"Astraea? Didn't see that coming."
Loki truly hadn't expected that answer—but she quickly realized why it surprised her.
"Wait! Astraea's children are in danger? She has nine Level 4s—how could they get cornered so easily? They survived the worst incursion by Alfreya during the Three-Year Great Strife, and now they're in trouble inside the dungeon?"
Her voice slowed as she factored in the dungeon's current instability, then she pressed for specifics.
"What exactly caused it?"
"They were ambushed by the Dark Faction. Those bastards sabotaged and buried both the entrance and exit on Floor 30 while Astraea's group was active down there. Then they over-destroyed the current floor to force out a dungeon sweeper and use it to kill the Astraea Familia."
"So complicated? They lured Astraea's kids into a pit and even weaponized the dungeon's mechanics against them?"
Loki's mind raced through Tsunayoshi's clues; she more or less grasped the situation—and, with it, the likely cause of the recent "anomalies."
"Tch. Don't tell me they ran several experiments just to perfect the ambush on Astraea's kids?"
Sawada Tsunayoshi gave a small nod.
"I'm thinking the same. The dungeon's recent 'anomalies' are most likely the Dark Faction's doing."
"Repeated floor-breaking to trigger sweepers again and again… keeping the dungeon in a constant 'stress response.' No wonder we ran into a black-skinned variant Goliath on Floor 17. And the three-headed 'Anfisbina' variant on Floors 25 and 27."
"Those stragglers really deserve to rot."
Loki curled her lip. Those troublemakers would stir the pot at any time. She didn't know the exact strength of the variant Goliath and Anfisbina, but the phrase "stress response" said enough—they were almost certainly stronger than normal.
They'd largely cleared out the Dark Faction's main force three years ago, yet the remnants could still pull something like this.
"How are Astraea's kids?"
Borrowing the puppet's eyes, Tsunayoshi glanced over and answered at once:
"The red-haired one and the black-haired bob both lost their right arms. A pallum lost both legs. Of the two elves, one's missing a left arm, the other a right leg. One Amazon, one werewolf, one dwarf, and three humans are all heavily injured."
"…Damn. That's over half crippled."
Nine Level 4s, with five effectively taken out—it was nearly a wipe. Loki hadn't expected the Dark Faction to go this far, twisting dungeon mechanics to all but break Astraea.
Stunned into silence for a long moment, Loki suddenly seized on a point:
"Hold on! Isn't my Tsuna best at limb regeneration?"
Thinking of Astraea—and of her own beloved kids—Loki's heart hatched a bold idea.
"Tsuna, bring Astraea's children to you first. I'll go negotiate with Astraea."
"Heh-heh~ Astraea-chan~ you're in my hands this time~"
Saying so, Loki dashed offscreen. Even through the screen, Tsunayoshi could hear her shouting:
"Lene! Go invite Astraea to my place—I've got something to discuss with her. Note: it's about her children!"
"Eh? Lady Loki, even this late?"
"Of course! It's important! And I'm heading to the Guild—get Anqi up for me!"
Sawada Tsunayoshi shook his head, a little amused at Loki's blustery style. For all her wisdom, she could be impulsive.
He dismissed the television, then stepped out of the other dimension and back into his room.
"Now I just need to wait for the puppet to deliver them."
"As for Finn… I'll wait for Miss Loki's update before looping them in."
The Garden of Stars—home of the Astraea Familia.
Astraea's household wasn't the common kind that swelled by sheer headcount; it was a strict meritocracy. Internally, their creed matched their goddess's name: Justice. Because of that creed, they'd become a beacon to the common folk.
If you suffered injustice in Orario, you sought out the Astraea Familia—and you could await the arrival of "justice."
Because they held to justice, they were loathed and targeted by the city's shadows.
Tonight, with her children away in the dungeon, the Garden of Stars was quiet; only the goddess Astraea remained.
"…"
Astraea stood silently in the darkened courtyard, her heart having sunk to the bottom.
"My children…"
She bit her lip; a terrible foreboding kept rising within her.
Another day had passed. It had now been three days since the time her children should have returned from the dungeon—a dire sign.
Gods sensed crisis more keenly than mortals. Astraea could no longer restrain herself; she let her divinity scatter like faint starlight, praying that someone—anyone—would answer.
She knew Loki's children had descended into the dungeon two days ago on an expedition. She hoped some among them might hear her plea.
But she had no way to ensure that anyone truly had.
"Ding-dong."
The door chime rang at the Garden of Stars, and the nearby magic-stone lamps flared to life.
Astraea turned, hope flickering.
By divine memory, she recognized the girl outside at a glance.
"Loki's child…!"
Startled, Astraea quickened her pace.
Lene stood straight as the goddess approached and spoke plainly:
"Forgive the late disturbance, Lady Astraea. Lady Loki invites you to her home to talk. She says it concerns your children."
At those words, the shadow on Astraea's face vanished. This wasn't bad news—it was the news she most wished to hear.
(End of Chapter)
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