4 Chapter 4
~~~Lady Dia/Hebe's POV~~~
〖Mhnn, that feels good, Mom.〗
It was quite late when I finally decided to turn in for the night after my business with Lumiere.
"Hmm? That's coming from his room--"
〖Ahmnn, yes, just like always, you don't have to do anything. Leave it all to me-- ohmnn.〗
Though a bit tired from the long yet fulfilling day, a thin smile of satisfaction graced my face.
〖Oh-- mnfuu, you're-- ohnn, you're going a bit too fast, Mom.〗
〖Shh-- Lumiere, darling. Try to contain your moan as much as you can-- hmpnn.〗
After all, I would soon be officially establishing my own familia alongside my very first child.
"That voice-- it's Maria!"
The anticipation of how the future unfolds was so intense that it kept me from drowsing off.
"What could they be doing late at this--"
〖I-- I can't help it, Mom. It feels so good when you do that--〗
〖Ahnn!〗
However, the feeling welling up in me wasn't the only reason keeping me from falling asleep...
"That sound-- unbelievable! Could they be doing--"
〖Shh-- now you're the one being too loud, Mom.〗
I couldn't help but gasp, deeply shocked at the sensual sounds on the other side of the wall.
It was so distinct that I could even make up every whimper and word out of their mouths.
"Preposterous!"
Oh, I recognized what caused such sounds to reverberate, alright. I'm not so oblivious to it.
After all, it was the kind of sounds Aphrodite's abode produces, almost daily, back in heaven.
"I should talk to Maria the first thing tomorrow. Lumiere is too young for such things."
Although I don't abhor such acts, at the moment, I can't bring myself to condone it either.
Especially for someone like him who's barely considered an adult. Such an act is unthinkable.
"What could she be possibly thinking, consenting to the idea of--"
〖Oh, Gods! I'm close, Mom!〗
And there they go-- children, please consider that you aren't the only ones around here.
Although, I could only grumble inwardly. It's not like I have a choice at the moment.
Even for a Goddess like me, to interrupt them in their now-climaxing passion would be rude.
"Let's just hope that they won't be going at it for too long..."
~~~End of Lady Dia/Hebe's POV~~~
----
~~~East Mainstreet~~~
"You've been awfully silent ever since we left the orphanage. Is there something wrong?"
The morning in the orphanage was-- how should I put it, overflowing with awkwardness.
"Well-- you won't understand even if I tell you, big Sis."
Especially after my, Mom, and Lady Dia's paths crossed right after leaving each of our rooms.
"Oh, don't be silly. That face doesn't suit you. Go on, try me then."
Well, it wasn't entirely true per se, since Mom slept in mine after yesterday night's routine.
"It's just, yesterday night-- never mind. What about you? What's with this sudden visit?"
And as our eyes crossed each other's, drowsiness vanished as realization struck all of us...
"Hmm, I won't pry for it any longer. As for my sudden visit, am I no longer allowed to do so?"
In a brick-paved street already brimming with pedestrians, I found myself walking with Syr.
A kind big sister who spared no effort in assisting the orphanage financially and emotionally.
"What? No-- you know I don't mean it like that. It's just that we thought you were busy."
She was on her way to the establishment where she had been working after her brief visit.
"Fufufu, I was just teasing you.", she said playfully. "You just can't take a joke, can you?"
Just like how she usually was and still is, with her unrestrained and carefree shenanigans.
"Of course, I can-- anyhow, it's so good to see you haven't changed at all, big Sis."
I couldn't help but smile with our playful banters, after all, I hadn't seen her in a long while.
"Aww, so you can still appear to be sweet to me after all. How touching."
She used to regularly stop by, bringing food and other necessities she thought could help.
However, upon her last visit, she suddenly announced that she won't be around much.
Something about important matters that needed her personal approach and full attention.
"Anyway, I heard that you've finally started adventuring and joined a familia..."
----
~~~Underground Labyrinth~~~
~~~Upper Floor-3~~~
『Grr!』『Graaawr!』『Graaawr!』
Just like yesterday, I breezed through the previous floors as if it was just a casual stroll.
"Woah, so many. Newbies weren't around much to curb your numbers?"
Having finally borne a Falna and my fighting experience, there hasn't been any threat at all.
『Grawr-- urgh!』
Fwoompoof!
But after finding myself on this floor, somehow, monsters were spawning more frequently...
"Or was it because it's still early?"
『Grr-- rgh!』
Fwoompoof!
Making a quick work on the kobolds near me, I proceeded to deal with the rest of its pack.
"But still--"
『Grr!』『Graaawr!』『Graaawr!』
Although only kobolds kept spawning at the moment, they kept coming in an endless wave.
To the point that I had even lost count of how many of them I had already slain since then.
"Meh, though a little troublesome, it's not something I couldn't handle. Come then!"
They came ever so relentlessly. Pouring out of the walls, pouncing on me one after another.
But with the pair of knives I had gotten from yesterday's reward, they pose no challenge.
『Graaaw-- arck!』
It easily cuts through them without much effort. That's how preposterously sharp they were.
Their durable hides aside, I couldn't even feel their bones when the blades passed through.
Fwoompoof! Fwoompoof! Fwoompoof!
It was so sharp that every swing I made remained unimpeded, severing anything without fail.
"Fuu, I guess that's all of them, for now at least."
One after another, they disintegrated and turned to dust, each returning to their creator.
Yet somehow, I found some of their dismembered parts still loitering on the cold ground.
"Oh, some-- ah, yes. If the magic stones in them aren't destroyed, then that'll be the case."
This is probably how adventurers acquire their desired materials for crafting their gears.
"Well then, it'll probably take me a long time to bag all of these."
Contrasting the eerie, cold, and dull ground were numerous, tiny, purplish glowing stones.
They scattered all around like glittering stars of the same color, as far as my eyes could see.
"Hmm, and these-- are these kobold nails? And there's so many of them."
Although not as many as the glowing stones lying around, occasional drops can be found.
"If I'm going to call it a day already, I wonder how much all these are worth?"
I was busying myself bagging all the loot when footsteps, along with murmurs resounded...
