Last time Leo and Pyra began their journey to the Eighth Floor with the help of some of their Familia Members. So far they've mapped out Floors Three to Five and are more raring to map out floors Six to Eight. However Riveria has invited Leo to grab dinner at a popular bar they frequent to celebrate successful trips into the Dungeon.

It was night time in Orario as the moon and stars shone in the sky above. Leo and Pyra followed behind Riveria, Lefiya, and Narvi as they walked through the streets of the mostly quiet town.

Narvi: So Leo, have you tried a lot of the restaurants here in Orario? If not I know a few good ones.

Leo turned his attention towards Narvi, who was smiling at him over her shoulder.

Leo: No I'm afraid, I usually only make enough Valis to afford cheap meals or cheap ingredients. Pyra has taken up cooking so me hunting for low priced food at food stalls has come to an end if slightly.

Marci's expression morphed into a look of concern, Riveria and Lefiya also shot the young man worried looks over their shoulders. Pyra grimaced, she knew her Driver had a low income due to being stuck on the First and Second Floors of the Dungeon for so long.

Lefiya: Didn't you take a sizable payout from the treasure we recovered in the Ancient Corridor?

Leo cocked his head to the side in confusion while Pyra let out a frustrated groan.

Leo: Why would I do that? The Expedition Party found that treasure as a team, therefore it is only logical it is put back into the Familia as a whole.

Narvi and Lefiya looked at Leo dumbfounded as he still gave most of the treasure to the Familia despite his money problems. Pyra looked rather frustrated with her Driver, while she adored his kind heart and logical mindset, sometimes those traits caused a great deal a trouble for Leo himself. Riveria however let a stern expression, one only a mother could have when looking at their child could make.

Riveria: Young man, you and I are having a long talk about ensuring one's own financial stability. Do I make myself clear?

Leo turned to look at Riveria, his body tensing up as he sensed the dark aura radiating off of the Veteran Adventurer.

Leo: Y-Yes Ma'am......

Riveria nodded her head in approval before she stopped walking, Narvi and Lefiya stopping as well. Leo and Pyra came to a stop before turning to look at the building they had all halted in front of. It was a rather quaint bar with a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Leo: The Hostess of Fertility?

Riveria, Lefiya, and Narvi all turned to look at Leo, surprised he was familiar with the bar they frequented.

Narvi: I thought you said you didn't go to many restaurants?

Leo: I've eaten here a few times, the owner is such a wonderful woman. She would give me a meal and I would pay her back by being a dish cleaner. I even worked here when I was recovering from injuries preventing me from braving the Dungeon.

Pyra: You never like to sit still do you Leo?

Leo nodded his head, agreeing with Pyra who smirked before letting out a tiny giggle at her Driver's antics. Lefiya however was more surprised Leo was willing to do such a meager job when he couldn't go to the Dungeon.

Lefiya: I understand working for her to pay her back, but you would work here for entire days while you recovered? Why not take that time to simply relax?

Leo turned to look at Lefiya, an embarrassed blush spreading across his face as he scratched the back of his neck.

Leo: Truthfully, I detest simply doing nothing. It has been that way since I was a child, I have an urge to make myself useful whenever I can.

Riveria: Certainly not a bad trait to have, especially as an Adventurer. Now then, shall we go in?

Everyone in the group nodded their heads in agreement before they all entered the Hostess of Fertility.

Hostess of Fertility
The Adventuring Party entered the bar as they looked around the establishment. It was well lit with plenty of wooden tables for the group to sit at. Surprisingly the bar was rather empty at the moment, with only on or two tables taken up.

Narvi: Looks like we missed the dinner rush, lucky us.

Lefiya: It will certainly mean we can enjoy our meal in relative peace.

Leo looked around the bar, a small smile on his face. Truthfully he had missed visiting the Hostess of Fertility over the last month or so. The bar had always felt like a home to the blonde haired Adventurer.

????: Leo Barclay! You best have a good reason for not coming to say hello for at least a month!

