A follower of justice.
Such a simple yet powerful answer immediately showed Ryuu how determined Fujimaru Ritsuka was, filling her heart with approval.
Knowing the path would be difficult yet choosing to walk it anyway reminded her of Alise, the captain who had invited her into the Astraea Familia.
Alise had once said something very similar.
“Noel-san, as a newcomer, you may not know that something terrible happened to the Astraea Familia in the past.
It ultimately forced our goddess to leave Orario.” Seeing Ryuu sink into her memories, Ritsuka continued his explanation.
“Even so, Astraea-sama has always cared deeply about Orario.” “She has always wanted justice to return to this city, and I’m the one who will bring it back!” “Besides, do you remember the senior I mentioned in the Dungeon?
Astraea-sama has never stopped worrying about her.” Ryuu snapped out of her memories and stared at Ritsuka in surprise.
“Is…
that true?” “Of course.
Astraea-sama misses my senior terribly and constantly worries that she isn’t living well.” “She once considered coming to Orario to find her, but feared that returning might make my senior’s situation more difficult.
I won’t tell you the exact reason, though.” Ritsuka waved dismissively, leaving Ryuu feeling slightly awkward.
“That’s why Astraea-sama remained in Solingen and sent me to contact my senior instead.” “By the way, what happened earlier?
Why did you suddenly run away?” “Oh, that…” When the conversation unexpectedly turned toward her, Ryuu hurriedly explained.
“I’m actually an employee at the Hostess of Fertility.
I work there, and today was one of my shifts.” “I visited the Dungeon during my break but lost track of time.
Had you not reminded me, I would’ve returned late and received a terrible scolding from the manager.” Ryuu’s face reddened as she spoke.
Lying to her own junior filled her with guilt.
The other waitresses had helped her invent this excuse.
Ryuu obviously could not avoid the Hostess of Fertility entirely, so they needed a believable explanation for why she had suddenly fled without answering his questions.
“So that’s what happened!” Ritsuka nodded in apparent understanding before brightening with delight.
“Then you work alongside my senior!” “What’s your senior’s name?” Ritsuka glanced around.
After confirming no one was watching them, he leaned close to Ryuu’s long elven ear.
“My senior is named Ryuu Lion.
She’s an elf like you, except she has golden hair.” The warm breath against her ear made Ryuu instinctively shrink back.
However, after hearing his words, she understood that he was protecting her identity by preventing anyone nearby from hearing her name.
Ritsuka watched Ryuu blush and pull back.
The corner of his mouth briefly rose before he immediately adopted an apologetic expression.
“Sorry.
I leaned in too close.” “It’s fine!
You were discussing something important and didn’t want anyone else to hear.
I don’t mind.” Ryuu hurriedly shook her head.
“Thank you.” Ritsuka nodded gratefully.
“This really is sensitive information, Noel-san.
My senior is wanted by the Guild, so I don’t want strangers hearing her name.” “But don’t worry.
She’s a good person.
The Guild is simply hunting her unjustly.” Still blushing, Ryuu nodded.
“It’s all right.
I…
understand what you mean.” “Considering the Guild’s bounty, my senior is probably living under another name.
But she’s definitely a golden-haired elf.” “Do any golden-haired elves work at your tavern?” “I’m sorry.” Ryuu continued lying with a flushed face.
“There aren’t any golden-haired elves working there.” “Huh?
None?” Ritsuka stared at her in surprise.
“Could you think about it again?” “I’m sorry, but there truly aren’t any.
I’m the only elf working there.
The others are humans or catgirls.” “What?” Ritsuka scratched his hair with a completely bewildered expression.
“Could Astraea-sama have received the wrong information?” “Astraea-sama wasn’t mistaken.” Ryuu hurriedly spoke up.
“What do you mean?” Ritsuka looked at her curiously.
“If she wasn’t mistaken, my senior should be at the Hostess of Fertility.
Astraea-sama had great difficulty obtaining that information.” “Perhaps your senior once lived there but later left.
That would explain why she isn’t there now.” “I only arrived in Orario recently and haven’t worked at the tavern for long, so I might simply have never met another elf who once lived there.” “That…” Ritsuka frowned and rubbed his chin.
“That’s certainly possible!” “I’ll take you to the tavern and let you ask the manager.
She should know more.” “All right.
Thank you for helping me.” “It’s no trouble.
Follow me.
It’s almost dinnertime anyway, so you can eat at the tavern while you’re there.” Ryuu quickly led Ritsuka away from Northwestern Street and toward West Main Street.
By the time they arrived outside the Hostess of Fertility, the other waitresses had already been waiting for quite some time.
“Ry—nya, nya, nya…
Noel!
You’re back, nya!
This must be—wait, who is this, nya?” Anya instinctively started calling Ryuu by her real name.
When she noticed Ritsuka standing behind her, she hurriedly corrected herself.
Ryuu glared at Anya.
She had almost exposed everything with her very first sentence.
“Anya, I’m back.
This is a friend I met in the Dungeon this afternoon.” “Oh!
He must be the Astraea Familia rookie all the customers have been talking about today, nya!
He’s rather handsome, nya!” Anya exaggerated every word while wearing an expression of theatrical amazement.
Even Ritsuka’s mouth twitched at the sight.
‘That’s so forced.
Far too forced!’ Ritsuka knew the story and understood that the catgirl was helping Ryuu maintain her disguise.
Still, she could at least have acted more naturally.
Anyone unaware of the truth might think she was performing in an opera.
To appear properly confused, Ritsuka gently poked Ryuu’s arm.
Ryuu turned and silently asked what was wrong with her eyes.
“Um…
Does everyone here normally speak like that?
It feels a little strange.” “Well…” An awkward expression appeared on Ryuu’s face.
“We don’t normally act this way.
Her name is Anya, and she has a very lively personality, so she occasionally speaks like that.” Ryuu immediately pushed all the blame onto Anya.
Anya could not defend herself because her performance had genuinely been terrible.
The other waitresses could no longer bear to watch and came outside one after another.
The silver-haired Syr walked at the front.
“Noel!
You’re back.
What did you see when you ran outside to investigate the commotion?
Oh?
Who is this?” Facing the patron goddess of Orario’s strongest Familia, Ritsuka answered without the slightest change in expression.
“Hello, everyone.
I’m Fujimaru Ritsuka of the reborn Astraea Familia!” ‘It’s only acting.