Chapter 27 - That scares even Loki. (Patreon)

Hearing Bella's question, I answered immediately.

"I already told you, didn't I? I want to eat and drink something with you. I want to become your friend."

I was as honest with her as I could be.

Even though I wanted to complete the system's mission, I genuinely wanted to become her friend first.

Bella listened to my words before saying, "You really expect me to believe that? You suddenly came up to me just to ask my name, then you suddenly showed up to help me as if you'd been following me, and now you're following me everywhere."

"Because I want to get closer to you."

"Trying to get close to someone like this isn't a good idea. It makes you look like a stalker. For someone with a reputation as a womanizer, you don't seem to know much about how to approach a woman."

"Wow... that hurt."

I gave her a bitter smile.

"It was supposed to. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go home. I have to bring food back for my Goddess. She's waiting for me."

"Can I come with you?"

"...Are you serious?"

"I am. I have money with me. I can buy food for you and your Goddess."

"You think you can buy me with money?" Bella looked at me with a serious expression.

"I'm just trying to help. The more money you save, the better, right? I'm doing this to help a friend."

After staring at me for several seconds, Bella ran a hand through her silver hair before letting out a long sigh.

"Huff... Fine. You can come with me. But don't try anything weird."

"Don't worry. I won't do anything weird. I know a good place to buy food. Follow me."

"I know a really good place too. The prices are very cheap."

"I'm the one paying, so it doesn't matter. Come on."

Bella stared at me for a few more seconds, wondering whether she should come with me or not. After a brief hesitation, she decided to follow me.

'Great. The closer I get to her, the easier it'll be to complete the mission and get closer to Hestia.'

Earning her friendship and trust was very important.

####

POV: Third-Person

As soon as they parted ways with Rui, Tiona muttered,

"That girl... Why did Rui suddenly become so interested in her?"

Tiona thought no one had heard her, but her sister, Tione, had.

When she heard that, Tione thought,

'I thought their relationship didn't involve that many feelings, but it seems I was wrong. I've never seen Tiona get this jealous over someone before.'

She let out a sigh and glanced at Ais.

'It's strange that Ais and the other members of the Familia still haven't noticed. It's so obvious.'

Rui had been involved with many women in the Loki Familia, but Tiona was by far the most "important" one he'd managed to win over. It was strange that those rumors still hadn't spread throughout the Familia.

They weren't exactly doing a great job of hiding their relationship.

'Has the Goddess not found out? Maybe she already knows but simply hasn't said anything. She probably doesn't care. It would be different if it were Ais...'

Everyone in the Familia knew that Loki cared deeply about Ais.

More than necessary.

It was an almost unhealthy kind of love.

As she walked in silence, Ais suddenly looked back. Noticing Tione's thoughtful expression, she asked,

"Did something happen?"

"Are you talking to me?" Tione asked.

"Yes. You've been deep in thought. Is something bothering you?"

After glancing briefly at Tiona, Tione replied,

"I've been thinking about the minotaur that suddenly disappeared. Strange things have been happening inside the Dungeon more and more often."

"I see. We need to report everything to the Goddess. The other Familias have probably noticed something strange is happening too. Fortunately, the Denatus will be held soon. The Gods will decide what to do if something is truly wrong."

After hearing her words, Tione asked,

"Do you trust the other Familias?"

Hearing Tione's question, Ais fell silent.

She chose not to answer.

The reason was obvious.

These changes occurring inside the Dungeon could have been caused by a Familia.

The possibility wasn't zero.

Eventually, they arrived at the Familia home.

The three of them met with Riveria and told her they had something important to report.

Some time later, Loki appeared, casually sipping a glass of wine. She slowly descended the stairs and said,

"Riveria told me you have something important to report. Where's Rui?"

"Rui's probably off having fun with some girl," Tiona replied.

"I see. What happened?"

Since Loki knew Ais would never interrupt her rest over something trivial, her expression became completely serious.

Ais had already reported before that the monsters had become more restless than usual—more violent, and perhaps even more intelligent.

This time, besides confirming that those changes were still continuing, she also reported that the number of monsters had increased dramatically.

She made one thing perfectly clear.

If the number of monsters spawning on each floor continued increasing at this rate, the danger level could rise by nearly 200%.

Then she told Loki about the minotaur.

When Loki heard about the minotaur disappearing and then reappearing on another floor, her eyes—which were usually only half-open—widened.

"How did that happen?"

Ais, Tiona, and Tione explained everything that had happened.

They had encountered the minotaur on a floor where it shouldn't have been. When they tried to kill it, it suddenly disappeared and reappeared on one of the upper floors.

Fortunately, Rui had entered the Dungeon at just the right time and managed to save the only member of the Hestia Familia from certain death.

"The only member of the Hestia Familia? Rui was with that girl?"

Bella was a girl Loki knew.

Her appearance had always caught Loki's attention.

"Yes. He helped her kill the minotaur," Ais answered.

"I see."

Loki let out a sigh.

"Alright. Thanks for the report. Riveria, call Finn. We need to hold a meeting."

"Yes, Goddess."

"May I join you?" Ais asked, looking at Loki with a serious expression.

Without a second thought, Loki nodded with a smile.

But despite that smile, her thoughts were very different.

'We need to find out what's happening.'

'What a headache.'

'A problem like this at a time like this?'

And, of course, she was worried.

The Dungeon was something that not even the Gods could fully understand.

The world itself might be changing.

And that was enough to frighten even Loki.