"Good evening! My lovely family! Welcome home! Ais-tan! Come here for a hug! You must have missed me all day, right?! Aww!!!"
Despite carrying an oversized backpack, Ais easily dodged Loki's pounce, her face full of disdain as she looked at the goddess on the ground.
Riveria had already learned to ignore Loki to avoid wasting time. After taking off her backpack, she helped Ais unpack it while looking at Noah. "Noah, go take a shower first, then go to Loki's room to update your status."
Noah also took off his backpack, which mainly contained Goliath's oversized magic stone and other drop items. "Huh? It's only been one day, is it really necessary? I want to go eat first, I'm starving."
Noah remembered that updates usually occurred every ten days to half a month, or only when a major mission like an expedition was about to take place. After all, a large Familia like Loki's had more than forty members. If they came every day, Loki's fingers would be ruined.
"Noah! I want to see!"
Before Riveria could speak, Ais, who had been silent ever since Noah defeated Goliath, suddenly spoke up. Although her face was etched with fatigue, it still shone with a sharp, unyielding brilliance. In those gleaming, golden eyes, Noah sensed a pleading and expectant look, like a kitten pawing at his leg.
Upon hearing this, Riveria immediately raised her eyebrows and grasped Ais's shoulders. "Ais! An adventurer's status is their secret! Your request is outrageous!"
But Ais revealed her stubborn nature, pouting and refusing to look at Riveria, staring straight at Noah. "I know, but I promise I will never leak it! And I can also show Noah my status!"
"Then what's the problem?" Ais turned back to Riveria. "Riveria, you saw his status, didn't you? You saw it but you won't let me see it, that's too much!"
Noah noticed that Riveria's face had turned slightly red from anger.
"You! I am Noah's teacher and the vice-captain of the Familia! And who are you to Noah? What right do you have to look at his status?"
This put Ais in a slightly difficult position, but not by much. She stared wide eyed, clenched her fists, and puffed out her cheeks, as if she had made some important decision—
"I... I can be Noah's wife!! Is that alright now?!"
Her words shocked everyone present!
Noah's eyes widened, but before he could speak, Loki leaped into the air, spread her arms and legs, and flew towards him like a giant spider.
"Noah, you beast! What did you do to my Ais-tan?!"
Caught off guard, Noah scrambled to his feet, grabbed Loki's hands, pulled them back, and pressed his knees against her back to subdue the mad goddess. However, even after Loki was subdued, she still roared.
"Noah, you ungrateful bastard! Ais-tan is so young! How could you do this to her! You have let me down! You have even let down the Mama who has nurtured you all these days! I will send you to the Astraea Familia to receive justice!"
The once quiet Twilight Manor gradually became restless after Loki's roar swept through it.
"What? I heard Loki say that Noah attacked Ais?"
"Huh? Didn't they say Lady Riveria was making a move on the rookie? Look how much attention she's been paying him! I didn't see them when I woke up today, I thought they eloped."
"Why is Loki so angry? Ah! Does the rookie want to... Wow! How dare he!!"
Although the Loki Familia members seemed to be discussing in hushed tones, the discussion of dozens of voices at once was no different from loud shouting in Noah's ear. Even Noah, who could remain unfazed by broken bones, couldn't help but feel like crying.
As a Level 1 rookie, I soloed Goliath on my first day in the Dungeon. This should be an achievement worth discussing in Orario, right? But now it seems the reputation of me being a bastard who wants this girl might spread first!
To avoid making things worse, Noah had no choice but to gag Loki and hoist her onto his shoulder. Before he could even catch his breath, he looked up and saw that Riveria's face was growing darker and darker, and he felt a surge of power that was about to burst forth. Clearly, Riveria could hear the same discussions.
Even the incredibly stubborn Ais, at this moment, couldn't help but shrink her neck, looking tremblingly at Riveria, as if trying to awaken the maternal love in the high elf's heart.
"Alright! Riveria! Let her see it!" Noah stopped Riveria, not only because he didn't want to see a tragic scene, but more importantly, because he didn't want the rumors to spread further. Although it was night, there were still pedestrians outside the Twilight Manor, and Riveria and Ais were both famous figures. If someone heard Ais's screams, and someone in the Familia had a loose tongue... At that time, rumors upon rumors would be beyond Noah's control. For example, a mother and daughter arguing over jealousy... Hah!
