Chapter 145
"Hiss..."
Kiriya walked through the streets of Orario, wincing at the burning pain across his back.
He had even summoned a shadow clone to check the damage.
Ais had nearly scrubbed his skin off.
Good thing his body was tough and his recovery was fast. Otherwise, he might have needed two full days just to heal from a bath!
"That girl really doesn’t know how to hold back."
Kiriya did not know whether to laugh or cry.
That was not quite the kind of back-washing he had imagined, clearly, Ais still had a long way to go.
"Oh? If it isn’t Orario’s famous... Playboy."
A sharp, sarcastic voice reached his ears, carrying enough jealousy to sour the air.
"Why aren’t you with your little princess? What are you doing wandering around here?"
"Huh? Hestia?"
Kiriya turned and found his goddess standing nearby.
After their long talk the previous night, he understood how Hestia felt. He did not mind her finding something to do outside the house.
He was not the type of man who wanted to lock his woman away like some caged bird. In fact, he preferred that she have her own interests and responsibilities.
It gave her less time to sit around imagining nonsense.
And right now, this limited-edition maid version of Hestia immediately caught his eye.
Her work uniform covered more than the one she had worn at home and was much more modest, but with her cute face and bright, youthful charm, she still looked ridiculously good in it.
"You’re adorable!"
Kiriya stepped closer and lowered his voice beside her ear.
"So adorable I want to... eat you up."
He deliberately drew out those last words.
Hestia’s ears turned red in an instant.
"D-Don’t say things like that. We’re in the middle of the street."
The fierce momentum she had arrived with vanished immediately. Now she looked more like an innocent girl being teased by a shameless flirt.
"Oh, so it’s fine at home?"
Kiriya slapped his forehead as though he had finally understood, then grabbed her wrist.
"You should’ve said that sooner. Come on, let’s go home!"
"Wait! I’m working!"
Hestia panicked.
Skipping work on her very first day was bad enough.
Skipping work to do that was completely unacceptable for a respectable goddess like her!
"Ahem. Sir, please stop pulling our employee around. You’re causing a scene."
A sweet female voice came from beside them, making both of them pause.
Kiriya turned and saw a gray-haired maid standing there.
"Hey, Syr-chan Long time no see."
"You’re calling me Syr-chan? That’s hardly fair."
Syr’s stern expression fell apart immediately.
She looked at him with such wounded eyes that she could have passed for a neglected wife left alone at home for years.
"Hiss..."
Kiriya sucked in a breath.
Not because Syr’s acting was so convincing that it made his heart ache, but because Hestia had pinched the soft flesh at his waist with frightening strength!
"Kiriya."
Hestia smiled brightly.
"When exactly did you become so close to this maid?"
Kiriya could practically see black smoke rising behind her and shaping itself into the face of a demon.
Hestia was beginning to regret everything.
When Syr had stopped her on the street and asked her to help at the tavern, she had spoken so sweetly.
Compliment after compliment had poured out until Hestia had become dizzy and agreed before she knew it.
At the time, her reasoning had been simple.
It would give her something to do, help pass the time, and let her experience life as a maid.
How was she supposed to know that Syr would turn around and make a move on Kiriya?
This was a trap.
A carefully planned ambush.
’I let my guard down!’
Hestia tightened both arms around Kiriya’s arm, pulling it firmly against her chest.
Earlier, she had thought being too affectionate at work would be inappropriate.
Now she wanted to cling to him like an octopus and make her claim obvious to everyone.
As for the job? She could lose it for all she cared!
"Hestia, you’re overreacting," Kiriya whispered. "Have more confidence in yourself."
As he spoke, he shifted his trapped arm slightly.
Hestia’s face heated up, and she proudly lifted her chest.
That’s right!
As long as she had this advantage, she was unbeatable!
’Syr’ felt a strange tightness in her chest.
She wished she were the one standing in Hestia’s place.
But she could not rush, she had to take things slowly.
"Oh my, so the two of you really are together."
Syr clasped her hands and looked at them with open envy.
"I thought it was only a rumor, but it’s... true. You make such a lovely couple."
"Of course we do."
Hestia immediately brightened and silently gave Syr her approval.
As expected of the Hostess of Fertility’s star waitress. She had excellent judgment!
"Since you’re family of one of our employees, please visit often, Kiriya-san. You’ll get an employee discount."
Syr smiled playfully.
"Haha, with Hestia working here, I’ll have to support the place."
Kiriya laughed, making sure to put Hestia at the center of his answer.
Hestia’s mood soared. The way she looked at him became so sweet it was practically sticky.
"Hestia! Syr! Why are you standing around? Get back to work!"
Mia’s booming voice came from the tavern.
Hestia’s head immediately shrank into her shoulders.
"I have to go."
After saying a quick goodbye to Kiriya, she hurried back inside.
Syr remained behind and held out a lunch box with both hands.
"You’re going to the Dungeon today too, aren’t you? I made this for you. I hope you’ll accept it."
"This..."
Kiriya looked at the large ribbon tied around the box and needed a moment to react.
If he remembered correctly, Syr’s cooking had a rather impressive effect on endurance.
"Is it... not okay?"
The light in Syr’s eyes dimmed, and the fragile disappointment on her face was almost painful to see.
"Of course it’s okay. I’m just surprised."
Kiriya looked directly into her eyes.
"But I made things pretty clear just now, didn’t I? I’m already with Hestia. You can still back out."
"But you and the Sword Princess..."
Syr gathered her courage.
"I saw the two of you leaving together this morning. That was a date, wasn’t it?"
Kiriya blinked.
"I’m already this greedy, and you still don’t mind?"
Syr lowered her head, her cheeks turning pink.
"Actually... I hope you’ll be even greedier."
Her voice softened.
"Because that may be the only way I’ll ever have a chance."
"Otherwise, I might spend my whole life doing nothing but watching you from a distance."