Chapter 282 - She's Getting Married!?
"Hey, Riveria, don't take it out on me," Bete said, his face paling at her threat.
Riveria smirked, saying nothing.
"It's surprising, though," Finn said, still stunned.
"No rumors at all. You hid it well, Riveria."
As deputy captain of the Loki Familia, Riveria was always busy.
Yet somehow, she'd kept a marriage secret?
"No, it's just a joke—don't take it seriously," Riveria said, rubbing her temples with a wry smile.
Gossip about her marriage had everyone, even the usually serious Finn, buzzing.
"Then what's the deal?" Gareth asked, intrigued.
"Riveria said if Mahiro could face the entire elven race, she'd marry him," Tiona answered, grinning mischievously.
"Mahiro?" Finn said, raising an eyebrow.
Now, It made sense.
Mahiro's skills could neutralize magic, which was an elfs greatest strength.
No wonder Riveria made the quip.
But… wasn't this getting messy?
First Ais, then Tiona, now Riveria?
Young people's love lives were complicated.
"She did say it," Ais added, her expression blank but her nod lending weight.
"Enough, you lot," Riveria said, exasperated.
"It was a spur-of-the-moment joke."
"Let's drop it," Finn said, shaking his head with a helpless smile.
"It's between you two."
Bete's gaze shifted to Mahiro, a strange glint in his eyes.
For a moment, glee flickered across his face before vanishing.
"Riveria, you said it—words don't come back."
"You're our deputy captain. Backing out now would shame the Loki Familia."
He paused, glancing at her darkening expression.
"Besides, who else would want an… elf like you?"
Bete caught himself, swallowing "old hag" just in time.
Riveria stared, dumbfounded. "What?"
"Is this Bete?" Tiona whispered, incredulous.
"That's not like him at all," Tione added, equally shocked.
Bete ignored their stares and turned to Mahiro, his tone suddenly earnest.
"When you marry, I'll congratulate you on behalf of the Loki Familia."
"But if you ever wrong Riveria, neither I nor our Familia will let you slide."
Elves held purity dear.
While monogamy wasn't universal in Orario, their custom favored one lifelong partner, for men and women alike.
"And since you're tied to Riveria," Bete continued, "stop chasing Ais!"
So that was his angle.
Mahiro chuckled, flashing a warm smile at Ais.
Ais froze, her lips parting slightly.
A faint blush colored her cheeks, memories of a fleeting warmth lingering.
She lowered her gaze.
"Ugh!" Tiona groaned, squinting at Bete with mock disdain.
"You're so lame."
"Shut it, you dim-witted idiot," Bete snapped, turning to Ais for her take.
But Ais ignored him.
"Mahiro, can I learn this skill?" she asked, her golden eyes fixed on him.
"Not right now," Mahiro said, shaking his head.
"I can't teach them yet."
The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception and Mystic Eyes of Distortion weren't like Shunpo.
They were innate, tied to his being.
Maybe with points, he could unlock them for others, but the cost was astronomical.
For now, strengthening himself came first.
"Later… maybe?" Ais pressed, unblinking.
"There might be stronger skills down the line," Mahiro said with a smile.
"Okay," Ais replied, nodding simply.
Bete's chest tightened.
'All that, and I got nowhere.'
"Finn, thanks for your support these past days," Mahiro said.
"No need," Finn replied, smiling.
"I should thank you. Soloing Udaeus? That's a rare feat."
"My goal's done," Mahiro said.
"I won't trouble you further."
"Wait, Mahiro, you're leaving already?" Tiona asked, reluctant.
"Yeah, got some things to handle," Mahiro nodded.
"We won't hold you," Finn said.
"But I hope you'll join our expedition team someday."
"I'll find you when I'm back," Ais said softly, a blush dusting her cheeks.
"After the expedition, I'll track you down too," Tiona added with a grin.
"Sure," Mahiro replied.
"Goodbye," Riveria said.
"Don't wanna see you again," Bete muttered.
Mahiro smiled, gave them a final look, and used teleportation magic.
He vanished with Udaeus's magic stone and drop items, returning to the surface.
As Mahiro left, Finn and the others exited the canyon.
"Captain, how'd it go?" a level 4 adventurer asked, approaching with the others outside.
Lefiya scanned the group, noticing Mahiro's absence.
Her face fell.
"Sir Mahiro, he…"
"Mahiro succeeded," Finn said, smiling. "He set another record."
"He… succeeded?" Lefiya stammered, shocked.
"Yup, Mahiro's incredible," Tiona beamed.
"One attack, and Udaeus was gone."
"One attack?" Lefiya echoed, dumbfounded.
He was unreal.
"Watching Mahiro crush a foe like that fires me up," Finn said, raising his spear like a flag.
"Let's start our expedition—and we're not losing to him!"
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