Thump, thump, thump!
This kind of commotion.
Rather than saying someone was running.
It was more like a startled wild boar was rampaging down the corridor.
The sound grew closer and closer, louder and louder, until it finally stopped in front of the heavy door.
Immediately after.
Bang!
The door to the reception room was violently pushed open.
The thick oak door crashed heavily against the wall, letting out a muffled thud.
Eina was so startled that her shoulders jerked, the stack of Guild cards she hadn't yet put away almost flying out of her hands.
She whipped her head around.
Her gaze had barely touched the figure at the door before her entire person froze.
Even with her excellent professional composure as an advisor, she couldn't help but gape, her facial expression management completely failing in that instant.
Blocking the doorway.
His body full of fat jiggled up and down with his violent panting, the finely crafted robe stretched taut, making one constantly worry that every single button might burst off in the next second and become a lethal projectile.
What should have been the delicate and sharp facial features of the Elf race were currently completely squeezed into a lump by the fat on his face.
His originally slender ears were also deformed by the mounds of flesh on his cheeks, making him look comical and ridiculous.
He was precisely the highest person-in-charge of the Guild.
The Guild Master.
Royman Mardeel.
Because despite being an Elf, he possessed none of an Elf's reserve, instead indulging in pleasure.
And due to gluttony, he presented this obese image that brought shame to all Elves.
He even wallowed in money and power, often ran to casinos to squander wealth, and openly discriminated against mixed-blood Half-Elves.
Therefore.
Even Riveria, the highly cultured royalty, would frown and evaluate him as "the shame of the race" when mentioning him.
Royman Mardeel, as the Guild Master of the adventurer's Guild, was frequently mocked in private by adventurers, and even by Elves of his own race, as the "Guild's Pig".
But at this moment.
This top executive of the Guild was covered in sweat.
He couldn't even care that his usually meticulously combed hair was a bit messy.
"Huu..."
Royman didn't even care to wipe the sweat that was about to flow into his eyes.
Those small eyes, squeezed by fat until they were only the size of mung beans, rapidly swept around the room.
When his gaze locked onto that black-haired God sitting on the sofa, calmly holding a teacup.
A burst of intense light erupted in those small eyes, as if he had seen a lifesaver.
"H-Haimer-sama!"
Royman let out a wail-like shout.
Completely ignoring Eina who was still in a petrified state beside him, that massive body charged in with an agility that completely defied the laws of physics.
As he passed by Eina, his broad body kicked up a gust of wind, directly shoving the slender Half-Elf advisor into a stumble, almost making her crash into the wall.
"Ouch!"
Eina cried out, only barely managing to stand firm by supporting herself against the wall.
But right now, Royman only had eyes for that God.
He rushed in front of Haimer, brought his legs together, and gave Haimer a standard ninety-degree deep bow.
That massive belly became his biggest obstacle at this moment, the two mounds of fat squeezing together, making this action exceptionally difficult and painful for him, his face instantly flushing to the color of pork liver.
However.
He just gritted his teeth and bent his waist down.
"I did not know of your graced presence! Excuse my failure to welcome you! Excuse my failure to welcome you!"
While maintaining that highly difficult bowing posture, Royman pulled out a handkerchief already soaked with sweat and desperately wiped the cold sweat continuously beading on his forehead.
Even his voice was trembling.
"Those idiots downstairs actually didn't notify me immediately! It is truly... too impolite! Too impolite!"
"Please, you must forgive me!"
This scene.
If seen by those adventurers in the Guild hall who normally suffered this fat man's eyerolls, their jaws would probably drop to the floor in shock.
This was Royman!
That guy who put on airs even when facing the captains of the Loki Familia and Freya Familia, acting like he wanted to look down on people with his nostrils.
Even if the Main Gods of those great Familias came in person, this guy would at most exchange a few pleasantries. When had anyone ever seen him this humble?
It was simply like a mouse meeting a cat.
Eina leaned against the wall, rubbing her sore shoulder from the bump, watching this scene, her brain struggling to process it.
Seeing this ball of meat rush in and bow deeply.
Crunch.
The cookie in Hestia's mouth snapped in half from shock, falling onto her skirt.
She widened those sapphire-like eyes.
Haimer similarly raised his eyebrows slightly.
He had an impression of this guy.
Greedy, gluttonous, arrogant, discriminating against Half-Elves.
Basically thoroughly disgracing the Elf race.
In the past, he ignored Familias without fame or strength.
