Soon after…
A bathhouse trip both steamy and awkward unfolded.
In the wide tub.
The three faced each other honestly, and the mood got delicate to the extreme.
Zyhark kept his eyes straight ahead.
Focused on the patterns on the ceiling.
Yukino, lying in his arms, was as composed as ever, as if she were soaking in an ordinary hot spring.
Mahiru stayed red-faced the entire time, shrinking to the far end of the tub and using bubbles to cover herself as much as possible.
Her gaze, unintentionally, swept over the not-so-proud rise of Yukino's chest.
Perhaps to ease her own nerves.
Perhaps as a small counterattack after being suppressed.
Mahiru muttered softly with a hint of payback:
"…As expected."
"In both scale and personality, it's just as 'reserved.'"
Hearing that.
Yukino didn't get angry—she just let out a snort.
Languidly scooping up water to pour over her shoulder, she shot back:
"Oh?"
"Looks like Mahiru-san is quite confident in her own 'capital'?"
"However, in a combat environment that demands agility and speed—"
"An overly 'heavy' burden can actually turn into a drawback, you know?"
"Just like certain people's extra, hidebound notions clogging up their heads."
"You…!"
Mahiru choked on her anger.
But unable to outduel the other with words, she could only turn her face away in a huff.
"Enough, you two. Quiet down."
"Mahiru, my leg here still works—come sit. It's comfortable."
Zyhark wrapped one arm around Yukino's slender waist, legs together then slightly parted to free up one thigh.
Yukino didn't say much.
She simply closed her eyes, resting, enjoying his washing and the skinship between them.
Mahiru hesitated for a moment.
Then she, too, leaned in; her fair, delicate body settled lightly onto his other leg.
"That's more like it."
"We're one family now. Get along."
The corner of Zyhark's mouth lifted with a pleased curve, and his other hand went around Mahiru.
…
Night fell, and a bigger "trial" arrived.
Though the luxury suite was comfortable,
There was only one bedroom, and only one big bed.
That soft, spacious bed—clearly prepared for two.
Yukino, hair dried, had already claimed one side of the bed on her own.
After the "baptism" in the bath, Mahiru seemed to have let go of a certain restraint as well.
Or rather…
She refused to show weakness in front of Yukino.
She bit her lip.
Then, without a word, she climbed onto the bed and occupied the other side.
Just like that.
Zyhark froze at the bedside.
A cool beauty on the left and a different-flavored beauty on the right—he felt like he was being roasted over a fire.
"What are you spacing out for? We're going to the Dungeon tomorrow."
Yukino's cool voice drifted over.
"Zyhark-sama… please rest."
Mahiru added softly.
Zyhark hid a naughty smile and finally lay down between them.
The next instant.
Both of his arms were taken as pillows.
Yukino's movement was utterly natural, as if ordained by heaven and earth.
Mahiru was stiff at first, but soon adjusted to a relatively comfortable position.
The room sank into an eerie quiet, marked only by three faint breaths.
Zyhark could feel from both sides the starkly different temperatures and scents.
Yukino was cool as jade.
Mahiru was warm and soft.
To break the silence that made hearts beat faster,
Zyhark found a topic and, turning slightly toward Yukino, asked in a low voice:
"Yukino, did the adventuring go smoothly today? You said you pushed to the 6th floor tonight?"
"Mm…"
In the dark,
Yukino's voice was very calm:
"Starting from the 6th floor, a kind of 'monster' appears that's black all over."
"It's fast, and its wrist hooks can lurk and ambush like a shadow."
"But before my absolute strength—"
"They're no different from the riffraff on the upper floors. I dealt with them easily."
Her words carried their usual confidence.
Zyhark was slightly taken aback.
The "War Shadow," a so-called newbie-killer alongside the Killer Ants on the 7th floor?
For Lv.1 rookie adventurers, the War Shadow is indeed no small challenge.
To think…
She could handle them so easily—Yukino's growth really was terrifying!
Just then.
Yukino gently turned her head.
Warm breath mingled with the faint fragrance of her hair, brushing against Zyhark's ear.
She whispered, only for the two of them, with a hint of ambiguity:
"…Let's 'replenish mana,' now."
Zyhark stiffened a fraction.
He almost thought he'd misheard.
Keeping his voice low—barely a breath—he replied:
"Are you sure?"
"Mahiru's right here!"
"You want it that thrilling?"
"…Ignore her."
Yukino's response was simple and direct, carrying her signature "I do as I please."
Though the whispers were barely audible,
In the silent room they still stirred the air.
On the other side, Mahiru seemed to notice something and asked, puzzled, in a soft voice:
"…What are you two talking about?"
