The hall of the Court of Stars remained illuminated late into the night.
The Goddess Astraea sat in the high seat, her pure white gown spreading out like moonlight. She listened quietly to Su Lun's report, her eyes—capable of discerning good from evil—gently sweeping over every one of her "children" present.
Su Lun had just finished recounting the details of the night's operation, his voice level and steady.
"...Olivas has fled, both his arms severed. The beast horde he trained and his six Level 2 subordinates have been wiped out. The Evilus tamer unit in the Northwest District no longer exists." He paused before shifting the topic. "But this is only the surface. The true threat of the Evilus lies in their network of informants. They've infiltrated the Guild staff, merchant coalitions, taverns, and perhaps even certain Familias. As long as these eyes remain, they can continue to smuggle, amass wealth, and regroup."
We must uproot the informants, otherwise, we're only treating the symptoms, not the disease.
Su Lun understood this well. The Evilus were like a poisonous tree; pruning the branches was useless—one had to dig out the roots.
The Goddess nodded slightly, though a flicker of worry crossed the depths of her sea-blue eyes. "You are right, Su Lun. However, the problem lies in... the evidence." Her voice was soft, yet it felt like a stone dropped into a still pond, creating ripples in everyone's hearts. "Since the departure of the Zeus and Hera Familias, the Guild Head, Royman, has strictly forbidden any large-scale unrest in Orario."
Astraea's fingers unconsciously brushed the folds of her skirt. "He is afraid. If we perform a mass purge without concrete evidence, it will incite panic. It might even... drive neutral factions into the arms of the Evilus."
Bureaucrats fear trouble above all else.
Su Lun sneered inwardly. Royman was essentially a manager of the status quo. A mass purge in Orario would bring endless headaches—investigations, interrogations, pressure from various factions, and potential internal conflict. But if left alone, the Evilus would simply spread like cancer cells.
Su Lun fell into deep thought.
If only I had access to 5th-level spells... The 5th-level spell Scrying could provide remote surveillance, and Legend Lore could yield critical intelligence. But for now, he was limited to 3rd-level spells, and his mana capacity was still restricted.
Even more pressing was the Knossos Labyrinth. According to his knowledge of the original story, the Evilus had constructed a massive artificial labyrinth beneath Orario. He remembered the general locations of the entrances: deep within the sewers, and a hidden spot on the 18th floor. Was there one on the 27th floor as well? He needed to find time to confirm this. Knossos was the heart of the Evilus; without destroying the heart, killing foot soldiers was a lost cause.
"Oh, come on, don't be so gloomy!"
Alise's voice broke the heavy atmosphere. The red-haired girl sat cross-legged on the floor, her rapier, Crimson Order, resting across her knees. She wore her usual radiant smile. "Whatever happens, I believe justice will prevail! Didn't we win a brilliant victory tonight?"
She was always so optimistic. Su Lun looked at her with a mix of emotions. Alise's optimism was the beacon of the Familia, but in the face of cruel reality, it sometimes felt... naive.
"I think you're making things too simple," Kaguya said, leaning against the shadows of the wall. She stood with her arms crossed, her blade Higanbana secured at her waist, a mocking curve playing on her lips. "The Evilus isn't just one or two people; it's a web woven from all the forces of darkness. Olivas was willing to blow up his own men—what does that tell you?" She paused, her voice turning cold. "It means they have no bottom line. Next time, they might use even viler methods—taking civilians hostage, setting off explosions in crowded areas, or even using children as living bombs."
The room fell silent, save for the crackling of the candles. Ryuu sighed softly. "She's right. Our Familia is already short-handed—patrols, dungeon dives, handling daily requests... if the Evilus continues this war of attrition..." She didn't finish, but the implication was clear. They would be run ragged and eventually collapse.
And then there was the issue of funding. Su Lun recalled the sour face Lyra made every time she reported the accounts. The Astraea Familia wasn't impoverished, but broken weapons needed repair, and depleted potions had to be restocked. Equipment maintenance, supplies, magical materials... everything devoured their limited funds.
"Children."
Goddess Astraea clapped her hands gently, drawing their wandering thoughts back. "Let us not act with undue haste. The most pressing matter right now is to improve your own strength." She smiled toward Su Lun. "Ever since you obtained the skill Heroic Nature, the growth rate of everyone's status has increased several times over. Values that would have taken a year to reach can now be achieved in two or three months."
Alise immediately raised her hand, looking exceptionally proud. "Exactly! I thought it would take me over a year to reach Level 4, but now it feels like... six months at most!"
The team-wide buff from Heroic Nature had exceeded expectations. Su Lun evaluated it in his mind; the skill didn't just accelerate his own growth, it radiated to the entire team—like an "EXP Share" aura in a game, but applied to real-life status growth.
Ryuu also nodded, her lips curving into a rare, soft arc. "It is true. During our daily dives, I didn't notice much difference, but when my status was updated, I found the increase far surpassed anything from before."
"My, this 'Heroic Nature' is quite the useful thing" Kaguya drawled, her tone thick with playfulness. "I'm almost a bit envious but thanks to a certain someone, I've certainly enjoyed the benefits. Isn't that right, Lady Astraea?"
