Chapter 97 – Tiona takes the initiative

Since Aston had prepared bento boxes before setting out, there was no need to cook at the campsite.

In the camp, everyone had an early lunch and then took a short nap in their tents. Afterward, Ais and the others went to a nearby lake to bathe, while Aston stayed at the campsite.

After lunch, they would be ready to start their journey back to the surface. It would be quite a rush to travel from the 50th floor back to the surface in just one afternoon.

In the campsite, Aston was receiving a report from his star spirit maid, Virgo. Ever since he acquired Virgo as a spirit maid, Aston would check in with her about the situation on the surface every time he rested in the dungeon, through their mental connection. Previously, he mainly inquired about recruitment to the Hestia Familia, but now there was also the matter of his own Familia to attend to.

The situation with his Familia was good, with no issues. Just yesterday, Eina and her group had fought their way from the 1st to the 11th floor, nearly reaching the middle floors.

Moreover, Virgo mentioned another matter. The Xenos discovered that their ability to grow stronger by consuming magic stones still worked even after transforming into human forms. After becoming humans and joining the Hestia Familia, and having their status updated, Lyd and the others thought they had lost the ability to grow stronger by eating magic stones. However, Lyd, while on a task assigned by Aston to protect Eina and the others, casually bit into a magic stone and found that their unique ability was still intact.

Hearing this news, Aston couldn't help but marvel at how the dungeon, despite never allowing the Xenos to reach the surface, had not mistreated them. The ability to grow stronger by consuming magic stones alone was extraordinarily powerful, a unique privilege.

The red-haired woman, Revis, had raised her level to the top of Level 6 in a short time by consuming magic stones, even managing to critically injure Finn, a leading member of the Loki Familia, leaving them leaderless and on the brink of collapse.

However, with this development, Lyd and the others would be able to increase their strength very rapidly, potentially even matching Aston's pace.

The Faction Card can provide them with 70% of the experience value, and coupled with their ability to consume magic stones, as long as they invest time, Lyd and others' rate of growth will definitely not be much slower than Aston's.

For Aston, and for the Hestia Familia, this is genuinely great news.

It's just unclear if there will be any limitations, such as not being able to consume too many in a short period or needing digestion restrictions.

If there are no such limitations, then as long as Aston provides enough magic stones, Lyd and others can be rapidly strengthened, potentially adding new Level 5 fighters to the Hestia Familia.

Currently, the Hestia Familia has only one first-class adventurer, which doesn't impact its development, but having more first-class adventurers would be immensely beneficial. The Hestia Familia could then be promoted to a large-scale Familia and stand on equal footing with the Freya and Loki Familias, becoming one of the top three Familias in Orario.

If those Familias that have been struggling for decades and are still in the middle-tier were to know Aston's current thoughts, they might react with envy and bitterness. After all, the Hestia Familia has not even been established for a month.

Yet, Aston is already aiming for the top-tier Familias. Isn't this a bit of a pipe dream? It's a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment!

After a brief chat with Virgo, instructing her to guard the Hestia Familia well and not let anyone offend it, Aston cut off the communication. Although Hestia is protected by Absolute Defense, which ensures she is not physically harmed, she can still be affected by other non-physical attacks. This is where Virgo steps in.

With her Level 5 power as an S-class Magician, Virgo is a formidable force in this world. Orario is truly short on Level 5 fighters.

Aston's order to Virgo is to follow Hestia's commands and to step in and teach a lesson to anyone who disrespects Hestia.

Just after cutting off the mental connection with Virgo, Aston senses a presence approaching his tent.

"Tiona?" The presence is Tiona. Didn't she go to the lake to bathe with Ais and the others? Why has she returned alone?

Puzzled, Aston got up and was about to leave the tent...

However, before Aston could step out, Tiona was the first to enter the tent.

"Yo, Aston, I'm back." Tiona, her hair still dripping with water droplets, cheerfully waved at Aston.

"Have you finished bathing?" Aston nodded slightly and then curiously asked.

"Yes, I have." Tiona nodded her head in response.

"That was quick, have Ais and the others finished as well?" Aston was somewhat surprised.

"No, they are still there, soaking in the bath and chatting. I came back alone." Tiona shook her head.

"Why didn't you stay with them?" Seeing Tiona enter, Aston didn't get up but sat back down, continuing the conversation.

"Because I have something to do." Tiona still had a cheerful demeanor.

"What is it? Do you need help?" Aston became more curious hearing Tiona's response.

"Yes, of course, I need your help with this." Tiona nodded slightly, her smile fading as she became more serious.

"Tell me, what do you need help with?" Aston, unconcerned, got up, ready to see what Tiona needed help with.

However, before Aston could fully stand up, Tiona pushed him back down to the ground, and she too leaned forward, their faces very close, with each other's breath touching their faces.

This sudden change left Aston somewhat startled.

But soon, Aston understood what Tiona was about to do.

"You know, Aston, I was really scared when that beam from Balor hit you."

"I don't want to have any regrets later, so I came back using that as an excuse."

"Do you want this too?" Tiona, holding Aston's face gently in her hands, spoke in a tone much softer than usual.

Aston hesitated for a moment and then reached out to hold Tiona's face in his hands.

Then, Aston leaned in and kissed her.

"I hope you won't regret this, Tiona."

"I won't regret it."

(R-18 scenes created with AI on Patreon)

***

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