Chapter 722

After the Monster Festival ended, the Main God of the Ganesha Familia hurried to the Guild Headquarters and found the Guild's Main God, who has long offered prayers for the Dungeon atop the Underground Altar.

"Uranus, I've investigated. The monsters that appeared in the City are not the ones my children brought out from the Dungeon."

The god wearing an elephant-trunk mask, with the appearance of a youth, spoke directly to the elderly Main God on the altar upon arriving at this side.

"You mean to say the monsters that appeared were brought in from outside Orario by someone?"

"There is such a possibility, especially given those monsters' ability to burrow underground.

However, according to Xati Ke's report, those monsters' Levels are likely no lower than Lv. 4.

Monsters of such Level are extremely rare in the Outside World, so I'm more inclined to believe they were brought out from the Dungeon by someone."

"If so, those hidden Dark Factions may hold a secret passage leading to the Dungeon's depths."

"If not for the fact that the Loki Familia's Sword Princess and others who happened to be there, as well as that child of the Astraea Familia still remaining in Orario, were encountered when the monsters appeared, it would likely have become a great tragedy.

All these years we've run the Monster Festival, wanting Orario's children to gradually accept that monsters can exist beside them — it may all go up in flames."

Ganesha said solemnly.

"Regarding the Dungeon's possible secret passage, I will commission someone else to investigate. Ganesha, I need your children to severely crack down on Orario's smuggling and gray-market operations.

Only by acting on both fronts can we force those evil ones who still intend to destroy Orario's current order, hiding beneath the surface peace, to have nowhere to hide.

Can you help me?"

"Of course, but Uranus, who do you intend to find to investigate the possible Dungeon secret passage?

If such a passage truly exists and has gone undiscovered by us for so long, ordinary Familias cannot intervene in this matter.

One lapse in attention, and they might meet with total annihilation, retiring from Orario's stage — just like the Astraea Familia five years ago, who upheld justice and struck at evil……"

"Since Loki's child has already been drawn into this, I intend to commission her Familia to investigate this matter."

Uranus spoke.

"Loki's child, huh. That is indeed reassuring."

The dialogue between gods ended here, and the elephant-trunk-masked god soon took his leave.

After Ganesha left, the flames burning in the braziers around the altar trembled once.

A figure cloaked in a black robe walked out from the shadows beside the altar.

"Uranus, is the god Ganesha truly trustworthy?"

"Fels, why this doubt? Ganesha is a collaborator in holding the Monster Festival."

"I know that, but wanting surface mortals to accept monsters, exploring the possibility of coexistence between mortals and monsters — that is truly a heterodox undertaking. Though the god Ganesha assisted us, he may not lack other thoughts……"

The black-robed man named Fels paused here, then continued with a possibility: "Could the monsters' appearance possibly be a self-directed act by the other party?"

"Fels, you should know it is difficult to lie before a god, no?"

"I know, but that applies to mortals before gods. As for between god and god, it is not necessarily so, is it?"

"For a god to deceive another god is likewise a rather difficult matter. Among the gods I know, only Loki, whose Divinity is 【Lies and Trickery】, could easily achieve this, and Ganesha is not among them. He is a straightforward god; I am willing to trust him."

"If that is so, then I shall follow your divine will."

Fels bowed.

"However, regarding the matter of defeating the monsters that appeared in the City, I need to provide a supplementary explanation……"

"What?"

"The ones who defeated the monsters were neither Loki Familia members nor the Astraea Familia's girl, but the Captain of the Goddess Hestia's Familia, a boy named Broly……"

"Hm? Hestia, I recall she only descended to the Lower World half a year ago, and her Familia was established barely a month ago?"

"That is correct, but……"

Fels shared with the Main God Uranus, for whom he now works, all the intelligence he had gathered concerning the Hestia Familia, in full detail.

The contents included the Soma Familia's change of leadership, the Loki Familia's Sword Princess seeking swordsmanship guidance, and other matters easily discoverable on the surface.

"The Hestia Familia's Broly, huh. It seems Orario has gained another capable Adventurer."

"The Hestia Familia is still the lowest-ranked Exploration Familia. Uranus, what do you intend to do?"

"I will have the Guild's children show goodwill toward Hestia, grant her Familia some conveniences. Hm, Hestia is a Good God; perhaps she can be drawn in as an endorser of my ideas."

"You intend to reveal your divine will to the Goddess Hestia?"

"No, this still requires observation, perhaps some probing as well. As you said, exploring the possibility of coexistence between monsters and mortals is a heterodox matter; not everyone can accept it calmly."

"Hm, I will find an opportunity to probe the Hestia Familia's people on their views regarding coexistence with monsters."

Fels bowed and vanished into the shadows.

Meanwhile, at the Hearth Manor, Ais, who had still conducted an entire afternoon of swordsmanship training with Broly after arriving, rinsed her body clean in the bathroom, entered the hot spring pool and sat down, and upon feeling her body wrapped by the warm pool water, the girl subconsciously let out a hum.

