LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 11: Chapter 11
After getting advice from Syr and Mama Mia, Shirou decided to research the various Familia in Orario. With enthusiasm and a strong sense of curiosity, he stepped out of the Hostess of Fertility, ready to explore this unfamiliar city.
The streets of Orario were filled with a myriad of activities. Adventurers in their shining armor, merchants selling their wares, and ordinary citizens busy with their daily lives. Shirou walked through the bustling streets, his eyes scanning every corner, looking for information about a Familia that might suit him.
After some time, Shirou found a small shop with a prominent sign: "Blue Pharmacy - Miach Familia." The shop appeared modest but well-maintained, with various medicinal herbs and potions displayed in the front window. Intrigued by the shop's appearance, Shirou decided to enter.
As he opened the door, a small bell above it chimed softly. A distinctive scent immediately greeted him — a mixture of various medicinal herbs and potions, creating an atmosphere that was calming yet subtly charged with magical energy.
Behind the counter, Shirou saw a young man with long, dark blue hair. The man had a calm and wise aura, yet there was something different about him. Shirou sensed something unusual, as if he was facing something far greater than what the naked eye could see.
"Welcome to Blue Pharmacy," the man greeted with a friendly smile. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Shirou paused for a moment, still surprised by the sensation he felt. However, he quickly composed himself and replied, "Ah, yes. I'm looking for information about the Familia in Orario. Can you help me?"
The man's smile widened. "Of course. Let me introduce myself, I am Miach, the leader of Miach Familia and the owner of this shop."
Hearing the name, Shirou gasped. He realized that he was standing face to face with a god. A surreal feeling began to envelop him. Before him stood a god who had sealed his own powers to live among humans and run a simple pharmacy.
Shirou, whose senses were attuned to magical energies, detected a unique scent coming from Miach — the distinct smell of medicinal herbs, but there was something more, a faint yet undeniable divine aroma. This scent reminded him of Syr, though different. If Syr had the fragrance of winter flowers, Miach had a soothing herbal aroma, yet both had the same divine element.
"What's wrong, young man?" Miach asked, breaking Shirou's reverie. "You look surprised."
Shirou shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "Sorry, Miach-sama. I just… didn't expect to meet a god so directly like this."
Miach chuckled softly. "Ah, you don't need to be so formal. Here, I am just an ordinary pharmacy owner. But tell me, what do you want to know about the Familia?"
Shirou took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "I just arrived in Orario and plan to become an adventurer. I was told that joining a Familia is a wise step before entering the dungeon."
Miach nodded. "That's true. A Familia is not just a group but also a family. We gods bestow our blessings upon our followers, helping them grow and develop."
Shirou listened carefully, still impressed by the situation. He had never imagined casually talking to a god like this.
"So, young man," Miach continued, "are you interested in joining a Familia?"
Shirou paused, contemplating the question. "I... am not sure yet, Miach-sama. I want to learn more about the Familias in Orario before making a decision."
Miach smiled wisely. "That's a wise attitude. It's not good to rush such a decision. A Familia is a sacred and lifelong bond."
Shirou nodded, feeling relieved that Miach understood his hesitation. "Thank you for your understanding, Miach-sama. May I ask, what makes Miach Familia different from the others?"
Miach smiled softly. "Miach Familia may not be the largest or the strongest in Orario, but we specialize in making potions and healing. We believe true strength comes from the ability to help and heal others."
Shirou sensed the sincerity in Miach's words. Although the Miach Familia might not be the strongest, there was something appealing about their philosophy.
"That's very noble, Miach-sama," Shirou said sincerely. "I will consider Miach Familia in my search."
Miach nodded, satisfied. "Thank you, young man. Remember, choosing a Familia is not just about strength or fame. It's about finding a place where you truly belong."
Shirou nodded, feeling like he had gained new insight. After chatting further and purchasing some simple potions as a token of gratitude, Shirou bid farewell to the Blue Pharmacy.
