73 Chapter 70: Contact

"Hah, I guess a little date calmed them down at least." Lars sat down on a bench and he sighed.

"Are you okay, Lars-sama?" Haruhime saw that he was dragged around everywhere to keep the balance.

So she followed him after to give him some sweets. "I'm fine Haruhime, thanks for this." Lars ate her dango.

"Hey, this is amazing." He nodded in satisfaction.

"Thank you very much, Lars-sama." Haruhime beamed at him.

"So, Haruhime. I've never asked you this, but are you related to Kaguya or something?" Lars asked her.

Their surnames were really similar. "Kaguya-sama, is it?" Haruhime tried to remember her.

She has only been having a pretty simple life in the wheat manor in order for her to enjoy her childhood more.

"Gojouno, Kaguya... Yes, we are kind of related. But not in the familial sense." Haruhime nodded.

"It's due to the ruling families of the far east, Lars-sama. There are 9 of them back then, but they decreased to 8." Haruhime reminisced about her country.

"So, I know that Sanjouno is probably higher due to the numberings in the far east, is that right?" Lars was curious.

"Yes, that is correct. The Sanjouno family ranks higher than the Gojouno, though I do not really know Kaguya-sama." Haruhime tried to remember her.

"I see, want to hang out with their familia? I bet that Kaguya wants to talk with someone from the same culture." Lars smiled at her.

"Really, Lars-sama? I guess that will be enjoyable. We can eat our sweets, drink green tea, and speak about our memories!" Haruhime was excited.

'I'm glad she doesn't think about getting exiled anymore.' It was the reason he didn't want to put massive pressure on her to go to the dungeon.

Unlike Tiona and Tione, she's a noble that grew up sheltered. Unlike Airmid, she can't be cold and calculating.

She was a cinnamon roll that just enjoyed experiencing new things.

"Well, how about you go grab these and make an impression there?" Lars gave her a basket of desserts and other types of food.

"Wow, I also have a couple more dangos and mochi. I'm sure Kaguya-sama would like them." Haruhime's tail wagged and he patted her head.

"Come on, go. I know you want to." Lars smiled and she bowed slightly before she ran towards the stardust garden.

"Hmm, maybe I should bring Ais there too? Get some jagamarkuns from Hestia." Lars chuckled.

Hermes returned already. And she couldn't exactly know what Hermes is doing. He specializes in information.

Basically shady work. So she had to find a job at a jagamarkun stall to pay back her debts to her friends.

"Hmmm, what would Argana and Bache's reaction would be if they find out that Belnas and Elnea are with us now?" Lars grinned.

The Demeter familia's expedition party now wouldn't lose to the ones that specialized in dungeon diving.

They had four level 5's and two level 4's if you include Lunoire. Alfia didn't count, because they already decided that dungeon dives shouldn't include her or it would be too easy.

Lars was enjoying the pleasant sunlight on his skin. He had a good time with Alfia, so he was in a good mood.

"Ohh? Sorry about... That." Lars bumped into someone.

(Pic)

'This girl... She feels exactly like that woman.' Lars observed her carefully.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry sir." She bowed politely and elegantly.

'An elf, huh? She didn't recoil after bumping into me. What exactly are they?' Lars wondered as he remembered the redhead.

"Are you alright?" She asked him and he nodded. "All good, how about you?" Lars smiled at her pleasantly.

"Thank you for asking, sir. I'm alright as well. Ahh... I spilled some of my drink on you, please let me make up for it." She panicked.

'Hmm, I can give this girl an Oscar, she's good.' Lars waved it off.

"No, no, don't worry about it." Lars made her work for it a bit harder.

"As a law abiding citizen, I insist sir. My name is Filvis Challia. As an elf, I just cannot sully you like that and leave." She wouldn't budge.

'Using her honor as an elf too? Damn, she's dedicated huh?' Lars concluded that the redhead might have reported their encounter.

