After stepping off the last spiral stair, a cool, man-made scent washed over them.
This was Basement Floor 1 of the chalk-white giant tower built directly above the Dungeon—the "Babel Tower."
A circular space spread around a huge central shaft, uncommonly vast.
You could say this hall could hold several thousand adventurers without exaggeration.
Leaving Basement 1,
They entered the ground-floor hall, done in white and pale blue.
Here the breath of the sun seeped in, and many lifts stood ready.
At this hour, the afterglow of sunset dyed "Babel Tower" a warm orange-red.
Down below lay the Dungeon's entrance.
Upwards, Babel's shops began from the 4th floor and above.
Floors 2–3 housed the Guild's showers, a canteen, an Exchange, and a clinic.
"Come on, to the Exchange on the 2nd floor."
Zyhark led Yukino to one of the lifts.
He reached out and pressed the controls.
The round platform began to rise, just like taking an elevator.
These inter-floor lifts were actually magitech devices fashioned around magic stones.
At intervals, the [magic stone] mounted on each base was swapped out.
They arrived on Tower Floor 2.
The Exchange hall roared with voices, people streaming to and fro.
Zyhark poured the bulging haul of magic stones from his pockets onto the counter.
When the large, deep-violet magic stone and the conspicuous "Bull Horn" came out,
Several rookie adventurers nearby, in the middle of converting their stones, couldn't help glancing over with surprise and envy.
The Guild clerk looked Zyhark over, then flicked a glance at Yukino standing beside him.
No needless questions.
He examined the magic stones and drops carefully.
When he came to the "Minotaur Horn," he checked it repeatedly.
Finally, he quoted a number that made Zyhark's heart skip:
"Magic stones—total value 15,000 valis."
"Drops like 'Goblin Tooth,' 'Gremlin Claw,' etc.—2,000 valis."
"Rare drop 'Minotaur Horn'—60,000 valis."
"Grand total, 77,000 valis."
"Please confirm."
Seventy-seven thousand!
Zyhark forced down the cheer that nearly burst out and struggled to keep a god's composure.
He nodded:
"Confirm."
When the shining valis coins stamped with the Guild's crest slid before him,
Zyhark felt his hands tremble a little.
Since crossing worlds,
This was the first glimmer of "financial freedom."
"At last… finally, money!"
He murmured, carefully tucking away the heavy pouch.
Yukino only slanted him a cool glance, her tone flat and rippleless:
"To beam over such a paltry haul—so the great god-sama's capacity is about as easily filled as your purse."
"At this rate, turning our [Familia] into Orario's top faction is truly… 'promising.'"
Zyhark choked a little,
But in such good spirits, his counter jab came with a smile:
"Sure."
"Since my Yukino is so capable, it's only natural that I, the patron god, show a little 'shared pride' now and then, right?"
"That's called genuine feeling."
"Hmph."
Yukino snorted lightly and let the topic drop.
When Zyhark stowed roughly seventy thousand valis in an inner pouch,
Leaving ten thousand valis in an easy-to-reach purse, Yukino held out her hand.
She took the ten-thousand-valis purse.
Under Zyhark's slightly puzzled look,
Yukino drew only a small portion for herself and pocketed it.
Then she stuffed the remaining valis back into Zyhark's hands.
"My daily expenses—this is enough."
Her voice was still cool, but the content made Zyhark blink.
"For the [Familia] to grow, for gear upgrades, and for recruiting future members—we'll need a lot of funds."
"These should be planned and managed by you."
She paused, then added, eyes skimming over Zyhark with faint distaste:
"After all, a god who looks poor and shabby won't attract decent talent."
"I'd rather not have others mistake us for some dubious scam ring."
Zyhark gripped the money she'd returned.
Looking at that "I'm just stating facts" cool expression, he felt a quiet warmth.
This girl…
Her tongue was venomous,
But her reason beyond her years, big-picture sense, and the trust that slipped out despite herself—
Moved even a counterfeit god.
"Got it, housekeeper."
He grinned, deliberately using an intimate nickname.
As expected, Yukino's brows twitched as if she'd start a fresh barrage.
He quickly changed the subject:
"Let's go—back to the inn first."
…
Leaving "Babel Tower," they hit the evening rush of returning adventurers.
Orario's main thoroughfare teemed with bodies, bustling and noisy.
Adventurers finishing a day's delve
Chattered in groups of three or five, or trudged alone with weary but satisfied steps—
All merging into a roaring human tide.
The air mixed dust, a hint of blood, and a surging vitality.
Yukino drew her willow brows together slightly,
Her slim body instinctively edging a bit closer to Zyhark.
In this shoulder-to-shoulder crush,
Zyhark's tall frame did, indeed, offer a sense of security.
Back at the shabby little inn,
The dim light and narrow space stood in stark contrast to their fresh windfall.
Yukino stood in the middle of the room,
Her eyes taking in the bare furniture and even the peeling walls.
Her cool tone carried decision:
"I think we need a residence that better suits our station."
"This environment—"
"Is a strain both on rest and recovery, and on maintaining a baseline quality of life."
At her look of "this place is unbecoming of a god,"
Zyhark rubbed his nose and went with the flow:
"True."
