Chapter 43: The Princess, The Elf, and The Owl House

My spear leaning against my shoulder I watch the scene in front of me.

Echidna, Diluc, and William taking on a pack of twelve war shadows.

A month and a half has passed since we accepted these three into the familia.

In that time they've gotten the hang of being adventurers and we've become closer with all of them.

Which I am happy about, since each of them have brought new strengths to the familia.

William's archery skills are nothing to scoff at. His accuracy shooting is incredible, even when he is dodging monster attacks and maneuvering all over the place. He's a natural bowman. He's also another long-range attacker we needed in our formation, since other than Ryner most of us fight up close and personal except when we use magic.

But doing so all the time in the future would not be practical, so again having William who can attack from a distance even without magic is great.

Also, that little bit of arrogance he had has basically disappeared.

It happened after he experienced his first week in the dungeon.

So while he's still a bit brash, he doesn't have a chip on his shoulder any longer. Which has allowed him to improve at a nice rate.

Diluc is studious, and his skills with his claymore sword are no joke.

We've also discovered he's a tsundere.

Finally there is Echidna.

...

...

...

Well as it turns out she's a pervert.

Not only that, but apparently she's an equal opportunity pervert.

Since one day a few weeks ago she grabbed Gaul's tail and he started making noises one should never make in public or around friends.

Needless to say Leonmitchelli gave her quite the beating for her antics, but as usual Echidna didn't look sorry at all. Instead she just kept smiling like she usually does.

However, despite her perverness she is respectable when we are in the dungeon.

Just like Ryner suspected she is a mage, and unlike him she already has two spells, the second of which she gained after achieving level two.

Both of which are no joke.

Also, she can do cocurrent chanting.

So as soon as we learned this we asked her to teach us.

A request she has been more than happy to fulfill.

So yeah, these three have been great additions to our group.

Now then, as to why they are facing a group of war shadows alone it's because they are working on teamwork. Not only that, its a way for them to raise their stats in a quick manner.

We are doing this because our familia's next expedition has already been set. Our goal is the 18th floor like the times before, but this time our group is going to do something different.

On this expedition our familia has decided to fight and defeat the Goliath monster rex.

Not only to gain its magic stone, but also because other than our three new recruits and Rogue the rest of us are ready to level up again. So defeating that rip-off titan is just what we need to reach level three.

Yes, time for us to go on another adventure.

I'm already brimming with excitement about it.

As I thought about leveling up again and conquering that rip-off titan I noticed Diluc slice horizontally across the chest of two war shadows, killing them in an instant.

But just as he did so one approached him from his blind spot.

However before the monster could reach Diluc, William shot an arrow and struck it right in the head. Killing the beast in an instant.

"Alright." William said.

"Don't get excited yet William, we're not done." Diluc told him.

"Tch, I know that. No need to tell me." William retorted. "Besides didn't I just save your ass red knight."

Hearing William's nickname for him Diluc's eye visibly twitched. "I thought I told you not to call me that."

"Whatever." William said.

Ignoring William's retort Diluc sliced through another war shadow in front of him.

But he gave William a dirty look immediately after he did so.

It's not like the two of them hate each other mind you. Rather, they just don't get along. If I had to equate their relationship I'd say Diluc and William are like Sanji and Zoro from One Piece. They constantly bicker but when the situation gets serious they work together. Like right now.

Which I am fine with.

So long as they don't actually try fighting each other.

Because if they did I would stomp it out immediately. We can't have that in a familia. Lest people die because of it.

Seeing their comrades defeated the eight remaining war shadows decided to attack together.

Noticing this Diluc and William moved back and to the side, giving Echidna a clear line of sight.

"Finally, my turn." She mused, putting her trademark smile on her face.

Echidna raised her personal staff, Gloom into the air.

[Image Here]

She then began to chant.

{Pierce, destroy, and rip apart. Hunt them down no matter where they may run or hide. Obliterate!}

[Jiwald]

She said.

As soon as Echidna finished her chant an orb of pure white energy appeared at the tip of Gloom. Immediately after it did several highspeed beams left the orb and struck all the war shadows at once, hitting them in vital areas and killing them.

This is one of Echidna's two spells.

Jiwald.

A A precision attack-type magic that allows Echidna to fire rays of intense heat from her fingertips or from weapons she wields and control their direction within a 25 meter radius of her person.

These beams are so focused they can basically pierce through almost anything.

Echidna really is scary. Which is why I'm glad she's on our side.

As all the monsters were defeated Echidna stopped her spell and lowered Gloom.

But just as she did so the ceiling above her exploded open and three war shadows began descending towards her position.

"To naive!" I shouted.

As I did so Ryuu who has been standing on my left raced forward and killed the three war shadows instantly.

I brought her along today to help with these three training, while the others stayed on the surface to deal with other important matters.

Landing on the ground after killing the three war shadows Ryuu began observing our surroundings, just in case anymore monsters appeared.

While Echidna, William, and Diluc came to stand in front of me.

"You guys let your guard down too quickly." I told them. "Don't ever do that in the dungeon. Not for even a second. The moment you do you'll end up dead. Like what would've just happened to Echidna if Ryuu hadn't stepped in."

"Yes, we understand." Diluc said.

"We do." William said.

"Yes." Echidna said.

"Good." I said. "But other than that good teamwork in taking down those war shadows. You guys are progressing nicely, and if you keep up this pace you'll definitely be ready for the next expedition in another month." I told them. "Now then, lets collect the magic stones and drop items. That's enough for today."

All three of them nodded.