With just a glance, Riveria understood what Noah was thinking. She narrowed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and suppressed the surging power in her heart. After giving Ais that look, Riveria left. Seeing Riveria's departing figure, Ais couldn't help but shiver. Noah sighed, feeling more tired than if he had spent a whole day killing monsters.
Half an hour later, in the executive chamber of the central tower.
===
Noah Sifel
Level 1
Strength: G234
Endurance: H150
Dexterity: G270
Agility: G245
Magic: H198
Development Abilities: ...
Magic: ...
Skill: ...
===
"Alright, you guys figure it out yourselves. I'm going to have a big meal and then go back to sleep. If you need anything, find me tomorrow!"
...
The five people in the executive chamber watched Noah's retreating figure as he yawned and left, remaining stunned for a long time. Loki was the first to break the silence. She opened her eyes a crack, scanned the data on the paper, and revealed a complex smile that was hard to describe.
"Noah doesn't seem to care at all. I feel like he'll rank up in half a month at most... Our Familia has a monster! I can finally experience the joy that Zeus and Hera, those two old hags, had! Ahahahaha!" As her smile twisted and became increasingly maniacal, Loki writhed wildly on the bed like a maggot.
To avoid being accidentally injured, the three executives of the Loki Familia and Ais quietly left the executive chamber and closed the door. The one who left next was Ais, who had been keeping her head down. "...I'm going back now."
Riveria watched her small, thin figure gradually drift away under the magic stone light, her emerald eyes filled with worry and sorrow.
"She was acting like she was going to teach Ais a lesson, but now she's worried? Elves are just so dishonest, don't you think, Finn!"
Finn responded to Gareth's comment with a perfectly formulaic smile. If Gareth angered Riveria, the worst that could happen was that he'd get a beating from Magna Alfs. If he angered Riveria, no one would share his workload. The Guild had just issued another mandatory expedition mission, and Finn was already extremely busy; he didn't dare provoke Riveria. Moreover, Finn saw much more clearly than the rough dwarf and could detect that Riveria's worries were somewhat different this time.
After Ais disappeared down the corridor, Finn spoke in a low voice. "Riveria, Noah's growth rate is somewhat beyond expectations, but it's still within an acceptable range, right? Why are you making that face?"
Riveria glanced at Gareth with disdain, a cold smile curving her lips. "Acceptable? Do you think Noah's growth today is limited to this?"
Regardless of their past conflicts, the two men had unwavering faith in Riveria's character...she would never make sensational claims. So, not only did Finn frown, but Gareth's smile also vanished. "Huh? What do you mean?"
With a strange sense of pride from having firsthand information, Riveria slightly raised her chin. Although it disappeared quickly, a slight smile did indeed appear.
"Today, Noah defeated Goliath!"
Her clear, crisp voice was like a cold wind blowing through the corridor, causing the air to freeze. For a moment, Finn thought he was hallucinating from exhaustion. But when he saw Gareth's frozen, grinning expression, he gave up that last shred of hope. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. After repeating this three or four times, Finn finally spoke, his voice dry.
"Alright, Riveria, then I think I understand your concerns. Are you worried that Ais won't be able to catch up?"
Although her worries were guessed, Riveria did not feel relieved. If there is anything more despairing than pure despair, it is the despair that follows a glimmer of hope. Riveria hoped Noah could attract Ais, even if just through longing, as long as she could escape the world of hatred. But what if, after all her efforts, she felt despair at the distance between her and Noah?
For most people, being overtaken by one step ignites a desire to chase, while being overtaken to the point where they can no longer see their backs brings acceptance. But Ais won't give up; she'd push her limits until she collapsed. This was completely different from Riveria's plan.
Sigh, who would have thought I'd one day be troubled by a child's rapid growth?
Although Finn was initially worried, after rubbing his right thumb and noticing nothing unusual, he gave up thinking about it. With Riveria around, it seems I don't have to worry.
"This matter can only be left to you, Riveria. The only thing I can think of right now is that since Noah can already take on Goliath, he should be able to participate in the next expedition, right? With such a strong vanguard, the pressure on the team will be greatly reduced. Of course, it might be even better if he can rank up before the expedition."
As soon as he finished speaking, Finn saw Riveria's expression change repeatedly, and in the end, she even covered her head.
"Riveria?"
Even someone as wise as Finn looked confused this time.