(Riven POV – Orario, Northern Main Street)
'She definitely knows.' I sigh inwardly as I walk north, weaving through the bustle of the main street.
Syr—or rather, Freya—saw right through me.
It would be foolish to assume she didn't notice something amiss. 'I already dealt with it the best I could… nothing left to do now but move on.'
The sunlight glints off the buildings as I pass by, my footsteps taking me further from Babel and toward the city's northern quarter. The crowd thins slightly as I reach the midpoint between Babel and the city wall, and I take a left into a quieter, smaller street.
Here, general foot traffic fades into a more purposeful bustle. This narrow street is dedicated almost entirely to clothing shops—each store's window showcasing its own particular niche.
Simple racks of everyday clothes—linen shirts, plain trousers, and aprons. Durable, cheap, easy to replace. Perfect for common folk or rookie adventurers.
Other shops target adventurers specifically. Reinforced leather tunics, high-collared cloaks, and reinforced boots. Functionality takes precedence here. The fabric may chafe and the designs are anything but fashionable, but they'll last a dozen dungeon dives and maybe keep you alive a bit longer.
Further down the street, the offerings become more specialized. Stores that cater to particular races—robes designed to suit Elven tastes, snug and ornate outfits for Pallums, and minimalist, breathable wear for Amazonesses. Some even stock rare exotic fabrics from all over the world. Expensive, but certainly unique.
With high variety, it attracts more customers, making the business model profitable.
Then I pass the boutiques designed for the gods and their entourages. These exude decadence. Items like long trailing coats lined with Almiraj fur, or dramatic overcoats of stitched Minotaur hide. They're impractical, but striking. Status symbols for those who see fashion as a way to highlight their power.
'They even use monster drops for showy outfits… at least the materials are good.'
I pause outside one of the more humble shops—clean, well-organized, and clearly geared toward the average person.
'This store should have everything I need.'
I push open the door, a gentle bell chiming above me.
Inside, rows of neatly folded clothes and pre-made outfits line the walls and shelves. The air smells faintly of cloth and wood, and there's a calm warmth to the space.
"Hello there!" The clerk greets me from behind the counter with a friendly smile. He's a human man in his thirties, sleeves rolled up, eyes crinkling as he steps forward. "What can I help you with today?"
I return the smile, polite and open. "Hi. I was actually wondering… do you sell materials directly? Threads, cloth rolls, and fabrics?"
His brows rise slightly, his smile turning curious. "Looking to make something yourself?"
I nod. "Yeah. I'm planning to do a bit of crafting—so I'll need a decent stock of thread and cloth to get started." I pull a pouch from my backpack and set it on the counter with a solid clink, the weight of the Valis inside speaking for itself. I had retrieved the pouch from Stomach before entering.
The clerk's eyes drift to the pouch. A flicker of professional interest crosses his face before he straightens with renewed energy.
"Well! We don't usually get adventurers asking for raw supplies." He admits with a chuckle, "Most only come looking for something flashy or cool, if not for everyday clothes. But yes, we do stock materials in the back. Just let me bring out some options for you."
He disappears into the back room, and I take the chance to glance around again. 'Most of the clothes here are affordable and well-made. The materials would probably be decent too. I'll need to find my own suppliers, though.'
It doesn't take long before he returns, his arms full of bolts of fabric and bundles of thread in a range of colors and types. Cotton, linen, wool, silk—spools of regular thread, and even a few monster-fiber blends.
"Alright, here you are." He says, laying everything across the counter. "What kind of work are you looking to do? Light clothes, protective layers, formalwear…?"
"I'm mostly looking to make versatile and durable clothing." I reply, running a hand across the fabric. "Stuff that won't get in the way during combat. So something comfortable, light, and durable."
The clerk hums thoughtfully. "In that case, you might want these here." He picks up a few specific bundles and sets them aside. "These are mixed-thread blends—cloth that won't tear under stress, but is comfortable on the skin. And here—this silk is more expensive, but strong, and it takes magic really well. It's not too flashy either."
Perfect.
"Then I'll take these." I say, pointing to the selected materials, selecting a variety of colours. I note to pick some quality blue and whites for Hestia.
'Does it have a symbolic meaning, or is it just her personal preference?' I wonder. 'I can always ask her.'
"Add in some of the monster threads as well." I add.
