Author Note: Hello everyone. Happy new year. Thanks again for the Reviews. There are things I can´t answer, since it would spoil the story. But Ryu and Bell will later obviously come in contact with Alise and Ardee (not a spoiler, Duh)

Yes, Ryu became quite strong, but only her magic status now has a faster growth, still not as strong as Bell´s.

Why did I go with my development instead of double-level up? Well...I like my idea more.

Arata: I agree with you on Ryu´s chest size, but she has to come to that conclusion by herself. And yes, her magic would also give her the magic of her current familia members, if she knew them better (and I had magic planned for them). Its a bit like with Lefiya´s Elf Ring. Ryu has to know the spells to get them.

About Suumetess, I didn´t even know what a Xilonen is. I just wanted to create a cat person that could come out of the south, so I thought, why not a cheetah girl? And of course she wears more clothes, since so far in the north its colder than from where she comes.

Temsen: I forgot to write it in the last chapter, I editted it in. She chose mage.

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Ryu didn´t sleep so well in a very, very long time. Not even in Bell´s arms on the 37th floor, or in his arms in her bed.

She was finally reunited with her beloved goddess, and so relieved that Astrea had forgiven her. No..., she stated that there wasn´t something that she had to forgive Ryu. After all, she had told her to abandon Justice so that she wouldn´t become insane, or...maybe even kill herself.

Yet, her sleep was only more pleasant, due to jumping willingly into the most dangerous trap one of her familia could face. Astrea´s motherly hug, the goddess had often done it in the past when she had slept side by side with one of her followers. No one had been able to escape this hug.

Ryu breathed calmly, slowly drifting from sleep to being awake again. A very soft voice, humming a gentle melody was there, as well as a comforting hand stroking her back. Ryu lay on her left side, turned towards Astrea, the goddess lay a bit higher than Ryu, her nose almost resting on the top of Ryu´s head. The gentle kiss on the forehead was...just nice. Astrea´s left arm touched Ryu´s right shoulder and arm, while she moved it to stroke her back.

Deep in her mind, Ryu knew what this soft pillow was, that the back of her hand and one of her cheeks touched. Astrea´s divine bosom. But she couldn´t escape it, it was as if the hug lulled her into eternal slumber.

Ryu wasn´t even embarrassed, she just wanted to stay like this for a while longer.

And when Astrea opened her mouth and sang with a low voice, only whispering, while caressing Ryu´s back, it felt so nice. Ryu heard birds chirping outside, even the slightly louder screech from Sharpbeak, so at least Iselina was already awake.

"Mh.~~"

Ryu just felt so good, she heard Astrea chuckle. Then the goddess leaned to her ear and continued to hum and sing softly. She knew how sensitive an elf´s ears were, and it was so cute to see Ryu´s ears twitch when she had her mouth close to them, sometimes in a playful manner, even gently blowing air onto them.

"Mmmhh..."

"Ehehe~~ Good morning, Ryu.~~"

"Mornin´...Lady Aftrea..." Ryu could only mumble, feeling something squish against her cheek.

In the past, this had ashamed Ryu, but now it was different. Finally...finally after all these years, she understood Alise and the others. Alise had sometimes bragged about it, that she was the first who ever got hugged to Astrea´s bosom. Later she did it with the others too. No matter how stressed or afraid they were, when Astrea hugged them to her chest, gently closing her arms around one of her children, they could just let go. Sink into this tiny bit of heaven, forget their worries, and find peace.

Just like Ryu did now, it felt so...heavenly.

She felt how Astrea moved a few strands of hair out of Ryu´s face.

"I hoped for so many years that such a morning would come, that I would see you finally being back, Ryu."

"Mmh..."

Ryu had trouble waking up completely, the hug just didn´t let her.

Another gentle kiss on her forehead let Ryu sigh in bliss, it was just heavenly to allow herself to get a bit pampered and enjoy being a bit lazy.

"Ryu, my dear...we have to get up. I have to make breakfast soon."

"Mkay..."

"Ehehe~~~ You´re cute when you´re so sleepy."

"Mrgl..."

Ryu let out a big yawn when Astrea slowly moved her body away, sitting up. When she finally opened her eyes, sitting up and turning her head left and right, with only slightly opened eyes, Astrea could melt, she looked so cute!

"Did you sleep well?"

"Tshe besht shleep..."

Astrea giggled, putting a hand on her cheek. "The last night was wonderful, Ryu.~~~ You didn´t let me sleep at all."

Ryu blinked. "Fueh?"

"Hm, Kaguya told me in the past to tell you these lines if we ever slept together. But I don´t see any special meaning in them, I mean, I did sleep."

"Hm...I don´t know."

Both were sure it had a teasing nature since it came from Kaguya, but while elves were quick to see something perverted in any behavior, both, goddess and mortal, were too pure and innocent to understand these lines.

Astrea took her dressing gown while she got up from the bed, slipping with her feet into some fluffy slippers. The goddess looked out of her window. Her room was on the first floor of the building, the others wouldn´t let their goddess sleep on the ground floor so that no one would ever be able to sneak up to the house and peek inside the bedroom of Astrea!

"Oh, ehehe~~"

"Lady Astrea?"

Ryu sat up too and tried to tame her bed-hair, which was quite a lot, especially since she had started to let her hair grow again. And...it had its natural blond color at the base. She had to decide now, would she cut it again and let Syr dye it for her? Or go back to her original hairstyle?

"It looks like Mr. Bell is up quite early and doing his morning exercise."

Ryu got out of bed and went to Astrea´s side. Bell was indeed in front of the house, a few dozen meters away, and moving with his two knives, Iselina sat on a tree stump a bit away and watched him, Sharpbeak sitting on her shoulder.

"We often train together in the morning."

"Then you should go down there, I think it would help you with your level-up, to get used to it."

"But..shouldn´t I help you with the breakfast?"

"How skilled are you in the kitchen, Ryu?"

"I...will go now..."

Astrea looked first a bit baffled, then she giggled.

