Chapter 58: Gifts

After the whole ambush incident, we went our separate ways. It is still nighttime, around 12:32 AM to be exact.

Aiz-san and Rethusa-san went home. Meanwhile, Tsubaki-nee eagerly wanted to forge another weapon after gaining inspiration during the battle. I didn't expect her skills in combat to be that good. She understood that knowing more about the weapons matter. Though, it could be just her wanting to properly 'test' them herself.

As for Aiz-san, I hope she wouldn't get caught sneaking. Lady Riveria could be that strict sometimes.

"It's cold…"

"Winter is coming."

Ryuu-san walked alongside me. She looked completely normal despite the low temperature. That's a perk of having a high status, I guess. Even I could withstand it.

'Winter… It's been more than a month…'

I arrived somewhere around November in Gekai. I was surprised to know they had a similar calendar, but I was too numb to react much.

Tenkai… rather, the gods completely subverted my expectations.

Come to think of it, I'll be experiencing winter again. It's only been two months in my world since Christmas came. I disappeared at the end of winter. Now, I'm going to experience this cold season again.

Suddenly, I had the urge to ask something.

"How does Ryuu-san celebrate winter and new year?"

"I… spend them normally." Ryuu-san said as she made a distant look She was like this since I executed Valletta.

Seeing Ryuu-san, the personage behind 'Gale Wind', I felt complicated. She herself was guilty of killing many innocents that might be connected to Evilus. Her murders of confirmed Evilus members could be put aside, but killing suspected people is different in Orario's eyes—she was degraded to a heinous criminal in an instant.

I know, I couldn't fathom being in her position. But, I could understand how she became like that. I doubt I wouldn't do that in her place.

'Jura Halmer…' I recalled the survivor of Rudra Familia. 'I shouldn't tell her for now.'

For her, things are already resolved. Evilus was wiped out on the surface by Loki and Freya Familia while we killed their surviving leader and executive. The only thing left is Thanatos and Enyo.

'Ryuu-san already did me a lot of favor.'

For insurance, I asked help from people who would keep everything a secret. Rethusa-san and Tsubaki-nee are immediately included since I trust them both. They also knew about my involvement with Evilus.

Meanwhile, I used the favor I had with Aiz-san to 'secretly' help. I knew her for three weeks and knew how sincere she could be. That is also seen in our encounters during the eighth iteration.

Lastly, Ryuu-san has 'extreme' hatred towards Evilus. There's no way she wouldn't do something against me. Moreover, everyone from Artemis Familia knew her well.

She accepted my request when she knew that we were dealing with Arachnia herself. This is simply a god-given opportunity for her. Though, I feel guilty for 'using' her hatred like this.

"Does Ryuu-san want something as a gift?"

"A gift..?"

"That's extra payment. It's completely separate from the favor I owe."

"You don't have to owe anything. It's my choice."

"That doesn't matter. You helped me. This is the least I could do."

I never backed down. After a 'staring contest', she yielded. This favor isn't something I would retract.

"You are an item maker, right?"

It took a while for her to voice this out.

"Yes. I could create magic tools."

"Then… Do you have something for storing memories?" She asked.

Storing memories?

If it's just that, I already have several items in mind.

"Yes. I'll take care of it."

Soon, we arrived to the Benevolent Mistress' backdoor. It didn't take a second before a gaze pricked my back.

"Thank you for today's help."

"...Likewise."

I bowed to her before leaving. I saw Ryuu-san closing the door from my peripheral vision.

"Stalkers… They're proliferate in Orario…"

My intuition told me the location of that gaze is southwest. I thought of several roofs before estimating its current location.

I waited for the danger to arrive. I walked naturally until I reached the entrance of Benevolent Mistress. There are many adventurers who are still awake and drinking.

For quite some time, I felt the gaze remain on me. Surprisingly, it left after a while.

"Who was that…"

I could tell that the gaze's owner is a strong adventurer. Undoubtedly, it appeared when I arrived in the hostess' vicinity.

Was that supposed to be a guard?

Heck, does the Benevolent Mistress follow the plot of light novels where strong people lives in a low-key manner?

Then again, I did feel something like that.

Mama Mia's strength is enough to quell any troublemakers.

Chloe-san's steps are 'silent' akin to a thief's.

Faust-san's gaze are akin to a hunter.

There's also Ryuu-san. Perhaps the sole ordinary person is Syr-san. If she isn't, she's very good at acting—good enough for an Oscar's. I'll give a trophy to herself on the off chance this is true.

