Is It Wrong to Explore the Dungeon Even Though I’m Overpowered? (Danmachi SI- WC)

Chapter 64: The Hero of Her Stories

With Reinhard — Minutes Ago

Moving swiftly from rooftop to rooftop, I continued making my way toward Aisha and the blonde Renard who, after checking Bounty Tracker, I had learned was named Sanjouno Haruhime.

Along the way, I made sure to help anyone I came across who was in immediate danger.

As I dropped down into a street to assist a group of civilians trapped beneath a partially collapsed building, I blinked in surprise when I noticed three familiar figures lying unconscious nearby.

After quickly clearing away the debris and making sure the civilians were not seriously injured, I urged them to leave the area before turning my attention toward the unconscious Amazons.

“This is a nice coincidence,” I muttered as I walked over and knelt beside them.

A quick inspection revealed that two of them were largely unharmed beyond some bruises and exhaustion. The third, however, had a nasty wound on her forehead and was still bleeding from the head.

“Bad ecchi girls!” Est practically hissed through our connection as her sword form vibrated at my hip after recognizing them.

I couldn't help but smile wryly. It was only natural that Est recognized some of the girls that had ambushed me before though.

‘It's alright, Est. I'm only going to heal her and then continue on my way.’

“...Fine,” Est huffed reluctantly. “But I will be watching closely.”

The mental image of her crossing her arms and pouting appeared in my mind, making me suppress a chuckle.

Thankful that she had accepted my explanation, even if only reluctantly, I reached into my Inventory and retrieved a vial of Ambrosia.

The injured Amazon was Lena Tally, a beautiful woman with long black hair and the revealing orange, gold, and white attire common among her race.

Gently lifting her head, I brought the vial to her lips.

With one hand supporting her neck, I carefully parted her lips and poured the Ambrosia down her throat, watching as she instinctively swallowed the healing liquid.

A soft green glow enveloped her body for a brief moment.

When it faded, the wound on her forehead had vanished completely, leaving not even a scar behind.

Satisfied with the result, I nodded to myself and prepared to lower her back to the ground.

Before I could, however, her eyelids fluttered.

Then opened.

For a brief moment, she simply stared at me.

I froze.

A second later, I put on a friendly smile.

“Are you alright?” I asked gently. “You took quite a nasty hit to the head.”

Lena blinked several times as she squinted up at me, clearly struggling to process what she was seeing.

Then her eyes widened.

“...Am I dreaming?” she muttered.

Before I could answer, she suddenly slapped both cheeks with her hands.

The sharp sound echoed through the street.

Lena blinked again.

Then again.

And when I was still there, her expression transformed completely.

A huge smile spread across her face.

Meanwhile, I could practically feel Est's irritation rising through our connection.

Put her down already, the spirit seemed to be silently demanding.

“Umm... Lena?” I asked awkwardly. “Did you hear what I said?”

My attempt at getting her attention had the exact opposite effect.

Without warning, Lena sat upright and threw her arms around my waist before burying her face against my chest.

“I can't believe this isn't a dream and you're actually here, Reinhard~!” she squealed happily.

My eyes widened.

“You even know my name! I'm so happy~!”

Beaming up at me, Lena looked as though she had just won the lottery.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the back of my mind, I could practically hear Est's patience snapping.

Feeling a nervous sweat run down my back as Est's annoyance somehow climbed even higher, I quickly tried to extricate myself from the situation before my cute sword spirit decided to materialize and do something drastic.

“Well, it seems you're alright after all,” I said with a relieved nod before attempting to create some distance between us.

Unfortunately, my efforts failed spectacularly as Lena tightened her grip around my waist.

“Umm... would you mind letting go of me, Lena?” I asked nervously while glancing away. “There might still be more people out there who need help.”

“Hmm? Help?” Lena tilted her head in confusion before blinking several times.

Then her eyes suddenly widened.

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “Were you worried about me and came to check on how I was doing after finding out we were attacked by the Freya Familia?”

The hopeful look in her eyes was almost blinding.

“Uh... well, sort of,” I admitted awkwardly while scratching the back of my head. “I came to check on everyone, not just you. No offense.”

Unfortunately, Lena seemed to hear only the first half of my sentence.

“Yes!” she cheered happily. “That means I managed to make a good impression on you during our first meeting!”

