Elise did not respond to Alfia's words. Although she knew about Alfia's circumstances, she was currently pretending not to know her. Saying too much would make it easy to expose herself.
Besides... what good would saying anything do?
Those who had already passed away would never return.
"Although I don't know what happened to you, at least... you're still alive, aren't you?"
"You still have to keep moving forward."
Alfia's emotions gradually calmed, and she released Elise's hand.
"You're right. Tha... thank you."
Although she had lost Meteria, Meteria had left her child behind. Alfia was no longer alone.
That was why Alfia thanked Elise, though for some reason, those two words seemed extremely difficult for her to say.
Perhaps it was because she had never thanked anyone in her entire life?
"Then allow me to explain some of the problems with your body. This may take quite a while. Is that all right?"
"It's fine. I wasn't planning to hurry back this time anyway. You can even explain it over several days."
"All right, then."
For a long while afterward, Elise explained the illness afflicting Alfia.
Alfia occasionally frowned and occasionally nodded, gradually gaining a much deeper understanding of her own condition.
"Although it can be treated, the process will take a very long time. A few years at minimum, several decades at most. Is that acceptable?"
"Hmph. Do you even need to ask?"
If the illness remained in her body, Alfia might not even survive another year or two. Now, she had the chance to live for decades longer. How could that possibly be anything but a gain?
"There's one more thing."
"During the period of recuperation, you cannot engage in intense battles. Otherwise, the problems within your body may worsen. When that happens, you may face far more than your current condition."
"I can't fight?"
Alfia frowned, immediately realizing the problem.
"Correct. Do you have any concerns?"
"No. I'm truly grateful for this. Consider it a favor I owe you."
"However, I have no intention of beginning treatment just yet."
Alfia's expression became serious. She had not forgotten why she had come to Orario this time!
"Could it be... that you still intend to keep fighting?"
"That's right!"
Alfia raised her head helplessly and looked toward the ceiling.
"After all, there's something extremely important I have to do!"
Alfia then glanced at the darkening sky beyond the window and continued, "It's getting late. Let's discuss the rest another time."
"Then it's settled. We'll talk again next time!"
"Oh, there's one more thing. The next time I come, I may bring a... fellow patient? I'll have to trouble you with his condition as well."
"Of course!"
The only person Alfia could call a fellow patient was Zald.
That was fine. Elise had already achieved her objective. When the time came, she would simply cure both of them together.
"Thank you for visiting. We look forward to seeing you again!"
...
Astraea Familia.
By the time Elise returned, all the Familia members had already gone to sleep. Only Astraea remained seated in the living room, waiting for Elise's return.
"Lady Astraea..."
"Elise..."
The human and goddess spoke almost simultaneously, and both froze the moment the words left their mouths.
"I have something to tell you."
"You go first!"
They exchanged smiles. Perhaps this was the tacit understanding they had developed over their long time together.
"You should go first. You're the patron goddess of the Familia, so whatever you have to say should take priority."
"Then I'll get straight to the point."
Astraea took a deep breath, and her expression became solemn.
"I want you to participate in a trial!"
"For the sake of the children of the lower world's future, a certain god specifically sought out members of the Zeus and Hera Familias from outside the city. He intends to use them to temper Orario's current adventurers."
"They're both extremely powerful Level 7s. Fighting them will undoubtedly grant you a tremendous amount of experience, as well as Great Feats."
Astraea knew that Elise had always been held back by her lack of Great Feats.
Although killing weak monsters could still grant her excelia, the amount was far too small. If she accumulated it little by little, who knew how many years it would take?
"The person they chose is you, Elise."
"After all, you've gained a great deal of fame in Orario over the past few years. They also want to see what kind of person you are."
"That's why I'm asking for your opinion. The decision is entirely yours. If you refuse, no person or god will force you."
After hearing Astraea's explanation, Elise finally began to understand what had happened.
That god is definitely Erebus!
As expected, just like in the novel's plot, he found Zald and Alfia.
But what Elise hadn't expected was for him to contact Astraea directly. He even claimed this was to help adventurers raise their abilities...
Was he no longer planning to carry out his Absolute Evil plan?
The plot has changed again... No, perhaps this is a chain reaction caused by me?
Because I displayed such overwhelming strength, Alfia and the others abandoned their original plan and decided to put me through a trial instead?
At the same time, this means the Seven Days of Death will never happen in the future. It's an unexpected development, yet also one that makes perfect sense.
"Those two couldn't possibly be Gluttony of the Zeus Familia and Silence of the Hera Familia, could they?"
Astraea froze upon hearing Elise's response, then immediately realized what had happened.
"You've met them?"
"Yes. An extremely powerful woman came to the shop today. Her features were remarkably similar to those of the former Silence..."
"No, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were exactly the same."
Elise then told Astraea about meeting Alfia that day, especially the matter of her congenital illness.
"If someone else had done such a thing, I would undoubtedly praise her properly as a goddess. But when it's you, I'm not surprised at all."
"You've already given us more than enough surprises."
Astraea smiled. Ever since meeting Elise, it was as though she had taken flight.
She had been in Orario for only a little over two years, yet she had already become the patron goddess of the strongest Familia.
Everything had progressed far too quickly!
"So, what is your decision, Elise?"
"Of course I'll do it. It would be a waste to turn down experience delivered straight to my doorstep!"