But because this guy truly possessed genuine management skills, and also genuinely hoped the Guild would become better, he sat securely in the position of Guild Master.
However...
This attentive appearance.
Haimer didn't even need to use any Divine powers.
He could figure it out just by thinking with his toes.
This guy absolutely wouldn't get up early without a profit.
Behind this, there was an invisible whip lashing him.
"Guild Master Royman."
"What is it?"
"Has the Guild's business upgraded now?"
"Does even a trivial matter like updating Familia information require the Guild Master to make a trip in person?"
"If so, then your service is truly... so thoughtful that it makes one feel overwhelmed by the favor."
Haimer's words carried barbs.
Royman's rotund body suddenly trembled.
He wasn't stupid; of course he could hear the sarcasm coming from this God's mouth.
"No, no, no... Haimer-sama, you flatter me too much!"
Royman hurriedly straightened his waist—causing his overburdened spine to let out a crisp pop.
He offered an apologetic smile, the fat on his face squeezing together, a smile uglier than crying.
"Serving Kami-sama, this is our Guild's duty! There's no such thing as being troubled or not..."
"With just one word from you, not to mention making a trip, even if this Royman runs until his legs break, it would be as it should be!"
Having said that.
Royman continued to wipe his sweat.
He seemed to feel the pleasantries were sufficient.
Moreover, that adult's order brooked no delay.
Royman took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the trepidation in his heart when facing a God.
He leaned half a step forward, deliberately lowered his voice, and his expression became a bit more solemn—although it looked somewhat comical on that face.
"U-Um... Haimer-sama."
"Actually... the reason I rushed over in such a hurry."
"Is because there is another extremely important matter..."
Royman swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his gaze stealthily glancing at Hestia and Eina beside them, before staring into Haimer's eyes, speaking word by word:
"Ouranos-sama... wishes to see you."
The air solidified.
The moment those words tumbled out of Royman's mouth.
The entire reception room seemed to have the pause button pressed.
Eina's hand, originally organizing documents, froze in mid-air.
She looked at Royman in disbelief, even doubting if she had misheard.
Ouranos.
The Main God of the Guild.
The creator of Orario.
The administrator of all Gods before they descended to the Lower World.
That legendary Great God who, since the Gods descended, had locked himself in the altar beneath the Guild, using his Divine Power to suppress the Dungeon, rarely even participating in the Denatus.
To the residents of Orario.
The name Ouranos represented absolute authority, and also an unreachable mystery.
He was like the cornerstone of this city, silent, but omnipresent.
Normally, let alone meeting people.
Even if the Main Gods of the major Familias wanted to see him, it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.
But now.
That Great God.
Actually took the initiative to request to see Haimer?
"Ou... Ouranos?!"
Hestia let out an exclamation, springing directly up from the sofa.
As a God, she understood the weight of that old man better than Eina did.
Although they were all Gods, back in the Heavens.
Ouranos, as a Great God.
Was also an existence that needed to be looked up to.
"That old... cough, Ouranos wants to see Haimer?"
Hestia's large eyes darted back and forth between Haimer and Royman, her face full of disbelief.
Haimer, however, had long sensed this.
After all.
There weren't many figures who could boss Royman around.
Moreover, considering the huge commotion he had caused over the past few days.
If that old guy sitting beneath the Guild could still sit steadily and turn a blind eye to all this, that would truly be strange.
As the actual controller of the Guild, as the maintainer of Orario's order.
Ouranos couldn't possibly stay composed and ignore it.
"Alright."
Haimer nodded.
His movements crisp and decisive.
Speaking of which.
It was indeed time to meet that old guy.
After all, for some matters, rather than letting the people below guess, it was better to lay the cards on the table face-to-face.
Since Ouranos had already decided to meet formally, there was no need to beat around the bush here.
"Lead the way."
Haimer stood up, smoothing out the slightly wrinkled hem of his clothes.
"A-Ah... Yes! Yes, yes, yes!"
Seeing Haimer agree so readily.
Royman was instantly relieved of a heavy burden, his whole person slumping in relaxation, that pile of fat starting to sway with his movements.
"Haimer-sama, please! This way, please!"
Royman hurriedly stepped aside, like the most humble servant, bowing and scraping as he led the way.
Haimer strode forward.
Seeing this, Hestia also quickly patted the cookie crumbs off her skirt, jumped down from the sofa, and prepared to follow.
Since they were going to see Ouranos, how could she be absent?
One must know.
Ouranos had allied with other Great Gods to deal with Haimer back in the Heavens.
