Chapter 980 Seven Years
They soon reached the area where the Loki Familia stayed. The Twilight Manor is still the same except for the addition of two more mansions beside it and a 180-feet/55-meter tall tower bearing the Loki Familia's insignia behind it.
"The original... Or should I say the inner Orario? It hasn't changed much aside from those things. What a strange trend." Kisuke whispered.
As they approached the gates, the two properly uniformed gatekeepers turned their attention to them and one of them did a step forward while raising his hand, "Halt! This is the Twilight Manor of the Loki Familia. May I ask what's your business?"
Since both of them are only members for about a year and are not really a native of Orario, they've never seen Riveria despite hearing about her all the time.
"They even have proper guards now.", Kisuke murmured while Riveria stepped forward, "Good evening. I'm a member of the Loki Familia, Riveria Ljos Alf. Please tell Loki that I've returned."
The guards were about to look through the records for today's proceedings but stopped when she stated her name. Stunned, both of them hurriedly turned their eyes back to her. Riveria Ljos Alf, an Elf with jade-colored long hair and eyes that are said to be more beautiful than a number of Goddesses, "I-it's as they described..." One of them blankly murmured.
The other guard, meanwhile, straightened his back and raised his voice, "P-please wait for a moment! I will inform everyone!", before hurriedly running and almost tripping on his way to the manor's interior.
The first guard woke up from his partner's voice and immediately lowered his head, "I apologize! This is just a protocol. Please be patient with us." Although she was as the older members of the Loki Familia have described, they still have to confirm her identity.
"It's fine. A lot has changed it seems, so I understand."
"Thank you very much!"
The guard was very nervous at her presence and didn't even notice Kisuke who came with her. Nevertheless, they didn't have to wait long as they felt some people approaching their location at a good speed.
"Riveria," Kisuke called out to her.
"What's wrong?"
"Remember the strange conversation earlier? Pretend that nothing is strange. It might be useless explaining."
Riveria was confused for a moment until she recalled that one instance in the past where Freya manipulated everyone's memory, "...Do you think it happened again? But what for?"
Riveria didn't get her answer as a long haired Amazoness came running towards them with a very loud and cheerful voice, "RIIIIVEEEEERIIIAAAAA!"
Riveria and Kisuke were both stunned that Tione had suddenly become energetic like her sister. The short-haired Amazoness was also closely following her among others but she has this gallant demeanor on her, 'Did Tione and Tiona switch personalities these past seven years?'
But upon closer inspection, 'Tiona' has impressive plains while 'Tione' has a great valley. Seeing that, both of them sighed in relief since nothing had really changed aside from them growing a bit taller and switching hairstyles.
Tione grabbed Riveria into a hug and continued raising her voice, "Riveria!!! You're finally home! It's been a while!"
Riveria also caught her in her arms and chuckled, "It really has been a while, huh? I'm home."
Riveria also looked forward and saw the usual group of girls, namely, Tiona, Lefiya, and Ais with Lysa on top of her head. Aside from growing a bit taller and some small changes, Riveria thought that nothing had really changed. Well, aside from the fact that the Magic Power and Ki that she could perceive from them were on a whole other level compared to before, "Everyone, I'm home."
"Riveria..." "Riveria-sama!" "Welcome home~!" The other three girls all went in for a group hug. The one they viewed as their mother and sister was finally home.
Riveria accepted them all into her arms and couldn't help but feel a bit emotional. She had watched these girls grow up closely and now they are full fledged adults. Although she gained a 'treasure' in another world, she also lost a precious memory, 'I have to make up for it.' She thought to herself.
Riveria also saw the other familiar faces along with the new ones approaching, "Finn. Gareth. I see that both of you haven't changed at all."
Finn chuckled and replied, "I could say the same for you, aside from you changing your fashion style. I never expected you to wear something else aside from those long garbs."
"It's just seven years. That's a relatively short time for us old coots." Gareth added with a small snort.
