Chapter 104: Could This Be Jealousy?

Hearing the ominous cheer from the group, Akira's eyes widened slightly, locking onto the smug, sinister grins plastered across the girls' faces. There was no mistaking it—the wolves had smelled blood. He cursed inwardly, "Good fellows, you were waiting for me right here, huh? Truly impressive. I walked right into your trap without even realizing. I was careless... should've dodged." But now that things had escalated to this point, he had no choice but to face it head-on. There was no escape. Only forward. Accepting his fate with the kind of helpless bravery seen in martyrs and fools, Akira nodded slowly. Then, putting on a mask of fake magnanimity and indifferent confidence, he said with forced calm, "Alright, alright... I get it. It's just a dozen requests. I accept. You have my word." The girls exploded with joy. "Ohhhhhh!" Cheers erupted like thunder. The atmosphere grew even more spirited as the implications of Akira's agreement sank in. Mischievous smiles lit up the room like lanterns. Lyra's lips curled into a devious arc. She gave a soft snort—twice, for emphasis—and said in a singsong voice, "Hmm~ Well, now that the decision has been made, you're not allowed to go back on your word, okay?" She even winked at him, her gaze full of sly provocation. The glint in her eye said, "You asked for this." Akira stared blankly at her, expressionless. But deep in his heart, he gritted his teeth and snarled silently, "One day... I'll make you cry under the sunrise to the sound of cicadas chirping. Then you'll know who's right and who's wrong." As he was immersed in his quiet inner fury, Kaguya, standing elegantly to the side, gracefully raised her slender hand and gently covered her mouth with a long, flowing sleeve. Her narrow, mesmerizing eyes arched into a smile—but that smile didn't reach her pupils. A cold, almost imperceptible gleam flickered in her gaze, like the flash of a blade drawn under moonlight. And then she said, in an unhurried but bone-chilling tone, "If he dares to go back on his promise... then allow me to slice off his little finger with my blade... huhuhuhu..." Her dainty giggle followed, refined and elegant. But it sent a shiver down everyone's spine. Akira's lips twitched, a black line sliding across his forehead. His expression turned utterly speechless as he turned to stare at the usually composed Kaguya—who now looked like she had just stepped out of a murder mystery play. Why is she suddenly acting like some psychotic yandere...?! He sighed internally. Truly... helpless. But before he could even process more of the psychological trauma, a subtle tremor rippled through the magical field enveloping the entire Stardust Garden. His expression shifted ever so slightly. Two unfamiliar but refined magic power signatures had just entered the vicinity. They were approaching the gate steadily, their presence calm but commanding. Riveria and Ais? Akira raised both hands slightly, and with a smooth motion, began to retrieve the vast tide of magical energy that had been buried deep beneath the estate like a sea beneath a frozen surface. Under his precise control, the enormous current gradually reversed direction, flowing back toward him like a mountain stream, before gently returning into the depths of his body. He had deployed that magic purely for detection—he had no intention of overwhelming his guests. It was simply a subtle trick to confirm their arrival. Now that he was certain, he casually pulled out a chair, stood up, and announced to the room with a hint of ease, "Looks like Riveria-san and Ais have arrived. I'll go open the door and bring them in." The moment his words landed, the effect was instant and electric. Ryuu and Celty, seated nearby, jolted up as if struck by lightning. Their reaction was so abrupt, it seemed almost comedic. Their faces filled with panic and nervousness as they cried out in unison. "W-Wait, WHAT?! Princess Riveria's coming here?! We need to go greet her immediately!" There was no time to finish their food. They practically flung their bowls aside and dashed toward the entrance like bolts of lightning. Even among elves, Riveria's presence carried a weight that was difficult to describe. She was of the royal lineage—an elven princess whose bloodline resonated with ancient reverence. Most elves, even those who prided themselves on their independence, couldn't help but lower their heads before her. Even half-elves like Ryuu and Celty felt an instinctual awe in her presence. Riveria herself found such treatment exasperating. She detested being seen only as royalty, disliked the distance it placed between her and others. That was why she appreciated Akira's attitude—blunt, honest, and unaffected by her status. So when Ryuu and Celty broke into a full sprint, leaving behind streaks of wind, Akira blinked a few times in confusion. "Hey! Ryuu, I get it, you're fast, but Celty... aren't you a mage?! Since when do you run like that?!" The two were already vanishing around the corner. Flustered, Akira quickly chased after them, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Hey—wait up! What's with you two?! Why are you running like the world's ending?!" Asta looked at their receding vacks and said with a chuckle, "Even though Astraea-sama and Maryuu told me that Akira is a half-elf from another world... it's still hard to get used to how little respect he shows to the elven royal family." Neze, standing nearby, nodded with a thoughtful expression. "Indeed. When you contrast Akira's casual demeanor with Ryuu and Celty's reverent panic... it does feel a bit surreal." Over the past few days, with Akira's permission, Astraea had finally revealed his secret to the entire familia. She explained that Akira wasn't just from another country or distant land—but from another world entirely. He had come across the stars, across the boundary of time and space, farther even than the divine realm where the gods once dwelled. At first, the girls didn't grasp the weight of that revelation. They thought it merely meant Akira had left his homeland behind. But as the goddess detailed the nature of his journey, their eyes widened. Their hearts trembled. He hadn't just left his home—he had been ripped from it. Thrown into a strange world, with no allies, no direction, and likely no way of ever going back. The gravity of his reality hit them like a stone. Though they kept their expressions composed, not one of them left that conversation unaffected. They each carried scars, yes—but Akira's loneliness... his displacement from everything familiar, from the very world he belonged to... that left a mark on them. A quiet sorrow. A shared pain. And a growing desire to protect the boy who stood so strong, despite the loneliness he must have felt. Just as those thoughts stirred among them, the front door opened and Akira returned, Riveria and Ais following closely behind. The moment the two guests entered the hall, the idle chatter came to an abrupt halt. Riveria took a step forward and bowed her head slightly. Her tone was calm, dignified. "It's been a while, Goddess Astraea. And everyone... I'm pleased to see you all well." Then, she turned to Ais, gently patting the girl's golden hair. She lowered her head and said softly, "Ais, come now. Say hello to everyone. You know this much, don't you?" Ais looked up at her, tugging nervously at the hem of Riveria's sleeve. Her golden eyes scanned the unfamiliar crowd. There were eleven people in front of her—every one of them watching her with curious, assessing, and subtly probing gazes. Ais wasn't used to this. She wasn't good with crowds, let alone scrutiny. But under Riveria's gentle prodding, she bowed slightly and said, her voice soft and a little flat, "Good morning, Goddess Astraea... everyone." "Good morning!" The Astraea Familia members echoed cheerfully, though several pairs of eyes remained locked on her. Even though Ais had met Alise and a few of the others before, it was nothing like this. This time, it felt... overwhelming. Their eyes weren't hostile, but they were intense. Ais felt small under their attention, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a flutter of anxiety. She edged closer to Riveria, as if her mentor's presence could shield her. And beside her, Akira stood quietly, observing the room. He noticed how several of his companions were looking at Ais. It wasn't malicious, but... the emotions behind those gazes were complicated. And for reasons he couldn't fully explain, an odd feeling bloomed in his chest. A strange, heavy emotion that made him narrow his eyes slightly. Could this be... jealousy?