Chapter Thirty-Two

With a sense of quiet expectation, Muichiro navigated the bustling streets of Orario.

The city's vibrant energy enveloped him, a symphony of voices and footsteps echoing through the air.

The sunlight painted a golden hue upon the cobblestone pathways, casting intricate shadows that danced with every passing person.

As he walked, Muichiro's expression remained unchanged, his demeanour a portrait of calm amidst the lively surroundings.

His destination for the day was the Orario Public Library, a haven of knowledge nestled within the heart of the city.

The library, owned by the Guild yet accessible to all, was a place anyone who was either a commoner or adventurer could access.

Arriving at the library, Muichiro stepped through its grand entrance, the scent of aged paper and ink enveloping him like a familiar embrace.

The vast expanse of shelves, filled with tomes of various sizes and colours, stretched out before him like a labyrinth of possibilities.

The soft rustling of pages and the occasional hushed conversation created a serene ambience that beckoned him to explore.

Muichiro's steps were serene and unhurried as he traversed the aisles, his fingers lightly tracing the spines of books as if in silent conversation with the wisdom contained within.

He chose volumes spanning topics from history to mythology, each selection a glimpse into the world beyond the labyrinth's depths.

Settling into a cosy corner, Muichiro began to immerse himself in the written word.

The words flowed from the pages, painting vivid pictures of bygone eras and fantastical realms.

He absorbed the tales of valiant adventurers and the chronicles of gods, allowing the stories to give him a better understanding of the world he now called his own.

As the hours passed, Muichiro's surroundings seemed to fade into the background, his focus solely on the narratives that unfolded before him.

The world of Orario expanded beyond the city's walls, unveiling its intricacies and mysteries with every turn of the page.

There were so many places he wanted to see, and sights he wanted to visit, though one thing that did interest him was the floating city, that held the best academy in the world.

Hringhorni, also known as the Maritime Academic Institutions Special District  and more commonly refered to as the School District is an educational institution.

The School District is dedicated to forming its students for different disciplines. The initial reason for its foundation was to gather many talented people from all over the world in Orario.

They are also considered one of the world powers, and are often sent out to deal with international conflicts when the need arises which is where their students also get the experience needed to rank up.

They are known to travel around the world to places such as the Empire, Altena, Meilstora and many more.

The academy would drop by Orario every 3 years or so for repairs, and it was unfortunate that he had just missed it when he arrived.

(Picture and Info)

Amid his reading, Muichiro's keen senses detected the approach of another presence. Glancing up, he noted the librarian, a gentle smile gracing their features as they observed him engrossed in his studies.

Muichiro acknowledged the librarian with a nod before returning his attention to the text before him.

The world of the library, with its hushed reverence and boundless information, had become his sanctuary—a place where he could delve into realms both familiar and foreign, all while remaining true to his nature.

As the day waned and the library's interior grew bathed in the soft glow of twilight, Muichiro reluctantly closed the final book he had selected.

The stories he had absorbed lingered within him. With a sense of fulfilment, Muichiro rose from his seat, his footsteps a whisper against the library's polished floors.

The librarian offered a friendly nod, their eyes reflecting a shared appreciation for the pursuit of knowledge.

.....

On Muichiro's way back home, through his superhuman hearing, he heard a familiar voice in a certain direction.

Intrigued by the commotion, Muichiro approached the bar and was met with an unexpected sight.

There, amidst the tumultuous scene, was the goddess Loki herself, causing quite a ruckus.

The staff were at their wit's end, attempting to pacify the inebriated deity, while others in the bar watched the spectacle unfold with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

As Muichiro stepped into Loki's line of sight, her unfocused gaze seemed to sharpen for a moment, and then she lunged forward with an exuberant cry.

"Muuuu-chan!" she exclaimed, her words slightly slurred. Her attempt at a hug was more like an unsteady stumble, but her enthusiasm was undeniable.

The staff, clearly surprised by this sudden interaction, exchanged glances before a few of them whispered to each other.

They mistook Muichiro as part of the Loki familia, and saw an opportunity to mitigate the situation.

One of them approached him with a hopeful expression. "Excuse me, sir. Would you be willing to help us out here? It seems that you're Lady Loki might be more cooperative if you take her home."

Though initially taken aback by Loki's unexpected reaction, Muichiro understood the gravity of the situation.

"I'll do what I can to help. Thank you for taking care of her...how much is the bill." Muichiro asked seeing the awkward look on the bartender's face.

