[89] The Moon Is Beautiful

"I'm fine, Aiden, are you hurt?" Eina calmly retorted.

"I'm fine. Bell, how about you? Were you scared?" Aiden, now composed, teased with a smile.

"I-I'm alright. That was amazing, Aiden-senpai. I'm fine, thank you for asking." Bell's voice trembled slightly, but his crimson eyes gleamed brightly. Having never experienced combat, he was still a greenhorn village boy at heart. Yet, in this moment, instead of fear, he felt excitement and a yearning for strength after witnessing Aiden's prowess.

"But why would these people attack us?" Bell still puzzled, asked directly.

"Night ambushes are quite common." Eina, with her vast knowledge, answered.

"What?! Is Orario really that dangerous?" Bell exclaimed involuntarily.

"Attacks outside the Dungeon are rare. Besides, they seemed more like testing the waters." Eina smiled reassuringly at Bell.

Bell was left speechless by this startling revelation, feeling like his dreams were being shattered.

"Aiden, have you offended any familia in the Dungeon?" Eina's expression turned serious as she asked.

"No, quite the opposite. I've even saved members of the Ganesha and Takemikazuchi familia. Riveria from the Loki familia also lent a hand." Aiden shook his head.

"Wow, Aiden, you've had quite the adventures lately. Did you meet Riveria-sama as well?" Eina marveled.

Eina, being a half-elf, had a mother who was an elf and was friends with Riveria whom she referred to respectfully.

"Nothing much, just helping out where I could when others were in trouble, and only if they weren't out to get me. As for Riveria..." Aiden began recounting his encounter with the young dragon to Eina and Bell, who were interested in his experiences.

However, he cautioned them not to tell Hestia about it, as he had concealed the injury to his right arm from her.

The journey continued without incident.

By the time Aiden reached the part about barbecuing and sashimi to rescue the Takemikazuchi familia, they were almost home.

"Aiden, you really have a knack for finding young dragons." Eina couldn't help but marvel. Encountering such rare creatures twice in a row was remarkable. Even for a typical Level 2 adventurer, surviving such encounters could be a lifelong nightmare.

"I wonder when I'll be as strong as senpai..." Bell murmured as he watched Aiden's silhouette.

"Haha, I think the same. Welcome to the Hestia Familia's residence." Aiden opened the door, gesturing for Eina to enter.

"Thank you for having us." Eina walked in with the bottle of wine.

After Aiden brought Eina inside, Hestia learned that Aiden had invited guests for a banquet right after registering Bell.

"Oh, Aiden-kun, if you were going to invite friends over, you should have told me sooner. Look at how little we have prepared now." Hestia scolded Aiden with a hint of dissatisfaction, hands on her hips as she pointed at the spread of various dishes on the long table.

Of course, Hestia warmly welcomed Eina's arrival, knowing her dual role as Aiden's friend and Bell's adventure advisor.

Like hosting a close friend of her own child at home, Hestia was exceptionally hospitable. Especially since her child was in adolescence, and the guest happened to be of the opposite sex.

Although Hestia's culinary skills couldn't rival those of a restaurant chef, the quality of ingredients was so excellent that even simple cooking turned into exquisite delicacies.

Meats, poultry, seafood, vegetables, and fruits were all there, and the only thing lacking, alcoholic beverages, was complemented by the red wine Eina had brought.

The small dinner party proceeded with everyone enjoying themselves.

After the dinner, Aiden, who had only taken a small sip to save his ego, escorted Eina, whose cheeks were flushed from the wine, back home.

Aiden couldn't let a female friend, especially one who had been drinking, go home alone so late at night.

With all sorts of creatures lurking in Orario at night, Aiden could only be at ease after safely escorting Eina home. After all, he had invited her to the banquet.

During the journey, there were no anticipated romantic encounters or further night ambushes.

Upon reaching Eina's residence, Aiden bid her farewell.

"Today was really enjoyable, thank you, Aiden." Eina smiled and said, then quickly added, "But I'm still a bit concerned about tonight's ambush."

"As long as you weren't scared, those people were just testing my strength. Besides, I have a pretty good idea who they are now. They're no match for me, so don't worry." Aiden assured confidently, sensing the subtle changes in his right arm. He raised his hand and clenched his fist with assurance.

"In that case, I feel relieved. I have confidence in you, Aiden. Keep it up, future Sword Saint of Orario." Eina teased with a smile.

"No, no, I'm not worthy of that title. Please don't tease me." Aiden chuckled and shook his head.

"I'm serious, goodbye, future Sword Saint of Orario. And please be careful on your way home. Stick to crowded places, and no one dares to attack in plain sight." Eina advised before parting.

"Don't worry, I just had a full meal and don't feel like sprinting. Goodbye." Aiden smiled, waved his right hand, and turned to leave.

The moon, high in the sky, cast gentle silver light like water, lending a serene and peaceful atmosphere to the night in Orario. Moonlight dappled through the branches, casting moving shadows as the gentle breeze stirred them.

Walking alone on his way home, Aiden gazed at the bright silver moon and couldn't help but murmur, "The moon is beautiful." Then he chuckled to himself and said, "Was that really what Natsume Soseki said?"1

Then Aiden began to reflect on tonight's ambush. Why did Freya target him? Is this some omen? Freya can see into souls, which means there's something special about his soul? A demonic soul unseen in this world before?

In the end, Aiden arrived at this conclusion.

"If she is interested in me, all the better. I won't complain about having more opportunities to sharpen my skills. Who knows what challenges the next world will bring."

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