"Would you like to join us for a meal?"
Astraea's gaze flickered slightly. There was something about this girl that seemed to draw her in.
"Hah? Why would I sit at the same table as you?"
Kaguya immediately looked displeased. They were complete strangers—there was no reason for them to eat together.
More importantly, she hated that kind of "kind-hearted" gaze. It stirred up memories she would rather forget.
"I'm just a villain who happened to come here for a meal and happened to take your seat. Everything was just a coincidence. I have no interest in eating with you. Not even the slightest bit."
"Or are you saying you want to sit with me just to get scolded?"
"Ah... well..."
Alise did not know how to respond.
This girl clearly looked like the very image of an elegant lady from the Far East, but the moment she opened her mouth, that impression was completely shattered.
When it came to insulting people, she showed no restraint whatsoever.
Are we really going to eat with someone like this?
Alise glanced at her goddess—Astraea.
"That's fine too. If scolding me makes you feel a little better, I don't mind."
Astraea showed no sign of irritation at Kaguya's rudeness. Instead, she accepted it lightly, almost as a joke.
Is she... comforting me?
The goddess' reaction caught Kaguya off guard. Her tone softened slightly.
"My apologies. I was agitated just now and said some unpleasant things. But as for eating together, I'm afraid I must decline."
"No need to refuse so quickly. We brought a few side dishes with us..."
"And I must say, you look somewhat familiar. You remind me of certain matters from the heavens. Perhaps we share an unexpected connection."
Astraea took out a modest bundle from her robes. When she opened it, it revealed several small dishes meant to accompany rice.
And that aroma...
It smelled incredible.
Perhaps because she had not eaten properly for quite some time, Kaguya swallowed unconsciously, her lips parting slightly.
In the Far East, Kaguya had held an extremely noble status. She had tasted countless rare delicacies from the mountains and the seas. Yet this particular food before her, with its distinctive fragrance, was something she had never encountered before.
And then—
Grrr—
Her stomach growled at the most inopportune moment. Now this was truly embarrassing.
"Fine. I'll eat with you. I'll owe you a favor for this."
Hunger truly was the greatest enemy. No one could withstand its temptation.
And so Kaguya found herself eating the dishes served by the tavern while sampling the side dishes Astraea had brought.
They were indeed delicious.
Could it be that this goddess' authority was related to cooking?
Was she the Goddess of Cuisine?
If Astraea knew what Kaguya was thinking, she would probably burst into laughter.
She, the Goddess of Justice, mistaken for a culinary deity?
Though...
Perhaps that was not so bad.
It was all thanks to Elise.
This time, Kaguya did not lash out as before. Instead, she quietly sat across from Astraea and Alise, eating her meal in silence.
This person is so strange.
Alise's instincts told her the girl before her was not a bad person. Yet earlier, she had spoken harshly to someone she had just met.
Just like her appearance, she was easy to misunderstand.
She looked like the princess of some great clan, yet could overturn that image the moment she spoke.
For some reason, a blonde figure suddenly flashed through Alise's mind...
Startled, Alise quickly lowered her head and began devouring her food at full speed. The intensity of it made Kaguya's eyes widen.
As expected of the Goddess of Cuisine's Familia!
Even the way they eat is so imposing!
Before long, the meal came to an end. Kaguya touched her slightly distended stomach. Had she really eaten that much without realizing?
Seen this way, it almost gave her the feeling of being pregnant.
But that was impossible.
Kaguya was realistic. The one who had died was dead. There would be no resurrection.
She had already made her resolve.
"Thank you very much. I truly enjoyed this meal. I have never felt this happy while eating before..."
At moments like this, the etiquette she normally despised proved useful. She bowed deeply to Astraea and Alise.
"My name is Gojouno Kaguya. If fate allows, I will repay you in the future."
With that, Kaguya prepared to leave. She still needed to find a deserted corner—or perhaps beneath a bridge would suffice.
That would be where she slept tonight.
"Mm-hmm, until we meet again!"
"My name is Alise Lovell. And this is Lady Astraea, the goddess who presides over justice!"
At that instant, Kaguya's departing steps froze.
Astraea seemed to sense something and her expression grew serious, but Alise continued speaking cheerfully.
"I had a wonderful meal too! And I have a feeling we're connected by countless threads of fate. Maybe in the future we'll become close companions—"
"Don't joke around!"
Before Alise could finish, Kaguya's voice cut her off, startling her.
"So it was you... it was you all along!"
She was like a completely different person from moments ago. Now Kaguya stared fixedly at Astraea, as if trying to carve the goddess' appearance into her memory.
She had never imagined that by simply coming out for an ordinary meal, she would encounter her very target.
Was this what they called ill-fated destiny?
Even the heavens were helping her.
What happened next utterly stunned both Alise and Astraea. They truly had not expected the woman before them to act this way.
Completely discarding any semblance of ladylike composure, she began hurling abuse at Astraea.
Seeing this, Alise's expression turned serious. She did not know the reason, but if her goddess was being insulted, how could she possibly remain indifferent?
...
Dungeon, Floor 37.
The area had already been reduced to ruins. Aside from scattered bone fragments, nothing remained on the ground.
Yet Elise could sense something dark glowing not far away.
If nothing unexpected had occurred, it should be the drop from Udaeus.
"Today really is my lucky day! Even a Floor Boss drop—our Familia's treasury just gained another addition!"
After storing the massive black sword into her Lord God Space inventory, Elise prepared to continue exploring deeper.
But at that moment, something happened—just like before with Amphisbaena...
The Barrier of the Stars had been triggered again. This time, it seemed to be Alise?
Which bastard was causing trouble for her Familia now?
Could it be Ishtar again?
Elise was already irritated. Why did it always happen while she was on an expedition? Couldn't they at least wait?
"I'm heading back right now. Just you wait."
"Whoever you are—since you dared to interrupt my expedition..."
"Prepare yourself for death!"