Chapter 38: See You Tomorrow!
'The Astraea Familia... was destroyed years ago?'
'Even the Familia's primary goddess has left Orario?'
The girl clad in a black robe felt a sense of profound loss after paying a small price to obtain certain news from Rivira. Even her former optimism and cheerfulness had vanished.
The last memories in her mind showed that she should have perished alongside a certain monster in the dungeon to protect her companions...
But why?
Why had she crawled out of a grave not long ago?
The girl didn't understand; she truly didn't understand.
She couldn't even distinguish whether 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 the 'Astraea Familia', the famous 'Familia of Justice' in Orario. After all, the goddess's duty was justice, so the members under her naturally possessed a heart of justice.
If possible, Alise certainly wouldn't want to hide her identity, but the matter of rising from the dead was simply too incredible. To prevent any accidents, Alise had been hiding her identity since her resurrection, remaining undiscovered by any adventurers.
She had even managed to get a set of clothes to sneak into Rivira on the 18th floor to scout for the information she wanted.
However, it was this very information that made the girl's already none-too-bright brain even more muddled.
All she knew was that the current time was several years after her death?
The future?
Thus, to confirm her suspicions and to make sense of the current situation, Alise had to find a certain person as quickly as possible—a former member of the Astraea Familia...
'Gale', Ryu Lion.
She was just a blonde, useless elf!
How could she possibly compare to me, the number one beautiful girl in all of Orario?
So, the Orario of the future?
I, Alise, have returned!
Looking at the passage leading to the surface, Alise slowly pulled down her hood and followed a group of adventurers back to this familiar yet strange city.
—
"Whew! There were so many customers today!"
The grey-haired girl came to the side of a certain green-haired elf, looking at her with some exhaustion.
"It can't be helped. After all, the entire Loki Familia expedition team came here to eat. We were bound to be busier than usual, Syr."
These two girls were members of Orario's famous restaurant, 'The Hostess of Fertility'. One was named Syr and the other Lyu; they were very ordinary waitresses.
"Still, it's really strange. The Loki Familia only entered the dungeon recently, so why did they return so soon? Did some accident happen?"
As a restaurant waitress, Syr had naturally seen many customers and, due to certain special reasons, was a very good judge of character.
When the members of the Loki Familia came to the restaurant to eat, Syr immediately noticed that exhaustion was written all over their faces. It looked as though they had been through a fierce battle, and some of the weaker members even carried an air of having narrowly escaped death.
What happened?
Syr saw clearly that they had no physical wounds at all, yet their mental trauma was beyond imagination.
So, to investigate, she specifically asked a few questions while delivering dishes to see if she could get any useful information.
However, whether it was Finn or the other members of the Familia, they all chose to remain silent, practically having the words 'refuse to answer' written on their faces.
Left with no choice, Syr had to act as an ordinary waitress and continue serving dishes to these tired and hungry guests.
"But speaking of which, they really ate a lot!"
"They must have gone through a battle beyond my imagination, right?"
Even Riveria, the most elegant member of the Elf Royal Family among the crowd, chose to feast greedily during the meal instead of taking small bites as usual...
This clearly meant something big had happened!
Looking at the Loki Familia's current state, she probably wouldn't get any answers, but news would likely leak out in the coming days. Therefore, Syr wasn't in a hurry at all; she had plenty of time to wait.
"Indeed. For an adventurer, food is very important!"
Lyu nodded as if it were a matter of course. After all, she had once been an adventurer herself, and a high-ranking one at that, so she naturally understood how strong an adventurer's constitution was.
The higher an adventurer's level, the larger their appetite. By the time they reached the first-tier, which is Level 5, it wouldn't even be an exaggeration for them to eat two whole cows.
Thus, to reduce the trouble caused by eating, 'The Hostess of Fertility' also prepared special high-energy food for adventurers to meet the energy needs of high-level ones.
Of course, they also sold ordinary food. After all, it was a restaurant; having too few dishes wouldn't do!
"Exactly, just like you, Lyu!"
"Your appetite alone can completely match the rest of us put together!"
"But even so, it's still not as much as Mama Mia!"
The meaning of Syr's words was already quite clear, and everyone in the restaurant understood. After all...
While they were ordinary restaurant staff on the surface, they were all adventurers of considerable strength in the shadows!
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 need to take a good bath tonight, get some sleep, and work even harder tomorrow!"
"Yes, me too."
Lyu had long since adapted to the life of a shop assistant. After all, she had been working here for nearly two years. Two years is enough to change a person.
For example, turning a newcomer into a corporate slave...
"Then see you tomorrow, Lyu!"
"We have to continue being together tomorrow. Everyone, do your best!"
After saying goodbye to everyone in the restaurant, Lyu soon walked toward the small shack she rented.
Because she had received Mia's protection, the location Lyu chose to rent wasn't too far from the restaurant and could be reached quickly.
But for some reason... she felt her heart racing?
As if some trouble was about to find her?
Suddenly, Lyu stopped in her tracks because a black-robed figure had appeared in front of her... a figure that caused Lyu to show a ferocious expression!
"You bastard... that sword, where did you get it?"
Having been a shop assistant for years, Lyu could restrain her expression in most situations, but now, her composure completely shattered.
It was only because that masked, black-robed person was holding a sword she was intimately familiar with!
Crimson Order.
The rapier of the Astraea Familia's captain!
She had clearly left it in a certain location on the 18th floor!
Why was it in this person's hands?
Lyu wouldn't mistake it; that sword even had the patterns from past battles on it. It was that person's weapon!
"Now, who knows?"
"Maybe I just picked it up in some corner?"
A somber voice came from beneath the cloak, seemingly belonging to a woman. This scene instantly made Lyu recall the filthy wretches who had attacked her in the past.
Killing Intent quickly filled the air. Lyu casually dropped her bag on the ground, her aura surging as she stared fixedly at the black-robed figure in the distance.
"Put down that sword and I can let you leave. If you don't... I will kill you!"
"Oh, don't be in such a hurry!"
Looking at the murderous Lyu, the cloaked figure pointed the sword at her with total indifference.
"I think we should have a good chat, shouldn't we?"
"Or does this sword remind you of your former companions?"
"See you tomorrow... Lyu?"
These mocking words instantly pierced through the defenses of Lyu's heart, causing her to rush toward the black-robed person like a madwoman, even letting out a roar that completely defied an elf's image.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!"
PS:
This time we really have to see each other tomorrow...
The official staff sure know how to play; two character PVs are already gone... Calculating the time carefully, it's just about eleven or twelve o'clock tomorrow when they finish deleting Amphoreus.
Whatever happened to that heartwarming story we were promised?
Hyacine & Barbara / Dungeon Encounter
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T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me.
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Shilling time!
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