Elise agreed without hesitation. She was already Level 5, but just look at the Great Feats she had accomplished.
She had directly confronted a super-enhanced Ottar and had even absorbed a portion of Freya...
If Great Feats like those became public, they would undoubtedly shake the entire world!
If she wanted to advance from Level 5, the Great Feats required would probably be even more unimaginable!
Truthfully, Elise was slightly worried that the experience Zald and Alfia could provide might not be enough for her to level up...
"As expected, when I fight them, I'll need to give them some buffs, just like I did with Ottar..."
Ideally, she could temporarily suppress their illnesses and corrosion. That way, they could fight without restraint!
The experience she obtained would probably be even greater!
It's decided, then!
"When the time comes, they'll find a suitable location outside Orario to conduct the trial. It won't affect the city."
"That's everything I wanted to say. Elise, did you have something to tell me?"
"Yes. I also have something extremely important to say."
Now that Astraea had finished saying what she needed to say, it was Elise's turn.
"After this battle, I may have to leave Orario for a while."
"I plan to return to my homeland. It may take quite some time before I can come back, so I'll have to entrust everyone else with taking care of you!"
Elise had already spent more than two and a half years in the world of DanMachi.
This world had now become completely different from the original work, turning into an independent new world.
I wonder whether the Lord God Space allows parallel timelines of the same world to exist.
Still, there will undoubtedly be even more unknowns waiting for me in the future. I'll have to explore them myself.
Elise was not the only one having such a discussion. After returning to the inn, Alfia was similarly recounting the day's events to Erebus and Zald.
"I met that child. She is indeed quite impressive and possesses exceptional abilities."
"Oh? For her to receive such an evaluation from you, she must truly be capable."
Zald had lived with her in the countryside for so long that he understood Alfia's personality extremely well.
Receiving praise from her was genuinely more difficult than ascending to the heavens!
Even the Empress of the Hera Familia, who had once been Alfia's comrade, had rarely received any praise from her.
Are you joking?
You're a Level 9, yet you could only fight me, a Level 7, to a draw. How am I supposed to think highly of you?
Truthfully, as far as Zald could remember, even Bell, her younger sister's child, had only received her praise once.
That was when Bell had trained so hard that he passed out. Only then had Alfia softly praised him.
"Of course. My judgment is never wrong."
At this point, Alfia opened her eyes slightly and stared seriously at Zald.
"That's not all. I also asked her to examine my illness. She said she could cure it."
When she mentioned the illness, Alfia's lips paused slightly as the sensation of Elise examining her resurfaced in her mind.
I really... never want to experience that a second time!
"What?"
If Zald had only been mildly surprised before, he was now completely shocked.
Alfia's illness was extremely well known. As both a former opponent and an ally, Zald understood it better than most.
Alfia had once taken Meteria to countless healers, yet none of them had been able to cure her. In a certain sense, the illness was no different from a curse.
No matter how fiercely Alfia resisted, it continued to slowly steal away her life. Meteria's condition had been even more severe, and she had ultimately died from it.
"If my condition can be resolved, then she should also have a way to deal with the corrosion within your body."
Alfia took a deep breath, then looked seriously at the human and god before her.
"She possesses not only overwhelming strength, but also limitless potential. Combat, invention, healing... I can scarcely find any flaws in her whatsoever."
"She's almost excessively perfect."
Alfia looked at Erebus and Zald.
"What I saw in her was the possibility of the future!"
"If it's her, then perhaps she truly can accomplish what we failed to do back then..."
After saying this, Alfia fell silent. Erebus and Zald had clearly begun contemplating the implications of her words.
After a long while, Erebus' grave expression finally relaxed, and a bright smile appeared on his face.
"Fortunately, I didn't do anything unnecessary..."
"As expected, the children of the lower world truly are adorable!"
"Hahaha! Our years of waiting weren't in vain. This is wonderful!" Zald burst into hearty laughter.
"Since matters have already reached this point, we must do our best with what comes next. We can't allow all our previous efforts to go to waste!"
"I've already spoken with Astraea. Barring any unexpected developments, she probably won't refuse this trial."
"As her seniors, don't lose too easily! Otherwise, you won't have any dignity left."
Erebus was clearly in an excellent mood. He had even begun joking with them.
"Don't worry. We won't hold back. After all..."
"This is also for the sake of the future!"
...
Time passed one day at a time. Orario's adventurers continued as usual, killing monsters and collecting magic stones. None of them could have imagined that Orario's current strongest adventurer had already left the city.
At a god's invitation, she had gone to undertake a trial that would carry the future forward.
"Lady Astraea, where did the captain go?"
Many members of the Familia had not seen Elise for several days. Naturally, they had begun to realize something was wrong.
"Elise..."
"She's already left Orario. I suppose she's on her way home now?"
Astraea rubbed her palm. Out of trust in Elise, the goddess had not asked any unnecessary questions.
Even so, she still had some doubts. Before departing, Elise had collected a small amount of Astraea's blood.
Although the wound had healed almost immediately and she felt no physical discomfort, Astraea had noticed something...
Elise looked rather reluctant to leave. Does that mean we won't see each other again for a very long time?
No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that she won't be able to see us for a very long time.
Although Elise had said nothing, Astraea could still guess a little about her origins...
"No matter what, you are still a member of my Familia."
"I'll be here, waiting for you to return!"