Filvis Challia, who had been fighting Genichi, suddenly shuddered from head to toe. In the next instant, the way she looked at him filled with rage and killing intent.
That anger was no longer a faint ripple mixed into hollow numbness. It was fury like a volcanic eruption.
Her body began to tremble. Her already pale face turned even whiter, and bloodshot veins even surfaced in her eyes.
"What did you do?!"
Her voice was sharp and shaking, filled with disbelief and deep hatred.
Genichi looked at her, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile.
"Oh? Looks like it worked. I just wanted to know something. If Dionysus was sent back to the heavens, would your Status be sealed too?"
Filvis's pupils contracted violently.
Sent back to the heavens?
Lord Dionysus had been sent back to the heavens?
In that very instant just now, she had felt it: her bond with her patron god, the Falna that granted her power, was rapidly fading away.
Although her body had already been transformed into a monster and still retained a portion of its strength, without the reinforcement of Falna, her power was plummeting.
"I'll kill you. I'm going to kill you!"
Filvis screamed and attacked Genichi again.
Her speed was still fast, but it had clearly dropped compared to before.
Without Falna's reinforcement, her current strength was at most mid-Level 6. She was not even a match for Genichi anymore.
Genichi avoided her attack with ease and swept Mitsukotoba sideways.
A flash of blade light cut past, leaving a deep wound across Filvis's shoulder.
But she seemed unable to feel pain. She kept attacking madly, every strike carrying the resolve to drag him down with her.
"Calm down."
Genichi blocked as he spoke. "Dionysus was only sent back to the heavens. It's not like he died. Why are you fighting this desperately?"
"What do you know?!"
Filvis roared, her voice filled with profound despair. "Lord Dionysus is everything to me! He is the only reason I'm alive! You took him from me. You took everything from me!"
Genichi fell silent.
He truly did not understand.
That feeling of devoting one's entire heart and soul to another person was something he had never experienced.
Demeter treated him very well, but his feelings for Demeter were nowhere near that level.
But not understanding was one thing. The battle still had to continue.
Genichi took a deep breath, and the attacks from Mitsukotoba sped up.
Time rewound to before Genichi entered the Dungeon.
Before entering the Dungeon, Genichi had specifically gone to find Astraea.
At the time, Astraea was inside the Hostess of Fertility, discussing something with Ryuu Lion.
When she saw Genichi appear, she was somewhat surprised.
"Genichi? What brings you here?"
Genichi wasted no words and spoke directly. "After I enter the Dungeon with the Loki Familia and Freya Familia, I want you to lead people in a direct raid on the Dionysus Familia, find Dionysus, and send him back to the heavens."
Astraea froze.
She clearly did not understand why Genichi wanted to do this.
"Why?"
She frowned and asked, "We still don't have proof that Dionysus is Enyo. If we act rashly, it may create unnecessary trouble."
Genichi shook his head.
"We don't need proof. Right now, this is only my deduction."
He looked straight into Astraea's eyes, his tone serious and grave.
"Once we enter the Dungeon, do you think Dionysus will simply sit back and watch us ruin his plan? He will definitely try every possible method to stop us, and the strongest piece he has right now is Filvis Challia, the woman transformed into an upper-Level 7 monster."
Astraea's expression turned solemn.
"You should know very well what kind of impact an upper-Level 7 monster would have on us. Even if the elites of our two great Familias joined forces, defeating her would require a painful price, especially when we still have to face the corrupted spirit as our true opponent."
Genichi's voice grew even lower.
"So the best way to deal with that monster is to send Dionysus back to the heavens. Once her patron god is returned, the Falna on his Familia members will be sealed. When that happens, Filvis's strength will drop sharply. Even if she's still a monster, she won't be able to cause much trouble."
Astraea fell silent after hearing that.
How should she put it? Astraea felt that Genichi's method was a little dirty.
This method of cutting the problem off at its root was completely unlike the path of justice she upheld.
According to her ideals, they should first gather evidence, then hold a public trial, and finally carry out punishment.
That was the proper course for a goddess of justice.
But she also had to admit that Genichi's method was the most efficient and the safest.
