Chapter 979 …Again?
Kisuke also resurfaced and watched the gloating Riveria, "I didn't think you'd pull out Space Warping Magic. Even if you wanted to win, that was way too dangerous, you know."
"Don't worry. I'm confident enough not to mess it up. I got a few tips from Yoruichi, you see? And if I didn't win, who knows what you were going to demand from me."
Both of them got out of the water by stepping onto it's surface, "But we hadn't even decided what to bet on."
Riveria carefully dried her clothes since she very much likes them, "We didn't, so I can demand anything!"
"Huh?"
Riveria just gave Kisuke a bright smile as if she was asking for something unreasonable and grabbed his hand, "I'll save it for now though. Let's go to the shore."
As Riveria pulled him along, Kisuke could only sigh and smile wryly, "Fine. I'll give it to you this time. Just don't ask for anything too big."
.
.
.
The two of them soon reached the shore and they were not very far from Melen, that was very different from their memories, "That's Melen? Why does it look like Orario without the walls?", asked Riveria.
Although Kisuke had some guesses, he didn't answer her question because he too didn't know the actual answer.
Throughout the years, they kept their communication with Yoruichi, Serafall, Hestia, and Artemis thanks to Ophis and Lilith being able to keep a tiny line to this world open when Kisuke erected the Isolation Barrier. But after Sona and the others killed the rogue Deities and left this world, the four of them also went into hiding to avoid any troubles that weren't worth it.
Because of that, they also don't have much information on what's really going on in Orario aside from the news that the people they knew were still alive and well. Right now, they are still traveling the world and enjoying themselves and this was a very good chance for them as Yoruichi and Serafall were technically foreigners and the Goddesses were either a shut-in or so obsessed with purity that they didn't really know much about the world.
They'd agreed to meet in Melen but it seems that they were not yet here so Kisuke turned to Riveria and asked, "Shall we visit the Loki Familia first?"
"Thanks, but let's take our time on the way. I'm not really in a hurry."
Kisuke and Riveria approached Melen and a few minutes later, they found another big change in it. On its widened roads were bikes, trikes, and quads of varying aesthetics running the streets with very bustling sidewalks. In a distant sky, they also saw a winged airship. At that point, Riveria understood what happened and Kisuke was able to confirm his guesses.
An industrial revolution had just occurred.
"This is amazing," Riveria murmured to herself. The former Melen only mostly dealt with the fishing industry and some textile imports from abroad, but right now, all sorts of goods were laid down on the streets that seem to have come from many countries. She might have witnessed Kisuke's world, but it gave her an entirely different feeling when the once familiar place became so foreign.
However, while a little sad, she was not dejected. After seeing the wonders of development, she also hoped for something similar to happen to her home world. In fact, it's already a miracle that almost nothing has changed in this world for the many centuries their civilizations had existed, 'So it's really the Gods' Blessings that were holding everyone back.'
Now that Kisuke introduced them to the first step to break away from these Blessings years ago, the world had exploded into unprecedented activity.
A few hours later and when the sun was already setting, Riveria and Kisuke finally reached Orario and this place has changed way more than Melen had. The city of Orario had grown multiple times in just size alone.
Even though the Tower of Babel was still the highest structure, standing in the middle of the city, there were already tens of 'skyscrapers' and both of them could feel the rich activities of either Magic Power or Ki. And plastered on the city gates were various Familias that were not native to Orario as far as Riveria remembered.
"Looks like various powers have settled in the city.", muttered Riveria with a worried tone.
"As long as Hephaestus-sama didn't give up her hegemony on the Magic Engine production and Loki-sama and Freya-sama stayed at the top of the food chain, it'd be hard to challenge their authority. The Loki Familia might have moved their headquarters so let's ask around." Kisuke looked around and saw someone familiar and called out to her, "Sophie-san~! It's been a while~!"
The Elf Guild employee with long silver hair that's parted in the middle turned to him and made a weird expression, "...Ermmm... Excuse me for my rudeness but do I know you?"
"Eh? R-really?"
Sophie was about to affirm her answer when she suddenly heard a very familiar voice laughing behind him. Sophie turned her head and exclaimed, "Riveria-sama!?"
Riveria stopped herself from laughing and 'introduced' Kisuke, "I apologize if he may have come as a creepy man, but he indeed came under your guidance a few years ago. He's Kisuke Urahara, a candy shop owner but he turned into Adventuring because he's always in red."
Sophie thought hard about it but she lowered her head, "I apologize. Nothing still comes to mind. I may sound like I'm trying to make an excuse but the Guild has been very busy these past few years that everyone has to work like there's no tomorrow."
"Eh?" This time, it was Riveria's turn to be dumbfounded. She was about to ask one more time but she felt Kisuke's hand landing on her shoulder and stopped.
"We apologize for bothering you too. Please lift your head up." Kisuke then pulled out a potion from his sleeve, "You look very tired so here's a potion that could relieve exhaustion."
Sophie immediately shook her head in refusal, "Y-you don't have to."
Riveria grabbed the potion from Kisuke's hand and passed it to Sophie, "Take it. I can vouch for its effectiveness."
Since it's Riveria who's giving it to her, she couldn't refuse anymore, "Thank you."
"By the way, where is the Loki Familia's headquarters right now?"
Sophie hurriedly pointed to a certain direction at Riveria's question and answered, "It's still in the same area. You can find it from here since they own that tower."
Riveria smiled at her and said, "Thank you and take care.", before dragging Kisuke with her.
Sophie was still astounded even after the two disappeared from her view among the sea of the crowd and asked herself, "Who was that man? Why does he seem so close with Riveria-sama?... Could it be... This is big news if true!"
Meanwhile, while walking through the streets, Riveria was still thinking about the weird interaction, "The Hestia Familia made a name back then and as the Captain, it shouldn't be that easy to forget you no matter how obscure you are, much less as their Dungeon Guide. And who could actually forget about the legendary Green Crusader: Gigolo Master? Inconceivable..." Riveria muttered seriously. Her stay in the other world wasn't wasted solely because she now knew what these Aliases meant for him and the Deities.
"Please don't call me that."
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