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Chapter 117: Letter of Invitation
Now, Aiden's situation had become a little awkward.
He still had one hand pinching Hyacine's face, forcing him to free up his other hand to gently hold Furina back.
The three of them instantly devolved into a chaotic scuffle. Watching from the sidelines, Tifa and Robin exchanged a glance, both smiling with a mix of helplessness and fond indulgence.
Just then, the pinned Hyacine rolled her eyes, a mischievous plan forming in her mind.
Abandoning her shoving match, she reached out and poked her fingers directly into Aiden's most ticklish spot on his waist.
"Ha!" Caught completely off guard, Aiden jolted, instinctively stumbling backward.
Losing his balance, he fell straight back, crashing squarely into Tifa, who had just stepped forward to break up the fight.
"Ah!" Tifa gasped. She instinctively tried to catch him, but the momentum dragged her down with him, her soft body acting as his landing cushion.
But the chain reaction wasn't over yet. Seeing the impending disaster, Robin stepped forward to grab Furina, who was closest to her. "Everyone, calm down, don't—"
Before she could finish, Furina—suddenly released by Aiden—tripped over her own feet from the excessive momentum. In a panic, she snatched at Robin's arm.
And so, the perpetually elegant superstar was dragged into the chaotic dogpile with an adorable shriek of her own.
When the dust settled, the scene had frozen into a ridiculously provocative tableau.
Aiden was flat on his back, sandwiched between the plush carpet and the even softer Tifa acting as his dual shock absorbers.
He could vividly feel the astonishing elasticity and warm body heat pressing against his back. A cascade of silky black hair splayed across the crook of his neck, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance.
Hyacine and Furina were sprawled across him on his left and right. Their two little heads rested against his chest, panting heavily from the scuffle, their cheeks flushed crimson.
Meanwhile, the ever-graceful Robin had tumbled sideways, half her body draped over Tifa's legs. Her exquisite dress was slightly rumpled, and a stray lock of silver-purple hair fell across her smooth forehead, adding a rare, enchanting allure to her usual composed demeanor.
A chorus of crisp, giggling shrieks and complaints from the girls filled the air.
The view before Aiden's eyes was a tangled weave of pink twin-tails, long black tresses, silver-purple locks, and Furina's signature wavy white hair. Several beautiful faces, flushed with exertion from their horseplay, were inches away from his. Each bore a different expression: Hyacine's slyness, Furina's pout, Tifa's helplessness, and Robin's slight fluster.
The distinct, delicate scents of the girls—a blend of floral perfume, sweet pastries, and warm sunlight—wafted into his nose like the softest incense.
The warm, yielding touch of their limbs pressed against him from all sides. In that moment, Aiden felt as if he were enveloped by the most wonderful things in the entire world.
He could even feel Furina's indignant heartbeat against his chest and Tifa's steadily rising body temperature from sheer embarrassment against his back.
Is this... heaven? Aiden sighed blissfully in his mind, immediately giving himself a mental thumbs-up. I've completely won at life.
Just as Aiden was silently celebrating this unexpected jackpot, Hyacine slowly lifted her head from his chest.
Her bright eyes locked with his. Rather than looking embarrassed, a smug, cunning glint flashed across her face. She winked playfully, her gaze practically screaming a silent question: How was that for an assist? Leave a five-star review, yeah?
Aiden's heart gave a violent jolt. He instantly remembered Hyacine's bold, solemn vow from not too long ago about helping him build a "harem."
At the time, he had assumed it was just her usual banter—empty words thrown around as a joke. But looking at her "just as planned" expression, it finally dawned on him: what he thought was an accidental pile-up had been a calculated, premeditated strike.
Holy crap, she was actually being serious?! He had never expected this cheerful, bubbly companion to be such a ruthless woman of action.
.....
Early the next morning, Aiden took Robin to the Guild. Since Robin had successfully leveled up to Level 2, they needed to visit Eina to update her registration.
Upon learning that Robin had leveled up so quickly, Eina was surprised but genuinely happy for her. "Congratulations on becoming a high-level adventurer, Miss Robin." Eina's smile was sweet and sincere.
Naturally, Aiden and Robin couldn't tell the truth about the specific Great Feat she had accomplished to level up.
Clearing a Domain Instance populated by ten Level 3 monsters was simply too absurd. Admitting to it would instantly expose that their combat prowess far exceeded their official levels.
However, from Eina's perspective, it was entirely logical. A Level 1 supporter braving the middle floors alongside a powerful Level 2 adventurer like Aiden would naturally amass enough high-quality excelia and merit to level up—even if her speed was admittedly astonishing.
Once the registration was complete, Aiden and Robin reunited with Tifa and Hyacine, who were waiting at the entrance, preparing to head into the Dungeon as usual.
But the moment they stepped onto the plaza outside the Guild, two adventurers blocked their path.
"You're Aiden from the Focalors Familia, right?" The one who spoke was a fierce-looking girl with striking, short red hair.
"That's me. Can I help you?" Aiden narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze landing on the insignia pinned to the girl's chest: the Golden Bow and Sun Emblem.
"Um, this is for you..." The second girl, trailing behind the redhead, spoke up. She had long, deep blue hair that partially obscured her eyes and exuded a very timid aura. Holding an envelope with both hands, she carefully offered it to him.
The envelope was crafted from premium parchment and sealed with exquisite wax. Stamped clearly into the wax was the sender's emblem—a bow and arrow crossing a sun.
"Apollo Familia," Aiden said evenly, his tone betraying neither joy nor anger.
"That's right. We're members of the Apollo Familia. I'm Daphne," the red-haired girl introduced herself bluntly before pointing to her companion. "And she's Cassandra."
"We clashed just yesterday, and today you're sending us an invitation?" Aiden took the letter, shooting Daphne a half-smile. "You guys are certainly an interesting bunch."
"Um..." Wilting under Aiden's gaze, the girl named Cassandra shrank back and murmured in a voice so faint it was barely audible, "Lord Apollo is hosting a Banquet... i-if it's not too much trouble... could you please not come...?"
Her words left Aiden, Robin, and the others stunned. Wait, you made a special trip to hand-deliver an invitation, only to tell us not to show up? What kind of logic is that?
Smack! Daphne, unable to tolerate it any longer, slapped Cassandra firmly on the back of the head.
"Auuu!" Cassandra let out a pitiful yelp, clutching the back of her head in grievance.
"Anyway." Ignoring her partner's embarrassment, Daphne turned back to Aiden and declared loudly, "We've delivered the invitation. Make sure you hand it over to your patron deity. Whether you actually show up or not is up to you."
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