Even a Level 7 adventurer would have their Falna sealed once their patron god was sent back to the heavens.
At that point, the other party would not be much stronger than an ordinary person and would no longer pose any real threat.
In the face of the coming crisis, efficiency and certainty mattered more than so-called procedural justice.
"Of course, if you don't want to do it, I can ask someone else."
Genichi added, "Loki, Freya, or some other god. I'm just not sure what accidents might happen then."
Astraea's expression twisted in conflict.
Of course she knew Genichi was provoking her on purpose.
But she understood even more clearly that if Loki or Freya were allowed to handle this, those two would definitely cause an even bigger mess.
Especially Freya. That goddess, so obsessed with souls, might do who knew what.
"I understand."
In the end, Astraea nodded and agreed.
Genichi smiled in satisfaction.
"But there's one more thing I need to tell you."
"What?"
"The Filvis Challia staying at Dionysus's side probably isn't an ordinary adventurer clone. The real monster body is in the Dungeon, so this adventurer clone left at the Familia headquarters should be Level 3 or Level 4 at most."
Genichi looked at Astraea and said seriously, "So I found you a helper."
Astraea was slightly startled.
A helper?
What kind of helper?
Genichi did not explain. He simply raised his hand and began chanting.
"Heavenly Dominion. Dominion over all ages. Dominion over..."
Genichi's voice echoed through the air as the surrounding magic power began surging wildly.
"Alise!"
As the final syllable fell, a brilliant light bloomed in front of Genichi.
The light was so dazzling that Astraea had no choice but to close her eyes.
When she opened them again, she froze completely, as if she had been struck by lightning.
At the center of the light, a figure slowly revealed herself.
It was a young woman with vivid red hair, wearing familiar adventurer's clothes, a radiant smile on her face.
That was...
"A-Alise?"
Astraea's voice trembled, the words almost forced from deep in her throat.
She could not believe her eyes.
That girl, one of the children she had once loved most, the girl who had died fighting to protect her companions, was now standing alive before her.
Alise turned her head and looked at Astraea, her smile growing even brighter.
"It's been a long time, Goddess Astraea."
Her voice was still so clear, still so full of energy, as if she had never left.
Astraea's tears spilled out instantly.
She covered her mouth, struggling not to make a sound, but her trembling shoulders and silent tears exposed the truest emotions in her heart.
"How could this be...? How could you...? You already..."
"I already died."
Alise finished the sentence for her, her tone calm. "Yes, I did die. But now, Genichi has summoned me back from the river of time."
She paused, and a complicated emotion flashed through her eyes.
"Although I'm only a temporary existence, and although I don't know how long I can remain, at least right now, I can see you again, Goddess Astraea. That's enough."
Astraea could no longer hold back. She rushed forward and hugged Alise tightly.
She had waited far, far too long for that embrace.
Ever since the day her Familia was destroyed, there had not been a single moment when she did not miss those children.
She missed their smiles. She missed their voices. She missed the way they gathered around her, chattering noisily.
Especially Alise.
That girl who was always full of energy, always the first to charge forward, had been one of the Familia members she was proudest of.
When Astraea learned that Alise had died in battle, it felt as though her heart had been torn apart.
And now, she had returned.
Even if only temporarily, even if no one knew how long she could remain, she had returned.
Astraea held Alise as tears flowed uncontrollably down her face.
Alise gently patted her back and said softly, "It's all right, Goddess Astraea. I'm here. I'm back."
Genichi stood to the side, quietly watching the scene.
He did not interrupt. He simply waited in silence.
Only after a long while did Astraea let go of Alise. She wiped away her tears and looked at Genichi.
"Thank you."
Her voice was somewhat hoarse, but filled with sincerity.
Genichi shook his head.
"You don't need to thank me. Alise is the one I summoned, and if she's willing to help you, I'm happy to let her."
He paused, then added, "But remember this. Alise has not been resurrected. She can't stay here forever, so cherish the time you have together."
Astraea nodded and looked at Alise with eyes full of tenderness.
"I know. This is enough."
Alise smiled, then turned to Genichi.
"Genichi, go without worry. I'll help Goddess Astraea handle things here."
(End of Chapter)
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