After the photo session had completed and everyone went back to their work, the girls and I gathered in the library. I filled them in on my conversation with Airmid about the panacea.
"I see, using different kinds of healing plants and making an all-curing panacea with it, huh?" Riveria started, finger tapping her chin thoughtfully. "That might actually work."
"Do you have the list of those items needed?" Asfi asked.
I put the list on the table, "Yes, I had Airmid write them for me."
The girls read through the list.
"These seem difficult to acquire," Ryuu said, scanning the page. "Many can only be found deep in the dungeon."
"Dangerous..." Ais's hand found the corner of my shirt. She only released it after I patted her head.
"Yes, it will be dangerous. But I think we can get one of the items from the elven territory." Riveria stood and walked to a cabinet against the library wall. She opened the top drawer and withdrew a letter—green with an intricate floral design.
"What is that?" Asfi asked, observing the letter.
Riveria put the letter in the center of the table, letting us read the content.
I skimmed past the formal pleasantries. The core message was simple: a gathering in the spirit village, scheduled for next spring, about a few months from now.
"Impossible!" Ryuu's eyes widened. "So the spirit village is not just a fairy tale?"
"Yes, only a select few know of its existence. This gathering happens every thirty years," Riveria continued, "It is said that even unicorns appear here along with spirits."
"I see." Ryuu's expression turned thoughtful. "If word got out about when and where this happens, people would try to plunder it."
Asfi asked next, "But how are you involved in this festival, Riveria?"
"I grow the spirit nuts that are served in the after-party to foster goodwill and friendship."
"Hmm… I think I read somewhere about the spirit nuts from the holy tree… isn't that the nut that's supposed to amplify feelings of affection?" Asfi asked.
That sounded rather exaggerated, I thought, but refrained from commenting. Instead, I raised my hand, "Can I know what this invitation has to do with our talks now?"
Riveria put her finger on the list I had put on the table, tapping the ingredient written on it. "That nut is known for its medical qualities. If the festival goes well, then everyone involved would receive some of the nuts."
Understanding dawned on me. "I see, yeah, that might work. There is still a lot of time till this gathering, but it's good to know we can mark off one of the things from the list."
We continued to discuss our plans further when a low rumble from Ais's stomach caught our attention. She stared at us as she spoke, "I am hungry."
A collective chuckle escaped us. I stared out of the library's large window to see that the sun had already set, and the moon was shining down upon the city. "Right, it's almost dinner time. Let's wrap up here."
We stood up, making our way towards the mess hall. We must have talked longer than I realized, as we found the mess hall to be fairly empty.
After getting our food, we sat at a round table. "By the way, the academy district is also arriving in a few weeks, right?" I asked.
"Yes, their ship requires repairs, and it's most likely that we both would be working on it," Asfi replied.
"A flying city, huh?" I muttered in amazement, my mind already racing with questions about how the flying ship must work. The ship wasn't the only thing on my mind. But also the man who led the whole of the academy district.
The Knight of Knights, Leon Vardenburg. I wonder what kind of man he is to have such an extravagant name. I thought, while I knew of his strength and commitment towards his students. I still wanted to meet and see with my own eyes what he is like.
"You're making that face again," Riveria observed, cutting into her food.
"What face?" I asked, looking up from my plate.
"The one where you're thinking too hard about something," she clarified. "Your eyebrows do this thing." She gestured vaguely at her own face.
"I don't make a face."
"You definitely do," Asfi confirmed, adjusting her glasses. "It's the same expression you get when you're designing new magic items."
"Or when you're trying to figure out a difficult opponent," Ryuu added quietly.
"Or when you're planning dates," Ais said simply, earning surprised looks from the others and a groan from me.
"Not you too, Ais."
She tilted her head slightly. "It's true though. You get very focused."
I gave up defending myself. "I was just thinking about the Academy District. Specifically, Leon Vardenburg."
"The Knight of Knights?" Asfi leaned forward. "You want to meet him?"
"Of course I do. Someone with a title like that has to be extraordinary." I continued. "More than that. I want to understand what it takes to reach level seven. What separates someone like him from even the strongest level sixes?" I leaned back. "Besides Ottar, he's the only other level seven in the world. Someone who can even keep Ottar in check. There is bound to be something more than just physical strength."
"You want to fight him, don't you?" Riveria said knowingly.
"I wouldn't say fight, exactly. More like... test myself against him?" I tried. "See how I measure up." While I wasn't a battle junkie, far from it, but other than Ottar, Leon is the only level seven adventurer, someone who can keep even Ottar under control. And I really want to see how I measure against one of the strongest.
"That's called wanting to fight," Asfi said dryly.
"It's normal to want to challenge strong opponents," Ryuu's brow furrowed slightly. "But the Knight of Knights is said to be exceptionally powerful. Even among first-class adventurers, he stands out."
"Which is exactly why I want to see what he's capable of," I said. "Besides, it's not like I'm going to challenge him to a duel the moment I meet him. I'm just... curious."
"Curious," Riveria repeated, clearly amused. " Certainly, that's one way to put it."
"I am also curious!" Alise exclaimed as she put her tray of food on the table with a thump. "Knight of knights versus knight of justice Alise Lovell, I wonder how I fare against him," she said, then looked at me sideways, and draped her hand over my shoulder, "We must challenge him, Arin!"
"Challenge is a strong word, I just want to spar a little, Alise, and that is if he agrees."
Alise stuck her tongue out at me, "So boring…!"