Thankfully, no one was in the bathroom, so Ryu washed her face there and changed into a fresh set of clothes, before leaving the house as quiet as possible, the Futabas at her hip.

Bell stopped his movements as the door opened and Ryu came outside, Sharpbeak and Iselina looked at her too.

"~~Good morning.~~"

Not only was Bell at a loss for words when he saw Ryu´s smile.

"Oh ahm...good morning, Ryu."

Sharpbeak squawked one time, Iselina smiled. "Good morning, big sister."

Ryu still wasn´t used to getting called that, but she nodded to Iselina and Sharpbeak.

"Bell, would you mind sparring with me?"

"Absolutely."

Iselina looked curious. "Ahm...I know I wouldn´t be much of an opponent, but if you want..."

Ryu turned to Iselina, weighing her words, she didn´t want to make another mistake like with Cecil.

"I thank you for your offer, Ms. Iselina. But this wouldn´t be a good idea at the moment."

Now she looked at both.

"Lady Astrea updated my status yesterday. And...I was able to go up to level five."

Iselina´s eyes turned big. "Five?! Wow! That´s amazing!"

Bell nodded. "Indeed, you´re a first-class adventurer now."

Ryu continued. "Ms. Iselina, since you leveled up to two, you surely are aware of the strange feeling when your body isn´t used to your new status, right?"

"Yes."

"And since I also made quite a jump in status before, my current condition isn´t the best. I also have a habit of going too far, so please, for a training with you, could you wait until I managed to catch up with myself? I don´t want to hurt anyone."

The werewolf nodded. "I understand, it makes sense. And thank you for not refusing right away."

"I wouldn´t."

Ryu smiled slightly. "We´re part of the same familia."

Bell averted his face when Iselina´s tail started to wag. She went a few more steps away, waiting close to the house.

Ryu rolled her shoulders and unsheathed the Futabas.

"Bell, I think you´re the best training partner to acclimatize. So please, be prepared."

He almost playfully whirled his knives around. "I will be, shall we start like always?"

"Yes."

When Ryu used the Futabas, her fighting style was quite similar to Bell´s. Both started slower than usual, Ryu made a few test swings, then a few more against Bell´s raised weapons. Iselina´s ears twitched when the clashing sound of their weapons rang out, also because the door next to her opened. Except for Cecil and Astrea, all other members of the familia looked very curious outside. Normally at least two of them would help Astrea make breakfast, but all of them were too curious to see their "big sister" in action. And her companion.

With the few level two adventurers they had, the Astrea familia was already at a top spot in Solingen. But Ryu was level five now...she could defeat the whole city alone if she wanted to.

All of them heard a lot about Ryu, how strong she was, the one with the most raw talent in her familia. While at the time back then, Alise and Kaguya had been stronger than Ryu, she was already very close to catching up to them. Her whole familia, except for her, had been sure, one day she would move past them and become the strongest in her familia. Ryu had worked very hard over the last five years, which had been shown in her status.

999 all over the board wasn´t easy to achieve. At least for someone who didn´t carry the name, Bell Cranel.

And now with her new skill and magic, Ryu became a force to be reckoned with.

Schau, who came out last, let the door slightly open. Astrea in the kitchen smiled when she heard the sound of weapons clashing.

While Bell and Ryu moved slower than usual, it was still almost too fast for the others to see everything. Under normal circumstances, Bell´s and Ryu´s training would almost look like a dance, since they knew each other so well and their fighting styles were so similar. Both had found a deeper level of understanding since they returned from the 37th floor.

Not only their fast movements speak of the strength of such high-level adventurers. Also, their perception, reacting not only to the movement of their opponent but also the environment around them. While they were focused on each other, they noticed how the glade looked in the background. Where branches or other things lay.

After twenty minutes, Ryu got a bit faster, it would take a few training fights to get completely used to her new strength, but she slowly got more confident and so they moved faster.

When a large part of the breakfast was ready and the eggs had to boil, Astrea came out of the house for a moment, only Cecil remained inside, looking over the kitchen. Astrea could only smile when she saw Bell and Ryu train so fast with each other, and she giggled when she saw how baffled her other followers were. All of them were gawking at the high-speed fight.

But it was good that Bell was her opponent since he could bear with it if anything went wrong. One of Ryu´s slashes went closer to Bell than she had intended. She sliced up his shirt from the bottom to his chest, without hurting him. Both didn´t stop, they were focused on their fight, something like damaged clothes, at least when it was something minor like that, couldn´t be allowed to stop them.

Ryu did notice Bell´s mostly bare upper body, but her determination was like iron. She took an advice that she got from Asta in the past to heart.

Be iron within.

Always be steady, focused, don´t let anything distract you. It could mean death. So, as long as their fight lasted and nothing more would get revealed, Ryu could bear with it.

But her familia couldn´t.

Astrea and the young maidens all clapped their hands in front of their mouths, blushing at the sight of Bell.

Of his well-toned, muscular upper body. Their eyes glued against their will to his abs. As Astrea said, they didn´t have any contact with men except for their work, which was the same for the goddess. And now having a young, handsome, friendly guy with an almost bare upper body close to their house...even sweating slightly...so that his abs glistened softly in the rising morning sun...that was a bit much for them.

Their training fight went on for half an hour in total, until Ryu jumped backward and raised her right hand.

"Let us stop here, Bell."

"Alright, how are you feeling?"

She looked at her hands, relaxing her fingers. "A bit fuzzy, I didn´t have this feeling in so many years."

"Then let us continue tomorrow or later today."

"Alright, thank you."

When they turned to the group of young maidens, a slight wind moved Bell´s shirt, parted it where the cut was. More than one of them averted their face with red cheeks.

As did Astrea, she looked only at her follower.

"R-Ryu...you destroyed his shirt..."

"Oh, that. Bell, I would like to apologize for that."

"It´s alright, it´s a training shirt. I was expecting something like this to happen, I know how a level-up throws you off balance."

Her lips curled softly. "Thank you, but still."

Astrea blurted some words out because her face felt so hot. "B-But you won´t train with a bare upper body, Mr. Bell!"