"Ah, bathing really is comfortable~"

Tiona sat down beside her, acting as if a mouthpiece, voicing the exclamation in her heart.

"Mhm."

Lefiya nodded vigorously; who could have guessed the Hestia Familia Headquarters actually had an artificial hot spring pool.

Although during usual showers together she could also see Miss Ais's beautiful body, bathing together in a single pool like today was something she had never experienced before.

【Miss Ais's face flushed red, soaking in the warm pool water, wearing a blissful expression — truly a breathtaking sight!】

Lefiya pressed her hands together before her chest, silently saying in her heart: 【Thanks for the treat~】

"How is it, our home's hot spring pool?"

Hestia likewise sat down and leaned close, asking the three Loki Familia girls about their bathing experience.

"A wonderful feeling, the pool water's temperature is just right, this is a wonderful hot spring pool!"

Tiona raised her hand and answered loudly.

"Oh, Miss Tiona has a good eye, this is a hot spring pool replicated one-to-one from the Sacred Bathhouse by artisans of the Hephaestus Familia we hired!"

The Loli Goddess puffed out her chest and said with some pride.

"Eh, is it that public bath only Goddesses can enter to soak in?"

The Amazon girl asked in surprise.

"That's right, that's right!"

One goddess one person, you one sentence, me one sentence, they discussed the situation of the Sacred Bathhouse.

After the discussion finished, Tiona turned her head, an excited expression on her face, and proposed to the two girl companions behind her: "Ais, Lefiya, why don't we ask the Regiment Commander to build a hot spring pool for everyone in Twilight Manor when we get back?!"

"Uh, our equipment was damaged in the last quest, and Finn has been preparing for the matter of challenging the Deeper Floor of the Labyrinth recently.

Under the circumstances where the Familia funds are relatively tight, I think he probably won't agree to the matter of spending over ten million Valis to add hot spring bathing facilities at the base."

Ais gave a reminder.

"Eh?!"

Hearing this, not only was Tiona disappointed, even Lefiya was somewhat disappointed.

However, over ten million Valis to build a hot spring pool is indeed extravagant, not to mention the daily maintenance costs of the hot spring pool.

Of course, the Loki Familia can afford it, it's just that this money would have better cost-effectiveness if used elsewhere.

"Ah, if the three of you still want to soak in a hot spring pool later, just come over to our side and soak directly."

At this time, Hestia inserted herself into the conversation.

"Eh, because of the reason of wanting to soak in a hot spring pool, always coming over to disturb, that's not good, right?"

Lefiya looked toward the Loli Goddess and subconsciously said.

"Disturb, what are you talking about, it's just a few more people soaking, you and my Broly are good friends, this bit of thing doesn't count as anything at all."

Hestia slapped the big white rabbits on her chest until they trembled wildly, looking like this was just a trivial matter.

"Then, Hestia-sama, we'll be respectful rather than courteous?!"

Under Hestia's warm invitation and the allure of the hot spring pool, the three Loki Familia girls decided they would definitely come over to soak later and wouldn't stand on ceremony.

"Actually, the hot spring pool isn't even the best thing here, the best thing here should be the scrubbing and massage masters!"

Right after the three expressed their stance, Liliruca spoke as if unintentionally bringing it up.

"Eh, there are scrubbing and massage masters here too?"

Tiona asked in some surprise, Ais and Lefiya also looked over curiously.

"What Lili speaks of is Broly, that child is proficient in the craftsmanship of scrubbing, massage, and relaxing the body."

Hestia continued the conversation, and without waiting for the three to ask anything, she took a step ahead and started explaining.

"Eh, Broly, proficient in the craftsmanship of scrubbing and massage?"

Tiona's expression became somewhat strange.

"Wait, this means he'll also come in later?"

Lefiya subconsciously tightened the scarf on her body and asked somewhat nervously.

"Haha, how could that be, Broly is a boy."

Hestia waved her hand and said.

"Phew~"

Hearing this, Lefiya breathed a sigh of relief.

"You other girls soaking here, if he comes in and gets seen naked by you all, wouldn't he be the one suffering a huge loss!"

Immediately after, the elf girl heard the Loli Goddess say this.

"Uh..."

This sentence directly caused even Ais, who had no reaction just now, to reveal a somewhat dazed expression on her face.

What do you mean they're soaking here, the Saiyan boy comes in and gets seen naked but the other party is the one at a loss, has something been mistaken?

"Broly-san's physique is really great, making people unable to help but want to reach out and touch it.

Besides the great physique, his massage technique is peerless.

The fatigue Hestia-sama and I accumulate in a day can often be rapidly relieved under his miraculous massage technique.

Eating well and sleeping soundly every day, always able to face the next day's matters in a state of abundant energy..."

"That's right, better work, better training and so on..."

The Loli Goddess continued, singing in harmony with the Pallum girl, causing the Loki Familia girls to shift from a somewhat vigilant state to a somewhat curious state.

They were curious about Broly's miraculous massage technique in Hestia and Liliruca's mouths, especially Ais, who subconsciously asked upon hearing "better training": "Can I try it?"