As he stepped out, Shirou felt a complex mix of emotions. His meeting with Miach had opened his eyes to the reality of his new world — a world where gods walked among men, sealing their powers to live alongside their followers.
With his mind filled with new information and unanswered questions, Shirou continued his journey through the streets of Orario. He knew there was still much to learn before he could decide which Familia to choose. However, one thing was certain — his adventure in Orario had just begun, and many mysteries awaited to be uncovered.
As Shirou left the Blue Pharmacy, his mind remained on his encounter with God Miach. Yet, there was one thing that kept nagging at him — the divine scent he sensed from Miach and how it reminded him of Syr.
Shirou paused at the side of the road, his eyes looking far away as his mind spun. His meeting with Miach had opened his eyes to the possibility that gods could live among humans, hiding their true identities. And now, that thought led him back to Syr.
"Could it be..." Shirou muttered to himself, "Could Syr also be a goddess?"
Shirou recalled his encounters with Syr. The girl seemed ordinary at first glance — a friendly waitress at the Hostess of Fertility. Yet, there was something different about her. Her genuine kindness, wisdom in her words, and, of course, the fragrance of winter flowers with a divine touch.
"But why?" Shirou asked himself. "Why would a goddess choose to hide her identity and work as an ordinary waitress?"
Shirou remembered how Miach, a god, chose to run a simple pharmacy. Could Syr have a similar reason? Or was there another motive behind her disguise?
However, Shirou also realized that he might be jumping to conclusions too quickly. After all, he had only just arrived in Orario and still knew little about this world. There might be other explanations for the divine scent he sensed from Syr.
"I shouldn't rush to assumptions," Shirou decided. "There are many mysteries in Orario that I don't yet understand. Maybe Syr is indeed a goddess, or maybe there is another explanation for what I sensed."
Shirou took a long breath, realizing that his speculation would lead nowhere without further evidence. He decided to stay vigilant and observe but not confront Syr directly about his suspicion.
"The best I can do now is keep learning more about this world," thought Shirou. "Maybe in time, the mystery about Syr will reveal itself."
With renewed determination, Shirou continued his journey through the streets of Orario. His eyes now wide open, observing every detail of the city and its inhabitants carefully. He was determined to understand more deeply about his new world, about the gods and their Familias, and, of course, the mystery behind Syr's kind smile.
As he walked, Shirou realized that his adventure in Orario might be far more complex and exciting than he had imagined before. With each step, he got closer to uncovering the hidden mysteries behind the facade of this bustling city. And perhaps, one day, he would discover the truth about Syr and his own place in this wondrous world.
After wandering around Orario, Shirou returned to the Hostess of Fertility to continue his work. As dinner time approached, the restaurant began to fill with customers. Shirou quickly took his position in the kitchen, helping with the meal preparations. Though he was not allowed to use the kitchen before, his exceptional cooking skills had won Mama Mia's trust.
While working, Syr approached the kitchen and greeted Shirou with a bright smile. "So, how was your day? Did you get a lot of information about the Familia?" she asked while carrying some fresh vegetables.
Shirou paused from his work for a moment and turned to Syr. "Yes, I visited a few places, including the Miach Familia's potion shop," he replied. "There's a lot I learned."
Syr chuckled. "Oh, the Miach Familia? They're well-known for their potions. Did you meet Miach himself?"
Shirou nodded. "Yes, he was very kind and helped me understand more about this world."
As he spoke, Shirou once again sensed the scent of winter flowers unique to Syr. The scent was very similar to the divine aroma he sensed from Miach earlier. This time, Shirou decided to get closer and pay more attention. He took a deep breath, trying to catch more of the nuances of the aroma surrounding the girl in front of him.
Syr blushed slightly, seeing Shirou sniffing at her quietly. "What's wrong?" she asked playfully. "Do I smell bad?"
Shirou smiled slightly, trying to hide his nervousness. "No, that's not it," he replied. "It's just… the flower scent you have is so unique, like something I've smelled before."
Syr chuckled softly and answered, "Oh, that might just be an ordinary fragrance."
