I imagine you must be tired of these kinds of chapters by now; I'm sorry, I'm running out of creativity.
//
After stepping out of the Guild, Luki decided to head back to his hotel room before meeting up with Lili, as he needed to drop off his belongings first.
In an instant, he teleported straight inside the room. He set his bag of valis onto the nightstand and leaned his Zweihänder against the wall.
Expanding his spatial sense, Luki checked on Lili's location and noticed she had already arrived at the Hostess of Fertility, currently striking up a conversation with Mia. Showing up right this second wouldn't lead to anything productive.
Instead, he decided to take a bath to wash away the dirt and blood naturally accumulated from his adventure in the Dungeon. Once clean, he handed his soiled clothes over to the inn's staff to be washed.
Dressed in a fresh set of clothes and preening his feathers, Luki focused intensely on his desire to reach his destination. Before he even fully realized it, he vanished from the room and reappeared right in front of the Hostess of Fertility.
...
As Luki magically materialized in front of the tavern, Syr, who was standing outside calling in prospective customers, noticed him right away. A bright smile bloomed on her face as she stepped forward to greet him.
"Ah, hello, Luki-sama!" Syr greeted cheerfully.
"Hey, Syr-chan. How are you doing?" Luki replied with a relaxed smile.
"I'm doing wonderful, especially now that you've arrived," she said, letting out a sweet, playful giggle.
"Heh, that smooth talk won't work on me, but thanks for the attempt," Luki chuckled softly.
He stared directly at Syr without breaking eye contact, an oddly relaxed smile lingering on his face. The person standing right in front of him wasn't Syr—or rather, it wasn't Horn—but the goddess Freya herself using Syr's persona.
If Luki didn't possess his abnormal spatial sense, he would have hardly noticed the difference. It wasn't merely a matter of different makeup or a changed hairstyle; her body was subtly restructured in some places. It wasn't entirely surprising, given that the gods hardly follow the laws of common sense.
Syr let out a soft, melodious laugh, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Fufu, it was worth a shot. If you're looking for Lili-chan, she's currently in the kitchen with Mia-mama."
Luki nodded in agreement and headed inside.
He already knew exactly where Lili was and what she was doing thanks to his spatial sense. However, to avoid scaring anyone with a sudden appearance, he had decided it was wiser to teleport outside the tavern rather than inside a den of superpowered women.
Passing through the main hall, Luki greeted the waitresses currently working through the light afternoon crowd before making his way straight toward the kitchen.
As he neared the door, the voices inside grew clearer, catching the tail end of an ongoing debate.
"...and I'm telling you, tiny girl, this thing just don't add up!" Mia's voice echoed from inside. "You can't be dragging yourself through the Dungeon during the day and expect to carry heavy trays all night without collapsing!"
"Everything will be fine, Mia-mama!" Lili argued back, her tone filled with stubborn determination. "Lili has already thought her schedule carefully! If I take the early morning shift in the Dungeon with Luki-sama, we can return by mid-afternoon, giving Lili enough time to rest before covering the dinner rush here!"
"Don't give me that 'carefully planned' nonsense! One unexpected event and your whole schedule gets thrown out the window. I can't just keep changing the other girls' rotation all the time simply because you frequently get stuck down there."
"But Lili needs the extra income! And besides, Lili doesn't want to leave the Hostess completely..." Lili muttered, pouting slightly as her ears drooped.
Luki watched the scene unfold in silence. Mia quickly noticed him entering the kitchen, but neither of them made a big deal out of it. They simply exchanged a brief nod before Luki leaned casually against a nearby wall.
The discussion went on for a few more moments. With customers waiting to be served out front, they couldn't afford to drag it out for long, so a compromise was quickly reached.
Lili would work on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday—the tavern's busiest days—while taking Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday off. To make up for the lost day and keep her weekly hours balanced, she would work slightly later shifts on her active days.
'Honestly, this is hilarious...' Luki thought to himself as he observed the negotiation.
In all the time he had lived in this place, he had never seen concepts like weekend off-days, defined shifts, or set clock-out times. It always felt like the waitresses were working constantly, save for a few specific breaks.
'A labor rights agency from my past life would throw a fit seeing this pseudo-slavery... absolute prime material for a audit,' he chuckled internally. 'Then again, every single one of them possesses superhuman attributes, so it's not like it's actually exhausting for them.'
Once the agreement was finalized, Lili turned around to head back to the dining area, only then noticing Luki leaning against the wall. A soft smile lit up her face as she walked up to her boyfriend, wrapping her arms around him in a warm hug.
"Everything sorted out, Lili?" Luki asked softly.
"Yes! Mia-mama was stubborn, but Lili managed to secure a good schedule," she replied, beaming with pride.
Luki looked over at the tavern owner with an amused expression. "Thanks for making it work with her, Mia-mama."
"Hmph! Just make sure she doesn't overdo it out there, kid," Mia snorted, waving her hand dismissively as she turned back to her pots. "Now get out of my kitchen, both of you."
They nooded at her and walked out the kitchen, toward the front door.
However, just as they were about to step out of the establishment, the front doors swung open once more. Stepping inside was none other than Ryuu Lion.
