The two of them left the plaza in front of Babel Tower and returned to the Stardust Garden, walking in silence along a quiet, secluded path.
Roy couldn't stand the awkward atmosphere and leaned closer.
"Miss Ryuu, that beating just now was incredible. Trash like that absolutely deserves it. My admiration for you is like a surging river—endless and unstoppable…"
After being showered with Roy's over-the-top praise, even Ryuu's usually composed demeanor faltered. A faint blush flashed across her cool expression.
Under the bright moonlight, it was a fleeting yet breathtaking sight. Thankfully, Roy's eyesight was good—damn his terrible tastes.
"No need to flatter me… You did well too," Ryuu said hesitantly.
Her voice slowed, and a trace of nostalgia surfaced deep in her sky-blue eyes. If Alise and the others were still here, they definitely wouldn't have stood by and watched the Apollo Familia hunt down a girl like that.
Yet she herself hadn't stepped in immediately.
It was only when she saw Roy being surrounded that she was forced to act. Her heart wavered—could a mirror once shattered ever truly be made whole again?
The clash with the Apollo Familia was nothing more than a brief interlude for the two of them, quickly forgotten.
After all, would the Apollo Familia really dare to come knocking? Ryuu had beaten Hyakinthos senseless in front of hundreds of people, and none of his familia members had dared to intervene.
When the two returned to the Starry Garden, they were met with an unexpected sight.
Not the Apollo Familia—but a Guild staff member, Remmel.
"Gale Wind, Mr. Roy."
Remmel was pacing at the entrance. When he saw them return, it was as if he'd found a lifeline, and he hurried over.
Roy and Ryuu exchanged a glance. It hadn't even been half an hour since they'd beaten up the Apollo Familia. Even if Apollo complained, the Guild wouldn't respond that fast.
So it had to be something else.
"What's wrong, Mr. Remmel?" Roy asked.
"Mr. Roy, Gale Wind—please take a look at this." Remmel handed Roy a parchment scroll, wearing an ingratiating smile.
Roy frowned as he took it. For some reason, Remmel's smile felt strangely familiar.
When Roy opened the parchment—
His eyes widened. He finally remembered where he'd seen that smile before.
In his previous life, it was the exact expression bank clerks wore when they went after debtors.
These days, the ones who owed money were the real bosses.
...
Emergency Meeting of the Astraea Familia
All the magic stone lamps were lit, illuminating the spacious hall. At this point, saving a little money no longer mattered.
Roy tossed the parchment onto the table.
"Lady Astraea, what is the meaning of this?"
A doting smile appeared on Astraea's flawless face.
"Such a simple matter, and you still need to ask? Roy, you really are still a child."
Roy's face darkened. Treating him like a kid, huh? Fine. Compared to a goddess who had lived in Heaven for hundreds of millions of years—or even longer—even someone who'd lived two lives like him was indeed just a brat.
But this had nothing to do with age.
The first step in plotting against the Rudra Familia had been the bounty—eighty million valis.
That eighty million valis had been obtained by Lady Astraea through mortgaging the Starry Garden and all of the familia's assets to the Guild.
Every detail was clearly written on the parchment. Lady Astraea's personal seal and the familia's seal were both present—there was no possibility of fraud.
Roy's gaze shifted to Ryuu.
Ryuu let out a soft sigh. When Roy had handed her the documents earlier and she saw the Astraea Familia seal, she had already vaguely guessed the truth.
Chasing the Rudra Familia all the way down to the thirtieth floor of the Dungeon with Alise and the others was practically the same as a full-scale expedition.
Before descending, they had spent enormous sums on potions, armor, weapon maintenance, and all kinds of supplies—nearly draining the familia's savings.
And with Alise and the others completely wiped out, that money was essentially thrown away, with no return whatsoever.
When Roy brought Ryuu—half-persuaded, half-dragged—back to the Starry Garden, he noticed that many of the magic stones used for daily life had already run dry, yet Lady Astraea hadn't replaced them.
They were truly penniless.
At the time, Ryuu's mind had been consumed by the flames of vengeance. All she wanted was to destroy the Rudra Familia—she didn't even care about her own life, let alone money.
Before the War Game, Orario's adventurers had killed 183 members of the Rudra Familia, along with three mercenary groups and eight merchant guilds that had colluded with them.
In total, nearly sixty million valis had been distributed.
The Rudra Familia, however, was unlike ordinary familias. They had no fixed assets in Orario. Their god had been sent back to Heaven, and all members had been completely wiped out.
As for the equipment left behind in the Dungeon, Ryuu would never take it, and Roy didn't care for it either. Most of it had already been scavenged by other adventurers.
After winning the War Game—aside from annihilating their enemy—Roy and Ryuu hadn't obtained a single valis.
That sixty-million-valis debt now fell squarely on their shoulders. Remmel had come to collect it. If they couldn't repay it, the Starry Garden would be confiscated by the Guild.
"Is it still possible for me to quit the familia now?" Roy said with a cheerful smile.
Sixty million valis—he wouldn't even dare burn that much money for his ancestors.
"Yes. Ryuu and I won't blame you," Lady Astraea said sorrowfully.
"If we lose this residence, Ryuu and I—this lonely goddess and her lone follower—will have to wander the streets."
As she spoke, her cherry-like lips pressed tightly together, and crystalline tears welled up in her phoenix-like eyes. The sight was irresistibly pitiful.
A woman's most terrifying weapon was never anger or threats—sometimes, just tears were enough to make Roy's scalp go numb.
And this wasn't an ordinary woman.
This was a goddess.
Lady Astraea covered her face and sobbed.
Roy, staring at her intently, keenly caught a flash of cunning deep within her eyes.
Ryuu, however, overwhelmed by guilt, completely missed it. She was convinced that she herself had burdened Lady Astraea with such a massive debt.
Ryuu said seriously, "Lady Astraea, I will repay this money as soon as possible!"
"Ryuu, there's no rush. We'll pay it back slowly. No matter how long it takes, I'll stay with you," Lady Astraea said, returning to her usual dignified elegance and offering a gentle smile—comforting the so-called 'culprit' instead.
That attitude only deepened Ryuu's guilt. She made up her mind that she had to repay the debt as quickly as possible. If Lady Astraea were to end up homeless, how could she ever face Alise again?
The Guild didn't dare push too hard either, granting a six-month repayment period with extremely low interest.
Even a cornered rabbit would bite back—let alone the battered Astraea Familia.
If Roy and Ryuu secretly ran off with Lady Astraea, the Guild would be left crying in the corner. Real money had already gone out, and even seizing the Starry Garden might not cover the losses.
But a righteous familia like Astraea's would never do such a thing.
The Guild staff could only pray silently.
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