Hearing that, Yukino's lips curled in a cold, prank-well-done smile.
Instead of hiding it,
She even added a teasing lilt and said it out loud:
"We're talking about—'mana replenishment.'"
She paused on purpose.
Satisfied to sense…
Zyhark's roaming hand go instantly rigid, and on the other side Mahiru's breath stop short.
In the dark, She could picture Mahiru's caramel eyes going wide and her face flushing scarlet in an instant.
"Looks like,"
Yukino's voice carried icy sarcasm that saw through everything:
"Our 'reliable' god hasn't given you the fine-print yet—"
"About a certain 'deep exchange' ritual necessary for rapid power-ups."
Zyhark clicked his tongue, at a loss for words.
He truly hadn't told the newly arrived Mahiru about this "replenishment."
He'd planned to bring it up in a few days…
Right now he felt the body resting on his right arm go terribly stiff.
Her breathing turned quick.
Mahiru whipped her head around.
Even if their expressions weren't visible—
Zyhark could feel the scorching mix of shame and anger, and a gaze full of disbelief.
"Ma… mana replenishment?!"
"You mean… that kind…?!"
Mahiru's voice trembled violently, her usual sharp tongue in disarray:
"What a… what a shameless ritual!"
"Zyhark-sama! You—you and Yukino-san already…!"
"And you say it at a time like this! Your conduct as a god is just…!"
"Shut up."
Yukino cut her off, cold, with a touch of impatience and unsurprised clarity:
"Seems you're not only hidebound—you're bad at understanding, too."
"This is the most efficient way to improve, and part of the Falna system."
"Or is it…"
"That you'd rather play the weakling and drag us down in the Dungeon?"
"Even die for lack of strength, just to guard that laughable, pointless modesty?"
"I… I won't drag anyone down!"
Pushed to the brink, Mahiru's fierce pride and refusal to lose made her blurt:
"Since… since it's necessary… then I want in too! Fair treatment!"
Zyhark felt like he was about to suffocate.
His left ear had Yukino's icy logic, his right had Mahiru's shame-tinged stubbornness.
What was this?
A blissful dilemma?
No!
This was clearly the flames of a battlefield of love!
Why does this feel like some transformation show is happening here?!
Still…
This is the [Familia] I want!
"…All right."
As a proper main god, he had no reason to refuse his children's requests to grow stronger.
Moreover.
Zyhark could faintly sense that Yukino's sudden initiative and bluntness—
Perhaps wasn't purely to provoke Mahiru.
It felt more like her way of forcibly breaking Mahiru's mental barrier.
So the other would quickly face reality and blend in.
Maybe even…
Yukino was helping him "push the tide along."
…
The "mana replenishment" concluded under an atmosphere both subtle and complicated.
Afterward.
Whether the seemingly calm Yukino or the forcibly calm Mahiru—
Both had a strange flush on their cheeks, and unsteady breaths tinged with satisfied pleasure.
Taking the chance,
Zyhark also updated their [Ability Values].
All of Yukino's basic stats rose to E499.
Only a step away from breaking into D—her growth was frighteningly fast.
As for Mahiru, her potential made its initial appearance. From zero, her stats jumped to:
Strength: I0 → I21
Endurance: I0 → I23
Dexterity: I0 → I20
Agility: I0 → I26
Magic: I0 → I29
For a pure newcomer who just received the Falna, that's quite a start.
Especially Magic and Agility, which revealed her aptitudes.
With the [Ability Values] updated,
Zyhark, lying in the middle with a beauty on each arm still catching their breath, tried to ease the mood. He turned his head toward Yukino:
"See, Yukino? Mahiru's potential is strong, too."
"Especially in Magic and Agility. She won't be much worse than you in the future."
Hearing her main god's praise,
Mahiru's shame and anger strangely calmed a fraction.
There was even the tiniest flutter of joy.
Yukino snorted—still sharp-tongued:
"Potential isn't strength."
"Until it's converted into real fighting power, any praise is a castle in the sky."
"And a high 'Magic' stat doesn't mean you can actually use magic well."
"For all we know, she'll be flustered and become deadweight."
Mahiru, hearing that,
Refused to be outdone, showing the willful core beneath her soft exterior:
"No need for you to worry, Yukino-san."
"At least I won't, like some people, use a cold attitude and barbed words to hide being unapproachable."
"All right, you two…"
Zyhark hurried to smooth things over, arms tightening slightly to pull them close:
"From now on you're comrades fighting side by side. Watch out for each other."
"Yukino, you've got experience. Please guide Mahiru more."
Yukino glanced at Mahiru.
