"Why is it so noisy today?" Hestia climbed out of the basement of the church. Rubbing her eyes, barefoot and without slippers she walked toward the gate, she was annoyed by all the commotion outside.
"Ladies first." Akira stepped aside and motioned for her to go. Hestia, missing his smile, opened the door latch.
BOOOF!!! WHOOOSH!!!
Hurricane winds blasted the door open. Hestia covered her face as the cold rain bashed against her. She tilted against the winds to maintain balance. She gasped and shouted, "Akira-kun, HELP ME!!"
Akira pointed to his ears and shook his head. "Can't hear you!!!"
"AKIRA!!!" Seeing her cry out, Akira had enough fun and pushed the door closed, locking the latch. He handed the soaked Hestia a towel.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of the wind battering the door could still be heard.
"Achooo! Akira-kun, that was mean." Hestia dried her hair with the towel.
"Well, I seem to think of it as simple fun." He placed firewood in the fireplace and lit it up. Setting two seats beside it, they sat down together.
"So, does this happen a lot in Orario?" Akira asked, helping her dry her hair.
"No, never. This is the first time I've seen a storm this severe," Hestia explained.
"Don't worry. This church is stable—I checked it myself. We can wait for it to pass." Hestia didn't want him to worry.
"I don't think it'll be that easy." He looked at the location provided by his goddess of reincarnation—it was Orario. "I'm thinking of going out to check the situation."
Hestia grabbed his hand. "But we're safe here. You're already injured and might get hurt again out there."
"Hestia-sama, you should be able to feel it. This is not natural. If I stay here, a lot of people will suffer. And I don't like it." Akira's tone was serious.
"You would go out even if I don't agree, wouldn't you?" Hestia nervously increased her grip on his hand. Her palms were cold—but not from the rain.
"Yes. But it would make me happy if Hestia-sama gave me her blessing." Akira knelt in front of her.
Hestia took a deep breath and released his hands. She looked at his resolute expression. "You will keep your promise, right?"
"Of course. I never break a promise given to a beautiful woman." Akira said confidently.
Clang!!!
Akira released the door as Hestia closed the door from inside.
The outside world was white—the rain and wind made visibility low. The fact Akira could still open his eyes was thanks to him being Level 2. To get a better look, Akira jumped to the roof. In midair, the wind blew him sideways. His loose kimono caught the air, but he steadied himself on the roof.
From there, he could see about four buildings ahead. Facing toward where Babel Tower should be, he saw only a dark wall of wind and rain, flashing with lightning.
Deciding not to waste his strength fighting the wind, he went with it—jumping from roof to roof, letting the wind extend his leaps.
With the wind at his back, in just 10 minutes he reached a wall—not Orario's outer wall, but the one around the Entertainment District.
'I started from the west of the city, the winds blew south. Now I'm in the south, winds heading east. That means the winds are circulating counter-clockwise, centered on Babel. By anime logic, my target should be right in the center of the storm.' he thought.
Jumping off the roof, he walked straight toward the tower. As he got closer, the wind speed decreased. At the main square, he came face-to-face with a tower of wind. Around it the air was still, the rain poured straight down.
'A standing tornado, no wind around it? Definitely not suspicious. Now, how do I cross this?' Lightning flashed inside. He tossed a coin into it.
Crackle!!!
A blinding flash, followed by thunder, exploded before him. As his eyes adjusted, he saw glowing streaks of molten metal across the tornado's wall.
Whistle~
"This might be a little difficult," Akira muttered, weighing his options.
"Hey, don't touch it!" a voice called.
A man with spiky black hair, an umbrella, and a sword at his waist ran over. To Akira, he looked like a background character from a Japanese manga.
"You should stay away. Get too close and you'll be struck by lightning. If you want to cross, come with me. Everyone's already together, trying new ideas."
"I understand." Akira followed him, more worried about what lay beyond the wall.
"Senior, I am Akira from Hestia Familia. You are…?"
"I'm Raul Nord, a Level 3 from Loki Familia." Raul beamed at being called "senior." When asked abut adventuring he shared useful information about the middle floors—knowledge books couldn't match.
After a few minutes circling the tornado, they reached a large open tent. Inside were Loki executives, adventurers from various familias, and even guild staff. The tent had only a roof, so the people inside were clearly visible. Entering, they split up.
"You can wait here. I have to report to Captain." Raul turned, then added, "Junior, if you need advice, find me."
"Of course. When I visit the Entertainment District in the future, I'll follow your advice," Akira shouted back.
Pitter! Patter!
"Trash."
"Scum."
"No! No! Listen, Aki, I didn't say anything! Hey junior, say something—Traitor!!" Raul panicked as Anakitty approached, icy expression on her face.