This kind of scene where enemies meet and their eyes blaze with hatred.
Would they start slaughtering each other?
She had to help back Haimer up!
However.
Just as Hestia took a single step.
Royman, who had just been leading the way with a fawning face, suddenly halted his steps.
That massive body nimbly spun around, blocking directly in front of Hestia.
Like a wall of meat, he instantly sealed off the path.
"Um... Hestia-sama..."
Royman rubbed those chubby hands together, sweat breaking out on his face once more, his expression turning extremely troubled.
He didn't even dare to meet Hestia's instantly narrowing eyes, his gaze shifting away.
"V-Very sorry."
"In Ouranos-sama's oracle... he specifically instructed..."
Royman gritted his teeth, forcing himself to say:
"This time... he will only see Haimer-sama."
"Hah?!"
Hestia's movements froze.
Her large eyes, which had been carrying a hint of excitement, instantly went wide.
She slammed both hands onto her hips.
"On-Only see Haimer alone?!"
Hestia raised her pitch, her voice so sharp it nearly pierced the eardrums of everyone present.
"On what grounds!"
"I'm a God too!"
"And Haimer and I are together! We are family! Family, do you understand?!"
"What does Ouranos mean by this?"
"Is he looking down on me?!"
Hestia grew angrier the more she spoke.
Feeling as if she had received an enormous insult and exclusion.
Her small face puffed up like a steamed bun, stamping her feet in anger.
The floorboard thumped under her stomps.
"No way! I'm going too!"
"I need to ask Ouranos face-to-face, on what grounds is he shutting me out!"
Having said that.
Hestia prepared to bypass Royman's wall of meat and force her way through.
"Oh my, Hestia-sama!"
Royman was so frightened his face turned pale, hurriedly shifting his body to block.
But he didn't dare physically stop this Goddess, so he could only block left and right like a clumsy penguin, sweating profusely in a panic.
"Hestia-sama! Please don't make things difficult for me!"
"This is an absolute order from Ouranos-sama! If I brought you down, my tenure as Guild Master would come to an end!"
"I don't care! I'm going!"
Hestia didn't listen at all, starting to run circles around Royman, attempting to use her size advantage to slip through the gaps.
For a moment.
The reception room was thrown into chaos.
Eina hid in the corner, watching this scene, wanting to laugh but not daring to, only able to cover her mouth tightly.
Haimer halted his steps.
Turned around.
Watched Hestia jumping up and down like an enraged little cat with ruffled fur.
He sighed somewhat helplessly.
"Alright, enough."
Haimer spoke up.
He took a few steps back.
Arriving in front of Hestia, who was just preparing to slip under Royman's armpit.
He reached out a hand.
And pressed it directly onto her wildly bobbing small head.
"Ugh!"
Hestia only felt a weight on top of her head.
"Haimer..."
"Be good."
Haimer's palm gently rubbed Hestia's smooth black hair, the motion soft, yet carrying an irrefutable firmness.
"This is the Guild, it's their territory after all."
"Since Ouranos only wants to see me, there must be something inconvenient for outsiders to hear."
"It's the same whether you go or not."
Haimer looked into her eyes, which were already starting to well up with mist, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Besides."
"There's no need for you to worry."
"It's just a chat, could he really eat me?"
"But..."
Hestia sniffled, her momentum largely dissipated by Haimer's soothing, leaving mostly worry behind.
"Relax."
Haimer retracted his hand, taking the opportunity to pinch her chubby cheek.
"I'm not exactly a soft persimmon either."
"Wait here like a good girl."
"Or..."
Haimer glanced at Eina, who was trying hard to minimize her presence nearby.
"You can have Miss Eina show you around the Guild."
"Alternatively, you could go shopping outside."
"I'll come find you after I finish my chat."
"Mmh."
With her face pinched, Hestia spoke somewhat incoherently.
But seeing Haimer's resolute gaze.
Ultimately.
Hestia admitted defeat.
"Fine..."
Hestia muttered, nodding reluctantly.
"Then hurry up..."
"Don't make me wait too long."
"Naturally."
Having pacified his clingy little Goddess.
Haimer turned back around.
Looking at Royman, who was already on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion over there.
"Let's go, Guild Master."
"Let's not keep Ouranos waiting."
"Yes! Yes!"
Royman felt as if he had received a grand pardon, quickly wiping off a handful of sweat, leading the way as if fleeing for his life.
Soon.
The figures of the two disappeared from the reception room's doorway.