"...rius..?"

My musings were cut short.

"Finn-san and Loki-sama?"

I saw a drunken God Loki being carried by Finn-san on his shoulders. Despite their size difference, the latter easily dragged her over.

"Oh? Sirius~? From the beginning, I fewlt we wah deshtined to be drinkin' buddies! Hell yeah! Rock 'n roll!" She said.

Why does she remind me of Hiroi-san?

(A/N: The drunk bassist in Bocchi The Rock.)

Loki-sama tried to reach me out before nearly falling to the ground.

"I'm sorry about this." Finn-san spoke.

"It's alright, Finn-san."

The drunken goddess continued speaking gibberish.

"Y'know, I was shorprised to shee Fei-fei that proud! Arty's alsho interested to you. I won't be shurprised if she likes youu..!"

I halted for a moment.

"Sho, don't steal my girls from mweee…!"

"..."

"..."

Both Finn-san and I fell silent. Things became awkward all of a sudden.

"Ywou already have two goddesses…"

"..."

I think I understand.

So… Loki-sama thinks that I am intruding to her familia? That some of her familia members are taking a liking to me?

If I think of it…

…

She might be right.

The most blatant one is Tiona-san. If not for 'respectfully' keeping our distance, she might've clung to my arm every day. There might be others, but the most important is how it looks to her.

I admit, all of the girls from Loki Familia are beautiful. Aiz-san's doll-like looks, Tiona-san's youthfulness, Lefiya-san's innocence, and Lady Riveria's otherworldly appearance.

Then again, I don't feel that way. It's different with Lady Artemis… or even Hephaestus-sama.

Just as I was musing, I saw Loki-sama puking. She made it on time to the floor, but Finn-san's arms are stained with her vomit.

"Give me a moment, Finn-san. I will help."

"Sirius..?"

I constructed the simple magic circle.

"Cleanse."

It went through the two of them. It separated the contents of 'vomit' and disintegrated them to small pieces. That is the secret behind the [Cleanse] spell that I find convenient these days. It is complicated to learn but is extremely convenient.

I did the same to the Benevolent Mistress' floor.

"Thank you. Magic sure is convenient." Finn-san commented. "We will be going now. Have a good night."

"The same goes to you, Finn-san."

We parted ways. I was planning to head home when I felt that 'strong' gaze before. Now that it isn't on me, I will go home and inform Hephaestus-sama of our success.

Thinking of this ambush's weight on me for the past three weeks, I exhaled. White fog came out of my mouth.

"Winter, huh… Would it hurt to ask for a way to return be my gift..?"

*****

Demons.

They are the aggregate of evil energy given form. They are similar in nature to [Cursed Spirits]. Although, they have a huge difference—curses are generally stronger than demons.

Tengen's barrier gathered most of the evil energy called [Cursed Energy] to Japan. That gave its population a higher chance of properly becoming a Sorcerer. They could be as strong as magicians, but they are less rare.

In the end, be it curses, cursed energy, or sorcerers, they all came from a fundamental law—Twilight Syndrome.

If…

If a world nearing its end connects to another world, unspeakable things could happen.

The progress of a world nearing the "end" could appear on a world far from its end.

In short, the latter's 'twilight syndrome' would be sped up.

Krrr-!

A black scorpion is about to be welcomed by the world.

*****

Bam-!

I watched as the ground shook. Lili is currently fighting two armed minotaurs in the eleventh floor's domain. The disadvantageous thick mist and their superiority in numbers balanced the battlefield.

Fortunately, Lili is adept on using the qian spear I gave her. She's no longer bothered by the flames and could strike even with her sight blocked. Its sole disadvantage was overcame by her.

"Oh…"

Lili risked diving into the minotaur's strike zone. Surprisingly, she exhibited swift reflexes. She dodged the bulwark before cutting the minotaur's wrist. Such a thing should be very difficult for a level one, yet she managed to do so.

Aside from [Artel Assist], she also mimicked the eyes and body of a [Cat People]. Meanwhile, she exhibited the ears and nose of a [Chientrope].

Since Lili could 'transform' into a certain target, partial transformation between several body parts should be possible. Her magic isn't a permanent one and has no dangers, which is how it led to the discovery of this path.

It had proven to be extremely effective. Lili gathered the traits of several races and converged them to her body. Coupled with the [Artel Assist], she reached another level.