Leo immediately stiffened in fear as he heard heavy foot falls approaching him. Leo turned to see a middle aged Dwarf woman, she stood just an inch under six foot. She had long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, she had gentle yet stern brown eyes. She wore a blue dress with a white apron over top.

This woman was Mia Brand, the owner of the Hostess of Fertility, commonly referred to by both patrons and her employees as "Mamma Mia" for her motherly nature. The bar owner stomped over to Leo, who shrank under her gaze.

Mia: So, what do you have to say for yourself young man? Honestly you used to come in here three times a week, I serve you lunch, you help with dishes during the dinner rush. Sometimes you come with that nice Cranel Boy, but then suddenly you stopped. Honestly the girls and I feared you gotten yourself killed!

Leo: S-Sorry Mamma, I have been unexpectedly busy recently due to some unforeseen developments.

Mia cocked an eyebrow at Leo's statement, she had noticed he was with other members of the Loki Familia. This of course surprised the bar owner since she knew Leo mostly operated alone due to his low level. However her eyes quickly landed on Pyra and saw how closely she stood to Leo, her hand gently clutching his arm.

Mia: Oh, has little Barclay found himself a maiden to call his own? I always knew you would charm a pretty young lady one day, smart but incredibly considerate. A very appealing combination of traits.

Both Leo and Pyra's faces turned as red as the Blade's hair at what the bar owner was insinuating about their relationship. Lefiya and Narvi however watched the exchange with surprised expressions on their faces.

Narvi: It's like he's actually her son.....

Lefiya: I suppose he frequented the Hostess of Fertility quite a bit over his two years as an Adventurer......

Riveria remained stoic, however she gritted her teeth behind her lips. While she detested the nickname of "Mama" that Loki had given her, she did try to act as a mother figure to the younger members of the Familia. Mia being that for Leo was a painful reminder of how she failed him in that regard.

Riveria: There is more to Pyra and Leo's relationship Mia. Leo discovered something within the Dungeon, something that has been hidden for potentially thousands of years.

Mia turned to look at Riveria a serious expression spreading across her face.

Mia: What exactly did he find?

Riveria: May we sit and eat? It is a rather long story and we just returned from the Dungeon half an hour ago.

Mia nodded before she turned towards the bar counter before clearing her throat.

Mia: Girls! We have a table for five!

The sounds of dishes, pots, and utensils could be heard shifting around before a young woman exited the kitchen. The woman in question was an elf, she had short golden blonde hair and stoic sky blue eyes. She wore a green maid dress with a white apron over top of it.

This young lady was Ryu Lion, one of the Waitresses of the Hostess of Fertility. Ryu approached the group before locking eyes with Leo, a stern expression spreading across her face. The blonde haired Adventurer immediately stiffened under Ryu's gaze as he looked down at his boots. Pyra looked at her Driver in confusion, never seeing him get this nervous before.

Pyra: Leo, are you okay?

Ryu marched up to Leo, stopping a foot in front of him, her stoic expression never changing as she studied him closely.

Ryu: I figured you had forgotten to stop in.....

Leo: Ryu I-

The young elf put her right hand up, immediately causing Leo to clam up once again as he didn't want to anger the Elf Maid anymore than he potentially had.

Ryu: You didn't even have the decency to quickly stop in and say hello.....

Leo: I assure you there is a-

Ryu shot Leo an intense glare, one that made it explicitly clear she did not want to hear whatever excuse he was trying to give her.

Leo once again stiffened up underneath Ryu's gaze as he meekly looked down at his feet, not daring to make eye contact with the elf.

Ryu: We even started to fear that worst had happened to you. Honestly in your never ending pursuit of knowledge, did you forget basic decency?

Leo: I-I'm sorry Ma'am......

As Leo hung his head in shame, the rest of the group watched the exchange closely. A single thought passed through each of their minds simultaneously.

Everyone's Thoughts: They're like a married couple.

