Chapter 8: What's The Difference Between an Elf And a Half-Elf?

By the time Akira and Kaguya resurfaced on the ground, the skies had already descended into twilight. Golden streetlamps spilled their glow across the cobbled roads, casting long, flickering shadows. Despite the inherent chaos that pulsed through Orario's veins, it now seemed almost serene—alive with a mysterious aura. The bustling night streets, filled with vendors, adventurers, and laughter, gave Akira a sense of attachment. For the first time, he felt a subtle fondness for this foreign world. Before long, night had fully fallen. With no towering skyscrapers to obscure the view, and no smog to pollute the air, the sky stretched wide and unfiltered. Orario's dim lighting refrained from stealing nature's spotlight. Above them, the vast sky unfolded—clear and unobstructed. A silver river of stars stretched across the sky, magnificently suspended in eternal stillness. It was the kind of sky Akira hadn't seen since childhood, back when he still lived in the countryside. He stopped walking and looked up quietly, eyes glimmering with nostalgia and wonder. The moon, radiant and full, hung beside a sea of stars. Akira reached a hand up as if to grasp the starlight itself, then turned to face Kaguya, his tone unusually solemn. "Under the watchful eyes of this starlit sky... I swear I'll protect you and Astraea-sama. No matter what happens." Kaguya stared at the black-haired, black-eyed boy in silence, his sudden vow stirring something in her heart. Finally, she gently rested her hand on his head and responded softly, "Yes. You can do it." "Come on. Let's go home." Side by side, they walked down the quieting street toward the Stardust Garden. Along the way, Akira's sharp eyes caught sight of two familiar silhouettes walking ahead—one a petite girl with radiant blonde hair, the other a tall, composed elf with emerald-green locks. He asked, "Wait... are those the Sword Princess Ais and the Nine Hell Riveria from the Loki Familia?" Kaguya took a careful look and nodded. "Yes, that's them. What's wrong? Do you know them? Want to go say hello?" Akira shook his head and said, "No. I've just heard about the Sword Princess—the girl who leveled up in just one year." Kaguya hummed thoughtfully and said, "That girl really is impressive." "You're an elf too... well, half-elf. Isn't Riveria supposed to be a royal among elves? Do you want to go pay your respects?" "Oh, please." Akira replied dryly, "I've never even met her. Why should I show her respect? It's not like she's ever done anything for me." "Hah! You really are a strange half-elf." Kaguya said, both amused and baffled, "I heard from that useless elf Ryuu that elves are supposed to bow before royal blood." "Is that so?" Akira chuckled nervously and said, "Ahaha... by the way, Kaguya-nee, do you know the difference between elves and half-elves?" Kaguya said, "Hmm. Isn't it just the shape of the ears?" Akira sarcastically said, "Wow! Nee-san is amazing! You know so much! As expected of the vice-captain of our familia!" "Stop it, you little brat. Do you think I'm that easy to fool?" Kaguya snapped, narrowing her eyes despite the smirk tugging at her lips. "No, of course not. Must've been your imagination." Akira said, mentally sweating bullets. Now that I've gone this far, how am I supposed to tell her I'm not even an elf? — — — "We're back!" Upon returning to the Stardust Garden, Akira went staright to his room, took a long shower, and changed into comfortable clothes. Once refreshed, he headed to another building—only to find several girls gathered near the door to the shower room. Some wore casual clothes and held pajamas, clearly just done bathing. A few were chatting openly, while others looked flustered, glancing toward the hallway. "Hey, Akira! How was your first adventure?" Iska called out. "Heh, as a certified genius, of course it was a success! Are you ready to be amazed?" Akira declared proudly. "Oh-ho~ Then we definitely need to check your updated stats. By the way... where's Kaguya? She didn't bully you, did she? That awkward woman isn't exactly known for being gentle." Lyra asked with a small, gentle smile. Akira said, "Eh? Kaguya-nee was really supportive today. She taught me a lot too. Oh, and we even saw the Sword Princess and Nine Hell from Loki Familia on the way back." Lyra said, "Kaguya-nee? Wow... for her to accept you so soon... You really must be someone Astraea-sama favors." Lyra was genuinely surprised. Though Kaguya had a sharp tongue, she always cared deeply about her comrades. Iska gave a sly grin amd said, "What's this~? So you saw those two princesses from Loki Familia? Akira, are you already eyeing other girls? You've got eleven beautiful girls and Astraea-sama around you, and you're still aiming higher?" "Wha—That's not—!" "Akira! Good evening!" Alise suddenly emerged, hair still damp, her body steaming from a recent bath. Beside her was Ryuu, her expression a mix of concern and quiet embarrassment. She politely greeted, "Good evening." "What happened with you two?" Akira asked. Alise said with a tired smile, "There was a commotion on the street, so Ryuu and I stepped in." "I just took a bath, but now I'm sweaty again..." "How long are you going to stand there talking?" A familiar, dissatisfied voice cut through the chatter. Kaguya appeared, dressed in a floral yukata, clearly fresh out of her bath. Her smooth, glowing skin and damp black hair gave off an ethereal beauty, her yukata gently hugging her curves. She was the very image of a Yamato Nadeshiko. (T/N: Yamato Nadeshiko basically means ideal Japanese woman.) She scolded, "You lot can chat anytime. But this is the entrance to the girls' bath! Don't you idiots realize no one dares come out with you blocking the way?" Only then did Akira realize just where he was standing. From the cracked door behind him, several wary female faces peeked out—all members of the Astraea Familia. Though strong and reliable in battle, most of them were still young, pure-hearted girls. Their normal lives had been altered ever since Akira joined the familia. And now, being men and women living under the same roof, the girls had to be more cautious. "Sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt! I was just heading to see Astraea-sama to update my status! Really sorry!" Akira quickly bowed and fled in embarrassment. "Hmph." Kaguya exhaled through her nose as she watched him scamper off. She said, "Also, since he's now one of us, don't be overly polite with him. Just tell him off directly if he's in the way. If you're too reserved, he'll overthink things." Alise chimed in, "Hahaha, she's got a point! I want to go see Astraea-sama too. I want to check Akira's growth!" Ryuu also said, "Me too."