Freya got a little upset, but decided to leave that haggling to the children. "Ottar, what do you think?"
"It's ridiculous. Admitting that it isn't worth it to them, then demanding payment."
"I think it's ridiculous too. Perhaps we should teach them-" … "Nevermind…"
"Hedin, you know numbers, you take care of the price." Ottar finished, not caring about the number anymore.
Sighing, Hedin clicked his glasses with his finger, cursing in his mind. "Fine, Nernatti, what is the privilege of Balor, worth to you?"
"Oh my, Hedin, so smart, even wording it all fancy like that. It'll be about this much." She smiled, holding up 6 fingers.
"That's an absurd price!? 1.5 billion…"
"Really? I thought that was pretty fair considering the effort it'll take to get everyone leveled up after we have to wait for a new one to spawn. Remember, there's other ways to level up, but that doesn't mean they are easier. You're paying for the ease of use."
"Is that the same price you'd charge anyone else?"
"Whatever do you mean? The exchange prices of goods and services are only based on supply and demand. It could never be influenced by things you may, or may not have done in the past."
"That's… You lie!"
"Oh, no. Anything extra on the price you may be thinking about, is the price of our oh so precious time."
Hedin, along with the other members of Freya familia, grit their teeth. Freya nodded, giving a signal to Hedin to accept it.
"Fine, 1.5 billion valis, so long as you agree to installments till it's paid in full."
"Hmm, If you're not able to pay upfront, I'll need to introduce interest to the total. Every month the amount will go up 10 million, for every 100 million left on the total, with the total updating every month. How's that sound?"
"That's robbery!"
"No, it's way less expensive than the business of simply carting items to and from the 18th floor. Which has a four times price change both ways." Nernatti explained, putting on full display why she is still the captain of their familia. "This method benefits you greatly. If you pay it off in a month, you owe nothing extra. And if you paid off 500 million in a month, the total price would only rise by 150 million. So it would take less than four months to finish it. We're the ones losing here, but we're kind enough to give you the chance to get stronger. And even take up suppressing Evilus while your members are gone, at a slightly increased rate."
"Oh? What would that rate be?"
"The total will go up 50% every month, instead of 10%. So the faster you do this, the better. Good luck."
Freya familia having been completely cornered had no choice but to accept these terms. After signing a contract, with the executives, captains, and patron gods, the Freya familia left, safely delivered Freya to her residence, and began their grind for funds. And at the rate they could realistically go, it was going to take them a good amount of time before they managed to finish getting the required amount of 1.5 billion… Which will very likely be a near permanent debt until they get good enough at earning money to pay it off.
…
After the fiasco with the Freya familia, Shurry found himself surrounded by the Astraea familia.
"You've got some nerve don't you? How could you not pick me?" Iska asked, of course she was half teasing.
"Huh? What's going on?" Shurry asked, his ears flicking to show he was confused.
Ardee standing there, all cute like, poking the ground with her toes, rotating her leg side to side. "Welcome home, Shurry… I sorta told them what happened."
"Ardee!" Shurry hugged Ardee, with a smile.
"Shurry? What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
"Oh, I'm just happy to see you!"
"Eh!? Me too!"
Alise snickered, and then laughed, holding her hips. "Oh yeah. They're a couple now. Congrats. So Shurry, Ardee said she's kissed you, have you kissed her yet?"
Shurry didn't answer with words, doing so instead with actions, and a tail that didn't stop.
"Ahahaha! So you have."
"Of course, I love her!"
The eruption of cheerful laughter continued the rest of the day, but at dinner it stopped.
"Hathor, I've got some news." Astraea said, in a calm tone.
"Oh? What is it?"
"I've found a nice big home for my familia to live in now. It's got everything a familia like mine could want."
"Oh wow, that's excellent news. You're finally able to get out of those cramped apartments."
"Yes, my children have worked very hard to earn enough money for it. And so, I wanted to thank you for all of your support these past years. My girls made wonderful friends while they were here."
"No need to thank me. We just had children of similar ages. I would like us to stay friends though, so come by to visit from time to time."
"We will, training here seems to be of a huge benefit for my children."
"It's been fun seeing mine grow so much as well. Oh, what's your home's name?"
"Stardust Garden. Because my children are all sparkles, and their story will be written in the stars."
Hathor smiled, and nodded to Shurry, he got up from the table, left the room, and returned with a book, handing it to Astraea.
"Oh my, what's this?"
"It's the training methods and strategies my Aunty left me. Though this one's a copy, it has everything about how to get the most out of the falna, and bring out the best in everyone!"
Astraea was stunned into silence. "This book contains such secrets… And you're just giving it to me?"
"Why not? We're friends, right? If my friends get stronger, then I don't have to worry as much."
Astraea smiled, and decided to accept the gift. "Thank you. This will help us save more lives." She said, in a rare moment when she willingly gave Shurry a head pat, a warm one.
"Ardee, you can come train with us too whenever you want!" Alise said, all fired up, as she started reading the book. "Oh wow! This looks pretty difficult. But, ehehehe, that's just part of the challenge!"
"That's the spirit, girl!" Bokhoir laughed, raising his mug.
"We're gonna get so much stronger! Right girls!"
""Yeah!""
""Ardee, don't think I've completely lost yet! I'm still in the race!"" Iska & Neze both stated, without reservation.
"Ugh, you just got to take him. No sense in speaking about it." Kaguya said.
Ardee smiled. "I welcome the challenge, but you're not taking my place. I'm also almost level 4."