!”
“Too bad. I’m not giving up my spot next to Aiz!”
“…?!”
“Ho-ho, there’s no need to deny your feelings, Lefiya!”
Tione snuck up behind the elf and grabbed both her shoulders before pushing her toward Aiz. The two girls’ faces brushed against each other.
Aiz closed one of her eyes as her cheek rubbed against the elf’s, but she didn’t pull back or try to resist.
Lefiya’s body trembled while Tione enjoyed herself as she watched over them.
Tiona and Aiz looked at each other once again before sharing a laugh.
The sky turned an orangish red, sun hovering in the west.
Tiona led the group through the long shadows on their way north toward the city wall, toward home.
“Ahhh, that was fun!”
A smile was still on Aiz’s lips, letting Tiona know it had been worth forcing her to go shopping. She was quite proud of herself. Even after cheering Aiz up, she and her sister thoroughly enjoyed teasing Lefiya the rest of the afternoon. It had been a long day and the girls were out of energy.
They were still talking among themselves when they turned the last corner before home.
“Huh?”
“A carriage…?”
Tiona and Lefiya stared at the fancy contraption that was strapped to a horse in front of Twilight Manor.
As they got closer, they saw Loki, clad in a black dress, open a door between the wheels of the carriage and step inside.
“Wha? Loki, is that you?! Your clothes, your hair?!”
“Eh? Ohhh! Y’all are back from a day on the town? Hee-hee, how do I look?”
“You look very nice…Are you going somewhere tonight?”
“Meh. Thought I’d go pay that stupid party a visit.”
“But you told me you weren’t interested in the Banquet of the Gods, right, Loki?”
“—Fu-hee-hee. Happened ta hear something interestin’. Poor-as-rags Itty-Bitty’s gonna be there, so I’m gonna have some fun.”
The girls tilted their heads in confusion.
However, all of them recognized the look on Loki’s face. It was that grin. It couldn’t be anything good, that was for sure.
It was strange to see Loki with her hair tied back into a bun as she took a seat inside the carriage and closed the door. Most likely a rental provided by a wealthy merchant, the horse-drawn cart had a roof, windows, and was very luxurious. It could comfortably seat several people. Sitting at the front of the carriage, the reins in his hand, was Raul. “Why me…?” he moaned in self-pity.
All four girls felt a stab of sympathy for the unfortunate young man. NEIGHHH! The horse shifted its hooves, getting impatient.
“I’m off! Plenty’a food in the kitchen, so help yerselves ta anythin’!”
WHI-CHA! Raul snapped the reins and the carriage moved forward.
They watched as Loki leaned out the open window, waving to the girls, and slowly disappeared down the road.
Night had enveloped the city. Magic-stone lamps lit up the streets like thousands of stars in the sky.
Bars and restaurants were alive with the sounds of happy customers. Horse-drawn carriages of many shapes and sizes gathered in one area of the city. Many extraordinarily beautiful men and women were gathering.
They were deities, and they were all headed to one particular building.
Specifically, a massive statue of a man wearing an elephant mask.
It was a building that made people with common sense doubt their eyes. It looked like a monster at first glance, but the attention to detail and overall feel of the structure were strangely endearing. It stuck out like a sore thumb from the other buildings in the vicinity, but the gods and goddesses didn’t seem perturbed by the elephant man sitting cross-legged in the middle of the city.
“Still as strange as ever…”
Loki arrived at the location of tonight’s Banquet of the Gods, Ganesha Familia’s home. Raul opened the carriage door for her and offered his hand as she stepped out.
An expansive white fence encircled the lawn that surrounded the structure. Spotlights were set on top of several of the fence posts, lighting up the elephant man in all its glory. Loki and Raul stood side by side, taking it all in.
“I must say, Raul, you’ve become a mighty fine escort.”
“Ah, yes…Thank you.”
“Sorry ta ask ya, but could ya wait up a bit with the carriage? Could be a late night, but I’ll pay ya for yer time!”
Raul resigned himself to his fate and nodded. Loki said a brief thank-you and took off with a swish of her dress. Unfortunately, she was not used to walking in high heels and stumbled a few times on her way across the lawn and up into the structure.
A Banquet of the Gods was exactly how it sounded: Only gods were allowed to participate.
It was up to the deity hosting the event to decide when it began and if it would come to an official end. These parties almost never had a purpose other than to have a good time—purely for entertainment. For some, it was a way to overcome homesickness by drinking and laughing with other beings from Tenkai.
Several gods and goddesses in attendance would talk about their familias or exchange information in an attempt to maintain good relationships. Living in this world was nothing more than a game, but these Banquets were the best places to recruit powerful allies for the more competitive deities.
“I am Ganesha!”
“YAY!!”
Loki emerged from the long front hallway into a wide-open ballroom. A muscular male deity wearing a mask that matched the building stood on top of a stage at the opposite end of the room. Known throughout the city for his elephant mask and overenthusiasm, this god was none other than the host for the evening, Ganesha. The deities around the stage met his unbelievably loud voice with cheers.
Each Banquet varied in terms of location and style, depending on the host’s tastes and their familia’s economic status. Ganesha Familia was one of Orario’s most powerful groups in terms of sheer numbers, which meant that they wielded considerable influence inside the city. The decor of the ballroom reflected their financial prowess with expensive ornaments and absolutely gorgeous color schemes.
An expansive yet intricate magic-stone chandelier hung from the ceiling. Long tables were covered in exotic cuisine collected from distant mountains and oceans. A few tables even had food prepared with ingredients from the Dungeon, like mruit. Members of Ganesha Familia walked among the royally dressed deities, serving drinks and replacing food as necessary.
“Now this is the high life.”
