[Silence] Alfia.
In Orario, that was a name capable of making most adventurers pale.
The reason was simple. Seven years ago, when Evilus was still active throughout the city, an enormous incident shook all of Orario.
Led by the evil god Erebus, Evilus launched an unprecedented massacre across the city.
Freya Familia, Loki Familia, Astraea Familia, and several other powerful Familias joined forces against them, yet massive casualties were still unavoidable. Countless adventurers and ordinary citizens lost their lives in that disaster.
Among the Evilus forces, two adventurers stood out above everyone else. It would not be an exaggeration to say that those two alone decided the course of the entire battle.
They were the former Level 7 adventurer of Zeus Familia, [Gluttony] Zald, and the former Level 7 adventurer of Hera Familia, [Silence] Alfia.
Despite fighting with a body already covered in severe injuries, Zald battled Ottar, who had still been Level 6 at the time, almost evenly.
He eventually lost to Ottar and became the Great Feat that allowed him to advance to Level 7.
Alfia was even more terrifying.
By herself, she surrounded a massive group of adventurers that included every member of Astraea Familia and suppressed more than half of Orario's adventurers so thoroughly that they could barely raise their heads against her.
If not for Alfia's physical condition and the fact that she had deliberately held back, Astraea Familia might not even have survived until the following year.
They could have been completely wiped out by Alfia right then and there.
The reason Alfia had now appeared here as a "test subject" was also connected to that battle.
More than ten gods had been sent back to Heaven during the conflict. Erebus personally took care of several, while most of the rest were sent back by Alfia and Zald.
In other words, Alfia was a criminal who had once committed the crime of slaying gods.
"Appearing before people who once knew me in this form would only invite ridicule."
"I don't think you'd just stand there and let them laugh at you."
"Of course not."
Alfia calmly raised one paw.
"Anyone who dares laugh will learn exactly what these hands can do to make sure they never laugh again."
Seven years had passed, and it was difficult to say how many of Alfia's old acquaintances were still active in Orario.
But she was certainly not going to become timid simply because of what she had done in the past.
It was easy to imagine what kind of storm would erupt once Alfia appeared in Orario again.
Meanwhile, the culprit responsible for making that future chaos possible showed absolutely no self-awareness as he continued chatting with her as if nothing were wrong.
"For now, though, you'll need to stay like this."
Shiro looked down at the gray cat.
"It isn't time for you to appear yet."
Alfia nodded in understanding.
People always acted for a reason.
Even Alfia herself would never believe that Shiro had gone through all the trouble of resurrecting her without wanting anything in return.
Rather than conceal his intentions and create suspicion, it was better to explain everything clearly from the beginning. That would prevent unnecessary misunderstandings from interfering with what came later.
So, under Alfia's serious gaze, Shiro explained from beginning to end what he intended to ask of her.
...
"I see... So those girls are already dead."
After hearing Shiro's explanation, especially the part about Ryuu being the only surviving member of Astraea Familia, even someone as calm and composed as Alfia could not completely hide the complicated look in her eyes.
Having already seen Alfia's memories, Shiro understood exactly why she reacted this way.
A major reason Alfia had joined Erebus and helped destroy Orario was that her body had already been approaching its limit.
Calling her condition terminal would not have been an exaggeration.
When she previously said that simply breathing caused her endless pain, she had not been exaggerating for dramatic effect.
She had genuinely been close to death.
Knowing that defeating the One-Eyed Black Dragon was already beyond her reach, Alfia chose to place her hopes on the next generation.
The people she selected were Astraea Familia, whose reputation had been rapidly rising at the time.
During Evilus's assault on Orario, Alfia willingly turned herself into [Absolute Evil].
She invited hatred.
She drew out resentment.
She forced the members of Astraea Familia to overcome one impossible obstacle after another, grow into heroes, and finally defeat her.
Before dying, Alfia had entrusted them with both Orario's future and her own unfulfilled wish to defeat the One-Eyed Black Dragon.
But seven years had passed.
Orario's walls had been rebuilt countless times. Generation after generation of adventurers had come and gone from its taverns.
Even the little brat who once loved heroic stories and constantly begged his grandfather to tell him more had grown up and begun chasing the dream of his childhood.
Now that [Absolute Evil] had returned to Orario...
Where had the [Justice] of those days gone?
"It won't be long."
Seeing the disappointment in Alfia's expression, Shiro tried to reassure her.
"If even an 'evil' like you can come back, how could 'justice' possibly be left behind? Not many kids enjoy stories where the heroes lose, after all."
"Hmph."
Alfia turned her head away.
"I was merely thinking that I should have used my full strength to send that final spell back at them."
"Maybe it's better that you didn't."
Shiro smiled.
"It'd be pretty embarrassing if everyone found out you went all out and still couldn't send it back."
"They stood in front of me so confidently, talking about seizing everything and moving toward the future, only to die in such idiotic ways."
Alfia's voice became increasingly irritated.
"I really can't accept it. Next time I see them, I'm blasting every last one of them across three mountains."
"I don't particularly care about the others, but please go a little easier on Ryuu."
"And that old man!"
Alfia's tail flicked sharply.
"When I see him again, he's getting what's coming to him. Before I left, I specifically told him not to let Bell become an adventurer, yet he completely ignored my final request!"
"Yes, yes."
Shiro sat on the only bed still surviving in his destroyed room and watched Alfia lower her head while endlessly listing everything she intended to do in the future.
For someone complaining so much, she seemed to be in a surprisingly good mood.
"Anyway, you don't have that fatal illness anymore."
Shiro leaned back slightly.
"Once this is over, I'll set aside some time specifically for you. Go do whatever you want."
"Until I find a way for your body to maintain itself without relying on my Magic, this will probably be the most freedom you'll have."
Alfia's current form of existence was similar to the spirits from the other world.
Without Shiro supplying Magic, she could not even maintain her physical existence.
So whenever Shiro left this world, Alfia would probably have to follow him.
Their relationship resembled the one Emilia and Puck once shared, although Alfia had far more freedom than Puck did.
"I don't care."
Alfia answered without hesitation.
"Compared to an illness that tortured me every moment I was alive, losing some freedom feels almost pleasant."
"Good."
Shiro relaxed slightly.
"I was worried you might not want to leave the place where you fought for so long."
If Alfia truly could not accept leaving Orario, then Shiro's only choice would be to keep her asleep whenever he went elsewhere.
He certainly could not remain in this world forever just for her sake.
"So now all we need to do is wait."
With the most troublesome part settled, Shiro stretched lazily.
"While we have time, do you want me to take you to see that kid, Alfia?"
Everything had gone so smoothly that Shiro had unconsciously forgotten one very important detail.
"Alfia...?"
The sudden voice of a third person made his entire body freeze.
A girl wrapped in rushing wind had arrived inside his ruined room.
Ais Wallenstein.
…