All three of them widened their eyes in surprise as their gaze met, completely caught off guard by the unexpected encounter—especially Luki and Lili, who certainly hadn't anticipated Ryuu returning so soon.
"It's good to see that both of you are doing well, but please excuse me," Ryuu said, passing between them with practiced agility without even brushing against their clothes. "I need to get ready for my shift."
Ryuu hurried toward the stairs leading to the second floor, leaving Luki and Lili watching her retreating back.
Luki and Lili exchanged a glance, shrugged their shoulders, and decided it was best to simply take their leave. However, Luki paused in his tracks and turned back toward Syr.
"Do you need something, Luki-sama?" Syr asked, tilting her head with a curious expression.
"Syr-chan, could you do me a favor and... let our mutual goddess friend know that our date is still on?" Luki requested with a calm smile, intentionally emphasizing his words.
"Uhm? Oh... Oh!" Syr let out a series of small sounds as if the realization had just clicked in her mind—an playful act that didn't fool Luki for a second.
A unmistakable glint of amusement flashed within her eyes. She leaned closer, whispering right near Luki's ear-wing as if sharing a critically important secret.
"Consider it done, my Luki-kun," she whispered softly before pulling back slightly, her posture shifting just enough to betray the elegance of a deity. "Though, I would like to ask you something as well."
"What is it?" Luki inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"For the event... would you prefer Freya-sama to wear something casual, elegant, or sensual?" Syr asked in an innocent tone
Luki took a small step back, looking at her with a dry, amused expression. "Did 'she' ask you to inquire about that, or are you asking for yourself?"
"Maybe, maybe not, none of your business~" Syr replied with a sly, knowing grin that practically dropped the act.
'She really isn't even trying to hide it right now,' Luki thought, letting out a soft chuckle as he tilted his head up and rested a hand on his chin in thought.
Truth be told, he hadn't given much thought to what they would actually do on this date until now. Rather than saying he had forgotten about it, it was more like he had been actively avoiding thinking about it.
However, standing right in front of the goddess in disguise reminded him that this encounter was inevitable, so he figured leaving a direct answer was the best move.
"Something casual and comfortable, preferably something that doesn't show too much skin," Luki answered after a moment, looking straight into her eyes. "The idea is just to have a proper first date, you know? Nothing overly romantic for now, just a chance for us to get to know each other for the first time."
"Understood! That was all I wanted to know, thank you," Syr said, her bright smile carrying genuine satisfaction.
Luki gave her a thumbs-up and turned back to join Lili. The two of them held hands, walking together as they made their way back home.
The two of them walked in comfortable silence, taking unhurried steps through the streets. Once Lili felt they were a safe distance from the Hostess of Fertility and that no one was close enough to overhear, she asked softly.
"So... what is this 'date' story with a certain goddess about?" she asked in a relaxed, almost casual tone, lacking any expected intense jealousy or sharp interrogation.
Luki turned his eyes toward her, replying in the same low voice. "You heard us?"
"Not everything and not clearly. It's good to pay attention to your surroundings when you've been in the kind of situations Lili used to be in," she murmured, trailing off slightly as she sorted her thoughts. "I just didn't know you and..."
Luki let out a quiet sigh accompanied by a resigned smile, looking up at the sky that was just beginning to darken.
"I wasn't expecting it either, but it happened... Or rather, I made it happen."
Lili changed her grip on his hand, lacing her fingers with his. She leaned in closer, resting her head against his arm as they both adopted a slower pace.
"That day Hestia was banished, things happened, as you already know," Luki explained, his thumb gently rubbing the back of her hand. "What I didn't tell you is that I made a deal with Freya. She wouldn't leave me alone because she was obsessed with me, but I didn't like that pressure. So I found a middle ground that worked for both of us."
"The two of you will go out once to satisfy her, and then she will leave us alone," Lili summarized.
Luki raised a hand to the back of his head, scratching his neck awkwardly. "Well... it's not quite like that, but close enough. It's just an innocent, casual date, Lili. Nothing is going to happen between us the way you might be thinking. I'm just honor-bound to show up."
Lili stopped walking for a fraction of a second, puffing her cheeks out slightly. "An innocent date? With the Goddess of Beauty? Forgive Lili if she finds that hard to believe, Luki-sama. Besides..." She looked up at him, her eyes narrowing in a playful pout. "Lili hasn't even had her own proper date with you yet! Why does a creepy goddess get to cut the line?"
Luki let out a soft laugh, genuinely amused by her expression. "Hey, she's not cutting the line. Think of it as a tactical retreat to secure our peace. Nothing will happen unless she somehow manages to completely win me over, and let's be honest—that is absolutely not going to happen."
Suddenly, Luki felt a spike in emotional shift coming from Lili. He had already restricted his spatial senses since there was no immediate need for them, but he still picked up on something happening so close to him. Without worrying about privacy boundaries between them, Luki expanded his perception just enough to encompass her.
Through his sense, he could visually perceive how Lili was feeling. Even though she was calmly keeping a tight rein on her emotions and thoughts, she couldn't completely prevent them from surfacing.
