Chapter 267: When Both Elf Sisters Like Liam
After returning from the Dungeon, the members of the Third Squad all learned Gieg's true identity. Although they were a little miffed, they all chose to keep his secret. These squad members had seen so much at Liam's side—fantastical sights that could never be found in a textbook.
The knowledge in books, to put it bluntly, was just theory. It was a way of thinking, a method for discovering the unknown. Textbooks might describe the Dungeon down to the 15th Floor and mention that the 18th was a safe zone. They might mention that the Dungeon had irregularities like monster parties and random spawns. But only by experiencing it firsthand could one truly know what a world of coexisting danger and opportunity it was.
Spurred on by Liam's advice, Nina finally mustered the courage to meet her sister. The two met in a park early one morning.
"Sister, I'm so happy to meet you for the first time. My name is Nina."
"Nina!" Eina looked as if she was afraid this was a dream, before finally pulling the younger girl into her arms. "I'm so glad you're willing to talk to me. I saw you when you were just a baby... it really has been a long time."
"So, I'm happy to meet you for the first time too, Sister Eina."
Eina had an astonishing talent for academics and was exceptionally skilled at clerical work. At the Guild, her work efficiency was equal to that of ten of her colleagues combined.
Nina, on the other hand, aside from a vast store of memorized knowledge, had no real academic advantages. She could keep up with many subjects, but at best, she could only score a sixty or seventy, which was precisely a 'C' grade.
Eina, during her student days, was the opposite. On exams with a perfect score of 100, she got a 95 or higher, often even a perfect score, in every single subject. All of Eina's subjects were 'A's, simply because 'A' was the highest grade available.
But unlike Eina, Nina possessed a much greater talent for athletics and healing magic. The two sisters spent the morning in the park, catching up on all their lost years.
"Sister," Nina said, "the reason I've grown so much and figured all this out is because of someone I truly cherish."
Eina smiled warmly at her sister. "Nina, so you've reached that age. Who is he?"
"Liam Moon! He's an amazing adventurer. He's nothing like the rumors say. He's handsome, and gentle, and he's been so good to all of us..."
The warm, sisterly atmosphere that had enveloped them instantly vanished into thin air.
Nina, completely failing to notice Eina's panicked expression, was now fully love-struck, a radiant smile on her face as she said goodbye.
"Sister, I'm going to become an adventurer! I'm going to join the Hestia Familia. I'm going to follow in his footsteps and see more of the world with him!"
Eina stared in bewildered shock at Nina's departing figure, a hundred conflicting emotions warring in her mind. She thought about Liam's many other pursuers, about her own feelings for Liam, and about the fact that his adventuring party was composed entirely of women.
In the process of guiding the Academy students, Liam himself had gained something new. He had taken the knowledge from the Academy and applied it in the Dungeon. This method of learning from scratch and mastering power in a practical setting was incredibly beneficial.
He glanced at Leon. He'd heard that the moment the irregular situation was reported, Leon had been the first to charge in, becoming the single most effective and efficient rescuer in the entire operation. Besides his responsibility and ethics as a teacher, he clearly cared deeply for his students.
Leon noticed Liam's gaze and looked him in the eye. "Liam. I hope we can adventure together next time."
"If the two of us are teaming up," Liam smiled, "then it must be to subjugate the Black Dragon."
As soon as he mentioned the Black Dragon, Leon's expression turned rigid and ugly. A moment later, his face became a blank mask, but the muscles in his jaw clenched, as if he was desperately trying to suppress his emotions.
"Sorry," Liam said. "It seems I misspoke."
"Ah... I thought I had already put the past behind me. My apologies." Leon's voice was strained. "But if it's to subjugate the Black Dragon, I will go, even if it costs me my life!"
Liam could feel the intense fighting spirit, the rage, and the killing intent radiating from the man. It seemed that, just like Allen of the former Freya Familia, Leon also had a dark past connected to the dragon.
Liam looked at him seriously. "Professor Leon, by my estimations, the Black Dragon is likely Level 9, or perhaps even Level 10. You must not be reckless."
"..." Leon seemed to be recalling something. "Level 10? Does such a level of strength truly exist in this world? ...Ah. I know I cannot defeat the Black Dragon on my own. That is why I chose to come here, to train the next generation of elites."
The Corrupted Spirit's clone had already been close to, if not at, Level 8. Defeating it had been incredibly difficult. Then there was Antares. That monster had definitely reached Level 8. Clearly, Liam knew he wasn't strong enough to kill monsters like that on his own. He still needed to get stronger, all the way until he was unparalleled. Of course, the pursuit of power was endless. Perhaps even the Third Awakening of his Sword Soul template was just the beginning.
For now, he was still a novice in the way of the sword.
Thanks to the teamwork of the Third Squad, Liam could now continue to attend the Academy or read its various books under the identity of "Gieg." Of course, even without that, he figured he could borrow the Academy's resources through Leon or Baldr. He now had the privilege of freely borrowing from the world's greatest library, a privilege built on his own strength and his good relationship with the Academy.
On the way back from the Academy to the Hearthfire Manor, Liam happened to see Nina, who was waiting with her backpack.
"Senior Liam! Senior Liam! I want to join your Familia, is that okay? It's definitely okay, right?"
Seeing Nina's hopeful, pleading expression, Liam nodded. "It's fine, but... if you have time now, why don't you come back with me?"
"Yay!"
Nina cheered and walked back to the Familia's home base with Liam. He now had permission to stay at the Academy long-term, but only as the student "Gieg." If he didn't, it would create problems for Baldr.
