Chapter Fifty-Four

(Location: Wheat Manor)

After a hearty breakfast, Demeter and Muichiro made their way to her office. The morning sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room.

Cuthbert, ever the attentive butler, had prepared a pot of tea and an array of delectable snacks.

He discreetly excused himself, leaving the goddess and Muichiro alone to delve into the mysteries that Muichiro had brought back from the dungeon.

With a sense of excitement and curiosity, Demeter urged Muichiro to share his discoveries.

The young adventurer carefully placed three journals on her desk. These journals held not only vivid descriptions but also the essence of his incredible journey through the labyrinthine depths.

As Demeter began to peruse the journals, Muichiro went on a vivid retelling of his experiences, painting a more vivid picture with his words.

He spared no detail, from the bioluminescent flora to the breathtaking landscapes and the unexpected encounters.

For the next two hours, they were lost in this story.

Demeter was captivated by the richness of Muichiro's findings, her emotions shifting from awe to surprise as she delved deeper into his accounts.

As they reached the end of the journals, Demeter sighed deeply. "Muichiro, I'm truly astounded."

Muichiro nodded." I wish to visit that hidden chamber again, but it seems unlikely."

Demeter, too, shared his disappointment. "Indeed, it appears to be a once-in-a-lifetime discovery."

Just when it seemed like the conversation might end on a wistful note, a smile quirked on his lip."Oh, but there's one more thing I forgot to mention."

Demeter arched an eyebrow, not knowing what to expect. "And what might that be?"

Muichiro dramatically raised a corner of his yukata, revealing a seemingly endless collection of vials, samples, and specimens. "I brought all the samples, rare plants, and bugs with me."

Demeter blinked, initially thinking it was a playful jest. However, when Muichiro waved his haori again, numerous vials and containers materialized out of thin air, clinking softly as they settled on her desk, and around the room.

The goddess stared in shock at the sudden influx of stuff and items.

Her usually composed demeanour was replaced by an expression of sheer astonishment. "How... how is this possible?"

Muichiro tilted his head, his innocent demeanour belying the impressive feat.

Demeter could only laugh in response, her heart full of gratitude for her new familia member. "You never cease to amaze me, Muichiro."

As Muichiro explained the extraordinary capabilities of his yukata to Demeter, her curiosity grew with each passing word.

She listened intently, her goddess-like features reflecting a mix of wonder and fascination.

"So, you're saying this yukata has a space inside it?" Demeter inquired, her eyes wide with intrigue.

Muichiro nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! It's like a small pocket dimension. Moon gave it to me as a gift when I left the Moon's Realm."

Demeter's curiosity deepened. She had heard tales of gods gifting their children unique abilities or possessions.

The gift of an item was okay but a god using their powers to bestow abilities upon a mortal that wasn't a falna was forbidden.

Her mind raced with questions about this mysterious Moon goddess, but she held back for now, choosing to focus on the immediate conversation.

"Remarkable," Demeter mused. "You truly have some extraordinary gifts, Muichiro."

The mention of gifts led her thoughts to other gods and their peculiar traits. She couldn't help but ponder the idiosyncrasies of her fellow deities.

Loki's cleverness and sometimes scary deduction skills, Soma's affinity for wine, and Freya's irresistible charm were just a few examples.

She herself had a few abilities she could use in the lower world that the other gods didn't know about. One of them being a very good intuition for things...

And even though she was dying to know, her intuition told her it wasn't time yet...not now at least.

(I thought of this because out of all the gods Demeter seemed to be the only one who caught on to Dionysus.)

Each god seemed to bring their unique affinity and Demeter found herself wondering about the Moon goddess's role in all of this.

She gifted not only Muichiro's blade and magical abilities but now even his Yukata.

...

(Demeter's Office)

Muichiro carefully packed away the vials and containers into the seemingly bottomless interior of his yukata.

*knock knock.*

[ AN: Who's there...]

"You may come in..."

As he finished, Demeter's butler, Cuthbert, entered the room to inform her of an important appointment with Ganesha.

"Oh, I completely forgot that was today." Demeter acknowledged the message, realizing that she needed to leave soon.

Standing up from her desk, she turned to Muichiro, her eyes softening with maternal warmth. "I'm afraid I must attend to some matters now, Muichiro."

Muichiro nodded, understanding the importance of her duties. He stood up as well, and to Muichiro's surprise, he suddenly found himself enveloped in a warm embrace as the goddess hugged him tightly.

"Take care of yourself, Muichiro," she said, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Muichiro returned the hug, appreciating the motherly gesture. "I will, Demeter. Don't worry."

As Demeter left her office, Muichiro was left contemplating his situation. With Demeter's concern for his well-being, it seemed unlikely that he would be able to return to the dungeon anytime soon.

[ AN: Plus she banned you..]

He felt a bit lost, not knowing what to do with his newfound free time.

However, unbeknownst to him, Demeter had something stirring in her mind, plans and ideas that she kept to herself for the time being.

Muichiro's connection to the Moon goddess and the extraordinary abilities of his yukata had piqued her interest, and she couldn't help but wonder how this could be used to their advantage.

With a sense of anticipation and newfound purpose, Demeter's thoughts shifted toward the future.

Muichiro had become her beloved child, and she was determined to ensure his safety and success in the city of Orario, even if it meant keeping some secrets for now.

.....

After Demeter left for her appointment, Muichiro found himself alone in her office, his mind drifting into its usual hazy state.

He began to idly pat his yukata, his absent-mindedness getting the better of him. Unbeknownst to him, the yukata's magical space responded to his touch in its own whimsical way.

Suddenly, a full-fledged picnic spread appeared before him. A checkered blanket, a basket filled with sandwiches, fruits, an array of snacks, and even a small vase with fresh flowers—all neatly arranged on Demeter's desk.

Muichiro stared at the spectacle with a blank expression, his logic failing to grasp the situation.

"Of course," he muttered to himself in his typical monotone voice, " I had forgotten that Moon had left some food for me in the space?"

*Gurgle*

His stomach suddenly growled indicating that he was still hungry." It's no Jagamarukun but it's still food..."

Resigned to his fate, Muichiro decided to embrace the unexpected turn of events.

He laid out the picnic blanket and settled down, munching on a sandwich.

As he chewed, he couldn't help but wonder if his haori had anything else inside that he had forgotten about.

It was precisely at this moment that Cuthbert, the Wheat Familia's butler, entered the room.

He was greeted not by a normal scene but by Muichiro enjoying a picnic on his goddess's desk.

Cuthbert's eyes widened in surprise, and he blinked a few times as if questioning his own sanity.

He then cleared his throat and said with the utmost calmness, "I see you've made yourself at home, Master Muichiro."

Muichiro looked up, sandwich in hand, and gave Cuthbert a deadpan stare. "Oh, you know, just a casual picnic on a weekday. Nothing unusual here."

Cuthbert couldn't help but smile, though he remained composed. "Indeed, it seems so. Master Muichiro, might I inquire about the source of this unexpected feast?"

Muichiro pondered the question for a moment before answering in his usual emotionless tone, "I think the haori decided it wanted to have a picnic today."

Cuthbert chuckled softly, though he was clearly perplexed. "Very well, Master Muichiro. Enjoy your...meal."

With that, he left, while Muichiro continued to munch away at a ham sandwich.

....

Do you guys remember getting packed lunches, then putting some walkers ready salted in the sandwich...it was Chef's Kiss.