Unity through Chaos

[Kobold Scout Party has been Defeated]

[+1371 EXP]

[Party Members have Leveled UP]

A soft glow emanated from Leo's, Lily's, Horo's and Luna's bodies as they reached Level 7. Nyx let out a soft whistle as she placed her staff against her shoulder.

"Fancy Lightshow~"

Luna narrowed her eyes, shooting a dismissive glare at Nyx yet didn't say anything. Lily let out a somewhat forced laugh. 

"Nyx..you really have a talent for…umm" 

Horo interrupted Lily's delicate attempt with a cold gleam in his eyes. 

"A talent for making people want to punch you." 

Nyx merely laughed in response before sending Horo a provocative glare and smirk as she leaned towards him. 

"Well it is a talent that we share it seems. Little Cutie if you had to choose between this guy and me, who would you rather punch in the face~" 

Luna cocked an eyebrow as her gaze flickered between Horo and Nyx who were waiting for an answer. She then turned to Lily who was trembling as she tried to contain her laughter. 

"Can I say Both? Both sound really good…" 

"Pftt~" 

Lily clutched her stomach as she curled up laughing, unable to contain herself from laughing. Horo and Nyx both seemed annoyed by Lily's laughter. With a nod to each other, they moved in unison and each pinched one of Lily's ears. 

"Ahh~! Let me go! I'm sorrrrrrryyyy"

Lily's laughters quickly turned to cries, begging for mercy while Luna sat back, allowing Lily to suffer the consequences of her laughter. 

Sonata floated down, landing beside Leo who had a wry smile on his face as he listened to his party banter and bicker like small children after the fighting had settled. 

"Are…Are they always like this?" 

Leo looked away from the screen at Sonata's question but didn't know how to answer as her expression was unreadable. 

"Well Nyx is a newcomer like you…but other than that. Yes. Is that a problem?" 

Sonata shook her head firmly as she clasped her hands together. 

"No! That's not a problem at all! In fact I think this is nice! It feels like you are all so close…like family." 

Leo noticed a flicker of emotion in her eyes yet he knew there was nothing he could do for her now. Instead he placed a hand on her shoulder in a supportive manner. 

"Well that includes you now too y'know. I won't pretend to know what you have got going on but if it's something we can do to help, I truly believe these lunatics would help you without question. 

"LEO! Who are you calling a lunatic!"

Luna's angry voice echoed through the forest as she glared at her brother. The nice moment that Leo had built was immediately ruined as he panicked 

"Shit. She heard me?!" 

"Don't even think of running away you lil shit!" 

Luna began approaching Leo who started trembling in place like a deer in headlights, genuinely terrified of Luna. Seeing him like that caused Sonata to burst out laughing loudly, the most genuine and loud laugh she had in the longest time. 

Luna's hands were already gripping Leo's clothes when she heard the laughter, her gaze shifting to Sonata who now seemed to be more at ease now. 

She narrowed her eyes, her gaze suspicious of Leo as she remarked

"Are you trying to be a Playboy or a Lady Killer? Trash like Horo is not an acceptable Role Model for you.."

Luna let go of Leo's clothes as she recognized what Leo was trying to do for Sonata and gave him her opinion. Hearing this, Horo was confused and offended at being insulted out of nowhere.

"What the fuck? What did I do?"

"Hahaha~!" 

Nyx started laughing at him with narrowed eyes and covering her mouth with her hands. 

Leo sighed in relief as Luna finally released him, though he still looked slightly traumatized. He rubbed his arm and shot her an exasperated look.

"First of all, I'm not trying to be a playboy or a lady-killer. Second of all, why the hell am I getting scolded when I was literally just being nice?"

Luna crossed her arms, her expression still skeptical. "Because I know you, Leo. You do things without thinking about how they might be perceived."

Nyx let out a mischievous chuckle. "Ooooh, so what I'm hearing is… Leo's a natural-born heartbreaker~"

Leo groaned. 

"That's not what I—"

Before he could finish, Horo clicked his tongue, still irritated by Luna's earlier comment.

 "And what do you mean 'trash like me'? What kind of baseless slander is that?"

Luna deadpanned. 

"You mean it's not true?"

Arachne's voice echoed in his mind, smug as ever as she laughed at him 

'Pfft~! The Little Bunny knows you well~'

Horo opened his mouth, then closed it, as if considering his words carefully while mentally telling Arachne to shut up. 

"That's beside the point."

Nyx burst into laughter again, clutching her stomach. 

"Oh man, you're actually self-aware! I didn't expect that!"

Lily, still nursing her poor ears, wiped a few tears from the corners of her eyes and nodded sagely. 

"Accepting yourself is the first step to growth, Horo."

Horo rolled his eyes. 

"You're all insufferable. Why am I even friends with you guys?"

"Cause we are all pretty? Though I don't think Leo can trust leaving his back to you though~" 

Nyx's teasing comment caused Luna and Lily to blush while Leo's and Horo's faces darkened in horror. 

"Nyx! You really need to learn when to shut up!" 

Horo snarled, his expression cramping as Arachne cackled madly inside his head. 

Sonata, who had been silent for a moment, giggled softly. The tension in her shoulders had completely melted away, and there was a warmth in her expression that wasn't there before.

"I think…" 

she murmured, looking between them all, 

"I like it here."

Leo put aside his annoyance with Nyx as he glanced at Sonata from the side, noticing the sincerity in her words. He didn't comment on it, but a small smile played on his lips.

"All in favor that Nyx has to gather the loot, raise your hand!" 

Luna proposed a vote to which everyone but Nyx and Sonata raised their hands. 

"Huh? What? Why me?" 

Nyx looked around confused as Sonata gingerly raised her hand in agreement as well, the vote was unanimous. 

"You're annoying?"

Luna's response was blunt, causing Nyx to place the back of her hand on her forehead and saying in an overly dramatic fashion. 

"Fine! I shall take my broken heart and hurt feelings with me to pick up the loot~!" 

"What a Drama Queen.." 

Horo grumbled softly but he noticed something about Leo and it seemed that Luna and Lily had noticed it as well.

"Sorry Sonata, could you keep a lookout for any more enemies that might be trying to approach us?" 

Horo's voice was soft as he asked Sonata to keep a lookout. In reality it was just an excuse to get her away from them for now. It seemed like Leo had something on his mind. 

Sonata nodded before she spread her wings once again and took to the skies. Seeing that both of their new party members were away and or occupied with a task, Luna crossed her arms in front of her. 

"So what's on your mind Leo that you didn't want to say in front of them?"

Leo took a deep breath before he sombrely spoke. 

"My Zodiac Bond Skill has deemed them as compatible…"

Lily's gaze grew sharper as she realized that this conversation wasn't just about him, it was about the future of their party.