Chapter 123

Back at the familia's cozy home, Dimitra, Eleni, and Bahamut had made significant progress in their efforts to prepare the day's meals.

The kitchen was a flurry of culinary activity as they expertly chopped, stirred, and seasoned a diverse array of delectable dishes.

The aromas of simmering stews, fragrant spices, and freshly baked breads began to fill the air, tantalizing the senses.

As they worked, the trio couldn't help but wonder about Draco's current state of mind.

They knew the events of the day had been emotionally charged, and they hoped he would find the peace and clarity he needed during his solitary walk.

They also wished the same for Clair, who took the hardest blow from things.

Just as they were putting the finishing touches on lunch and pre-preparing the ingredients for dinner, the sound of the front door bursting open drew their attention.

"We're back!" Michalis announced cheerfully as he strode into the house, Nikolaos and Vasileios following closely behind.

"Welcome back, you boys," Bahamut called out from the kitchen.

"Go and wash up, lunch is almost ready." she added.

"But we took a bath this morning” he grumbled, his nose wrinkling while sniffing his clothes.

“I don't smell!" he muttered in a low voice.

Vasileios sensing his reluctance, placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

"Sigh, don’t even try arguing, just do as she says. You want to eat lunch, don't you?" he said.

Michalis nodded reluctantly.

The two boys were about leave when they noticed Nikolaos was missing, but they soon saw him coming from the storage area.

“Where did you go?” Michalis asked.

“To check something out” Nikolaos replied.

While Michalis and Vasileios were talking earlier, Nikolaos had walked ahead, peeking into the kitchen and then Draco's room before rejoining his brothers.

"It seems like all the girls are back, but Draco-nii isn't around," Nikolaos said, his brow furrowed in concern.

"What?!" Michalis exclaimed.

"Didn't you tell us that Draco-nii said he'd be returning by noon?" Vasileios asked Michalis,

Michalis nodded. "Yea, that's what he said in the morning. But..." he gestured towards Draco's dungeon bag, which sat at a corner in the living room.

"This wasn't here when we left. Maybe he came back and went out again." Michalis surmised.

Vasileios hummed in thought. "You may be right. With his bag here, he couldn't have gone too far. Let's get cleaned up first, and then we can look for him." he suggested.

Michalis and Nikolaos agreed, and the three boys headed out the door to their own living quarters to freshen up, leaving the receipt from their request to the Goibniu familia on the table.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

After Draco exited Bahamut’s house, he found himself aimlessly wandering the streets, his mind consumed by his swirling thoughts.

Soon he found himself close to the bustling market area located in the southwestern part of the city, so he decided to immerse himself in its lively atmosphere, hoping it would help clear his head.

As Draco approached the market, the scents of various perfumes, street food, and spices filled the air, creating an enticing sensory experience.

The loud chatter between vendors and customers, haggling over prices, created an oddly refreshing and energetic ambiance that Draco found oddly comforting.

Not far from the main market area, Draco stumbled upon the free market, where goods and services were determined solely by the supply and demand expressed by the sellers and buyers. Intrigued, he decided to explore this section of the market, despite his initial reservations.

Draco was quite knowledgeable and skilled in the art of negotiation, a trait he assumed he inherited from his draconic lineage.

However, as he navigated the free market, his mind became increasingly clouded, especially when he passed by the jewelry and antiques section.

The allure of the precious metals and gems was almost irresistible to Draco's draconic senses.

Unlike the practical use of such materials in armor and weapons, the polished and aesthetically-pleasing items in the jewelry and antique sections sparked an immediate desire within him.

Draco could even effortlessly distinguish the real from the fake, a feat attributed to his keen draconic instincts.

Thankfully, Draco's saving grace was that he had not brought much money with him when he left home.

The temptation to indulge in these shiny treasures was strong, but the prospect of stealing was an even more revolting notion to him.

With great mental fortitude, Draco managed to tear himself away from the free market area, resolving to avoid it as much as possible in the future.

Returning to the main market, Draco focused on procuring the ingredients for the food that Vasiliki had requested.

As he browsed the various stalls, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and satisfaction.

The effects of being surrounded by such a wealth of precious metals and gems had been a rather novel discovery, even for Draco himself.

With his purchases complete, Draco began the short journey back to home.

It didn't take long for him to reach the familiar door, but just as he approached, it suddenly flung open, revealing Michalis, Vasileios, and Nikolaos.

"Draco nii, you're back!" Michalis exclaimed, bounding towards Draco with unbridled excitement.

Vasileios and Nikolaos, while equally eager to greet their older brother, restrained themselves, aware of Michalis' overly enthusiastic display in the open.

Draco placed a free hand on Michalis' head, gently calming the younger boy.

"Calm down," he said, his tone measured and authoritative.