"Huh? I didn´t intend to?"

"Good, then now cover yourself up, please!"

Bell only noticed now how Ryu´s familia members reacted, and how red Astrea´s face was. Even Ryu´s cheeks were slightly pink now, she didn´t look at his abs on purpose. Now that the fight was over, her maiden side was of course very aware how what Bell looked like.

"I´m sorry, I didn´t mean to make anyone uncomfortable. I will go inside and change my shirt."

Maybe it was a form of luck...or the opposite, but when Bell went past the group of blushing maidens, the door opened almost on its own, opened from the inside by a small person. Cecil was almost small enough so that people could think she was a dwarf. So she had the perfect height when the door got opened, and found herself face to bare upper body with Bell.

"Ah."

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!"

The only men she had ever seen with bare upper bodies were her eight brothers or her father when they were working, and this looked completely different! Almost bumping into Bell´s chest also didn´t help!

Out of all the flustered maidens this morning, Cecil was by far the one with the deepest red color on her face.

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Breakfast was just a bit awkward...well pretty awkward. Bell and Ryu took turns in the bathroom to wipe themself, so that they wouldn´t smell of sweat. Not that it happened, with their levels, fighting for half an hour wasn´t enough to make them completely sweaty.

Somehow, just enough so that Bell´s abs had glistened as if his body made sure that the "fanservice", as the gods called it, he had provided to the familia was even better.

But before they started to eat, Ryu looked at Cecil, who at first tried to avoid Ryu´s gaze, but had no chance since Bell sat in the other direction.

"Ms. Cecil."

"Mh...what?"

Most elves would´ve reacted in a certain way to the rude way how Cecil answered her, but Ryu knew that she was at fault.

"If you would accept it, I would like to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I didn´t mean to offend you or anyone else. While I despise the behavior of many elves, I also can´t escape my skin, and end up too often behaving in certain ways. When someone I don´t know tries to touch me...most of the time, I end up slapping their hands away, often enough rougher than intended. This doesn´t mean I despise you or the touch, but sadly this is my nature."

Cecil now looked at Ryu, the others listened and looked at her too, since Ryu looked sometimes at all of them. Astrea was really proud of the words she heard Ryu saying.

"We only got to know each other yesterday, and due to the things I did in the past, I can understand why you called me a traitor. My presence here isn´t easy for everyone, but I would like to get to know all of you. As fellow followers of Justice...as familia members. So...I´m sorry for how I reacted to your kind offer yesterday, Ms. Cecil."

"Mhh..."

"Will you accept my apology? I can understand if mere words won´t be enough for you to forgive me. But it is important for me to get along with everyone, and get to know all of you. And...if you all allow it...to become part of this familia once more."

Bell noticed how small tears glistened in Astrea´s eyes.

Cecil took a deep breath and sighed. "Fine, I´ll accept your apology, Ms. Ryu. Maybe my tongue was too fast yesterday too."

Ryu nodded. "I thank you. I know it doesn´t make it better than what I said...but I am sometimes bad with words, they come out in a way that is easy to misunderstand."

Her captain nodded. "Alright. We will see if we can get along over the next few days."

"You have my thanks."

Then Cecil looked with slightly red cheeks at Bell.

"But no stripping your boyfriend in front of everyone anymore."

"B-B-Bell isn´t my b-b-b-boyfriend! A-And that was an accident! Besides elves don´t have boyfriends, but partners! But this isn´t important right now!"

Even Bell looked abashed. "Y-You got it wrong! W-We´re not like th-that!"

Astrea chuckled in her mind and repeated the words that Kaguya said in the past. Ara-Ara~~ That reaction was way too strong for a simple misunderstanding.~~~

The younger members of the familia looked quite surprised, at how the stoic, upright elf, their "big sister", at first apologized to Cecil and then went deep red after Cecil´s statement.

Bell was glad that Ryu was able to clear up the misunderstanding. Hopefully, she would soon start to go along well with everyone. Now the breakfast was a bit less awkward.

Since now, everyone except for Bell and Ryu was just very curious about their heavy reaction, leaving just the two of them awkward...

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Bell at first had offered to help clean up the kitchen with the others after breakfast, but they declined. They had to get used to his presence more than to Ryu´s. And since Ryu was bad in the kitchen...really, really bad...she instead took a broom and a leaf rake, to clean up the ground in front of the house, with Astrea keeping her company. Cecil returned to the part of the house that was her workshop, while Bell took care of his equipment, sewing his damaged shirt.

The other familia members used the time to take care of the house, and clean a bit here and there. Mostly they did it, so that Astrea and Ryu could spend a bit more time with each other, both had a lot to talk about.

And a lot to talk about they had indeed.

"So you found Bell´s knife in that thief´s hands?"

"Yes, there was no doubt it was the same. Today I know who it was, but Bell has forgiven her, I got to know about her circumstances."

Ryu smiled wryly. "I am in no place to judge Ms. Liliruca."

"And was Bell happy when you returned his knife?"

Suddenly, Astrea saw how red Ryu´s face got. "H-He was...very happy."

"Ryu..."

"Y-Yes?"

"What...did he do?"

"He ahm...please don´t think ill of him, he didn´t know about elven custom back then..."

"Ryu?"

"He...took my hand...with both of his."

"Oh my...wait...with both hands?!"

"Mmmh..."

Astrea noticed how Ryu broomed away leaves and small branches faster.

"When did you meet him the next time?"

"Now and then at the pub, but the next remarkable thing that happened, was on the 18th floor. God Hermes came to the pub and asked for the help of Gale Wind. My friends, especially Chloe, Anya and Lunor got pretty angry and protective."

Astrea smiled when she saw how Ryu´s lips curled up at that memory.

"I heard that Bell was in trouble in the dungeon, caught by a monster train, so I went with them to help. Thankfully, they arrived at the 18th floor mostly unharmed before we even got to them."

"That´s good. I´m glad that nothing dire happened."

Again, Astrea saw how Ryu´s ears twitched slightly and she got very interested in brooming faster again.

