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"Yummy~"
Summoned out quietly by Dan, Suzuka (in their shared-body state) let out a joyful voice inside his mind.
Normally, to avoid complications during conversations and interactions with others, Dan would have Suzuka temporarily go into a dormant state.
Suzuka's personality was naturally quiet and reserved. Being new to this world, she was understandably shy, so she readily agreed with the arrangement.
"Right? Right?"
Alise happily pushed another plate of thinly sliced jerky and bread toward Dan.
"This is Iska's special 'Bold Amazon Warrior Cuisine'!"
In front of them, in the middle of the long table, sat a huge pot filled with chunks of meat and fish, with a few vegetables simmering along.
Iska was two years older than Ryuu—sixteen years old.
Her black hair was tied back neatly, complementing her tanned skin.
She wore Amazon-style clothing, though hers leaned toward a more conservative design.
"Well, Alise is exaggerating a little."
Iska gave Dan a playful wink.
"Calling it Amazon cuisine is a bit much—it's just simple, rough cooking. And to be honest, I grew up in the slums of Orario and have never even seen the actual Amazon homeland."
Sitting beside her, Ryuu sweetly handed over some cheese and a bottle of honey, smiling leisurely.
"Iska and I grew up together in the same orphanage. We've been together ever since, until we met Lady Astraea. So this place... it's always been home to us."
"Speaking of which, Dan, where are you from?"
Dan took a bite of the jerky. While it wasn't the tastiest thing in the world, it was more than satisfying after days of hunger.
"My hometown... it's really far away. Somewhere I can never go back to. But honestly, I'm happy here, and I don't feel homesick."
Across the table, the masked elf looked up at him, her sharp gaze softening a little.
So he's also someone who ran away from home...
Kaguya cleared her throat, changing the topic.
"Anyway, it's about time we decide the exploration groups for the dungeon. If I remember right, our Familia funds are running low, yeah?"
"Yup. With our rank going up, the guild taxes increased. On top of that, we've got the base loan, weapon and armor maintenance, potions, supplies..."
As Kaguya listed off all the expenses, the girls' faces scrunched in pain. Some even lost their appetite.
Ryana collapsed face-first onto the table, near tears.
"Ugh... Why do we have to talk about this now, during a perfectly happy mealtime?"
Alise put both hands on her hips and declared loudly:
"—We mustn't be greedy, everyone!"
"A modest heart is the core of justice! Let's remember how we used to save money back when our Familia was just starting out!"
"Remember when we went so deep into the dungeon we were drowning in debt, and Lady Astraea had to drink wild herb soup with just salt for seven days straight? And she still smiled and said, 'It's okay!' That was real spirit!"
Dan's eyes widened in shock as he turned to look at Astraea. He hadn't expected someone so noble-looking to have gone through such hardships.
Lyra covered her face with a hand and groaned.
"Captain, don't go sharing our dark history so casually in front of the newbie! Look, you made Lady Astraea embarrassed!"
Having a guy in the group had already made the girls more reserved lately. Even the goddess wasn't immune.
Astraea cutely buried her face in her bowl, pretending to be super focused on eating as if she hadn't heard a thing.
Ryuu smiled and shook her head, offering a suggestion.
"Let's stick to the usual setup—some of us head into the dungeon to gather materials, while the others patrol the city."
"Though... since we're short on people and want efficiency, maybe we should hire a few supporters."
Dan thought about his newly gained abilities. He set down his bowl and volunteered.
"If you're looking for a supporter... how about I take the job?"
"....."