"Ouch… Aki… sorry, sorr—" Raul was dragged by his ear under the scornful eyes of the women. Though silent, the men looked at him with respect.
'Well, that should save my senior from future embarrassment. I'm so kind.' Akira thought proudly.
"If you want advice about the Entertainment District, I'm pretty experienced." A blond, orange-eyed man in a cap put an arm around Akira's neck. His aura was otherworldly—clearly a god.
Akira already knew his name. He pushed Hermes' face away. "Unlike you, my interest is purely academic."
"Of course! I also peep on girls bathing purely for academic purposes." Hermes elbowed him knowingly.
Akira gave him a rookie look. "Peeping is such an old concept."
"What? Peeping on girls in the bath is a man's romance and part of adventure!" Hermes tried to lecture him.
"Peeping is a low-level skill. The risks outweigh the benefits." Akira dismissed him. With his modern-world knowledge, he continued: "Now, accidental peeking—that's the real deal. If your lust is strong, your focus on the mission absolute, instinct will guide you. You'll stumble upon a lake where a fairy is bathing. She'll scream, 'Kyaa—pervert!' You'll say sorry and turn away, acting like you're avoiding looking. But your eyesight will roam all over her body, burning her image into memory. With this, you won't be punished—a simple sorry will resolve it."
"This… how could such a perfect plan exist?" Hermes staggered back. Men rushed to steady him. Shocked at Akira's audacity, Hermes realized: purposely getting caught, yet acting innocent—perfect!
Akira laughed at Hermes' stunned face. "This is nothing. Let me tell you about the holder of the legendary skill 'Lucky Pervert'—Yuki Rito."
Oblivious to the chilling gazes of women, men gathered to hear Akira speak passionately about Yuki Rito's exploits.
Hermes trembled. His god's eye said Akira wasn't lying. Falling to his knees, he begged, "Please, tell me if this story ends how I think."
Akira smiled, thunder flashing behind him. Arms wide, he declared: "As a man of great power, he walked the path all men aspire to. He had a harem—princesses, sisters, childhood friends, assassins. He left no beauty behind."
"I'm satisfied. I feel I can rest easy now," Hermes whispered, savoring the tale. The surrounding men felt reassured—at least one man had reached the peak. They stood in silent respect.
Bonk!!!
Hermes rubbed his head. "Asfi-chan, don't be cruel to your god."
"Then don't pull stupid stunts," Asfi retorted.
"What stupid stunts? We were just discussing stories!" Hermes complained.
"Look around." Asfi pushed her glasses up.
Hermes turned to see the icy glares of women. The men scattered under their female companions' eyes.
"Haha, maybe it went a little overboard." Hermes smiled. He gestured at Akira. "Asfi-chan, this is my new friend, Akira from Hestia Familia. Akira-kun, meet my captain, Asfi Al Andromeda. Beautiful, right?"
Akira looked at her. Asfi was a beautiful woman with aqua-blue hair, cyan eyes, and glasses. She wore a white coat draped over a golden dress, pouches along her waist likely filled with magic items. Most importantly, she was soaking wet—her clothes clinging and highlighting her figure.
Akira nodded, winked at Hermes, and gave two thumbs up. "Nice!"
Hermes laughed, while Asfi massaged her forehead—another Hermes-like friend was the last thing she wanted. Her rescue came in the form of a half-elf woman.
Thack!!
Akira was slapped on the back of the head. He turned—it was Eina.
"I'm sorry, Asfi-san. Akira-kun always jokes around." She turned to him. "You should apologize too, Akira-kun."
"Why should I? I meant it. Asfi-san is a beauty." Akira protested.
Eina put her hands on her waist, stern. "Akira-kun…"
"Fiiiiiine." Akira shook his head.
He walked toward Asfi, serious expression on his face. Stopping before her, he knelt, held her palm, and looked up.
"My fair lady, I am but a humble man entranced by your beauty. I do not apologize for speaking the truth from my heart. But I ask for a chance at atonement, for I may have caused you harm."
Seeing his sincerity, Asfi blushed. She tried to pull her hand away, but he held firm.
"Let go," she muttered.
"Not until you forgive me, Ojou."
"Okay, okay, I forgive you." Too flustered, Asfi just wanted it over.
Akira stood, bowed, and kissed the air above her hand. "I'm grateful for your forgiveness. Still, my heart feels indebted. Should you need help in the future, I'll come at a moment's notice."
"Umm…" Asfi was confused. Usually she found flowery words annoying, but this time felt different. Deciding to focus on the real problem, she pushed the thought aside.
Akira felt proud—Scáthach had said etiquette was his weakest skill, but today he thought he'd done pretty well.
He turned to Eina, smiling, expecting praise. Instead, a book spine smacked his face, knocking him out.
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