"Ryu? DID something happen?"

"N-No, absolutely not. Nothing happened at all."

"Ryu, I can see that you aren´t telling the truth."

"I c-can´t talk about that! It wasn´t Bell´s fault, he didn´t do it on purpose!"

"Hm..alright.. But the 18th floor was where you fought against the unusual Goliath, right?"

Ryu nodded. "Yes. It was a long and hard fight, if it weren´t for Bell´s familia member, Ms. Mikoto, I would´ve gotten badly injured at least. Her magic in the right moment saved me."

"Oh, my dear child...so you brought yourself in danger to save people again? I´m worried...I will always be worried...but I´m proud of you."

Ryu´s brooming got a bit slower again, since she was used to cleaning the street in front of the pub, and being level five now, she moved with great speed and precision. For her, it was important to clean up in front of the familia´s house. Astrea sat on an armchair, Ryu forbade her goddess to take part in the cleaning since it was her duty. Also, since Ryu couldn´t control her body perfectly at the moment, she wouldn´t risk getting dirt on Astrea´s clothes like this.

She listened while Ryu continued her story, about the wargame. Astrea had heard most details already yesterday, but she let Ryu talk, to get even more details.

And she watched her follower´s expression. Until she came to the evening after the 37th floor, when she admitted embarrassed, that Bell had surprised her and she accidentally knocked him out...

All that Astrea saw brought her to one conclusion.

"Ryu?"

"Yes?"

The goddess lowered her voice so that only Ryu would hear her.

"You are in love with Bell, right?

Two or three seconds went by in silence.

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"Nah-huh-huh?!"

Ryu´s expression slipped, her mouth was halfway open in a pretty funny way, some of her hair stood to the side, the expression in her eyes a mixture of surprise, embarrassment and maybe horror? The hand that held the rake opened, letting the tool fall down.

Astrea had never before seen such an expression on Ryu´s face.

"Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you talking about?!"

The rake fell to the ground.

Ryu stuttered. "Y-You know th-there is n-no way I would f-f-feel like that! T-To have a c-crush on B-B-Bell..."

Astrea couldn´t say a word, Ryu had her hands clasped in front of her heart, fidgeting left and right, back and forth, looking in this direction, then in that, stuttering words that were almost impossible to understand. But seeing her fidget around like that...it was beyond precious.

The goddess wouldn´t tease her precious follower.

"I´m happy for you, Ryu."

"Mmmh...is it...that obvious?"

In a clumsy way, needing more than one try, Ryu picked up the rake again.

"For me? Yes. Since I know you."

"S-Syr noticed it too..."

"Then the time you traveled with Bell couldn´t be easy on you."

"I was more worried than everything else...but...y-yes..."

"And...if I may ask...do you plan...or when do you plan...to tell him?"

"I...I don´t know...I don´t know what to do..."

"Well, I can guess what Alise, Kaguya and Lyra would´ve told you to do."

"But I´m not as straight-forward as they were..."

"Straight forward? Oh, Ryu...do you know that Lyra had a strong crush on Loki´s captain?"

"I do, she always said how awesome he was...until she stopped at some point during the dark age..."

"Yeah, but before that, Lyra was too shy to ask him out."

"Lyra? Really?"

"Yes."

"But I bet all of them would wish for your happiness."

"But..."

"Ryu, no but! Listen to me, my child."

Getting called that by Astrea, made Ryu visibly happy.

"The spirit festival is in four days, and there is a full moon then."

"Hoh!"

Another precious noise for Astrea.

"Bell has shown that he cares about you, otherwise he wouldn´t have left his familia for such a long time, to come with you. I think, maybe the festival would be a good opportunity for you to talk to him?"

Astrea didn´t say more, since Ryu slowly started to overheat. For a while she just let Ryu clean again, even when she only cleaned the same spot around a hundred times.

But the goddess had a good idea how to help Ryu a bit, she wanted her child to be happy.

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"Checking on an order?"

"Yes, the others are busy, especially Cecil. So, Ryu, would you go into the city and check on it?"

Bell saw how Ryu´s cheeks got slightly red and her ears wriggled up and down, a sign that Ryu was very happy. To get a job to do as a member of her familia again, Bell thought he saw a small tear glisten in her eye.

"Of course I will do it, just tell me where it is."

Astrea handed Ryu a note and a tiny box.

"Open it."

As Ryu did, Bell heard her sigh. Inside was a badge, made to look like Astrea´s symbol. When the goddess picked up the small badge and carefully put it on Ryu´s left shoulder, a tear ran down Ryu´s cheek.

"Now everyone in the city will see that you belong to the familia. If you see any crime, you of course can intervene, but please don´t go too far."

"I understand."

"Bell, will you go with her? I would feel more at ease if Ryu had someone with her. Sadly all the others are very busy, so I can´t ask one of them."

"Of course, Lady Astrea."

"There are several orders that need to be checked, so it will take some time. If you get hungry, there are some good places in Solingen to eat."

""Understood.""

"Do you have your map?"

Ryu nodded.

"Then please, just make sure you´re back in the evening, alright?"

Both nodded.

"Also, don´t be surprised if you see some of the others here and there in the city, and if people react to your badge."

"I understand. If they need help, I will of course help them."

"Hehe~~ It´s good that they will have a reliable big sister to help them."

These words seemed to make Ryu pretty happy again.

"Oh, and Ryu?"

"Yes?"

"Would it be alright...could I maybe have...the hilt of Alf´s Lumina?"

"Of course."

Bell waited for Ryu to return from her room. Astrea didn´t let any doubt remain, this wasn´t the room that Ryu was allowed to use during her stay. This was her room, it was always kept free as that, when Ryu had heard this...she had cried again.

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"You get surprisingly fast used to the smell of fire and iron here."

"Indeed."

While Ryu wore her travel clothes, she also used her usual white shirt, so that the badge would stand out a bit more. Also, her whole familia wore white, so it was only fitting that she did it too. Bell just used a normal set of clothes, wearing Vesta, how he named the Hestia knife, and Hakugen at his hips, Ryu did the same with the Futabas.

