Chapter 28: Stardust Manor

A few second passed before Rogue and I broke our handshake.

Once we did so Athena stood to her feet. "Rogue, if will you please follow me?" She asked him. "Since you are now a member of our familia its only right I give you my blessing."

"Sure." Rogue said.

He then stood up and followed Athena up to her room.

As he did so I sat back down and looked at Rogue's mother, Reina. An idea coming to the forefront of my mind after I did so.

"Excuse me Ms. Reina?" I spoke to her.

"Yes." She said.

"Your follow shop stand, about how much do you make if you don't mind me asking?" I questioned her.

"Usually about 2,500 valis a day if that." Reina told me. "But when you factor in expenses such as upkeep of the flowers and what Rogue and I need to survive the profit I turn is actually very small." She explained. "However I can't say my life is bad. I love what I do and I have such a wonderful son." She told me. Giving me a smile as she did so.

"Sorry mam, but what about your husband?" Ryuu questioned.

"Am, I don't have one." Reina told us.

She then told us Rogue is the product of a one-night stand she had some years ago with a merchant from the Far East, aka this world's version of Japan.

'Well that explains Rogue's features.' I thought.

"I see. Sorry." Ryuu said.

"No young lady it's fine. It's not like I'm ashamed of how I got my son." Reina said. "Since no matter what he is mine and I will love him till I pass from this world."

Wow, Rogue really has himself a great mother.

"Right, so anyway Ms. Reina I have a proposition for you." I spoke up. "If you're willing how about working for the familia?" I asked her.

"Am, you want me to become an adventurer?" Reina asked me.

"No." I said, shaking my head. "What I'm proposing is for you to become our housekeeper. We pay you 5,000 valis a week, and in return you clean up our home and watch over it while we are doing expeditions into the dungeon." I said. "That is if you are willing?"

This idea just came to me. But I personally think it's a good one.

Rogue seems to be a trustworthy person, and his mother looks the same as well. So having her watch our home while we go into the dungeon for an extended period of time is fine with me.

This way Athena will never be alone, and all of us can work on getting stronger together as one entire group.

Right after I made my proposal Reina's eyes went wide for a moment. "Oh my." She mused. "That's quite the offer."

"I know." I said. I then looked at the others. "But of course if you guys are against it then it won't happen."

"Eh, I'm fine with it." Ryner said.

"Yes, me as well." Millhiore added.

The siblings simply gave me a thumb up each.

While Ryuu nodded.

Seeing this I turned back around to Reina. "As you can see Ms. Reina everyone is fine with the arrangement. So, what say you?"

"I need some time to think about it." Reina said.

"Mom, just do it."

Turning my head in the direction of the stairs I saw Athena and Rogue walking down, the latter holding a status sheet in his hand.

"You are a good cook, and our home is always spotless. Our clothes are always clean and you have kept the flower stand in pristine condition ever since I can remember. You have the skills to look after a home like this." Rogue said. "And I think you should. This will be more money in your pocket. Besides, it's not like you'll have to close down the stand permanently right?"

"Not at all." I said. "I would say your mother comes by at least three times a week. But we can work out all the details if she agrees to the proposal." I explained.

"A proposal I don't mind." Athena said.

"Well there you have it mom. So, what do you say?" Rogue asked Reina.

"Fine. I'll do it." Reina said.

"Thank you." I told her.

Now we can have someone reliable my Athena's side while we are in the dungeon.

This has lifted a bit of weight off my shoulders to honest.

Once Reina agreed to come and work for us Athena and she began discussing the finer points. While the rest of us checked out Rogue's status.

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Name: Rogue Cheney

Level: One

Strength: I0

Endurance: I0

Dexterity: I0

Agility: I0

Magic: I0

Magic:

Slot 1:?

Slot 2:?

Slot 3:?

Skills:

Warrior of the Night: When it is night time Rogue's agility, and dexterity stats all increase by double until sunrise.

Developmental Abilities:

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Looking at Rogue's skill I let out a low whistle.

It's a pretty powerful and useful skill.

Actually it's quite similar to canon Ryuu's [Fairy Senerade] skill which increased the effects of Ryuu's magic by a lot during the night.

However unlike that skill this one applies to two base stats instead of one. Which I think makes it even deadlier, despite the restriction that it can only activate during the night.

We can work around that of course.

"Nice skill Rogue." Gaul said.

"Thanks." He told us. Putting a bit of a proud smile on his face as he did so. "So anyway please take care of me?" He asked us. Slightly bowing his head as he did so.

"You can count on us." I told him.

Since now that he has joined the familia he is family.

And there isn't anything we won't do for family.

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An entire month has gone by since Rogue joined our familia.

In that time we've been helping him get used to the dungeon, as well training him.

Turns out despite never meeting his father Rogue is in tune with his Far East heritage. Since the weapon he has chosen to wield is a katana blade.

The first time I saw him swing one I could just tell he was meant to use such a weapon. A real natural with the blade.

Not only that but he is humble and a hard-worker. Whenever we have given him advice inside or outside of the dungeon he actually takes it into consideration.

Thanks to his mindset he's already able to take down monsters in the dungeon's all the way to the 9th floor solo.

He's making good progress.

His mother Reina is also doing well.

Three days a week she comes by to cook and clean the house for us, while the rest of the time she runs her flower shop stand.

The woman is amazing. Especially her cooking. I always look forward to it. As to the others.

Yes, things are good.

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The others by my side we walked down the street.

Athena standing in a protective circle around us as we did so.

A necessary pre-caution considering things with Evilus in the city are only getting worse by the day.

Still, we must press on.

Which is exactly what we're doing by taking Athena to see an old friend.

The goddess Astraea.

I heard that the girls in her familia just returned from an expedition into the dungeon. So now is the perfect time for all of us to meet properly.

Our group continued walking for quite some time until finally we reached out intended destination.

A beautiful two-story mansion surrounded by greenery.

[Image Here]

The home of the Astraea famiila, the Stardust Manor.

Looking at the place I let out a low whistle. "Beautiful." I mused.

"It really is." Rogue added.

"Makes our home look a bit plain in comparison." Gaul commented.

"Well then let's renovate it." Ryner suggested.

"Ah but Ryner, doing so will cost a lot of money." Millhiore pointed out.

"Then it's a good thing we're planning to go on our own expedition then." Leonmitchelli said. "Doing so will allow us to rake in enough cash to renovate our home and then some."

What Leonmitchelli just said is not a lie.

We are going to go on our very first expedition in about two weeks.

Our goal, the 18th floor Rivira.

The first real trial we will undertake as an exploration familia.

Just thinking about it is filling me with excitement.

But first, business.

Reuniting Athena with her old friend.

Our group moved up to the front.

Then as soon as we reached it I knocked lightly.

A minute after I did so the door was opened, and when it was we were all greeted to quite the sight.