Roy stared at the contract with a burning gaze. Stacking a teammate's stats, abilities, and even skills? This was absurdly powerful. He couldn't wait to find a "lucky winner" to sign it.
At dusk, the members of the Astraea Familia returned: Lady Astraea with fresh groceries, Daphne and Cassandra from their training, and Lyu, fresh from assassinating members of the Dark Sects.
"Welcome back, Roy-san!" they called out happily.
"Sorry, it's Lyu-san and my turn to cook today," Roy apologized. They took turns with chores, and since he had been away in the Land of Waves for nearly a week, he felt a bit guilty.
After bathing to wash away the scent of blood, Lyu entered the kitchen in a white apron, looking very much like a dedicated housewife. Though her actual cooking skills were lacking, she was a master assistant—handling the washing, peeling, and chopping with elven precision. Roy handled the seasoning and the stove.
"Pass me the salt. How many did you get?" Roy asked as he worked on salt-and-pepper ribs.
Lyu tossed him the small bottle without looking. "Three merchant guilds and one mercenary group."
Roy caught the bottle behind his back as if he had eyes in his head. He frowned. "You didn't take out any Guild officials, did you?"
"Of course not!" Lyu huffed. Was she some sort of mindless killer? She only targeted confirmed members or collaborators of the Dark Sects after a thorough investigation.
"Good." Roy felt a wave of relief. In the original timeline, Lyu had gone on a rampage and killed Guild staff, resulting in her 80-million Valis bounty. If not for that, the Guild wouldn't have bothered putting a price on a top-tier Level 4. It seemed his and Astraea's "salvation" mission was working.
"By the way, come to my room after dinner. I have something to discuss," Roy said. Lyu hesitated—a remnant of her elven fastidiousness—but then nodded. It was a sign of her absolute trust in him. Plus, Roy's room was often cleaner than hers; she actually found it quite comfortable.
Daphne and Cassandra sat in the hall, maintaining their gear. They watched the two in the kitchen. Roy and Lyu didn't even need to speak; they moved in such perfect harmony that it felt like they were sharing a single mind.
A cooking session shouldn't look this perfect, Daphne thought, feeling a sting of defeat. They definitely have something going on!!
Half an hour later, the table was covered in Chinese delicacies. Roy was the only one who knew how to cook this way; usually, they survived on bread and soup. The aroma was intoxicating. Astraea Familia was small, but it felt like a warm, tight-knit family.
Roy looked at Astraea. He thought about the contract. If she could sign it, he'd become a god-slaying war machine instantly. But he dismissed the thought. Signing a contract with a deity whose powers were sealed was useless. Even if she could unseal them, the Goddess of Justice wouldn't help him "cheat" at the game of the lower world.
His choice had to be his Elven girl.
Knock, knock.
"Come in," Roy said. Lyu entered, feeling at ease in the simple, tidy room. Roy produced the parchment. "Take a look at this. If you're okay with it, sign here."
Lyu scanned the contract, her blue eyes widening in shock. Stacking stats, abilities, and skills onto one person?
"Is this real?" she whispered. Roy nodded. "Are you sure you want to sign this with me?" Lyu asked. According to the contract, power could only be shared if the other party agreed. It required absolute trust.
"Lyu-san, I trust you completely," Roy said, his eyes clear and sincere.
Lyu bit her lip and looked at the floor. She, who had once tried to discard "Justice," felt she didn't deserve such trust. But the hope of reviving her Familia and the bond they shared won out. She signed. The parchment instantly self-combusted, leaving no trace. A tether formed between their souls; they could feel each other's presence clearly.
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Danmachi : Starting with an Elf (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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