"Lili, you know you can tell me anything, right?" Luki asked gently.
Lili shifted her gaze upward, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye before turning her attention back to the road ahead. "You're doing that again."
"What is it? You don't like it? If you want, I'll stop," Luki offered.
"It's fine, Lili doesn't mind. Lili has nothing to hide from Luki-sama. Lili belongs entirely to you anyway."
"Hey, no smooth flattery right now. We're having a serious conversation here," Luki chided gently. "We need to talk if you're feeling something you don't like."
"It's just..." Lili went quiet for a long moment, carefully organizing her thoughts as if she couldn't quite pinpoint her own reasons. "This won't affect our relationship, right? We're still going to stay like this, even after all of this, right?"
Luki stopped in his tracks, and Lili paused as well, casually tightening her embrace around his arm as a cold breeze brushed against her skin.
"Do you really think I'm going to stop loving you just because I went out with her?" Luki asked, bending down slightly to hug her and gently rub her arms for warmth.
"It's a fair anxiety," Lili muttered softly. "They say she sleeps with the members of her Familia on certain occasions to keep them under her charm. They say after that, no one can disobey her wishes... like fanatical puppets."
"Why do I feel like I have this exact type of conversation way too often?" Luki sighed with a wry smile. "I can almost predict the sequence of events in my life at this point."
"That's because Luki-sama is a very good person, and you don't mind talking directly about feelings with us," Lili replied, looking up at him. "Lili feels like she can simply open up to you without worrying."
The two resumed walking at their normal pace.
"Lili... have I ever told you how much I hate women with low self-esteem?" Luki teased playfully.
"Yes, but what can Lili do? It's just how Lili is," she huffed lightly. "Hestia-sama was like that too."
"Yeah, must be a short person thing."
"Shut up."
They remained in silence for the rest of the way, though both of them could feel that the conversation wasn't entirely over yet.
Once they arrived at the hotel, they went straight to Luki's room. As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Luki and Lili collapsed onto the soft mattress.
The quiet room suddenly felt warmer, filled with the soft sound of their quickening breath as Luki leaned over her, his hands gently framing her face while Lili wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
They shared a deep, fervent kiss—a passionate release of all the tension, fatigue, and unspoken anxiety built up throughout the day. Luki pressed closer, his weight resting lightly above her, deepening the kiss as Lili ran her fingers through his hair, holding him near as if trying to anchor herself to him.
After a long, breathless moment, Luki slowly pulled back, resting his forehead against hers. He let out a heavy, ragged sigh, his breath warm against her lips.
"First, a casual day, followed by the day's main event, then a heavy emotional talk with someone." Luki panted softly, a faint, weary chuckle escaping his lips.
Lili rested her head on the pillow, looking up at him with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean, Luki-sama?"
"That's just the sequence of events in my life," Luki answered with a soft, affectionate smile, turning his head to kiss her lips gently. "It's almost as if my life were a story and every day had to be something interesting for the reader, so there's always something going on."
Luki shifted his weight, his body sliding down slightly as his lips left hers and traced a slow, burning path down her jawline. Lili's breath hitched as his mouth found the sensitive skin of her neck. He leaned in close, pressing his lips firmly against her pulse point, and began to suck hard, marking her skin with deliberate possession. Lili tightly pressed her lips together, burying her face into his shoulder to stifle any sound from escaping her throat.
"Lili, I want you to understand something," Luki murmured, his voice deep and vibrating directly against her neck, sending an immediate, intense shiver down her spine. "I will never abandon you. No matter how many women enter my life, for one reason or another... you will always have a special place in my heart."
Lili gasped softly against his shoulder, her fingers tightening in his hair as the warmth of his breath pooled over her newly marked skin. A soft, breathless laugh bubbled from her lips.
"Hihihi... I know... Hestia-sama might have been the first. But it was me... I was the one who paved the way for you to have more than one."
Luki pulled back just enough to look at her, a wry amusement in his eyes. "Hestia must hate you so much for that."
"A little," Lili admitted, her gaze locking onto his, wide and full of an unyielding devotion as her hands slid from his hair down to his chest, feeling the heavy thud of his heartbeat. "I also wish I could have Luki-sama all to myself. But I know that's difficult. Luki-sama is just too charming."
Luki let out a low chuckle that died in his throat as he looked down at her flushed face. Unable to resist the pull any longer, he leaned down and captured her lips again. This time, the kiss was overwhelmingly intense, fierce and consuming, as if he wanted to swallow her whole. Lili melted completely into the mattress under his weight, her hands roaming up his back, gripping the fabric of his shirt as the heat between them flared.
When they finally broke apart for air, Lili was panting, her eyes hooded and full of longing.
"Luki-sama..." she whispered, her voice a breathless, pleading invitation.
Luki stared down at her for a lingering, tense second, his eyes tracking the dark mark on her neck before he forced a strained smile and gently tapped her nose.
"Only after you turn sixteen."
Lili blinked, the romantic tension suddenly popping like a bubble, and she let out a frustrated groan, rolling her eyes.
"Fuck..."