When Cid returned to the Astraea Familia headquarters, he found the goddess waiting at the entrance again.
"You're a bit late today. But as long as you came back safe, that's what matters, Cid."
The gentle goddess smiled in relief.
Yeah… if you asked around, plenty of people would probably be willing to call Astraea 'Mom.'
Though in Orario, there are plenty who've fallen into darkness—there probably aren't that many who've fallen into… whatever this vibe is.
"I'm back, Lady Astraea."
Cid was carrying several different gifts in his arms.
They weren't heavy—just awkward, because there were so many.
"They all gave you their gifts?"
Astraea counted. There were only seven items.
"Everyone except Big Sis gave me something. Some weren't physical gifts… but seriously, why did they all insist on giving them to me one-on-one?"
Cid had actually left the Dungeon more than half an hour earlier.
And yet he'd been delayed until now.
It was like they'd coordinated it—one after another, each of them showed up in turn.
While he was trying to comfort Ryu, Lyanna appeared at the perfect moment.
After he accepted Lyanna's gift, Nize "just happened" to arrive next.
Cid had assumed they'd planned it, and he'd silently marveled at how bold Iska had been—especially doing that right in front of Ryu.
But when he asked, it turned out none of them had coordinated at all.
It was pure coincidence.
"Because you're comrades. Everyone simply thought the same way," Astraea said, not surprised in the slightest. "You're the one receiving the gifts, so your perspective doesn't quite line up with theirs."
She'd watched them the day before, all of them agonizing over what to choose. She'd already guessed how today would go.
And she trusted that if someone else were leaving the familia, Cid would also prepare a gift and deliver it personally.
Given his personality, he'd probably add some cryptic line with no clear meaning.
Something like:
"This is proof of the pact between the Eminence in Shadow and righteous light—may our alliance endure forever!"
Yes. That was exactly the sort of thing he'd say, because Cid was an amusing human.
"Why are you laughing, Lady Astraea?" Cid asked, setting the gifts down, baffled.
"It's nothing. Cid—after receiving so many heartfelt gifts, how do you feel?"
Astraea didn't show the wistfulness in her heart.
If Cid left, it would be hard to find another human quite as entertaining.
"How do I feel…? Honestly, kind of troubled."
Cid looked at the pile of gifts—happy, but also at a loss.
Accepting gifts meant you had to repay them.
"That's good," Astraea said, satisfied. "If you feel troubled, it means you're a good child who won't betray someone's feelings."
Cid cared about the bonds within the familia—that was why he was troubled.
As long as those bonds remained, Cid would always be a member of the Astraea Familia.
"Right—Ryu said you went into the Dungeon to scout enemy activity. Did you find anything?"
Astraea didn't forget the real issue.
Normally, a routine trip wouldn't yield much.
But Cid was unusual. She expected something unexpected from him.
"…"
Cid didn't answer immediately. He put on a serious face and pretended to think.
He did remember telling Ryu he was going into the Dungeon.
But wasn't he going to make money?
How did that turn into "scouting enemy activity"?
Was Ryu misunderstanding again… or had Cid overlooked something?
If he told the truth now, wouldn't Ryu be horribly embarrassed?
…Fine. Whatever.
Still—he couldn't lie to a goddess.
Cid reached into his pocket, took out a chunk of firestone, and handed it to Astraea.
"I found this. It might be something the enemy intends to detonate."
Cid didn't know what was going on, but he congratulated himself on his quick thinking.
Went out to scout, came back with one rock. Adds nothing to the main plot. That's the essence of being a background extra!
But Astraea's expression changed.
"Detonate? You mean… this stone can explode like fire magic? Would the dark faction use it to create human bombs?"
As a goddess who had lived for ages, Astraea represented justice—but she also understood darkness all too well.
Cid had barely opened the topic, and she immediately filled in the nightmare possibilities.
In her mind, future scenes unfolded:
The dark faction would send bewitched civilians carrying these bombs close to adventurers.
Caught off guard, level 2 and level 3 adventurers would suffer catastrophic injuries—
Or be killed outright.
And this method was especially effective against naive people who carried justice in their hearts.
Astraea's thoughts flashed to Ryu Lion, and fear surged through her.
For someone like Ryu… this would be a first-encounter death trap.
"…"
Cid kept up his "serious" expression, but internally he wanted to scratch his head.
Huh?
This reaction was bizarre.
Did Astraea… not already know firestones could be detonated?
Realizing that, Cid almost overheated on the spot.
Orario is an ancient city with serious alchemy infrastructure.
And I've even heard Hermes Familia has a toolmaker nicknamed "The All-Rounder," with the rare Development Ability "Mystery," whose creations allegedly amaze even gods.
And yet…
This is what we're working with?
In all of Orario, nobody knows what a firestone can do?
Even the dark faction is putting in more homework than you lot!
The more he imagined what might happen next, the more despair flooded in.
"I was wrong," Astraea said brightly. "I really shouldn't have kept you in the familia so long. Cid—you're a great contributor!"
Astraea smiled.
Cid absolutely could not smile.
Contributor? A contributor…?
Since when did a background extra get that treatment?!
If he ended up making a huge contribution to winning the war, then in the future everyone might greet him with stiff respect—
Cid's brain practically trembled at the thought.
"Lady Astraea… that dark faction you mentioned—those are dangerous people, right?"
Cid didn't state his point directly. He let Astraea reach the conclusion herself.
And Astraea did not disappoint.
"Yes. They're scum who could send human bombs. With your level of strength, this merit shouldn't be made public."
Cid quietly exhaled in relief.
However, even as Astraea said that aloud, she also began thinking about other ways to compensate him for his contribution.
And as it happened—
Alise was about to give a truly outrageous gift.
"Cid—make sure you look forward to Alise's gift."
It was a gift Alise had been preparing for ten years.
She'd kept it secret all that time, and at last she could finally give it to him.
"…Okay."
Unfortunately, as if sensing what was coming, Cid felt no anticipation.
Only dread.
-------
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