Before I could clarify, she puffed out her modest chest proudly and grinned from ear to ear.

Taking advantage of the opportunity while she was distracted, I quickly stood up and put some distance between us.

“Well, I'm glad you're feeling better now, Lena,” I said at a much faster pace than normal. “But if you'll excuse me, I really must be going.”

Without waiting for a response, I immediately jumped onto the nearest rooftop and continued on my way.

“Wait! Where are you going, Reinhard!?” Lena called out in confusion.

Then, after a brief pause, she suddenly giggled.

“Oh! Don't tell me he's the shy type? Huhuhu~”

I nearly stumbled.

A bead of sweat rolled down the back of my neck as I continued moving.

Lena possessed a remarkable talent for interpreting my words and actions in ways that left me genuinely confused.

“Ignore her, Reinhard,” Est huffed through our connection. “She's just delusional.”

Despite her words, she sounded noticeably calmer now that we were no longer standing next to the Amazon.

“If you say so,” I muttered quietly.

The nervous sweat only increased.

Shaking my head, I pushed those thoughts aside and accelerated across the rooftops.

I was getting close now.

Aisha and Haruhime weren't far away.

=====

With Freya — Belit Babili

Making her way up the poor imitation of Babel that the jealous harlot Ishtar had built and called home, Freya found her irritation growing with every step she took.

For years, Ishtar had constantly sought to one-up her, considering herself superior in both beauty and influence within Orario.

Freya had never taken those attempts seriously.

Finding Ishtar more amusing than threatening, she had allowed the other Goddess to play her little games while silently watching her struggle and fail time and time again.

There had always been something entertaining about watching someone so desperately attempt to surpass a wall they could never overcome.

As if such a foolish and petty Goddess could ever become a threat to her.

Frankly, Freya considered it an insult that they shared the same domains of Beauty and War.

There was, however, one mistake that Ishtar had made that Freya could never forgive.

She and her children had dared to set their sights on Freya's precious Odr.

The moment she learned what had happened in the Dungeon, Freya had understood exactly what would follow.

With Reinhard's appearance, strength, and personality, it was only natural that women would be drawn toward him.

Freya knew that better than anyone.

It was only a matter of time before the harlots serving under Ishtar flocked toward him like starving hyenas.

That was something Freya absolutely refused to allow.

‘As if I would let a pack of shameless harlots get anywhere near my Reinhard-kun.’

The thought alone caused her beautiful face to darken into a scowl rarely seen by anyone.

To Freya, that was the greatest sin Ishtar could have committed.

And so she had acted immediately.

If Ishtar wanted Freya's attention so badly, then Freya would graciously grant her wish.

As she continued her ascent, a familiar figure suddenly stepped into her path.

Tammuz Belili.

The Vice-Captain of the Ishtar Familia and more importantly Ishtar’s dog.

The man barely managed to take a single step toward her before Freya's Charm washed over him.

His body froze.

The hostility in his eyes vanished.

A second later, lust and devotion took its place.

Freya did not even spare him a glance as she walked past him.

The man remained rooted to the spot, staring after her with an infatuated and lustful expression.

Freya paid him no mind.

Ever since meeting her precious Odr and falling in love with him at first sight, she had lost all interest in every other being.

Man or woman, mortal or deity.

None of them mattered anymore.

To Freya, who had spent countless ages searching for her destined partner, Reinhard was the only thing that truly mattered.

As long as she had him, nothing else in either Genkai or Tenkai could compare.

Since the day he had arrived in Orario and she had first laid eyes upon his wondrous soul, her life had been filled with a happiness she had never thought possible.

Never before had she experienced such joy.

Never before had she looked forward to each day with such anticipation.

She had even found herself learning how to cook.

Cooking.

The very thought would have sounded absurd to her in the past.

Yet now she happily spent hours practicing, all because she wished to become a proper wife for Reinhard one day.

Sometimes Freya wondered if it was all a dream.

A beautiful illusion born from countless years of loneliness.

On those occasions, she would wake up alone in her bed and immediately seek reassurance.

And every time she caught sight of Reinhard walking past the Hostess of Fertility with that gentle smile of his as he greeted her, her doubts vanished.

Her heart would race. Her chest would tighten.