Ker-tap ker-tap. Loki’s high heels echoed off the floor as she had a look around inside. The overall atmosphere was quiet but brimming with energy.
Other gods and goddesses were very quick to notice a face that almost never appeared at a Banquet. Loki left a trail of conversations in her wake.
“Rats, Loki’s here…”
“The downer goddess has arrived…”
“Hey, hey, no making fun of Lolo!”
“She’ll kill you guys, seriously.”
“But look, Loki is in a…a dress…?!”
“Hell must’ve frozen over.”
“Still, I think she’s got the boobs to pull it off.”
“No, she’s got nothing.”
“You’re telling me! I’ve never seen a rack more depressing than that one!”
“Moron, what’s wrong with smaller tits?”
All right, I’ve committed it to memory…
When I go home, you’re all dead.
Loki happened to overhear a group of gods snickering among themselves. A quick glance over her shoulder and they all immediately fell silent before running out of the ballroom in such a panic that they tripped over their shoes on the way out. “Keh.” Loki spat in their direction before snagging a glass of wine from a passing waiter and jamming it to her lips.
In general, gods and goddesses were unpredictable. Their actions didn’t make much sense.
They came to this world for entertainment. Acting completely on whims and impulses, they didn’t take much seriously. Most of them were considered insane by the mortals on Earth. The ones who were so quick to pick a fight were also the ones who knew how to run fast.
“Don’t see Itty-Bitty anywhere…She chicken out?”
Loki hadn’t been planning on coming to this Banquet, but she’d changed her mind.
The reason: She’d heard that a certain bottom-of-the-barrel deity she couldn’t stand was making preparations to attend the party.
If she wasn’t here, then oh, well. But if she was here, Loki would torment the moneyless goddess, her sad excuse for a “dress,” and laugh to her heart’s content.
An evil grin started to grow on her face as her eyes scanned the room like a hawk’s.
“Oh, if it isn’t Loki!”
“Hnn?”
A voice called out to her as she made her way through the groups of deities.
A slender god with thin eyes was smiling at her when she turned to look.
He was the spitting image of a young prince from some far-off country.
He wore an innocent smile and had luscious golden locks of hair smooth enough to make goddesses jealous. His frame was delicate, with long arms and legs.
The youthful god was dressed just as formally as everyone else. But unlike them, he had no qualms with walking right up to Loki and saying, “Shall we have a chat?”
“Yo, Dionysus. You’re here, too.”
“Indeed. I thought this Banquet would be a good chance to catch up on everyone’s news. Without a familia as strong as yours, Loki, I cannot afford to pick and choose.”
The god named Dionysus smiled again as he answered.
His body language and choice of words mirrored that of the royal families and upper class of human societies on Earth. Even among the gods and goddesses playing dress-up, he stood out from the crowd like the genuine article.
The man had an air of calm about him that matched his persona perfectly. But above all else, there was a power behind his glass-like eyes, as though he could see to the very core of any being.
Loki couldn’t stand him.
“My, my, Loki, it’s been too long. Have you been well?”
“Ohh……Demeter. Didn’t see ya there.”
“Yes, we were engaged in conversation just a moment ago.”
A ridiculously curvy goddess emerged from the crowd carrying two glasses of wine.
She had curly hair the color of honey flowing down her back. Her soft, gentle eyes gave her a pleasant, friendly aura.
The long, billowy dress around her body was wide open in the front. Even now, her breasts could burst free from their insufficient restraints at any moment. Confronted with a kind of pride she would never know, Loki leaned back out of reflex, lips twitching at the sight.
Demeter had a big heart, which needed an even bigger chest to contain her generosity. Loki couldn’t embrace even a shred of animosity toward her.
“Loki, how is your familia coming along? I have heard so much about the deeds of your children. I do hope you’re not pushing them too hard?”
“Yeah, they’re a bunch’a go-getters. Some, a little bit too much, so they make me worry all the time…How ’bout yours, Demeter?”
“My beloved children have a lot of enthusiasm for my work. I am so grateful. This year’s harvest was absolutely spectacular. I will share some of our bounty with yours, Loki.”
“Why, thank you!”
Demeter Familia specialized in agriculture, growing a wide range of fruits and vegetables to sell within Orario.
Their farms outside the city walls provided most of the ingredients used by bars and restaurants.
“The grapes used in tonight’s wine were grown on your farm, if I’m not mistaken? I am very particular when it comes to grape wine, and this is absolutely superb.”
“Fu-fu, thank you kindly, Dionysus.”
“Huh! No kiddin’!”
Loki accepted a glass of wine from Demeter as she listened to the two deities’ conversation. She grew bored of their banter and took a sip.
The inside of her mouth came alive the moment the wine hit her taste buds. The rich fragrance of the grapes wafted through her nose as the sweet taste of the alcohol danced its way down her throat. Loki had tried many different types of wine in her day and she had to admit this was one of the best.
“So, what ’bout yours, Dionysus? Haven’t heard anything special.”
“My familia? We’ve tried our hands at this and that. I try to encourage my children to work at their own pace but remain nearby to provide motivation.”
“Ehh? What kinda answer is that? Play fair, Dionysus.”
According to the Guild’s records, Dionysus Familia was in the middle of the pack in terms of strength within the Labyrinth City. Quite a few of his adventurers were upper-class, third tier—Level 2—but none of them had accomplished any notable achievements. Just as Loki said, there was nothing particularly good or bad about the group, nothing special.
“Your children just returned from an expedition, yes? Care to regale us with stories of their exploits in the Deep Levels?”
“You give me jack squat an’ expect a gem in return? Keep dreamin’.”
The golden-haired deity raised his glass as a way of saying, Touché. Loki cocked an eyebrow in response, but their conversation picked up soon after.
