Takemikazuchi and Miach chimed in with laughter, while Astrea elegantly savored the cake Tifa had made, her eyes carrying a gentle smile.
The adventurers formed another circle of their own.
Aiden held his wine glass, looking at this lively and warm scene, his heart swelling with emotion.
He watched Furina's radiant expression among the gods, and the joyful faces of his companions and friends chatting happily. An unprecedented sense of belonging welled up within him.
Perhaps, this was what he truly wanted to protect in this world.
----
A few days later, at the magnificent city gates of Orario, the atmosphere of parting was a bit tearful.
"Artemis… can't you stay just a little longer?" Hestia held Artemis's hands tightly, her trademark large eyes brimming with tears, looking completely aggrieved as if she were about to cry.
"I'm sorry, Hestia." Artemis smiled helplessly, reaching out to straighten her best friend's slightly messy bangs. "My Familia still has missions to complete. There are many ancient seals in the outside world that we need to guard. We can't stay in Orario for long."
Hestia wasn't an unreasonable goddess; she knew her friend bore an important mission. She sniffled, let go, and gave Artemis a tight hug. "Then you have to come back and see me often."
Nearby, Lante, a member of the Artemis Familia, gently nudged Aiden with her elbow, her eyes signaling him to go and give her goddess a proper farewell.
Aiden stepped forward. Looking at the awe-inspiring Goddess of the Moon, he asked, seemingly casually, "Is it an emergency quest issued by the Guild?"
"Hmm?" Artemis shook her head, slightly surprised. "No, we haven't received a quest from the Guild. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, I just thought you were leaving so hurriedly because you received a mandatory quest from the Guild." Aiden found an excuse to brush it off. "So that's not it."
Artemis smiled at his words. "Of course not. Although the Guild occasionally issues us quests, there really aren't many. After all, the Guild's primary focus is the Dungeon, and our duties rarely intersect with it. Instead, we receive far more requests for help from merchants, kingdoms, or remote villages in the outside world."
Getting the answer he wanted, Aiden quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
What he truly wanted to confirm was whether the Artemis Familia had received the quest regarding the Great Forest.
In the original timeline, it was that exact quest that led to the annihilation of the Artemis Familia. Even the goddess herself was devoured, ultimately forcing her to sacrifice herself to save the lower world.
Since they hadn't received that quest, it meant the hands of fate hadn't yet ticked to that tragic hour.
----
Having seen off the Artemis Familia, life seemed to return to its stable track.
Days slipped by quietly, woven with swords, magic, sweat, and laughter.
Aiden's life became regular and fulfilling. Whether leading his girls deep into the Dungeon to hone their skills amidst the clash of blades, accepting invitations from the Loki and Astrea Familias to launch expeditions into deeper unknowns, or completing adventurer commissions posted by the Guild to accumulate wealth and prestige for their Familia.
In his free time, he would wander every street and alley of Orario with Robin, Tifa, and the others like ordinary people, tasting good food and enjoying the sunshine.
He would also frequently visit the Loki Familia's headquarters, Twilight Manor. On the training grounds, he unreservedly imparted his understanding of swordsmanship to Ais, who had an extreme thirst for the technique.
During training breaks, he would occasionally make deliberate, intimate gestures—like casually wiping the sweat from her forehead—just to admire the adorable sight of Lefiya stomping her feet in jealousy nearby, desperate to intervene but lacking the courage.
Of course, such behavior always drew the ire of a certain red-haired deity.
Being chased by Loki—who would pull out a knife from gods-knew-where—from North Main Street all the way to South Main Street had become a unique spectacle in Orario.
Amidst these daily routines, the most important event happened after returning from a certain expedition.
That time, they encountered the Floor Boss Udaeus on the 37th floor. After a grueling battle, though they successfully subjugated it, Aiden also suffered considerable injuries.
Upon returning to Palais Mermonia, Hyacine immediately pressed him onto his bed, her expression serious as she insisted on giving him a full body check to prevent any lingering hidden injuries.
The room was filled with the fresh scent of herbs. Hyacine gently and professionally prodded his muscles to check for hidden injuries; the warm touch made the atmosphere turn slightly intimate.
"Hya-dear," Aiden suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of teasing. "Before this, did you peek at Tifa and me taking a bath?"
"Eh?!"
Hyacine's hands stiffened abruptly. Her whole body seemed frozen by a binding spell, her brain instantly crashing.
A deep flush crept from her neck all the way to the tips of her ears in seconds. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. Only the words I've been found out echoed madly in her mind.
Seeing her looking as if she were about to catch fire, Aiden couldn't help but chuckle, reaching out to pull her into his arms.
Confusion, shame, and a trace of inexplicable secret joy—all kinds of emotions exploded in Hyacine's heart.
In the end, this usually gentle and considerate physician chose the most unexpected way to respond.
As if giving herself over to despair, she closed her eyes, took the initiative, and kissed him clumsily but firmly.
Thus, Hyacine became the fourth important family member in Aiden's life, following Robin, Furina, and Tifa.
Furthermore, to help Aiden achieve his unrealistic "harem dream," this newly minted family member once burned with high fighting spirit, trying to drag Jeanne d'Arc and Firefly into the fray as well, although no substantial progress had been made yet.
----
Two months flew by, and Orario once again welcomed the Denatus that determined the glory of adventurers.
Inside the circular council chamber on the 30th floor of Babel Tower, the gods gathered.
The air was filled with the fragrance of divine wine and the hum of whispers.
Among those lazy, solemn, or cynical figures, Furina sat up straight. Shedding her usual liveliness, her face bore a rare trace of seriousness.
She absolutely had to be present today, because this assembly would decide Aiden's brand-new alias.
Aiden and Robin had both leveled up to Level 5, and even the newly joined Firefly had reached Level 3.
With that group of thrill-seeking gods—especially given Loki's twisted sense of humor and her personal grudge against Aiden—if she wasn't present, who knew what kind of outrageous and humiliating aliases they would pin on her children.
As the meeting progressed, the most exciting segment finally arrived: bestowing or changing the aliases of promoted adventurers.
=== ⋆⋅❖⋅⋆ ===
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