"The Astraea Familia... was destroyed years ago?"
"And even the Familia's patron deity has left Orario?"
After the girl in the black robe spent a small price to get some news from Rivira, she looked a bit lost, and even her former optimism and cheerfulness had disappeared.
The last memory in her mind indicated that she should have died together with a monster in the Dungeon to protect her companions...
But why?
Why, not long ago, did she crawl out of the grave?
The girl didn't understand, really didn't understand.
She couldn't even tell if this was reality or a sudden, sweet dream, perhaps it would dissipate in the next moment?
The girl's name was Alise, she was once the captain of a certain Familia, and possessed the strength of a Level 4 Adventurer.
That Familia was named "Astraea Familia," a famous "Justice Familia" in Orario; after all, the goddess's duty was justice, and the members under her naturally also had a heart of justice.
If possible, Alise certainly wouldn't want to hide her identity, but the matter of returning from the dead was simply too unbelievable. To prevent any accidents, after resurrecting, Alise had been hiding her identity and hadn't been discovered by any Adventurers.
She even got a set of clothes to sneak into Rivira on the 18th floor and found the intelligence she wanted.
However, it was this intelligence that made the girl's already not-so-smart brain even more confused.
She only knew that the current time should be several years after her death?
The future?
So, to confirm her thoughts and to clarify the current situation, Alise had to find someone as soon as possible, that was a former member of the Astraea Familia...
"Gale" Ryu.
Just a blonde useless elf!
How could she compare to the number one beautiful girl in all of Orario, which is me?
So, the Orario of the future?
I, Alise, am back!
Looking at the passage leading to the surface, Alise slowly pulled down her hood and followed a group of Adventurers, returning to this familiar yet strange city.
—
"Whew! There are really a lot of customers today!"
The gray-haired girl came to the side of a certain green-haired elf and looked at her somewhat tiredly.
"There's nothing we can do about it. After all, with the entire Loki Familia expedition team coming here to eat, we're definitely going to be busier than usual, Syr."
The two girls were from Orario's famous restaurant, The Hostess of Fertility; one was named Syr, and the other was named Ryu, both very ordinary waitresses.
"But it really is strange. The Loki Familia only just entered the Dungeon a short while ago; why are they back after such a short time? Could something unexpected have happened?"
As a waitress at the restaurant, Syr had naturally seen many customers, and due to certain special reasons, she was very good at reading people.
When the members of the Loki Familia arrived at the restaurant to eat, Syr immediately noticed that everyone's faces were etched with exhaustion, as if they had just gone through a fierce battle, and some of the weaker members even had the look of survivors who had narrowly escaped death.
What happened?
Syr could see clearly that they didn't have any physical wounds, but the mental trauma was unimaginable.
So, in order to find out, she specifically asked while serving their food to see if she could get any useful information.
However, whether it was Finn or the rest of the Familia members, they all chose to remain silent, almost writing the words "refuse to answer" on their faces.
With no other choice, Syr had to act as an ordinary waitress and continue serving these exhausted and hungry customers.
"But having said that, they really eat a lot!"
"They must have experienced a battle I can't even imagine, right?"
Even Riveria, the most elegant elven royalty among the group, chose to eat voraciously instead of taking small bites as usual...
Something big had clearly happened!
Looking at the Loki Familia's current state, she probably wouldn't get any answers, but news would likely spread soon, so Syr wasn't in a rush at all; she had plenty of time to wait.
"That's right. For an Adventurer, food is extremely important!"
Ryu nodded matter-of-factly; after all, she had once been an Adventurer herself, and her level hadn't been low, so she naturally understood how strong an Adventurer's constitution was.
The higher the level of the Adventurer, the greater their appetite. By the time they reached the First Tier, or Level 5, it wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say they could eat two cows.
Therefore, to reduce the trouble caused by eating, The Hostess of Fertility restaurant also specially prepared high-energy food for Adventurers, capable of replenishing the energy requirements of high-level Adventurers.
Of course, they also sold ordinary food; after all, they were running a restaurant, so having too few dishes wouldn't do!
"That's right, just like you, Ryu!"
"One person's appetite can totally compare to all of ours combined!"
"But even so, it's still not as much as Mama Mia!"
Syr's meaning was already very clear, and everyone in the restaurant knew it well, after all...
Although they were ostensibly an ordinary restaurant, in reality, they were all quite formidable Adventurers!
Especially the restaurant's owner, Mia, who was once a Level 6 Adventurer.
As long as they were in this shop, no one dared to bully them.
"Sigh! Today was really exhausting. I have to take a nice bath tonight, get some sleep, and work even harder tomorrow!"
"Mm, me too."
Ryu had adapted to the life of a waitress long ago; after all, she had been working here for nearly two years, and two years was enough to change a person.
For instance, turning a newcomer into a corporate slave...
"Then see you tomorrow, Ryu!"
"We'll be together again tomorrow, so everyone, let's do our best!"
After saying goodbye to everyone at the restaurant, Ryu quickly headed toward her rented cabin.
Because she had obtained Mia's protection, the rental location Ryu chose wasn't too far from the restaurant, so she could reach it quickly.
But for some reason... she felt her heart rate accelerating?
As if some kind of trouble was about to come knocking?
Soon, Ryu stopped in her tracks because a figure in a black robe appeared before her... a figure in a black robe that made Ryu show a ferocious expression!
"Bastard... where did you get that sword?"
Having been a waitress for many years, Ryu could usually control her expressions, but now, her composure completely shattered.
It was only because the masked figure in the black robe was holding a sword she knew incredibly well!
"True Red Order."
The rapier of the captain of the Astraea Familia!
She had clearly left it somewhere on the 18th floor!
Why was it in this person's hands?
Ryu wouldn't mistake it; the sword even had the wear patterns from past battles on it. It was that person's weapon!
"Well, who knows?"
"Maybe I just picked it up in some corner?"
A gloomy voice came from under the cloak, and it seemed to be a woman. This scene immediately made Ryu recall those filthy guys who had once attacked her.
Killing intent soon filled the air. Ryu even dropped her bag on the ground, her aura surging as she stared fixedly at the black-robed figure in the distance.
"Put that sword down, and I can let you leave. If you don't... I will kill you!"
"Oh my, don't be so impatient!"
Looking at the murderous Ryu, the cloaked figure completely disregarded it and pointed the sword at her.
"I think we should have a good chat, don't you?"
"Or does this sword remind you of your former comrades?"
"See you tomorrow... Ryu?"
These mocking words immediately pierced through Ryu's defenses, causing her to rush toward the black-robed figure like a madwoman, even letting out a roar that was completely unbecoming of an elf.
"Aaaaaah—!"
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