The Guild investigated the destruction of the Ishtar Familia's main base and the return of Ishtar, but found nothing.
Originally, Takatsuki thought that the members of the Ishtar Familia would reveal that they had kidnapped Hestia and Bell.
However, they seemed to have no strong sense of belonging to Ishtar either, and were unwilling to get further involved in this matter, so they all remained silent.
In short, the matter came to nothing. The Guild could not find anyone willing to take responsibility for it and could only attribute it to the conspiracy of the dark faction.
Now, Orario, although not as rampant with dark factions as in the dark ages, still has many ambitious individuals plotting everything beneath its glamorous surface.
Of course, this has nothing to do with Takatsuki and the Valkyries. He just wants to gain a few more levels and get more upgrade rewards while he stays here. You know, the reward for each level up is directly multiplied by two.
The only change was that the girl Bell brought back, Haruhime, joined the Hestia Familia.
Although Bell no longer needed to raise money to redeem Haruhime, he still chose to continue adventuring with his team, and Haruhime naturally joined his team.
During the Ishtar Familia's turmoil, the Hestia Familia did nothing extra. They didn't even go to the Dungeon. But until the matter came to an end, they didn't wait for anyone who might come to question them, not even privately.
Aisha and several Familia members came to the Hearth Manor's entrance to find Haruhime and Bell.
"You two are really lucky."
Aisha said to the two. Although she didn't know who had returned Ishtar, she knew that the two were being hunted at the time. If it weren't for Ishtar's return which nullified all of the Ishtar Familia's blessings, the two might have been caught by that big toad.
"Bell, I'm entrusting Haruhime to you. If I find you bullying her, I will definitely let you see my big sword."
After speaking, Aisha said to Haruhime: "Haruhime, you too, if this kid bullies you, tell me."
"...Yes, I will definitely take good care of Haruhime."
"Don't worry, Sister Aisha."
After getting their answers, Aisha looked at Takatsuki, who was leaning against the garden gate in the distance: "Aren't you going to say something, little brother?"
Takatsuki waved his hand: "Have a good journey."
"…"
Aisha said unhappily: "What a heartless man, we've spent so many nights together."
Seeing the somewhat strange looks around him, Takatsuki's eyelids twitched, and he quickly said.
"You guy, hurry up and get lost. You were just accompanying Bell, just standing outside in the cold wind with me. What has it become in your mouth?"
As soon as Takatsuki finished speaking, Hestia surprisingly nodded: "Hmm, one cannot lie in front of a god. Takatsuki did not lie."
"Uh..."
Whether Hestia did it on purpose or just blurted it out, the nascent trust crisis was resolved just like that.
Takatsuki had just breathed a sigh of relief when he saw a familiar figure approaching in the distance.
"Ais, you're back?"
The blonde girl who came over was Ais of the Loki Familia. She had been in the Dungeon for some missions recently, so she hadn't come for morning training.
"Hmm, what are you all doing?"
Ais looked at everyone gathered at the entrance, a little strange. Takatsuki had to explain to her.
"That's our new Familia member, Sanjouno Haruhime. Her former companions came to say goodbye to her."
Ais nodded, not knowing if she understood, but Takatsuki saw that she didn't seem to care much, instead looking at him.
"I have a question I want to ask Teacher."
A question?
Why don't you ask your foster mother if you have a question?
Running to ask me?
Ais's behavior made Takatsuki a little confused. Although she always called him 'Teacher,' Takatsuki knew that he had only taught Ais a few techniques. In all aspects, the members of the Loki Familia were clearly closer to Ais.
However, he also understood that some things are harder to say to those closest to you.
A teacher is one who imparts knowledge, teaches skills, and resolves doubts.
Since Ais called him 'Teacher'...
"What question?"
The emotionless girl in front of him asked Takatsuki a long-standing question: "What counts as a monster?"
"Monsters are those monsters in the Dungeon."
Before Takatsuki could answer, Kiana at the side spoke up.
"Idiot Kiana, Ais certainly isn't asking about that."
"Then what is it?"
In fact, Takatsuki was also very strange as to why Ais suddenly asked this question. She had been in Orario for so many years, so it was impossible for her not to know what a monster was.
"Ais, what is the reason you're asking this question? If you're just talking about the monsters in the Dungeon that attack adventurers, I think you know more than we do."
Ais looked at the others who were all curiously looking at her, hesitated for a moment, but still said nothing: "Nothing, let's start today's morning training."
Saying that, Ais wanted to walk towards the training room. Takatsuki was silent for a moment and then spoke.
"Ais, whether something is a monster is not determined by its appearance or birth. Even a monster born in the Dungeon, if it has a kind heart, can be called a human. Conversely, a person with a human face but a beast's heart is nothing more than a monster in human skin."
Takatsuki didn't know what Ais had encountered, but he guessed that she might have encountered an Xenos in the Dungeon, and perhaps she killed them, or let them go.
That's why she was in such a dilemma.
Hearing Takatsuki's words, Ais turned and thought in silence for a moment.
"I understand."
He didn't know if she had really taken it in.
The others didn't dare to ask directly, so they let the matter pass.
After Haruhime bid farewell to her former companions, she and Bell came to the training ground.
However, due to Haruhime's position, the only member of the Hestia Familia who did not participate in morning training appeared.
Takatsuki still sparred with Ais to practice his sword skills, but Takatsuki felt that Ais's sword was completely different from before.
"What's wrong, Ais, your sword is full of confusion."
Although it sounded a bit mystical, Takatsuki indeed felt that Ais's sword had a sense of drawing her sword and looking around with a confused heart.
Hearing Takatsuki's words, Ais pressed her sword against Takatsuki's and asked: "Teacher, if someone harms your companion and tries to harm more people, what would you do?"
"Cut him down!"
Takatsuki gave the answer without hesitation.