Chapter Twenty-Nine

As Muichiro found himself in the embrace of sleep, the night progressed with a calm and tranquil stillness.

The manor was cloaked in an atmosphere of serenity, a stark contrast to the bustling city night outside.

The moon's gentle light filtered through the curtains, casting a soothing glow across the room.

Loki, still deep in her drunken slumber, shifted restlessly, her arms tightening unconsciously around Muichiro's frame.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, her mind wandering through fragmented dreams. In her inebriated state, her thoughts were a whirlwind of memories and desires.

The soft rustling of sheets accompanied Muichiro's steady breathing as he slept soundly, caught between the warmth of the two goddesses.

Demeter's presence beside him was a familiar comfort, her embrace almost motherly in nature.

As the night wore on, a hush settled over the manor, broken only by the occasional rustling of fabric and the soft murmurings of dreams.

....

The early morning sun cast a gentle glow over the vibrant city of Orario, marking the beginning of another bustling day.

Within the illustrious Loki Familia's grand hall, also known as Twilight Manor.

A different kind of commotion was underway. Loki, the head goddess, was missing from her room. The news spread like wildfire among her familia, and frantic chaos ensued.

The Loki familia members hastily assembled search parties, determined to scour every inch of the city for their beloved goddess.

And also because if they didn't there would be hell to pay.

Clad in their armour, weapons at the ready, they fanned out into the streets with a mix of worry and determination etched on their faces.

"I can't believe Loki-sama is missing! What could have happened?"

"Maybe she went on an early morning drink without telling us?"

"No, she wouldn't do that without letting anyone know...on second thought she probably would."

The conversations among the Loki familia members were filled with concern and confusion as they strategized their search.

Their fervour was undeniable, yet the situation was about to take a hilariously unexpected turn.

....

Meanwhile, nestled in the Wheat Manor, Muichiro was enjoying the morning's peace.

.....

As the search for Loki continued, one squad of Loki familia members happened upon a bakery.

Their armour-clad presence turned the heads of the bakers and customers alike, creating an amusing spectacle. The leader of the squad cleared his throat and addressed the startled bakers.

"Excuse me, have you seen our goddess, Loki-sama, by any chance?"

The bakers exchanged baffled glances, unsure how to respond to such an unusual question. The leader's insistence grew as he scanned the bakery's offerings with increasing suspicion.

"Perhaps she was lured here by the aroma of your pastries! Loki-sama does have a bit of a sweet tooth, after all."

The bakers stared at him, a mix of amusement and bewilderment on their faces. The image of a fearsome goddess with a "sweet tooth" seemed almost comical.

Elsewhere, a group of Loki familia members ventured into a quaint clothing boutique. The boutique owner, a friendly woman with a keen sense of fashion, looked taken aback by the sight of armoured adventurers entering her store.

"Can I help you with something?" she asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Yes, actually," replied one of the adventurers. "Have you seen a goddess around here? She might be browsing for new outfits."

The boutique owner blinked in surprise. "A goddess? Here? I'm afraid I haven't had any deities shopping today."

....

Back at the Wheat Manor, Loki's blissful slumber continued, completely unaware of how much stress she was putting her children through.

...

The morning light began to filter through the curtains, casting a golden hue over the room.

The first rays of dawn gently illuminated Loki's features, revealing the faintest hint of a smile playing on her lips. Her grip on Muichiro had relaxed, but she remained nestled against him, as if seeking solace in his warmth.

With a subtle shift, Demeter began to rouse from her slumber. Her eyes blinked open, and for a moment, she seemed disoriented.

Then, as her gaze settled on Muichiro, a soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips. The sight of him lying there, peaceful and serene, brought a sense of contentment to her heart.

However, the true surprise awaited them as Loki's consciousness gradually began to awaken from its alcohol-induced haze.

A groggy murmur escaped her lips as she shifted, her eyelids fluttering open. Blinking in confusion, her gaze met the sight of Muichiro's sleeping form and the unfamiliar surroundings.

The realization seemed to hit her like a ton of bricks. Memories of the previous night slowly pieced themselves together, and her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red.

She abruptly sat up, releasing Muichiro from her grasp, and took in her surroundings with a mixture of embarrassment and disbelief.

Demeter turned to Loki, her expression a mix of similar shock and concern. "Good morning, Loki....what are you doing here," Demeter asked the fully nude goddess whose mind was drawing a blanc.

Loki buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled as she groaned. "Oh gods, please tell me I didn't..."