Upon arriving at the Hearthfire Manor, Nina bowed to everyone present.
"Hello, everyone! I am Nina Tulle, a student from Baldr's class at the Academy. I will be participating in a Familia Trial here starting today. Please take care of me!"
Hestia, who had just woken up and was still groggy, immediately became hostile the moment she saw Nina was another cute, half-elf girl.
"I do not approve! Liam! Why did you bring another girl into this Familia!"
Liam, feeling guilty, averted his gaze from Hestia's accusing stare. Hestia climbed onto a stool to stand level with him, crossing her arms.
"Look at me! Liam! What is going on?"
Liam gently helped Hestia off the stool. "Lady Hestia, I brought her here to ask for your advice. While I may be in charge of recruitment, if you don't approve, I won't hire anyone."
This mollified Hestia slightly. It wasn't as if Liam only recruited girls. He had recruited the Xenos, and the former Freya members were always stationed nearby. But the teammates who were closest to him, the ones who took up most of his time, were all stunning beauties! Hestia felt a severe sense of crisis.
"Then, Captain Liam, why did you bring her here?" Lili asked, as the other Familia members gathered around.
The Academy only visited Orario once every three years, and this year's Combat Division had fewer than a hundred members. Every one of them was at least Level 2. This kind of fresh, high-potential blood was a coveted prize for every Familia. Normally, Familias had to either poach members from other Familias or recruit from the ordinary people who flocked to Orario from around the world. Graduates from the Academy's Combat Division were, by far, the best choice. Of course, the Academy had many students, and Familias were just as welcoming to graduates from other divisions. No one disliked recruiting high-potential talent with a clean background.
Liam handed Nina's file to Hestia, then looked at Ais and the others. "Nina is a healer. And she can cast an area-of-effect healing magic that purifies all abnormal status effects."
Just that one sentence stunned everyone in the room.
A Purifier!
Healers were already rarer than mages. But a Purifier, especially one who could cure all status effects? Every adventurer present understood the immense value of that.
Lili swallowed, then looked at Liam. "Does that include poison, stun, paralysis, and frostbite?"
Liam nodded. "And curses, mental attacks, and so on."
Lili immediately cheered. "Captain! Lady Hestia! We absolutely must keep her!"
Mikoto, Daphne, and the others all looked at Hestia with excitement. Hestia had no choice but to nod, though she pouted. "Nina, welcome to your internship with the Hestia Familia!"
Nina shouted with joy. "Yes!" She then looked at Liam, her gaze burning hot, and her cheeks turned a deep crimson.
Healers were the rarest profession, especially those who could purify all abnormal conditions.
Ryuu walked over. "Liam, is this another child you seduced at school? If you like elves, am I not right here?"
Liam coughed, feeling even more guilty. He was still terrible at handling these kinds of relationship tangles.
After Nina got acquainted with everyone, Liam asked Mikoto to show her around the Manor and arrange a room for her. There were still plenty of empty rooms, and Liam trusted Mikoto's steady personality.
Now, just counting the two squads Liam led, the Hestia Familia had three full-time healers: Ryuu, Cassandra, and Nina. A Level 2 or higher healer was incredibly rare in Orario. And if you included the healers and apothecaries from Daphne's old Familia, the number reached the triple digits. Even just counting pure healers, they had over ten.
Without a doubt, the Hestia Familia now possessed the largest and most powerful healing team in all of Orario.
After getting settled, Mikoto and Nina returned to the living room.
Hestia sighed sourly. "Liam is just too popular. I'm starting to suspect that every single young woman in Orario has her sights set on him!"
Attracted by the lively atmosphere, Syr Flova appeared, handing Liam a cup of delicious tea. He accepted it reflexively, took a slow sip, and turned to look. It was the beautiful Miss Syr.
Syr stood beside him. "Lord Liam is a first-tier adventurer, after all. It's only normal that he would be popular with so many girls."
The others in the room now noticed the silver-haired beauty.
"Syr, you're not working today?" Liam asked.
"It's so lively at home today, I just had to take a little time off." The girl stuck her tongue out playfully at Liam, her youthful figure on full display.
Liam thought about Syr's daily life since she had joined them. After the War Game, she had moved into the Manor. The former Freya members were now stationed nearby, guarding the route between the Manor and The Hostess of Fertility. With Heith and the others helping out, Syr now had much more time to "slack off" at home, much to Hestia's annoyance. Hestia was convinced Syr was just using the time to expand her Freya Familia territory.
Afterward, everyone ate lunch in the dining hall, prepared by Mikoto and the others. With so many women in the room, Liam proactively went to the kitchen to see if he could help. Seeing him head for the kitchen, Ryuu followed. The two of them stood in the kitchen, cleaning up.
"Ryuu," Liam said quietly, "you said before that you like me, right?"
Ryuu's face instantly turned red, and she spun around to face him. "Yes! But please don't feel troubled. I am an elf. I have plenty of time and patience. For now, I just want to continue liking you. That's all."
Liam reached out and placed a hand on her head. "I will have more than one partner. If you can accept that, then perhaps we can start dating."
Ryuu blushed even harder, then nodded. "I'm willing!" Her voice was small, but firm.
Liam leaned in close to her ear, whispered something, and then turned to leave. Ryuu's body went limp, as if all her strength had been drained, and she leaned against the kitchen wall with a smile on her face.
Syr opened the door and walked in. "I accidentally heard that, you know. Ryuu, please take good care of me from now on."
Ryuu, still blushing, nodded. "Please take care of me, too."