Lili and Tifa returned in the afternoon.
They didn't bring back the materials for crafting the Grimoire, but they brought news.
Miach had asked to et Orsted.
Orsted agreed without hesitation.
The absence of Grimoire materials clearly indicated a problem.
Miach hadn't told Lili and Tifa anything, instead requesting a eting with Orsted.
There had to be a reason.
At the location Miach had relayed through Lili and Tifa, Orsted spotted him.
Miach was seated at an open-air table outside a tavern.
"Hey, Orsted, it's been a while," Miach called out warmly, waving as Orsted approached.
"It's only been a few days," Orsted replied, nodding.
"How've you been?"
"Thanks to you, the Familia's situation has been steadily improving," Miach said gratefully.
Since Naaza had resud dungeon expeditions, the Miach Familia's fortunes had risen.
Orsted's tenfold boost affected Naaza as well.
The magic stones dropped when Naaza defeated monsters were ten tis larger than usual—not in quantity, but in quality.
Though Naaza had only joined Orsted for two dungeon runs, her gains were substantial.
She'd even repaid one-fifth of the debt owed to the Dian Cecht Familia.
Surprised by the magic stones, Naaza noticed Orsted and the others didn't comnt, so she kept quiet, sensing the change was tied to their team but unsure why.
She chose to stay silent and profit quietly.
Orsted's tenfold boost was peculiar.
When adventuring with him, dropped magic stones and materials were enhanced, but the basic abilities of others, aside from Orsted himself, remained unaffected.
Orsted found this odd but hadn't uncovered any explanation.
Over ti, he stopped dwelling on the first reward ability he'd received.
Orsted accepted Miach's gratitude calmly, knowing the reason behind it.
"Let's get to business," Miach said gently. "I visited Deter's manor, but she wouldn't sell the materials. She insisted you co in person."
Orsted fell silent, a touch exasperated.
He'd asked Miach to go precisely to avoid Deter.
Yet, she'd specifically requested his presence.
"Deter ntioned visiting the Hestia Familia villa several tis but missing you," Miach continued, a hint of amusent in his eyes.
"She said she misses you and hopes you'll visit her."
"Just her bad luck. I'm at the villa sotis," Orsted said, rubbing his forehead with a wry smile.
He prepared to go himself.
With twenty elves in the Familia, all eager for Grimoires to learn magic, he couldn't delay.
He wanted to form a mage team—perhaps even a mage corps—to utilize the mage dal.
"Sorry," Miach said softly, seeing Orsted rise.
"It's not your fault. I'll handle it," Orsted reassured him, shaking his head.
"To be honest, I hope you'll see Deter," Miach added.
"She seems to care about you, and… sothing feels off with her. I hope you can be there for her."
"Sothing's off?" Orsted echoed.
Indeed, in the ani, Hestia attended a divine banquet where Deter sensed sothing amiss with Dionysus.
She secretly investigated his Familia, only to be ensnared and threatened by him.
Many of Deter's adventurers faced life-threatening crises, and several perished.
If Miach, typically oblivious to such nuances, could sense sothing wrong with the ever-cheerful Deter, it likely involved Dionysus.
But so soon? Had Deter already uncovered sothing about his Familia?
It seed unlikely, but possible.
With these thoughts, Orsted arrived at the Deter Familia's manor outside Orario.
Deter herself greeted him, waiting in the courtyard's pavilion.
As Orsted appeared at the gate, she hurried to welco him.
Unlike their first eting, Deter didn't overwhelm him with affection.
Her face was etched with sorrow, her expression so visibly troubled that even soone as unperceptive as Miach could notice.
"What happened?" Orsted asked with concern, forgoing ntion of the materials.
At his caring tone, Deter looked up, a flicker of lancholy in her eyes.
"Orsted, if you found a friend straying down a dangerous path, how would you save them?" she asked softly.
Orsted was certain now—Deter had discovered sothing about Dionysus and was troubled by it.
He didn't respond, unsure how to answer.
Deter offered a faint smile. "Sorry," she murmured.
"Orsted, can I… hold you for a mont?" Before he could reply, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him and resting her face against his chest.
"Your presence is so comforting," she whispered.
Orsted: …
"Deter, so things are better left alone. Don't dig too deep," he said after a mont's hesitation, his tone gentle but firm.
The Deter Familia was vital to him, as they provide the materials for his Grimoires.
Just kidding, he can't let this cutie be sad, can he?
He offered only a kind warning, leaving the choice to her.
Deter stiffened slightly in his arms. After a pause, her voice ca, soft and resolute. "I understand…"
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