Just like Astrea said, the people reacted to Ryu´s badge, getting more curious because of it, since she seemed to be a new member of the Astrea familia. Some of the stronger people in the city, easily identified with their high perception, seemed to notice their strength too. And how fast they were.

Ryu´s ears had easily picked up the noise of someone calling for help, calling out a thief. She moved faster than Bell had ever seen her move, locating and arresting the thief in under ten seconds.

But in contrast to her behavior in the past, Ryu asked the thief why he stole from a street vendor. When the thief´s eyes fell on her badge, he knew what it meant.

"Please...I don´t have any money anymore...my wife...my kids...the merchant that was supposed to deliver my order got attacked by monsters...I lost everything I have."

"Stealing isn´t the answer to that."

"My kids are so hungry...as is my wife...I´m a failure as a husband and father...at least they should get to eat."

"Give back what you stole."

"Yes...I´m sorry..."

Ryu looked deep into the man´s eyes, then she put her hand on her purse. "Here are 10.000 Vals. Use this to give your family food. I don´t want to see you steal again or hear about it, my familia watches over the city."

"You´re...letting me go?"

"Lady Astrea believes in a second chance for everyone. Don´t make me or her regret it. Get yourself a job that will allow you to put food on the table."

"I...I...what can I say...thank you..."

The man cried when Ryu handed him the money, he thanked her multiple times before stumbling out of her way and went to properly buy some food.

Bell followed the man with his eyes.

Ryu nodded to him and they continued their way.

"Ardee had done something similar in the past, the man that she had offered a second chance managed to get his life together. As a follower of justice...no...as a follower of Lady Astrea, I want to believe in justice. I want to believe in the good of people. It didn´t seem like he was lying, things like this happen too often in the wide lands."

"I´m sure Lady Astrea would´ve done the same, from what you told me about her and I saw so far."

Ryu looked at her badge. "I have to live up to her trust, to be once more worthy of wearing something like this."

"I´m sure you are, Ms. Leon."

Following the old custom about elves, Bell wouldn´t speak Ryu´s true name in public, except they were completely alone. Both continued their way, following the signs on the map and the note about orders. It were various places, tailors, a merchant who sold tools for housework, the marketplace for vegetables, and other things.

Just like Astrea said, it took a while, so when both got hungry, they decided to eat something. Trying lthe ocal food of Solingen could be interesting.

When they went past a side alley, Bell looked to the side.

"Oh, over there."

"Hm?"

Both saw a door, that didn´t really look like it belonged into this side alley. It was too clean for that, looked too good, too fine.

There was a sign in the middle of the door. It looked like a cat was sitting there, looking at them, the right paw raised, holding a string in its mouth. The string held up the sign where the name of the eatery was written.

"Western cuisine..."

"Nekoya?"

Since both were hungry, this place might be as good as any other place. Also, Ryu got strict orders from Mia, to look for interesting food that she could make at the pub. And Ryu was sure, Mia would somehow feel it if Ryu slacked off on her promise...

Both went there and Bell opened the door for Ryu.

"After you."

"Ehe, how chivalrous of you, Bell."

He followed her inside and closed the door behind them.

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The restaurant looked much more homey than either of them had imagined. The floor and ceiling were made from wood, as were all tables and chairs. The walls were halfway made of wood, and halfway of stone.

Most of the tables were filled, but two or three were still free.

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Welcome, do you plan to eat?

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"Eh?"

"Huh?"

Bell and Ryu stopped for a moment when they heard a female voice in their heads.

An...apparently elf...with clothes fitting for a waitress, but mostly black, came slowly to the door, holding a tray in her hands. She had black hair and golden eyes. It was the first elf Bell ever saw with such an eye color...and for Ryu, it was too.

We still have seats available. A table for two?

Both looked confused, the elf didn´t move her lips, but they heard her voice. Before they could answer, another young woman in clothes fitting for a waitress came to them.

"Ms. Kuro, Master said to not do that. Please use your mouth."

At first, they thought the girl was human, but they saw curled horns at her head, so maybe a rare kind of beastkin?

"I´m sorry, it is a habit." The elf, Kuro, slightly bowed her head to Bell and Ryu. "Would you like to eat something?"

Bell and Ryu exchanged a look, then they nodded.

"Please follow me."

She showed them a free table, out of habit, both scanned the room with their high perception. There were quite a few people here, almost twenty customers.

And at every table sat an elf. A female elf.

Ryu was surprised to see so many of her brethren here, but then again a lot of them wore travel clothes, so maybe this restaurant was famous among adventurers or travelers in Solingen? Most elves had the common blond hair color, but she saw two with white hair. One of them had short hair, the other longer hair, but bound up into twin-tails. Especially the last one had a kind of aura of age around her, Ryu had no doubt that this wasn´t a young elf like her.

"Is this table alright for you?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Thank you."

"Can you read the common language?"

"Yes."

She handed them a menu each, then went to get two glasses and a can with water. There were many interesting dishes on the menu, Ryu took her time to look at them and their description. Otherwise, Mia would scold her thoroughly...

But on the side, with her level-five senses, she glanced around the room, as did Bell.

There was something very deep inside Ryu that troubled her, regarding Bell. She loved him, there was no doubt. Loved him to the moon and back again, how some more romantic elves...so including her...would call it. But there was a very tiny voice inside her, a voice of reason...that wondered if it was really alright for an elven woman to love a human man. Since, if they didn´t count in a blessing, and due to that aging slower...elves could roughly live ten times longer than most humans did.

Elves weren´t very fertile in the first place. There was something that Ryu got a bit hated for in her familia. Well, not really hated...but they were jealous of her. All the others had every month "that time of the month". For an elf, these things only happened two to four times a year, depending on the elf. And even then the chance to become pregnant was very low. Kaguya had once joked, a pretty tasteless joke in Ryu´s opinion, that this made elves the most perverted of all races. Not only could they do it almost all year without protection, but because they had to do it like rabbits once the time was there.