It wasn’t long before a group of musicians made their way into the hall. Ganesha must have planned a dance for his guests. Melodies were filling the ballroom within a matter of minutes and the more adventurous gods and goddesses were showing off their best moves onstage. Their host was still onstage, making the same declaration between more serious announcements, but no one was paying any attention.
“Ganesha’s Banquets always have such an elegant touch. That must be why most of us in Orario come to these get-togethers.”
“In his case, Ganesha has done a lot to ensure that the Monsterphilia festival goes smoothly. It’s difficult to turn a blind eye to his invitations. They have come to make certain that their own familias won’t be bothered during the festivities.”
“Monsterphilia, huh? Ganesha sure listens to the Guild a lot more than I do.”
A yearly event would start a few days from now.
Under the sharp eyes of the Guild regulations, Ganesha Familia would use all of its resources to put on a show for the citizens of Orario. Brave tamers would attempt to bend dangerous monsters from the Dungeon to their will at the city’s Coliseum.
“While we’re on the subject, Loki…”
“Oh?”
Dionysus wore the same innocent smile as he glanced in Loki’s direction.
“Do you plan on attending the Monsterphilia yourself?”
“Hnnn…”
It’s only once a year, she thought to herself.
It might be a good opportunity to take one of her cute children to watch the tamers in action…She had her answer for Dionysus.
“Was considerin’ it, but why ya wanna know?”
“Oh no, are you serious? Are you going to cause a ruckus again?”
“Hey, what’s that mean?”
“Please, hear me out! You’ve never shown any interest in the Monsterphilia before, Loki. I know some of the havoc you wrought while in Tenkai, so I may have gotten the wrong idea. I apologize if I stepped over a line.”
“Ya tryin’a piss me off…?”
Loki didn’t try to deny anything that Dionysus said, despite her anger.
It was true that, while in Tenkai, Loki was a prankster who enjoyed causing confusion whenever possible. She’d changed quite a bit after starting her own familia, but Dionysus’s reaction was understandable.
There was a twinge of sadness in Loki’s gaze as her vermilion eyes looked upon the blond god.
“What about yerself? Ya goin’?”
“…Good question. I don’t think I shall attend. My schedule for that day is already quite full, you see.”
Dionysus maintained the same innocent smile as he spoke.
“’Kay, then,” said a disinterested Loki. She broke off eye contact and started looking for another waiter with the tray of wineglasses to sample, when she caught a glimpse of something interesting. “Oohh?”
A crimson-haired goddess was standing next to a silver-haired goddess, and between them was a black-haired deity with twin ponytails.
Her lips curled up. Loki chugged the last few gulps of wine in her glass before quickly wiping her mouth on her bare arm.
“Well, then, Dionysus, Demeter. Thanks for chattin’. Later!”
“Sure, I bid you farewell.”
“Fu-fu, until next time, Loki.”
Turning her back to them, Loki took off toward her target.
“Hey! Fei-Fei! Freya! Itty-Bitty!!”
“…”
Dionysus watched in silence as Loki disappeared as into the crowd.
He didn’t take his eyes off her until the goddess had disappeared behind another group of deities.
“Planning a ruckus again?”
Came a female voice from beside him.
Demeter was smirking. Dionysus turned his shoulders to face her. The innocent smile was gone, replaced by something a little more forced.
“You seem to have gotten the wrong idea, Demeter. When have I ever caused problems?”
His words only served to deepen Demeter’s grin.
“Oh really? Something always happens when you smile like that, Dionysus.”
“—GAAA!”
A powerful strike split a gun liberla in half.
The large dragonfly monster was slain with a rapier. Even as her foe dissolved into ash, Aiz had already plunged the sword into her next two targets using one hand.
She was confronting a swarm of gun liberla. She’d aimed for their magic stones with strikes so precise she could’ve threaded a needle. Two more clouds of ash fell to the ground.
Aiz pressed forward.
Bursting through clouds of ash, she charged the remaining monsters.
“AaAAAAAOOOOOOOOOO!”
A bugbear was waiting for her, thick arms opened wide as it howled. The beast’s thick fur rippled as it took a swing at Aiz’s head.
The human girl didn’t try to dodge the sharp claws—her sword was faster. The rapier flashed, moving at almost triple the speed of the bugbear’s attack. Suddenly, the entire arm spun into the air without its body.
Aiz moved in to deliver the final blow before the beast could recover from the shock. Her blade seemed to dance through the air before plunging straight in.
“—”
The rapier pierced the beast through the chest, the tip of the blade penetrating through to the other side.
The bugbear instantly turned pale. It couldn’t even let out a dying roar of pain before collapsing to the ground in a pile of ash.
Aiz whipped the blade around her body a few times before letting the cutting edge rest on the ground. The swarm of monsters was nowhere to be seen; only piles of ash lay at her feet.
She was on the twentieth floor.
It looked like an incredibly dense forest. The texture of the ceiling and walls resembled tree bark, and they were covered in random patches of greenish “moss.” Aiz was alone in this huge overgrown treelike labyrinth.
Almost four days had passed since the night at the bar. Aiz had realized how much time she’d wasted before Tiona and the others cheered her up, and she was desperate to make up for it.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that spending her free time in the Dungeon was her hobby. She was used to roaming the Middle Levels as a solo adventurer.
Satisfied with her jaunt through the Dungeon, she was on her way home.
…Still not used to it.
Aiz brought the replacement rapier up to eye level.
There was no denying its high quality. However, the blade was shorter and heavier than her favorite saber, Desperate. Aiz was used to a long, thin blade that required precision in battle. This weapon required more arm movements to be used effectively.
“Broaden your horizons.” She could hear Goibniu’s gruff voice in the back of her mind.
…It should be ready.
