Upgrades Chapter 71 (Patreon)

Unfortunately for Kaguya, we didn't come across another squad of Mermen and Kelpies, so after a bit I jumped over to Astraea's ship while our ships that were tied together slowly drifted back to the Familia section port of Melen.

"So Jake, have you been making weapons and armor since you have come here to Melen?" Astraea asked as she stood next to me and Alise her Familia's captain while we stood on the edge of her ship looking out upon the gently turning water of the great lake of Melen.

I gave a slight hum to her question before answering honestly. "I have my methods of crafting ready here to do business. But I have been more worried about dealing with monsters that invade the plot of land I bought on the beach, along with just trying to grow stronger."

Astraea gave out a gentle smile before she softly patted my arm and said kindly. "Young man, I can see your desire for growth, to take justice from the evils that have been done to you and yours... Just make sure not to let the path of justice consume you."

I shook my head and replied quietly as I looked away from the brown-haired goddess. "Kinda hard to do that when a monster like the higher-leveled Zeus members can crush my armor with their bare hands that are rated to be worn by level fives."

Sure adamantine wasn't the strongest metal in the world, but it was one of them. And even though my armor wasn't enchanted... It was still strong, far stronger than steel, titanium or any mortal metal.

But that Zeus member, who had the Crush Development Ability, crushed my armor and shoulders under his hands like it was a soda can.

I shook the thought away as I brushed a hand down my face and changed the subject. "Anyway, it was a pleasure to fight alongside your familia members, Lady Astraea. Alise, would you be willing to do this again tomorrow or something?" 

Alise and Astraea shared a look before Alise answered with a wry smile. "I mean, I would love to honestly. But frankly, our weapons need to be sharpened, and repaired after cutting through the scales of the fish monsters all day." 

'Ah, that's why Astraea wanted to know if I was still smithing here in Melen.' I thought with a nod and I offered with a smile. "Hey, if you want I am willing to perform maintenance on your Familia's weapons for free  if you ladies are willing to help guard the estate's beachline tonight while I am working."

Astraea and Alise both gave a small smile before the beautiful red-haired Alise put a finger to her chin and said teasingly. "I don't know... A man like you trying to take us all home, do you have any other intentions!"

At her heavy-handed teasingly I just snorted as Astraea gave a small giggle leaving the top of the ship silent as I looked over to where I saw Tina was still talking with her friend in Lyra, the pink-haired pallum of Astraea's familia.

After a moment, I spoke as I felt Astraea's eyes on me as she awaited an answer to Alise's question even if it was done in teasing. "Nah, I really actually would appreciate some help watching the beach line. As although I made some magical protection for the area against monsters, I admittedly did make a mistake in buying a whole mansion worth of property to be defended by only three people especially when I am going to be busy tonight working."

I had all the stuff I needed with the mermaids I captured to make Alfia's cure for her lung and heart magical cancer due to the branch of the Alf World Tree that Riveria gave to me... Along with making Alfia's cure, I also had the order of elixirs and potions that the Loki Familia had put in to do.

So adding on enhancing/fixing up any damage done to the Astraea Familia's weapons wouldn't take too long. If anything it would actually give me something to do rather than just slam fucking Tina and Tamamo into the bed before going to sleep as per usual.

After a moment Astraea looked at Alise and asked her with a small smile. "Alise, how about we save money, and instead of renting out an inn for the night or Tenkai, and I forbid... Sleep on our ship cramped up into the small cabin. We take turns sleeping at his place while doing watch duties so he can work in peace?" 

I couldn't help but smile at the nonchalant way Astraea said there was no way she was going to sleep on their small ship, even invoking the name of herself as a goddess, and the divine plane of existence as she spoke.

And in turn Alise turned to me and raised an eyebrow asking. "Do you have room for us? We have ten members total." 

Chuckling I just said honestly. "I bought the mansion from the disgraced Amphrite Familia which couldn't protect their line of coastline when a dozen level four monsters rolled up... Yeah I got a dozen empty bedrooms you guys can borrow, just tell your girls to clean up after themselves, and stay out of my master bedroom and the workshop in the basement." 

Alise raised an eyebrow at my candor and she said with some hesitation. "You are being rather... Overly generous, have you fallen in love with me already?" She almost shouted as she held her arms over her chest as though scared I was some rabid beast going to eat her up.

Before I could reply, Astraea sighed and Alise made a noise of discontent as the brown-haired goddess bopped her captain on the head with her knuckles with Astraea elegantly saying. "We appreciate your offer, Jake. Though I am still curious as to why you are being so generous... Or just trusting of us seeing as we have never met before." 

After a moment of looking into Astraea's soft eyes, I took a breath and said calmly and with no doubt. "Lady Astraea, you are the goddess of Justice... Never in a million years would a familiar member of yours steal from my home as I sleep, it is impossible. I know that through your own divinity, your Familia members are good people."

At that. At those words spoke with utter conviction and knowledge of it being the absolute truth Astraea could only shake her head and sigh with amused exasperation as she said. "Haaa... A mortal who knows the domains of the divine, knows how to manage said divine. Fine Jake, I thank you for hosting us, now let us make our way to your home." She finished as our ships were already coming in close to the ports.

But as we were pulling into the ports my lips went flat as I saw someone waving towards us at the empty space our ships were pulling into... A very familiar silverish white-haired figure happily waving us with too much energy for her petite frame.

'Why the fuck is Materia here in Melen?!' I thought with mounting horror as I realized that the Sword Saintess, the level six member of the Hera Familia was standing behind Materia with her staff sword being what I recognized her by seeing as she was wearing a large cloak over her body.