Faced with the goddess's open embrace, Alise's mind hadn't yet caught up before her body had already thrown itself into that proud, soft warmth.
"Sob, sob... Astraea!"
The nerves she'd kept taut the whole time finally went slack the instant she fell into the goddess's arms.
No one knew just how heavy the burden on her shoulders was, as the Familia's captain.
On the surface she was always bursting with energy and breezily carefree, but inwardly she was more delicate and sensitive than anyone. Every moment she set foot in the Dungeon, she didn't dare let herself relax for even a single second.
Especially when facing the Lower Floors' Monster Rex, the twin-headed dragon Amphisbaena, the expectant eyes of her comrades and the sheer pressure radiating from the Monster Rex had nearly crushed the young girl's tender shoulders entirely.
That was, until Leon and his group appeared. Even though they'd resolved the crisis that had brought the Familia to the brink of annihilation through sheer strength, she still had to maintain her composure in front of "outsiders," mind her manners, and keep her words steady, as the captain.
After all, what she represented wasn't just herself and her companions, but the goddess Astraea standing behind her.
Battle after battle, negotiation after negotiation, the scrutinizing gazes of others and the probing in their words... all of it had left Alise utterly drained.
Until the goddess Astraea gently spoke those understanding words.
Alise couldn't hold it back any longer, and little tears spilled right out.
Watching this touching reunion between "mother and daughter," Kaguya, Lyra, and the others exchanged smiles, then by unspoken agreement left the two of them their space.
Back in the reception hall of the Stardust Garden, these girls of justice collapsed one after another, some sinking into the sofa, some sprawling out on the carpet, letting their bodies go limp and their minds go blank, while a faint smile crept unbidden onto every one of their lips.
"We're finally back."
"Yeah. I really thought we'd die in the Dungeon this time."
"It's bad luck to say it, but ever since the day I became an Adventurer, I've been prepared for death."
"As long as... it's not a meaningless death, that's enough."
"Hey, don't talk nonsense! We're the Astraea Familia. We haven't even reached the top of Orario yet, the city's order still needs us to protect it, and so much darkness hasn't been covered by justice. How could we just die so carelessly?"
"Don't get so worked up. I was just saying it offhand, and you took it just as offhandedly."
"You..."
"Easy, easy, of course I want to live, I don't want to die. I was just making a comparison, you get it, a comparison! You dumb dwarf!"
"You're the dumb one, you beast-girl! Your whole family's a bunch of dumb beast-people!"
"..."
Once someone got the conversation going, the girls who'd been soaking in that long-missed warmth immediately burst into lively chatter.
Sitting cross-legged in a corner of the sofa, Lyra and Kaguya watched the scene, exchanged a glance, and softly smiled as well.
Only that one elf who always left people worried stood quietly by the floor-to-ceiling window, her eyes fixed with concern on Astraea and Alise talking in low voices over in the stone pavilion.
...
...
Faint morning light filtered through the window lattice, quietly spilling into this bedroom steeped in a lazy atmosphere.
On the nightstand, the alarm clock rang on, utterly without tact.
After a while, the room's owner, driven to distraction by the racket, finally reached the end of their patience.
The plump mound of blankets stirred, and then a fair arm reached out from inside, fumbling around the nightstand by feel before coming down hard with a touch of irritation.
The alarm cut off abruptly, and quiet returned to the bedroom, though any trace of sleepiness was gone as well.
"Damn it!"
After a moment, the covers were flung violently aside.
Leon rubbed his messy hair and, bleary-eyed, glanced at the two long, lovely legs draped over him.
Struck by such a sight first thing in the morning, Leon instinctively felt a flush of heat rise quietly from within.
"My two beautiful knights."
The corners of his lips curved up as his warm palm brushed over the women's golden and blue hair, and under their hazy, not-yet-fully-awake eyes, he slowly pressed down.
"You've fought all night long, and now... as my lady knights, it's time for you to pay the price."
"You...!"
"Bastard!"
"Mmf... mm..."
"Hss..."
At that sudden warmth, Leon gave a slight shiver.
He looked down at Jeanne and Rose, who were "serving" him, and said in an amused tone.
"Your technique's improved quite a bit... my dear Lady Holy Maiden. Don't tell me you've been secretly asking the senior for pointers?"
"Ergh, mm..."
Muffled whimpers and faint struggling came from beneath the covers, and Leon's hand only pressed down a little harder.
While enjoying this special "morning service" from Jeanne and Rose, he glanced at the clothes scattered across the floor.
That black, form-fitting leather outfit tossed on the carpet, the one he'd had Rose wear to play the investigator, stood out conspicuously among the pile of clothes. Beyond that, all manner of torn stockings lay strewn about, nude, white, gray, and black tangled together, several pairs of red-soled, peep-side black patent and nude patent high heels toppled over to one side.
And that single glance alone left Jeanne and Rose beneath the covers nearly suffocating, feeling the Holy Sword suddenly swell another size larger.
Unable to struggle, all they had left were their rhythmic, pitiful whimpers.
"Mm... mm mm..."
...
Two hours later...
Leon stretched as he strolled out of Kureha's room.
He yawned and looked back toward the bed, where Kureha was curled up entirely under the covers, only a pair of damp eyes peeking out, sneaking glances at him, her cheeks still flushed with a redness that hadn't faded.
"My dear Lady Kureha, remember not to miss breakfast."
"Mm..."
Hearing her muffled reply, Leon glanced at the OL suit and gray stockings scattered on the floor, a meaningful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
He gently closed the door, walked to the edge of the second-floor corridor, and looked down at the reception hall and small courtyard on the first floor.
Laurier and Aura had long since finished their morning training, and were now busy in the kitchen with aprons on, methodically putting breakfast together. Leon glanced up at the chore rotation chart stuck on the wall, confirmed that the two of them really were on duty this week, and nodded.
"Aura, once breakfast is ready, remember to go upstairs and wake up your big sister Jeanne and the others."
"Eh?"
Aura blinked dumbly, then thought of those drawn-out cries from earlier that morning, and her pretty face flushed as she shot Leon a fierce glare.
"Oh, got it!"
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