Bonds are not severed by distance; instead, they turn into fuel for the journey ahead.
...
Orario.
Haimo Familia residence, first floor lobby.
Hanasaka Warabi, Rin, Inaba Tsukuyo, Tamaba Satori, Kikakujuo Mary, and the big and small bears stood again in the spacious and luxurious lobby.
Although it was only a brief return of one hour.
But it seemed to blow away the last speck of dust in their hearts.
Heimer had sat back on the sofa early on, looking at his group of Familia members who seemed to have undergone a baptism; he didn't speak, just quietly refilled his tea.
Silence spoke louder than words at this moment.
Kirukiru Amou didn't make a sound either.
However.
Such an atmosphere clearly wouldn't last for long.
...
"Bang—!"
Not long after.
The heavy solid wood door of the mansion was pushed open from the outside.
The commotion was so loud that the girls, who were still immersed in their respective emotions, were startled and turned their heads in unison.
"I'm back—!!!"
There.
Accompanied by a high-spirited shout.
A blue figure walked in.
It was Hestia.
This esteemed goddess really had no divine image at all.
She was holding a large pile of paper packages and food boxes stacked higher than her head, swaying precariously, looking like they would collapse at any moment.
Her hands weren't even enough; she had to tilt her chin high to press down on the top box, her face squeezed out of shape.
"Look at the good stuff I bought!"
Hestia shouted while struggling to maintain her balance.
She was walking entirely by feel, nearly hitting the doorframe several times.
"Roasted meat! Fried fish! And Mama Mia's private special fruit wine!"
"And this! Freshly made mushroom stew, the aroma is absolutely amazing!"
"I ordered everything on the menu that looked delicious!"
"Humph, it feels so good to have money! Is this the joy of splurging!"
Hestia shook her head triumphantly; although her face couldn't be seen, one could imagine her nouveau riche-like smug expression just by her voice.
Finally.
Hestia waddled over to the coffee table.
"Heave-ho!"
With a dull thud like unloading cargo.
That precarious mountain of food finally landed safely on the obsidian coffee table.
"Phew—I'm exhausted."
Hestia let out a long breath and wiped away the non-existent sweat on her forehead.
Then.
She looked up, her face full of excitement, ready to receive everyone's cheers.
"How is it? Impressive, right? Quickly praise me... Eh?"
Hestia stopped halfway through her sentence.
She blinked her large sea-blue eyes and scanned the living room.
Something was a bit off.
The atmosphere was a bit strange.
"You guys..."
Hestia scratched her cheek, and the ahoge on top of her head wobbled in confusion.
"I just went out for a bit to get takeout."
"Why does it feel like you've all become different people?"
"What happened? Your expressions are all weird."
As soon as these words were spoken.
The girls' hearts all skipped a beat.
Hanasaka Warabi subconsciously touched the corner of her eye and looked away guiltily.
How should they put it?
Should they say, "Oh, actually we just went back to our hometown for a look and said goodbye to some friends you don't know"?
"Uh... it's nothing!"
Hanasaka Warabi laughed it off, trying to gloss over the question.
"It's just... that..."
"It's just that..."
Hanasaka Warabi spoke while winking at Rin next to her.
Rin's face stiffened, and she turned her head to look at the ceiling.
Don't look at me, I'm not good at lying.
Hanasaka Warabi looked at Kikakujuo Mary.
Kikakujuo Mary picked up a book to hide her face.
"Ahem."
Seeing that these girls couldn't lie to Hestia, Heimer, sitting in the main seat, let out a timely cough.
"We just had a small activity while you were away."
"They're just a bit emotional; it's normal."
"Oh..."
Hearing Heimer's words, Hestia nodded half-understandingly.
If Heimer said so, then it must be true.
A small activity...
Probably the kind of activity where everyone sits around and tells each other their dreams, then gets all emotional and teary-eyed?
After all, these kids have been fighting monsters and leveling up these past few days; it's indeed been hard work.
Hestia quickly accepted this explanation.
After all, her brain capacity wasn't that large to begin with, and the focus right now was not on this at all.
"Whatever! Since it's a team-building event, we should celebrate even more with good food!"
Hestia immediately threw her doubts to the wind and excitedly pointed at the pile of steaming food on the coffee table.
"Taste it! Taste it!"
"I had to wait in line for a long time to get this!"
"Let me tell you, that Shopkeeper Miach didn't want to give me extra portions at first, but I argued my case for a long time!"
After saying that.
Hestia couldn't wait to reach out and uncover a large food box lid.
"Whoosh—"
Steam rose.
Pieces of roasted meat, golden and crispy, still sizzling with oil, were exposed to the air.
That extremely rich aroma of meat instantly filled the entire living room.
"*Gulp...*"
"Wow—!!!"
"It's roasted meat! It's really roasted meat!"
"And it's the kind of big chunks with bones!"
"Great!!"
Seeing this, Hanasaka Warabi cheered and was about to pounce on it.
...
However.
Heimer noticed.
In the spot where Hestia had just squeezed in.
Behind the oak door of the mansion.
There was another person standing.
It seemed that because Hestia's presence was too strong and her voice too loud just now, everyone's attention had been drawn to her.
So much so that no one noticed this person's presence at first.
But now.
When the noise subsided slightly.
That figure was finally noticed.
Wearing an outfit that was highly recognizable anywhere—the green clerk uniform of The Hostess of Fertility.
An apron with white lace trim was tied around her slender waist, outlining her beautiful curves.
Under the green knee-length skirt were a pair of long, slender legs wrapped in black tights.
A head of pale green short hair, fresh and capable.
Without a doubt.
It was the elf shop assistant of [The Hostess of Fertility].
—Ryu.
She was also holding a large pile of food boxes and paper packages, even higher than what Hestia was holding, almost burying her face in them.
Her cheeks were bright red.
That blush even spread to her pointed elf ears, turning them so red they looked like they might bleed.
Her whole being radiated a strong aura of "I am air," "I don't exist," and "Please don't look at me."
Heimer blinked.
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