CH. 367-368: Request

Asahi banned Apollo from the meeting room in his own mansion. Natsumi headed to her room to rest. Saeko excused herself since Susanoo didn't come here with the intent to take Kaguya. After hearing Asahi's talk with Yamada, she felt like she'd slip into her sadist mode to torture the samurai for ogling her.

Haruhime sat at a different table from Astraea, Asahi, Hephaestus, and Susanoo. Kaguya, Alise, Shiori, and Ryuu quietly discussed behind Astraea.

Shiori perceived Haruhime's gaze and went over to sit beside her. "You have cute ears. What's your name?"

Alise also joined Haruhime on the seat to her left. "Are you a renard?"

Renards were a race of demihumans known for their affinity for rare magic spells.

Haruhime gave the girls a skeptical glare, doubting their goodwill for something else. Still, she showed them respect with a bow. "My name is Haruhime… Yes, I'm a renard."

"Is he your father?" Shiori pointed at Yamada. "You two don't have any resemblance, to be honest."

Haruhime hung her head and clenched her fists. The mere mention of her parents filled her with rage. "My parents… they're in my hometown."

Shiori and Alise shared a look of mutual understanding, deciding not to bring up parents before Haruhime again.

Asahi observed them with an amused smile. Shiori's fetish for monster girls was as strong as ever. He pulled back his attention from them and smiled at Susanoo. "So, what's your business here?"

Susanoo wasn't expecting Asahi to bow down to show his reverence like other people from his country. But Asahi's blunt indifference to his status left him speechless.

Yamada was furious. "Don't show contempt—"

"Stay calm." Susanoo interrupted Yamada before he ruined everything, and gave Asahi another look. The goddesses in the room left everything to Asahi, a clear sign of Asahi's influence in this room.

'He might be what we were looking for.'

Susanoo scratched his head. "I'll be blunt, Asahi Marikawa-dono. I'm here for you."

Kaguya frowned. "Asahi-kun isn't into men."

Her dull voice made others doubt if it really was a joke.

Asahi pinched her cheeks with his telekinesis. Kaguya leaned on his back and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Asahi-kun, it's not good to touch a woman without their permission," she whispered.

"It's fine since the woman doesn't mind it."

Kaguya retreated with a giggle. "Then, touch me more later."

"Sure." Asahi turned his attention back to Susanoo, who watched the drama with a thoughtful expression. "A god traveled oceans to meet me in person. Should I be flattered?"

His first wife was the strongest entity in the universe; his future father-in-law ruled over a world, the goddess of justice was his lover; and a Heavenly Dragon was soon going to become his subordinate. Susanoo seemed like a mob compared to the overpowered entities in his life.

Kaguya puffed her chest. "I feel proud to be his partner."

Alise stared blankly at Kaguya, who stole her words while casually inserting herself into Asahi's family. Kaguya covered her mouth to hide her bright smile from Alise.

"We're going offtopic," Hephaestus reminded everyone with a sigh. "So, Susanoo-no-Mikoto. What's the real purpose of this visit?"

As one of the influences in Orario, Hephaestus felt like it was her responsibility to stop a war from breaking out between two countries.

"Our country is falling apart under Amaterasu's rule. Various rebel factions outside are allying to take down the Royal Court." Susanoo turned his head to Kaguya. "They've had enough just like you. Instead of leaving, they are working for a change."

Asahi looked back at Kaguya. "She is enjoying her life though."

Kaguya nodded. "Indeed. I prefer my current life."

An adventurer's life was filled with danger just like her family occupation. Yet freedom was worlds apart. If something went wrong in the dungeon, she'd have her friends' support. The assassins didn't have such luxury. Almost all of them died alone in enemy territories.

"I didn't say your leaving was a bad thing." Susanoo smiled. "On the contrary, I requested Lord Gojouno to release you."

Kaguya tilted her head. "Why would you do that?"

It was her first time hearing about this.

Susanoo leaned back on his chair and gazed at the ceiling. "I had thought you would become a great adventurer in Dungeon City. A hero if I had to stretch. Things turned out better than I expected."

Kaguya became a level 4 adventurer and joined the Goddess of Justice's Familia. Astraea's reputation was spread far outside the walls of Orario.

"I'm thankful for your help." Kaguya bowed. "It still doesn't explain why you would want Asahi-kun?"

Asahi tapped his cheek. "Do you need our help with rebels?"

"No, I want you to support the rebels." Susanoo showed a massive grin. "Help them bring down the Royal Court ruled by Amaterasu."

Kaguya's eyes widened at the rebellious statement unfitting of someone from the Royal Court.

Asahi couldn't help but chuckle at the turn of events. Susanoo and Amaterasu were at each other's throats, be it mythologies or this world. He was being asked to be included in the ancient rivalry.

Shiori also grinned when she realized the recurrence of mythology, leaving Alise and Haruhime perplexed.

"What will I get from this?" Asahi asked.

Even if he enjoyed messing with gods, he wasn't going to travel that far without a reward. He'd do it for Saeko and Shiori, but not for a stranger god.

Susanoo's shoulder slumped as he showed an awkward smile. "I have nothing at the moment."

"Then, I can't help you."

Hephaestus agreed with Asahi. He was strong, but he wasn't obligated to solve others' problems for free. Just like how she valued her crafted weapons, Asahi valued his strength.

"I understand," Susanoo nodded and pushed back his chair. "I'll be going now."

Nobody in the room imagined Susanoo to agree just like that.