The room remained in a tense silence, the only sound being the soft breathing of the sleeping boy between them.

Just as the awkwardness reached its peak, the boy began to stir, his eyelids fluttering as he slowly woke up from his slumber.

Muichiro's dark eyes blinked open, and for a moment, he simply took in the scene before him.

Two goddesses, Demeter and Loki, stared at each other with wide-eyed astonishment. The memory of last night's events slowly began to resurface in his mind.

As Muichiro processed the situation, his expression remained unchanged, devoid of any emotion.

He shifted slightly, his movements graceful and fluid as he pushed himself into a sitting position on the bed. His gaze shifted from Demeter to Loki, acknowledging their presence with a simple nod.

"Good morning," he greeted them in his usual composed manner, his voice a calm contrast to the peculiar situation they found themselves in.

Muichiro's calm greeting hung in the air, breaking the awkward silence that had settled between the three of them.

Loki blinked, her confusion momentarily forgotten as she processed the boy's presence. It was then that she realized her lack of attire, and a faint flush coloured her cheeks.

"Hey, you!" Loki exclaimed, her tone a mix of astonishment and irritation. "Where do you get off seeing me like this?"

Muichiro's gaze remained unfazed as he responded, "I apologize for any discomfort. I wasn't aware of the situation when I found you last night."

As if noticing her own state for the first time, Loki quickly pulled the blanket up to cover herself, her embarrassment evident.

She shot Muichiro a skeptical look, as if trying to gauge his intentions. Meanwhile, Demeter's initial shock seemed to have subsided into a mix of bewilderment and mild amusement.

"Muichiro, could you. please explain what's going on." Demeter commented with a small smile, her tone surprisingly light considering the situation.

Muichiro's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, an almost smile that faded as quickly as it appeared.

He inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the goddess's observation.

Loki's irritation seemed to give way to curiosity as she observed Muichiro's calm demeanour. "Who are you, anyway? What familia do you belong to?"

"I am Muichiro Tokito, a member of the Demeter Familia," he replied simply, his words devoid of any trace of emotion.

Loki's eyes widened in recognition. "Demeter Familia? You're with her? That would explain why I'm here."

Demeter interjected, her curiosity piqued. "Explain, Loki."

Loki sighed, her annoyance evident. "I was out drinking last night, and I must've had more than I thought. The next thing I know, I wake up here. I suppose I should thank you for not taking advantage of the situation," she added, sending a pointed look toward Muichiro.

"I wouldn't do something like that," Muichiro stated matter-of-factly.

Loki rolled her closed eyes, clearly unimpressed by his response. "Well, aren't you just a perfect little gentleman? In any case, I need to get back to my own familia."

*Wraaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!*

Suddenly from a distance, the sound of an alarm could be heard. And it was coming from Twilight Manor.

" Fufu~ Ah, looks like it's already started," Demeter said already imagining all the gossip the gods would have from this incident.

"Ughhhhhh, their already looking for me it seems." Loki groaned already imagining the scolding she would be receiving from Reveria when her children resurface from their expedition.

Demeter nodded in understanding. "Of course, I hope you'll have a less eventful journey back than your arrival."

Loki snorted, pushing herself into a sitting position on the bed. "Yeah, thanks. Oi, brat where are my clothes." Loki said to Muichiro who pointed at a basket.

"However attire has a strong stench of alcohol on it...please hold on for just one second."

Muichiro got off the bed and grabbed her clothes before walking into the bathroom.

Weird noises were soon heard on the other side, and five minutes later Muichiro walked out with sparking clean clothes.

Loki gave the kid a weird look before grabbing her clothes and immediately smelled a nice fresh lavender scent on it.

The alcohol smell was completely gone.

As Loki moved to stand, Demeter turned her gaze toward Muichiro. "Thank you for assisting Loki, Muichiro-kun."

Muichiro inclined his head once more, a silent acknowledgement. "You're welcome Demeter-Sama."

Loki who was changed looked at herself in the mirror before turning to Muichiro and Demeter." I'll see myself out then, oh and thanks for the help kid. But if this ever happens again, my familia will probably skin you alive..."

To that, Muichiro had no reaction, which disappointed Loki as she was joking but Muichiro didn't seem to understand.

With a final wave, Loki exited the room, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.

Demeter settled back against the pillows, a soft smile on her lips. "Well, that was certainly unexpected."

Demeter chuckled, her laughter warm and inviting." Now then, shall we start the day?"