The next day.
The sky was still wrapped in darkness; dawn had yet to arrive.
At this quiet and chaotic hour, Ryuu woke early and made her way to the warehouse in the inner courtyard.
This was originally a site where Mia had planned to construct another building, but for reasons unknown, the plan was abandoned.
Dressed not in her usual work uniform, but in a simple outfit of shorts and a shirt, the Elf girl began her morning training.
The sharp sound of air being cut echoed clearly in front of the warehouse.
Ever since she stepped out from the shadows of her past, Ryuu had maintained this routine of daily training.
However, today, her training was interrupted.
"Ryuu's swordsmanship has improved even further."
"Syr?"
Noticing the gray-haired girl approaching from a distance, a trace of surprise appeared on Ryuu's face.
The naturally idle girl preferred to laze around during the day.
Even as her closest friend, this was the first time Ryuu had seen her appear during early morning training.
"Good morning, Ryuu."
Syr approached with a faint smile.
"Are you surprised to see me here?"
"It is surprising, or rather, abnormal."
"Eh? Is it really that extreme?"
"I believe so."
Ryuu lowered the wooden sword in her hand.
Sweat from her exertion slid down her cheeks, tracing along her skin before dripping onto her collarbone.
Thick clouds blanketed the sky, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere quietly spread, as if a storm was about to break.
"Syr, did you come to see me for something?"
"Not really. I just woke up suddenly and couldn't fall back asleep, so I came to watch your training."
"Um... I didn't disturb you, did I?"
Syr tilted her head slightly as she asked.
Faced with the question, even Ryuu would not bluntly say, "You disturbed me."
That would lack basic social awareness.
An old friend's teachings surfaced in her mind. At times like this, a simple response was enough.
"Today's training is already finished."
"Hehe... Ryuu has become more considerate."
"Is that meant as praise?"
"Of course it is. When we first met, you would not have cared about things like that."
The memory of their first meeting two years ago remained vivid.
After completing her revenge, the Elf girl had become like an empty shell, standing at the edge of a cliff.
In order to help her find a reason to live again, Syr had gone to great lengths.
"Ryuu, are you happy now?"
"Of course I am."
Ryuu nodded without hesitation.
If the Astraea Familia had been the first place she found after arriving in Orario that gave her a direction in life,
then The Hostess of Fertility had become her second home, the starting point of a new life after her revenge was complete.
"Syr, what's wrong?"
Sensing the unusual nature of the question, Ryuu grew alert.
"Did something happen? If you're troubled, you can tell me."
"No, everything is fine with me. In fact, these past few days have been the happiest I've had all year."
"Then why..."
"Actually, the one I'm worried about is you."
"?"
"Cain is a monster. He seems approachable, but in truth, he only cares about strength and the people close to him."
The topic shifted abruptly.
As if stating an undeniable fact, Syr gazed into the distant sky, her pale gray eyes flickering with unreadable emotion.
"Ryuu, what do you think of your relationship with Cain?"
"...It's normal, I suppose. We cooperate privately and often exchange information."
"In other words, you are partners."
"Yes."
"Then have you ever considered going a step further?"
"Eh?"
The thoughts in her mind came to an abrupt halt.
Faced with the sudden question, the innocent Elf girl froze for several seconds before reacting.
"Syr... Syr! Are you teasing me?!"
"No, I think this is a good opportunity."
Syr took out a leave slip from her chest. "Go meet Cain. I've already prepared a leave slip for you."
"..."
"If you can't make up your mind, just come back to the tavern. Anya and I will always be waiting for you."
"..."
How strange.
Why had the conversation suddenly shifted to romance?
Looking at the leave slip in her hand, Ryuu hesitated. She wanted to speak but held back, her emotions becoming complicated.
Her impression of Cain was not bad, but it had not reached the level of love. At most, they were friends.
However, faced with Syr's kindness, Ryuu hesitated for a moment before choosing to accept.
Cain rarely took the initiative to look for her.
Inviting her to the Dungeon today was most likely related to the Evilus remnants.
If that was the case, it would be better to deal with it quickly.
...