And she would fall even deeper in love.

Finally reaching the top of the tower, Freya stepped onto the upper floor.

There, she found Ishtar backing away with a fearful expression on her face.

A beautiful smile slowly spread across Freya's lips.

It was flawless.

Elegant.

Warm.

And entirely fake.

“Hello, Ishtar~” Freya greeted with a pleasant smile as she stopped a few steps away from her fellow Goddess. “Do you know why you find yourself in this situation right now?”

“W-What the hell are you talking about!?” Ishtar snapped, though the nervous sweat running down her face betrayed her confidence. “Did I charm someone you were interested in without realizing it?”

Freya remained silent.

Mistaking her silence for hesitation, Ishtar's confidence quickly returned.

“It's only natural, of course,” Ishtar continued with a mocking smile as she ran her hands along her beautiful figure. “I mean, what mortal man could possibly resist me~?”

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then Freya let out a soft scoff.

The sound was so unexpected that Ishtar blinked in confusion.

A second later, Freya began to giggle.

Not out of amusement.

But mockery.

“Fufufu~”

The smile on Freya's face never changed.

“As if my beloved would ever spare a harlot like you a second glance.”

The insult immediately caused Ishtar's eyebrow to twitch.

“Then why—”

SMACK!

The sound echoed across the rooftop.

Ishtar's head snapped to the side as Freya casually slapped her across the face.

The Goddess of Beauty slowly turned back, staring at Freya in stunned disbelief.

Freya's expression, however, had grown cold.

Colder than Ishtar had ever seen.

“Your children,” Freya said quietly, “and by extension, you, decided to go after something that belongs to me.”

Before Ishtar could even react, Freya stepped forward.

Then shoved her.

There was no ceremony.

No warning.

No hesitation.

One moment Ishtar was standing before her.

The next, she was falling.

Her eyes widened in shock as she plummeted from the tower.

Freya simply watched.

A few seconds later, a brilliant pillar of white light erupted from below.

The unmistakable sign of a deity returning to Tenkai.

And just like that, Ishtar was gone.

“Hmph.”

Freya turned away dismissively.

“There. One less skank to worry about.”

The coldness vanished from her face as quickly as it had appeared.

In its place returned her usual beautiful smile.

Looking considerably more satisfied, Freya began making her way back down the tower.

=====

Back To Reinhard

“Aisha! Please wait!”

My voice echoed through the street as I finally caught up to the fleeing forms of Aisha and Haruhime.

From the looks of things, Aisha was trying to escort the Renard somewhere safe.

Thankfully, she heard me.

Immediately coming to a stop, Aisha stepped protectively in front of Haruhime before turning toward me.

A moment later, recognition entered her eyes.

“Reinhard?” she called out in confusion.

Not wanting to alarm either of them, I made sure to stop several meters away and kept my posture relaxed.

Now that I was closer, I could properly see the state Aisha was in.

The Amazon was running on fumes.

Her clothes were torn in several places, and the bindings around her chest looked as though they were barely holding together her huge breasts. Scratches and cuts covered much of her exposed skin, while several wounds were still slowly bleeding.

Behind her, Haruhime immediately perked up at hearing my name.

Slowly lowering her hood, she revealed her beautiful face.

The fear and worry present there gradually faded as she looked at me.

Hope replacing it.

“…Reinhard-sama?” she whispered so quietly that I only caught it thanks to my enhanced senses.

“Hello again, Miss,” I greeted warmly. “I'm afraid I didn't get your name the last time we met, but I'm glad to see you're alright.”

“H-Hyyeee~!”

Haruhime immediately turned bright red and lowered her head in embarrassment.

Before the conversation could continue, Aisha's confusion disappeared and was replaced by caution.

Raising her large scimitar, she stepped slightly forward.

“What are you doing here?” she asked warily.

I immediately raised my hands in a placating gesture.

“Easy,” I said calmly. “I'm not here to hurt either of you.”

Aisha didn't lower her weapon.

Seeing that, I continued patiently.

“I heard the explosions and realized something serious was happening, so I came to investigate along with two members of my Familia. Once we arrived, we decided to help anyone caught in the fighting.”

Both women blinked.

Confusion and curiosity appeared on their faces.

Clearly, that wasn't the answer they had been expecting.