Leo let out a defeated sigh before reaching forward with both his hands, taking Ryu's right hand in both of his.

Leo: I humbly apologize for my inconsiderate actions, I assure you it will never happen again.

A ghost of a smirk spread across Ryu's face for a few seconds before her expression once again became stoic. Riveria and Lefiya however watched on surprised, both of them being elves themselves knew they were rather selective with who they allow to touch them. So for Ryu to let Leo touch her without any form of resistance proved that she cared about him a great deal.

Ryu: Very well, however from now on you must stop into the Hostess of Fertility at a minimum of once a week to update us on your escapades.

Leo let out a defeated sigh, but ultimately nodded his head in agreement, not wanting to anger Ryu further. The blonde elf then turned her attention towards Pyra, studying the Blade closely with her stoic gaze. The first thing she noticed was just how closely she stood to Leo.

Pyra: Hello, my name is Pyra. I am Leo's Blade.

Pyra offered her right hand to Ryu, who looked at it blankly. The Elf was slightly confused, she didn't know what this red haired girl meant by "Blade" and why she said it in a way that made it sound like she belonged to Leo. Ryu turned on her heel and began walking towards one of the empty tables.

Ryu: A table for five correct? Right this way please.

The rest of the group followed Ryu as Pyra watched the retreating elf maid with a dumbfounded expression on her face.

Pyra: Was it something I said?

Leo shot his Blade a sympathetic look as he gently patted her on the back.

Leo: Don't be offended, Ryu doesn't warm up to people quickly. Just be glad you didn't try and cause a scene in here, she's really scary when angry.

Pyra looked over at her Driver, not exactly comforted by his statement, but ultimately decided to drop it for now and simply sit down to eat. The Driver and Blade joined the others at the table, sitting next to each other as Mia stood at their table, a large grin on her face.

Mia: Now then, why don't we get you all fed and you can tell us what exactly Leo discovered within the Dungeon.

The Adventuring Party nodded as they all ordered their food before Mia and Ryu went off to go prepare it. While they waited, the group chatted amongst themselves, mostly discussing how they would explain this new development.

Two Hours Later
After eating and sharing a drink or two, the group spent the next two hours explaining Leo stumbling upon the Ancient Corridor on the Second Floor with Bell. The strange monsters they encountered, Leo awakening Pyra, the expedition into the Corridor, the battle against the Soverign, and the strange individual known as Da Vinci. Once the explanation was finished, Mia leaned back against the bar, a contemplative look on her face.

Mia: To think there were entire sections hidden in plain sight for thousands of years. I suppose no matter how long Adventurers explore the Dungeon, there will always be something new to learn about them.

Riveria: It was quite a shock for all of us, Lady Loki intends on informing the other Gods of this unforeseen development. She intends on proposing a sort of Expedition Collaboration. Leo will lead all future Expeditions into the Ancient Corridors. However Adventurers from other Familias will be able to join, this way we all potential findings are public knowledge.

Mia nodded her head in agreement as trying to keep this knowledge to the Loki Familia could result in disastrous conflict between the Gods. Ryu however was currently shooting Leo an unbelievably stern glare, once again causing the young man to stiffen up.

Ryu: You open a completely unknown territory and enter it, get cornered by an unknown monster, nearly get you and Cranel killed, and awaken a living weapon you have no idea the true intentions of?

A dark aura surrounded Ryu as her eyes bore into Leo, who shrank underneath the Elf's gaze, Ryu had always told him that is curiosity was his greatest strength and his greatest flaw. Apparently she viewed it more as a flaw than a strength at the moment. Pyra however glared at Ryu for chastising her Driver so much, she felt the palms of her hands begin to heat up, however she refrained from conjuring fire.

Pyra: I assure you have no ulterior motives, Leo is my Driver, as a Blade it is my job to fight alongside him and protect him from danger. The only thing I wish to accomplish is learn why my fellow Blades and I were sealed away for so long, we were created to help humanity conquer the Dungeon.

