Chapter 79 - Expedition(2/?)

Now with time to think, Ethan looked at his shoulder for a moment to see Ais. Unable to contain a smile from the way she could sleep so peacefully, Ethan decided to let her sleep in a more comfortable position.

He knew that as an adventurer, Ais can fall asleep very easily, but this doesn't mean that it would have been good for her to sleep in this way.

"Sorry..now I'll put you in the futon.."

Whispering this, Ethan did as he said. Seeing that she didn't wake up in the slightest even if he moved her, he knew that even on an unconscious level, Ais didn't recognize him as a threat.

Although he was very tempted to let her rest and go hunt monsters, Ethan decided to stop a little with her to keep her company..even because he could still feel the coldness of the floor...

Entering the futon as well, Ethan used his skill to raise the temperature as he took her in an embrace. Feeling the warmth slowly increasing, he smiled unconsciously as he felt as if her breathing could warm his heart even more than what the raise of temperature could do.

After some seconds that he remained like this to warm her, he felt her hands wrapping around him to return his embrace.

The sudden action caused him to flinch before chuckling. Even though he was acting rather casually, the fact of having her so close brought him to gulp as now he felt that the closeness to her reminded him of the moments they had had together, which didn't help at all to calm his d.e.s.i.r.e to hold her even tighter.

Knowing that she won't mind anyway, Ethan continued to make the futon a little warmer before it reached an optimal temperature. Stopping his technique, he closed his eyes for a moment.

Hearing her breathing as if nothing happened, he sighed in his mind and, after holding her for another moment, he came out of her grip without too much trouble before giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"I'll see you later..now I really have to go hunt monsters.."

Coming out of the tent, Ethan looked around while searching for the main tent. Seeing that practically everyone had finished mounting their tents, he decided to ask some familia member for information. Getting to know the exact location where he was headed, Ethan nodded and, without much trouble, reached the main tent.

Ready to enter, Ethan was about to open the tent before it opened, revealing Tiona, Tione, Lefiya and Riveria.

Surprised to see him, the first to say something was, surprisingly, Lefiya.

"Ethan...! w-where's Ais?"

Being asked this question, he shook his head with a smile on his face

"We woke up too early this morning, now she's resting."

His explanation made her flinch but, without minding it, she nodded as Tiona added

"We're going to have a bath! So she wanted to invite her as well"

Her words made Lefiya blush as she covered her face with her hands. Sighing, Tione took her twin's hand.

"Tiona, let's go"

Nodding, she waved her hand to say 'goodbye' to him as he replied with the same action.

"Wait until I'm done and then I'll bring you to the other floors"

Hearing her calm reply, Ethan nodded before Riveria added while glaring at him slightly

"Don't peek on us."

Sighing, he replied

"Did I ever give you a reason to think I'm that kind of person?"

She knew he was right. Closing her eyes, she took Lefiya by her arm as she added

"No, I reminded you, just in case"

Even though she said it casually, Ethan still felt slightly scared from her aura but, forcing himself not to mind it, he knew that he had some free time as Riveria and Lefiya were heading towards the forest....

Suddenly remembering something to please them, Ethan took out some sponges and soap. Calling Riveria, she turned to look at him as he added

"I have something that will surely make you enjoy the bath much more."

Seeing what he had in his hands, Riveria and Lefiya were confused as he specified the effects of both products and the fact that they are a production of his country.

Even though Riveria was suspicious about it, she decided to 'trust' him as she took his 'gifts' without saying anything while Lefiya waved her hand as well before adding

"S-See you later and t-thanks!"

Waving his hand at her, he smiled at her while she returned to look in front of her with a blush on her face.

Now with free-time, Ethan decided to have a bath as well. Remembering to never go to the area where the girls had settled, he went in a direction where he knew he wouldn't meet anyone.

After some minutes that he was heading towards another lake he found, he felt a great danger coming precisely from the lake where, until a moment ago, he wanted to bathe.

Entering a battle-ready state, Ethan approached the lake before he felt a wooden sword that threatened to hit him. Without time to dodge, Ethan instinctively activated his Boost Magic to defend. Managing to block the sword with his hand, he was surprised to see the owner of the sword.

Gulping, he felt stupid for not having thought of such a possibility. Although very difficult, it would have been possible that she too would have been present.

Knowing she was much stronger than him, Ethan laughed sarcastically while saying

"Sorry..I didn't see you were having a bath, I'll go away immediately"

His words made her flinch slightly but, without minding it, the woman replied with extreme coldness

"Who are you?"