Actually, I found her magic to be similar in nature as [Sirius]. It involved changing the ethereal form temporarily. It is extremely stable but skips decades of study.

That's what you would expect from falna-driven magic.

My thoughts drifted away to another matter.

"I did expect some rewards, but to hit the jackpot…"

I remembered the "loot" last night. I had disposed Dix Perdix's body properly by incinerating it. Before I did, I inspected his belongings. He had two very important things—

Daedalus Orb.

Daedalus' Notebook.

The first one is the key to unlock 'Knossos'. As for the other one…

"When did I become this lucky..?"

…it is a notebook that contained a blueprint for Knossos. From the constructed floors up to the present... Even Daedalus' future instructions—they were all there.

EVERYTHING.

I was very stunned when I discovered it. I literally got the god-damned cheat codes for the entire Knossos itself..! A full thousand years of hard work converged into a piece of literature.

Upon reading it this morning, I roughly found out Daedalus' personality from the 'author notes' he placed. He is simply a lunatic. He wanted to have a masterpiece that surpasses the 'dungeon', something even gods couldn't fully predict.

To that, he made his magnum opus—a project to be passed onto his future bloodline.

"No wonder Knossos is that extravagant…"

Thick orichalcum doors, purest adamantine walls, blocks of mithrils for traps…

If mined, they could surpass Orario's worth.

Despite the dungeon having 'infinite' materials, Knossos is a place where such things gathered for a millennium. If we're done resolving the Evilus and Enyo matter, I would like to mine some of it.

"No, no…"

I snapped out of my thoughts. I got too tempted even with my current wealth. After all, the adamantine used there came from the deep floors—floors sixty and below. That was the time of Zeus and Hera Familia. Right now, Loki Familia is at the forty-something floor. Those materials couldn't be acquired yet.

Bam-!

Pssshk-!

Thud-!

"She did it."

Two armed minotaurs are something even level twos wouldn't touch. They are far different from the normal minotaurs as I gave them intelligence. Their teamwork is another problem, too.

Even so, Lili managed to defeat them.

Clap-!

That gesture was the signal to cancel the spell. A second later, we found ourselves back to Soma Familia's courtyard.

"That was a good one. The practical experience did help you."

"It's all thanks to teacher!"

"It's also your effort…"

A week ago, she started diving into the dungeon. She was very cautious due to what she faced in the illusions, but it was subverted after fighting few goblins. After that, she was no longer always tense.

Clearly, that did good for her.

"Since you've passed that level, you deserve a reward." I took out a black box the size of a fist before throwing it at Lili. "Don't be too surprised."

Her eyes shone brightly at those words. I couldn't help but wryly smile at this student of mine.

When she opened the box, she was surprised.

"This is… a pocketwatch?"

Lili held a silver pocketwatch. It has a silver cover. Upon opening, she saw the intrinsic design it has. The 'roman numerals' are made of black jewels while some of the gears are transparent in the middle.

(A/N: It looks like the pocketwatch from the ORV Bundle.)

"Try pressing the crown thrice."

"Um."

The crown is in the middle of the silver chains. Upon pressing, the jeweled roman numerals shone. They changed into different colors, with 'XII' retaining the black jewel.

"Each of the numbers represent a different function. The odd numbers 'buff' while the even numbers are 'tools' that allow reconnaissance, flight, and so on." I explained. "The 'twelve' is the exception. It is the ultimate function of that watch."

"Wow…"

"You can try pointing it to twelve. You'll be surprised by it."

Lili was did as she was told. The moment the pointer turned to 'twelve', her aura changed.

"Teacher..?"

"That's right. It's magic."

The jewels contained an 'ability' engraved through [Miracle Maker]. I could not input my magic as it would collapse due to its small size. However, [Miracle Maker] subverted every limits.

The twelve jewels containing an 'ability' were made into a pocketwatch. The pocketwatch gained another 'ability'—to store the abilities and recharge them safely.

It doesn't matter to me, but it is very helpful for Lili. She could barely cast simple spells for now.

"The 'twelve' activates every 'buff' and 'tool' present. You might be able to detect many 'presence' and 'structure' right now."

"Yes…"

Her chestnut pupils narrowed due to information overload.

Moments later, that aura disappeared.

"It's… amazing."

"I'm glad you liked it."

Perhaps it is her excitement, but she ran before hugging me. She is barely above my chest due to the pallum's inherent height.

"Teacher..!"

My student must've liked it much.