Returning the still-shiny rapier to its sheath, Aiz set to work collecting the drop items scattered on the ground.
After she’d spent a full day in the Dungeon, the pouch tied to her waist was already bursting at the seams with magic stones. Even the backpack she brought with her was almost full. She’d collected so much loot that she started aiming for magic stones while in battle so that she wouldn’t have to collect them later.
Leaving extra items scattered on the ground was generally frowned upon. Adventurers wanted to earn their loot rather than leech off others. Also, uncollected items on the ground served as a warning—something bad happened here, bad enough the items couldn’t be collected. Aiz retrieved her backpack from behind a fallen log and did her best to find enough space to put in a bugbear claw.
It was times like this when Aiz truly appreciated her supporters. She might be used to these solo adventures, but the extra weight on her shoulder always reminded her of how hard the supporters worked.
“…”
The twentieth floor was so quiet that her footsteps seemed to echo endlessly.
Monsters were one thing, but encountering other adventurers in the Middle Levels was much rarer than the Upper Levels. For the most part, adventurers needed to be Level 2 at least to make it below the thirteenth floor. That meant that more than half of Orario’s adventurers, lower-class adventurers, couldn’t make it this far down. As a solo adventurer, the only company she had was the far-off howls of lurking monsters. It was extremely rare for her to hear a clash of metal that wasn’t her own.
Aiz traveled through the narrow hallway, luminescent moss lighting the way.
“…?”
She spotted something new after defeating several more swarms of monsters.
A party of adventurers emerged from a different path a little ways in front of her.
Each and every one of them wore full body armor as they dragged a large cargo box on wheels through the Dungeon hall. Aiz could tell they were strong just by looking at their equipment.
Ganesha Familia…
An elephant emblem was engraved into their armor, which also hinted at the contents of the cargo.
The Monsterphilia was tomorrow. They had come here to capture monsters to be tamed.
Everything was going to happen at the Coliseum. Once a year, Ganesha Familia’s tamers would face a monster brought out of the Dungeon. However, they weren’t going to slay it—the beast’s destiny was now to become a spectacle for the masses.
There were many who doubted the Guild’s wisdom in setting up this event. They were bringing live, dangerous monsters from deep within the Dungeon directly into the city. Some people scoffed at the whole idea, believing this was the Guild’s strategy to increase its popularity.
Aiz didn’t have any strong feelings toward the Monsterphilia one way or the other.
She recognized there was a danger that ordinary citizens would be exposed to monsters. On the other hand, she knew that many people looked forward to this event and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Adventurers didn’t have the best reputation. In fact, most were considered to be bloodthirsty bar brawlers at best. Therefore, this kind of bloodless entertainment—taming—was good for their image among the people. The Guild was forced to cover for adventurers when they caused problems on the surface, in order to continue reaping the benefits of the Dungeon. It was in their best interest to make adventurers look good whenever possible.
Whether Ganesha was just a fan of the event or he truly wanted to make the “children” happy, his familia offered their full support in organizing the Monsterphilia. The festival had become famous enough for people around the world to travel to Orario just to see it.
Sure, there were a few problems, but as an adventurer, Aiz thought it was a little too hasty to say it was all bad—not without doing more research.
“…”
RATTLE-RATTLE. The cargo box violently shook back and forth.
Aiz decided to take another route back to the surface, to avoid getting in the way.
It was already late at night by the time Aiz returned home.
She gave a quick nod to the guards as she went through the gate and into the front tower.
Everyone had finished eating a long time ago. Paying careful attention to her surroundings—the same way she would in the Dungeon—Aiz stayed clear of the other Loki Familia members as she made her way through the building.
Careful not to make a sound, she changed course the moment she sensed someone’s presence. Narrowly dodging a slightly confused Lefiya, the blond girl made her way up the tower toward her own room.
“Aiz.”
A shiver ran down her spine.
Sure enough, Riveria was standing there, as if she’d been expecting Aiz to pass this way. The girl slowly turned around and met the elf’s perturbed gaze.
“I would ask where you have been…but I think that’s obvious.”
“…”
Her jade eyes locked onto Aiz’s battle armor and the weapon strapped to her waist.
Aiz considered making a break for it but thought better of it. What would happen next was horrifying.
Riveria followed Aiz’s train of thought by the expression on her face and sighed.
“I won’t tell you not to venture into the Dungeon. However, our expedition has only just concluded. All of us need to rest, including you.”
“…Okay.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, but this is too much.”
“…Sorry.”
Aiz was a little shocked by her tone.
Riveria sounded like a mother scolding her daughter for staying out past curfew. Aiz pulled in her shoulders out of reflex, making her body as small as possible.
It was easy to see who was in charge.
“Uuu-hic…Wass iss? Aizuu an’ Riveria, wha’cha up ta……uugh-hic.”
Loki happened to wander into the hallway while Riveria was giving Aiz a chance to reflect on her actions.
Her steps were as uneven as a seasick sailor’s, and her face didn’t look much better. Even worse, a cloud of alcoholic vapor hovered around her, stinking to high heaven.
Riveria, who treated herself to wine only on special occasions, looked at her goddess with a mix of disappointment and confusion.
“I could ask you the very same thing—Wait, don’t come near me. Stay over there!”
“Juss came—hic—ta get some water…Aaaa, my head!……Inside voices, ’kay? Nice an’ quiet…”
Loki had been like this ever since she came back from the Banquet of the Gods.
Completely ignoring the protests of Finn and other members of the familia, she had been drowning her sorrows nonstop for three days. Apparently, she had been outdone by the very goddess she had gone there to torment. Crawling inside a bottle was the only way she knew to hide from the shame.
Aiz did her best to avoid the vapor cloud as Loki looked up at Riveria.
“So, what’s up?”
