As the short sword in the elven maiden's hand suddenly fell to the ground, making a crisp sound.
Isagi finally got the chance to turn around and face her directly.
Her original long golden hair had been cut straight off with a knife, turning into messy, ear-length short hair. It clearly hadn't been cared for at all, looking as disheveled as a stray kitten that never groomed itself.
She wore black tight-fitting leather armor, bloomers that allowed for easy movement, as well as similarly dark gloves and cloth shoes. The neckline of her clothes even featured a mesh structure for breathability.
Ryuu's current getup was truly very Ninja.
Especially that black mask, and the red scarf wrapped around her neck, fluttering in the night breeze.
Isagi sized up this senior with considerable curiosity, discovering that she wasn't particularly tall—at most around 1.6 meters, which was considered on the shorter side for an elf.
Watching the boy put his clothes back on.
At this moment, Ryuu's expression seemed frozen; her face was filled with disbelief. If not for the Goddess's prior letter, there was a high probability she would have turned and fled right then and there, leaving this place.
Just as she felt completely unable to face Goddess Astrea right now, she had never even considered the matter of a junior in the Familia, nor did she know what kind of expression she should make at a time like this.
However, Isagi's appearance allowed her to guess something.
"Has Lady Goddess returned to Orario?"
In the previous letter, Goddess Astrea had not explained this matter.
"Yeah."
Not only had she returned, but Familia activities had already been underway for some time.
The boy's answer landed heavily in Ryuu's heart; it was the thing she was least willing to face.
She had once begged the Goddess to leave no matter what. The reason was not just that she, deeply mired in the flames of vengeful wrath, could no longer shoulder the heavy responsibility of Familia activities, meaning the Astrea Familia of that time existed in name only.
More importantly, Ryuu didn't want anyone to stop her. If Lady Goddess was still in Orario, she wouldn't be able to focus wholeheartedly on her revenge like this.
Not long ago.
The Goddess had entrusted the Hermes Familia to deliver a letter to her.
The letter mentioned that after leaving Orario, she traveled to various places, eventually going to the city of swordsmithing, Solingen. There, she took in new Familia children, built a wooden cabin in the forests outside the city, grew vegetables and fruit, hunted, fished, and trained together.
Both Isagi and Cecil's names were mentioned in the letter. The Goddess even complained slightly, saying that both of them were fellows who "didn't know what justice was"...
Ryuu was initially shocked by this.
But seeing the words describing a brand-new life between the lines of the Goddess's letter, she felt this was for the best.
It was just that she didn't know how to reply to the Goddess herself, because her own life right now consisted only of endless revenge and slaughter.
Should she write these things in a letter and send it to the Goddess?
Ryuu hesitated for a long time before she could move her pen, so she could only write about some insignificant topics.
Because she didn't dare mention herself, the topic could only steer as much as possible toward Lady Goddess and the two new Familia juniors—Cecil and Isagi.
The content of that letter was absolutely terrible.
It also completely demonstrated her current predicament: she was a fellow with no past, no present, and certainly no future to speak of.
So...
"Lady Goddess asked me to give this letter to you."
Isagi took a page of stationery from his chest, still using that relaxed tone.
As he had originally thought, finding Ryuu wasn't difficult. The Hermes Familia still maintained a certain connection with her; even some clues about the Dark Familias were provided to the elven maiden by them.
So.
After learning that Ryuu's target for tonight was here, Isagi made all preparations in advance and then came directly over.
Facing the hand the boy extended and that sheet of paper, Ryuu hesitated for a moment, but ultimately accepted it. After opening it, the content was very brief.
[Please let Isagi participate in your revenge, Ryuu.]
Surely considering that the elven maiden wouldn't understand what this meant at all, Goddess Astrea continued to explain.
[You are a clumsy child who can never find the answer to a problem on your own, but it doesn't matter, because you are eager to learn. Perhaps, from Isagi, you might also be able to sense a new justice.]
[And.]
[That child is also a headache of a fellow. Can I ask you to help take care of him, Ryuu?]
Regarding the content of the letter, Ryuu had no doubts; this was Lady Goddess's handwriting. But what she couldn't understand was, why... why did Isagi want to participate in her revenge?
Did that have anything to do with the boy?
Indeed, it had nothing to do with him.
Isagi's goal had actually always been very simple: to get Ryuu to go back and face Lady Goddess face-to-face to untie the knot in her heart. To use the old saying, 'he who tied the bell must untie it.' Only when Goddess Astrea rallied her forces could the Familia begin to develop again.
As for why he ran over to join the revenge, that was naturally because—
"Ryuu-senpai, your efficiency is too slow."
"Hah?!"
"Because you've already stopped thinking!"
"Ugh!!"
"To punish evil, one must punish the head!"
Isagi began a rather professional critique.
"In short, doing anything without using your brain is definitely a no-go! First, we must distinguish what is a secondary enemy and what is a primary enemy. The primary enemy must be eliminated, while the secondary enemy is..."
"..."
Facing Isagi's sudden long-winded speech, Ryuu seemed to understand a little why Lady Goddess would evaluate the boy as a "headache of a fellow."
And.
The boy's merciless words reminded her even more of her deceased friend.
Kaguya, is that you?