"Wait, Lord Susanoo." Kaguya stopped Susanoo. "Shouldn't you try to persuade Asahi-kun?"

Susanoo assumed a serious expression. "Asahi-dono is free to make his decision."

Forcing a decision on someone was against his nature.

"What will you do then?" Asahi asked. "Return back to your country?"

Susanoo would be a fool if he went back empty-handed like this. He was a lot of things in his myths, but being a fool wasn't one of them.

"Not at all. I'll be staying in this city to start a Familia. We'll earn a worthy reward to hire you."

"..."

Asahi took back his words about Susanoo being a fool. He was a man of focus and patience.

"Besides, Asahi-dono needs to be at least level 5 for this quest. I rushed here to see if you really hailed from our country..." Susanoo snickered. "Guess you aren't a native."

"Lord, it takes decades to reach level 5…" Yamada reminded Susanoo just in case he forgot. "Rebels won't stay still for a year."

"We'll see a miracle." Susanoo patted Yamada's shoulder. "Let's find a place to stay."

Yamada bowed before he exited the room with Susanoo. Haruhime reluctantly hopped down the chair and followed after Yamada, her fluffy tail waving behind her back. She paused at the door and looked over her shoulder.

Shiori waved with a bright smile. "Haruhime-chan~, you can visit us anytime."

"Just ask anyone about Stardust Garden," Kaguya gave her suggestion with a wink. "You can join our Familia too if you're interested."

A hint of hesitation appeared in Haruhime's eyes. Shiori and Alise had earned her trust.

'So what?'

She trusted her parents since her birth, but they threw her at the first sight of trouble. No matter how warm these girls were, they were strangers in the end. Susanoo and Yamada, so she had to stick with them and explore this new city. She looked at Kaguya with awe in her eyes.

'I'll try to become an adventurer.'

She kept her ambitions inside her. She gave a deep bow to everyone and departed from the room.

(The fox left.)

'I'll see her around.'

Asahi nudged Kaguya. "You got a fan today."

"Is Dear jealous of my popularity now?" Kaguya grinned as she flashed the ring on her finger. "Oh, come on. Everything I have is yours."

"She doesn't trust anyone," Ryuu whispered. "I was like her when I arrived in Orario. A new city, unknown people… and my superiority complex…"

Haruhime reflected her younger version's insecurities on a deeper level. She saw more than anxiety of a new city in Haruhime's eyes.

'What did she go through?'

She wanted to help Haruhime but she didn't know how to approach the renard girl with the gods around.

"I was there for you." Alise patted Ryuu's shoulder. "Lione, can you imagine how things would be if we didn't meet by chance?"

Ryuu pondered for a moment and shuddered. "I might be working as a slave."

She was too frightened to imagine such a life. Seeing her scared stiff, Asahi smiled and pulled her with telekinesis. Ryuu couldn't resist as she was lifted in the air by an unknown force. She fell on top of Asahi and crashed into his arms.

"I'd have bought Ryuu," Asahi whispered in her ears and stroked her hair. "My cute elf student."

Ryuu's mind drew blank when she realized her current position. She blushed down to her neck as Asahi patted her anxiety away.

"Okay now?" he asked.

Ryuu nodded stiffly and left his embrace. She went over to a chair and continued her usual daydreaming to escape the teasing gazes of Kaguya and Shiori.

Astraea smiled at Ryuu's cute antics. "It was nothing but a misunderstanding." Astraea leaned on Asahi's shoulder. All the worries she had for Kaguya vanished with Susanoo's departure. She stretched her sluggish arms and yawned, spreading a wave of yawns in the room.

"I feel like sleeping now," Hephaestus muttered. "Chika, you can come out."

Chika darted out of her hair and hugged Asahi's nose. Hephaestus's face twitched. She had spoiled Chika with everything, yet she abandoned him for Asahi the moment Susanoo left.

'Traitor.'

She quietly turned her head and pouted her cheeks just a bit. Astraea's bright smile as she spoke with Asahi served as a prompt to Hephaestus's promised goal. Astraea didn't seem like she was influenced in any way by Asahi's divinity.

'I might be wrong…'

It wasn't the first time she doubted herself. It happened so often that she became used to it.

'I should talk to Astraea alone.'

Hephaestus made up her heart and asked the question. Astraea agreed to chat over a tea party in Stardust Garden with Asahi. He, of course, refused and gave her time to have fun with Hephaestus.

As Asahi prepared to return, another visitor arrived.

"Fei Fei, you're here too!"

The redhead goddess cheerfully hopped onto the table and sat down with her legs crossed. She was right before Asahi, her lithe thighs in his face. He took the liberty of poking her thighs and feeling her legs.

Loki brushed off his hand. "Not now. Say something about the carriage ya stopped today?"

"It belonged to a god." Asahi pinched her thighs. "He is going to live in Orario for now."

He revealed the whole situation regarding Susanoo.

"Hoo, interesting. Dare I say he will create a decent Familia in Orario."

Kaguya nodded. "He will be popular among the Far Easterns. They all adore him on a personal level."

"Let's leave him be." Loki shook off his hand again. "How was Ais's training?"

"Decent."

"Any details?"

"It's confidential."

Loki crossed her arms on her chest. "Tell meee."

The playful banter between them kept going until Asahi spanked her thighs. Loki gave up with the intention to ask Ais about the training and progress.

After spending a few more minutes on the receiving end of Loki's pout, Asahi returned home with the girls and went to spend the afternoon with Yuriko and Shizuka.