"What?" Valletta blinked, stunned for a heartbeat.
"Your voice is grating. Disgusting, even. Shut it." Alfia's tone was utterly flat, yet steeped in disdain, as though she were speaking to something beneath her notice.
The insult struck Valletta like a slap, heat flooding her face. "Y-You… you stinking woman—"
Her voice faltered mid-retort. She knew. She knew with bone-deep certainty that if she lunged forward, she wouldn't last a second. She would be cut down before she could even draw breath. A bead of cold sweat traced down her neck. She could only glare, her teeth grinding together.
"Enough." Olivas interjected smoothly, stepping between the two.
His smile was thin, his words oiled to slide past tension. "We're all comrades here. Goals may differ, but for now, our path is the same."
He brushed a strand of gray hair back and continued, "I've already informed the Deception faction, Apate, and the Vengeance faction, Alecto, to prepare. The berserkers will dance wildly, and in the end, this entire city will be swallowed by the fires of disaster."
His eyes gleamed with fervor. "The great wish of our god will finally come true. Orario's destruction is inevitable."
Elsewhere, Lili's fingers had gone pale from how tightly she gripped her own skirt.
She sat stiffly on an ornate chair, every movement mechanical and hesitant. The room was richly decorated, Astraea's private chamber, and carried an air both solemn and gentle.
The magic stone lamp on the wall cast a warm, soft glow, as though the light itself was comforting.
Lili never could have imagined she'd end up here. She had only met Astraea once before, yet the famous goddess, known and beloved across Orario, had welcomed her into the familia with a smile as warm as spring sunlight.
That smile… though when it flickered toward Akira, who stood quietly at her side, there had been something else in Astraea's gaze. Something deeper. Perhaps even a flash of warning.
Lili dared not ask.
Outside, she could faintly hear footsteps, the "trial" for Akira must have concluded, and soon the sound of people moving drifted into the silence.
Her thoughts wandered back to earlier, to the moment Akira had first brought her into the Astraea Familia's grand hall.
The chandelier blazed above, casting brilliance into every corner. Yet the moment she stepped inside beside Akira, all conversation ceased. Dozens of eyes turned toward her, no, not her, exactly but the stranger standing at Akira's side.
Those stares pierced her like searchlights, making her shrink into herself.
In that moment, she understood just how much Akira meant to them, and how little she, an outsider, could compare. She half-expected to be driven out on the spot. But slowly, those sharp gazes softened. Akira had been right, the members of this justice-driven familia were kind.
Suspicion turned to consideration. Consideration turned to welcome.
One older girl stepped forward, ruffling Lili's hair with a gentle smile. "Welcome, Lili. From now on, we're family."
"Don't be nervous, it'll be over quickly."
Astraea's voice was like a clear spring, effortlessly soothing yet carrying the dignity of one who embodied justice itself.
Lili's shoulders jumped slightly, her eyes darting to Astraea. "Y-Yes, Astraea-sama. "
No matter how she tried to compose herself, she couldn't banish the tension entirely. After all, even a girl like her, with no heroic blood, knew this was a familia of heroes.
Would her joining drag them down? Would she be a blemish on their banner of justice?
"Hehe." Astraea's lips curved knowingly, though she kept her thoughts to herself.
She understood the hardships the girl had endured, hardships even worse than the orphaned. The only thing she could hope was that the future would bring healing.
She stepped forward, raising a slender hand. A drop of her divine blood fell, landing upon the faded falna on Lili's back.
In an instant, the seal flared with sacred light. The ancient script wriggled and shifted, reshaping into the emblem unique to the Astraea Familia. When the glow faded, the ritual was complete, the severing of her old ties, the forging of new ones.
Lili was now officially a child of the goddess of justice.
"Alright." Astraea said warmly, turning toward the door, "Your turn, Akira."
What followed would be the long-awaited falna renewal for all of Astraea's children.
The operation to wipe out evilus' stronghold was only a few days away, and anticipation filled the air. Everyone wanted to see just how much they had grown after so long.
If someone's stats had reached their limits, it was time to advance, time to level up.
"Okay." Akira replied simply before glancing toward Lili. "Well then, Lili, go and chat with everyone for a while."
"Y-Yes."
Lili's small face stiffened, and inwardly, she let out a silent scream.
Why is Akira-sama leaving her alone to face all these girls who seem so interested in her?! Goddess, save me!
Lili watched Akira's back disappear down the corridor, her steps suddenly feeling as heavy as if her boots were filled with lead. Each movement was sluggish, her will battling against her nerves.
Ahead, in the center of the corridor, the Astraea Familia's girls had already gathered. Their gazes washed over her like a rising tide, warm, curious, and kind, yet carrying a pressure that made Lili's stomach knot.
Meanwhile, Akira, having left her to their care, moved with casual ease. He stripped off his shirt in one fluid motion, revealing a lean but well-defined upper body marked by countless hours of training. He settled down on Astraea's bed, the fine lace and silk sinking slightly beneath his weight.
The room was filled with the faint, soothing fragrance of incense. The wall lamps swayed gently, their light and shadow dancing over his features.
Astraea pricked her finger, letting a droplet of divine blood fall. As it touched the parchment, the familiar sensation of a status update spread through him.
When the glow faded, Akira accepted the parchment from Astraea's hand. Upon it, his new stats were written in careful script.
Akira
Level: 3
Strength: C612 → S965
Endurance: C603 → S945
Dexterity: C698 → SS1011
Agility: B712 → SS1021
Magic: S987 → SSS1269
[Development Abilities]
- Mystery E
- Treatment F
Ever since that night when his relationship with Astraea had taken a certain qualitative leap, he had come for status updates several times but his growth had been modest.
After all, most of his recent days had been spent patrolling the surface, preventing evilus attacks. Dungeon exploration had been rare. And while defeating hostile adventurers yielded more excelia than monsters, that only applied if the enemy was close to, or above, his level.
Clearing the deeper floors of the Dungeon would have brought him far more. But Akira's role in protecting civilians meant he usually eliminated evilus members in a single, devastating magical strike.
It was efficient… too efficient. Battles ended before they could temper his body. As a result, Strength and Endurance grew slower. No new skills had emerged either, his status had stayed in a stable, unbroken plateau.
[Personal Information]
Name: Akira
Age: 13
Level: 41
Condition: Healthy
Class: Mage (Male)
Affiliation: Astraea Familia
Achievement: Seductive Halo (2 young girls have developed special feelings for you)
Akira was still nine levels away from his first awakening. The achievement, while awkwardly worded, wasn't entirely useless.
Clicking on it brought up a note: I am not a lolita fan. It's just that the ones who like me happen to be lolis!
Function: Increases the chance of gaining the favor of younger girls.
Akira's lips twitched.
Fortunately, reaching Level 40 had at least granted him a new reward—a special gift pack containing unique items. That thought eased his irritation.