When the training ended, Ryuu kindly cast Noah Heal on Roy's bitten tongue. The nerves in the tongue seemed linked to the tear ducts; the sharp pain made Roy's eyes water uncontrollably.
"Pfft!" Ryuu's shoulders shook.
Roy glared at her. "You just laughed, didn't you?"
Ryuu's face returned to a stoic calm. "No. I just remembered something happy."
Roy's face darkened. You're pushing it...
They returned to the house for dinner. The addition of Daphne and Cassandra had turned the once-cold Starry Court into a lively home. More importantly, the sense of despair that followed the Familia's near-destruction had vanished. This was the benefit of "new blood." Even the usually silent Ryuu chimed in once or twice.
Though their strength was diminished, the Astraea Familia now radiated hope.
During the meal, Roy shared his adventures but omitted details about the mysterious cave and Elven Kingship. Daphne and Cassandra listened with sparkling eyes, mesmerized by his tales. Ryuu ate quietly, only frowning when Roy mentioned a dangerous moment.
Goddess Astraea smiled like a loving mother watching her family. Meanwhile, Roy kept a close eye on her expression. When he mentioned the "silver-haired, blood-eyed Goddess," a strange glint flashed in Astraea's eyes.
"Lady Astraea, which Goddess fits that description?" Daphne asked on Roy's behalf.
Astraea's gaze turned nostalgic as she looked at Roy. "Based on your description, that Goddess must be Hera."
I knew it, Roy thought.
Astraea briefly recounted the history of the Hera and Zeus Familias, who had failed to slay the Black Dragon ten years ago. Their main forces were wiped out, and the survivors were eventually driven out of Orario by the Freya and Loki Familias.
It was a tragic story. No wonder Hera wanted Roy to destroy Freya and Loki's factions. It was a bold request, considering Roy was still a newcomer. If a Level 2 Roy tried to cause trouble for those two titans, he'd be cut down in seconds. But such a request wasn't surprising coming from Hera—Loki once described her as the "most powerful, most evil, and most cruel" goddess.
The next day, Roy headed to the Guild headquarters to speak with Royman about the expedition.
As he walked through the streets, he drew more attention than ever. Being a super-rookie who just annihilated the Rudra remnants made him the talk of the town. Thanks to the Ganesha Familia's suggestive storytelling, the public had imagined a hundred-episode drama about Roy's heroic infiltration. Some versions even claimed he wiped out tens of thousands of villains with a flick of his wrist. Roy wanted to laugh; if he were that capable, he'd have kicked the Black Dragon's teeth in already.
At the Guild, he saw Eina and Misha undergoing training. Their supervisor was Remer, who had been promoted to "Section Chief" due to his high stress tolerance.
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Starting with an Elf (232 Chapters, Ongoing)
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"Mr. Roy!" Eina and Misha called out, their faces brightening. They were in their new Guild uniforms—sleek, professional, and fitting. Eina blushed as she noticed Roy looking her over.
"Roy..." Unlike the girls, Remer jumped in fright, his glasses slipping down his nose. "What are you doing here now?"
"Not here for you today. I'm here for your boss," Roy said, gesturing toward the second floor.
Remer didn't dare refuse and scurried upstairs to get the Chairman. This "troublemaker" caused a crisis every time he appeared; it was better to let the thick-skinned Chairman handle him.
In the meeting room, Royman didn't look surprised. Roy placed the documents on the desk and got straight to the point. "Chairman Royman, the Astraea Familia just suffered a major loss. Sending us on an expedition now is inappropriate."
"Hmph!" Royman snorted. "Exploration Familias must enter the Dungeon. Everyone does it. Why should you be an exception?"
"This quest was issued based on your Familia's current strength," Royman added. "We aren't asking you to go to the Deep Floors. With your current lineup, the 24th Floor isn't that risky."
"That's not how it works," Roy shook his head. "We have two Level 1 rookies. Their risk of death is immense. We need an extension."
"Impossible!" Royman interrupted sharply.
The room fell into a dead silence. After a few seconds, Roy smiled—a smile that made Royman feel a chill. Roy leaned in, placing a hand on the Chairman's broad shoulder, and lowered his voice.
"Chairman... the Rudra Familia is gone. The only ones who know about the Juggernaut are us. Do you want us to die in the Dungeon so that the secret dies with us?"