“…Aiz entered the Dungeon today, returning home at this late hour.”
“Ahhh…hic……I see wass goin’ on.”
The goddess nearly lost her balance as she shifted her attention to the blond girl.
Vermilion and gold eyes stared at each other for a moment before Loki showed a familiar grin.
“Allll right then, Aizuu da troublemaker. I’m sentencin’ ya to join me tomorrow as punishment for makin’ everybody worry!”
“…?”
“Monsterphilia. We’re goin’ on a date!”
Loki grinned again, her body swaying back and forth as she spoke.
Aiz blinked over and over, trying to figure out how to avoid this fate. “Ah-ah-ah, no refusin’!” Loki saw right through her and put an end to that train of thought.
“Good chance ta relax, rest up a bit. I was gonna go anyway. Hic. Works out perfectly! Wanna join us, Riveria?”
“…I must respectfully decline. The energy in the air at these kinds of events makes me unwell.”
“That’s too bad. Was lookin’ forward to havin’ a beautiful flower on each arm…Ow-ow-OW, my head.”
Suddenly remembering why she was there, Loki rubbed her temple and started walking forward again. Aiz looked to Riveria, but the look in the elf’s eyes said to do as she was told for now.
She had been planning to retrieve Desperate from Goibniu in the morning…but that wasn’t an option anymore. At the same time, she was beginning to understand everything her fellow familia members were doing for her. She couldn’t go off on her own so soon after Riveria’s warning.
Truly feeling sorry for her actions, she agreed to Loki’s “punishment.”
“Meet ya in the mornin’, Aizuu. No playin’ hookie, now!”
“Understood.”
“I will take my leave now as well…Aiz, allow me to say this at least one more time: pace yourself.”
“Okay…”
The three ladies said good night and went their separate ways.
“Ehhh, you’re going with Loki, Aiz?”
Next morning.
Tiona visited Aiz’s room to invite her to the Monsterphilia, only to be completely caught off guard when the blond girl declined.
“Sorry, Tiona…”
“Oh well, can’t be helped. She beat me to the punch, got no one to blame but myself. Ahh, to think I’d lose to Loki…”
The weather was absolutely perfect for a festival. Birds were chirping outside her window, enjoying the warm light of the sun and the morning breeze.
Tiona quickly recovered from the agony of defeat and flashed a grin.
“The rest of us are about to leave and go to East Main. Meet up with us if you can!”
“Mm-hmm.”
The two shared a brief smile before going downstairs to the cafeteria together.
Loki was nowhere to be found once they arrived. The girls figured she was still recovering from last night. Aiz saw the group off as Tiona and the others left.
Aiz, still in pajamas, went back upstairs to change.
“…”
She picked out a sleeveless white top and miniskirt, the clothes that Tiona had bought for her.
She shyly glanced at herself in the mirror. Aiz didn’t have many occasions to wear clothes like this, so she didn’t want this chance to go to waste.
Then she strapped her rapier to her belt, just in case of emergencies.
The weapon looked as out of place as she felt, but it was her duty to carry it. Loki might have been calling this punishment a “date,” but that didn’t change the fact that she’d be Loki’s only line of defense should something go wrong.
Aiz slipped her feet inside a pair of boots, went down to the front entrance hall, and waited for Loki.
“Mornin’, Aiz. Sorry ta keep ya waitin’.”
“It’s fine.”
Aiz stood up from her chair as Loki stumbled to the entrance hall.
Despite her wobbly gait, Loki’s face looked considerably better than it had last night.
“Hnn? Oooh, those clothes…very nice!! Really cute! Never thought I’d see you wearin’ anything this charmin’!”
“…Thank you.”
“Ya all dolled up just for li’l old me?! YaWHOO! Those look so good on ya I gotta get a closer look!”
Loki dove at Aiz with her arms wide open and a ravenous twinkle in her eye. However, the blond girl ducked out of the way and pushed Loki past her with incredible speed. THUD. The goddess slammed headfirst into the wall behind her. A quiet squeaking sound could be heard throughout the entrance hall as she slid to the floor.
Loki pulled her head off the floor with both hands, cracked her neck a few times, and popped up to her feet as if nothing had happened.
“Yep, everything’s good under yer skirt, too. We’re good to go.”
“…You looked?”
“Huh? Nope, I ain’t looked at nothin’. Didn’t see yer new white panties or anything! Nooooothin’ at all!”
A slap echoed through the entrance hall, followed by silence.
Finally, a dizzy Loki led Aiz out of Twilight Manor, on the way to the Monsterphilia.
“Aiz, sorry ta ask ya, but I got a place ta go first. Could ya come with?”
“Yes…Is it breakfast?”
“Hnn, there’s that, too.”
Traveling south down North Main, the two emerged into Central Park before going east.
East Main was already filled with people. Many vendors had set up booths along the street to take advantage of the festivalgoers. Unfortunately, there were so many people that the booths were getting in the way.
Humans, elves, dwarves, animal people, prums, and Amazons. Seeing so many men and women of all ages and races together at one place was overwhelming and inspiring at the same time. One solid block of people that wasn’t moving at all turned out to be the end of the line for the Coliseum. The circular building was still a tiny dot in the distance.
“Ah, found it.”
Loki and Aiz worked their way into the mass of humanity. Every single one of them was excited for the festival, their energy infectious. The two ladies weaved their way through the crowded street to the doorstep of a café.
A small bell announced their arrival the moment Loki stepped inside. The staff greeted them right on cue. A few words from Loki and soon they were being led up to the second floor.
Aiz couldn’t shake the feeling that time stopped the moment she entered the café.
All of the guests seemed to be nothing more than empty shells. Mouths half open and silverware leaning against their hands, all of them were looking in the same direction.
