"Asahi… you shouldn't bring a woman like this…"

Astraea seemed disappointed at Asahi's choice to bring Valletta in her birthday suit. Asahi put down Valletta, took out a blanket from his ring, and wrapped it around her with telekinesis. ​​

Astraea looked at Valletta, who had committed countless sins in the chaos of the Great War. One of the key members of Evilus in the nightmare of the 27th floor.

"You troubled my children and the city."

Valletta scowled in response, "So what if I did?"

Asahi slapped a tape on her lips before turning to Astraea. "How do we deal with criminals like her here?"

Do they kill or imprison people like Valletta? He was still oblivious to that part of Orario. Personally, he preferred her dead as most villains had the tenacity of cockroaches.

"The Guild will decide on their crime. Her sins should be a guaranteed death."

"Wonderful," he nodded and peeled off Valletta's tape. "Care to tell where your accomplices are hiding?"

Valletta kept her mouth shut. Knowing only death awaited her after this, she had no reason to cooperate. She had lost all hopes of escaping after the power Asahi demonstrated. Asahi shut her mouth again and brought Valletta into his room.

"Rini."

"Onii-san…"

Rini opened the door and let him in.

Asahi made Valletta sit on a chair and patted Rini's head. "Keep an eye on her until Aimi returns."

Aimi's torture technique should wrench the secrets out of Valletta.

Rini responded with a firm, determined nod that lasted a moment. The next second, her face melted into a blissful expression. There were only two things she appreciated more than Asahi's warm and loving headpats—being in his embrace and kissing him on his lips. Though she only experienced the latter once, and that was inside the dungeon.

Asahi brought Rini in his arms and glanced at Ray. She was nervously sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes unmoving from the red ball sinking behind the hills.

Asahi released Rini and walked toward Ray. The Siren turned her teary golden eyes to him. The trails of tears were still obvious on her face.

"What made you cry?"

She pointed at the sunset. "Every Xenos wants to see it." Her raspy voice was full of emotions. "They longed for it for years… but I left them—"

Asahi plopped his hand on her head and gently rubbed her golden hair. "Do you want to go back?"

"I want… to go outside."

"I promise I'll bring you out tomorrow."

He couldn't bring her to the city until he had talked things through with Asfi about the Xenos. He had the best location for her to fly. The Seolo Forest, the place he first used to travel in and out of this world.

Ray felt the seriousness in his promise and smiled. Her wings-like arms folded as if she was hugging her own body. She thought of many words to thank Asahi, but she felt they were too little, almost insulting to his kindness.

In the end, she just pouted as Asahi pulled back his hand and kissed Rini's forehead. He left the two on their own and returned to Astraea.

(Another one falls to the headpats!)

'I'm equally addicted to giving headpats.'

(It's a good way to show your affection.)

He looked to Astraea who was contemplating something with a frown. She took a long sigh before opening her eyes.

"Where did you find Valletta?"

"Ishtar's tower."

"She always did wicked deeds in her district, but we couldn't find enough proof… still, I didn't imagine she would fall so low to sponsor Evilus."

"Too much jealousy can be ugly."

Astraea recalled the unending feud between the goddesses of beauty. "True."

"What will be her punishment?"

Astraea clenched her fists, a powerful determination dwelling in her eyes. "She will be sent to Heaven for joining hands with Evilus… I'll make sure the people get the justice they deserve."

It was the first time Asahi saw her in her Goddess of Justice mode. Her solemn expression made her a different person from the gentle, kind-hearted goddess. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer.

"And I'll help wherever I can."

"I know," she whispered, taking a long breath to calm her drumming heart, something that happened whenever Asahi was near her. While she was losing her mind over a hug, Asahi didn't seem a bit nervous. She once again realized how often he did these intimate acts with his lovers. How could a simple hug faze him? She felt a bit glad that Asahi had experience in this territory. She couldn't imagine her relationship ever progressing if they both blushed just from touching each other.

"Alise and others are late," she said in an attempt to take her mind off this intimacy. "Did they find something?"

"I'll see what they found."

She unwillingly separated from his warmth. "Okay…"

Asahi saw her less-than-pleased expression and laughed. "We haven't even become lovers, and you don't want to leave my side. Jeez, what a spoiled woman."

Caught red-handed and off-guard by the remark, Astraea blushed and feebly hit his shoulder. "Stop teasing me and go…"

"Alrighty."

He brushed her cheeks for a moment before teleporting to Alise's location. Her party was frolicking around the lush plants and flowers. Surprisingly, only a part of the room had wildlife. The rest was stone hallways carved with various beasts.

Asahi walked up to Ryuu, who was attentively watching a crimson flower. He squatted behind her and touched the pretty flower.

"Why would someone grow this here?"

Growing plants in this part of the dungeon made no sense whatsoever unless someone had a special love for them.

"I don't know," Ryuu answered, unsurprised at his sudden appearance. "We're trying to find the answer."

"Hmm." He nodded and patted her back. "Tell me if you find something."

The elf flustered over his casual touch, a blush reaching up to her ears. Asahi chuckled and made his way to Alise and Kaguya discussing something.

Kaguya grinned. "How sweet of you to come here for us."

"Junior, did you find the sponsor?"

Asahi gathered everyone and told them about Ishtar and Valletta, and Astraea's verdict on Ishtar.

Alise and Kaguya shared a concerned look.

"Most male adventurers use Pleasure Quarters to satisfy their lust."

"They will surely be pissed at first. I'm sure merchants will buy the brothels from the Guild," Kaguya deduced the future of the red light district in a few moments. "It's better than leaving a goddess aligned with Evilus run amok."

Alise nodded her head before giving a smile to Asahi. "I'm surprised you came back unscathed from Ishtar's lair."

"What would you do if she charmed me?"

What would she do if Ishtar snatched Asahi from her and never let them meet again? Alise clenched her fists as her magic power swirled into bright flames.

"I'll smash her tower and take you back."

Her fierce declaration rumbled through the dungeon.