The sun gradually rose over the horizon. Morning light pierced through the eastern sky and illuminated the land.
Equipped with her weapon and armor, Ryuu waved goodbye to her friend and headed toward the Hestia Familia.
Perhaps due to prior arrangements, she passed through the entrance smoothly and entered the courtyard.
A white-haired boy, resembling a rabbit, stood in the courtyard, excitedly reporting his progress to Cain.
"Mr. Cain! My ability values increased by nearly 300 points yesterday! Lord Soma said I might break through to LV2 within two months!"
"Don't get arrogant. 300 points is only average. I once gained 1500 ability points at LV1."
"Sugoi! As expected of Mr. Cain!"
"It's nothing special."
Ryuu: "..."
Do these two feel no embarrassment when boasting like this?
Setting aside the white-haired boy, even if Cain leveled up quickly, gaining 1500 ability points in one go was unrealistic... right?
"Good morning, Ryuu."
Cain raised his hand in greeting. "Didn't you say you'd only be free tonight? Why are you here so early?"
"Something unexpected came up. In any case, I'm free now."
Ryuu glanced at Bell, who stood nearby. "Did I come too early? You seem busy."
"Not at all. Bell is just reporting yesterday's training results. This isn't a lesson."
"Yes, I was just about to leave."
Bell responded very cooperatively.
Even with his limited experience, he understood that staying here would only make him a third wheel.
"Mr. Cain! See you tonight!"
After waving goodbye, Bell ran out of the courtyard energetically.
Watching him leave, Ryuu fell into thought.
"It seems you've found a promising newcomer."
"Bell has potential, but whether that potential will have a chance to develop is another matter."
Taking Bell in had been nothing more than coincidence.
As for whether he would grow or how far he could go, Cain did not particularly care.
Strapping on the billion-Valis katana, Raikiri, Cain signaled to the Elf girl.
"Let's go. We're heading to the Eighteenth Floor."
"Can you tell me what we're going to do?"
"Not yet."
"What?"
Even now, he still refused to say?
Ryuu frowned slightly, internally criticizing Cain's secretive attitude.
She disliked this kind of behavior.
It could cause her to miss important clues and make the wrong decisions when danger appeared.
"Relax, we're not doing anything dangerous."
Sensing her thoughts, Cain chuckled softly.
"I just want to give you a gift."
"A gift? On the Eighteenth Floor?"
"Yes. It's quite valuable. Bringing it to the surface would attract too much attention, so the Eighteenth Floor is more appropriate."
"..."
Are you sure you're not talking about a monster?
After silently complaining, Ryuu gave up trying to guess.
The two of them set off toward the Tower of Babel.
...
"Hey, Gran. Where are we going?"
"The Eighteenth Floor."
Under the glow of magic stone lamps, the bald man walking ahead replied calmly.
"Dix wants to see you."
"Why do I need to go to the Eighteenth Floor to see him?"
"Don't ask me. I don't know either."
"..."
What kind of answer was that?
The one-armed Cat Person frowned, clearly dissatisfied.
However, when living under someone else's authority, one had no choice but to endure.
As a Evilus remnant who relied on Knossos to survive, Jura held little status within the Labyrinth.
He had met Dix several times and knew the man was just as vicious as himself.
With both a gap in strength and status, if Dix summoned him, he could only obey.
Within the vast steel Labyrinth, the two quickly reached the exit leading to the Eighteenth Floor.
After greeting the guard, Gran took out a key, opened the heavy door, and led Jura into the forest.
"Hm? Gran, did you go the wrong way?"
After walking for a few minutes, Jura suddenly sensed something was wrong.
"Rivira Town is to the west. You're heading in the opposite direction."
"I'm not mistaken. Dix just told me the meeting location. It's over here."
"Just now?"
Jura's expression turned puzzled.
They had been together the entire time, traveling through Knossos for nearly an hour without seeing Dix.
Even if it was a prearranged location, calling it "just now" made no sense.
Moreover, the meeting place itself felt strange.
Not in Knossos, not in Rivira Town, but on the outskirts of the Eighteenth Floor.
This did not look like a proper meeting location.
