Just noticed this chapter wasn't published last night for some reason :(

--- ​​

—You earned 3405 XP for killing [Level 24 Goliath]

Not much but I will take it since the Excelia gained might be enough to level up.

Leveling up in one day.

People might go crazy if they heard of it.

I chuckled and swung the blood off my precious Gae Bolg. The adventurers looked at me out of their wits. Well, they might think of me as a Level 5 now. As Loki Familia already knows some of my strength, it'd be odd to not show my own Familia.

This is better than showing my identity from another world or the so-called God Aura.

Ryuu's group approached. Alise's eyes were different, like they had more respect and admiration.

Kaguya, on the other hand, gave a sly smirk. "Asahi-san sure hid this well. We were thinking of your women as geniuses, but you were the true talent among them."

"What can I say. I'm just different."

"Captain is proud!" Alise said. "I promise that your secret won't go anywhere."

"Good." I gave a glance at Ryuu talking with Shiori. She noticed my gaze and returned a delicate smile.

"Now, we rest in the safe zone!"

The next floor is Rivira.

'What's the time?'

(It's eight, my love.)

Almost ten hours have passed since our journey. Covering seventeen floors in this time is a decent pace.

Natsumi approached me with the magic stone in her hand. "Master, offerings."

"Take it to Apollo Familia."

"How can I do that when you slew the monster? It's not fair."

"Just take it."

Rini was barred from eating more magic stones for some time. She already ate a ton, eating more might be harmful. She wanted to come to the dungeon again, so I'll take her in the night when I go solo hunting.

Natsumi turned to Alise. "You take it."

Alise shook her head. "It's thanks to your monsters' acute senses that we reached Rivira in less than a day. It would be shameless of us to take more advantage of you."

"Master…"

"Just shut up and take it," I said, a bit annoyed from her persistent attitude.

Natsumi blushed and tucked the magic stone in the backpack on her waist. "Thanks, Master. You're the best!"

"This man sent a spy to our rival Familia. So cunning…"

"Truly a fox."

My lips twitched at Alise and Kaguya's remarks.

So we began our descent through the tunnel on the other side. Only after walking through the branching paths for minutes, we found the exit.

The 18th floor greeted us with gentle sunlight. The girls blinked their eyes to adjust to the sudden change in light after wandering all day in dark caverns. I raised my gaze. The vivid sky was a sight made by the azure light coming from the crystals dotting the ceilings. The illusion of the sun was created by the white crystals.

A thick forest was spread on every side.

What a sight.

"It's afternoon here," Ryuu muttered and her gaze darted toward the forest on the side. A hint of melancholy flashed in her eyes.

Alise slipped her arm around Ryuu's shoulder as if noticing Ryuu's sad atmosphere. "Let's bath in the river."

That cheered up the elf girl as she nodded in agreement.

"I'm coming too!"

"Don't forget me." Kaguya turned toward Saeko and Shiori. "You all coming?"

"Is Asahi-kun allowed there?" Shiori asked. "If not, I'm gonna stay with him."

Such a loyal girl. She deserved lots of love for this. As if sensing my overflowing affection, Shiori winked at me with a grin.

Kaguya shrugged. "Though I'm fine. These unmarried ladies probably won't be fine with Asahi-san's presence."

Alise defensively covered her chest. "No chance I'm letting Asahi see my perfect n-naked body!"

"...I'm not asking you to show me."

"Well, our Captain refuses to share her sweet spot. Captain, do you want to go first or let Asahi-kun bathe first?"

"That's a place I discovered. It's my privilege to enjoy a nice bath there first."

"Then it's settled," Kaguya said. "You guys can wait here or look around. There are plenty of springs and lakes in this area."

The girls all agreed with the decision. An open bath in the forest will be a nice change.

"Then we'll look for another river."

Thus, we parted ways. Alise's group went south while we headed into the northern forest. Grayfia scouted the area from above and found a shallow lake.

We arrived at the site. A lake formed at the base of a waterfall. The water seemed to be coming from the azure crystals planted in the hill above us.

The lake itself was connected to another water body while its depth barely reached a meter. The pure blue water sparkled from the light peeking through the canopy of trees over me.

Not bad.

The girls started to disrobe. Rika was the fastest to throw off her jacket and pants. She put her hands on her hips and jutted her chest as if showing off her juicy abs. Aimi swiftly plucked her bra and stood beside Rika, giving me a coy smile.

"Asahi-sama…"

Nao came next, exposing her mature body with a light blush on her face. Saeko and Shiori calmly talked as they pulled off their bra.

I can never have enough of this sight.

I looked at the last woman who still had her maid dress on.

"M-My Lord, I shall be on the lookout for any peepers."

"Wait." I grabbed her hand before she escaped and pulled her. "What's the matter? Are you still uncomfortable around me?"

I took the opportunity to tease my maid. She hadn't approached me after her first hot and passionate time. Even last night, she scurried to another room after Rika's gestures became lewd. Well, I can't blame her bashful self for not joining an orgy.

"That's not it, My Lord. I just…" she replied, looking up at me with watery eyes. "...I will do it."

I gently cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead. "That's my brave maid."

I stepped back. Grayfia looked at the grassy ground and started taking off her dress. Piece by piece, her maid dress fell, then her undergarments. Her naked body appeared briefly before she hid her chest with an arm and her crotch with another.

"Don't stare too much," she pleaded in a low voice.

"Don't mind this humble husband admiring his wife."

Grayfia turned red. She crept into the bath and sunk her body in the water. She stuck her head out with a tiny pout on her lips as if showing how wrong she felt.

Rika began peeling off my clothes with Nao's help.

"Go on."

Rika pushed me into the lake and followed suit. I felt the cold water as well as her soft breasts clinging to my back.

"Ouch!" Rika yelped in pain and rebounded.

I quickly turned. Rika pointed at my neck. "That girl burned me."

The flame elemental. I totally forgot about her existence. I picked up the fellow lazing around my neck and put her on my palm. The little flame girl looked at me and Rika with puffed up cheeks as if pouting for everyone ignoring her.

"What do I name her now?"

"What about Chiaki?" Shiori suggested. "It suits her."

Chiaki meant 'sparkling light,' which matched her burning image. The little girl nodded her head, clearly liking the name.

"Alright. You will be called Chiaki."

[—Chiaki: Affection +5]

'Why is the system counting her affection? She is technically my daughter…'

(A daughter or not, she is a woman.)

"..."