"Boring or not, I'm not picking a fight with one of the strongest adventurers in the world without good reason," I said, shaking my head at Alise's enthusiasm.
"What's a good reason then?" Alise challenged, taking a large bite of her food.
"Mutual agreement, maybe some kind of training exercise," I listed off. "Not just walking up and challenging him because we're curious."
"Where's your sense of adventure?" Alise mumbled through her food.
"I left it in the dungeon where it belongs," I replied dryly.
Ryuu smiled at our exchange. "In any case, you'll likely get your chance to meet him when the Academy District arrives. If you're helping with the repairs, Arin, you'll probably cross paths."
"That's what I'm hoping for," I said. "Though I imagine he'll be busy with his students and administrative duties."
"The Academy District's visit is quite significant," Asfi mused, pushing her glasses up. "Their airship technology alone is worth studying. If we could incorporate some of their engineering principles into our equipment..."
"There's that look again," I pointed out, grinning. "See? You make the same face when you're thinking about new projects."
"I do not," Asfi protested while blushing.
"You definitely do," Ryuu said softly with a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Please, Ryuu…."
"I'm simply being honest," Ryuu said, pink lips curling into a small smile.
Ais had been quietly eating her food, but now she looked up. "When the Academy District comes, will there be students our age?"
"Most likely," Riveria answered. "The Academy takes in students from various backgrounds and ages. Why do you ask?"
"Curious," Ais said simply, echoing my earlier word. Then, after a pause, "Will they be strong?"
"Probably some of them," I said. "Though I doubt many could match you, Ais."
She seemed to consider this seriously, then nodded and returned to her food.
"You know," Alise said, leaning back in her chair with a thoughtful expression, "with the Academy District coming, it sounds like we're going to have a busy few months ahead."
"That's an understatement," Asfi muttered. "Between dungeon expeditions for the panacea ingredients, the airship repairs..."
"Don't forget about maintaining our relationships," I added, then immediately regretted it as all eyes turned to me.
"Oh?" Riveria arched a brow. "And how exactly are you planning to 'maintain' things with everything else going on?"
"The chart," Alise said immediately, grinning. "He's going to need a bigger chart."
"There is no chart!" I protested for what felt like the hundredth time that day.
"The schedule, then," Asfi corrected with a slight smile. "You do have one, don't you?"
"...It's just basic time management," I defended weakly.
"I find it really sweet," Ryuu said quietly, and the sincerity in her voice made me stop protesting. "You're trying to make time for everyone despite being so busy. To me, that means a lot."
"Ryuu's right," Ais agreed, looking at me with those golden eyes. "You always make time."
I felt my face warming. "I promised you all happiness. How could I not make the effort?"
"And that's why we appreciate you," Riveria said warmly. "Even if we do enjoy teasing you about it."
"Especially because we enjoy teasing you about it," Asfi corrected with a laugh.
Before I could respond, the mess hall doors opened, and several more familia members filed in, their voices filling the previously quiet space. Among them, I spotted Tiona and Tione, who immediately noticed our group and made their way over.
"Hey!" Tiona called out cheerfully. "Mind if we join you?"
"There's plenty of room," Alise said, gesturing to the empty seats.
As they settled in with their food, Tiona's eyes sparkled with mischief. "So, we heard some interesting news today..."
"Oh no," I muttered.
"About a certain someone and his very organized approach to dating," Tione added with a smirk.
"Who told you?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
"Literally everyone," Tiona said cheerfully. "It's all anyone's been talking about. The chart is apparently legendary."
"There. Is. No. Chart."
Not anymore atleast.
"Keep telling yourself that," Tione said with amusement. "Though I have to say, I'm impressed. Four relationships at once and you're still alive. Loki hasn't murdered you yet, has she?"
"She tries every day," I said. "With a fork or a needle."
"Just that?" Tiona looked disappointed. "I thought she'd at least go for a knife."
"Give her time," Riveria said dryly. "She's still processing."
The conversation flowed easily after that, shifting between topics—The Academy District's arrival, gossip about other familias.
As dinner wound down and people started heading to their rooms, I found myself walking back with the four girls through the manor's quiet corridors.
"So," Asfi said as we reached the point where our paths would diverge, "what are your plans for tomorrow?"
"Just patrolling around the city," I said. "Then I was hoping to spend some time with each of you, if you're free."
"I have paperwork in the afternoon," Riveria said. "But the evening should be fine."
"I'm helping Tsubaki with some equipment tests tomorrow," Asfi said. "But I should be done by late afternoon."
"Training in the morning," Ais said simply. "Free after lunch."
"I have patrol duty until mid-afternoon," Ryuu added. "We can do it together."
I made mental notes of all this, already adjusting my plans. Not a chart. I told myself firmly.
"Oh?" Alise's voice came from behind us. I hadn't even noticed she'd followed. "So that's how you manage things, very interesting."
"Alise, don't you have somewhere to be?" I asked pointedly.
"Nope! I'm staying at Loki Manor tonight." She grinned. "Which means I get to witness all the relationship chaos up close!"
"That's not ominous at all," I muttered.
"It'll be fun!" Alise declared. "Like a sleepover! We can talk about boys and—" She paused, looking around at the group. "Wait, you're all dating the same boy."
A beat of silence.
"This is going to be weird, isn't it?"
"Only if you make it weird," Asfi said calmly. For whatever reason, that seemed to excite Alise even more.
"Challenge accepted!" Alise said cheerfully.
I had a feeling tomorrow was going to be a very long day.