Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

Liu was shaken and unable to refute him. Since she came to Orario—since she hysterically confronted that goddess—this was the first time anyone had dared to criticize her to her face.

Hearing the girl's heartfelt advice, Ryu finally realized her mistake.

"……you're right."

After a long silence.

Ryu said softly.

“I’m a despicable person who blames race for things I can’t handle… I’m just a kid.”

The girl's criticism was entirely correct. Ryu had unknowingly blamed everything on the fairy and was simply lamenting the injustice to herself. She hadn't faced her own incompetence, nor could she bear this humiliation.

"Oh, so you can honestly admit your mistakes. An ordinary person would have been furious and definitely wouldn't have admitted it honestly... You may be a bit stubborn, but you're still very straightforward. Hmm, you must be an honest person."

Looking at Ryu with her head down, Alize said somewhat absentmindedly.

"—But I really like it this way."

Then she laughed.

It was an innocent and pure smile. Ryu looked up in surprise and stared at her, frozen in place.

What an incredible girl. A patch of blue sky appeared above the red-haired girl's head.

Ryu has never seen such a person before.

"You're impressed by my sense of justice, aren't you! Haha, you're truly worthy of me!"

...And she also often says unnecessary things.

Ryu noticed a subtle expression on her face, then removed her hood and mask.

The other party looked at them with some surprise, and Ryu sincerely thanked them, "Thank you very much for your help just now." Hearing this, Alize Robert smiled even more happily.

"You look troubled, what happened? You can tell me if you'd like."

Alize laughed heartily. Perhaps she could treat anyone without any barriers. She somewhat forcefully led Ryu along the path to the square, and Ryu couldn't help but have this thought.

The two sat by the fountain where water sprayed everywhere. When they came to their senses, Ryu had already told them everything about how she had refused the other person.

"Hmm... I've heard about the customs of fairies, but I didn't expect them to vary from person to person."

It's unbelievable. Could it be because he has come to accept this girl he just met? Ryu doesn't mind continuing to confide in her.

Alize listened patiently to Liu's troubles, and as soon as Liu finished speaking, she leaned in and said something.

"In that case, let's go for special training! So that even if we shake hands in the future, we won't shake each other off!"

"Varied……"

She smiled slightly and offered a solution to the problem that had been troubling her for so long, leaving Liu speechless once again.

"Let's get started now! Give me your hand!"

"Wait, wait a minute, I still need to...!"

"I'm almost a Level 3 adventurer! Even if I get left behind, it won't hurt! It's okay, hurry up!"

Faced with Alizé's desperate attempt to hold her hand, Ryu, unable to refuse, tried to avoid her.

In the end, the girl, who claimed to be about to become a senior adventurer, gently grabbed Ryu's hand—the two intertwined their fingers.

"—"

After a moment, Liu did not shake off Alize's hand.

The warmth of the girl emanated from their clasped hands.

"What? Nothing's wrong, this is so boring."

"No, that..."

Ryu's blue eyes stared at their clasped hands.

Confused, Alize looked at Liu's profile and said something unexpectedly.

"I said, how about joining our 'clan'?"

She took Ryu's hand and invited Ryu to join her.

"what……"

"Because I really like you! Although you're a bit clumsy, you're a fairy who's willing to admit your mistakes, and most importantly—you hate evil, right? We're the same in that respect!!"

"But...but I still..."

"I won't force you! But you can come and take a look first, let's go!"

Alize stood up from the fountain, still holding Liu's hand.

Liu couldn't shake off her hand. Even she herself found it very strange, and felt a little reluctant to part.

"By the way, I don't know your name yet! Can you tell me?"

"...Lyu, Lyu Leon..."

Liu, holding her hand, answered somewhat blankly.

The red-haired girl turned around and smiled happily.

"Hmm? Your name is Ryu? That feels a bit odd. From now on, I'll call you Leon!"

The way she was addressed changed from "you" to "you," and Liu felt a warmth spread through her chest as the girl seemed to get closer to her.

*

"Lady Astraea, I'm back!"

Alize led Liu to a house located in the southwest of the city.

Moreover, the route was the same as the map in her hand. Could it be? Ryu had a premonition. She pushed open the door and saw a spacious living room where the goddess with blue eyes was sitting in a chair weaving something.

"Welcome back, Alize. Oh, that child... Heh, I see."

The goddess Astraea tossed her walnut-colored hair and smiled happily. Ryu blushed awkwardly, feeling quite embarrassed.

Facing this gentle goddess whom he was meeting again, Ryu bowed apologetically.

"Alize, who is she?"

"He's a candidate for group member!"