"Broly, if you follow us in together, I don't know if Tiona and Ais-san would be scared by you, but Lefiya-san is definitely going to be scared by you, hmm, this matter we'll handle well, you just wait outside properly for us to create opportunities for you..."

"That's right, leave everything to me and Hestia-sama, Broly-san you only need to act as the hunter appearing in the posture of prey!"

Pushing time forward slightly, this was when Broly prepared changes of clothes for the Pallum girl, the Loli Goddess, and himself, and prepared to follow in and bathe together, Hestia and Liliruca stopped him and said these words to him.

And these words, when his stepdaughter Goddess and the girls finished bathing and came out later, and Hestia called him over to massage, were confirmed.

"Broly, Ais-san wants to experience your massage technique that can make people completely relax and relieve physical fatigue, okay?"

Hestia asked him like this, and while asking, she winked at him with her back to the others, as if saying: This is the opportunity we created for you, the opportunity for intimate physical contact (massage) with another girl wanting an encounter!

"Okay."

Broly had no intention of wasting the opportunity, nodding and agreeing.

"Ais-san, you just lie on the bed."

He directed the girl to lie down.

"Like this?"

The Sword Princess girl obediently lay prone on the bed.

"If possible, could you take off your outer clothes?"

"Ah, why do I still have to take off my clothes?"

Before Ais could speak, Lefiya hurriedly asked, a look of vigilance on her face.

"My massage technique is based on acupoint kneading; taking off outerwear allows me to better locate the corresponding acupoints on your bodies."

Broly explained.

"Is this okay?"

Without waiting for the elf girl to question further, the Sword Princess girl had already taken off her outer clothes, revealing the pure white underwear beneath, and lay prone on the bed looking up at the boy.

"Mhm, this is fine, lie down."

Broly nodded; Lefiya was speechless, sensing from the Sword Princess girl's decisive action a determination named wanting to obtain better training results and thereby get stronger.

However, the elf girl stared fixedly at the boy reaching out, as if the moment Broly touched a part of the Sword Princess girl's body he shouldn't, she would step in to stop him like a food-guarding dog.

"Miss Ais, due to your habit of swinging a sword daily, the muscles of your shoulders and neck, waist and abdomen, calves, and ankles are the places most in need of relaxation."

However, the Saiyan boy did not touch any place he shouldn't; on the contrary, he merely gave focused care to the parts of the Sword Princess girl that frequently exerted force and grew fatigued, just like a master technician, helping the girl relieve her body's muscles and tendons.

Everything was perfectly normal, except...

The girl let out muffled groans from her mouth from time to time due to the boy's kneading, sounds that could easily cause misunderstanding.

"Does it really feel that good?"

Tiona pressed on her own calf beside her, feeling nothing special, and couldn't help but ask the Sword Princess girl on the bed who seemed to be reacting a bit strongly.

"Numb, itchy, comfortable, but not that comfortable..."

Ais turned her head, her face slightly red, and truthfully answered the Amazon girl about her current sensation.

"Numbness and itchiness are normal; it indicates Qi and Blood blockage here, but as long as I help you knead it open, your force exertion in this area will become smoother in the future."

Broly explained while kneading from behind; the human body is like a precision machine, using Qi to massage the body is a bit like polishing and grinding this precision machine and incidentally adding some lubricant inside, a maintenance behavior for the machine.

And people who have never been maintained and have problems in some places will have a slight discomfort reaction.

Of course, for a powerful Adventurer like Ais, if not for Broly's sufficiently deep understanding of the human body's Qi and Blood, anyone else probably wouldn't be able to find the potential Qi and Blood stagnation issues on the Sword Princess girl's body.

And this is deep maintenance that only someone with a deep understanding of the body's Qi and Blood circulation can help perform.

"Your body has no major issues, just some accumulated fatigue damage; just remember to properly recuperate after over-exertion in the future."

Broly quickly completed the maintenance of the Sword Princess girl's body, and after getting off her, he instructed her.

"Mhm, my body feels a bit lighter..."

Ais got up and off the bed, not minding that she was only in her underwear, and directly tried moving her limbs; upon discovering her body was indeed lighter, she subconsciously said so.

"Eh, really? Then let me try too."

Seeing this, Tiona hurriedly took off her outer clothes and lay prone where Ais had just lain.

"Broly, help me too~"

She had even less intention of being shy, her face full of expectation for the boy's massage technique.

"Eh, it really is~"

After she was also massaged and moved her body, Hestia asked the elf girl: "Miss Lefiya, do you want to try as well?"

"Ah, I..."

"Lefiya, Ais and I both tried, you try too!"

The elf girl wanted to refuse, but heard the Amazon girl beside her say so.

"Ugh, fine then."

Lefiya, worried that not conforming would provoke the other two's dissatisfaction, nodded in agreement after a moment of hesitation.

However, when Broly's small hand touched the nape of this elf girl's neck, her body stiffened directly, like a cat whose nape of fate had been pinched.

(Chapter End)