The simplest and most convenient way for adventurers to earn money was undoubtedly to enter the Dungeon. Magic Stones acquired from killing monsters, rare materials found, and even monster drops could bring in a fortune.
With a 60 million Valis debt looming over their heads,
The three quickly determined the Familia's development strategy: Earn money, earn money, and still earn money!
Ryuu hurriedly returned to her room, checking her equipment and preparing to enter the Dungeon. She couldn't wait another moment and planned to start work tomorrow!
Only Roy and Goddess Astrea remained in the spacious, bright hall, looking at each other.
A knowing smile appeared on Roy's lips. "Goddess, you did this on purpose, didn't you?"
"I don't know what you are talking about."
Goddess Astrea smiled faintly, her phoenix eyes narrowed into beautiful, crescent moons.
But facing Roy's direct gaze, Goddess Astrea ultimately backed down.
Goddess Astrea smiled. "Under those circumstances, there really was no other choice."
"You are truly something, Goddess!"
Roy looked surprised, sighing with emphasis on the last word. He had also been manipulated.
If Astrea had initially convinced Ryuu to let go of her hatred, the pain of her Familia's demise and the guilt of casting Magic on her dearest friend would have crushed Ryuu, potentially leading her to take her own life.
Goddess Astrea saw through this, understanding it even better than the person involved (Ryuu).
She had already prepared to violate her own domain of "Justice" just to protect Ryuu.
Roy's appearance changed everything. After wiping out the Rudra Familia, carrying a small hope of reviving the others, Ryuu's mental state had slightly rebounded.
But more importantly, what to do next?
If handled improperly, the elven girl would once again fall back into the abyss of hatred, blood, and tears.
Simply put, she needed to give Ryuu something to do to keep her mind off vengeance.
Vengeance was only a part of life. Life was not just about vengeance; it also held poetry and distant horizons...
As for Roy, he had a new understanding of the "deity" species. It was likely that the moment he approached her, through just a few words of conversation, Goddess Astrea had already seen through his plan and abilities.
She might have even predicted the outcome.
Astrea let events unfold naturally, achieving her own goal in the process.
Feeling a bit used, Roy muttered unhappily to himself, "That ancient monster who's lived for hundreds of millions of years!"
"It sounds like you are thinking something rude," Goddess Astrea smiled sweetly, her delicate body suddenly moving forward, her exquisite face close to Roy.
Looking at her perfect face so close—a face crafted by the genesis of heaven and earth—and with her faint fragrance surrounding his nose, Roy couldn't help but feel his mind racing.
Roy clenched his jaw, shaking his head like a rattle. "No, absolutely not!"
"Lying is not the mark of a good child." The smile on Goddess Astrea's face looked even sweeter. Only Roy knew the danger hidden within.
Roy slapped his forehead. Damn the honey trap! It made me subconsciously forget this point.
Not only was she brilliant, but she could also detect lies. Anyone who tried to outwit these Gods must have lost their mind.
Fortunately, their goals were the same!
Roy and Astrea exchanged a knowing smile.
Saving the elven girl caught in the spiral of hatred—in this great endeavor, Goddess Astrea and Roy were aligned: You treat the symptoms, I treat the root cause. Working together, they would secure the specimen...
"Don't keep playing games like this, or I'll quit the Familia and run away!" Roy joked.
"No, you won't!"
Goddess Astrea asserted confidently. To operate in Orario, one needed the name of a Familia.
And among all the Familia in Orario, none was better suited for Roy than the Astrea Familia.
They were few in number, allowed high freedom, and both Goddess Astrea and Ryuu had no intention of probing his secrets.
If she really let him leave, he wouldn't be happy about it.
The next day.
Roy woke up slowly, yawning. He had spent the entire night discussing with Goddess Astrea how to better save (and woo) the elven girl.
The two grew more and more excited as they talked, almost until daybreak.
After leveling up to LV.2, Roy could guarantee a full day of energy after only five or six hours of sleep.
A fully-armed Ryuu appeared at the doorway.
Roy put on his equipment—the Muramasa—and tied a gray gauntlet (the Steel Gauntlet) onto his left forearm. It was the highest-grade piece of equipment he had acquired.
Rewards obtained from the system remained stored inside unless Roy explicitly extracted them.
Roy used it entirely as a storage space, only extracting items when needed. Items like potions could be taken out and used instantly, eliminating the worry of them being damaged in combat, which was extremely convenient.
The two left the Star Garden and walked toward the Babel Tower.
Ryuu pursed her lips and said ominously, "This matter originally had nothing to do with you."
Roy laughed. "It's about reciprocating the favor. You helped me hunt monsters, and now it's my turn to help you."
Hearing Roy intentionally blurring the distinction between the two matters, Ryuu's beautiful brows furrowed.
"Don't forget our agreement!"
"That's a separate matter."
Facing the elven girl's aggressive gaze, Roy remained unfazed. "It's all the same. No difference."
Ryuu stopped walking. A complex look swept over Roy's entire body, finally settling into a soft sigh.
A moment later, the two arrived at the Babel Plaza.
The news of their clash with the Apollo Familia last night, where Ryuu brutally beat Hyakinthos, had already spread across half of Orario. The awe in the eyes of the surrounding adventurers was palpable.
They had previously thought the Astrea Familia was finished, with the lone Gale being merely a beast that had lost its fangs.
Now it seemed her fangs had not only been preserved but were likely sharpened further.
And there was a new LV.2 newcomer in his mid-teens, showing signs of rising from the ashes.
Compared to the cold-faced Ryuu,
Roy appeared approachable, wearing a kind smile, and even greeting acquaintances like members of the Ganesha Familia and the novice LV.1 adventurers he had previously taken advantage of…
But what appeared harmless was often the most terrifying.
The adventurers with ill intentions were just as wary of Roy as they were of the LV.4 Ryuu.
The conflict between the two Familia the previous night was instigated by Roy. The fact that he even dared to face two or three dozen members of the Apollo Familia alone and land an elbow strike on the LV.3 Hyakinthos suggested an unfathomable depth.
If Ryuu was a sharp, unsheathed sword, Roy's sword was still in its scabbard. No one knew if it was a Divine Sword or useless scrap metal. This fear of the unknown lingered over their heads.
Entering the Babel Tower, Roy was about to head down.
Ryuu's small, jade-white hand pinched his sleeve. She said, "Not down. We're going up."