A few days after driving Loki away, Roy led Daphne and Cassandra to the Guild. Lyu had heard rumors of Dark Sect activity on Daedalus Street and had rushed off with her wooden sword to "clean up." With her Level 5 strength, Roy wasn't worried about her.
The moment they entered the Guild, they heard the heated discussion about the Freya Familia being forced into a deep-floor expedition. Roy's lips curled into a tiny, unnoticed smirk. The Guild and Freya hadn't officially broken ties; the punishment was disguised as an "Expedition Mission."
The 60th floor was officially "Unknown," though Zeus and Hera had reached the 71st. Still, the 60th floor was a nightmare that would keep the Freya Familia "entertained" for a long time. They wouldn't have time to bother Roy for at least four or five months.
Furthermore, Freya was busy being hounded by other Gods now that her "Syr" mask was gone. Her rival, Ishtar, was having the time of her life mocking her. With Ishtar drawing all the aggro, Roy felt his own involvement had been successfully buried.
This is just the interest on the debt, Roy thought coldly. Sooner or later, I'll wipe out the entire Freya Familia. Blood for blood.
At the counter, Roy saw Eina surrounded by a crowd. Though the mission was called an expedition, the public knew it was a penalty. Adventurers who had been harmed by the Sirens or the Daedalus Street battle were there to thank her. Eina's "heroic stand" against Royman on the second floor had already become a legend. She was the hero of justice who refused to bow to power.
Roy, however, frowned. Under the glory lay danger. Royman was using Eina as a lightning rod. The Freya Familia's resentment would be aimed squarely at her. A single Level 2 assassin could make her "suicide" with multiple stabs to the back.
Of course, Roy was the one who put her in this position by planting the clues in the report. But unlike Royman, Roy intended to protect her.
Eina's eyes lit up when she saw Roy. She pushed through the crowd. "Roy-san, good morning!"
"Good morning," Roy smiled.
Eina pulled him into a corner and whispered seriously, "Roy-san, you must be very careful of the Freya Familia from now on."
Roy's eyes were wide and "innocent." "What do you mean?"
Eina sighed. Roy-san is too kind and naive; he doesn't even know he was targeted. She explained her theory about the Sirens being a trap for his Familia.
"What?!" Roy controlled every muscle in his face to show shock, confusion, and grief. He played the role of a boy who had just discovered a dark truth to perfection. "Why would the strongest Familia target a weak group like us?"
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Danmachi : Starting with an Elf (342 Chapters – Ongoing)
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Anyone else would have spat blood hearing that. A group with a Level 5, a peak Level 3, and two Level 2s? What "weak" Familia had that kind of roster?
"I don't know, but please stay safe," Eina said, her voice trembling slightly. She didn't want to see him die. She bit her lip, her eyes reflecting Roy's handsome face.
"Thank you, Eina-san. I'll be careful," Roy said with genuine warmth.
Eina smiled, then noticed his gear. "Are you heading to the Dungeon?"
"Yes," Roy nodded. He wanted to test the waters. If Freya still suspected him, she'd have people watching him.
Eina hesitated. "Roy-san... could I ask a favor?"
"Is there something I can help with?"
"I shouldn't trouble you, but..."
Roy smiled gently. "It's fine. Just as the Guild looks after new adventurers, high-level adventurers should look after new Guild staff. We should help each other."
Eina was moved, her eyes growing misty. "Roy-san... you're so sweet. I wonder how many girls you'll trick with those words in the future."
...Me? Trick girls? Roy was speechless. He rarely flirted—except maybe with a certain Elven girl he found irresistible.
"Roy-san, that girl over there is the first rookie adventurer I've taken on. Could you look after her?" Eina pointed to a nervous human girl in the corner. She looked about fourteen or fifteen, wearing standard rookie gear.
"Sure," Roy agreed. He was just killing time today anyway to see if anyone followed him.
"Thank you!" Eina said. The survival rate for a rookie's first trip was only 50%. She didn't want her first charge to die on day one.