Leaving only Hestia and Eina standing in place.
Looking at the empty doorway.
"Hmph!"
Hestia let out a heavy snort, plopping back onto the sofa, grabbing the half-eaten cookie from earlier, and taking a fierce bite.
Eina was still in a daze, having not yet recovered from the scene just now.
At the same time.
Orario's North Main Street.
This was the residential area for Guild higher-ups and the wealthy, and also a place where various high-end shops clustered.
Compared to the hubbub and clamor of the West Main Street where adventurers gathered.
Here, there was an added sense of tranquility.
Tall sycamore trees were planted along both sides of the street, the sunlight spilling through the gaps in the leaves, creating mottled shadows.
An elegantly decorated bookstore was situated at the corner of the street.
The massive floor-to-ceiling windows were wiped spotless. Through the glass, one could clearly see the neat rows of mahogany bookshelves inside, along with a reading area that appeared exceptionally serene at this moment.
Kikakujou Mary was wearing glasses, sitting at a desk and chair in front of a bookshelf.
Her beautiful blonde hair was meticulously managed.
Even while reading, her back was perfectly straight, maintaining an elegant bearing etched into her bones.
Kikakujou Mary was holding a thick hardcover book in her hands—"The Chronicles of Orario".
She was fully engrossed, her eyes scanning the pages.
To her.
Arriving in this new world.
Aside from fighting and growing stronger.
Understanding this world's history, culture, and magic system was also an indispensable form of training.
Furthermore.
Lord Haimer had just given them free time.
Naturally, she didn't want to waste such an opportunity on meaningless loitering.
"I see..."
Kikakujou Mary's fingertip gently traced across the line on the page recording Orario's Dark Age.
"So this is the Dark Faction (Evils)..."
"An organization existing purely for destruction..."
Just as Kikakujou Mary was immersed in the sea of knowledge, attempting to construct a deeper understanding of this world.
Ding-a-ling~
The wind chime at the bookstore's entrance was pushed open, emitting a crisp and pleasant sound.
This sound was particularly clear within the quiet bookstore.
Kikakujou Mary subconsciously raised her head, her gaze passing over the book in her hands and looking toward the entrance.
She saw two figures walk in.
Unexpectedly.
The one walking in front.
Turned out to be Lefiya Viridis from the Loki Familia, whom she had met last night.
It was just that.
At this moment.
The expression on this Elf girl's face appeared particularly anxious.
The moment she entered, her gaze swept around the bookstore like a radar. She didn't even bother keeping her voice down, her tone full of exasperation.
"Loki-sama! Where in the world are you!"
"Didn't we agree to just casually stroll around? How did you disappear in the blink of an eye!"
Lefiya felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown.
Just last night.
After drinking with Loki, when they were returning to the Loki Familia's headquarters.
In the time it took for her to turn around.
Loki had vanished into thin air like water vapor!
Leaving her standing on the street, messy in the wind.
Now an entire night had passed.
Loki was still nowhere to be found, so she had no choice but to seek help from others in the Loki Familia and head out to search.
"Miss Ais... are you sure Loki-sama is around here?"
Lefiya turned her head, looking behind her.
Following behind her.
Was a girl with pale blonde hair, so beautiful she scarcely seemed mortal.
—Ais Wallenstein.
This girl who held the title of Sword Princess, hailed as Orario's strongest female swordswoman, a household name.
At this moment, she was holding a crepe in her hand, nibbling on it in small bites.
Hearing Lefiya's inquiry.
Ais paused her eating.
Those golden eyes blinked with a bit of bewilderment.
Then.
Ais gave a slight nod.
"Mhm."
"..."
Lefiya's mouth twitched.
But out of absolute trust in her object of admiration, Miss Ais.
Lefiya took a deep breath, gripped her staff tightly, and began searching the bookstore.
"Loki-sama! If you are here, please come out immediately!"
"If Captain Finn finds out you slipped away again, he will definitely be angry!"
Lefiya grumbled in a low voice while walking past the front row of bookshelves.
Then.
At a corner.
Lefiya didn't see her Patron God who smiled all day and loved to grope Familia girls.
Instead, she collided head-on with a pair of sky-blue eyes.
Their eyes met.
The air suddenly grew quiet.
Lefiya's footsteps jerked to a halt, nearly failing to brake in time.
Standing in front of her.
Was precisely Kikakujou Mary, who had just set down her book and was looking over with some confusion.
"Ah."
Lefiya froze.
"Miss... Mary?"
