"Eh? What's that look fur kid? Are you here to eat, or are you here to bark?" The tall, and in charge dwarf turned with a wild eye, and then… Shit, it's that kid. Freya, do you even realize what you've done to this boy? You'd best keep your promise to me. "It's you, right? That kid who put their faces into the dirt."
"Yeah, that's me."
"Good on ya. I wasn't a fan of staying in that familia, I'd had enough of it. So I left- partially left. I have my own reasons, but it's not so easy to get her to release me from my falna. I'm level 6 after all."
Hathor's lips curled into a small smile. "So, you only have a weak connection with the Freya familia now? And you didn't know what they were planning?"
"Exactly. I even punched their lights out a few times myself. Idiots. Killing that young man in his prime, just so they could take over as the top familias." She grumbled, preparing a couple seats at the bar for the two guests. "Have a seat, and order what you want… Oh, and I already know your unofficial title, Kitchen Devourer. You're limited to the portions of a party of 7. Any more and I'll start charging you triple."
At first Shurry was hesitant, but he couldn't smell the lie. And so, his stomach guided him to the chair. And he smirked. "I'll have all that food for a party of 8."
"That'll cost extra-"
"No! You said that I was limited to 7 portions! Not my whole party! With mommy here, that makes 8! So no extra cost!"
"You're good, kid. By the way, why are you talking back like you're grown!?"
"I'm level 6 too!"
"Huh? Wait, really?"
"Yeah!"
"Huh, alright then, spend your money kid. A level 6 surely can keep coming back to give me more money."
"Humph, if the food is good. Maybe I will."
"Oh, is that so? Well then dig in."
The portions started coming out, and he started eating… demolishing plate, after plate. There was truly no comparison here. The kitchen struggled to keep food coming, and even brought in their little helper to cart food over. She was a young cat person, with black hair, and fur.
It wasn't long before he'd finished everything. It was fast enough that even Mama Mia, the tavern owner, could comprehend. Shurry paid for the meal and then left with Hathor to find another tasty place. However, he felt those eyes on him, he turned, and glared so hard as if he could see the person clearly.
Eventually the moment passed with the onlooker giving up first. And then Shurry returned to focusing on the task at hand. Going out on tours of everything in the city with Hathor, to prepare. For what? His dates with Ardee of course!
…
The next day began training with Ardee, and their friends. Which suddenly gained a new member. A girl the same age as Shurry arrived and had recently joined up with the Astraea familia… Her name, Gojouno Kaguya. And she was very much a tease.
"Hey Shurry! It's rare to see you up on the surface still." Alise said in her cheerful sunny tone. "And I recently turned 10! Ahahaha! We're the same age now too."
"Not for long. Like a month at most. I'm almost 11."
"Pfft, anyway, it's time to introduce you. This is Kaguya, she's the newest member of my familia. I forget why she's here, but it-"
"Oh stop, I was told to leave home because of a revolution back home. My family didn't want me to participate in the hopes I survive to continue our lineage."
"Oh? So, you…" I wouldn't want to add pain to others… "So they're at risk then? Well, training today will get you in shape!" He said with a genuine smile.
"Ha, what could a wolf do?"
"You'll see, let training begin."
The flurry of motions was far greater than it used to be. Alise and everyone else was beyond shocked.
"Shurry did… Did you level up?"
"Yes. I did."
Kaguya, still shocked by what she just saw, but with her willpower managed to ask… "What level?"
"Level 6…"
"WHAT!?"
"This'll be fun! Let's go big brother!"
The combo moves started coming, the girls of Astraea familia really improved their team work. Moreover they're working in different attacks, from all sorts of angles, nothing was overly repetitive, and yet they all worked seamlessly together, mostly.
"Wow, Astraea, your children have improved." A muscular man wearing an elephant mask appeared near two goddesses bathing in the warm glow of the sun, watching their children train. "I am GANESHA!"
"We know you are. Thanks for the compliment, but it's all them. They're the young ones putting in the work to grow stronger." Astraea smiled. She shifted her body a little, reaching for her tea. "That aside, I think more than a couple of my children have a crush on that son of yours, Hathor. I also think it's time for mixed bathing to stop."
"Yeah, I was going to stop it once he turned 11. I think that's a good place for it to stop. A shame since they loved splashing all over the place. It made the baths fun. Now it'll be boring again."
"Fine, one month, but start winding it down alright."
"Good, and it looks like they're done with the first round of exercise."
The days became a mix of protecting Hathor, and training. Eventually, The Astraea familia members had all managed to level up. Ardee managed to reach level 3. A huge milestone that basically lit a fire under Neze's rear, and thus by consequence the others in Astraea familia.
It had been a couple months, and the Hathor familia expedition team returned to the surface. Some had some rather serious injuries, to include broken & lost limbs, but it was nothing Shurry couldn't fix.
Bokhoir sat down, and let out a huge, and heavy sigh. "Shurry, I don't know how you do it but… Not like it would matter, we have to do it our own way." He continued with a big grin. "We did it! We killed Udaeus, and we even went as far as floor 52 before having to turn back to safety. We killed Balor, and Cadmus. Seriously, thanks for leaving them for us. With that experience, I wouldn't have gained an accurate understanding of where we actually lay in comparison to our late heroes."
"You're welcome! Now, Mommy is waiting for each of you in the private room to update your statuses-"
"Sorry everyone, you're going to see my body, I just can't keep these on any longer."
"And the bath has been drawn!"
"Come one Shurry, let's go bathe!"
"Mommy said I couldn't bathe with the ladies anymore."
Hathor, seemingly realizing this might happen, called out. "Don't worry, it's fine if they're our familia. Go with your sisters, they need some cuddle time too."
"It was a rough time in the dungeon…" Nernatti said with a pouty face, swaying back and forth.
"Yay! Bath time!"