So these two tiny things bothered Ryu a bit, loving Bell could mean they maybe would never have children...and that she would outlive him at some point. Then again, half-elves were pretty common, like his adviser. That was a small problem on its own again, half-elves were often treated as something lesser than normal elves, or high-elves. In Ryu´s case, if she would ever have a child, and someone would make fun of it, she would definitely beat that someone to a pulp.

Ryu had thought if it would be cruel to love Bell like that.

But when she looked around, almost all...if not all...of her worries got not only washed away.

They got destroyed. Obliterated. Evaporated. Buried. And forgotten.

Because...

Except for two larger tables...

All tables here were used by couples! And each woman here was an elven maiden!

Her eyes flew to the counter, four people sat there. A tall human in black clothes, drinking a bubbly liquid from a big glass, it looked like beer. Next to him was a dwarf, his face barely visible behind his beard. And next to them were the two interesting people. One was a young human man, with blue eyes and hair, turned to the white-haired elf who had the aura of age around her.

"Do you like the steak?"

The elf nodded. "Eh, it´s not bad."

While the affection from the human was quite obvious, the elf looked a bit distracted by her book, but she didn´t seem to mind that he touched her hand!

Her hand!

In public!

Sh-Shameful!

Her eyes wandered further, to the only other group sitting at a table. Here was also a dwarf, with a pretty big beard, focused on his food, seeming to enjoy it. Opposite of him sat a pallum, also visibly enjoying his food. Next to them were also a human male...every elven maiden here was with a human male!

He wore medium heavy armor, still waiting for his food, while the elf in front of him was busy with her parfait. She seemed to have a free-spirited nature and didn´t act as reserved as other elves would. She had blue clothes and a bag with a thick book at her side.

"Come on, Raios. While you wait, train a bit."

"Fine, is it alright if I touch you, Mar?"

"Don´t shorten my name! And yes, go on. But be careful, you know it tickles."

"I will do my best."

Ryu could see how he raised his right hand...and put it on her left ear! In public!

Sh-Sh-Shameless!

A soft glow came from his hand, the elf chuckled and tried to remain calm...still eating her parfait.

"It tickles...but you get better."

"That´s good, we will need it."

The next table that Ryu looked at was the first with only two people. She didn´t notice what they were talking about, the human man, maybe around his middle years, wasn´t what someone would call handsome, but the young elf in front of him had her hands clasped in front of her mouth and was blushing heavily. From her behavior, she looked what the gods may called a "Tsundere". While he looked pretty neutral, it was obvious that she was very much in love!

Ryu noticed how her heart started to race, two other tables caught her attention, and Bell´s. At the first sat a man maybe around twenty years or so. He wore also armor, but of a more yellowish color, a sword and cape hang at the side, and he smiled at his companion.

"Is it to your liking, Dee?"

The elf opposite of him radiated grace, even going past what Riveria was capable of, and it looked so natural. She was simply beautiful, a gentle, loving smile on her lips. The elf wore a green tunic, two massive shoulder parts and a long, blue cape hang behind her at a hook.

"Very much, Parn. I enjoy it here, being here with you."

She smiled, the affection of both for each other was clearly visible. Ryu saw how the elf moved her foot under the table to gently nudge against the human´s foot!

In public!

A small orb drifted behind the elf´s head, for Ryu it looked like a small spirit! She must´ve been a high-elf!

The elf smiled, and put a hand on her lower stomach. "Our first trip with just the four of us."

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Hah...hah...hah...hah...hah...

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Ryu´s cheeks and ears went red! There was no doubt what this elf meant.

C-C-Could it be that she...

There was no way she wouldn´t mean "that".

And when Ryu´s eyes wandered to the last table, her head started to steam. There was an elven maiden in a wide, white dress, a green jacket around her shoulders.

With a clearly visible, bulging belly!

And the man with her, was gently caressing her belly with one of his hands!

"Mouh, Rudi...I can´t eat like this..."

"I´m sorry, Silphy...no...actually I´m not. You make me so happy."

"Ehehe~~~ I`m happy too."

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Hah...Hah...Hah...Hah...Hah!

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Ryu was breathing faster and steam rose from her head. That elf was pregnant too! No matter where she looked, there were human man, elven maiden couples! In all stages! From almost together, fresh together, obviously a couple, pregnancy and...

Wait...didn´t that elf there said "four"?

She looked at the graceful elf and the human knight again, then came a click sound from the side...and a small child, clearly a half-elf, ran to the table of the two, it looked like behind that door was a toilet.

"Mama! Papa!"

The human knight got up and picked the small girl up, laughing while he sat her down next to her mother, who stroked her daughter´s hair and gently kissed it.

They´re already having a child!

Bell saw it too.

Both looked at each other only for a moment, then they were unable to look further at each other. To distract themself, both ordered something. Since it was their first time trying something like this, both used the "share" option, not completely understanding what it meant.

But they did as soon as their food arrived...

Ryu had ordered what was called a Burger with side dishes, while Bell got curious of a Pizza. Each of the dishes was cut in two, when the waitress put their food on the table, she carefully used two forks to move it around. So that each of them had half a burger, half of a pizza, and a few fried potato pieces, called fries.

Ryu´s level-five eyes caught a detail that she didn´t see before, as the dwarf on the next table opened the menu again. The detail described the sharing option as...

A couple dish.

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Pfiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii...

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Ryu´s head could easily be mistaken for a teapot right now.

Bell lowered his voice. "Ryu?"

"N-N-Nothing!"

By chance, her eyes met with the adult elf, that got called "Dee" by the man before. The elf smiled and gently put a hand on her daughter´s head, before winking in a playful way at Ryu.

The food was to die for, but it was the most awkward lunch that Ryu ever had!

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While Bell and Ryu tried their best to enjoy their food...both of them were pretty embarrassed...something in Orario happened.

Or rather in Melen.

In the early afternoon, the biggest of all ships in the world arrived at port. Normally the harbor would get swarmed by familias and deities, but only Hestia familia went there for some reason. The gods jearned entertainment, and while they were eager to see the people on that ship, they decided to do something different this time.