‘What’s got him so excited’ Draco wondered, intrigued by Michalis' unusual behaviour.

"When did you boys get back?" Draco inquired.

"Just a few minutes ago," Nikolaos replied, struggling to conceal his own excitement.

Michalis, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "Draco nii, what's in the bag?"

"Just some stuff for Vasiliki," Draco answered.

Michalis' expression shifted slightly, a hint of skepticism creeping into his features.

"Geh, don’t tell me that she's already awake?" he asked, his tone carrying a subtle undercurrent of reluctance.

It wasn't that Michalis wished ill upon Vasiliki or wanted her to remain unconscious; rather, he had just grown accustomed to his rare moment of peace and tranquility when she was not her normal, lively self.

"She was awake a few hours ago, but fell back asleep soon after, if my calculations are correct, she will remain asleep till late in the evening” Draco replied.

Vasileios, a warm smile spreading across his face, "That's great. It's nice to know she's recovering well." he said.

Nikolaos nodded in agreement, his own expression mirroring Vasileios' sentiment.

Vasileios' eyes suddenly widened as he remembered something crucial.

"Oh, right!" he exclaimed, quickly turning around and dashing back into the house.

Moments later, he emerged with the receipt from the Goibniu familia in hand.

"What's this?" Draco asked, taking the piece of paper from Vasileios.

"It's the receipt for the equipment repairs," Vasileios explained, his voice tinged with a sense of accomplishment.

Draco's brows furrowed as he examined the document.

"Oh, this has the Goibniu familia insignia, and the price is significantly lower than what I had budgeted. I guess the Hephaestus familia workshop was a bit on the expensive side." he said.

Nikolaos nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, we had to hurry out of there after hearing the prices. The Goibniu familia's rates were much more reasonable." he replied.

Draco's lips curled into a satisfied smile as he praised the boys.

"Well done, you three. I'm impressed." he said.

"Thank you!" they replied in unison, their faces beaming with pride.

Draco's gaze then shifted, and he asked, "By the way, where were you all headed when I ran into you?"

Michalis immediately spoke up, "Bahamut sama said, 'Take a bath or no lunch!'" he said, trying to imitate her tone.

Nikolaos quickly interjected, "Stop lying, she didn't exactly say those words, but it was kind of implied." he corrected.

Draco chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"I see, so the kitchen is still occupied." He paused, deep in thought.

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Nikolaos timidly called out, "Draco nii?"

Draco turned his attention to the young boy. "What is it?"

"Are we still proceeding with our level up today?" Nikolaos asked, a hint of anticipation in his voice.

"Yes, of course," Draco replied, his tone reassuring.

"Why do you ask?" he inquired.

Nikolaos shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.

"No reason, I was just wondering." he replied.

Draco's gaze softened as he observed Nikolaos' restless tail, a clear sign of his excitement.

"Silly boy, I know you're eager, but you'll have to wait until this evening." Draco said.

Feeling self-conscious, Nikolaos quickly grabbed his tail, trying to still its movement, and turned away, a slight blush coloring his cheeks.

Draco chuckled and spoke, "Anyway, I'll leave you boys to go take your bath. From the aroma, I can tell that lunch is ready." he said.

The three boys' stomachs rumbled in response, and they hurried off to the bathroom, eager to satisfy their hunger.

As he watched them leave, Draco's expression turned pensive.

'Hm, it seems they haven't been informed about the incident yet,' he thought, shaking his head.

With a resolute stride, Draco entered the house, heading straight for the kitchen.

"Draco, you're back!" Bahamut greeted him, a warm smile on her face.

"How was your walk?" she asked.

"It was... productive," Draco replied, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

Bahamut nodded, understanding the implication.

"I see. Anyway, wash your hands and wait a bit. Lunch will be served shortly." she said.

Draco complied, quickly cleansing his hands and taking a seat at the table.

The aroma of the freshly prepared meal wafted through the air, making his mouth water in anticipation.

As Dimitra, Eleni and Bahamut moved about the kitchen, Draco decided to broach the subject.

"Bahamut, have the boys been informed about the... incident?" he inquired.

Bahamut paused, her expression turning somber.

"No, not yet. I wanted to wait until you returned to discuss it with them." she replied.

Draco nodded, his brow furrowing in thought.

"I see. They seemed unaware of it when I spoke to them earlier." he said.

"I understand your hesitation, but the sooner we address it, the better," Bahamut said, her voice gentle yet resolute.

Draco let out a heavy sigh.

"You're right. We can't keep them in the dark forever. I'll speak to them after lunch." he said.

“I don’t think they will react much to it, except maybe Michalis” Dimitra interjected.

“True, he is kind of……unpredictable at times” Eleni agreed.

"Anyway don’t worry too much about it Draco nii. They'll understand and handle." Dimitra assured.

Draco's lips curved into a small, appreciative smile……..