The waiting process needs no elaboration.
Chen Hai, led by Hestia, explored the bustling Orario together, and soon night fell.
"Finally found you all!"
On the second floor of an open-air restaurant in the eighth district on the northwest side of Orario, Chen Hai, sitting in a corner, enjoyed the breeze.
Beside him, Hestia was meticulously studying the delicious pastries on the round table, wondering if they could be sold as a new product besides fried potato balls.
After Chen Hai suggested, "If you're short on money, just go to the Dungeon and sell any magic stone," Hestia, who had a sudden realization, was about to answer when she was interrupted by a voice beside her.
"Excuse me! Lord Chen Hai! Lord Hestia!"
The girl standing in front of them was panting.
"You are... a member of the Loki Familia whom I met in the VIP room earlier, right?"
"You actually remember me? My name is Leifia, Leifia Viridis!"
"Is Loki's side ready?"
"Yes, because everyone is busy, I came to inform the two of you."
After Leifia finished speaking, she looked at the pastries in front of Hestia.
"These pastries are delicious, aren't they, Lord Hestia?"
"That's right, that's right, this is the second one. I was thinking of studying how to make them and then selling them for money, but now~"
Hestia glanced at Chen Hai.
"There's no need for that."
"Rather than making them for others, why not make them for me to taste?"
"Of course, if Chen Hai is interested!"
The Blue Ribbon Goddess nodded repeatedly.
Leifia, who had come to deliver the message, smiled slightly,
"These pastries are limited in both quantity and season, because some of the ingredients used come from rock crevice flowers on the twenty-sixth floor, which are very precious."
"How do you know this?"
"Actually, I've also researched them, intending to give Miss Asuna a surprise."
The girl who admired Asuna was also secretly working hard, which was commendable.
"Then would you like to try it?"
"Eh? No, no, no, please don't mind me."
Leifia quickly refused.
She was here for work, not to eat.
But Hestia didn't care about that. She grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her closer.
"Just order another serving for her."
Chen Hai picked up the menu.
Leifia, overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness, quickly said,
"How could I impose! Besides, the two of you have other arrangements next."
"What do you mean?"
"Before going to the venue, Lord Loki entrusted a tailor to make formal wear for the two of you. If needed, you can go there to change, and I can lead the way for you."
Loki had made very thorough preparations.
Chen Hai, on the other hand, hadn't considered changing clothes.
However, Hestia became interested.
She handed the pastry to the slightly flustered Leifia, and then leaned close to Chen Hai.
"Chen Hai-kun hasn't changed clothes this whole time, has he?"
"My clothes aren't dirty, though."
He hadn't even sweated.
But Hestia wasn't concerned with that at all.
"I think if Chen Hai-kun changes into formal wear, he will definitely be more handsome than he is now."
"I, I think so too!"
Leifia, who ultimately couldn't refuse the kindness, ate the pastry and chimed in, a smudge of cream still on the corner of her mouth.
Chen Hai offered a tissue as he left his seat.
"Then let's go take a look."
Before heading to the venue, a new destination was added.
——
——
The tailor shop arranged by Loki.
While Chen Hai was trying on clothes in the back, Leifia, who had accompanied the two to the shop, approached Hestia and asked in a low voice,
"Goddess-sama... what kind of person is that gentleman, exactly?"
"Actually, I've only known Chen Hai for about a day, you know."
"Is that so?"
"That's right."
Hestia began to talk about this topic.
"I haven't spent much time with Chen Hai, so it's impossible to understand him so easily, but one thing I can be sure of is that he is not Orario's enemy."
"A Dungeon Lord cooperating with Adventurers, it just feels like a dream."
The stories Leifia had heard before, besides depicting magnificent heroic sagas, were tales of misfortune where monsters ravaged the land.
Now, the ruler of the Dungeon not only didn't launch an attack but instead helped the Adventurers' Guild establish new rules.
It completely exceeded Leifia's imagination.
"As for the true situation, I think you need to see for yourself, as everyone's perspective is different; I'm just giving you a reference."
"So, when Lord Hestia first met Mr. Chen Hai and learned his identity, you weren't flustered at all?"
"There was definitely a sense of tension, because for us gods, the Dungeon can create god's assassins that ignore divine power, but Chen Hai doesn't have that terrifying aura."
Unless...
Hestia emphasized, "Unless someone harbors hostility towards him and makes the first move, like Uranus."
"What happened to that Lord?"
As an ordinary person, Leifia wasn't aware of the 'Great God's fall' that the gods felt.
Loki probably hadn't explained it to her, so Hestia didn't intend to say more.
"You can ask Loki about it later; she'll explain it to you."
"Alright."
As Leifia nodded, the changing room door opened.
Chen Hai, dressed in a suit, walked out.
He had worn such clothes before but wasn't very used to them.
They were inconvenient for movement, giving him a sense of constraint.
But since it was a formal occasion, as someone who would change Orario's rules, being serious was not a problem.
"It suits you well, Mr. Chen Hai!"
"It's your turn next, Hestia."
"I'll pass."
"Do you want me to help you change?"
"I'll do it myself!"
Hestia, unable to refuse, also ran into the changing room.
Chen Hai, left behind, could feel Leifia's nervousness, so he teased her,
"If there's a dress you like, I can buy it for you."
"No need to trouble yourself, Lord!"
Leifia quickly refused, thinking that Hestia was right; Chen Hai was not a bad person.
On the contrary, he was very gentle.
Ding-a-ling.
The tailor shop door was suddenly pushed open.
"Ah! Lady Freya!"
Leifia immediately recognized the person.
The head god of Freya Familia, one of Orario's two major Familias, came before Chen Hai and extended her right hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency Dungeon Lord."
"..."
Chen Hai did not shake her hand.
He responded with a calm smile,
"No need for a handshake."
"..."
Freya, feeling rejected, frowned and couldn't help but ask,
"Did I do something to displease Your Excellency Dungeon Lord? This is our first meeting, isn't it?"
"Don't mind it; I simply don't like shaking hands with people."
"..."
Freya fell silent again.
She could confirm that she was indeed disliked...