"That was so easy!"
Lefiya couldn't help but freeze for a moment, wondering if that was really all it took.
She thought perhaps the other party's Familia was relatively small, or maybe their deity was a "rookie" god who had just arrived in Orario?
But it didn't matter.
Although the Elf girl had previously wanted to join the Loki Familia, that was merely due to her reverence and yearning for the "City's Strongest."
However, for the Lefiya of this moment, Isagi possessed something indescribable—something she did not have.
Compared to those ethereal stories and legends, the incredibly concrete figure of the young boy she had witnessed with her own eyes in the Dungeon today felt far more "unforgettable" to Lefiya.
[She wanted to become someone like him.]
This was the Elf girl's incredibly firm conviction at this very moment!
Furthermore, upon learning that the Familia to which Isagi and Cecil belonged was actually that of the Goddess of Justice and the Stars—
"Astre... Mmph!!!"
Lefiya, who had nearly shouted out loud, had her mouth immediately covered by both Isagi and Cecil.
"Shh!"
The boy and the girl synchronized their gestures, signaling for her to be quiet.
Subsequently.
Only then did they quietly inform Lefiya that the current Astrea Familia had returned to Orario in secret, and that she absolutely must not spread the word.
The Elf girl's face flushed red.
Born in the Forest of Wishe, she did not share the taboo of loathing the touch of others common to her Elven kin.
But suddenly having her mouth covered by a strange boy was still embarrassing!
"Low profile. We need to keep a low profile."
"Oh..."
Lefiya could somewhat understand this; after all, such a tragedy had occurred in the past, and there was also the current situation regarding [Gale].
The girl's guess was indeed correct; as expected of an honor student from the School District.
Isagi and Cecil were well aware that keeping a low profile and hiding their identities in Orario was a necessity for the Familia right now.
Firstly.
Ryuu was still continuing her revenge and assassinating those connected to the Dark Familia. Naturally, she had many enemies.
While they could do little against the Goddess herself, they might come after Cecil and himself, who belonged to the same Familia.
Although during the [Nightmare on the 27th Floor] incident, the Captain of the Loki Familia—Finn Deimne, known as the [Braver]—had keenly perceived the Dark Familia's opening.
He did not choose to head to the Dungeon for a rescue immediately, which would have meant jumping into their set trap and being led by the nose.
Instead, he did the opposite, directly raiding the Dark Familia's headquarters at the time and sending numerous enemy gods back to the Heavens.
Once a god leaves the lower world, the Falna granted to mortals becomes invalid, causing adventurers to instantly lose their supernatural power and become ordinary people.
This caused the enemy's subsequent plans in the Dungeon to fail directly, falling short of success.
Following this, the strength of the Dark Familia side was greatly diminished, and they went completely into hiding.
However, even their remaining power was enough to lead to the destruction of the Astrea Familia...
...
In short, while the current Dark Familia might not be able to cause a huge commotion in the city, finding people to deal with low-level adventurers like himself and Cecil would be no problem.
Therefore, for safety's sake, hiding their identities and acting low-key was extremely necessary.
Secondly.
It was due to the Goddess herself.
Although this was just Isagi's conjecture, Astrea had never hidden her emotions, nor was she good at doing so.
So, whether it was himself or Cecil, they could both feel her sorrow.
Even though she had returned to Orario, the Goddess was still not ready to restart managing the Familia.
Like Ryuu, Astrea had not yet walked out of that soul-blackening night.
That was a prison of their own making, unique to them.
Isagi only explained the first reason to Lefiya.
As for the latter, the Elf girl could sense it to some extent, so he stopped there.
Regarding the boy's words.
Lefiya didn't doubt them one bit.
There was no need for him to make up lies about Goddess Astrea leaving the city a year ago and now returning.
Mainly because it was meaningless.
Due to her internship, she needed to go back and inform Lord Baldr.
When that time came, the God would naturally go to speak with the Goddess herself about the matter.
Therefore, Lefiya's mood became even more excited instead.
This was the Astrea Familia!
In the era of the [Great Feud] three years ago, the brightest shining star in the fight against the Dark Familia!!
If that incident hadn't happened, the current Astrea Familia would likely be one of the strongest Familias in the city, on par with Loki, Freya, and Ganesha.
Not only that.
The justice and order represented by Goddess Astrea herself, as well as the symbol of hope embodied by the stars, deeply touched the kind girl's heart.
A Familia is a group formed by the children gathered around a god.
Because of the gods' myriad strange personalities, a Familia will naturally exhibit certain shared traits.
Perhaps everyone has different personalities, completely opposite goals, or views on the world, and maybe there are even conflicts between them, but the underlying color certainly aligns highly with the god themselves.
Just like the Freya Familia's supreme reverence for the Goddess of Beauty, where everything revolves around the Goddess's will;
The Ganesha Familia protects people's smiles, happiness, and homes, thus always serving as the city's guards and upholders of order;
The Loki Familia's quest for the unknown and change, and the mission derived from it, namely the [World's Desire];
Completing the Three Great Quests, constantly conquering the Dungeon until the distant [Deepest Level], and unraveling all the mysteries of the Dungeon.
In Orario.
The reasons most people become adventurers are very simple and crude.
Fame, wealth, power...
And among these many reasons, the "Justice" pursued by the Astrea Familia instantly struck the girl's heart.
Lefiya even thought that after she went back, she would have to properly ponder the profound question of [What is Justice?] immediately!!
The girl's thought wasn't wrong.
In the former Astrea Familia, everyone often held discussions with "Justice" as the topic.
But the past is the past, and the present is the present.
In the current Astrea Familia, whether it was Captain Cecil or Vice-Captain Isagi, regarding the question [What is Justice?]...
They were completely clueless.
Cecil's reason for joining the Familia was simply to prove to her family that she could also become the most excellent blacksmith!
For the girl born into the Blackliza family, a massive forging clan in the City of Swordsmithing, her reason was just that simple and straightforward.
Entering the Astrea Familia was also an accident; the girl had originally wanted to join the renowned, largest forging Familia in Orario, the Hephaestus Familia.
But it seemed that due to her family's obstruction, she couldn't make the trip.
In the end, she ran away from home in a fit of pique.
Coincidentally, Goddess Astrea arrived in Solingen and quelled the conflict between the Spirits and the city at the time, becoming a deity admired by all.
So Cecil ran over crying and begged the Goddess to let her join the Familia.
It wasn't for justice, nor out of love for the Goddess, but simply because she wanted to become an adventurer, level up to Lv. 2, and obtain the [Blacksmith] Development Ability.
Then forge incredibly powerful weapons and equipment, go back and "face-slap like a Dragon King" (as Isagi described it) her father and brothers at home.
That was all.
So.
If you were to ask Cecil what "Justice" is?
That guy would probably scratch her head and hem and haw for ages, her little mouth babbling for a while, and then be unable to say anything.
If the current Captain of the Astrea Familia was like this, then there was even less need to mention Isagi, the Vice-Captain.
The boy had joined the Astrea Familia back then simply because he had nowhere to go just after transmigrating, and because he thought adventurers were interesting.
If asked what "Justice" is?
[I don't know.]
This was Isagi's immediate answer back then.
[I've never thought about that question.]
As for why he wanted to become an adventurer and liked going to the Dungeon?
"Sometimes I feel very bored."
So.
"I just like fighting."
___
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