Calling it the "Great Tsundere Plan".

Showing the ship apparently the cold shoulder, to get the people on it more interested in the gods and the familias! It surely was a great plan...but no one told Hestia about it. So more students would get interested in that goddess and her familia...who also had the famous record holder inside it. Even when he wasn´t in the city at this moment.

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"The food was really good."

"Yes, even Mama Mia never made anything like that."

Ryu wrote down some notes after they ate, the restaurant also looked a bit strange. Since it was possible to order, Ryu ordered a bunch of expensive desserts as a takeaway. Her familia probably knew about this restaurant anyway, but she wanted to bring something good to eat home.

It would bring her a lot of bonus points by her little sisters.

Before they left, others did first. Ryu couldn´t take her eyes from the heavily-pregnant elf, how her partner took so lovingly care of her, pulled her chair back, opened the door for her.

And the knight, adult elf and small girl also left before them. The knight carried their daughter, while the adult elf put on her shoulder parts and cape. She smiled in a special way to Ryu when she walked past her, nodding slightly to Bell while she winked again. Ryu´s cheeks refused to show a different color than red.

She had seen so many human-elf couples here...her worries were forgotten. Such a relationship could work...and obviously...bear fruits. But by no means did she imagine herself with a big belly, and Bell taking lovingly care of her! That would be too early! Way too early!

And then...the adult elf kissed her partner.

Ryu´s eyes nearly popped out, the small girl in his arms giggled when her parents kissed.

So many "shameless" behaviors in public!

Public handholding! Public ear touching! Kissing! Belly stroking!

When Ryu felt Bell´s eyes on her for a moment, she gulped, and looked at him. For a moment, all that existed for Ryu, were these rubelite eyes...

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And his lips.

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Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! Pure thoughts! Pure thoooooughts!

"W-W-W-We should go now! There is still much to do!"

"Y-Yes-"

They got a package with a small gem in it, the gem radiated a cool aura, keeping the puddings in small glasses they bought at a good temperature.

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When they arrived at the house in the woods again, Astrea welcomed them with a smile. The whole familia felt joy when Ryu handed out the expensive puddings, but neither of them ever heard of this restaurant in Solingen.

Cecil looked pretty exhausted...and surprisingly tattered...from her work. Ryu wondered what she was doing. Whatever it was, Astrea forbid Cecil after dinner to continue her work. The familia, plus Bell, sat down in the living room, asking them tons of questions about Orario and the life of adventurers there.

It seemed like Cecil got especially curious about the Hephaistos and Goibniu familias, and Welf. While the evening went on, it got eventually revealed what Cecil´s work was.

"You´re a high smith?"

Cecil just nodded, both had noticed that she didn´t seem to be that good with words.

Ryu looked at the captain with the respect that her craft deserved. "So you´re dedicating so much of your time for your work?"

"I..."

Cecil glanced at Astrea, raising an eyebrow in a questioning way. The goddess slightly shook her head, Ryu wondered what that was about.

"I do, my craft means everything to me."

Suumetess grinned. "Ceci even made some fancy magic weapons for us."

"Don´t shorten my name, Sumi!"

"You´re shortening mine too, you know?"

"Everyone does that. A-Also, I´m the cap-...tain..."

Cecil looked a bit uneasy at Ryu, as did the others. Ryu wasn´t only the oldest member by age.

But Ryu slightly shook her head while putting a hand over her heart. "I don´t intend to take away any position that anyone of you has. I am already happy about the chance you give me, to become part of this familia again."

Astrea smiled gently and put her hand on Cecil´s head, which let the small girl look quite happy.

"You´re a fine captain, Cecil, the others think that too. And you will remain captain."

"Mh..."

The others praised Cecil and her hard work, saying they couldn´t wish for a better captain. Maybe just one who wasn´t holed-up in her workshop all the time.

The flustered girl looked at them with a "grim" expression. "You all know why I´m inside there so often!"

Ryu felt a strong familiarity with Cecil at that moment, when she saw how the others chuckled and giggled. She had felt exactly like her in the past, when the others teased her.

Bell was glad that Ryu managed to bond more with her familia, it would still take a while to truly become one of them. There were inside jokes, teasing about this behavior or that.

But not only Ryu got bombarded with curiosity and questions. All of them were curious about the famous record holder. Yet, Bell strongly emphasized it strongly, that many of the things he did was because there had been no other choice or it had been necessary. That this wasn´t something that an adventurer should try to do, since it was insanely dangerous.

When their talk slowly ended, Ryu´s familia members went into the bathroom in small groups, while she and Bell went outside again, for a small evening training. Unnoticed by them, Iselina and Suumetess glanced out of the bathroom window, hiding their bare bodies so that Bell wouldn´t see anything by chance, too curious to not look at them.

"Woah, Isi...they are so fast."

"Yes, no way I could keep up with them."

"I wonder what she will say when Ceci is done."

"Shht, you know elves have fine ears."

Sumeetess´ ears twitched. "As if we two don´t have fine ears."

A knock came from the door, followed by Schau´s voice. "Hurry up, you two!"

""Haaay.""

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Bell of course used the bathroom alone again, he remained in the living room until Ryu and Astrea would be done, the goddess insisted on bathing with her cute follower together again. He didn´t sweat that much, but it was enough for the sensitive noses of Iselina and Suumetess to catch his scent, which let both young women blush. Bell´s presence in the house wasn´t easy for the young women living here.

And once again, Ryu found herself in Astrea´s bed, getting hugged by her goddess.

"Hehe~~ I´m not letting you go."

"I´m not trying to escape..."

"That´s good.~~"

Ryu had to admit, it was nice to cuddle with her goddess.

"Oh, Ryu, before I forget it."

"Yes?"

"There is something...someone...I would like to show you tomorrow morning, after your training with Bell."

"What would that be?"

"The reason why we live here in the forest. Someone I would like you to meet...and play with."

"Play?"

The goddess smiled. "You will see."

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While Ryu once again drifted to sleep in her goddess´ embrace, things happened in Knossos too.

