Danmachi: The Sign In System!

Chapter 137 - Demeter's...!

Orsted, feeling like a beleaguered worker after Hestia's comment, left Hearth Mansion in a huff, heading for Demeter's manor.

He'd taken half of Demeter's morning material delivery, crafting ten Demeter Rings and ten spatial transfer triggers.

The rest went into thirty more triggers as rewards for Lili and the others, to be distributed that evening. 

The Demeter Ring used minimal magic until attacked, then drained a Level 1 adventurer's magic instantly.

Level 2s could sustain it with constant use of potions, but that was the trade-off for powerful items like a spatial defense barrier capable of withstanding Level 6 or 7 attacks. 

Demeter's vast resources could maintain it.

Orsted could craft self-sustaining magic items that absorbed environmental magic, but those were basic, lacking advanced functions like spatial defense. 

With time, he might combine Mystery and magic to create such items, but his schedule was packed.

At Demeter's manor, she greeted him warmly, her worried face brightening.

She knew his arrival meant her request was fulfilled, as he'd promised during their banquet dance. 

Her smile masked anxious eyes, which Orsted noted. He wasted no time, presenting the Demeter Rings and triggers.

Learning their functions, Demeter apologized briefly before rushing to arrange their deployment. 

Soon, Orsted's sharp senses detected a faint, near-invisible spatial defense barrier enveloping the manor, imperceptible to most.

Without crafting the rings himself, even he'd struggle to notice it. 

Filvis likely couldn't either—she'd be repelled if she approached with malice.

Sipping tea in the reception room, Orsted waited.

High heels clicked, and Demeter returned, her face and eyes now radiant with relief.

"Thank you, Orsted," she said, sitting across from him with a lady's grace, her earlier urgency gone.

She was at ease, no longer plagued by sleepless nights over her Familia's safety.

The ten-ring barrier ensured her members' protection.

"For the next few months, keep your Familia inside the manor," Orsted advised seriously.

"If they must leave, ensure they carry a trigger. You too, Demeter."

He'd crafted the rings to safeguard her Familia and secure his Grimoire material supply, not to see them falter.

"Understood," Demeter replied, then grinned playfully.

"You named the defensive item after me, Orsted. Got a crush on your me?"

Orsted: (￣_￣)

Her crisis resolved, Demeter reverted to her teasing self, a playful glint dancing in her honeyed eyes. 

Orsted opened his mouth to retort, but a shadow loomed. 

"Thank you, Orsted," Demeter murmured, her expression tender.

"…You're welcome," Orsted blinked, caught off guard by the softness in her voice.

Before he could process it, Demeter closed the distance, her hands cupping his face as she pressed her lips to his in a sudden, searing kiss. 

A jolt ran through Orsted, eyes widening at the warmth of her plush lips. 

"Mmm…"

The sound escaped her, soft and teasing, as she tilted her head, deepening the kiss. 

Orsted froze for a heartbeat, but then his hands found her waist, pulling her closer.

His lips moved against hers, tentative at first, then eager, matching her rhythm.

"mmph…"

Demeter's fingers threaded into his hair, tugging lightly.

"Haa… mmm…"

She pulled back just enough to breathe, her lips brushing his as she smirked, eyes half-lidded. 

Orsted stole a final, soft kiss—a gentle peck—drawing a delighted hum from the goddess. 

Leaving the manor, he returned to Orario, stopping at the Hephaestus Familia shop to deliver Tsubaki's ordered Hestia's Ring. 

Demeter's materials included mythril placer, enabling more rings. 

He didn't see Hephaestus, maybe rattled by thier kiss, and after a brief chat with Tsubaki, headed to Twilight Manor to drop off Finn's three rings. 

Declining Finn's dinner invite, he returned to Hearth Mansion.

"All done?" Hestia asked, handing him water as he sank onto the sofa.

"Yeah," Orsted nodded.

"What's up with Demeter?" Hestia pressed, her curiosity from the banquet resurfacing.

"Her Familia's being targeted by a malicious group. She asked me to craft protective magic items for their manor," Orsted explained, smiling. 

"As for the mastermind, Hestia, it's better you don't know. It'll only stress you out. There's no evidence yet, and they haven't shown themselves."

"Fair enough," Hestia said, raising an eyebrow but trusting Orsted's judgment. "Just don't overdo it."

She had faith in him—her first, most capable, and favorite Familia member.

Lili and the others soon returned, and Hestia whisked them to her room. "Let's go, time for Falna updates!"

Lili: …

Eina: …

Tifa: …

Senie: …

Aerith: …

Elenoir: …

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