The elven maiden almost subconsciously placed her hand on the kodachi hanging at the back of her waist, the precious memento her friend had entrusted to her before dying.
...
The same night.
Two hours later, in the early morning hours before the morning sun rose, Isagi and Ryuu arrived at a mansion located in a remote area within Orario city.
The style of the residence was obviously in the manner of the Far East.
It occupied a considerable area, with corridors connecting the gardens and various buildings. Paper lanterns burned with orange light under the night, and quite a few adventurers could be seen patrolling inside and outside the house. Among them were many warriors whose dress was obviously in the Far East style—wearing kimonos with long swords at their waists, their eyes sharp and determined.
This was the place where the president of the merchant guild dormitory, which Ryuu had destroyed a few hours ago, resided.
According to the elven maiden's intelligence.
The merchants here engaged in human smuggling all year round and had many unclear and entangled relationships with Orario's Pleasure Quarter.
Isagi was not surprised by this at all.
Although he hadn't been in the city for long, he could imagine that such a large city definitely had its "dark side."
Smuggling.
That was one of the most booming gray businesses in Orario.
Not just Magic Stones and various monster materials—those "specialties" that could only be obtained in large quantities in Orario's Dungeon.
Various items manufactured based on Magic Stone technology were also in high demand all over the world.
There were also many things that Familia deities personally participated in producing, such as alcohol, fruits and vegetables, clothes... even cultivated ornamental pets, flowers, and plants.
As long as a "Deity's" name was attached, they could sell for high prices in other countries outside the city.
This is what is called value due to scarcity.
And among these numerous smuggling businesses, human smuggling was the trade that made the most money.
Adventurers with potential, beautiful women needed by the Pleasure Quarter, and... replenishing new members for Dark Familias.
From afar.
Standing on top of a certain building overlooking the mansion not far away, Isagi could feel the thick killing intent from the elven maiden beside him.
"Is Ryuu-senpai sure that they are collaborating with the Rudra Familia?"
"..."
No... not certain.
In fact, she had only investigated that this merchant guild was indeed in contact with a Dark Familia, but while there weren't many Dark Familias left in Orario nowadays, there was definitely more than just Rudra.
"Then listen to me."
Isagi could already sense that what Ryuu was thinking about now was how to kill everyone in the house.
That's why he said this was inefficient!
"We're not killing our way in?"
"No killing."
Facing the elven maiden's incredibly confused gaze, Isagi was also very firm.
"Then what do we do?"
"Of course we infiltrate. Do you understand what a Ninja is? Tonight is a stealth operation!"
Speaking, he had already equipped his Shinobi Prosthetic.
"Anyway, we agreed that Ryuu-senpai would listen to me tonight."
"..."
Speaking of this, Ryuu regretted telling Isagi on the way over that she hadn't found a single trace of the Rudra Familia in the past year.
It wasn't that she hadn't found anything.
Mainly...
People were killed, and the clues were cut off.
Actually, this kind of revenge by the elven maiden was the most inefficient; killing one upon finding one, and then trying to search further based on their interpersonal relationships—wouldn't that naturally lead to many clues disappearing directly?
So!
On the way, Isagi once again severely criticized his senior's "combat policy and mindset," believing it must be corrected immediately to avoid going further and further down the wrong path!
"Senpai wants to find the Rudra Familia as soon as possible to take revenge, right?"
"..."
Indeed, that was correct, because no matter what, she could not forgive that Familia, and Jura!!!
"Then listen to me."
The words Isagi spoke didn't sound like a junior at all, but as it happened, Ryuu could see the shadow of her late friend in the boy's forceful words.
Kaguya was just like that, always thinking Ryuu was a naive, good-for-nothing elf and laughing at her.
Thinking of this.
Ryuu even felt a headache for the first time in a long while. On the way here, the two had also chatted about other things.
For example.
Why Isagi brought the Goddess and the others to Orario.
The elven maiden originally thought the boy's answer would be the same as most people—a longing for the center of the world, wanting to become a great adventurer, harboring the yearning for distance and legends peculiar to young people...
She used to be like that too, which was why she came to Orario, although as soon as she arrived in the city, she was almost abducted by human traffickers; fortunately, she met Alise at that time.
However, Isagi's answer took Ryuu by surprise.
"No matter what kind of justice it is, the premise is to possess sufficient power."
"So."
"I want to make the Astrea Familia the strongest in the city."
[Don't think that with just our little bit of strength, we can save everyone.]
[Justice needs power.]
Those were indeed words Kaguya would say...
But just when Ryuu had finally felt somewhat sentimental and more or less agreed with Isagi's words, the boy's next words were shocking.
"Punch the Loki Familia, kick the Freya Familia. When that time comes, it doesn't matter what [Justice] is; Senpai and everyone can realize whatever kind of justice you want!"
What blasphemy!
What did he mean by "it doesn't matter what [Justice] is"?! And to challenge Loki and Freya Familia to become the strongest in the city?!
When she heard Isagi say such incredibly "Chuunibyou" words with a straight face.
Ryuu's expression was exactly the same as when Goddess Astrea first heard this "grand ambition" of the boy—
0口0?
[What is this Level 2 guy spouting?]
Ryuu remained silent, wondering where on earth the Lady Goddess had found this kind of person during her time away from the city.
___
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