However, Shirou wasn't sure. He recalled the same scent from Miach, a mixture that had a divine aura. It became increasingly clear to Shirou that Syr was hiding something. "Could you perhaps be a goddess in disguise?" Shirou wondered silently.
But he decided not to ask directly. Although his curiosity was strong, Shirou chose to keep his suspicions to himself. After all, he still didn't have enough evidence. Besides, revealing such a secret could cause problems he didn't want to deal with.
Syr looked at Shirou, trying to read his expression. "What are you thinking about?" she asked, leaning her back against the kitchen table.
Shirou shook his head. "Nothing important," he replied with a calm smile. "I just feel very lucky to be working here and to meet people like you."
Syr smiled back, seemingly pleased with Shirou's answer. "Well, I'm glad to hear that you feel that way. If there's anything you'd like to ask, I'm here to help."
Shirou simply nodded. "Thank you, Syr. I'll remember that," he said, while his mind continued to dwell on the divine scent he had noticed from her. In his heart, Shirou decided to keep his suspicions about Syr a secret, at least for now.
He continued working, helping to prepare dinner while quietly observing the girl beside him, wondering who Syr really was behind her sweet smile.
Shirou and Syr continued their work in the kitchen, preparing dinner for the increasing number of customers. While chopping vegetables, Shirou felt this was a good opportunity to learn more about the gods and the reasons they were in this world.
He glanced over at Syr, who was busily stirring soup with skillful movements. "Hey, Syr," he called out, trying to be casual even though his curiosity was burning inside. "I want to know something… about the gods and goddesses who have descended to this world."
Syr paused for a moment, looking at Shirou with intrigued eyes. "Oh? What do you want to know?" she asked with a gentle smile.
Shirou proceeded cautiously, "Like what I saw with God Miach, he runs a potion shop and bestows blessings on his Familia members. Why do gods like him decide to descend to this world and live among humans? What is their purpose?"
Syr seemed to ponder for a moment before answering. "That's a good question, Shirou," she said while glancing at him. "There are many reasons why gods decide to descend to this world. Most of them do it out of boredom."
"Boredom?" Shirou repeated, raising his eyebrows, unsure if he had heard correctly.
Syr nodded with a small laugh. "Yes, boredom. In Heaven, the gods have eternal lives, and there's not much to do. They can't feel things like suffering, struggle, or even the pleasures of life as we do. So, they come down to this world to seek new experiences, to feel a more real life, and to understand human emotions."
Shirou nodded, trying to digest what Syr was saying. "But why do they give blessings to humans? Is there a specific reason for that?"
Syr smiled again. "Giving blessings is a way for the gods to be directly involved in human life. By giving blessings, they can form a Familia, like their own family. They feel joy, sadness, and the struggles of their Familia members. In many ways, it's a way for gods to experience human life more deeply."
Shirou reflected on Syr's words. "So, it's all about experience and understanding human life... but aren't there some gods who have specific goals or motives?"
Syr looked at Shirou intently for a moment, as if considering how much she wanted to reveal. "Yes, there are also gods who have specific purposes," she finally answered. "Some gods might descend to search for something, test their strength, or even pursue a certain dream. Every god has different reasons. However, most of them just want to experience life in a more real way."
Shirou listened carefully. "I see... so, you could say they're searching for meaning in life just like humans."
Syr nodded with a warm smile. "Exactly. Even though they are immortal and possess extraordinary power, the gods also want to find meaning in their lives, just like humans."
Shirou gazed at Syr more deeply, trying to see if he could catch anything from her manner of speaking or behavior that could confirm his suspicions. "Thank you, Syr. Your explanation was very helpful."
Syr's face brightened with a smile as she focused back on her work. "Glad to help. After all, life in Orario is full of questions, but also full of answers if you're patient enough to look for them."
Shirou held back a small smile, deciding not to delve further into his suspicions. However, now he felt a bit more understanding about the reasons behind the gods' presence in this world, and maybe… understood a little more about Syr, even though there were still many mysteries left.
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