"Have it your way—let's check out now."
With money in hand, of course you improved your living conditions.
Also—
Once they moved, it would be about time to summon the next crossover heroine…
Before long,
They found the innkeeper and, with much talk about an "urgent matter,"
Recovered 800 of the 1,500 valis they'd paid to extend their stay that day.
Losing 700 valis stung a bit,
But thinking of the luxury hotel, Zyhark swallowed it.
They packed their simple luggage—basically, today's newly bought clothes—
Then left the little inn that had held their first memories in this city.
..
On the bustling streets of South Orario,
They settled on a seemingly upscale hotel.
Inside,
Polished marble floors, glittering crystal chandeliers, courteous attendants—
Everything proclaimed its steep price.
After finishing at the front desk,
They took the lift to the 6th floor—5,000 valis per night.
It was a deluxe suite with private bath, tastefully appointed and comfortable.
In the luxurious room, a corona-shaped magic-stone crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling.
Underfoot, plush carpet swallowed the feet at every step.
Every sort of furniture was laid on.
Yukino seemed quite satisfied.
Her face was as unreadable as ever, but Zyhark didn't miss the tiny loosening in her eyes.
After setting down their luggage and a short rest, they went out again.
On the flourishing South Main Street, they found a restaurant that looked promising and had dinner.
Food in this other world had its own charm—even picky Yukino lifted her chopsticks more than a few times.
Back in the deluxe suite,
Soft white lights lit the spacious room.
What pleased Zyhark most was the tub big enough for two to soak together.
"Long day. Let's share a hot bath and unwind."
He looked toward Yukino.
A faint, nearly invisible flush flashed across Yukino's face.
But she quickly armored herself in ice:
"…I shall assume your 'share'—"
"Is a purely practical thought about saving time and water, devoid of romance,"
"And not some sordid intention."
Yukino seemed to realize how odd that sounded; her cheeks grew redder.
This was a hotel.
There was no such thing as "wasting water."
Thinking that,
She angled her gaze somewhere wholly unrelated.
"Of course, of course—pure efficiency."
Zyhark played along, the corners of his mouth tugging up.
…
Steam fogged the bath.
In the tub,
Yukino sat atop Zyhark, hands resting on the rim, back against his chest.
Warm water lapped over their shoulders.
Her sleek black hair floated like seaweed over the surface.
Having already stood bare before him, Yukino seemed to find nothing improper in this posture.
Gazing at her white-jade swan neck and slightly reddened ears,
Zyhark found a topic:
"By the way."
"The 'Minotaur' we met on the 4th floor today was definitely an abnormal incident."
"That reminds me of Orario's two largest factions—Loki Familia and Freya Familia."
He spoke in a casual, chatty tone:
"That Loki…"
"I hear she's a flat-chested pervert, always groping the women in her Familia—"
"Harassing them; makes me look downright dependable by comparison."
Unspoken: See? Other gods act out. I'm already very restrained—and 'normal'—with you.
At that, Yukino was silent for a few seconds.
Then, from her cherry lips, her cool voice sounded:
"Elevating yourself by belittling others is a classic sign of insecurity."
"And if 'a shade better than a pervert' is your yardstick—"
"Your moral baseline is flexible in a way that inspires awe."
"Also, your current aroused behavior is no different from the god you just described."
Zyhark: "…"
Right. As expected.
Suddenly Yukino leaned back into him a little more, her cool voice turning soft:
"In that case, pervert-god, hold me properly. I'm a little tired…"
Zyhark blinked.
Was this…
A rare bit of spoiled softness?
When Yukino exhaled lightly and closed her eyes to rest,
His restless hands, in the end, simply circled her waist.
Yukino relaxed too, her head nestling under his chin.
A clean, distinctive fragrance rose to Zyhark's nose.
It was very pleasant.
He breathed it in twice.
After the bath, their bodies felt loose and light.
Yukino, wrapped in a bath towel, sat before the vanity.
"I'll dry your hair."
Zyhark picked up a clean towel and a magic-stone device akin to a hair dryer,
Then gently dried that beautiful, straight black hair.
His fingers slid through soft, smooth strands, warm and fragrant from the bath.
For a time, the air turned especially quiet and warm.
At first Yukino's body was a bit stiff.
But perhaps she was too tired—or perhaps the comfort urged her to relax—
She didn't refuse.
She merely closed her eyes a touch and let him work.
When her hair was dry, Yukino, naturally, loosened the towel and stretched out on the soft, wide bed.
Her graceful figure was on full display under the white light,
Skin like crystal seeming to give off a gentle glow.
She bared the smooth expanse of her back entirely to Zyhark.
After fighting together today, and with this present trust,
That first layer of shame and resistance seemed to have thinned a lot.
"Come over and update my [Stats]."
Yukino murmured.
Zyhark steadied his mind,
Took out a special silver needle and the parchment for transcribing data.
Soon, drops of "divine blood" dotted that pale, pink skin.
Arcane holy script and demonic sigils surfaced again.
And—
The numbers on her status had changed markedly.
"This is—"
...
…
(End of Chapter)
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