"…Since it's for the [Familia]'s growth—"
"I'll teach her what I can about surviving in this cruel world."
"Provided she isn't hopelessly dull."
The tone was still cool,
But the content was as good as a yes.
However.
Mahiru's stubborn streak rose, too:
"I don't need—"
"Don't need?"
Yukino cut in with a snort:
"You think the Dungeon is a playground for pretend?"
"Or do you believe, at your current level, you can solo those bloodthirsty 'monsters' that kill without blinking?"
"Naïveté needs a limit."
Seeing the fight about to flare up again, Zyhark soothed quickly:
"Mahiru, Yukino's got a point—experience matters."
"There's nothing shameful about accepting a senpai's guidance."
"Yukino, ease up a little—Mahiru is new."
After his efforts at mediation, the two finally lowered their flags for now.
Maybe the replenishment left them tired.
Maybe the bickering drained their energy.
In the end.
Like two kittens seeking warmth, they nestled to Zyhark's left and right.
As their breathing grew even and long, they drifted into deep sleep.
Feeling the different touches and temperatures from both sides, Zyhark's heart was a mix of flavors.
He gently patted their heads and gradually slipped into sleep himself.
…
The next morning.
Zyhark woke to an enticing aroma of food.
He opened his eyes.
Yukino was still asleep by his side, while Mahiru was nowhere to be seen.
After putting on the briefs and clothes laid on the nightstand, he stepped out of the bedroom.
The table was already set with a refined breakfast.
Perfectly fried sunny-side eggs, bread toasted golden and crisp, and a steaming vegetable-meat soup.
Mahiru, wearing an apron, busied herself in the kitchen.
Her flaxen long hair was simply tied back; in the morning light, her profile looked especially gentle.
"Morning, Mahiru. Thanks for the work."
Zyhark greeted her from the heart.
Mahiru turned.
There was still the faintest blush on her face as she gave a small nod:
"Good morning, Zyhark-sama."
"Breakfast will be ready in a moment."
Once Yukino woke as well,
After the three quietly finished breakfast, Zyhark laid out the plan for the day:
"First, we take Mahiru to the Guild to register and officially become an adventurer."
"Then she can pick up a free rookie weapon from the Guild."
He looked at Mahiru, recalling Yukino's precedent without meaning to:
"Start with a longsword to get used to it. As for armor… if you insist, you can go without for now."
After all, with a cheat-like "Additional Magic," skipping armor was feasible.
Mahiru gave a slight nod.
"Also, we need a backpack to carry our loot."
Zyhark patted a sturdy-looking leather pack at his side:
"I had my eye on this yesterday."
"Went for a stroll this morning and bought it on the way back. Only cost 10,000 valis."
The pack had decent room, enough for magic stones and drops.
After heading out,
They passed an equipment shop on the way to the Guild.
Yukino stopped.
Pointing at a pair of black combat gloves in the window, she said:
"I need these—to increase grip and protect my hands."
"No problem."
Zyhark promptly bought three pairs of the same:
"Mahiru, take a pair—better to have them and not need them."
"I'll grab one, too. I don't fight directly, but you never know."
He spotted a deep-blue cloak hanging nearby and casually got one for Mahiru as well:
"Take this, too. It'll cover you up and reduce unnecessary attention."
"Mm, and combat boots—we can't keep fighting in your little dress shoes, right?"
He bought two pairs of standard women's combat boots, spending a total of 30,000 valis.
Most of what Yukino earned yesterday went straight into gear.
Next.
After registering Mahiru as an adventurer, they hit a clothing store.
They picked up several sets of fitted daily wear for Mahiru, as well as underwear and a combat outfit.
After all, she couldn't keep wearing his shirts, right?
During this,
Yukino and Mahiru also picked a few pairs of tights—over-knees, thigh-highs, white, black, all included.
With the new purchases returned to the luxury suite,
The three went light.
And once again came to the towering "Babel Tower."
Sunlight was sliced by the massive structure, casting a deep shadow over the entrance.
Cloaked, Zyhark looked at the two differently styled yet equally beautiful girls at his side.
One was ice-cool.
One was soft with hidden thorns.
"Ready?"
He drew a deep breath and asked.
Yukino nodded expressionlessly, hand tightening on the sword at her waist.
Mahiru took a deep breath, forcing down her nerves.
Imitating Yukino, She gripped her own rookie longsword and nodded as well.
"Then…"
Zyhark gathered his divine presence and stepped forward first:
"Let's go."
"This time, it's our [Familia]'s first group sortie!"
"Today, we're filling our packs to the brim!"
Their figures slowly sank into the maze's entrance.
(End of Chapter)
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