Raising his hands in surrender, Ethan replied as calmly as possible

"I'm one of the core members of the Loki familia. My name is Ethan"

Being able to grasp the truth in his words, she lowered the sword as she understood from his aura that he wasn't here to peek on her. Closing her eyes, she replied

"My name is Ryuu Lion. I'm here as a free-lancer"

Knowing that as well, Ethan nodded before adding

"Now that the misunderstanding was cleared, I think I'll go somewhere else to bathe.."

Nodding in affirmation, Ryuu saw him going back from where he went before she decided to ask

"What is your last name?"

Hearing her talking to him again, Ethan was surprised but, without minding it, he turned with a smile on his face

"Hyogumi is my last name"

Closing her eyes, Ryuu declared

"then Hyogumi-san"

Nodding again, he returned to look in front of him, although the feeling of being called by his last name made him feel a little strange...

Seeing that he was no longer in sight, Ryuu removed her green flower shaped hood before glaring at the surroundings to see if he was still there. Finding that he really went away, her opinion of him went up slightly before she decided to bathe.

---

Now returned to the starting point, Ethan released a heavy sigh. His first encounter with Ryuu has definitely brought a very low opinion of him. Even if the misunderstanding was cleared, he didn't know that many people were able to recognize who lies and who doesn't.

Deciding to pass time in some other way, he decided that it was better to pass the time trying to acquire the skill related to the increase in temperature. If he could somehow control body heat instead of temperature, it would have been much more effective instead of roughly making the air warmer.

With this new theory, Ethan tried to increase body heat instead of temperature while a question made room in his mind. Unable to contain the curiosity, he decided to ask Light for advice

["Light, is it possible for me to boost a thing like feelings? of course I'm just curious, I would never use this power in this way"]

His question made her think about it and, in a second, she replied

[Technically speaking yes, it is possible. But such a thing as feelings would take decades of practice before being able to get to the point where you can "increase" feelings. They are too abstract of a concept to be augmented without the use of a skill or from 0. Remember that everything you increase will lead you to a new branch of your magic. You can say that you are developing subgroups of one magic right now, but to be able to use them you must also know them better.]

Returning his focus on trying to increase his body heat, Ethan was able to increase it for a few seconds before the warmth was dispelled without causing any damage...

Understanding it was safe to test it as even his mana didn't went down by that much, he continued to try as time passed quickly.

20 minutes later, Riveria and Lefiya returned as they saw Ethan busy testing something. Feeling mana around him, the first to talk was Riveria.

"You know that we have to go hunting for monsters now, right? Why you are using your mana now. You can train later"

Shaking his head, Ethan smiled as he grasped a bit how to use the technique. Seeing that Lefiya was here as well, he made a nod to her as she had a blush on her face.

"We can go, I didn't use that much mana...but even if it were, you said you will protect me, didn't y--?"

Before he was able to finish his sentence, he was hit by her staff..again. Closing her eyes with a sigh, she replied

"it's not the time to play, let's go."

Hearing her, Ethan smiled again

"So only now isn't the time to 'play'."

Muttering this, he didn't mind the pain from the blow as Lefiya asked if everything was okay in a troubled tone.

"I'm fine, she didn't put that much strength in the hit..."

Understanding, Lefiya sighed in relief as she didn't really like these moments, they could have been fun for him but for someone like her, worry is the most logical thing.

Ignoring him, Riveria began to explain to him that basically she would remain in the rear and, if necessary, would intervene. Being this what he wanted, Ethan easily accepted the 'terms' as they made their way to the 19th floor entrance.

---

(I have a discord server. discord.gg/cpVr5X8 If you enter it, you can join the Qienta Familia! play a lot of fun games, but, obviously, that's not all, I post there images regarding things you may see in the story, such as the [Twin's Digimon] and [The Devoted Heart].)

(I will prepare a poll in my discord server, it's about Ethan's nickname. Someone said that Nova would be better as a nickname and I am also undecided on what to do. For those who don't have discord, I will post two comments. One with Nova and one with Magic-Nova and in a couple of days I will see how many likes the two comment will receive and the votes in the discord..)

(If you want to support me w ww.pat reon.com/watashiwavdesu)

(Alternate Titles: "the best love stories are born from the most unwanted encounters", "Ethan is finally developing a technique to bring the girls next to him!?", "Ais and Ethan..some heartwarming moment")