Hestia trudged into the room, dragging her feet, exhaustion written all over her face.
Following behind her came Onigawara Rin, Amou Kirukiru, Kikakujou Mary, and Hanasaka Warabi, fresh from a full day of hellish training at the Twilight Manor.
Along with the Holy Emperor, Tendou Kisara, Aihara Enju, and the others.
Every one of them was coated in dust, giving off the sour smell of sweat.
"You're all back." As for Haimer, he sat on the single-seat sofa in the hall.
On the single seat to his right, Narukami Koharu sat cross-legged.
Seeing an unfamiliar face in Narukami Koharu, everyone turned their gazes toward her in unison.
After all, back when they were in the [Loki Familia], they'd already heard that their own Kami-sama had recruited a newcomer.
And this newcomer's strength was nothing to scoff at—she'd even cut down a Lv.3 adventurer.
"Let me introduce her." Haimer raised a hand.
"Inaba Tsukuyo's older sister—Narukami Koharu. She received her Grace just today."
At the words "Tsukuyo's older sister," a range of expressions crossed their faces. Onigawara Rin and the others froze for a moment, their eyes sweeping over Narukami Koharu twice.
Narukami Koharu stood half a head taller than Tsukuyo, grinning to bare a row of sharp shark teeth.
The look in those ringed eyes was as keen as a predator locked on prey—the complete opposite of Tsukuyo's quiet, reserved air.
This was Tsukuyo's sister?
She looked exactly like a wild beast that might bite at any moment.
Onigawara Rin and the others couldn't shake a strange feeling.
Amou Kirukiru, for her part, narrowed her eyes and sized Narukami Koharu up for a while.
The feeling was mutual.
Narukami Koharu was just as interested in Amou Kirukiru.
This one—she's got a good scent about her.
After all. As the strongest blade-user the Kirukiru clan had ever produced.
Once Amou Kirukiru decided no one in the clan could beat her, she'd resolutely left the Kirukiru clan, her position temporarily filled by her slightly sister-doting younger sister.
At that thought, Narukami Koharu met Amou Kirukiru's gaze head-on.
The two of them stared at each other across a few steps of distance, sparks all but crackling in the air between them. Hestia alone marched up to Haimer, cheeks puffed with anger. "You took people to kill Apollo's men today—why didn't you say a word to me!"
"Why didn't you talk it over with me before doing something like that? Do you know how scared I was!"
Hestia stood before Haimer, hands planted on her hips.
Haimer could only sigh, reaching out to give a light flick to the tip of Hestia's nose. "It was just a few trivial little matters."
"Surely there's no need to call a meeting and announce it out loud?"
Even so, the irritation in Hestia's eyes hadn't fully faded.
I was the very first one to follow you, after all...
"No matter what, take me along next time."
"Let me share a bit of the burden for you sometimes—I want to do things for you too." Hestia crossed her arms over her chest, plopped herself down onto the chair Haimer was sitting in, and pouted.
"With a word like that from you, that day will come sooner or later."
Hearing this, Haimer smiled with narrowed eyes and reached out to wrap an arm around Hestia's shoulders.
A little squeeze, and he pulled her into his embrace.
At that, Hestia's cheeks flushed crimson in an instant, and she stammered out a couple of words too muffled to make out.
The mood in the hall eased all at once, and a few of them stifled laughs and looked away. Then. As for getting Narukami Koharu acquainted with everyone else, it carried on into dinner.
With Lun and the others heading into the kitchen to cook.
The long dining table was soon laden with all kinds of steaming dishes.
The women took their seats, their glances drifting again and again toward Narukami Koharu.
Fei especially—she always brimmed with curiosity about new members.
"Miss Koharu's eyes… they're so special."
Fei said in a small voice. Narukami Koharu swallowed a bite of grilled meat and pointed at her own eyes.
"What, do they look strange?"
"No, no, not strange—they're beautiful."
Fei leaned in close, staring into Narukami Koharu's eyes. "They're like ripples, ring after ring—Fei loves them!"
At that, Narukami Koharu grinned and reached out to ruffle Fei's red hair a couple of times.
Fei squinted under the ruffling and let out a satisfied little hum. Dinner thus wrapped up naturally in that fairly harmonious atmosphere.
The women pushed back their chairs and stood, stretching one after another.
The sour sweat-smell from training really was rather noticeable.
After a bit of discussion, the women decided to let their own god go clean up in the bath first.
Haimer, of course, had no objection—he nodded, rose, and headed toward the bathroom. Seeing this, Hestia's eyes flickered, and she moved at once to follow. "Hold on." But Onigawara Rin and Kikakujou Mary were quick on their feet, grabbing Hestia's arms from either side.
"Lady Hestia, don't go disturbing Kami-sama's rest. Every now and then you ought to do some work and help clear the table." Onigawara Rin kept a stern look on her baby face.
"Exactly, exactly." Hanasaka Warabi crowded in too, blocking the passage.
"Back when we were training with the Loki Familia, we saw you lounging under the parasol chair the whole time, waiting for Miss Rei and Miss Fei to wait on you!"
"We can't let Lady Hestia slip away again this time!"
