"Big Brother, make sure to visit us again soon, okay?" Colette hugged Lux's waist, while the latter patted her head.
"Of course," Lux replied. "When I return, I will be a Ranker like your sister."
"Hehehe. My sister is really the best. She beat you in becoming a Ranker. So, how about it, Big Brother? Do you want to marry her now?"
"… I'll think about it."
To his surprise, Colette pulled back and shook her head firmly.
"You must decide now, Big Brother," Colette stated. "Now that my sister is now a Ranker, she will definitely get a lot of suitors. Although you are on the top of my list, I would hate it if I see my sister grow up to be an old lady without getting married because you don't want to give a firm answer!"
Before Lux could even give his reply, a monotonous voice cut him off, and made the adorable Dwarf who was hugging him, stiffen.
"Don't marry me off without asking for my permission."
Aina, who had also come to bid Lux goodbye, spoke in her usual tone.
Upon seeing her again, Lux couldn't help but remember the kiss they shared which made him feel his cheeks burning for some reason.
Seeing his reaction, Colette narrowed her gaze and shifted her attention to her sister before looking back at her Big Brother, whose face had slightly turned red for some unknown reason.
At that moment, something clicked inside Colette's head, which made her smile at the Half-Elf in a mischievous way.
"I see, so that's how it is," Colette said as he patted her Big Brother's waist happily. "Don't worry, Big Brother, you have my vote. Just tell me when you want the marriage to happen and I'll convince my father.
"However, last time I talked to him about you, he said that he would like to invite you on a fishing trip. My father really loves fishing. For him to invite you means that he has a good impression of you!"
Lux scratched his head after hearing Colette's reply.
'It seems that everyone wants to invite me to go fishing nowadays,' Lux thought. 'Well, maybe going with them to relax isn't a bad thing.'
After careful consideration, Lux nodded his head with a smile.
"Tell your father that I would love to go fishing with him after I finish tying up the loose ends on my side," Lux replied.
"Alright!" Colette clapped her hands happily. "I'll tell father about this. I'm sure both of you will have a good time."
Aina glanced at her sister before shifting her gaze to Lux, who seemed to think that going with her father was a good idea.
Even after she had shared a kiss with Lux, the expression of the Guildmaster of Eternal looked the same as always.
But, that was only on the surface.
At the end of the day, no matter how standoffish or how expressionless she was, Aina was still a girl. Although having a lover was the least of her priorities, that didn't mean that she wasn't interested in it.
There had been no other man who had touched and seen her body like Lux did.
The doll-like beauty knew that what happened was not the Half-Elf's fault, and he was simply forced to act due to the circumstances that transpired after she lost control of her senses.
Also, the visible scars that were on her body, that hadn't been cured by the expensive potions, as well as salves that her family had acquired for her, were removed by the Half-Elf through the simple act of him touching her.
Aina didn't know how this happened, but for the first time in her life, she felt something she had never felt before. The touch of a man on her naked skin, which didn't repulse her.
In fact, it even made her feel as if she had been reborn.
"Take care, and make sure to visit me as well when you return here in the Kingdom of Gweliven," Aina stated. "You mentioned an autograph in the past, right? I will prepare one for you. Get it from me personally when you have also stepped into the path of a Ranker."
Lux smiled and nodded his head to acknowledge Aina's words.
He then patted Matty's, Andy's, Axel's, and Helen's heads and encouraged them to do their best to become stronger. He even promised that when he returned, he would accompany them to dive into Dungeons as well.
"Emma, do you wish to return to the Guild or would you like to stay with them?" Lux asked the person whom he had designated to become the Secretary of his Guild.
The pretty Dwarf smiled before giving her reply. "I owe my life to you, Lux. I will go wherever you want me to be."
"Then, please return to the Guild," Lux replied. "There are some matters that I need your help with, especially with the management of the shops that we will be operating soon."
Emma nodded. She then bid her own goodbye to Colette and the others whom she had come to think of as her little brothers and sisters. Parting with them made her sad, but she understood that her place was by Lux's side.
As long as she was able to help him, she would even cross a sea of fire to make it happen.
Just as Lux was about to leave, Princess Anastasia and Robin arrived at the Headquarters of the Eternal Guild.
"I thought you would be staying for a few more days, Sir Lux," Princess Anastasia said in a sad tone.
"Sorry, but I've had a change of heart," Lux replied. "After Aina became a Ranker, I felt that it was time for me to become a Ranker as well. This is something that I can no longer delay. But, if there is an opportunity in the future, I will make sure to visit you in the Capital City."
"Understood, Sir Lux." Princess Anastasia nodded. "Please use the Mithril Bracelet that I gave you in order to contact me at any time. Even if you just want to talk about random things!"
"I will." Lux gave the Princess a brief nod before thanking Robin and Nevreal for their help in minimizing the damage caused by his fight with Lucius and the members of Twilight Rain.
He still hadn't properly thanked them for what they did, so he made sure to tell them how much he appreciated what they had done for him.
"By the way, I've been wondering if you have already used the money I gave you to make your Guild Headquarters," Nevreal stated. "If there is an opportunity, I want to see it. I want to know if you used my hard earned money well."
"Of course," Lux replied in a heartbeat. "Once I become a Ranker, I'll make sure to return and give you a tour, Sir Nevreal."
"You do that." Nevreal smirked. "I've worked all my life for that money. If you didn't put it to good use, I'll clobber you even if you are already a Ranker."
Lux could only smile bitterly after hearing Nevreal's playful threat. He still felt a bit guilty about what he did for the middle-aged Dwarf. However, what was done was already done.
At the very least, he wanted to show the Dwarf that the gold coins he gave him had paved the way to create a Guild Headquarters that he would be proud of.
"I also want to see Big Brother's Guild Headquarters!" Colette raised her hand in order to catch Lux's attention. "You've seen our Guild Headquarters, so it's only fair that you show yours to us as well."
"Okay," Lux replied. "I'll bring you guys as well."
After parting on good terms, Lux finally took Emma with him and headed towards the Teleportation Gate of Whitebridge City.
They would return to Leaf Village for a short time in order to take the slime eggs that still hadn't hatched back to their Guild Headquarters in the Outer Reaches.
The Kobolds there wanted to have Slimes as Beast Companions as well to help them dig underground. Also, Garret's daughters, Emily (Middle), and Alexa (Oldest), were also interested in having Slimes as their own.
Leah, the youngest of the three, already had a baby slime of her own, whom she named Holly.
Emily and Alexa had seen how close Lux and Eiko were, as well as their sister with her own baby slime. Because of this they also wanted to have their own Beast Companions that were as cute as theirs.
Now that he had finished his purpose for visiting the Kingdom of Gweliven, he could go to the Necromancer's Ancestral Grounds, and undertake his own Ranker Trial, that would allow his Guild to become a lot stronger than ever before.