The Goddess smiled indulgently. "Yes. Currently, the growth rate of the entire Familia is several times what it used to be. If this momentum continues, the idea of everyone leveling up within a year... is no longer a pipe dream."
Everyone leveling up in a year.
If that goal got out, it would be enough to shake all of Orario. Every Familia knew how difficult it was for an adventurer to level up. The jump from Level 2 to Level 3 was a hurdle, and Level 3 to Level 4 was a chasm. Everyone leveling up in a single year? It was borderline miraculous. But the Astraea Familia was now actually within reach of that possibility.
"Alright, that is enough for tonight." The Goddess stood up, her gown flowing like water. "Everyone is tired. Go and rest. Any further plans can be discussed tomorrow."
Su Lun nodded and was about to stand when he remembered something. "By the way, there should be plenty of materials left in the warehouse ruins. If we can recover them, I can craft better magical items for you all."
Alise blinked, her red hair swaying. "Speaking of which, didn't the Hephaestus Familia sign an agreement with us? We're supposed to get discounts on custom weapons."
"Theoretically, yes," Su Lun said. "But to customize First-Tier armaments... the cost is far too high."
"First-Tier?!" Lyra's voice suddenly rang out from the doorway. The Familia's Pallum had slipped in unnoticed at some point and was now staring with wide eyes. "Our entire liquid capital is less than ten million Valis! A First-Tier weapon costs hundreds of millions at least!"
She was eavesdropping as expected, Su Lun thought, amused by the cunning Lyra.
"It doesn't need to be that expensive," Su Lun explained. "I can use magic to modify existing weapons. The results would be enough to match or even surpass ordinary First-Tier equipment." He drew the Pale Justice longsword from his waist, the blade shimmering with a faint silver light under the candles. "For example, this sword."
Alise leaned in curiously. "Can I see?"
"Here."
The red-haired girl took the sword, testing its weight and giving it a couple of practice swings. "The balance is good... but it doesn't look like anything special?"
"Because it's been Attuned," Su Lun said. "A magical binding technique. Only I can fully unleash this sword's potential."
"Attuned?" Ryuu tilted her head slightly. This unconscious gesture made her look less cold and more like a curious young woman. "What is that?"
The way she tilts her head... is kind of cute. The thought flashed through Su Lun's mind before he suppressed it.
"Attunement is a technique from my magical system. Simply put, it applies a soul-bind to a magical item to prevent misuse while deeply awakening its inner power. An attuned item resonates with the user's soul; only the bonded individual can wield its full power. Furthermore, the attunement process itself acts as a precise awakening ritual."
Ryuu listened intently, her jade eyes fixed on Su Lun.
I see. I understand now. Wait, what am I thinking about again? As she thought, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks, though fortunately, no one noticed.
"Then what if..." Ryuu started, then hesitated, biting her lip. "I mean, hypothetically... if all our weapons were attuned, wouldn't it be troublesome if we needed to swap weapons during a battle?"
"Fail-Elf, if you want to ask, just ask~" Kaguya teased. "Being so hesitant isn't like you."
Ryuu's face turned even redder. She turned away, the tips of her ears pink. "Mind your business!"
Goddess Astraea watched her children bickering, a loving smile on her face. These children all had different temperaments, yet they were all giving their everything for the Familia and for the justice in their hearts.
And Su Lun. The Goddess's gaze fell on the black-haired youth. This child from another world had brought so many incredible gifts: mysterious magic, shocking growth speeds, and those peculiar magical items.
Heroic Nature... Astraea repeated the skill name in her heart. Perhaps it wasn't just a skill for increasing status. Perhaps it truly could guide these children to become the stars that illuminate the shadows of this era.
"Alright, alright." The Goddess clapped her hands again. "It really is time for bed. You have to be up early tomorrow."
The group finally began to leave. Su Lun was the last one out, and just as he was about to cross the threshold, Ryuu called out softly, "Su Lun."
"Yes?"
"That... attunement technique. Can you teach me?" Ryuu's voice was very soft, her jade eyes shimmering in the flickering candlelight. "I want to... understand your magic system more deeply."
Su Lun was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "Sure. It will take time, though, and the process isn't exactly simple."
"I'm in no hurry," Ryuu said with a faint, gentle smile.
The two walked side by side toward the dormitory. Moonlight spilled through the hallway windows. In the distance, Alise was dragging Kaguya into a discussion about tomorrow's training meal plan, while Lyra had already pulled out a small notebook to calculate the month's profit and loss. The Goddess's room remained lit; she was likely praying once more for her children's safety and growth.
The night was deep. But the future of the Astraea Familia was quietly germinating in the darkness before the dawn.
Su Lun returned to his room and closed the door. Problem after problem circled in his mind like puzzles waiting to be solved. He felt a trace of urgency. 3rd-level spells weren't enough.
But soon. As long as his level increased... 4th-level, 5th-level...
By then, whether it was the remnants of the Evilus or the Knossos Labyrinth hidden deep underground, nothing would be an insurmountable obstacle.
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Danmachi: My Magic Style is Different from Yours (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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