Riveria: "You went out to buy groceries, and you came back with three goddesses? I am pretty sure I wrote gorceries on the list, not goddesses."
On this, Emiya had no way to argue back.
The three goddesses and the adventurers shared the same destination, Orario. Since that was the case, Emiya couldn't just ignore them and leave the goddesses behind.
He explained the situation of the goddesses to Riveria. In short, they would be traveling together for the rest of the journey.
"I see," On this, no matter if it was Riveria or anyone else, no one could object.
However, toward these goddesses, the women present still carried faint hostility.
'Artemis... to think this goddess has returned so quickly,' Riveria's impression of this goddess was very deep.
On the surface she seemed like a wise and reliable "pure goddess," but inside she was unexpectedly clumsy, even a bit of a hopeless case.
Yet, precisely these qualities made men instinctively want to take care of her, and adding the special appeal of being the "Virgin Goddess," in short, she was a terrifying enemy.
Riveria's gaze moved away from Artemis and shifted toward the small goddess beside her.
'This one poses no threat.'
Though this goddess had both appearance and figure of the highest class, her aura was far too odd.
Unlike Ryuu and Artemis, who despite being hopeless cases inside still maintained a proper outward bearing, this goddess's "hopeless vibe" was practically visible to the naked eye.
'The most dangerous one, after all is...', Riveria turned her eyes toward Tiamat.
Just the towering curves far surpassing Alicia, Haruhime, and only comparable to the goddess Demeter, were already aggressive to the extreme.
And the aura of the Mother Goddess of Creation was simply too unique, standing out even among the many goddesses.
'Artemis and that Hestia at least are Virgin Goddesses, they should restrain themselves more... but this goddess...', Riveria and the others were very wary.
Yet, when Tiamat saw the elves, her eyes lit up.
She stepped forward, bringing her face extremely close to Riveria's.
Riveria was startled, instinctively stepping back a bit.
"Th-this goddess...", she spoke in doubt, asking, "What is it?"
Tiamat did not answer. Her gaze scanned Riveria's body from top to bottom with careful detail.
That scrutinizing stare made the elven princess feel a bit nervous.
Then Tiamat circled around Riveria, as though performing some kind of puzzling ritual.
When she returned before Riveria, Tiamat suddenly smiled.
That smile made Riveria dazed for a moment. For some reason, she recalled the warm smile she had seen when she snuggled in her mother's embrace as a child.
Tiamat took Riveria's hand. The goddess's hand was extraordinarily soft. Even as a woman, Riveria felt reluctant to let go.
"Such a lovely child. You and Shirou are truly a perfect match," Tiamat smiled gently, "You will surely become a most excellent mother."
Riveria: "Eh?"
The elven princess froze, then slightly lowered her head, her pretty face tinged with blush.
"...Does goddess-sama truly think so?", Riveria asked bashfully.
Although she still didn't know the goddess's name, from her aura alone she could feel the other must bear the divine office of "Earth Mother Goddess."
'This goddess... thinks I am a perfect match with Shirou,' Riveria thought, her face feeling hot.
"Yes, that's right!", Tiamat nodded, speaking earnestly.
After a short silence, the other girls eagerly crowded over, surrounding Tiamat, "Um, goddess-sama, what about me..."
"Goddess-sama, me, me too."
"Please take a look at me. Do I have the face of a good wife?"
Artemis and Hestia looked at each other.
The newly arrived Tiamat had suddenly become the most popular goddess, something they had never expected.
As gods, they still had much to learn. Today, the two "young" goddesses realized their own immaturity.
———
The next morning, the carriage set out toward Orario.
Though they had gained three more goddesses, luckily they had prepared enough carriages, so it did not feel crowded.
They traveled along the main road between cities until they reached a fork, where some people would leave the group and head another direction.
Friana and her few students were heading to the nearest port city, where they would rendezvous with the Academy's ship.
"Lord Emiya, I have decided, after graduating from the Academy, I wish to join the Hephaestus Familia," At the crossroads of parting, the human girl mage spoke seriously.
"If that's what you wish, of course you're welcome. But Nano, is that really okay?", Emiya asked.
With Nano's talent and personality, joining the Hephaestus Familia would pose no problem, but being a Lv.3 at her age, in a forging familia, seemed a little wasted.
Nano shook her head, her expression slightly bitter, "Actually, I don't like fighting, and I don't like adventuring... I don't think I'm suited to be an adventurer."
The girl indeed had the talent to become a top mage, but her true heart did not wish for battle.
Her experiences adventuring around the world with the Academy, fighting all kinds of monsters, had already left her mentally and physically exhausted.
Nano wished for a peaceful life.
"But... it's still more than a year until the Academy next arrives at Orario...", Nano spoke softly.
Emiya: "Mm. You don't have to rush into deciding... but if you've made up your mind, I'll welcome you."
Nano planned to discuss it with her childhood friend Luke once she returned to the Academy.
If Luke was willing to apologize, and invited her to keep forming a party in the future, Nano would still agree.
But if Luke truly felt he didn't need her anymore—
'At least the salary in Hephaestus Familia is high, and Lord Emiya will look after me...', The girl thought with hesitation.
Mirilia's ambition was the Loki Familia. However, the Loki Familia followed an elite strategy, with much higher requirements, and even Riveria and Alicia couldn't give a certain promise.
They could only say, with Mirilia's talent, she surely had a chance. Perhaps more than a year later, Lefiya might gain a junior schoolmate.
As for the others, they hadn't decided yet. For example, Nina was still hesitating, whether to become an adventurer, stay in the Academy for research, or return to her mother's country to become a high-ranking knight.
However, Nina felt in the end she would still choose to be an adventurer. Compared to a safe but dull life, she longed more for a grand and stormy future.
Emiya: "Friana-senpai, see you next time."
Hearing the boy's voice, the elven senior trembled.
"Mm, see you next time... I'll write you letters."
After bidding farewell, they headed off in different directions.
———
"Shirou~", Tiamat spread open her arms toward Emiya.
The goddess's sparkling eyes seemed to say, ["Come let mama hug you~"]
Emiya didn't know how to refuse this goodwill, and in the end, he had no choice but to give in.
He lay down, resting his head on the goddess's soft lap. Tiamat raised her hand, gently stroking the boy's hair.
The carriage rolled along the stone-paved road. Because its base was a specially treated magic tool, the ride was unusually smooth, without the slightest bump.
Whether it was the atmosphere or the goddess's aura, Emiya soon felt drowsy.
"Shirou, do you want to hear a lullaby~", the goddess asked.
Emiya smiled helplessly, "That... would be a little too embarrassing."
"But in my eyes, you're still just a child," Tiamat tilted her head and said so.
She gently covered Emiya's eyes, softly humming a tune.
"...By the way, goddess-sama, when did you descend to this world?", Emiya asked.
Tiamat: "About two months ago. Why?"
"No, nothing..."
The time when the ancient monster [Gugalanna] began its rampage was also two months ago.
'Was it a coincidence?', Emiya wondered, then drifted into deep sleep under the goddess's lullaby.
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