Chapter Twelve

Syr, who had been lingering near the entrance, observed Muichiro as he walked away. Her gaze held a peculiar mixture of curiosity and something deeper, as if she were trying to unravel the enigma that he seemed to be.

In her eyes, she saw a soul that appeared to be shrouded in darkness, a void that lacked colour or vibrancy. It was a rare sight, one that intrigued her and ignited her curiosity.

'His soul has no colour at all, and his eyes, there wasn't a hint of emotion in them. It was like looking into the eyes of a doll. Muichiro was it, someone from the far east most likely..."

For a moment, she pondered this anomaly. It was as if the universe had aligned to bring him into her path, and she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to him than met the eye.

As Muichiro continued to walk, Syr's thoughts churned, her mind calculating possibilities and scenarios. But before she could delve deeper into her musings, she sensed the presence of the other waitresses behind her.

With a small smile playing on her lips, she turned to find Mia Grande, the imposing yet charismatic owner of the Hostess of Fertility, standing among the group of girls.

Mia's eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and understanding. "Well, well, what do we have here, Syr?" she teased, her voice carrying a playful note.

Syr's cheeks flushed slightly, but she maintained her composure. "Just observing, Mia-sama. Our newest acquaintance seems to have quite an effect on May."

With a gentle pat on Syr's shoulder, Mia turned to the other waitresses. "Alright, girls, back to work. We have a pub to run."

The waitresses exchanged knowing glances and chuckled before dispersing, leaving Syr or rather Freya alone with her thoughts once again.

With a final glance towards the direction Muichiro had gone, Syr followed the others back inside.

.....

As May returned inside the pub, Mia's eyes twinkled with amusement as she watched her. "Well, it seems you've made quite the impression on that little brat," she remarked, her tone teasing.

May's cheeks turned even redder, and she playfully swatted at Mia's arm. "Mama, don't tease me."

Mia's laughter echoed in the pub as she playfully ruffled May's hair. "Oh, my dear May, I can't help but be curious. After all, a hero's presence in our midst is quite the event."

With a mix of embarrassment and fondness, May couldn't help but smile. [And for the entire week May was extremely motivated to cook.]

'Brat, I'm not gonna make it easy for you, no one gets my daughters until they get my blessing...' Mia thought darkly as her whole demeanour grew fiercer.

The waitresses who were nearby couldn't help but shiver and curse whoever had made Mama angry.

.....

(Demeter Pov)

Demeter, the nurturing goddess of agriculture and fertility, had witnessed the remarkable event unfold before her eyes.

As Muichiro valiantly and skillfully saved May from the falling scaffolding, a twinge of inexplicable emotions tugged at her heart.

She couldn't quite decipher what it was at that moment, but she felt an undeniable connection to the young man.

After Muichiro had left with May to the Hostess of Fertility, Demeter returned to her familia home.

Yet, for the rest of the day, her mind remained adrift, lost in contemplation. It was only when one of her children inquired about her distant demeanour that she snapped back to reality.

One of her children, a female dwarf with emerald eyes and a crown of flowers, approached Demeter with a gentle expression. "Goddess, is something troubling you?" the dwarf inquired, concern evident in their voice.

Demeter offered a soft smile to her child, her fingers gently caressing a cluster of blossoms. "No, my dear. It's not trouble, per se. It's more like... a feeling. An inexplicable pull towards something."

The dwarf girl asked, tilted her head in curiosity. "Is it related to the mortal who saved the cat girl and those two children this morning?" She had been with her goddess at that time and had also seen everything.

It was honestly quite impressive, though the thing that caught her attention the most was probably the swordsmanship he displayed.

Demeter nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, that's part of it. There was something about his actions that resonated with me deeply." She said as she placed her hand on her chest.

She could feel it beating, but it was beating faster than normal.

Her other children, gathered around, their inquisitive gazes fixed upon their goddess. "What do you plan to do, Demeter-sama?" One of them asked.

"If he is new to Orario, you might have a chance, but the way you described him, wouldn't he want to join a more dungeon exploration-orientated familia instead."

Demeter's gaze remained distant, lost in thought. "I plan to learn more about him. Tomorrow, I shall visit the Guild and inquire about this young man. If he's new to Orario and seeking a Familia, perhaps I can offer him a place within ours."

'But I'd he's solely focused on wanting to explore the Dungeon, I dont mind that either, there are a few gods I can ask to team up with him so he isn't alone.'

'But that's only on the basis that he accepts...'

...

The next morning, Demeter set out from her Familia home, her aura mingling with the gentle rustle of leaves and the fragrance of blooming flowers.

As she entered the Guild, the staff and adventurers couldn't help but be captivated by her presence.

Some even held long-time crushes on the goddess of harvest, and who could blame them? Demeter was one of the most beautiful goddesses in Orario, and the one in charge of keeping a lot of Orario feed.

She inquired discreetly about the young man who had joined recently, and gave her description of Muichiro, her words and manner exuding a serene authority.

The Guild employee was more than happy to give her all the information she wanted, in any case, everything he told her wasn't sensitive or private information.

Back in her familia home, Demeter found herself surrounded by her children once more. Their eyes gleamed with curiosity as they awaited her report.

"I've learned that his name is Muichiro," Demeter began, a soft smile touching her lips. "He's not attached to any Familia at the moment, and it seems he's a newcomer to Orario."

Her children exchanged excited glances. "What will you do now, DemeterSama?" one of them asked.

Demeter's gaze held a determined glint. "I will seek him out and offer him a place within our Familia. I just hope he accepts."

I've already set up a meeting thanks to Richard so I hope everything goes well.' Tokito Muichiro, Muichiro...Fufu~I better get myself ready for the meeting, tomorrow.'

Demeter thought with a smile as she planned on going to the female god's public bathhouse in Babel, before going to her meeting in the afternoon.

...

The following morning, Muichiro stirred from his sleep in the cosy inn room he had found on his first day.

The sun's gentle rays filtered through the window, casting a warm glow on the wooden floor.

With a calm and composed demeanour, he rose from the bed and went through his morning routine.

.....

(Pictures of Demeter!!)