"Good eye." The clerk remarks as he starts wrapping the materials up. "You know your fabrics."
"I'm still an amateur." I reply casually.
"That'll be 53,200 Valis—but for a bulk purchase, I can round it down to 50,000." He says with a polite smile.
I grin back. "Thank you for your generous offer."
The majority of the cost was in the threads and cloth made from monster drops, so the price is understandable.
I hand over the Valis and consider it an investment. Great Sage will analyse how to break down drops and turn them into fabrics, and I'll have an unlimited supply of materials from the Dungeon.
'Even the quality would be better.'
I step out of the shop with two full bundles of fabric in my arms—linen, thread, silk, and more all neatly tied together.
A quick glance around confirms no one's paying me any attention, so I slip into a quiet alley and deposit everything into Stomach.'
'It's 12:32… I've still got some time before the date.' I exhale slowly. 'What even constitutes a good date? Especially in Orario? I'm new, and don't really know any good places.'
I've never gone on one. Not in this world, and not in the last. Movies, dinner, walks—those were the usual answers back on Earth, right?
Here though… I can't take her to a movie theater that doesn't exist, and dinner seems quite plain.
'I'll figure something out. Worst case scenario, we just wander around. That still counts, right?'
I sigh. 'Too bad I can't analyze or buy weapons today anymore…'
I had been looking forward to stealing the techniques and designs.
(Hestia POV – Jagamarukun Stall, 1:52 PM)
"Thank you! Please come again!" I wave with my best vendor smile, handing off another perfectly cooked Jagamarukun to a passing adventurer. He grins, thanks me, and vanishes into the crowd.
As soon as he's gone, I scan the street with barely restrained excitement. My eyes dart left, then right, but I find no sign of Riven's bright, white hair.
'He'll be here. He said he'd pick me up at 2PM sharp.'
Still, the seconds tick by slowly, and I can feel the anticipation bubbling under my skin.
Then, finally, it's 2:00.
With practiced ease, I start cleaning up and packing the stall. The owner already knows I'm leaving early today.
Two minutes. That's all it takes to finish, but there's still no sign of him.
"He said he'd pick me up at two…" I mumble with a pout, arms crossed and foot tapping lightly against the ground. "Don't tell me he's lat—"
"I've been here for a while." A familiar voice murmurs from just behind me, so close I feel the breath on my ear. "Didn't want to distract you while you were working."
I don't even jump. I'm too used to it by now.
"Riven!" I spin around with a grin and launch myself at him, not minding the pink apron I'm wearing over my clothes.
He catches me gently, in a warm hug. I nuzzle into his chest without hesitation, comfort washing over me, as our bodies press against each other. Then I tilt my head up, cheeks puffed out in fake annoyance.
"You should've said something if you were already here!" I scold. "I thought you were running late."
He smiles at me. A calm, faintly amused grin he wears whenever I'm flustered. "I'd never be late for a date with you, Goddess." He says, tightening the hug slightly.
My heart skips.
That should be normal—he always says things like that—but right now, it feels weird.
His arms are wrapped tightly around me. They're warm and comforting. But…
'He's not letting go. I couldn't escape even if I wanted to.'
Worst of all… I don't want him to let go!
The seconds stretch on. My ears pick up the steady beat of his heart, and I start to fidget slightly.
"Um… Riven?" I mumble, glancing around awkwardly. "Why aren't you letting go…?"
My voice is soft, barely above a whisper, and I already know what he's going to do before he does it.
He leans in slightly and gently lifts my chin with a single finger, tilting my gaze to meet his. His eyes glint mischievously.
"Do you want me to let go?" He asks softly. His voice is curious, but I can sense the teasing undertone. "Because I really like hugging you, Goddess."
My entire face goes crimson. My brain short-circuits. And I don't even recall when I stopped breathing.
I yank myself out of his arms, heart pounding, and face burning. My hands flail around instinctively. "W-what the hell was that?!"
He grins, completely unfazed. "We're going on a date. Shouldn't I act the part?"
"N-not like that!" I shout, jabbing a trembling finger at him. "It's a casual date! A friendly, normal date between a Goddess and her Familia! You can't just say things like that out of nowhere!"
His grin turns thoughtful, almost mock-innocent. "So… affectionate teasing is off the table?"
"It's murder if I die of embarrassment halfway through!" I groan, covering my face with both hands.
