Chapter 207: A runaway girl?

A bed, cooking stuff, some bags with magic stones, some books laying around, and woman stuff—we barely had anything in the room. Alise looked at me as if I was a cruel husband for not giving them a better life.

Alise offered to pick up the bed that looked so out of the place in the cheap inn. I refused, of course. I can't let a woman pull my weight unless it's one of my wives.

I paid the full rent to the kind lady. She said goodbye while wiping away her tears with a cloth.

This… got weirdly emotional.

Leaving the small setback aside, the trip to the Stardust Garden finished without any hiccups.

—x—x—x—

Naaza fished out twenty valis from her pocket and handed it to the middle-aged man selling groceries. As she took the bag and turned to the empty street heading for her shop, the dog-ears on her head twitched, informing her of an uproar nearby.

'Was there some event today?'

Her curiosity piqued, she whirled around and followed her sense of hearing.

She arrived at the commotion.

Stardust Garden, the home of the most beloved Familia in Orario. They had sparked interest in Naaza due to their sense of justice. She recalled her god's talk with one of the customers about Astraea Familia adopting the policy to recruit male adventurers to their Familia.

Her tail suddenly bolted up and froze.

A crowd of adventurers, so silent even a bird's chirp seemed like a dragon's roar around them. A thick dark, murderous aura flowed in the air that made the surrounding adventurers keep their distance from them.

Their head was fixed at one angle.

Naaza followed their object of hostility, and surprise crossed her face.

A young man with tanned skin stood at the gate, talking to the famed Scarlet Harnel, the Captain of Astraea Familia. Naaza recognized a few other faces like Ryuu with Gale alias, Kaguya with Yamato Rindou alias.

'Marikawa… sama with Astraea Familia? Is he here to join them?'

She considered him inviting to her Familia after he saved her from the Bloodsaurus. He was kind, unlike most adventurers who lived their life like rogues.

But, she was late.

She shook her head as her ears laid flat on her head. Just when she thought she found a good friend.

'Maybe we can still be friends?'

Riling up her hopes, she hugged the grocery bag to her chest. Someone tapped her shoulder, bringing her out of her dreams.

"Hello, friend."

Naaza turned to the person—a human girl looking nervously at the crowd. She looked similar to her age with short red hair, amber eyes, and a bit boyish face.

"Can you tell me what is happening here? I'm new to this city. This place makes me… scared."

"It's… recruitment for Astraea Familia."

"Astraea Familia!" the girl suddenly grabbed her hands with sparkling eyes. "You mean the Astraea Familia? The home of the women who defeated the Evilus?"

Naaza was taken aback by enthusiasm. "...Yeah."

"Ah, sorry to startle you like that." the girl took a step back and extended her hand with a grin. "I'm Daphne. Daphne Lauros."

"...Naaza."

"I know it's too much to ask, but can you tell me more about the city? I just came here from Melen…"

Daphne began telling her about her past.

Melen, a beautiful port city based southwest of Orario on the shores of Lolog lake. It had been a hotspot for trading for Orario and foreign countries. Daphne's father was in charge of a ship that sailed between various cities to trade. Recently, her mother found out about his mistress living in other places and ran away with another man. Since he had nothing left in Melen, he wanted to turn Melen into his ship crew.

When Naaza asked the reason.

"I always dreamt of becoming an adventurer and conquering the famous Dungeon!"

Naaza shook her head. These types of people were nothing new in Orario. Fueled by hope and ambitions, they ended up becoming the nourishment of the Dungeon. This girl was the worst kind of idiot to tell a random girl everything about her past.

'What should I do about her?'

If left here, some people might exploit her naivety. She might be ridden with guilt if something happened to her.

Naaza glanced at Asahi entering the Familia ground with his companions and shook her head.

'He isn't going anywhere.'

"Come with me."

She decided to bring this naive girl to her Familia.

—x—x—x—

[Asahi POV]

So Daphne, the future commander of Apollo Familia, was already here. I overheard her conversation with Naaza, the sweet beastkin loli.

Well, my actions stopped her from getting involved with Apollo. There was her friend Cassandra, the girl with a prophecy skill. I don't know what was going to happen to her.

Saving a loli without doing anything felt good.

Alise led me to the place where Astraea served me tea last time. Alise went away to call Astraea.

We waited in the simple room that showed Astraea's lack of material greed. An honest goddess with the ultimate sense of justice. After the event with the Evilus, she didn't stick in Orario and left. Perhaps the loss of her Familia was too much for her.

Rika nudged me. "This place needs some serious rework. A DJ in the corner, a giant TV on the wall, maybe a few consoles, and a library full of manga, hentai, and novels."

"Sounds like heaven to me," Shiori agreed. "And Leme."

"At least we share the same refined taste in this."

Saeko gave a cold stare to both. "We can't mess with a place that isn't ours."

Nao nodded at Saeko's words. "We should wait for their decision."

They were just messing around. We already had a house and more to make this heaven. At least I got more details for making a perfect home for everyone.

Maybe when I decide to retire. That's still a long way to go!

(You haven't conquered my real body yet!)

Yeah!

***

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