Aiz followed their lines of sight to a person in a navy-blue cloak sitting next to the window.
“Yo! Sorry to keep ya waitin’!”
“Not at all. I just got here myself.”
Loki walked straight up to this cloaked figure with no hesitation and said hello.
The mysterious woman’s smiling lips were visible underneath her hood.
“Haven’t had breaky yet. Mind if I grab a bite?”
“Do as you please.”
The woman—a goddess, in fact—had been expecting Loki. The two must have set up this morning meeting in advance.
Loki pulled up a chair directly across from the mysterious woman and the two began to talk like old friends. It was apparent these two had known each other before descending to Earth.
Aiz stepped behind Loki to not get in the way, while also taking up a guard position. She happened to catch a glimpse of silver hair coming out from beneath the hood. That was all she needed to figure out the identity of this mysterious woman.
“So when are you going to introduce that girl standing behind you?”
“Huh? Ya need introductions?”
“This is the first time we’ve met face-to-face.”
The hooded goddess turned her silver eyes toward the human girl. Aiz felt her senses being blurred by some kind of illusion the moment she made eye contact.
This goddess was the leader of what some people in Orario considered to be the strongest of all familias, one that was on equal footing with Loki Familia.
A goddess who was both stunningly beautiful and yet scary enough to be referred to as “the Witch.”
The Goddess Freya.
“’Kay, then, this is my Aiz. That enough for ya? Aiz, this is a goddess—ya should at least say hello.”
“…Nice to meet you.”
Aiz had never met a being more beautiful than the elf Riveria. However, the goddess sitting in the chair by the window was so perfect that her looks were superior to a high elf’s.
Freya was a diamond among diamonds. She was so alluring that no mortal could resist her charms. Even other deities couldn’t help but be attracted to her. That was why every other customer in the café sat transfixed. The cloak covering her body made almost no difference.
Since gods didn’t age, her intimidating good looks would last for eternity whether she liked it or not. A “Goddess of Beauty.”
Freya wasn’t the only one, but she stood out from the rest of them.
“She is very cute. And also…Yes. I can see why you’ve taken a liking to this one.”
Receiving permission from Loki, Aiz took a seat at the table. Freya watched the two of them with a small smile on her lips.
Of course Aiz had heard the rumors about what happened to people when they met this goddess in person. They weren’t exaggerating. The woman’s perfectly symmetrical face and seductive proportions, barely recognizable beneath the cloak, were enough to make Aiz’s heart race. Freya’s beauty transcended gender, causing all who laid eyes on her to become enamored. Her allure was spellbinding.
Freya’s silver gaze and Aiz’s golden eyes intertwined.
Fear crept up within the girl for the first time in years. Her face remained expressionless as she lowered her head.
Aiz was looking at the table, but she knew Freya was grinning. She could feel it.
“Can I ask why you brought the Kenki here with you?”
“He-he-he-he-heeee…! It’s the fair, yeah? What better time for a date with my Aizuu?”
Loki had gone into her own little world, completely ignoring the presence of Freya and Aiz. She was back to her old self.
She reached out to her human follower.
“…Well, that, and she’s finally back from an expedition. If I leave her alone, she’ll be back in the Dungeon in no time. That’s just who she is.”
“…”
“Someone’s gotta tell her to relax, don’t they?”
Aiz couldn’t say anything in response.
Caught completely off guard by Loki’s kind words, she looked at her goddess for a moment before letting her gaze fall to the floor. Pat-pat. Loki lightly petted the back of Aiz’s head. She didn’t try to resist.
A slightly broken smile grew on the luscious lips visible beneath the hood.
Then the atmosphere surrounding the two deities became heavy. Their conversation was about to become much more serious.
Loki asked Freya to explain why she’d invited her to this café. She’d had enough small talk and wanted to get right to the point. She could tell something was strange about Freya and it was making her nervous. Her first indication was the Banquet a few days ago. Freya hadn’t attended one in eons. Why the sudden change?
Loki Familia and Freya Familia.
There was a lot of competition in the Labyrinth City, and those two groups currently held the most prestige and influence in a never-ending power struggle.
Should one of them show weakness, the other would jump at the first opportunity to gain an advantage. The two goddesses had a relatively good relationship, but that also meant they couldn’t afford to ignore each other. Loki was here to make sure that Freya knew there would be consequences should she try to stir up trouble.
The second floor of the café was suddenly empty. The aura emanating from the two deities had become ominously overwhelming and the patrons wanted to avoid the oncoming storm. The only mortal left was Aiz. She calmly watched the two goddesses from her side of the table, her aloof expression still intact.
The only sound that could be heard was the commotion coming in from the street outside.
“Ah man, isn’t it…?”
Finally, Loki realized what was going on.
The tension in the room suddenly lifted as Freya smiled from ear to ear. Loki just sighed and massaged her temple.
“So…Ya got an eye for a child already in another familia, I take it?”
Loki mumbled a few things under her breath—how pointless this was, a few other things. The realization hit Aiz a second later.
She didn’t have much to go on, but it appeared that Freya had fallen in love with a mortal already following a different god. That meant that she’d attended the Banquet to collect more information on him.
Aiz glanced over in Freya’s direction, replaying the conversation in her mind. The Goddess of Beauty didn’t say if Loki was right or wrong, only giggled to herself as if enjoying Loki’s confusion.
“Geez, woman, is that all ya think about? Ya go after anyone, young or old?”
“How rude. I do have standards.”
“Leavin’ out all the bumblin’ idiots from Tenkai you pull fast ones on?”
“They have their uses. It’s so easy to get money out of them.”
The two goddesses paused, the air thick once again.
Loki grinned.
“And?”
“…?”
“Who’s the guy? What child are ya after now? When’d ya find ’im?”
