Chapter Fifty-Two

( The dungeon)

Muichiro's descent from the unknown floor was uncontrollable.

As his body fell through the void, he was unaware that it had already transitioned to night on the 18th floor, where everything was calm and bathed in the gentle light of the crystals embedded in the ceiling.

At the far corner of the 18th floor, one of the crystals suspended from the ceiling began to crack.

It was an ominous sound that heralded an unexpected event. Without warning, the crystal shattered into countless shards, and through the fractured gap, Muichiro tumbled out, his body descending from the heavens.

Meanwhile, just at the entrance of the 18th floor, a tall cloaked figure emerged. This floor was known as the safe floor, a respite from the dangers of the deeper levels.

The figure's arrival was strange, and its sudden appearance sent ripples through the tranquillity of the floor.

The figure's body froze for a moment as if sensing something in the air. It tilted its head slightly and sniffed the breeze, catching a faint scent that intrigued it. In an instant, it disappeared, moving at blinding speeds.

Muichiro, who was only five meters away from crashing headfirst into the grassy floor, would have met a painful impact had it not been for the shadow that snatched him from the air. His unconscious body was plucked from the freefall, saved from injury.

Twenty meters away from the falling point, the cloaked figure appeared again, now cradling the unconscious Muichiro.

It peered down at him, examining his condition with a careful eye. Aside from the acid burn marks that would take time to heal, some muscle bruising, and a slight hairline fracture on his clavicle, Muichiro appeared to be in stable condition, not in critical danger.

The figure held Muichiro gently in its arms, almost protectively, before dashing back through the labyrinthine corridors of the dungeon.

The monster rex Goliath had already been killed when the Loki familia returned from their expedition so it wouldn't spawn for another two weeks.

It faced various monsters along the way, dealing with them swiftly by either decapitating them or simply outrunning them.

Time passed quickly, and it was already dark outside, nearly two days since Muichiro had gone missing. The figure continued its relentless sprint, its mission driving it forward.

Finally, it reached the surface, emerging into the open air. Without being seen by anyone, it promptly vanished from sight, as if it were a mere wisp of shadow.

Meanwhile, Muichiro, still deep in slumber, yawned cutely and instinctively rested his head on the figure's chest as if seeking comfort in the stranger's presence.

Unfazed by the gesture, the cloaked figure pressed on. It ran through the moonlit night, the city of Orario sprawling before it. Its destination was clear – the Wheat Manor.

With Muichiro cradled in its arms, the figure was finally going to deliver the young adventurer back to his familia, back to the safety of home.

.....

The cloaked figure, after its stealthy rooftop arrival, retrieved something from its pocket and gently blew on it.

The action made no sound, but 30 seconds later, a familiar butler named Cuthbert materialized beside them.

He approached the duo, and upon seeing Muichiro with the cloaked figure, relief washed over him, though he maintained a composed demeanour.

"I'm glad to see you were able to find him, well done...it seems your skills haven't rusted over the years," Cuthbert said in a joking manner but the figure stayed silent.

Cuthbert was already used to this kind of thing with this person and didn't take offence.

With a nod, the cloaked figure handed Muichiro over to Cuthbert, who took the young adventurer from its arms with a gentle touch.

Cuthbert expressed his gratitude to the figure for its hard work, assuring that Demeter would reward the mysterious familia member for their efforts.

The member of the Demeter familia nodded in acknowledgement, their face obscured by the hood of their cloak, before vanishing from the rooftop as silently as they had arrived.

...

(Wheat Manor: Demeter's room)

Meanwhile, in her study, Demeter sat at her desk, surrounded by papers and documents.

She diligently sorted through the familia's taxes for the month and examined their finances. Her work continued into the late hours of the night.

A knock at her door interrupted her concentration. Cuthbert announced himself from the other side, and without looking back, Demeter welcomed him inside.

*Creek*

Cuthbert wore a slight, sad smile as he observed his goddess still labouring at her desk, despite the late hour.

Demeter, sensing his presence, inquired if anything was amiss. Cuthbert reassured her that all was well and inquired if she would like some tea or food.

"Thank you for the offer Cuthbert but I am okay, I must finish these documents before the Thesmophoria..."

Demeter politely declined his offer, her mind preoccupied with worry for Muichiro.

"I see, then how about a nice warm, pillow to hug before going to sleep." Cuthbert then suggested a warm, huggable pillow to ease her comfort.

Again, Demeter declined.

She longed for rest but knew she could not truly relax until she knew Muichiro was safe and had returned.

Cuthbert accepted her decision with a dramatic sigh and said, "If there is nothing you require, then I suppose I shall escort Master Muichiro back to his living quarters."

Demeter nodded her agreement, her attention still on her work. However, as she continued to write, her pen froze mid-stroke. Did Cuthbert just say...

With abrupt force, Demeter stood up from her desk and turned to face Cuthbert and Muichiro.

"Muichiro!!! When did he...he's hurt what happened." Demeter approached but when she noticed Muichiro's gentle breathing she lowered her voice.

Her fingers gently caressed Muichiro's cheek, as if confirming that he was truly there, safe and sound.

A heavy weight lifted from her shoulders. Seeing Muichiro safe and back home was a relief she could hardly put into words.

"Well done Cuthbert...can you tell me what happened."

She turned to Cuthbert, her eyes filled with gratitude and curiosity, and asked what had happened.

Cuthbert provided a few more details, explaining that the "Guard Dog," as the cloaked figure was known among the familia members, had been found on the 18th floor.

After sharing all the information he had, Cuthbert excused himself from the room.

Demeter, her heart lighter than it had been in days, began to turn off the lights and prepare to rest.

She lay beside the sleeping boy, a tender smile on her face. The goddess, who had not slept a wink since Muichiro's disappearance, finally managed to find solace in safety.

.....

(The Wheat Manor: The next morning.)

As the first rays of sunshine gently infiltrated the room, Muichiro stirred from his slumber.

He was aware of something soft and warm beneath him, cradling his head in comfort. His arms were wrapped around a shapely figure, and as he slowly blinked his eyes open, the first thing he saw was a pair of beautiful amber eyes gazing back at him.

Confusion briefly clouded Muichiro's mind, but as he pieced together the sensations and the familiar surroundings, he realized that he was back in the Wheat Manor.

His arms were securely wrapped around the waist of none other than his goddess, Demeter.

Demeter, known for her iconic and angelic smile, didn't greet him with a reprimand for his disappearance or for the reckless injuries he had returned with.

Instead, she spoke with a softness that melted away any worries that might have lingered in Muichiro's heart.

"Welcome home..."

Those were her simple words, but they held a depth of warmth and affection that reached Muichiro's core.

His always-calm heart took an unexpected leap, a "ba-dump" that echoed in his chest.

Muichiro met Demeter's loving gaze, and in that moment, he found himself unable to articulate the overwhelming unknown emotions that surged within him.

He stared into her eyes, his voice gentle but filled with sincerity as he uttered those two simple words that now held new meaning.

"I'm home."