As a side note, originally Evilus had begun collecting the Great Sacred Tree branches at Alfia's request, but not to heal some terminal illness.
No. It was to weaken the effects of her overwhelming skill.
Though that purpose may now be obsolete, the smuggling network remained intact. And with it, an opportunity to crush evilus' business at the root.
"…It's fine." Ryuu said finally, her voice flat, though her emotions churned underneath.
"I've severed all ties with my home forest. Whatever becomes of my people and my village… it no longer concerns me."
She tried to sound indifferent, brushing off Adi's heartfelt apology.
But Alise, standing beside her, whispered with exasperation, "You say that but your face tells a different story. You're clearly worried."
Indeed, even with her expression hidden beneath her hood, the heavy, conflicted tension between Ryuu's brows betrayed her inner thoughts.
Just then, Adi grinned brightly and clapped her hands together. "Don't worry, Ryuu. I'll track those evilus members down and retrieve those branches for you."
Ryuu blinked in surprise.
"Helping strangers is nice, but I want everyone around me to smile even more." Adi added with a cheerful wave, spinning on her heel. "Alright then, bye for now, you two!"
Her light-blue hair shimmered in the fading light as she skipped away, her footsteps lively and full of resolve, brushing aside the gloom that had clung to the moment.
"Adi... I wasn't really... I mean, it didn't bother me that much... Hey, she's gone." Ryuu murmured, lowering the arm she had instinctively reached out with.
Alise smiled, folding her arms as she watched the retreating figure. "Just accept her kindness, Ryuu. There's nothing wrong with someone wanting to make others happy."
"I know." Ryuu replied in a soft voice.
On the other side of town, after bidding farewell to Alfia, Akira was making his way back.
As he walked down the sloping avenue, he spotted three familiar figures standing under the orange-hued twilight, dressed in red, blue, and yellow, chatting with serious expressions.
Alise, Ryuu, and Adi.
"They're together again? Looks like something must've happened." He murmured to himself.
Just as he was about to call out, he saw Adi wave goodbye and dash off.
"Ah... Am I late again?" Akira scratched his head and quickened his pace toward the remaining two.
"All right! Back to patrolling! We have to team up with Adi and get this city cleaned up—Akira?!"
Alise, who had just regained her momentum, spun around with wide eyes when she saw the boy running toward them.
Ryuu also turned, blinking in confusion. "Hmm? Where?"
The next second, Alise took a few steps forward and launched herself at him, hooking both arms around his neck and swinging her legs up around his waist.
Bang—
With a soft sound, she clung to Akira, beaming from ear to ear.
"Akira! What have you been doing? Why didn't you patrol with us today?"
Lately, with evilus' rampant activity, she hadn't had the chance to recharge her 'Akira-energy' and now was her moment.
Without waiting for his reply, she began rubbing her cheek against his affectionately.
Akira, holding the energetic girl's waist to keep her from falling, managed a wry smile.
"Sorry, I couldn't postpone a promise I made. It was important."
Could Alise be a little more aware of the fact that they're outside?
Did she just completely stop caring about her image?
Alise, you are way too bold sometimes.
Turning his head, he greeted Ryuu with a slightly exasperated tone. "Good afternoon."
At the same time, he used one hand to pry the human koala off his body, Alise, who was still sniffing him like a starved animal.
Sigh... beyond help.
Ryuu gave a small nod in return. "Good afternoon, Akira."
But when she met his gaze, a small smile naturally formed on her lips. The turmoil in her heart, brought on by the discussion of her homeland, seemed to ease the moment she laid eyes on him.
As for Alise's antics, she had long grown accustomed to them. Although... she couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
Still, one day. One day she would have the courage to do the same. Clenching her fists slightly, she silently encouraged herself.
After being successfully unlatched, Alise placed her hands on her hips, pouting at Akira with mock indignation.
"You're no fun. I was just expressing how much I missed you, and that's how you react?"
Akira shook his head, expression softening as he shifted gears. "Anyway, let's talk business. I just saw Adi leave, did something happen?"
Alise and Ryuu exchanged glances before relaying everything that had happened to Akira.
They told him about the black market operation, the illegal smuggling of contraband, and especially the unsettling truth about the branches of the Great Sacred Tree being traded by evilus within Orario.
"I see..." Akira murmured, gently stroking his chin in thought.
Could that mysterious god they encountered be Erebus?
Right now, he's the only deity with the time and disposition to actively contact righteous familias.
"Akira!"
A sharp, energetic voice rang out from behind, and before Akira could even turn around, a petite figure came flying toward him.
"Here comes another one." He muttered under his breath, already knowing who it was.
Despite her small stature as a pallum, her figure was full and mature. That was something Akira had learned firsthand… on that night.
Catching her mid-air, Akira placed both hands under her soft, curvaceous backside and gave a helpless smile.
"Lyra, is your patrol already over?"
"Mmhmm. All done." Lyra whispered with a mischievous smile against his ear before hopping lightly off of him.
"But there's no time for chit-chat, things are urgent. I came here with a message. Someone said to pass along the words 'The situation is suspicious. Prepare to cast the net.'"
The atmosphere tensed immediately.
"Who gave the order?" Ryuu asked, her tone sharp, Alise already narrowing her eyes.
The casual conversation from earlier had vanished without a trace, their expressions now solemn and alert.
Akira couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Looks like it's going to be another one of those days.
Lyra gave a frustrated shrug. "Finn. He's already assembled the others near the Dungeon's entrance."
"Understood."
Crisis or not, there was no way Akira would sit this one out. But there was one problem, it was still a good distance to Babel Tower from here.
"Oh." Akira let out a low groan, shaking his head slightly.
"What's wrong, you drunk?" Alise asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.
Without answering, Akira casually wrapped his arms around both Alise and Ryuu's waists. Then he looked toward Lyra and signaled with his chin.
"Come on. Time to go."
Though she didn't understand what he had in mind, Lyra knew Akira well enough to trust him without question. Without hesitation, she climbed onto his back, her arms circling around his neck.
"Hold tight." Akira said with a chuckle.
The moment the words left his mouth, the four of them vanished in a blink, only to reappear over two hundred meters away in a flash of shadowy distortion.
...
Later, after regrouping with their companions at the Dungeon entrance, they moved swiftly according to Finn's instructions.
Their destination—the 18th floor. The paradise beneath the Dungeon.
A safe zone of nature and tranquility, a realm of glowing crystals and bright blue skies, free from the threat of monsters. But today, it was anything but peaceful.
Blood splattered across the crystalline ground. Screams echoed off the walls.
"Aaaaaaaaahhhh—!"
Panic.
In this underground sanctuary, now marred by carnage, the brutal sounds of combat and agony replaced the usual serenity.
"Damn it, evilus!"
"Are they adventurer hunting now?! Bastards! Can't even let us explore in peace?!"
"Run—RUN!"
Crimson stains spread like wildfire. Veteran adventurers, most of them Level 2, cried out in terror as they scattered in all directions.