“…”
“I came all the way out here, changed my plans, got worked up for no reason. I have the right ta know.”
Freya just glanced out the window as Loki went on a short rant.
One lock of her silver hair tumbled out from under the hood.
“…He’s not that strong. Weak, if you compare him to the children in our familias. Easily upset, he starts bawling at the simplest of problems…That kind of child.
“But he’s beautiful, pure. I’ve never seen anything like him. Took my breath away, and I couldn’t help but fall for him…”
Freya’s voice sounded like that of a mother bragging about her beloved son, but Aiz could sense an incredible passion burning within her.
The silver-haired goddess kept talking, her gaze never once leaving the scene outside the window.
“I found him by accident. He just happened to walk across my line of sight…It was just like this…”
—That’s when it happened.
Freya’s silver eyes saw something in the mass of humans and demi-humans on the street below. She forgot to breathe.
Aiz took a look outside, curious.
Sure enough, there was a white head of hair making its way through the crowd, its owner bounding like a rabbit making its way through a field. Freya wasn’t even blinking.
“—”
The deity’s mind went blank.
Aiz followed the boy’s path and looked up toward where he was going.
“I apologize. Something has come up.”
“Ehh?”
“Let’s do this again soon.”
Freya stood up from her chair. Loki sounded irritated, but Aiz didn’t notice. She was too busy watching the white rabbit disappear into the crowd.
It didn’t take Loki long to notice.
“What’s up, Aiz? Somethin’ wrong?”
“…No.”
She answered, but her eyes were still trained toward the window.
She could be wrong. There was no way to know for sure. But he might be here, at the Monsterphilia.
The white rabbit had disappeared from sight, but Aiz noticed something about herself in that moment. She hoped that he was.
There was a chance to meet him.
“Seriously, Aiz. Somebody outside? You’re scarin’ me.”
“…I’m sorry. It’s nothing.”
Aiz finally looked away from the window, only to see Loki looking at her with the utmost suspicion. The goddess was silent, but her message came across loud and clear: No hidin’ anythin’! Loki let it sink in. A few moments of silence passed before the food they’d ordered arrived at their table.
She kept an eye on her follower but started to eat the bread, soup, and salad anyway.
After they finished eating, Loki paid the bill and led Aiz back outside.
“All right, then, if ya insist on bein’ close-lipped, that’s fine. But in exchange, I’m gonna take us all around the fair until I’m satisfied, Aizuu!”
“Understood.”
“Hee-hee, let’s get goin’!”
The two walked down East Main Street, riding the waves of humanity along the way.
The street was so full that it was difficult to move forward. However, the abundance of beautiful fresh flowers and other decorations not normally seen on the buildings made it worth the hassle. Long ropes ran from rooftop to rooftop across the street above everyone’s heads. Flags bearing the official logo of the Monsterphilia and the elephant mask of Ganesha Familia hung down from them in such abundance that they cast shadows over the crowd while dancing in the breeze.
The food stalls in the middle of the road drew in many lines of customers with an appetizing mix of amazing smells and the sound of searing meat. Juicy fried chicken and fresh beef came off the flames of grills at a record pace, the vendors trying to keep up with the ravenous fairgoers.
The Monsterphilia was in full swing. There wasn’t a frowning face to be seen.
“Aizuu, Jyaga Marukun is first on our list!”
“…!”
Loki guided Aiz to a food stall that was serving fried potato puffs. This food was actually one of Aiz’s secret guilty pleasures. Even the name Jyaga Marukun made her eyes go wide with anticipation.
“Hmmm, one original Jyaga and…”
“Azuki sweet cream, please.”
Loki walked up to the counter and placed her order. The cashier handed her two of the freshly fried puffs a moment later. The one that she handed to Aiz was the original recipe with a delicious filling.
Loki asked her how it was, but the girl couldn’t respond. Enjoying every second of the flavor flooding her mouth, Aiz only nodded to her goddess before taking another bite of her treat.
“Aizuu! Aizuu!”
“?”
The blond girl looked up at Loki, a piece of the potato puff’s flaky crust on her lip. Chomp! The goddess’s teeth dove straight into her own Jyaga Marukun.
Loki started chewing with her mouth open, brazenly licking her lips before smiling at Aiz. Then she thrust out the rest of the potato pastry in front of the girl’s face.
“Say ‘ahh’!”
“No.”
Rejected.
“Why the hell not?! I told ya, ya gotta satisfy me!”
“No.”
“Come on, I’ve been dreamin’ ’bout this for years! Please?”
“No.”
Loki kept trying to convince Aiz to take a bite.
But all her attempts were immediately shot down. Even her goddess’s tears couldn’t sway Aiz’s iron will.
“Okay then, Aizu. I’ll say, ‘ahh’! Can’t refuse that, now can ya?”
“…”
“One bite, one bite’s enough!”
Aiz looked down at her Jyaga Marukun and then up at her desperate goddess. Loki had no problem making a scene, and this would be better than her “hands-on approach” in public. So the girl slowly extended the half-eaten pastry toward the goddess.
One heartbeat later—chomp!
Loki’s jaws closed like a guillotine around the pastry in Aiz’s hands. Then the deity looked up like an extremely satisfied squirrel, savoring every second of the flavor before dramatically swallowing.
“Fu-hee-fu-hee-hee-hee……A secondhand kiss from my Aizuu!”
The girl instantly regretted her decision.
Every fiber of her being wanted to look away.
“Goddess, what are you doing?!”
“What you mean? Say ‘ah’! It’s my turn to feed you! Ready, ahh-nn!”
Two voices not too far away cut through the din of the crowd. Aiz didn’t know who it was, but she instantly felt that she wasn’t alone in this struggle.
“Okay, Aizuu! There’s still a lot to see!”