"Umm, she footed a bill of 111,000 Valis, it's a part of her tab, and also the bottles she broke," he said.

Muichiro nodded and took out a sack of valis from his haori." This should be enough then, have a good night." Muichiro said before leaving.

With the staff's blessing, Muichiro carefully guided Loki to her feet and looped her arm around his shoulders for support.

He could feel the weight of her body against his, the unmistakable scent of alcohol lingering in the air around her.

Despite her intoxicated state, Loki seemed to find comfort in his presence, her normally boisterous demeanour subdued as she leaned on him.

Navigating through the bar with Loki in tow, Muichiro exchanged a few polite nods with the patrons, some of whom seemed amused by the unexpected turn of events.

As they made their way out, the cool evening air hit them, and Muichiro couldn't help but wonder about the circumstances that had led to Loki's current state...again.

Seeing how much the Goddess was stumbling, Muichiro changed the way he held her.

Instead, he gave her a piggyback ride, while holding her thighs firmly, he asked Loki to hold on tighter around his neck, and surprisingly she did just that.

Gently guiding her along, Muichiro headed towards the direction of the Twilight manor...he made sure not to make the same mistake a second time.

Along the way, Loki muttered nonsensical phrases and giggled, her head resting on his shoulder. Every once in a while she would do something to try and tease Muichiro, like blow on his cheek, or squeeze his neck.

"Hehehe, Mumu, I see why~Dede likes sleeping with you so much, you smell really nice..." Loki said taking the opportunity to sniff his hair.

Despite the rather comical scene they presented, Muichiro maintained his composed demeanour, his expression unfazed by the goddess's antics.

...

The night in Orario was serene, the streets illuminated by the soft glow of the moon and scattered street lamps.

As Muichiro walked through the quiet alleys, his thoughts were accompanied by the faint echo of his footsteps.

"Hey, you're that... Muu-chan, right?" she slurred, her words accompanied by a mischievous grin.

Muichiro regarded her with his usual impassive expression. "Yes, I am."(For the fith time in a row.)

Loki burst into giggles, her laughter ringing through the night. "Heh, Muu-chan... you know, you're a good kid."

The unexpected compliment caught Muichiro off guard, and he raised an eyebrow in mild curiosity. "Thank you."

Loki's eyes sparkled as she continued, her speech still slightly slurred. "You know, I've been waiting for them... my familia. They're finally coming back in a few days from their dungeon expedition. Been gone for over half a month now. Can you believe it?"

Despite her intoxicated state, Loki's excitement was palpable. Her words tumbled out in a rush, painting a vivid picture of her anticipation for the return of her companions.

Muichiro simply listened, his usual stoic expression softening ever so slightly as he observed the goddess's genuine enthusiasm.

"It's funny, isn't it?" Loki mused, swaying slightly as she spoke. "We're gods, but we still rely on our adventurers. I mean, sure, we're strong with our arcanum, but we're nothing without our familia, here in the lower world."

Muichiro nodded, acknowledging the truth in her words. Familias were the heart and soul of the adventurers' lives, providing them with purpose, and strength.

As their conversation continued, Loki shared stories about her familia's exploits, her words a mix of fondness and pride.

Muichiro listened attentively, his silence encouraging her to speak freely. Despite her initial inebriation, Loki's speech grew clearer as she talked about the trials and triumphs of her children.

There was one child however that she spoke about more than the other, someone named, Aisu-chan...she said that the two of them always had similar expressions, maybe she was the same as him.

Before they knew it, Muichiro and Loki had arrived at the grand gate of the Loki familia's manor.

The guards stationed there immediately recognized the goddess and their cautious expressions turned to relief and shock when they saw Muichiro.

They understood that Loki had managed to sneak past them a second time and that a kid had taken it upon himself to ensure her safe return.

"Thank you for bringing her back, young man, we're sorry for any inconvenience she may have caused you." One of the guards said with genuine gratitude.

Muichiro nodded in response, his gaze briefly meeting Loki's as he inclined his head. "Take care," he offered, his voice carrying a touch of formality.

Loki, still in high spirits, grinned and gave him a playful salute. "See you around, Muu-chan!"

With that, the guards led Loki inside the manor, and the gates closed behind them.

Muichiro turned and continued on his way, the memory of their conversation lingering in his mind.

As he walked back to the Wheat Manor, the streets remained quiet, the night air carrying the promise of a new day—a day that, for Loki and her familia, would mark the joyous reunion they had been eagerly awaiting.