Chapter 544 - 544: The Welcome

When the expedition party finally saw the sky again, the setting sun had painted the distant horizon a deep crimson, while twilight draped the bustling Labyrinth City in a warm veil.

The streets were crowded with Adventurers, their voices filling the air, while Magic Stone lamps glowed from countless shops.

Orario looked as familiar and lively as ever.

In front of Twilight Manor and the Hestia Familia's home, two remarkably similar scenes of welcome and disappointment unfolded.

"Ais~ Welcome back! I missed you all so much~"

Loki completely ignored Gareth as he came through the door. With her arms spread wide, she charged straight toward the group of beautiful women.

Yet despite the delighted expression on their Familia Goddess's face, none of the girls returned her long-awaited embrace.

"Loki, we're back..."

Ais smoothly sidestepped and slipped out of her Familia Goddess's arms.

"Thanks to Bell Cranel's help, we didn't lose anyone during this expedition."

Tione reported the situation to reassure the members who had remained behind while following Ais's example and avoiding Loki.

"Argonaut-kun was seriously amazing! Too bad he had to go home and let everyone know he's safe, so he couldn't come hang out with us at Twilight Manor."

Tiona paid no attention to Loki's movements at all and casually stepped aside.

"We can worry about the report later. As long as everyone's safe, that's all that matters~"

Loki changed targets and lunged toward the golden-haired Elf farther back.

Judging by Lefiya's personality and abilities, there was absolutely no way she would avoid her Familia Goddess's enthusiastic welcome.

Reality immediately poured cold water over Loki's expectations.

"Bell Cranel said he's going to the [Hostess of Fertility] with the Hestia Familia for a celebration. Let's get cleaned up and head over too!"

Holding her staff, Lefiya stepped to the right and left Loki embracing empty air.

"..."

Loki frowned, but refused to give up and charged toward the other girls.

Unexpectedly, however, Lefiya's suggestion had already caught everyone's interest.

"That sounds good. The food there is always delicious."

Anakitty swished her tail.

"Anakitty, you just want a drink, don't you? Still, I'm in favor too."

Alicia agreed with a smile.

"Yay~ At the party, I'll perform the love song I just came up with, Lefiya ❤ White Rabbit Boy~"

"Elfy-san?! Please tear that thing up!"

"You can't tear it up. It's a song inside my head."

"Then forget it!!"

Faced with her roommate's explosive declaration, Lefiya's face turned bright red. She gripped her staff fiercely and hurried to seal the Pandora's box that was Elfy's mouth.

"..."

Loki's brow had furrowed so hard it was practically twitching.

This was supposed to be a happy reunion. Why was everyone treating her so coldly?!

More importantly, compared with how they treated Bell Cranel, the difference was practically night and day.

"Riveria... you're still the one I can count on..."

Loki turned toward the Elf princess at the rear of the group.

The two of them had lived together like family for more than twenty years. Even if the other girls had been drawn in by that boy, surely this royal princess, who had remained dignified and pure all these years, would never change.

Yet those jewel-like emerald eyes merely glanced at the Goddess before quietly shifting away.

"Loki, we're having dinner at the tavern later. I'll leave the reservation to you. When you update my Status later, I have something to tell you."

Riveria offered no further explanation. Holding her staff, she walked into the tower.

"..."

Loki stared blankly at the Elf princess's dignified back, momentarily unsure what to say.

Her brown eyes narrowed. Only after Riveria disappeared from view did she finally recover.

"No, no, no... That can't be right...?"

Loki muttered in disbelief.

"It's exactly what you're thinking."

Finn picked up the conversation and added, "Our princess has just parted from [a certain someone of hers], so she's feeling rather down. You'd better not go causing trouble."

"Tch... that damn rabbit! I'm going to settle this with that shorty!!"

Loki lowered her voice so the other Familia members would not hear.

She continued grumbling about the boy.

But after everyone entered the tower, Loki's exasperated expression vanished.

In its place appeared the deep, calculating gaze unique to the Goddess of Deception.

"So, Finn... what did you see on the 59th Floor?"

...

Outside the Hestia Familia's home, the evening twilight welcomed the boy's return.

"Bell~ Welcome back!"

Hestia rushed toward him with a huge smile, her ample chest bouncing with every step.

Yet before she could even reach Bell, another girl with an overwhelming advantage in speed had already beaten her to him.

"Orion!"

Artemis threw herself straight into Bell's arms.

Her long dress fluttered as she spun more than half a circle together with the boy, as graceful as though she were dancing beneath the moonlight.

"I'm back."

Bell smiled with gentle affection and embraced the girls who had come to welcome him home.

"..."

Hestia stopped dead in her tracks.

In her blue eyes, her best friend reaching Bell first was merely the beginning.

"Bell, you're not hurt, are you? Where's your light armor? Does anywhere still hurt?"

Airmid reluctantly pulled away from the boy's embrace, her violet eyes filled with worry.

"I put the light armor away. I'm completely fine now."

Bell gently stroked the Dea Saint's silver hair.

"Bell!"

Ignoring everyone around them, Laurier offered the boy her cherry-red lips.

A tight embrace.

A long, passionate kiss.

Even those were not enough to contain the endless love surging in the blonde Elf's heart.

"H-how long are you two planning to keep kissing?!"

Hestia puffed out her cheeks and finally interrupted them.

"Captain, welcome back..."

Cassandra stood there in an eye-catching maid outfit, her voluptuous figure clearly outlined.

She shyly waved, then immediately fled back into the house.

"Daphne said dressing like this might make Captain a little happier when we welcomed you home... I'm sorry! It really does look strange, doesn't it? I'll go change right now!"

Daphne watched her friend flee and smiled.

"Captain, everyone worked really hard while you were away on the expedition."

"That's right! Lili saved quite a lot of money for everyone. Bell-sama, you're finally back!"

Like a little child, Lili threw herself into Bell's arms.

"B-Bell-dono! Welcome back... Um, I'll go prepare dinner right away!"

Mikoto was also wearing a pale pink maid outfit.

Her face was bright red as she leaned out toward him. Just meeting the boy's eyes for an instant made the heat in her cheeks visibly rise.

"No need. Let's all go have dinner at the tavern together."

Bell told them the plan they had already decided on.

Only after the girls around him stepped aside one by one was there finally nothing standing between Hestia and Bell.

The Goddess pursed her lips and cast a dissatisfied glance around at all the beautiful women surrounding them.

But the instant her gaze returned to the boy, her sulky expression naturally softened into a smile.

Her twin tails swayed as she wrapped Bell in a warm embrace.

"Bell, welcome back~"

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