Recently,
the production-type Familia such as Hephaistos Familia and Gubneu Familia had become quite busy.
After the Black Dragon, called one of the Three Great Quests, died, it left behind a great many byproducts, so they hammered away with enthusiasm, filled with a blacksmith's pride and passion for unknown materials.
But,
"Damn it! It won't heat up!!!"
"As expected of the Black Dragon..."
"We need a hotter flame..."
they couldn't smelt the Black Dragon's materials by ordinary means.
"You all are having a rough time."
"Bellf!"
"Fire! Please bring down some fire from a spirit!!!"
"We need fire!!"
Watching the blacksmiths cling to me like a chain smoker whose lighter had broken, desperate for fire, made my head ache.
"At this point, you could take over as the chief, you know?"
"Stop talking nonsense and get back to work."
"Nope! I'm a blacksmith! I'll live by the fire and die by the fire!"
"Good grief..."
When I threw Urus's flame into the furnace,
"This is it..."
"It's warm..."
"Materials! Materials—!!!"
they began to rejoice like primitive humans encountering fire for the first time.
Orario was peaceful.
There were no disturbances like before, the remnants of Evilus had been completely dealt with, and adventurers had begun descending into the Dungeon again.
The biggest change was,
"The surface... is..."
"I feel like I'm going to cry..."
"Hwaaaah..."
the Xenos had succeeded in coming to the surface.
It had already been a week since the Black Dragon was killed.
Since Pandora, who could be considered both the Dungeon and their creator, had personally declared the Xenos harmless, adventurers and citizens welcomed them with expressions that were half suspicion and half trust.
The ones who welcomed the Xenos most enthusiastically were the gods.
"Uoh☆ Hey there, minotaur? Why don't you come to our Familia?"
"Don't cut in line, you bastard!"
"Our Familia can give you as many delicious vegetables as you want, you know?"
Since the gods had descended to the Lower World seeking entertainment, the existence of the Xenos was a new source of amusement for them.
"Should I really call this peaceful?"
"Who knows..."
As I asked Aiz while rubbing my aching head at the sight I'd seen while walking to buy potatoes for today's meal,
"Well, it's better than a massacre, I guess... Ah, right. What about Aria?"
"She's staying with Loki Familia. Lefiya and Tiona are taking good care of her."
"Those two?"
Lefiya, sure... well, I could see that. But Tiona?
"She said she wanted to learn how to seduce the opposite sex..."
"Ah."
So that was it.
"Right, Aiz."
"What is it?"
"Um... do you have any thoughts about marriage?"
"Yes."
"Then... want to do it?"
I gathered my courage and asked, thinking that if I didn't say it now, I might never get the chance again.
"...Yes!"
Aiz answered with a smile.