However, at that moment, Astraea suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, isn't Lucifer at all worried about you? I heard he has been fishing in Melen these days and I haven't seen him return to Orario much, only once or twice."
Leon explained with a smile, "Ah, him? He said he'd leave things to me and then just ignored me."
"The last few times he came back, he only came back to update my status, and then he would run away again. He seems to really enjoy fishing,"
Hearing Leon's explanation, the gods were all embarrassed, and Hephaestus said with sweat dripping down her cheeks, "He really has a big heart."
Leon shrugged, "Well, I guess so."
Leon didn't plan to reveal anything about Lucifer's situation. He would just keep that identity as is—it's no big deal.
Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.
The conversation immediately stopped, and everyone looked in that direction.
The next second, the door was pushed open, and a group of people rushed in.
"Oh, Leon, I heard you're back!" Loki was the first to rush over, running ahead and shouting excitedly as she reached Leon.
Behind her was a large group of men and women. Leon could tell at a glance that these people were gods. At this moment, they were all shouting and yelling at the same time, so much so that he could not understand what they were saying at all.
"Ah, I..."
Seeing the gods' expressions, Leon smiled slightly, then opened his mouth as if to say something. However, as soon as he opened his mouth, he felt a soft touch on the back of his head, and then two slender arms reached down from his shoulders and wrapped around his chest.
Immediately afterwards, a familiar, gentle voice rang out. "Welcome back, my Odr."
Leon: "…"
Hearing this, Leon didn't even need to turn around to know who was holding him. In all of Orario, there is only one person who calls him Odr: Freya.
In the Nordic language, Odr, specifically Óðr, is known as Freya's husband.
"Aaaa, Freya, how dare you do this!!!"
Before Leon could react, Hestia, who was next to Leon, bristled and screamed. Then she switched to husband-protecting mode and pounced on Freya.
With Hestia's sudden lunge, the entire living room descended into chaos.
Leon: "..."
Seeing this sudden development, he was at a loss for words.
However, at that moment, he felt his arm being grabbed. Turning around, he saw that Riveria had somehow appeared in the procession of the gods.
"Come with me."
—
After Riveria pulled Leon out of the living room, Leon realized that Ais and the others were there.
"Leon, you're back victorious." Tiona greeted Leon with a smile, her hands behind her back.
"As expected of you, well done." Tione gave him a thumbs up.
"Leon-sama is so amazing." Lefiya whispered.
"Congratulations." Ais spoke softly, congratulating Leon.
As for what she was congratulating him on, it was naturally for Leon's mastery of divine power.
The high-ranking adventurers of the Loki Familia had learned from Loki what the final step of falna was all about.
Leon now possessed divine power, meaning he was ready to become a god at any time.
"Mm." Looking at the group, Leon smiled and nodded in response.
However, before he could say anything more, Riveria spoke up, "I'm taking Leon with me now. You can look for him later."
She then took Leon's hand and walked forward.
Seeing Riveria's attitude, Ais and the others exchanged glances, but did not chase after her.
"Has Riveria fallen for Leon?" Tione said with interest, stroking her chin as she watched the two figures disappear.
Riveria had never been so intimate with anyone before, let alone walked away holding someone's hand in front of them. Seeing this situation, a guess arose in Tione's mind.
But she did not find this speculation unacceptable. After all, she and Tiona had both stolen Leon from Hestia, so they had no right to criticize others.
"Hehe." Tiona, standing to the side, didn't say anything, but just chuckled, the meaning of which was self-evident.
"I think Leon-sama and Riveria-sama are a perfect match when they fight." Lefiya muttered.
Ais didn't speak, just staring blankly at the two figures as they left.
Even Riveria is one of them.
—
Meanwhile, after Leon was pulled away from the corridor by Riveria, the two quickly left the library. Throughout the journey, Riveria kept pulling Leon along without saying a word, and soon led him to a tavern and into a room.
Leon was puzzled by Riveria's actions, but seeing that Riveria didn't seem to want to talk, he remained silent.
After placing Leon in the room, Riveria still didn't say anything, instead staring straight at him in silence.
Seeing Riveria's appearance, Leon frowned slightly and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Riveria?"
"Are you going to become a god?"
Upon hearing Leon's concern, Riveria remained silent for a moment before speaking.
She had learned from Loki that Leon was now at the pinnacle of the falna system and could take that step at any moment.
"Ah, that? I can become a god anytime I want." Leon replied with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Riveria's heart skipped a beat.
However, the next second, Leon's actions instantly put her at ease. He reached out and cupped her face, pressing his forehead against Riveria's, and they looked into each other's eyes.
"Are you worried that I won't be able to keep my previous promise?"
"Don't worry, I won't become a god until I fulfill my promise to you." Leon smiled slightly and said sincerely as he looked at Riveria.
Upon hearing this, Riveria's pupils slowly dilated, and then the serious expression on her face gradually disappeared, replaced by a faint smile.
"That's more like it. You shouldn't have looked so preoccupied just now." Leon couldn't help but smile as he looked at Riveria.
"I understand. Since you won't go back on your word, let's begin now." Riveria responded with a smile.
The next second, Riveria, with strength she didn't know she had, grabbed him by the collar and threw the unsuspecting Leon onto the large bed in the center of the room, her eyes flashing.
"Um?"
"Wait, Riveria, now?" Leon was bewildered by Riveria, looking utterly confused.
"Yes, let's start now and try to finish this as soon as possible. I don't want to delay your path to godhood." Riveria walked over slowly, speaking as she went.
"In broad daylight?"
"Don't you have magic that isolates you from the outside world? Use it."
"Huh?"
"Stop rambling on."
Leon: "..."
—
"Seriously, Leon and Riveria have been gone for over two hours, why haven't they come back yet?"
Over at the library, Ais and the others were sitting in the pavilion in the courtyard, and Tiona was swinging her legs listlessly, muttering.
"I can roughly guess what's going on, Riveria is hogging all the food." Beside her, Tione's eyes twitched, and her lips twitched with displeasure.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Tiona didn't understand at first, her face full of innocence.
On the contrary, Lefiya seemed to understand what Tione meant, and her face turned red.
Ais didn't say anything, remaining expressionless.
Just then, Leon returned.
"I'm back. Sorry to keep you waiting." Leon waved.
"You're finally back."
Upon seeing Leon appear, Tione raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms, and said with dissatisfaction.
"It's been a long time." Tiona said with a hint of resentment.
The other two didn't say anything.
"I'm sorry." Leon quickly apologized.
It took nearly ten minutes and several reassurances to calm Tione and Tiona down before Leon finally managed to reassure them.
"Ais has something to tell you, so Tiona, Lefiya, and I will be leaving now."
"Remember your promise, don't forget to come shopping with us these next few days."
After being comforted, Tione had no intention of talking to Leon. She took Tiona and Lefiya's hands, said goodbye to Leon and left.
Leon was somewhat surprised, but still waved goodbye to the three of them.
After watching them disappear from his sight, he looked at Ais, who had not left.
"Tione said you have something to tell me?" He asked softly, looking at Ais's calm expression.
"Mm." Ais nodded slightly, then said what she wanted to say. "Leon, for the next expedition, I hope you can help me find my mother, Aria. As long as you help me find her, you can have anything you want."
"Aria? Okay, I'll give it a try."