"Getting lost outside is…" Shaka subconsciously wanted to explain.
But after thinking it over and over, he still didn't know how to put it into words.
Leah-sama hasn't actually abandoned you, and is still trying to create a weapon just for you? And She still loves you?
But this senior was clearly being stubborn; she might not believe what he said. It was like a couple arguing, with one person simply saying "I won't listen," using sheer stubbornness to overcome all reason!
Shaka wasn't very good at giving serious explanations of justice. In his view, justice was a very "idealistic" concept—like the Marines in One Piece.
Everyone had their own idea of justice, or perhaps it wasn't justice at all. For example, Sengoku's "justice that reigns supreme over the world," Garp's "justice of compromise," Zephyr's "simple justice," and even Kizaru's "ambiguous justice."
Shaka himself was more inclined to Zephyr's style a "heroic sense of justice," hoping to save everything and protect those around him. This was probably the mindset most people who traveled to anime and manga worlds would have.
But none of this could explain Ryū's current path toward "obsessive justice."
After a long pause, Shaka slowly raised his head, looked earnestly into Ryu's eyes, and spoke softly:
"Lost... that's exactly what it means. She hopes you can come home soon."
This ambiguous answer neither completely affirmative nor completely negative, was exactly what Ryu most wanted to hear.
She turned around, lowered her head, and held back the tears welling up in her eyes. After wiping away the moisture from her eyes, she regained her cold demeanor and faced Shaka directly.
"has the goddess come to the city too? Is she alright?"
Shaka shook his head: "Because of a certain senior, she's still waiting for you to come home, and she's probably still worried about her troublesome daughter."
"Sorry."
The frank elf chose to apologize.
The two exchanged information about their respective situations, touching on the future development of the familia and the protection of the goddess.
Finally, Ryu asked:
"Who is that purple-haired girl outside...?"
"They're family, of course members of the Astraea Familia."
"Huh?" Ryu pressed further, "Are there many members in the familia now?"
Shaka replied matter-of-factly, "Of course, including you senior, there are already 13 people."
Shaka described each member's appearance to Ryu, matching them with the people who had recently caused a stir in Orario.
Throughout, Ryu listened intently, and a picture formed in her mind:
I'm like a diligent old hen, watching over a bright red chick. Then, without realizing it, purple, pink, yellow, black, blue, white... all kinds of colorful chicks appeared, chirping noisily around the mother hen, with one or two wandering off every now and then.
Ryu shook her head, dismissing the imagined scene, and sighed with a complicated expression. "The Astraea Familia already has so many children?"
Shaka proudly put his hands on his chest and said, "That's right it's all thanks to me!"
As if remembering something, Shaka exclaimed "Ah!" and continued:
"Oh right! It's all because of you, senior my whole day has been wasted! I have so many things to do. Honestly, not only do you not help, but you're also holding me back!"
"Do you have that much to do?" Ryu asked in surprise.
Adventurers who had just arrived in Orario shouldn't have anything special going on. Then she realized the person in front of her was the leader of a familia, and the Astraea Familia was no longer just her alone.
Shaka held up a finger and said matter-of-factly, "The original plan was to rent a house, and I also made an appointment with Leon to test equipment. Now I just heard that Kanade was 'kidnapped' and I have to go find her. Plus, Sora and the others went to the dungeon and haven't come back yet."
"By the way, what happened to the guy who was with me yesterday?"
Shaka counted off his fingers, recounting each matter to Ryu...
When he mentioned they hadn't returned from the dungeon, Ryu's expression froze for a moment.
"Ouch! Don't push, meow!"
Boom!
Just then, the kitchen door was pushed open, and the two catgirls and Syr fell to the ground in a human pyramid they'd clearly been eavesdropping.
"Syr?"
"Hehehe... did I give myself away?" Syr stuck out her tongue, stood up, patted her skirt, and said, "About this..."
"Don't worry adventurers saw those kids enter the dungeon with Hogni. It's probably a special internship related to the school district."
Upon hearing this...
"Phew that's good." Ryu breathed a long sigh of relief. With a Level 6 companion, even a group of novices shouldn't encounter danger.
Hogni? How did he end up with them? Their styles don't seem to match at all. Is it mutual attraction between chuunibyou individuals?
Shaka gave Syr a subtle look, and she responded with a smile.
...
After handing over his work to Mama Mia and receiving a warm invitation to "come help again when you have time," Shaka waved goodbye to Ryu, who was already dressed in a maid outfit and standing at the door.
Before leaving, Ryu said, intentionally or unintentionally:
"don't worry. I'll find a way to contact someone I know and buy back the old Stardust Mansion at a very low price."
After Astraea left the city, the Stardust Mansion originally theirs had been taken back by the guild but not sold. Everyone in the city seemed to be waiting for a certain moment to arrive, hoping the house would welcome its new owners back.
Previously, because Ryu was wanted by the authorities and had no documentation, it was difficult to redeem the property even if she had money. Now it was different...
"If it's you, then there's no problem," she said.
Speaking of money...
Shaka looked at Ryu and said resentfully, "Oh right I think I had about 1 million Faris before..."
Ryu blushed slightly and looked away: "I'll save that money for you and for your wedding... so you won't spend it recklessly..."
As if remembering something, she straightened her face and said seriously, "Also, you are not allowed to go to that kind of place in the future!"
"Or else... I'll kill you!"
Are you the legal wife managing household affairs now...?
Shaka touched his pockets and was speechless.
"I'm out of money."
He felt like a husband who'd been forced to hand over his salary after marriage and now had to secretly hide savings.
No I need to plan my secret stash in advance to avoid losing financial freedom later! I need at least a gold mine!
He looked at Yuuki with innocent eyes: "What should we do? Your future dowry has been confiscated by the unscrupulous first wife!"
What are you saying?!
Yuuki blushed deeply, bowed to Ryu, and then left with Shaka.