Bete, Raul, Anakitty, and the others also came close and surrounded Riveria to ask how she was doing and where she had been all this time. Kisuke, the forgotten one, had to take a couple of steps back to create space from them, though some people noticed his presence and wondered what he was doing here, 'That settles it. I've really been forgotten once again. Just what happened? Even Lysa and Filvis' memories were manipulated.' Kisuke thought to himself.
They went and talked for about two minutes before Finn finally turned to the 'unknown' man keeping to himself, "And this gentleman is?"
Everyone else also turned to him since they'd been curious about the man who came with Riveria.
Riveria, on the other hand, was stunned, "Y-you guys really don't know him?"
Finn burrowed his brows as he was very confident with his memory and was sure he hadn't met this man before so Riveria's response was really strange to him, 'Are we supposed to know him?'
Everyone else also has, more or less, similar thoughts but their confusion would only deepen with the arrival of the last person, "Riveria~~~!? Riveria's finally back!?"
Loki, who was busy updating the Blessing of some members, was the last one to come out.
Her desperate voice took away everyone's attention from Kisuke, "You're finally back~~~~!!!" Loki shouted when she saw the familiar High Elf.
"I'm glad to see that you're doing fine, Loki."
Like Tione, Loki also jumped into her bosom. And since it has been so long, Riveria just let her do what she wants... To a certain extent, at least since she knew that Loki could get out of hand real fast.
"You can't imagine how much I've missed you!"
"Really? I thought that you just enjoyed yourself without my nagging."
Loki looked up to her with tears filled face, "That was fun, but only for a few months after you left! I really missed you scolding me when I pushed things too far. I miss your voice. I missed gentle reminders. I missed your scent. I missed your soft body. I missed your strange lewd shrieks. I missed --"
Embarrassed, Riveria immediately covered her mouth as she indeed got out of hand... A bit too fast, even, "Damn you, Loki. Do you want me to toss you into a cold river at dawn!?"
But instead of getting scared, delight covered her face. Removing the hand blocking her mouth, Loki added, "That's the dear Riveria I know~!"
It was then that a sudden realization dawned on her, "Wait... If you're here, that means that regrettable candy shop owner should be around!"
"Ehem..." A fake cough came from behind everyone, "My shop is doing better these days, Loki-sama."
"You think anyone who knows you would believe that?" Riveria instantly retorted, "The only people coming to your shop are those who are asking for directions!"
Loki moved her head and looked for the source of the voice. Surprised, she ended up staring at him for about ten seconds before letting out the loudest voice she has today, "Ki-tan!!!!!"
Similar to what she did to Riveria, Loki lowered her body before leaping towards her next prey, "Ki-tan!!!!!"
Naturally, Kisuke dodged to the side without any hesitation. He actually wanted to grab her face but he was worried that he'd get attacked.
Catching only empty air, Loki immediately got angry, "Why did you dodge!? What happened to our skinship!?"
"Stop uttering scandalous claims. We never had any skinship! What would you do if you damage my virtuous image!?"
Loki's face contorted and she started picking her nose, "Huuuuhh? Virtuous? Stop your delusions! You're one of the most perverted people I know and that includes Gods!"
"Please, those are just baseless allegations!"
"Ptui! As shameless as ever! I'm about to regret leaving Riveria in your care!"
Riveria got nervous right away because of her words' implication for those who don't know any context.
But Kisuke, not willing to deal with this annoying Goddess, pulled out his surefire card, "I have the goods." He uttered with the most serious face he has.
Loki's expression also became serious and asked, "...All seven years?"
Kisuke nodded, "Divided between wholesome and risque."
Loki's face instantly softened, "Kisuke, my one, and only best friend~! I knew your shop would be successful! And I've been hearing about your righteous exploits that brought evil there to justice! I'm very happy to see you again~!"
Everyone could only stare in shock at the two's banter and a side of Loki that she doesn't show unless it's a fellow Deity.
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