Ryu turned her attention towards Pyra, leveling her glare at the Blade. However Pyra did not back down, she intensified her own glare, refusing to back down like she usually would.

Ryu: You are putting Leo in more danger by having him investigate these Corridors filled with unknown dangers.

Pyra: I am well aware of the risk, but I am not forcing Leo to do this. He chose to investigate the Ancient Corridors himself. He wants to learn what Da Vinci knows, he wants to help recover the other Blades. We could potentially learn how to overcome the Dungeon with that knowledge!

The rest of the group cast worried looks towards the Elf Maid and Blade, the tension between the two seemingly only growing greater and greater with each word exchanged between them.

Ryu: And if these Expeditions result in Leo's death? What will you do then? Will you find someone to replace him and continue on?

Pyra's heart stopped as she felt her rage explode like an inferno within her at the Elf even insinuating she would simply replace Leo so easily. Pyra heard a voice in the back of her head telling her to torch the Elf for making such a claim, part of Pyra agreed with that voice. However before the confrontation could escalate any further Leo stood up and looked at Ryu with a stern expression on his face.

Leo: Ryu, that's enough. Pyra has done nothing but help me since I awakened her. I dare say I wouldn't be standing here right now if not for her help.

Lefiya: Leo is right, we all would've died to that Sovereign if he and Pyra hadn't delivered that decisive blow to it.

Ryu looked at Leo, her glare morphing into an expression of pure frustration before quickly turning back into her usual stoic expression.

Ryu: Do as you wish then.....

Ryu then turned on her heel and quickly walked back into the kitchen before anything else could be said. Leo slumped in his seat, a mixture of frustration and hurt on his face. He never liked arguing with people he considered his friends. Mia shot Leo a sympathetic look, knowing all too well the young man was beating himself up over the exchange that just occurred.

Mia: Give her time to cool off Leo, she's just worried about you. Your curiosity has led to you coming through our doors in rough shape on more than one occasion!

Mia let out a gentle chuckle, attempting to lighten the mood with a joke. Leo sighed, but nodded his head in agreement. He knew trying to talk to Ryu now would get him nowhere.

Narvi: How about we have another round before heading back to the manor?

Riveria: I believe that is a wonderful idea. If we intend on mapping the Sixth Floor tomorrow, we will need all the rest we can get.

The rest of the group nodded their heads in agreement before they ordered another round of drinks. Pyra however looked towards the kitchen entrance, part of her feeling guilty for reacting in such a way when it was clear Ryu was merely worried for Leo's safety. The voice in the back of her head however still thought the Elf Maid should stay out of it.

Kitchen
Ryu was in the process of washing dishes, her usual stoic expression plastered on her face. Her mind however was in a great deal of turmoil over the conversation she just had with Pyra and Leo.

Ryu's Thoughts: How can Leo not see that this entire scenario is suspicious? Hidden Corridors, Man-Made Monsters, Sentient Weapons, and an unknown individual who potentially knows the secrets of the Dungeon? It all sounds far too convenient for there not to be something lurking beneath the surface.

Ryu continued to clean the dishes, slight frustration and sadness spreading across her facial features. Back in her days as an Adventurer, Ryu knew all too well that blind trust could lead to absolute heartbreak and tragedy. She had experienced it first hand after all.

Ryu: I've lost to many people already, I do not think I can stand to lose another.

Ryu didn't know why Leo Barclay had such an effect on her. The day they crossed paths he seemed like just a naive young Adventurer who was far too curious for his own good. However after witnessing him continue to brave the Dungeon despite the unbearably slow progress he made, his enthusiasm for uncovering secrets never wavered. When she learned that he was so determined to learn as much of possible about the Dungeon and its secrets so she could provide other Adventurers with that knowledge, she found him to be rather noble. Part of the Elf Maid wished an Adventurer like him existed a hundred years prior, maybe then her Adventuring days wouldn't have ended the way they did.

????: You got a rather thoughtful look on your face Ryu, are you daydreaming?

