Loki, already halfway through pulling out a bottle of wine from behind her, gave a dry snort. Pouring herself a glass, she answered as if stating the obvious.
"It's simple. There are merchants helping them, traders who enter and leave the city."
She took a sip, then grimaced, clearly not enjoying the bitter taste.
Freya's eyes narrowed, distaste curling her lips. "Merchants who'd rather turn Orario into a lawless pit, undermining the Guild itself, utterly foolish."
Astraea gave a solemn nod. "Indeed. While Orario permits the sale of monster materials, the sale of magic stones is strictly forbidden."
"Exactly." Loki continued, swirling her glass lazily. "This city lives off its dungeon, but that's exactly why the Guild restricts certain trades. To many merchants, the Guild's rules are a thorn in their side."
Freya added, "If the Guild, currently monopolizing the magic stone product industry, falls, it would be an opportunity for someone else to seize that power. That's the endgame for some of them."
The three exchanged heavy glances. They all knew what was at stake. The magic stone industry was Orario's crown jewel, the foundation of its title as the Center of the World. Its profits were beyond measure. And with an endless supply of magic stones from the Dungeon, Orario was the richest city in the known lands, aboveground and underground.
A business more lucrative than gold, what merchant wouldn't covet it? The answer, of course, was none.
As the old saying went:
With 50% profit, merchants will take risks.
With 100% profit, they'll trample laws.
With 300% profit, they'll commit any crime.
Astraea's eyes dimmed. "In chasing their immediate gain, they've deepened Orario's chaos."
"That's right." Loki agreed, the corner of her lips twisting into a humorless smirk. "I've stopped sighing at this point. I just wish they'd think a little bigger."
She opened one eye from her usual squint, her crimson iris gleaming sharply. "If the Guild falls, who will manage the Dungeon? If all adventurers die, who will be left to face the doomsday disaster, defeating the Black Dragon?"
Freya, resting her chin lightly on her hand, gave a slow smile. "The fall of Orario would be the same as the destruction of the world below. Even a child could understand that, if they bothered to think."
Her silver hair shimmered as she tilted her head, her expression taking on the air of savoring irony. "And yet, humans, these children, will destroy the very world they live in for the sake of their desires. Fitting, isn't it?"
Astraea's gaze softened, her mind inevitably turning to a certain boy. She believed in the child she had named Morning Star. Believed he could save the world.
But still… if possible, she wished all people could stand together to protect it. Not leave the burden solely to him.
Demeter suddenly said, breaking her silence, "Perhaps, we can start with the merchants. My familia's business connections are extensive. Through them, I might be able to uncover a list of those secretly supporting evilus."
"That's a solid plan." Loki nodded, eyes glinting with approval.
Freya tapped her chin lightly and said, "But such merchants will surely be cautious. First, let Demeter's people collect undeniable evidence. Once we have it, we can crush them publicly, all at once."
The three goddesses agreed in unison.
Then Loki shifted topics, her tone growing sharper. "Also, that report from Asfi about the destruction of a super-hard metal wall? That's not something done easily."
Freya said slowly, "You mean, there might be a new powerful force in play?"
"Yeah."
"Don't trouble yourselves about that." Astraea interjected with a gentle smile, her posture relaxing. "Akira has already made contact with them."
"Huh? That kid again?"
Loki, Freya, and Demeter looked at Astraea in collective surprise.
Astraea gave them a brief explanation, omitting the identities of the two and only touching on Akira's connection and plans with them.
There was no need for the other familias to worry about their children being beaten down by a level 7. The real enemy remained evilua.
"I see." Loki murmured.
"Heh. Those bastards aren't escaping this time." Freya said with a faintly dangerous smile.
"Oh. Do work hard, won't you?" Demeter chimed with a teasing tone.
Meanwhile, across the table, Akira glanced at Ais, who was blissfully focused on her meal, and couldn't help but smile.
"Ais." He called softly.
Ais looked up, her small and delicate face tilting toward him, eyes questioning. "Mm?"
"You've got something on your lips." Akira said, picking up the towel from the table.
He leaned forward, ready to gently wipe the smear of cream from her mouth.
Ais subconsciously tilted her face toward him, her lashes fluttering as she closed her eyes ever so slightly, waiting for Akira to wipe her clean.
She dared to sneak a glance upward and caught sight of his expression, focused, yet with a faint hint of doting warmth that made her fingers tighten around the spoon in her hand.
When Akira finished, his movements natural and unhurried, he drew the towel back without a word.
The corners of Ais' lips curved faintly as she murmured, "Thank you, Akira."
At that moment, Akira's senses caught a shift in the atmosphere. From the second-floor balcony above, the presence of goddesses began to descend. His gaze naturally shifted toward the staircase.
And there, stepping into view, was the first figure to greet his sight: a woman clad in a soft pink dress that hugged her body in all the right places, the delicate fabric accentuating a graceful, curvaceous silhouette.
The dress' neckline swelled invitingly, framing proud, rounded peaks that seemed to draw the eye without mercy. With each subtle movement, they quivered ever so slightly, radiating a mature allure that was impossible to ignore.
"Ah. What cute little ones." The woman, Demeter, exclaimed with delight before briskly striding toward Akira and Ais.
Though she had never met them in person, she had seen their portraits before. Her voice overflowed with affection and her ample bosom swayed with every step.
Akira gulped hard before he could stop himself. Then, suddenly, a uwarm shadow loomed over them.
Akira barely had time to blink before his face was enveloped in something impossibly soft and springy, like sinking into a warm, sweet-scented cloud.
He instinctively tried to pull away, but it was futile. Demeter's astonishing magnificence sealed his face completely, her embrace strong and unyielding. Heat surged through him, his heart pounding while his thoughts scattered into incoherent static.
Beside him, Ais' eyes went wide in stunned disbelief. Held tightly against Demeter's side, her smaller frame spared her from the land of suffocating tenderness, but not from the awkwardness. Demeter's pillowy chest pressed against her cheek, and she froze.
"You must be Astraea's familia member, Akira." Demeter's cheerful voice rang above them, blissfully unaware of their predicament.
Her arms squeezed them tighter, causing her abundant softness to tremble with each enthusiastic movement.
Akira's breathing quickened. His eyes bulged, his mind went completely blank. Every nerve in his body screamed in panic, yet he didn't dare push back with real force against a goddess. His hands hovered uselessly in the air, flapping once or twice like a drowning man's before falling still.
"Uhm—uhh—!"
He tried to speak, but his voice was muffled into unintelligible vibrations, smothered by the plush embrace. The faint aroma, sweet, milky, intoxicating, flooded his nose, muddling his already scrambled thoughts.