"I'm heading back now."
Seeing that it was getting late, Raven was just about to get up and put on his clothes—
But Ais reached out and gently grabbed him.
"…Won't you sleep with us tonight~?"
"If you just pull up your pants and pretend nothing happened, Raven-sama… I'll start to hate you."
Lefiya murmured softly.
Raven gave a faint wry smile.
After all, Anna was still waiting in another VIP suite for him.
He couldn't just—
Leave her alone in an empty room, right?
"…Fine."
"Let's sleep together then."
Guess he'd have to sneak out after they fell asleep.
That evening—
The lights in the room were already out.
Ais lay on his left side, resting her head on his arm.
Lefiya, on his right, was clinging to his other arm.
Lying in between them, Raven quietly opened his eyes and slowly tried to pull his arms back.
He was about to make his move—
When the blonde girl beside him suddenly shifted, her silky body pressing tightly against him.
Her slender arm, in the darkness, found his neck with uncanny precision and locked in place.
Raven's eyes twitched.
Yup…
She definitely wasn't asleep.
There was no escaping tonight.
He let out a helpless sigh—
Then turned his body and simply wrapped an arm around Lefiya as well.
And so—
In a sandwich-like sleeping posture, Raven spent a blissful night cuddled between Ais and Lefiya.
The Next Morning
When Raven woke up—
Both girls were already gone.
He simply shook his head.
Didn't think much of it.
Pulling aside the white silk covers, he grabbed the clothes he had left on the nightstand the night before.
A faint crimson stain remained on the white bed sheets.
He headed to the bathroom to wash up and left the high-end hotel.
"Guess I'll head over to East Main Street."
Today marked an important day of the Monster Festival.
The time was just past 9 a.m.
The main road was already bustling with life, filled with joyful cheers and celebration.
At a time when most adventurers were down in the dungeon—
East Main Street was utterly packed with a surging crowd, teeming with excitement.
Vendors had lined up on either side of the road and in the center for this special occasion.
The sizzling sound of grilled food filled the air, releasing mouth-watering aromas.
Colorful decorations—ribbons, floral designs, and more—adorned the entire street.
Compared to normal days, it felt a touch more glamorous.
Overhead, small flags in various colors fluttered in the breeze, strung up across the streets.
Some flags bore images of fierce lions representing monsters, others had the elephant-head crest of the Ganesha Familia.
Even the sound of footsteps in the crowd seemed unusually upbeat.
Right now, East Main Street had been completely transformed into a festival town.
People of all races—men, women, young and old—mingled and laughed together.
The scene was both grand and moving.
The excited crowd filled the entire street—
Forming a long, thick line that stretched all the way to the Colosseum in the city's eastern sector.
"So many people…"
Walking through the endless throng, Raven let out a sigh.
At that moment—
"Hey——!"
"Raaaven-kun~~!"
A soft, familiar loli voice suddenly rang out.
Raven turned toward the sound.
It was—
Goddess Hestia.
Pushing through the crowd with a bright smile, she ran straight toward him.
"Ahhhh~~"
"I missed you sooo much these past few days!"
Throwing herself into his chest, Hestia hugged him tightly.
"I missed you too."
Raven caught her in his arms, a gentle smile curving his lips.
Looking very pleased with herself, Hestia giggled:
"Hehehe~~"
"I was just thinking about how I wanted to see you, and then I actually found you!"
"It's like we're connected by an extraordinary bond~~!"
To run into each other by chance in a sea of people—
Definitely required a fair amount of luck.
"Raven-kun~~"
"What have you been up to these past few days?"
Hestia's eyes sparkled as she asked.
Raven noted the playful arc of her smile and replied calmly:
"I found two new members for the Familia."
Namely, the prum girl Liliruca, and the human girl Anna.
"Ehhh~~?"
"Really now?"
Hestia smiled sweetly.
Then, with a hint of teasing in her voice:
"Since we've run into each other like this…"
"Why don't we go on a date, Raven-kun~~?"
Whether he agreed or not—
Hestia had already hopped out of his arms and grabbed his hand.
Her small, soft fingers locked onto his palm.
She then led him—
Straight into the lively festival crowd.
Being pulled along by the little goddess, Raven could only show a bitter smile.
The rows of stalls on the street were still going strong.
Among the various goods for sale, the most eye-catching were skewered snacks perfect for eating on the go.
There were also Monster Festival souvenirs, little trinkets, and accessories.
Fireworks exploded in the distant sky, cracking crisply against the backdrop of blue sky and clouds.
Eventually, they stopped at a particular food stall.
"Hey, mister——!"
"I'll take two crepes!"
Hestia cheerfully called out to the shopkeeper.
"Got it!"
"That'll be 50 valis total."
…Damn.
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