Ryu was pulled from her thoughts as she turned to see another young woman smiling at her. She had long light gray hair pulled back into a ponytail and gentle light gray eyes. She wore the exact same maid uniform Ryu did, in each of her hands was a tray filled with dirty dishes.

This young lady was Syr Flova, another waitress of the Hostess of Fertility and a close friend of Ryu's.

Ryu: Syr, nothing to concern yourself over. I was merely contemplating a conversation I had earlier today.

Syr: You mean about Leo finding that hidden Corridor in the Dungeon and that living weapon girl he has following him around?

Ryu grit her teeth slightly behind her lips, but nodded her head in confirmation of Syr's question. The human girl let a small smirk spread across her face as she figured she knew what had been bothering Ryu.

Syr: She's gorgeous don't you think? I bet some people would mistake her for a Goddess if it weren't for the fact all the Gods are well known by the public at this point.

Ryu once again hid it well, but found herself getting annoyed at Syr talking about Pyra's looks. The Elf Maid didn't know why such a topic would bother her so much, however she decided to focus on what actually mattered in regard to this topic.

Ryu: That's hardly the reason the conversation has left me in such a state of frustration. Leo intends on actively seeking the rest of these Corridors out. I fear his curiosity has blinded him to how convenient this entire scenario is. The creator of all these oddities could very well have had a malicious intent when he was still alive.

She remained quiet for a moment, contemplating what her fellow waitress and friend had just said to her.

Syr: It's certainly a possibility, why else would this mystery man go to such great lengths to hide all of this for thousands of years? Although it could be fate, Leo told us what his Skill was, he said it seemingly had no use, yet now it is the key to understanding these strange Corridors. Do you think this is destiny at play?

Ryu gave Syr a sideways glance, not wanting to tell her friend she sounded ridiculous. The only destiny that existed was that eventually everyone must pass away.

Ryu: Regardless of why all this happens, Leo could potentially be marching towards his own death and seemingly doesn't notice the potential signs all of this is an elaborate scheme.

Syr: He'll have other Adventurers with him, I doubt he's under much serious threat of dying. The Loki Familia are strong, tied with the Freys Familia for the title of strongest after all.

Ryu however looked at her friend with an unamused expression on her face. Syr then let a mischievous smirk spread across her face as she took a step towards Ryu, leaning closer to the Elf Maid.

Syr: You could always accompany Leo into the Dungeon yourself and make sure he is safe personally? You are strong Ryu, I doubt anything within those Corridors could stand up to you.

Ryu's eyes widened in shock as she looked at her friend in disbelief, however her expression quickly returned to her usual stoic expression as she let her focus return to the dishes.

Ryu: Those days are far behind me, I have no intentions of returning to it....

Syr: Then you have to rely on that weapon girl and the Adventurers that travel with him. I'm sure they can handle it Ryu, you worry too much.

Syr gave her friend one last smile before setting the trays of dirty dishes down next to the sink before walking out of the kitchen. Ryu's mind however was now in turmoil over what she should do moving forward. Syr leaned against the wall outside the entrance to the kitchen, a small smile on her face.

Syr: Everything has gotten so much more lively in such a short time. Leo, Bell, I wonder just how far both of you will go.

Syr smiled to herself before walking off to help serve and clear tables, one thing the waitress had no doubts about was that the two young Adventurers would turn Orario upside down with their unique talents and determination. She for one looked forward to what the future held for all of them.

So the Adventuring Party returned from the Dungeon and stopped in at the Hostess of Fertility where Leo was surprisingly close with members of the staff. However the young man's goal remains the same, reach the Eighth Floor and find the next Ancient Corridor. As always please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments! What awaits Leo and other members of his Familia as they continue to brave more floors of the Dungeon? What other unexpected developments await them? What dangers are within the next Ancient Corridor? How will other Gods react to these hidden passageways? Find out in the next Chapter of Danmachi: Master of the Aegis!