Chapter 81: Love Advice

Stepping out of Babel Tower, I welcomed the suns rays hitting my face.

It's been almost a month and a half since I felt them after all.

My familia and I just finished an expedition.

Our first to the deep floors.

We spent the past few weeks exploring floor 37, White Palace.

And let me tell you, that floor is just as insane as described in the light novels.

Facing it with fully equipped with supplies and the like was hard enough. So I can't even imagine how Bell must've felt facing it as he was with Ryuu in canon.

It's no wonder he started to lose hope.

As I thought on that subject I felt a tap on my shoulder.

Turning I saw Ryuu.

"Morax, what are you doing, we're heading home." She said.

"Right. Just got lost in my thoughts for a moment." I explained.

Once I did so we quickly moved to catch up with the others and started making our way home.

Dealing with tons of people looking at us and whispering about us as we did so.

But we ignored it, since we've learned its commonplace for high-level adventurers and high-ranking familia.

Both categories the Athena familia fall into.

Two years have passed since the Great Feud ended.

During that time our reputation has only skyrocketed.

We are now a B-rank familia, and in other news I am now a first-class adventurers.

That's right.

I reached level five last year.

Which means I am right now track to reaching my goal of being level seven when canon begins.

As for the others, they're doing good as well.

Each and everyone one of them is working hard. Ariane became level two last year, and she's currently on her way to becoming level three. Some of the others are close to leveling up as well.

Now all we need to do is find a task that will allow their excelia to overflow and then they're golden.

But doing so is easier said than done.

Since the higher your level is, the deeper you must go into the dungeon to look for a chance to get stronger.

For instance, I hardly gain any increase in my stats from killing monsters on the upper or middle floors. To really get stronger I need to go to the lower floors and deep floors.

But that's fine with me.

After all I became an adventurer for such challenges anyway.

Reaching the Owl House, Athena came out to greet us. A smile on her face.

"Welcome back everyone." She said.

"Thanks." We all said.

We all then filed into the house and went to do our own thing. Since we're all tired and exhausted.

Heading to my room I went and took a shower, and then fell right into bed and went straight to sleep.

Getting up the next morning I went down and had breakfast with the others. Giving Athena a rundown of our first deep floor expedition as we did so.

Overall it wasn't too difficult.

Although we did have a close call when we encountered a swarm of Peluda and Leonmitchelli ended up getting hit by one of their poison needles. But thankfully we did our research and brought plenty of antidotes with us.

As I finished the report Athena nodded.

"I see. Well good work everyone on your first deep floor expedition." Athena said.

We all simply nodded and finished up our breakfast.

Then once we were done I delegated after expedition tasks.

Millhiore, Rogue, and Diluc were on money collection and item exchange duty.

Ariane and Gaul would re-stock on any supplies.

William and Ryuu, and Echidna would head out to do a quick patrol of the city. To let people know we were back and that if they started any shit we would put a stop to it.

Since along with Astraea familia we're also considered Orario's police force.

Which I can't say is horrible.

Leonmitchelli and I were on paperwork.

But since this wasn't an expedition assigned to us by the guild we had a small amount and finished up in no time at all.

Everyone else did as well.

Then once all our duties were over we all started relaxation time.

Putting on some normal clothes I decided to take Ryuu out on a date.

Since we haven't done so in a while.

Getting ready the two of us went out and enjoyed a nice lunch at a restaurant we found some time ago.

As we chatted about this and that, someone suddenly called out to us.

"Morax, Ryuu, you're back."

Turning in this person's direction we saw it was Filvis.

Who is doing great in the Astraea familia. She's already level three and on her way to becoming level four.

Much better than her canon counterpart.

"Hey Filvis." I said.

As I did so she came up to us.

"Am, do you mind if I join you?" She asked. "But if not that's ok."

"I don't mind." I said.

"Neither do I." Ryuu said.

"Thank you." Filvis said.

She then pulled up a chair and took a seat.

But soon after she did so her eyes kept darting around, and she got a nervous expression on her face.

"Filvis, just say what's on your mind." I told her.

"Am well, it's..."Filvis began. "Am, say. How is it, the relationship between you two? "She asked.

Ryuu and I simply looked at her after her question.

"No, what I mean is, do people ever bother you given that you are in an elf and human in an intimate relationship?" Filvis asked.

"Not really." Ryuu said.

"Yeah." I said.

People generally leave us alone.

And sure we've come across a few bigoted assholes, but we just ignore them. Besides, if any of them do get a bit too aggressive Ryuu and I kindly show them why high-level adventurers should not be messed with.

I explained all this to Filvis.

"I see." Filvis said.

"Filvis, do you perhaps have a crush on someone, is that why you're asking this?" I questioned.

"Is it that obvious?" She asked.

Ryuu and I nodded together.

"It really is." I said.

"You are not good at hiding your feelings." Ryuu spoke.

"Ryuu, are you really one to talk?" I asked her.

"I do not know what you mean." She said. A smirk on her face.

"You two are really great together." Filvis said.

"Why thank you." I told her.

"I wonder if the person I like and I have this one day. If they like me as I like them that is." Filvis mused.

"Have you not told them how you feel?" Ryuu asked her.

Filvis shook her head. "No. It's complicated." She said.

"If you don't mind me asking what makes it complicated?" I questioned.

"Well because the person I like is...Alise."

...

...

...

"Huh?" I questioned. "Sorry, did you just say Alise is the person you like?"

Filvis nodded her head.

"And not like in a friend way, but in a way where you want to hug her, kiss her, and you know..." I trailed off, making a scissoring motion with my hands.

Getting a blush that traveled all the way to her ears Filvis nodded her head. Unable to look Ryuu and I in the eyes as she did so.

Confirming her feelings all I can say is, those fanfiction writers in my last life got it right.

Filvis likes buns instead of hotdogs.

I won't lie I did not see this one coming.

But since its right in front of me I need to deal with it.

At least my days are never boring.