"But… but I don't know how to clean up!" Hestia struggled a bit.
Onigawara Rin and Kikakujou Mary utterly ignored Hestia's resistance.
"You're the Goddess of the Hearth—how could you not know how? Please, no more excuses!"
To keep Hestia, who was openly in love with her own patron god, from getting in the way of Kami-sama's rest after his long day.
They dragged and hauled her, forcing Hestia over to the kitchen sink.
And so. Within the spacious stone bathing pool.
Steam billowed up in great sheets, water surged, sending faint ripples across the pool.
Haimer stripped off his clothes, stepped across the slick floor tiles, and walked into the pool.
The warm water slowly rose past his chest.
Leaning against the smoothly polished stone wall, he closed his eyes.
His mind began to turn over his next plans.
As for the entrance to the Daedalus labyrinth on Daedalus Street—Tsukuyo's hearing would pin down its location sooner or later.
As for Ishtar's side sealing off the Pleasure Quarter, that move was clearly a final, cornered-beast's struggle.
So the matter of Sanjouno Haruhime had to be moved up the schedule as soon as possible.
However. Thinking of everything that had happened before.
Haimer mulled it over and decided it was time to have Loki spread word to the outside that his familia would be dueling the second army of the [Loki Familia]. After all, whichever side won would accompany the first army on a deep expedition.
Given Ishtar's fondness for cutting corners and playing the opportunist.
Once she learned of this news, she was sure to wait until both Haimer's and Loki's main forces were away from the surface, then seize the chance to strike, trying to destroy the [Freya Familia] and fulfill her ambition of seizing total control of Orario. In that case.
To prevent any mishap, Ishtar would likewise push back the schedule for offering Sanjouno Haruhime up to the Killing Stone.
"Come to think of it, the Ishtar Familia seems to have a Lv.5 Amazon."
Haimer quietly sorted through it all.
Five minutes slipped away without a sound.
Then came— a "splash."
Almost entirely drowned out by the murmur of the water. Still. Haimer noticed it.
There— Rei, on tiptoe, wrapped in nothing but a clean white towel, crept closer with the utmost care.
Her emerald eyes fixed intently on the back of Haimer's head amid the mist. After hesitating for a long stretch.
At last Rei lowered her voice and spoke softly.
"Lord Haimer, have you noticed me?"
"Would you… like Rei to… scrub your back?"
Haimer tilted his head slightly and gave an "Mm."
That single short syllable reached her ears.
Rei let out a deep breath of relief, lifted the wooden basin from the rack beside her with her wings, scooped up some warm water, and crept carefully behind Haimer to crouch down.
Her wings pressed gently against Haimer's broad back.
She traced slow, careful circles over the firm skin. As she scrubbed on.
The steam kept billowing against the edges of Rei's cheeks, and a wide flush crept up her face, tinting even her bare, feathered arms with a layer of color.
Ever since that night in the bath when she'd received an affirmative answer.
Now, whenever Rei drew near Haimer, her heart pounded and raced.
Especially when she stared at the back of his neck.
That breath of his, so very close, was like an invisible flame burning in her throat.
It made Rei swallow, her lips parting slightly, her body leaning slowly forward.
"Just one kiss… just one kiss—Lord Haimer surely wouldn't… mind…"
At that thought, Rei stretched her neck out, trembling and unsteady, and leaned toward that spot—
But then. The next second. "Lord Haimer, is Rei in here?"
The heavy wooden door of the bath swung open. The half-bird Fei suddenly burst in.
Rei jumped in fright, nearly stumbling and toppling into the steaming pool. "S-sorry, Lord Haimer, I—I got distracted."
Rei hastily pulled back her foam-covered wings. The crimson on her cheeks burned all the way to the feather-tips at the roots of her ears.
"Big sis Rei, are you scrubbing Lord Haimer's back?!"
Just then. Fei strode in with her head tilted, looked at the red-faced Rei, blinked her long lashes twice, and parted her lips with a face full of innocence.
Rei forced herself to bite the tip of her tongue, trading pain for composure. "Y-yes… I just wanted to help wash Lord Haimer's body."
"In that case, Fei will help too!"
But Fei took Rei's words at face value, bounding over happily and squeezing in beside her.
"Come to think of it, Fei's been wanting to get close to Lord Haimer for ages too!" After all, Fei was still a Xenos only a few years old, and unlike Miss Spider, there was a lot she didn't understand.
Rei couldn't quite find the words either, so she could only fidget, flanking Haimer alongside Fei, one on each side.
Two pairs of wings, soaked with warm water, scrubbed lightly at Haimer's back.
Only the splash of running water and Fei's occasional humming filled the bath.
The warm vapor rose up and soon steamed both birdgirls' cheeks into a fine sheen of sweat.
Fei scrubbed with real effort, the feathers of her wings brushing now and then against Haimer's shoulders.
"Lord Haimer, is this pressure alright?"
Fei asked, her voice bright with the eagerness for praise. "Mm, very good." Haimer smiled and nodded in reply. But. With Fei joining in, Rei's movements grew a touch restrained.
"Rei."