If anything, it looked more suitable for killing and looting.
Jura suddenly stopped walking.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up."
Gran turned back and glanced at him.
"Gran, my stomach suddenly hurts."
Jura forced a stiff smile.
"Can you give me a few minutes? I..."
"Enough nonsense. If your stomach hurts, endure it."
Gran snorted coldly. "You have three seconds to move, or you'll regret making that lord wait."
"..."
That lord?
Jura's sense of danger intensified.
Just as he was thinking of how to escape, Gran suddenly fell silent.
Like the stillness before a storm, an overwhelming killing intent erupted in the next moment.
"Jura!!!"
"?!"
That voice...
Jura's body froze as he turned toward the sound in disbelief.
Through a gap in the forest, an Elf girl with short green hair rushed forward, wielding a wooden sword. A dark, burning rage flickered faintly in her eyes.
Although her appearance had changed slightly, that face was far too familiar.
There was no way he could mistake her identity.
"Ryuu! Why are you here?!"
Memories of the past flooded his mind.
The figure who had destroyed the Rakshasa Familia's base, slaughtered countless people, and severed one of his arms overlapped perfectly with the Elf girl before him.
Without hesitation, Jura turned and fled, rushing back toward the Knossos entrance.
But in the next instant, a figure blocked his path.
"Gran! Have you lost your mind?!"
Jura finally exploded. "Move, or I'll drag you down with me even if I die!"
"Enough nonsense. Shut up!"
Gran threw a punch, stirring a violent gust of wind.
"Damn it! I'll kill you!"
Not daring to fight Ryuu did not mean he feared Gran.
Prepared in advance, Jura dodged the attack and drew a dagger with his remaining arm.
At that moment, a loud explosion rang out.
The fist that brushed past him suddenly exploded, releasing a violent shockwave that sent Jura flying.
The world spun uncontrollably. By the time he managed to stabilize himself after landing, the Elf girl who had been dozens of meters away just moments ago was already standing right in front of him.
"W wait!"
Jura instinctively raised his only remaining arm. "Listen to me, Lion, I..."
Shlick!
A sharp tearing sound rang out.
The wooden sword, carved from a branch of the Great Sacred Tree, was as unyielding as a divine blade. In a single motion, it cleanly severed his arm at the shoulder.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
Blood sprayed from the wound as a piercing scream echoed throughout the forest.
Faced with this gruesome scene, Ryuu's expression did not change in the slightest. If anything, it only grew colder.
"[O distant forest canopy of ages past.]"
"[Endless stars that dwell within the boundless night sky, heed the plea of this foolish one and grant me once more the protection of starlight.]"
Fury burned intensely within her body.
Having failed once before, the Elf girl would not allow herself to make the same mistake again.
"[Come, wandering wind, aimless traveler.]"
She raised the wooden sword high above her head.
In the next instant, it came down.
Like a watermelon shattering upon impact, Jura's head burst apart with a sickening splatter.
"[Soar across the heavens, race across the land, move with a speed beyond all limits. Gather the radiance of the stars and strike down the enemy!]"
"[Luminous Wind!]"
At the same moment, her parallel chant reached completion.
As the name of the magic was spoken, an immense surge of magical power condensed into hundreds of luminous orbs that formed behind her.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Firepower capable of severely injuring a floor boss rained down relentlessly. The ground shook violently, and thick clouds of dust spread in every direction.
When everything finally settled, a massive crater over ten meters wide marked the battlefield.
It was over.
Standing at the edge of the crater, Ryuu slowly exhaled.
This time, she had not failed. She had truly, completely, delivered the final blow.
The mastermind behind the destruction of the Astraea Familia had been erased from this world.
"How does it feel?"
A voice came from behind her.
"Now that your revenge is complete, do you feel even a little happier?"
"Revenge does not bring happiness."
The Elf girl spoke a truth known to all.
The moment revenge is fulfilled may bring a fleeting sense of release, but what follows is emptiness.
The dead cannot return.
Killing the one responsible cannot restore what was lost.
Those companions who once stood beside her, who shared the brightest moments of her life... were gone forever.
...
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