He chuckles lowly, walking up beside me without missing a beat. "Alright, alright. I'll behave."
"Whenever you say that, you end up causing trouble." I grumble.
"Maybe I do." He grins proudly. "But even if I cause myself trouble, I'd never let you suffer, Goddess."
My heart trembles once again because I know… he means every word.
"You just said you'd behave!" I groan, dragging out the last word with a warning tone.
Riven raises an eyebrow, cocking his head like a confused puppy. It's cute, but infuriating. Then he smirks.
'Oh no.' My stomach twists. 'He's plotting something.'
"That's unfortunate." He sighs. "I'd even prepared a special gift for you... but giving it to you now would count as misbehaving."
My ears perk instantly. 'Gift?'
Skepticism clashes with curiosity.
'He's not lying. Whatever it is, he genuinely meant it as a gift… but it feels like a trap.'
Curse you, Riven. You know exactly how to get under my skin.
I fidget, unable to stop my growing anticipation. "No! Gifts don't count as misbehaving!" I declare proudly, my voice rising an octave. "I want it!"
His eyes narrow. "I'll need to test that in the future." He mutters, deliberately loud enough for me to hear.
"What does that mean—"
But I don't get the chance to finish.
He swings his backpack around and pulls out a wooden box, smooth and polished, simple yet elegant. He holds it towards me casually.
"This is for you." He says quietly, all traces of teasing vanishing for a moment. "I put a lot of thought into it… so I hope you like it."
The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard.
I take the box gently and hold it to my chest with a smile I can't hide. Warmth bubbles in my chest and spreads to my face.
"Can I open it now?" I ask, eyes flicking up at him hopefully.
"You can… but I recommend somewhere private." His voice is calm, but the corner of his mouth twitches.
I immediately squint in suspicion. "It's nothing weird, right?" I ask, eyeing the box cautiously.
He gives me the most innocent expression he can fake, and I can tell it's fake. "Would I really mess with you like that?"
"Yes." I deadpan.
He groans dramatically. "Fair enough."
Even if it was a weird gift, I'd love it anyway.
"But I won't mess around on our date." He adds, gentler this time. "You can open it with peace of mind."
My fingers tighten slightly around the box. "...You better not be lying." I murmur, turning away just enough to hide the blush spreading across my cheeks.
It's crazy how quickly my heart's beating. I can't remember the last time someone gave me a gift. Let alone something they claimed they put thought into.
And even if it is some weird joke... I want to believe he meant it sincerely.
"I'll be right back!" I announce, already bouncing on my heels, the box cradled tightly to my chest as I dash down the street. "Don't move!"
"Wouldn't dream of it." He calls after me. "I recommend a changing room." He adds helpfully, voice carrying just enough mischief to make me trip slightly.
'Changing room?!' I stumble to a halt.
I whirl back around and point accusingly. "W-why a changing room?! What's in this?!"
He just shrugs with maddening nonchalance. "You'll understand when you see it."
Which does not help my spiraling imagination.
I glare suspiciously for a few more seconds before huffing and storming off, muttering under my breath.
"…This better not be underwear."
'But… would I even be mad if it is?' I wonder.
*********
A/N: Hello Everyone. How are you all? If you've enjoyed the chapter, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or powerstones?
All things considered, Riven had fun playing with Hestia, and Hestia's helpless for now🤣. But she's slowly getting used to his nonsense. Honestly, it's interesting because Riven is really complex.
The way he's set up is that he's infinitely close to being a sociopath, but is somehow feeling and doing all this stuff normally, in his own way. He's similar to Kata, in that he can be ruthless and is quite matter of fact in his thoughts. He's almost always calm, even if not logical.
So it's fun for me to write. As for Hestia, she's adorable. I try not to make her childish, since she's a Goddess, but she can be serious if need be. Riven will just make sure there's never a need.
And Riven is quite sincere in his interactions with Hestia. He genuinely likes her, so he didn't mess with her too much here. First Date privilege. She'll suffer (is it even suffering?) throughout this date, but they'll have fun.
As for what's in the box? Everyone on discord can probably guess. So let's change the question... Is there underwear included?
Who knows?!🤣 I'm wondering whether to write the scene of Hestia changing, or if to just skip to Riven's reaction. What say you?
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
But anyway, that's all from me. Hope you've all had lovely and wonderful days, and that you enjoyed the chapter.