And come to think of it, aside from Hermes — this “Cao Cao” of his — none of the “ministers” under his banner seemed particularly welcoming toward him either.
But the moment he remembered that Asfi was here today to deliver a letter, Natsuka quickly caught on.
Right.
This woman, with the only remaining member of the Astraea Familia — that good-for-nothing elf, that is — was actually on pretty decent terms.
She might really be able to hook him up with a connection, come to think of it.
So Natsuka just went ahead and spoke up, openly and brazenly.
“I heard that Lady Astraea is here.”
“I came over to try my luck.”
“…”
Asfi fell silent for a moment, staring at him with suspicion.
The Astraea Familia wasn’t a place just any old person could get into.
Or to put it more precisely.
If you didn’t carry some sort of obsession and conviction toward this thing called “justice,” that goddess generally wouldn’t take a shine to you.
But then again, thinking about Astraea’s current situation, Asfi couldn’t help mulling it over a bit more.
This fellow in front of her — did he really have the qualifications to shoulder the banner of a newborn Astraea Familia?
Should she stop him, or shouldn’t she?
Before she could finish thinking it through, she heard Natsuka beside her stroking his chin and muttering quietly to himself.
“Let’s try here first.”
“If it really doesn’t work out, I can always head back and use Hermes as a backup…”
Asfi went completely numb listening to that.
Wow.
This guy is awful.
The expression on her face fell flat in an instant.
No way.
Under no circumstances could this fellow be allowed to team up with Lord Hermes.
A high-level adventurer’s senses were not exactly for show.
Of that little muttered comment from Natsuka, she hadn’t missed so much as a single word.
And so all those hesitant thoughts that had been circling in her heart just a moment ago were completely overturned in an instant.
“Lady Astraea doesn’t meet with just anyone.”
“Come with me.
I’ll introduce you.”
With that, she turned right around and pushed the shop door open again.
In order to keep an eye on a restless man, she’d willingly sacrifice a bit of friendship on the side.
This maiden-in-love sure had no shortage of decisiveness, either.
Standing behind her, Natsuka quietly gave a thumbs-up to the air.
Plan, accomplished.
Stepping into the shop, the first thing that came into view was a young girl draped over the counter.
She looked like her soul had already run away from home — the whole of her was wilted beyond words.
She wore a black apron, her short blue hair a little messy.
Her fingertips were flicking the iron hammer on the table, on and off, as if her mind was elsewhere.
She looked, by all appearances, like a blacksmith.
“Why are you back again.”
“Didn’t I already tell you?
Lady Astraea has gone off to look for the Sprites.”
“I’ll pass along any letters for you.”
The girl puffed out her cheeks, her tone laced with obvious impatience.
Though she was nominally addressing Asfi, it felt more like she was getting fed up with the person standing behind her as well.
“Cecil, there’s also something else.”
“I think it’d be best to speak with the goddess directly.”
Asfi answered calmly.
“Hmph, suit yourself.”
“Just don’t bother me.”
Cecil snorted, lowered her eyes again, her gaze drifting back to the hammer, as if there was still something weighing on her mind. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Natsuka and Asfi found an empty seat and sat down.
He lowered his voice and asked.
“Who’s that?”
“Your rival.”
Asfi’s tone was flat, even carrying a faint trace of teasing.
“Rival?”
“The child Lady Astraea has her eye on.”
“If things go smoothly, in the future she might just be your captain.”
“A blacksmith?”
“In other words, she hasn’t formally joined the Familia yet.”
Natsuka was lost in thought.
In a place like the Sword Capital, nine out of every ten people were blacksmiths.
If Astraea was recruiting here, her target demographic was, in all likelihood, exactly these blacksmiths.
And as for why she was so fixated on finding a blacksmith, the reason was, of course, something Natsuka knew.
At the end of the day, it was still for the sake of that sole remaining member of the Astraea Familia.
Ryuu Lion.
That good-for-nothing elf — her eyes burning red with vengeance, elegant on the surface yet propped up entirely on sheer grit underneath.
Two years ago — that is to say, five years before the start of the main storyline — the Astraea Familia had been set up by Evilus in concert with insider moles within the Guild, and wiped out in a single sweep.
In the end, only one survived: Ryuu.
From then on, that elven maiden had walked the path of vengeance.
Any organization, caravan, or Familia connected to Evilus had, almost without exception, been hunted down and settled with by her, one by one.
And because she didn’t want Astraea to see the side of her that had been twisted by hatred, she had simply requested that the goddess temporarily leave Orario.
So Astraea taking up residence in the Sword Capital actually came down to two reasons.
One was to find a blacksmith who could forge a new weapon for Ryuu.
The other was to go and convince the Sprites to lend their aid, to imbue that future weapon with power.
Astraea always firmly believed it.
Once the child who had been engulfed by the flames of vengeance came back and stood before her once more, it would mean she had finished her journey, found the answer that belonged to her.
And the Ryuu of that time would surely need a new weapon, and a new power to go with it.