'Her magic isn't as intense as the redhead, should I play along?' Lars was amused.

Thinking that her weird mana was weaker due to hiding it.

"Okay, then. If you insist. Lars by the way." Lars introduced himself and she nodded.

"Okay, Lars-san. Let us buy you a new shirt." Filvis guided him towards the district where they can buy some clothes.

"Wait, you look kind of familiar, Lars." Filvis saw a building and he raised a brow.

"Ahh, you were that person that was acting really lewdly in public at that establishment!" Filvis pointed at a cafe and Lars looked at it.

'Ahh, the place where we went on a date?' Lars remembered, but he got confused. He only fed Alfia and vice versa.

"Ahhh, elves really have a low threshold for calling something lewd..." Lars chuckled.

"You two were all over each other, such affection should be reserved in private." Filvis blushed.

'This is embarrassing... They were deviants, exchanging... Indirect kisses. I might get pregnant if I'm near him, but this is my mission.' Filvis resolved herself.

"Ummm, it's a pretty famous date spot though?" Lars smiled wryly.

"Ahem, you're correct. I shouldn't judge what humans do. We are quite different culturally, though she is quite beautiful, what's her name?" Filvis asked and he almost squinted his eyes.

But they had something to use in this situation. "Her name is Meteria." Lars and Alfia decided to use her sister's name in these types of cases.

"Meteria huh? What a wonderful name. Have you been together long?" Filvis smiled.

'I must get as much information as possible. How is Alfia related to him? How did he even got her as his lover? Their difference is like heaven and earth.' Filvis had to know everything.

"Well, we were together for years now. But we only started dating recently." Lars explained.

'So they've been together long? But how? We only sighted her with pure luck, where is she?' Filvis wanted to know if she joined a familia or something.

"Really? Did she came to Orario recently? She looked like a noble, her dress is certainly expensive." Filvis acted curiois about forbidden love.

Like a girl that wanted gossip about juicy love stories.

"Yes, she did. She has an illness you see? And I can't take her out much due to it." Lars donned a sad expression.

"Oh my, I'm sorry to hear that. Is it curable, I hope it is." Filvis gasped.

"It has no known cure, we don't even know what it is." Lars sighed.

"Hmm, you know. Branches from the holy tress of elf forests can actually cure a lot of diseases." Filvis gave her two cents and he looked at her with surprise and expectation.

"Really!? How can I get it? Money isn't a problem, I'm The Farmer of the Demeter familia. I have a lot of money." Lars grabbed her shoulders and she seized up.

"H-huh?" Filvis was gobsmacked. "Ohh, sorry Filvis. I grabbed you by mistake." Lars apologized.

"N-no, it must be due to the surge of emotions..." Filvis' face twitched.

'Even Enyo-sama does not touch me... Not that he should, I am filthy.' Filvis resisted to frown heavily in disgust at what she has become.

"Money can't buy it unfortunately." Filvis shook her head sadly.

"No way..." Lars slumped down. 'Heh, it takes two to tango, miss elf.' Lars hid a twisted grin as he looked downwards.

"But... I can probably try to get some, I was a part of the family that took care of the holy tree. I can just say that it's for my personal use." Filvis smiled at him and he beamed.

"Really!? Thank you, Filvis!" He hugged her and she froze once again, almost having a stroke.

He was messing with her. "Awawawa. Lars-san!" Filvis shouted at him and he scratched his head sheepishly.

"Sorry, sorry, I got excited." Lars smiled wryly and Filvis huffed.

'I might be pregnant now... I can't get married anymore.' She was shooketh.

"How much do I have to pay? I'll do anything." Lars looked desperate.

"D-don't worry about the payment. Just the cost of transportation is enough. Consider it as my goodwill. You help Orario through the Demeter familia. It must be fate that we met today." Lars almost cringed at her words.

Worst of all, she looked like she genuinely meant it. 'Damn, no wonder people love flashy aliases here. They think that it's cool as hell...'