They then went to collecting the magic stones and the Finger Blade drop items.

But just as the others did this several war shadow monsters came around one of the corners.

Spotting them we all immediately got ready to fight.

But before we could four figures appeared and killed them all.

The moment I laid eyes on then I instantly recognized them.

Raul Nord.

Anakitty Autumn.

A chibi Ais Wallenstein.

And finally Riveria Ljos Alf.

Four members of the Loki familia, and also future important individuals from canon.

As well as one of my future harem members.

It's Riveria by the way.

She really does it for me, and I'm not ashamed to admit that.

The moment all the monsters were defeated Riveria turned toward the two teens and the young Ais.

"All of you, good work but that could've gone better." Riveria told me.

They all nodded their heads.

"Woah, isn't that the Sword Princess?" DIluc asked, looking at Ais. A bit of wonder in his eyes.

Not surprising.

Since although Ais is currently only eight years old she holds the fastest record for recorded level up, which she managed to achieve in only four months. The fastest recorded time before that was six months. So yeah, Ais really is a big deal even now.

Hearing her nickname Ais turned her gaze toward our group, her usual blank expression on her face like shown in the anime.

The moment Ais looked at us so did Raul, Anakitty and even Riveria.

"Hello there." I told them.

"Yes, hello." Riveria answered. "Are we interrupting something?"

"Not at all, we are actually just leaving." I explained. "Come on guys, let's go." I said.

They all nodded.

We then quickly collected the rest of the monster drops and crystals and left the area.

Me with a smile on my face the entire time I did so.

Because now after seeing Riveria in the flesh, I am sure of one thing.

She will be a part of my harem. No matter what I have to do.

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Exiting the dungeon we started making our way back to our inn.

We have being stay at one for the past month since our home is being renovated and remodeled.

Given that we didn't have enough rooms to accommodate everyone we all agreed to use the familia funds to make our home bigger.

It has cost us a pretty penny but we're all sure its definitely worth it.

Once back at the inn we told the others of our encounter with Ais and the others of the Loki familia.

"Wow, to think you encountered the Sword Princess." Millhiore mused.

"So, how was she like in person?" Gaul asked.

"Really stoic and hard to read. Like Ryuu." William said.

Earning him a punch in the arm from Ryuu and a round of laughs from the rest of us.

But I do have to agree, the two of them are a bit similar. For instance, neither of them know the meaning the words "hold back" when sparring and both of them are cool beauty-types.

Though Ryuu does show a bit more emotions than Ais.

Moving on, we discussed a few more things before going to sleep.

Since tomorrow is the day we get to see our new home.

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Getting up bright and early we gathered all our belongings and then checked out of the inn we were staying at.

Once we did so we headed in the direction of our home.

Arriving we saw two people waiting for us out front.

Tsubaki, the captain of the Hephaestus familia, and the goddess Hephaestus herself.

Turns out both the Hephaestus and Goibniu familia don't just make weapons and armor but also do a lot of construction in Orario as well. And once we all decided to get our home renovated Athena told us she is old friends with Hephaestus from when in Heaven and then called her up.

Thus we got a good deal where the construction was concerned.

Arriving in front of the pair Athena moved closer to Hephaestus, giving her a smile as she did so. Looking at our home she nodded. "Hephaestus, thanks for the hard work, and as always your work is top quality." She said.

Which I agree with.

Our new home looks amazing.

[Image Here]

"Well if I'm going to do a job I'd rather not half-ass it. That'll ruin my reputation and the reputation of my familia which I can't allow so yeah." Hephaestus spoke.

"Boss why are you being so modest?" Tsubaki asked her god. "Didn't you tell everyone who worked on this project to put their all in to it because it was for one of your closest friends?"

Hearing this Hephaestus got a blush on her face as red as her hair.

"Well look at the time. So many things to do, let's go Tsubaki." Hephaestus said. She then grabbed her captain by the arm and started running away, leaving a dust trail behind her as she did so.

Tsubaki laughing her ass off the entire time.

Looks like Hephaestus is the shy-type.

"Ah, classic Hephaestus." Athena mused. "So then, let's go and enjoy our new home."

"Wait a moment." Leonmitchelli spoke up. "Am, how about we give this place a name?" She suggested. "I mean, doesn't every familia do that with their home?"

She's not wrong. The Astrea familia calles their home Stardust Manor, while the Loki familia calls their home Twilight Manor, then their is Folkvangr of the Freya familia.

"I'm cool with that." I said.

"Yes, let's do that." Rogue added.

"Mhm, I wouldn't mind." Echidna said.

The others agreed as well.

"Very well, so does anyone have any suggestions?" Athena asked.

"The Athena mansion." Leonmitchelli suggested.

But we all vetoed that.

"How about the Dread house." Echidna suggested.

We all immediately vetoed that for so many reasons.

As we passed around other names, I raqued my brain until eventually a good name popped into my head.

"Guys, how about the Owl House." I said.

It was one of my favorite shows in my last life before I died, and the name just rolls off the tongue. Besides, Athena is a goddess related to Owls so it fits perfectly in my opinion.

"The Owl House." Leonmitchelli mused. "I like it."

"Yes, that sounds like a good name." Diluc added.

"I agree." Gaul said.

"Let's go with that." William said.

"Nhn." Ryuu voiced.

The others then gave their agreement as well.

"I love it." Athena said. "So from today onwards our home will be known as the Owl House." She proclaimed.

Then once she did so we all moved to settle into our new home.

A warm and fuzzy feeling in my chest as we did so.