A figure suddenly stumbled in from the doorway.
"Ouch, Alise, why did you push me!"
"Heh heh heh, eavesdropping is not something we, who are righteous and incorruptible, should do! We should openly peek!"
"Wait… if it's open, it's not called peeking, is it?"
"That's not important!"
The girls of Astrea Familia seemed to have been waiting outside the door for a long time, and they rushed into the room in twos and threes, eager to see.
Rod suddenly felt as if he was in a country of women. The girls' curious gazes made him feel a little uncomfortable for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
His previous life as a shut-in naturally wouldn't allow him to have such a mindset, but because of their previous one-body connection, Rod had unilaterally experienced many of Silent Suzuka's experiences in his dreams.
Yes, including the winner's stage…
He had thoroughly experienced the embarrassment of singing and dancing awkwardly under the gaze of thousands of people. Thanks to this, the current situation was nothing to him.
Laila, who had been quietly watching, raised her eyebrows slightly, swallowing the harsh words she had intended to use to drive everyone away.
Interesting...
Kaguya glanced at Rod, her left hand dramatically touching her cheek, her voice as light and melodious as a lutenist.
"Oh my, I thought you'd be completely smitten by our Goddess, but you actually still remember us two vulgar women who sacrificed ourselves for you~"
Rod held his head, barely keeping his composure.
"I am truly grateful for saving my life, but there's no need to intentionally say things that cause misunderstandings..."
Laila clasped her hands behind her head, letting out a light, half-joking scoff.
"Don't mind the nonsense of women in heat. Besides, didn't you desperately find us reinforcements? So we're even."
"And to be honest, I didn't expect you to find the Loki Familia. When I saw that Elf Royalty angrily blow up the entire base, I was afraid she'd accidentally blast me, a mere mouse, into dust too..."
Recalling the scene, Laila still felt a lingering fear, and couldn't help but shiver.
The masked Elf hidden behind everyone couldn't help but speak up.
"Laila, don't be disrespectful to Riveria!"
Kaguya immediately turned her head at the words, sarcastically retorting without backing down.
"The clean and noble Elf Miss always talks big after the fact."
"Wh-what... I also rushed to support, it's just that the battlefield had already been cleared by everyone!"
"That just means you weren't fast enough!"
The two of them started bickering over some inexplicable triviality.
The members of the Familia, as if accustomed to it, gathered around to watch the fun, covering their mouths and snickering.
"Oh dear, oh dear, the stubborn Elf and the Far Eastern Princess's cursing contest has started again..."
"I bet on Kaguya to win!"
"Uh, has Ryu ever won...?"
As the girls giggled, Alise, the captain, appeared beside Rod at some point, familiarly slinging her arm over his shoulder, a bright, unclouded smile on her face.
"My name's Alise, handsome young man, what's your name?"
"Uh, just call me Rod."
"Rod... Mm-hm, that's a good name! Rod, you've really made a name for yourself among the Gods and adventurers this time!"
Alise forcefully tossed her tied-up red hair, saying proudly.
"Hehe, someone who hasn't even received a God's Grace actually outran Level 2 adventurers, people are saying you're like a great hero from before the ancient Gods descended!"
Laila couldn't help but cover her forehead and complain.
"It wasn't you who did it, Captain, what are you so proud of...?"
Rod's brows furrowed slightly at the words, then he calmly shook his head.
"It's just busybodies clinging on; I merely took advantage of the situation and caught them off guard."
He was quite aware of the level of skill he had displayed earlier.
Even if he included the Uma Musume's combat power, it would at most be Level 2.
After all, while Uma Musume are fantasy creatures, they aren't combat-oriented.
Alise blinked, seemingly surprised by Rod's maturity and calmness, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
"Hahahah, as expected of the man Kaguya and Laila sacrificed themselves for, very good, very good!"
"Rod, I say, why don't you join our Astrea Familia?"