Hearing Hermes's explanation, Asfi, Ryu, and the others were left completely stunned…
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After being told the objective of this mission, the atmosphere surrounding the Hermes Familia became heavy.
Anyone who heard such a thing would inevitably shudder.
Fortunately, after some explanation, they learned that the monster had already been weakened by thousands of years of sealing, so the current adventurers still had a certain chance.
As they gradually approached the center of the Great Tree Sea, advancing toward the meeting point given in the request,
At the [Artemis Familia] camp, things had already become lively thanks to the presence of the only male there, Fron!
"Hey, hey, hey, Fron-kun, could you tell us about your adventures? For someone like you, a legendary figure throughout all of Orario, we'd really, really love to hear your stories!"
Lante, whose lively and cheerful personality was very similar to Tiona's, came over with a cup of wine, grinning as she threw her arm around Fron's shoulders and started chatting.
The difference between men and women? Sorry, the Artemis Familia was made up entirely of beautiful girls, and they were already at the age of youthful awakening. If not for their goddess Artemis, the guardian of chastity, suppressing them, they would have already flown free like birds.
Of course… even with the goddess, in places where Artemis wasn't watching, like when going shopping, the girls would instinctively observe excellent men.
And there was another thing that Lante, and even Rethusa, found very, very strange…
Why was it that their goddess, dressed in a bathrobe, could still maintain such calm composure when facing Fron? No… more importantly, why did Fron seem able to so easily approach someone like their goddess, someone far above mortals?
Even Fron himself didn't understand. Perhaps only Artemis knew the answer.
Pestered by the girls, Fron had no choice but to reluctantly recount a rough version of his adventures.
Though he personally found it embarrassing, the others listened with great interest.
As his story went on, the whole camp quieted down, leaving only the youth's magnetic voice and the crackling of the campfire.
The sky gradually darkened, the forest growing heavier with shadow.
After hurrying along, just before night fully fell, the [Hermes Familia] and Ryuu's group finally arrived at the designated meeting point with the [Artemis Familia].
"Shh, listen."
At first Hermes wanted to greet his divine compatriot upon seeing the camp, but from ahead came something absolutely impossible, a male voice.
"This voice…" Asfi and Ryuu exchanged shocked looks, then both showed the same reaction.
Asfi pushed up her glasses with her finger, intelligence glittering in her eyes, her heroic face half-smiling.
The elf's expression didn't change, but the delight and anticipation in her eyes could not be hidden from anyone present.
"This guy… he's mixed himself in with the [Artemis Familia]? Could it be he has some kind of natural ability to attract women?" Asfi muttered irritably, then tossed her pure white cloak and strode forward.
"If it weren't for my quick thinking back then, I'd have died on the 17th floor. Guess you could call it fate."
Still oblivious, someone kept boasting about his adventures, slipping into the rhythm of a tavern braggart's boasting contest…
After all, as the saying goes, showing off is a human need, especially in front of beautiful women.
Even grade-school boys know that playing basketball attracts girls; it's like a peacock spreading its feathers, a display meant to draw the opposite sex.
It's an instinct that comes from the bones.
"Amazing, that's just like you! Listening to you, my blood's boiling, I want to go fight Goliath right now!"
"… " The sudden sound of clapping and teasing from the woods behind made Fron's expression freeze instantly.
That familiar voice… could it be…
He turned his head mechanically, his eyes meeting the stern gaze of a short-haired figure whose presence pressed down like a weight.
"A-Asfi? Why are you here?"
Thud,
"Ryuu? What happened?"
The elf, having stumbled flat on the ground, quickly stood up pretending nothing had happened, her gaze wandering as she muttered softly.
"N-nothing. Just tripped on a tree branch."
"… " Hermes looked at her suspiciously, grumbling inwardly, 'The famous [Gale] tripped over a branch? What a flimsy excuse.'
Meanwhile, noticing the commotion, Fron spotted the elf girl and his whole mood shifted.
"Ryuu… you came too?"
What a coincidence.
Just as his relationship with Ryu was rapidly deepening, already just one step away, Ryu and Asfi's sudden arrival made Fron's heart secretly rejoice.
"Mm, though I'd like to say it's been a long time… it's actually been less than 20 days."
Her voice was still calm, her expression unchanged, but… beneath her mask, it seemed she was desperately suppressing some kind of emotion, making her seem oddly out of sorts.
Fron looked at her strangely, their eyes meeting,
In less than three seconds, Ryu's neck, cheeks, and ears turned visibly red.
Plop. The elf girl used a skill, only to fall flat again.
"This…" Fron hurried forward two steps and caught her in his arms before she could hit the ground again, both amused and exasperated.
"What's wrong with her?" Asfi pursed her lips, her expression caught between ridicule and helplessness.
Rolling her eyes, the girl turned her head away.
"What do you think!?"
"Eh?" He wanted to ask more, but the girl in his arms clutched his arm tightly.
"D-don't… don't ask, Fron!!!"
That weak, embarrassed tone, that soft, trembling voice… was this really the Ryu Lion she knew? Or some magical-girl impostor like Lefiya???
…
With Fron's arrival, the mission once again gained strong reinforcements.
This time, the [Hermes Familia] had mobilized in full, a force of 30 members. Together with the [Artemis Familia]'s 20, and including two deities, the entire expedition now numbered 54.
They quickly built their camp and gathered around the campfire.
"Artemis, it's been a long time. To think that stubborn you would even turn to the Guild for help. Before coming here… I thought it'd be a completely different scene."
That divine intuition had kept warning Hermes along the way; otherwise, he wouldn't have urged the group to hurry so many times.
The goddess of the hunt stood with her back to everyone, raising her head to gaze toward the depths of the Great Tree Sea.
There, faintly, the forest had already lost its color.
It was as if something had drained its very life force, the entire forest looked withered and twisted, sending chills down their spines.
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T/N: Second bonus chapter for crossing 300 power stones; next two bonus chapter are at 350 power stones~