Chapter 150: Heart-pounding! He never changes his bad habits!
Inside the dim Dungeon, a bonfire crackled, dispelling the chill and dampness of the middle floors.
"Any empty crates left? Bring two over."
"You could just go outside and grab a rock."
"If you're going to put it that way, I might as well just lay a tarp on the ground."
"Hiss—that's not a bad idea!"
Amidst the rising and falling clamor, the expedition members sat around the bonfire, savoring a mushroom and fruit stew, a unique flavor of the Dungeon.
Tsubaki, holding a bowl of soup, plopped down casually beside Tiona and asked in a hushed, mysterious tone.
"Where's Riveria? She expended so much today, doesn't she need to replenish her stamina?"
"Huh?"
Tiona, who had just downed two large bowls of mushroom and fruit stew, suddenly looked up, wiping her mouth as she replied.
"She's probably just tired. I saw Lefiya take some food over to her, don't worry."
With that, she held up her empty soup bowl and shouted to Arthur, who was squatting by the bonfire, stirring the pot.
"Another bowl!"
Arthur absentmindedly took the bowl, but his gaze kept darting towards the dark tent in the resting area, feeling a pang of sympathy.
'In this situation, it would be less painful to just take a hit from a high-level Sword of Victory.'
However, at this very moment, Riveria, sitting silently in her tent, was also lost in thought.
Her emerald hair was casually unbound, and crystal clear droplets slid down her fair neck, dampening her elegant elven gown and spreading a small dark patch on her chest.
Inside the silent room, only a gentle breeze stirred the tent flap, carrying wafts of a faint, sweet floral scent.
Just then, Lefiya knocked on the edge of the tent flap and called out softly.
"Riveria-sama, I've brought you some food."
The call from outside startled Riveria back to reality. Realizing she had been in a daze for a long time, she quickly tidied her clothes.
"Mm, mm! Thank you, Lefiya."
The saffron-haired elf, holding a bowl of mushroom and fruit stew, pushed open the tent flap, only to see the elven royalty looking flustered and at a loss.
"Riveria-sama's complexion looks strange, did she over-expend her magic? Do you need me to get some elixirs?"
"No! I, I just…"
Riveria instinctively clutched her chest, feeling her heartbeat grow stronger with each passing moment, and looked at Lefiya with a conflicted expression, as if grasping at a last straw, she asked.
"Lefiya, tell me, what does it truly feel like… to like someone?"
Lefiya: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
Upon hearing this question, the saffron-haired elf's pupils immediately dilated in shock, and the bowl of hot soup in her hand shook violently, nearly spilling its scalding contents.
Like?
Who?
Riveria-sama?
The most noble princess of the elven race, has fallen for someone!?
In an instant, Lefiya's eyes blazed with anger, feeling as if her most devout faith was about to be defiled by some unknown scoundrel!
But when she saw the uneasy smile mixed with embarrassment on Riveria's face, all her anger vanished, and she could only speak softly.
"If there is someone whose scent makes you feel comfortable, whose voice makes you happy, and just being by their side makes you incredibly joyful."
"There's nothing to be conflicted about, Riveria-sama, that is liking."
Riveria was slightly taken aback by the words. Then, a starlight-like smile overflowed in her eyes, and a gentle, lingering curve appeared on her lips, one she herself hadn't even noticed.
…
After an unknown interlude, the rested expedition team once again ascended the stairs.
As everyone climbed the artificial spiral staircase, passed through the great chalk tower's gate, the long-missed warm sunlight poured down, intoxicating their bodies and minds.
A continuous stream of adventurers cast their gazes, paying their respects to the Loki Familia, who had been absent for so long.
About half an hour passed like this, and the logistics team led by Finn and Gareth returned to the surface.
The Hephaestus Familia, who had traveled with the logistics team, laden with various weapon materials, bid them farewell at the fountain plaza.
Afterward, along the main thoroughfare of North Street, the Loki Familia triumphantly returned with large cargo trucks filled with spoils.
Bathed in the lingering red sunset, they saw the Twilight Manor with its interwoven spires before nightfall.
The remaining members, their faces beaming with joy, opened the gates, welcoming the return of the main force.
In the front yard of the main hall, the red-haired goddess, uncharacteristically, displayed a composed expression of both relief and emotion. She spread her hands and spoke in a deep voice.
"Children, welcome home."
"…"
Faced with their patron deity's bizarre words and actions, not only did the female members show wariness, but even the male members, who usually prepared to watch the show, collectively shivered.
Perhaps sensing the extreme awkwardness of the atmosphere, Loki couldn't maintain her composed expression and glared at Arthur indignantly, shouting.
"You brat! I did it exactly as you said, so why isn't there a beautiful girl sticking close to me?"
At the same time, Loki charged forward, took a running leap into the air, spread her arms, and pounced fiercely towards the female executives at the front!
"Hehehehe! Sure enough, it should be like this… Ugh!"
Before her characteristic strange cry could finish, an iron-clamp-like large hand had lightning-fast choked the nape of her neck, bringing all her movements to an abrupt halt.
Arthur held his patron deity, a gentle, wind-like smile in his eyes.
"How dare you even ask me why? It's because you, you old dog, can't change your spots."
Loki, suspended in mid-air and constantly retching, had tears in her eyes and cried out in utter despair.
"This is the second time! The second time! I only have that one hobby! Are you even human!?"
Finn, unperturbed, raised a hand and greeted, "Thank you for the welcome, Loki."
"There were no casualties this time either, and I will report the expedition's gains to you later."
Arthur nodded slightly and added, "Everyone had a good harvest this time. Please do something useful for once."
Loki's eyebrows rose as she caught the implied meaning: "Everyone?"
The playful goddess instantly leaped back to the ground, her gaze inward and sharp, sweeping over the faces of the main force one by one, a hint of pleasure rising within her.
"Hehehe, it looks like the Guild Hall will be very lively tomorrow."
…
At this very moment, in a dark passage directly beneath Daedalus Street.
The goddess, fully exposing her beautiful brown skin and possessing a dazzlingly enchanting face, leisurely followed behind the masked figure, arriving at the core area.
As the patron deity of the Dark Faction, Thanatos, clad in tattered black clothes, narrowed his eyes and rubbed his hands as he stepped forward to greet her.
"A rare guest, Investor-sama, for you to grace us with your presence, it's truly an unexpected…"
"Enough with the pleasantries!"
Ishtar, holding a long pipe in one hand, spoke in an icy tone, a bewitching smirk playing on her lips, interrupting his courtesies.
"I rushed here specifically because of your previous message. Answer me, what do you mean 'Heavenly Bull is temporarily unusable'?"
Thanatos scratched his head, his face full of vexation. He had wanted to offer some perfunctory excuse, but he was also afraid of completely offending his biggest patron, so he could only turn his gaze to the masked figure beside him.
"I say, don't you think you should explain the situation?"
"After all, the Heavenly Bull's cultivation is your responsibility."
The masked figure slowly raised his head, a pair of eyes radiating bone-chilling coldness piercing the lofty deity, and spoke flatly.
"Enio-sama (City Destroyer) is still preparing the final plan. Regarding the cultivation of the Heavenly Bull, I am responsible."
"You?!" × 2
Thanatos and Ishtar both raised their eyebrows in unison, showing disdain for this lackey who always acted on Enio's will.
Before their words even finished, a chaotic divine power, strong enough to distort space, erupted from within the masked figure, instantly covering the stone walls of the dark passage with cracks!
"Yes, me!"