That very restraint, though, stirred in Haimer a flicker of the urge to tease Miss Rei—who ought to be the mature one, yet at this moment seemed rather innocent and pure. "Y-yes!"
Hearing Haimer suddenly call her name, Rei clearly gave a start, her wings freezing mid-motion. "Please go a little lower."
Haimer tipped his head back slightly, leaning against the stone wall, and smiled at Rei.
Seeing this, Rei blushed too, swallowed, and let her wings drift slowly downward along the flow of the water. A soft "splash," and ripples spread across the surface.
"Big sis Rei, your face is so red."
Just then, Fei leaned over to look. "It's… it's just that the water's too hot…" Rei flustered out an excuse, her gaze wandering. "Come to think of it, Lord Haimer, can we bathe together?" "Of course no—" After all, there were proprieties between men and women. This request was naturally one Haimer couldn't yet grant to Fei, who understood nothing of such matters. But.
Before Haimer could finish his sentence. "Yay!"
Hearing the words "of course," Fei laughed, stripped off the cloth wrapped around her, and leapt into the pool with a splash.
Water sprayed everywhere, instantly drenching Rei's body.
"Come on, Rei, the water down here is nice and warm!"
When she heard Fei call out to her.
Rei stood at the pool's edge, unable to go forward and unable to step back.
In the end she bit her lower lip and, thankfully, undid the towel as well.
Her fair skin was bared to the vapor-filled air as she slowly waded into the pool.
The warm water enveloped Rei, and she huddled in a corner, leaving only her head above the surface.
Fei, meanwhile, had already swum a lap in the water and paddled over to Haimer's side, gazing up at him with wide, excited eyes.
"Lord Haimer, the water feels so good!"
"If—if it feels good, then soak a while longer." Haimer felt a touch helpless at the sight, but since things had come to this, there was no point saying more.
And so. Haimer's gaze passed over Fei and settled on Rei beside them. Under that look, Rei flushed at once and buried her face in the water.
"Come here."
Haimer beckoned to her. Rei hesitated a moment, then slowly edged over. "Lord Haimer…"
Rei stopped in front of Haimer, only half an arm's length away.
"Turn around." Haimer said.
Rei obediently turned, her back to Haimer.
Haimer then scooped up a ladle of warm water and poured it down along the back of Rei's neck. "Nnah…" Rei let out a soft gasp, her shoulders shrinking slightly.
Haimer's fingers went on kneading gently at the muscles at the base of Rei's wings. "Does it feel good?" "A—a little…" Haimer's pressure was just right as he pressed. "Mm~" Rei couldn't hold it back, a faint sweet moan slipping from her throat.
Then she realized what sound she'd just made.
Rei's eyes went wide in an instant, and she hurriedly covered her mouth with a wing, her face red enough to bleed.
Hearing the sound, Fei swam over to watch and asked curiously.
"Big sis Rei, does it feel good?" "Fei wants Lord Haimer to press her too!"
With that. Fei brought her own wings over as well.
For Fei, who understood nothing of romance between men and women.
Haimer could only give a helpless glance at the red-faced Rei, freed his other hand, and laid it on Fei's wing. Both hands pressed on the two birdgirls' wings at once. "Ah~~ so good." Feeling the pressure, Fei narrowed her eyes in bliss on the spot, letting out contented little hums.
Rei's body, meanwhile, grew softer and softer, until she simply sank down, her whole frame gradually melting into a pool of spring water.
Soon. Haimer noticed this too, and stopped.
"Alright, you've soaked long enough—you two head out first." "Aww~~" "Do we have to get out already?"
Fei opened her eyes, reluctant.
"Stay in the steam too long and your head gets heavy. Besides, your feathers being soaking wet the whole time isn't comfortable either. Remember to dry your feathers when you get out—the manor has Magic Stone heating, but be careful not to catch a chill."
Haimer patted Fei's head.
Hearing this, Fei could only nod obediently, standing up out of the water with a splash and climbing ashore.
Rei secretly bit the tip of her tongue underwater. Borrowing that trace of pain, she willed her aching legs to slowly straighten her body up from the water's surface.
Full, rounded contours broke the water, fine trickles sliding down along the graceful curves of her waist and belly. Pausing at the pool's edge, she turned half a shoulder to glance sidelong at Haimer, who leaned against the bluestone.
Her emerald eyes mirrored the shimmering ripples, a thousand threads of lingering reluctance swirling within, along with a trace of feeling not yet fully satisfied. It seemed she really wanted to stay a little longer…
But.
"Hey, Rei, what are you waiting for!"
Seeing Fei beckon from the doorway.
Rei could only sigh, hook up the bath towel with her wing to wrap around her body, and follow after Fei out of the bath.
As the bathroom door closed, the steam was sealed in once more. Haimer slid back to his original spot, spreading his arms out along the stone walls on either side.
As for. What was left to do. It was simply to wait for tomorrow's ferment.
And so. The next day. The news that the newly appointed Constable—the [Haimer Familia]—would duel the second army of the [Loki Familia] to earn the right to conquer the deep floors of the Dungeon alongside the first army soon spread throughout all of Orario via the newspapers sold on the streets!
____
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