Loki grabbed hold of Aiz’s wrist and pulled her through the crowd. The goddess’s head was on a swivel as she looked for an interesting shop along the street.
There were so many stands in the area that it was impossible to see everything at once. Juice stands, festival food, handcrafted item and accessory shops—the list went on. Loki went from stand to shop and back to stand, vigorously bartering with anyone behind the counter. Aiz watched the goddess’s enthusiasm and couldn’t help but smile more than once.
Even though she didn’t realize it, Aiz was enjoying Loki’s almost comical behavior.
“…”
“Hnn, what’s wrong, Aizuu?”
The girl’s feet had suddenly stopped. Her gaze was locked onto a stand that was selling weapons.
The stand specialized in swords. Blades as small as daggers and as large as claymores were neatly lined up behind two experienced-looking adventurers. Most likely, the weapons were forged by smiths with experience in the Dungeon. They also tried to appeal to average citizens of the Labyrinth City by offering decorative weapons with inlaid gems and crystals.
Aiz had handled many different kinds of swords since she first became an adventurer. She knew exactly what she liked as well as how to tell a good weapon from a bad one. Instincts taking over, her eyes flew up and down the rows of blades. She felt excited for the first time today, searching for a diamond in the rough.
Loki had seen that look on her face many times before and it made her grimace.
“Would it kill ya to be more ladylike, Aizuu?…’Kay, now, that’s enough, let’s get goin’.”
“…Okay.”
“What’cha makin’ the long face for? There’re stands like that all over the place. Not just here.”
Aiz slowly nodded and drifted away from the weapon stand.
There was still so much that Loki wanted to see. The goddess pulled her follower through the lively crowd with unyielding vigor.
Drip. A drop of water fell, splashing into smaller droplets on the floor.
Another one dropped from the ceiling, the light splash sending echoes through the silence.
Something woke up.
Sluggish movements rattled its narrow cage.
The silence was heavy, deafening.
Darkness continued in every direction. The air felt cold on its skin.
A new sound broke the silence, the footsteps of a mouse. It must’ve wandered in here, but the moment it caught sight of the thing, the rodent wasted no time in running away.
It didn’t try to get up right away.
Whether it was groggy after a long sleep or it was trying to assess its surroundings without giving itself away, it didn’t make a sound. The thing simply was enveloped in the tranquil silence.
Then, it noticed.
The black bars holding it prisoner were open.
Something else, too.
There were other cages like its own nearby, their occupants breathing quietly in the darkness.
The thing made its way to the open door of the cage.
Leaving its claustrophobic prison behind, new echoes filled the silence. The others sensed its presence and emerged from their own cages.
Outside.
The urge to go outside.
Slithering in the darkness.
Consciousness returning, instincts burned bright within the thing’s mind. There were no coherent thoughts, only desires.
Movement.
Following the sounds, moving through the darkness.
Moving up, moving out, toward the sounds of other creatures.
To the surface.
“Oh no, it’s startin’!” Loki exclaimed as she suddenly noticed the noises coming out of the Coliseum.
“Are you sure this is the right street?”
“You bet it is! The main street is bustin’ at the seams. This is a shortcut!”
She’d lost track of time exploring the street stands and shops.
The two women raced through the backstreets in an effort to catch what was left of the main event of the Monsterphilia.
It was true, there was almost no one in their way. Without a map, Loki and Aiz made their way toward the Coliseum on pure guesswork. The backstreets were narrow and lined with two- and three-story buildings, covering their route in shade. Magic-stone lamps dotted the walls along the way, but none of them was turned on.
Catching glimpses of their destination through the small spaces between the buildings, Aiz and Loki adjusted their course accordingly.
“…?”
Aiz frowned.
Her ears caught the faintest monster’s howl in the distance.
She tried to convince herself that was just a tamer fighting with a monster in the Coliseum, but for some reason she couldn’t shake the dread bubbling up within her.
At long last, Aiz and Loki emerged from the backstreet. The Coliseum stood right in front of them.
“Don’t like runnin’, makes me tired…Uunnn? Whassup with them?”
Loki tried her best to catch her breath. That’s when she noticed something strange about how the event staff was behaving.
The Guild employees stationed at this entrance for the festival looked anxious and twitchy, jumping at the slightest sounds. With the crowd roaring in the stands behind them, there was a surprising level of confusion outside the entrance.
But the fact that Ganesha Familia members were arming themselves for combat was the most telling clue that something was wrong.
Aiz and Loki exchanged glances before nodding at each other and approaching the Coliseum’s south entrance. Finding a group of Guild employees standing in a circle, Aiz walked up to them to find out what was wrong.
“…Excuse me. What’s happened?”
All of the employees spun around in an instant, their eyes flying open.
“A-Aiz Wallenstein…”
They were awestruck. Suddenly, one of the men jumped toward her and explained the situation as fast as he could.
Apparently, some of the monsters captured for the festival had escaped from the east gate. It was an emergency situation.
Their theory was that someone had set the monsters free. All of the Guild employees and Ganesha Familia members stationed on that side for security had been found in some kind of trance. It was almost as if their souls had been sucked out of their bodies. They wouldn’t be much help in the foreseeable future.
“We don’t have enough forces to contain the monsters. I beg of you, help us…!”
Aiz had no reason to refuse.
She looked back over her shoulder toward her goddess.
“Loki.”
“Yeah, I heard. Can’t be on a date at a time like this. I’ll let Ganesha borrow ya for a bit.”
The Guild employees then informed Aiz and Loki about the number of monsters, their types, and the forces available.
Now wasn’t the time to worry about how the monsters escaped.
Aiz took hold of the hilt of her rapier and dashed toward the east gate in hopes of saving the lives of any citizens who got caught up in this mess.
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