In this spacious room, several other girls were sitting on other benches, each with their own unique posture.

Alize answered her fellow faction member's question, then led Ryu to the center of the room to begin her explanation.

"Leon! This is the base of our 'Astraea Familia'! There are ten members, and the main deity is none other than Lady Astraea sitting over there!"

By the way, I'm the team leader! Alize added with a touch of pride.

She also told Ryu that this family was a newly established family that had only recently been formed.

"Besides our activities as an exploration faction, we're also responsible for maintaining urban order!"

"Maintaining order...? So, you're also under the command of the governing body?"

"Of course not! We will only act in accordance with our own sense of justice!"

Justice? Ryu repeated the word, and Alize nodded.

"We obey the name of the supreme god who governs justice and order, to correct the world's mistakes! We will eliminate injustice in the world! Our justice is Lady Astraea's and our own ideal! As long as Lady Astraea blesses us, we will never lose our sense of justice!"

Alizee proclaims everyone's beliefs and expounds on justice.

From Ryu's perspective as an outsider, such behavior was somewhat reckless. If the main god had ulterior motives and used them arbitrarily, they would be nothing more than a group of ridiculous puppets.

—But at the same time, Ryu was also certain that such a thing would never happen.

Astraea has been gently watching over Alize and the other members of the group, and of course, she also cares about Ryu. She would never betray their trust, nor would she abandon them. She must be a god who loves children more than anyone else.

Since Astraea was able to gain the trust of all of Alizee and the others, it must be due to her personal charm.

"Of course, our sense of justice may conflict with that of others! Because everyone has their own ideals, which is only natural!"

Everyone has their own beliefs, so everyone will uphold a different kind of justice.

The girl emphasized that fighting is the destiny of justice.

"—However, what's happening in Orario right now is absolutely not justice!!"

Alizé suddenly emphasized.

"Leon, what's your opinion of this city? Do the people on the street smile?"

"...I always felt that everyone was afraid of something. This fear was like silt settling in a river."

"That's right! Orario has now entered an era of chaos! Zeus and Hera's 'familia' have been defeated by the 'black dragon' for five years, and now evil is being committed everywhere!"

The two major factions, Zeus and Hera, failed in their challenge to the "Three Great Adventurers' Requests." Even Ryu, who grew up in the Fairy Realm, had heard about it. As a result, the Dark Faction has now risen up, plunging Orario into chaos.

"It's not just the Loki and Freya factions; those guys from Ganesha have been working hard lately too! Hephaestus from the Alchemist Group is too! But it's still not enough!"

"..."

"We must also rise up and catch up! Let this dark period end!"

"We will use our own hands to put an end to the chaos in Orario." The girl declared earnestly, arms outstretched.

"Orario is the 'center of the world,' and if chaos breaks out here, it will definitely affect the outside world! Therefore, chaos must not occur in Orario!"

“Alize…”

"What Orario needs most right now is the right order, and even more importantly, people's smiles!"

Alizee's eyes, shining with unwavering will, conviction, and glory, were dazzling.

The girl's resolute expression seemed to stir people's hearts, inspiring them to follow her.

"...Therefore, we need partners. We need partners who share our ideals."

Alize concluded her passionate speech with a calm tone, looking at Ryu.

Ryu met her gaze and closed her eyes under the watchful eyes of the goddess and her fellow members.

Ryu has always longed for equal friends and partners who respect each other.

She came to Orario because she longed for something she couldn't get in the Fairy Realm.

But what do I think now?

Hearing the dream of the first girl of another race to hold her hand, she was filled with mixed emotions.

She remembered the anger she felt when she was surrounded by thugs.

He also recalled the figure of the girl who had rescued him.

Before my eyes appeared the smile of a young girl and the kindness of a goddess.

"I also……"

Liu opened her eyes and met Alize's emerald green eyes.

"I also want to join you in upholding justice..."

"—Of course! We would love to welcome you, Leon!"

Alizé laughed, and the other members cheered along. Astraea also smiled elegantly and said softly.

"Thank you for joining our 'familia', Ryu Leon."

"No...it's all thanks to you and Alize. Thank you for guiding me when I was lost..."

In the next room, Ryu took off her coat and turned her back to Astraea, saying this while thanking her.

Ultimately, Ryu, whose "ability value" was engraved, became a member of this gentle goddess's kin and received the faction's emblem.

BD Bonus Novel BD7 Short Story: Hero's Elegy

The online translation is from the Kingdom of Light

Image source: uiop031

Translation: cleverchm

"Please, Bell Craney... kill that guy."

A strange human male adventurer stood before me, trembling as he pleaded with me.