Seeing the complicated expressions on the girls' faces, Akira raised a hand to his forehead and sighed deeply, his voice laced with helplessness.
"What are you all imagining now? We have enough tents, okay? And don't forget—we're still on an expedition."
As he spoke, he gestured toward the nearby dungeon walls, where the mossy surface was slowly being restored by the dungeon's automatic regeneration.
"And if none of you want Astraea Familia to go down in history as the first to be crushed to death by a collapsing wall mid-expedition, then soone better keep destroying these walls regularly."
"Ah! I completely forgot about that. Ahaha…" Alise laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her head, her eyes darting sideways in embarrassnt.
Aside from the two well-known captains—Alise and Kaguya—if there were a third in charge, it would undoubtedly be her…
The werewolf, Neze, nodded seriously with a rueful smile. "Yeah… I honestly forgot too. But that's because Akira's been doing way too much today. He's covering for all of us."
Kaguya stood silently beside them. Though her expression remained composed, a small voice in her heart wondered if she, too, had ended up becoming a fool like Alise.
"…Indeed." Kaguya finally turned, her voice quiet, as if reluctant to admit it.
Then Noin dropped to her knees dramatically, lifting both hands in a prayerful gesture. "Ahh! Almighty Akira, you must have another miraculous idea, right? Save us again, please?"
Everyone's eyes turned toward him, glittering with anticipation and shaless expectation.
Do you all think I'm Doraemon or sothing…?
Akira sighed inwardly but shrugged. "It's possible. But that ans I'll have to sleep right in the middle of the storm tonight."
He lifted both hands, showing them empty palms.
"And I can't guarantee that nothing in the dungeon will change overnight. So I'll stay on watch. I'm not planning to take it easy tonight."
"That won't do," Maryuu said gently, her tone warm but firm. "If soone has to stand guard, then we'll set a rotation. You don't need to do it alone."
"Right! Akira's already done enough today. Just leave the final shift to us." Alise added, puffing up her chest with conviction.
Everyone nodded in agreent.
But then, as if a mischievous spark had been lit, Alise's eyes glead, and her tone took on a playful lilt.
"Say, Akira… who are you planning to sleep with tonight?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The previously calm and orderly group fell into silence, eyes turning toward Akira like wolves slling blood. Their gazes sparkled with mischief and curiosity, their lips twitching with suppressed laughter.
A bead of sweat slid down Akira's temple.
"In the end, we're back to this again." He sighed internally. "These girls really enjoy teasing ."
After a mont of consideration, he pointed calmly toward Lyra, Ais, and Asta.
"I'll be in a group with them."
"Eh?! Why?" Alise yelped, dramatically pointing at herself. "Shouldn't you choose , your lovely, beautiful captain?!"
"You're too troubleso." Akira replied flatly.
"Wha—!?"
Alise's eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth falling open. It was as if she'd been struck by lightning.
Then, her body began to stagger backward like she'd taken a fatal wound.
"Ah… My heart… It's breaking…"
She stumbled dramatically, swaying on her feet, muttering incoherent words like a tragic heroine in a play.
With a final sigh, she collapsed into a nearby chair, clutching her chest with both hands.
"This… is this what it feels like to be abandoned by the man you love? The pain… It's unbearable…"
Akira stared at her performance in deadpan silence, his lips twitching slightly. Then he turned away and pretended not to see it.
Kaguya, unamused, stepped forward and said calmly, "Leave the night watch to , Alise, and Ryuu. The next rotation will go to the other three. That way, no one's overworked."
Ryuu nodded with a serene expression. "Yes. The rest of you can get so proper rest."
With that, the rest of the group relaxed visibly.
"Ohh! Got it. We'll sleep first then. You three, be sure to keep watch properly."
Everyone began to break off into their respective groups, heading toward their tents.
Akira waved at the night watch trio with a smile. "Good night."
Just then, a sly whisper brushed past his ear.
"So… Akira's got a lolita complex, huh? Right, Asta?" Lyra's teasing voice drifted beside him, her elbow nudging the girl beside her as they walked.
Asta paused, eyes rising to glance at the taller girls, a faint trace of bitterness in her gaze. She mumbled softly, "…Maybe Akira thinks we're smaller, so it's easier to fit us into the sa tent?"
Lyra waved a hand dismissively, wearing a carefree grin. "Ah, don't take it so seriously! We're both fully ford now. And let's be honest—there's no hope of us getting any taller at this point."
Her words, though seemingly intended to console, sounded more like a teasing jab.
Akira, hearing this, blinked in confusion.
Wait… was that really ant to comfort her?
Still, he said nothing. Instead, he quietly took Ais's small hand—her face a little flushed from excitent—and gently moved beside Asta.
"It's fine, Asta. Being petite has its own charm." Akira said warmly. "Besides… you've got a great figure. Lots of people would love soone like you."
Then his eyes shifted subtly to Lyra.
"As for Lyra…"
Their eyes locked. In Akira's gaze, an unspoken ssage lingered: Besides , no one would put up with you.
Asta giggled, brushing away her mont of insecurity. "Hehe, so that's what Akira thinks of … Thanks for the complint. But Lyra's really popular too."
Lyra lifted her chin proudly. "See? I'm popular too."
But then, as their gazes crossed again, Lyra narrowed her eyes and licked her lips slowly, as if conceding sothing silently.
Fine. I'll let you have this one.
"Yeah, yeah… If not for a certain soone, maybe no one would like a short, skinny pallum like . Isn't that right, Akira?"
Her teasing words carried a faint edge of challenge.
Akira grinned and answered in a dramatic tone, "Ahahaha, co now. The infamous 'Cunning Rat' is plenty famous. There's bound to be soone who likes her."
Hearing that, Asta chuckled and gently took Lyra's hand while still holding onto Akira's.
"You two really get along, don't you?" She said with a laugh.
As they stepped into the tent together, Asta released their hands and flopped onto the mattress. Her expression turned thoughtful.
"No, wait. Actually… I think Akira gets along best with you, Alise, Kaguya and Ryuu. Is it because you saved him before?"
She looked up with wide, curious eyes, her head tilted slightly.
(End of Chapter)
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