Two hours later.

  I patted Saeko and Shiori's head on my thighs. The two drank to the point that they passed out on my lap. It was my first time being on the giving end of a lap pillow.??

  The others weren't better off. Just like Kaguya proclaimed, she drowned in the alcohol until she collapsed on the table. Alise was a different breed. Instead of acting in her role, she was hand wrestling bulky dudes, more like flexing her status as a level 5. She even broke a few tables!

  The owner of this pub, Mia, smiled as she slapped the bill on the table. Lyra's head drooped while Ryuu rubbed her forehead.

  "They are too much at times."

  I reached for the bill, touching Ryuu's hand in the process. She hurriedly drew back and gave an awkward smile.

  Not this cliché……

  I read the bill, which summed up to 55,900 valis.

  "I'll pay."

  Ryuu raised a brow. "It was our party, so we should pay."

  "I don't mind paying."

  "The damages were done by our Familia. It's our obligation to pay," she insisted.

  "No wonder Kaguya calls you 'Stubborn Elf,'" I whispered, and her elf ears twitched. "Never mind me then. You can pay."

  Ryuu frowned as she turned to Mama Mia. "You can put it on our tab."

  "Alright, kid."

  "Asahi-kuuun… less' go home!" Shiori sputtered as she reached out for my face. "To the muuuun!"

  "Yes, we'll go to the moon," I whispered and poked her cheeks. "Ryuu, do you need help with them?"

  Ryuu looked shaken for a moment before she assumed her neutral expression. Wait, I just called her by the given name. I forgot that Japan's annoying first-name-can-only-be-used-by-close-friends applied here as well.

  "I can… manage," she said, looking doubtful in her own words.

  "I'll help."

  The wild place became silent all of a sudden. Ryuu stared at something behind me, prompting me to turn. A silver-haired maid walked into the pub; her cold red eyes fixed on me. She was followed by a grey-haired woman wearing a white shirt and tight black pants.

  "Aimi, Grayfia."

  "My Lord, the party seems to have ended. Shall we return?"

  Aimi showed a smile and stood beside Grayfia. I had left them alone for this—to give them a chance to get to know each other better. Both of them shared a weird obsession with their duties. I felt they could be great friends.

  "Yep. We're dropping Ryuu's friends to their home first."

  Ryuu politely nodded. "Thanks. Our Familia base, Stardust Garden, is a few streets away."

  I took Saeko and Shiori while Ryuu, Grayfia, and Aimi grabbed the three drunkards. Alise was resisting, but Grayfia sneakily hit the back of her neck to knock her out.

  Ryuu looked in admiration before she shook her head and led the way out of the pub.

  "Good luck with her, kiddo. She ain't an easy one."

  I briefly stopped at Mia's words before continuing. This dwarf woman was sharp!

  We stumbled into some rogues, but Ryuu scared them off. First, I tucked the twins in the inn and locked the room before making my way toward Ryuu's home.

  A brunette goddess interrupted us, dazzling the night with her beauty.

  A wild Astraea appeared!

  "Ryuu, you are late," Astraea said in a concerned voice.

  Ryuu glanced at her comrades with a bitter smile.

  Astraea nodded at me. "Thank you for helping my children."

  "Don't mind it."

  She led the way with an elegant smile.

  As its name suggested, Stardust Garden was a bright, beautiful mansion guarded by two beastman beauties.

  "Please come in for tea," Astraea said. "I guarantee that it tastes better than the most."

  Grayfia and Aimi stayed silent, leaving the decision to me. Well, it'd be a waste to deny the invitation from a beauty.

  Astraea smiled as if guessing my decision. "Ryuu, take them to their rooms."

  "Yes, Astraea-sama."

  They all went away. Astraea nodded as she led me to a courtyard. The pillars and the ceilings resembled a typical shrine.

  "My children built this place for me."

  A shrine for a goddess. Makes sense.

  "Wait here. I'll brew the tea," she gestured to the room on the side and walked away.

  I slid open the door. The room only had a low table and four cushions. It was too neat and refined.

  Astraea arrived with Aimi and Grayfia. We sat around the table as Astraea served tea. It felt different to see a goddess brewing tea.

  "Asahi Marikawa. Alise told me that you got rid of Apollo's problem. Is that true?"

  "Apollo negotiated a deal with me."

  Ignoring my method, it was a good deal for him. Otherwise, he would be shitting in Heaven right now.

  Astraea served us tea and sighed.

  What was she thinking now?

  ***

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