"We will just post a message on the guild, Dionysus-sama will love to help you." Filvis smiled.

'Dionysus... What god is he again? Fuck, where's the internet when you need it. But he has sus in his name... Hence, he's sus for now.' Lars thought with impeccable logic.

"Okay! We will go towards your familia home when I see the message, thank you very much Filvis! I'll let Meteria know." Lars ran away with a smile.

Filvis waved, but when he went away. She frowned heavily.

'So disgusting...' She started to scratch at her skin until her skin got raw.

'Why? Why did he have to get involved with someone like Alfia? And they seem to have a genuine love...' Filvis felt so filthy.

'He even touched me... I sullied him. Forgive me, Lars. But this is my duty.' Filvis began her return to make her report.

"Hmmm, should I get into acting? I got her pretty good." Lars chuckled.

"Well, Dionysus huh?" Lars went to the wheat manor to ask Demeter about him.

__Wheat manor__

"Dionysus? Why do you ask about him? Do you want to buy some wine?" Demeter asked him.

Lars then explained to her what transpired in their expedition and Demeter frowned.

"Dionysus is a god of vegetation, pleasure, and festivity. But he's known for something else too that not a lot do.

He's a god of madness and wild frenzy." Demeter explained.

"You think he's sus?" Lars raised a brow. "Sus?" Demeter was confused.

"Ahh, suspicious I mean. Continue please." Lars forgor that their slang is different.

"I would say yes, he might be connected to it. Especially because the monsters you encountered were plant types, but we don't have conclusive evidence." Demeter sighed.

"So we can safely say that he's suspicious as hell. And Filvis appearing like that with holy branches is like winning the lottery from a ticket you got from a bottle that was washed ashore." Lars rolled his eyes.

It was too fucking obvious, it almost hurt him. "Yes, the elves won't ever ship them out willy nilly either." Demeter agreed.

"So we agree that they're in cahoots. All the evidence we have just paints them as the suspects." Lars rubbed his chin.

"Be careful around them, especially if they offer you a drink. Dionysus is a god of wine. He can bestow effects on his drinks." Demeter warned him.

"Ahh, don't worry about that. Momma told me not to drink things from strangers, I might get roofied." Lars chuckled as he said goodbye.

"Hah, he's being eyed by another god. This might not end well." Demeter just hoped that it would be simple this time.

__Plaza__

"Step right up, step right up, whoever gets this spear embedded in this rock will get a sponsored trip!" Someone shouted out to a forming crowd.

"Hermes? He's back at it again with his antics huh? Maybe trying to scam people." He chuckled.

But when he saw the spear, he squinted his eyes. "That thing has arcanum... It's a divine construct." He watched for now.

People started to check it out and one by one, challengers tried to pull on it.

Everybody failed and Lars thought of what Hermes was doing.

"Ohh! Lars! How about you try? This is a sponsored trip you know?" Hermes saw him and the god called out to him.

Lars sighed. "What the hell is this? Arthur Pendragon's legend?" He grumbled at the spear that was embedded.

"Now, now, you just have to try." Hermes patted him on the back and Lars shrugged.

He thought he wouldn't get it anyways. It was just a damned scam. "I'm not paying for a try though." Lars gave Hermes the side eye.

"Just try and pull it, I won't charge you." Hermes had a wry expression on his face.

Lars then pulled it lackasaidically. "See? I couldn't pull it, honestly. You should think of a better carnival game, Hermes." Lars sighed.

"Congratulations!" Hermes rang a bell and Lars was gobsmacked.

"Eh?" He was shocked, as he didn't even pull too hard, but it did got out of the stone.

"Orion!" Someone shouted and he looked behind him.

He was suddenly attacked by a wild Artemis. "Orion..." She hugged him and he had to carry her.

"Eh?" This time, Hermes was the one who was shocked.

"What in the world is happening?" Lars couldn't help but blink.

__

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