“I then spotted the two of you and made my way over here in case you needed help. And well... here we are.” I finished explaining as simply as I could.

“...”

“...”

It seemed my answer had genuinely caught them off guard.

Aisha was looking at me as though I had suddenly grown a second head, while Haruhime stared at me with shining eyes and an increasingly excited smile.

“Let me get this straight,” Aisha finally said as she lowered her weapon and tilted her head at me. “You heard explosions coming from the Entertainment District, decided to investigate, arrived here, saw the Freya Familia and Ishtar Familia fighting each other, and then chose to spend your time helping injured strangers?”

Going over her summary, I found nothing inaccurate and nodded.

“That’s right.”

Aisha stared at me for several seconds.

Then she sighed.

“...Are you actually an idiot?”

I blinked.

“Uh—”

“Don't answer that.”

Aisha immediately cut me off before I could say anything. Shaking her head, she let out a laugh of disbelief.

A small smile slowly appeared on her lips as she relaxed completely.

Turning toward Haruhime, she sighed again.

“Looks like I was wrong to doubt you, Haruhime. Fools like him really do exist.”

“P-Please don't call Reinhard-sama an idiot, Aisha-san,” Haruhime pleaded softly before quickly turning toward me and bowing politely.

“Please forgive her words, Reinhard-sama. Aisha-san did not mean any offense.”

The sight was so adorable that I couldn't help but smile.

Especially with the way her fox ears twitched nervously while her tail swayed behind her.

“There is no need to apologize, Miss Haruhime,” I reassured her with a gentle wave.

The Renard visibly relaxed.

“Besides, it's hardly the first time I've been called that.”

A small sweat drop appeared on my forehead as I recalled the numerous occasions various members of my Familia and the others had called me the exact same thing.

“Ahem. Anyway...” I reached into my Inventory and pulled out a vial of Ambrosia.

“Please drink this, Aisha. From the look of things, you're barely standing.”

Carefully approaching them, I handed over the potion.

Aisha raised an eyebrow but accepted it without complaint.

A few moments later she finished the entire vial.

A soft green glow enveloped her body before all of her injuries disappeared.

“...Haah.”

Aisha let out a satisfied sigh and stretched her body.

“Forgot how useful those potions of yours are.”

Unfortunately, the movement pushed her chest forward and drew attention to just how damaged her already revealing clothes had become.

Immediately realizing where my eyes had wandered, I quickly looked away.

Aisha noticed.

Of course she noticed.

A slow, predatory smirk spread across her face.

Shifting her hips to one side, she looked at me through half-lidded eyes before slowly licking her lips.

“You know,” she purred, “you keep doing things like this and eventually you won't be able to get rid of me, handsome~”

Beside her, Haruhime let out a tiny squeak and covered her face with both hands.

Aisha merely continued.

“So what do you say?” she asked teasingly. “As a reward for helping us, how about you spend the night with us~?”

To make absolutely certain I understood what she meant, Aisha casually draped an arm around Haruhime's shoulders.

The poor Renard immediately turned bright red.

Several adorable noises escaped her lips as her brain seemingly stopped functioning.

Unfortunately for Aisha...

She had finally pushed Est too far.

The spirit's already strained patience shattered completely.

A flash of light appeared between us.

A moment later, Est materialized in front of me with her arms spread protectively.

“Hiss!”

She glared at the pair, actually hissing at them like a cute angry kitten and just as intimidating.

“Stay back, ecchi girls!”

Both Aisha and Haruhime widened their eyes in shock.

Haruhime's embarrassment vanished almost instantly. In its place appeared pure wonder.

Her gaze bounced repeatedly between Est and me.

“...A Spirit,” she whispered.

The awe in her voice was impossible to miss. Ignoring Est's warning entirely, Haruhime continued staring.

“Reinhard-sama has a Spirit companion... just like the heroes in all the stories.”

The Renard's eyes sparkled.

Then realization dawned on her.

“Then that means...”

She looked up at me.

The admiration in her eyes was almost overwhelming.

“Reinhard-sama truly is a Hero~”

I could only sigh as everything somehow spiraled in an entirely unexpected direction once again.

At this point, I wasn't even surprised anymore.

Oh well.

At least Aisha and Haruhime were people I could trust with this secret.