Lefiya covered her mouth in surprise.
"Miss Lefiya, you can just call me Mary."
Kikakujou Mary closed her book, politely flashing a smile.
Naturally, she hadn't forgotten the Loki Familia's "Thousand Elf" —Lefiya Viridis.
After all, in this world, an Elf girl who was prone to blushing, had a gentle personality, and carried absolutely none of the Elven haughty airs, was truly too rare.
Moreover, Lefiya blushing last night because she accidentally revealed her chanting weakness made Mary feel particularly fond of her.
"What a coincidence."
"I didn't expect to run into you here."
"Y-Yes! What a coincidence!"
Lefiya smoothed her hair in a bit of a panic, her face flushing red uncooperatively.
She hadn't expected to run into an acquaintance under these somewhat embarrassing circumstances of hunting for her Main God.
And to top it off, it was Miss Mary, someone she paid special attention to aside from Miss Ais.
"Um... I..."
Lefiya stammered, not wanting to say that she was roaming the streets trying to catch her Patron God like catching a stray cat.
That would be a massive loss of face for the Loki Familia.
"Looking for a book?"
Although Kikakujou Mary had heard their true objective the moment they entered the door, she considerately offered a way out.
"Ah, yes! Yes, yes, yes! I'm here to look for books!"
Lefiya quickly took the out, nodding frantically like a pestle pounding garlic.
"I want to find... err... books about... magic!"
"Oh?"
Kikakujou Mary's eyes lit up.
This was exactly the field she was interested in.
"It just so happens I'm also looking at materials regarding this, but the classification here is a bit messy, and since I just arrived, I'm not too familiar with it..."
"If you don't mind, could Lefiya recommend a few to me?"
"As the Thousand Elf, your insights in this area must be highly unique."
"Eh? Eh, eh, eh?!"
Hearing the title 'Thousand Elf' again.
Lefiya's face instantly flushed completely red, as if steam was about to shoot out from the top of her head.
"I... I'm not that amazing yet!"
Lefiya waved her hands frantically in denial.
Right at this moment.
A flat voice suddenly came from behind Lefiya.
"Lefiya."
"Did you find Loki?"
Lefiya's body stiffened.
Kikakujou Mary slightly turned her head.
She saw the blonde girl who had been quietly eating a crepe walk out from behind Lefiya.
Ais Wallenstein.
She still wore that naturally dense expression, the corner of her mouth even having a bit of white cream stuck to it.
Lefiya was caught in the middle.
An invisible aura clashed within the narrow space between the bookshelves.
Blonde facing blonde, their eyes met.
Something in the air seemed to collide gently at this moment.
Although one had curly hair and the other straight hair.
But in this instant.
Lefiya felt that the atmosphere wasn't right.
On her left was the Miss Ais she admired.
On her right was Kikakujou Mary, for whom she held immense goodwill.
And her troublesome Patron God was hiding in some unknown corner snickering.
For a moment.
Lefiya became a bit flustered.
Is this the legendary... Shuraba? (It isn't.)
"U-Um... Miss Ais... this is Miss Mary..."
"Um... Miss Mary... Miss Ais..."
Lefiya had no choice but to stutter through the introductions, her gaze drifting between the two, not knowing who to look at first, only feeling that her current predicament was exceptionally difficult.
Save me!
Captain Finn! Riveria-sama!
Someone save me!
Meanwhile.
In the corner of the bookstore.
Loki was crouching behind a bookshelf, watching this scene through the gaps, covering her mouth and snickering like a fox that had stolen a chicken.
"Hahaha... this is going to be a good show."
"Lefiya's flustered state is truly too amusing~"
The scene switched again.
Cutting back to the Guild.
Passing through a heavy stone door that was closed to the public.
Following the seemingly endless spiral stone staircase.
Haimer followed behind Royman, heading down step by step.
The surrounding air grew increasingly cold.
The originally noisy clamor of people gradually faded away, replaced by a heart-palpitating deathly stillness.
Only the echoes of their footsteps reverberated in this empty passage.
Torches were mounted on the walls at intervals.
But these flames exhibited an eerie, spectral blue color. Not only did they not bring any warmth, they instead made the shadows here appear even deeper.
Finally.
After an unknown amount of walking.
Royman up ahead stopped his steps.
In front of a massive bronze door.
"H-Haimer-sama."
"Ouranos-sama... is just behind... this door."
Having walked all this way, Royman's body had already collapsed from exhaustion. Panting heavily, he turned around and pointed at that bronze door.
____
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