It's been a few days since we got back from the dungeon. And I was walking through the streets of Orario, making my way towards the Stardust garden to meet up with the girls.
As I walked, I also noticed the gloominess in the city has increased. People wearing exhausted expressions, Stall vendors no longer calling out to attract customers. Children no longer play in the street.
It all seems lifeless.
I can't fault the people, though, since there have been increasing attacks on magic stone factories and obviously normal people getting involved as collateral. The recent one being the one yesterday. Fortunately, Ryuu and others were there in time, so there was no death.
I remembered the events of the past few days, from the moment we returned from the dungeon, as I walked towards the Stardust garden.
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"I'm going crazy just thinking of all the coins it is going to bring. I am going to gamble a lot." Lyra seems in high spirits.
"You seem to forget that you are banned from pretty much all the gambling dens, Lyra." Hearing Ryuu's words, Lyra's shoulders fell low.
"Curse them! For taking away my fun time." Lyra's emotions seem to be all over the place.
We kept making small talk as we walked towards the guild, but I noticed that the city was way more silent than usual. And the people seem afraid as well.
"Did something happen when we were gone?" Seems like the girls noticed it as well, as Ryana said.
"Yeah, the city seems way too silent," Kaguya stated her observation.
"We should hurry; maybe we can find out from the guild as to what had happened," Alise announced as we hurried our steps.
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"What another attack on a magic stone factory?" Ryuu's reaction was mirrored by the rest of the girls as well. As Eina informed us.
"Yeah, there were some civilians who got involved in the attack as well. But fortunately, no one died. Though it was still enough to make the rest of the people scared."
That is understandable. When you don't even know when you would be involved in a terrorist attack, you're bound to be scared.
Ryuu appeared to be the angriest among them all.
"This is unacceptable! How long will those evils terrorise everyone?" Her usual composed demeanor cracking. Her fists clenched at her sides.
Alise moved forward and held Ryuu's pinky finger. "Calm down, Lion. While it is unsettling that they succeeded in their attack but at the very least, no one died." That seemed to work as Ryuu took several breaths to calm herself.
"You are right, Alise. Sorry, I was just angry."
"No, I understand. I am also angry, you know, and that's why we will be on active patrol duty from now on." Alise announced to the whole group.
"I will also help out, since I am not going in the dungeon again until the Goliath respawn," I told them as such.
"Hm? I think I must have misheard you, Arin-san. Did you just say you are going to fight Goliath?" Eina, standing behind the counter, asked me calmly.
Oh… I should not have said that in front of her; she tends to get really worried.
"I did not say I am going to fight it."
"But that your intention is it not?!" This time her voice was a little louder than before. And she seems like she will cry anytime now. After she is still a young girl and does not have that emotional maturity she had in the canon yet.
She tends to get more worried. I still remember when she heard that I fought an infant dragon or when the news about me fighting a first-class adventurer from Evilius. She was practically begging me not to do something reckless, with those small tears in her eyes.
"Don't worry, Eina-san. Arin is strong, and we will also be there when he fights the Goliath just in case." Said Alise, as she appeared beside me, But this is the first time I am hearing it, though.
"Really?" Eina and my own words overlapped, as we both asked the same question.
"Of course, or did you perhaps thought that we would let you fight that monster without supervision, Arin-san?" Ryuu's voice comes to support Alice's words.
"No, No. I am happy that you will come with me."
"If you all are done being chummy with each other, can we get the money?" Lyra said, impatiently.
After that, the girls made their way back with Lyra grinning from ear to ear, jiggling the bag filled with money. I also made my way towards the Twilight manor, just to find a really tired-looking Ais, who just hugged me as I walked into the library, muttering something about a monster, and Riveria with a strange smile on her face, like she just succeeded in taking revenge, and was satisfied with it.
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That was such a strange sight. I can't complain, since I got to hug Ais and pet her head. I stopped my reminisce, just as Stardust Garden came into my view. I entered the premises without any worry.
And found Astraea in the garden tending to some flowers.
"Good morning, Astarea." She looked up after hearing my voice.
"Oh? Arin, a very good morning to you, too."
"Sorry for coming over so often."
"Do not worry about it. Considering you spent so much time helping out the girls, I, or rather all of us, consider you a kind of an honorary member of our family now." I guess she is right about that. As it is kind of a usual thing now, Me coming over to their place and making rounds around the city, pretty much every day now.
"Thanks for saying that. Are the girls inside?" I asked her, since it is possible they might have already left to make rounds around the city.
"Yup, they are still here, but the atmosphere is not the best at the moment." Astraea looked towards the mansion. I also followed her gaze.
"Are they arguing again?" I asked her, even though I already knew the answer, as I could hear a faint voice of someone arguing now.
"You should see for yourself." I did just that.
"You moron!!!!" and when I got in front of the door leading to the main hall. I heard Kaguya shout.
"Did I find fault?!' she seems to have scoffed. "You bumbled your way through everything!"
"Wha..?!" A shocked voice comes from Ryuu.
"Who do you think has to clean up after every time you let your emotions get the better of you? Me! So don't get uppity with me. You trash Pixie!" Wow, she is not holding back.
"Trash!"
I quietly entered the room, but they didn't seem to even notice me. Except Alise, she gave a small wave as a greeting, which I returned, turning my eyes back to the pair.
"You oblivious, tunnel-visioned, mindless little numbskull! How dare you speak as though you have done a good job. You child!"
Ryuu flinched but continued. "I-I was not the only one who went on a rampage out there! I would very much like to know what part of your response you consider proportionate punishment!"
"Now you have done it, You trash Pixie!"
"Stop calling me that."
Now they started throwing hands.
"Oh, here we go again." Lyra sighed. "Another swearing match between our hard-headed elf and the far eastern princess. I wish they spent that energy trying to build each other up instead of tearing each other down."
Rather than asking why they were arguing, I instead asked. "How long has it been going?" She promptly looked up at me and smiled.
"Oh! Our hero, who is going to handle both of them, is here." No, there is no way I can do that.
But her voice seems to attract everyone's attention. I guess it won't hurt to try stopping them.
"Well, this is productive," I announced loudly. "Nothing says 'Team Justice' like a screaming match in the living room. Should I get popcorn, or are we wrapping this up soon?"
Both Ryuu and Kaguya turned to glare at me instead of each other, which was honestly an improvement.
"I'm serious, though. The whole neighborhood can probably hear you two. At this rate, the real evilius are going to think we're having our own civil war." Ryuu and Kaguya exchanged one last glare before stepping back from each other, the tension slowly deflating from the room.
"Well, that was entertaining," Lyra chimed in, stretching like a cat. "Nothing like a good old-fashioned argument to get the blood pumping in the morning."
Alise stood up from where she'd been watching the exchange, her expression growing more serious. She walked to the center of the room, naturally drawing everyone's attention.
"Now that we've got that out of our systems, it's time for patrol duty," Alise announced firmly. "Who's ready to show Orario that Astraea Familia stands guard?"