"Hah..."

"Good like this?"

"Ah..."

"Hm?"

"Ah..ahs...ahessss..."

"You mean, yes?"

A nod followed, then it a very slow mumble. "Ah..y..ah...yesssss."

"Heh, sounds funny how you speak S sounds."

Revis was in her room again, taking care of the strange Lamia. She had organized a ton of blankets, basically building the Lamia a large nest on the ground next to her bed, it was easier for her to sleep like this, with that enormous body.

"Hungry?"

"Ah...yesssss."

Her tongue flicked while she had trouble speaking the S. The Lamia pulled the poncho around her shoulders, with her body it was impossible to wear a normal shirt, but after having a long sleep, even when she still felt dizzy, the Lamia had a sense of shame that Revis didn´t have anymore. So, Revis had also organized something for her to cover-up her upper body. And something for her hips as well. By chance, Revis had noticed that the Lamia still had womanly bodyparts, they were just covered by scales, which moved out of the way when the Lamia had to use the toilet...

Revis didn´t even know why she cared for the Lamia, but it felt right. And Enyo was less pissed now that she at least took care of something that Valetta had left behind.

Something in Revis was sad that she couldn´t kill Valetta a few more times...

The Lamia seemed to be pretty glad that her poncho and the cloth around her hips were blue, maybe she liked that color.

Revis was about to bring the Lamia a tray with various foods on it, including dessert...she herself had a bit of a sweet tooth, but got surprised when the Lamia "stood" behind her.

"Oho, getting better about your tail when it comes to food, yes?"

"Ah."

"Hah, still having trouble talking, well we will get there. Now let´s eat."

Revis sat down on her bed, while the Lamia curled her tail around on the "nest". It almost looked like she was sitting on her tail.

"By the way, how shall I call you?"

The Lamia looked at her, while the very long tongue...it didn´t always look that long...slowly went out of her mouth to lick up something from her plate. That tongue was easily twenty centimeters long in this state.

Then the Lamia tilted her head confused.

"Hah, still don´t understand all I say, hm?"

No response came.

"I mean, you said a name when you woke up, remember?"

"Ah." The Lamia shook her head.

"Hm, we will get a name for you. What do you say, if you can understand it, want to take a bath after dinner?"

The tip of the Lamia´s tail waved slightly back and forth, if Revis understood it right...she got a bit excited.

"Then I will show you the paradise of lakes that is behind the gates on the other floor."

Revis didn´t need to understand her reason, when she looked at the Lamia, she saw an image flashing behind her eyes, about a girl that looked similar. A pretty innocent girl, with a happy smile. It would probably look nice if the Lamia would smile like that too.

By herself she decided, Revis would take care of that Lamia, and protect her. Especially from Ein.

Both continued their dinner, the Lamia took her time, she had a bit trouble eating due to her sharp teeth and long tongue. Sometimes her teeth looked normal, sometimes her mouth opened far wider than it should be possible. Sometimes even her hands looked normal, then like claws again. The Lamia didn´t have full control over her body, that would take time.

"Hey, wanna see a trick that I recently learned?"

"Ah?" A tilted head again.

Revis put her tray to the side and raised her hands.

"Agares Alvesinth."

Flames gushed out of her hands, feet, and two flaming wings formed behind her back.

"Aaaah." It sounded like she wanted to say "Ooooh".

"Crazy, right? Dunno why that happens."

The Lamia slowly clapped, enjoying the heat that came from Revis. After a few moments, Revis shook her hands and feet, putting out the flames this way.

"I don´t know what these words mean, but it just happens."

The Lamia looked like she tried to copy Revis, but...she bit her tongue while doing that. Literally.

"Mmmh!" She clasped her hands in front of her mouth, holding her hurting tongue.

"Train to speak properly first." Revis grinned amused.

From all the people in Knossos, she liked the Lamia the most.

By far.

Which wasn´t hard, since she disliked everyone else.

Especially Ein...

But strangely, this evening, Ein wasn´t there. Wherever she was at the moment.

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"Hiccu...Hiccu..."

"Lefiya...are you...alright?"

"Of courshe I am, Filvhish...*Hiccu*"

Filvis had to bite her lips, Lefiya currently was just too adorable! Both couldn´t believe their luck when Riveria had asked them to join her on a glass of light wine. There wasn´t much alcohol in it, and both young elves were old enough to drink...not that it mattered in Filvis´ case. But it seemed like Lefiya got easily tipsy.

"Mwehehe~~~ You´re sho pretty, Filvhish..*Hiccu*"

No, I´m not...I´m everything except pretty...unlike you, Lefiya...you´re beautiful.

Both were sitting on a bench, where they were alone, after Riveria had excused herself. She said she wanted to look after her niece, neither Lefiya nor Filvis knew that Riveria had a sister.

"Hehe~~ The stars are turning...~~"

"Le-!"

Filvis didn´t come further, Lefiya leaned further to the side, lay down sideways on the bench...and put her head on Filvis´ lap.

Hoh!

"Mwehehe~~ Filvhish thighs are sho shoft.~~~Sho warm~~~"

"Lefiya..."

Something in Filvis stopped her from stopping Lefiya...by herself, her right hand came up...and gently stroked Lefiya´s hair. While she was afraid of Lefiya touching her impure, corrupted, filthy skin...Filvis couldn´t deny that this touch felt...just good.

The man called Enyo, couldn´t know that one of the biggest threats to his plans was this young elf, who currently lay with her head on Filvis´ thighs. And the feelings that started to bloom in a heart that had been dead in the past, feelings of genuine affection.

Filvis couldn´t look at anything except for Lefiya´s face, while she kept gently stroking her hair. If just this one girl could accept Filvis, it would be enough for her. Whatever Enyo´s plans...or that of this cursed voice in her head...the voice of the demi-spirit...were...Filvis would do everything she could to protect this girl.

No one would touch Lefiya...her Lefiya...no one.

She would protect her.

The girl who slowly won Filvis´ heart...her affection.

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At all costs.