Danmachi SI-The Silence's Heir

Part 6

Chapter 6

~~Five years later~~

RYUU LION

Five years had passed since the patron goddess of Astraea familia had left the lower world, as her familia suffered a crippling blow from their fight against Evilus. The circumstances of her ascension remained a mystery to this day, and the only person who had the answer to that question was by the Denatus.

Of the four members of the familia that had survived the great fight against Evilus, only she remained devoted to the cause of justice and truth. The rest of her familia members had left Orario as well, unable to cope with the pain and the constant threats brought upon by their stay in the city.

Ryuu was offered by many familia to join them, including some of the top familia of the city and yet she refused them all, as she went on the offensive against the remnants of Evilus, trying to exact revenge for her dead comrades. Her antics soon alienated all those offers, and soon enough, she found herself alone with the city wiped clean of one and all remnants of Evilus she could find.

And yet, in the half a decade, she had not been able to find a single clue about the truth of their Goddess's ascension. Well, no clue except one that she had been wrong—they had been wrong. That while Inumaki the Silent was involved in the whole affair, the boy was not near their goddess when she had ascended to Tenkai.

And so, Ryuu Lion counted the days until the return of that boy, as she still bore her Goddess's crest on her back as a memento to her fallen comrades and friends, having promised herself that she would not move on until she had the truth of the whole affair.

And now that day was here.

"You are on break today," her friend and co-worker Syr Flova asked as she cleaned the floor at her job, for she now worked as a waitress at a bar named Hostess of Fertility, to hide her identity both from Evilus and conniving Gods and Goddesses trying to make her join their familia.

"But Ryuu-san never takes a leave," Syr, the grey-haired haired human girl that had saved her life, added excitedly as Ryuu raised a brow.

"I am afraid. Sometimes I do," she replied softly, not wishing to burden her with her secrets.

"Are you going to the festival, the Monsterphilia?" Syr asked with stars in her eyes as she clasped together her hands.

"Perhaps, with a special someone. A hidden tyrs..." and before her friend could ramble on, Ryuu struck her head with the tail end of her broom, making her stop and wince in pain.

"Ouch," Syr winced as she rubbed her head, giving her a pitiful look as she shook her head.

"I am not. I just have an errand to run," she added softly as she thought about the Goddess and how, five years ago, on this fateful day, they had lost her with no culprit named until today.

She had visited the grave they had made for her familia, renewing her promise to her fallen comrades of finding out the truth behind that day.

And her sombreness must have shown as Syr backed off, her face getting tinged with sadness as she suddenly added.

"Oh..." and then a second later, she continued.

"Then perhaps you could join me in the festivities later, and we can enjoy the festival together," and the offer was made in earnest. She knew that it was not easy being friends with her and was thankful that Syr had stuck with her for all this time, but she needed answers. She had waited for five years and could wait no more.

"Perhaps later," she rebuffed the offer and saw her friend's face wilt. Much like her, Syr had asked for a day off as well and had been granted it by Mama, a retired level 6 adventurer who ran Hostess of Fertility.