Day 36
Empyrean Citadel — Morning
The morning air in Orario was still fresh, a thin mist enveloping the Hera Familia's headquarters in Orario. Small birds fluttered in the air, and sunlight began to pierce through the windows.
Charlie stood in the living room in casual clothes, his white hair swaying gently in the breeze from the open window.
"Goddess Astraea. I'll be going on an expedition to the Dungeon with Aishia and Est. It's uncertain when we'll return, maybe around a week? Anyway, I've left a little money. You can use it as you wish."
He placed a large pouch filled with valis coins on the round table. Its weight made the table wobble slightly. Inside were 10 million valis, an unimaginable sum for commoners.
Astraea, who was sitting leisurely enjoying her morning tea, only shook her head gently. "I'm not Hera. I won't waste that much money. But you... please be careful."
"Even though you're strong... never underestimate the Dungeon. Inside, anything can happen. Any variable can appear anytime and anywhere. No one can fully predict what awaits you down there."
Those words were not just a warning. Astraea vividly remembered how all her Familia members had perished in the Dungeon, trapped in a wicked conspiracy by Evilus. Only one person survived, Ryuu Lion.
"Understood. Rest assured, Goddess Astraea, I don't underestimate the Dungeon." Charlie replied calmly.
"Thank goodness for that. The Dungeon is a place where danger and opportunity coexist. Every day, adventurers lose their lives within it. Whether it's because of monsters, or because of humans. Many are only wary of monsters, but forget that betrayal by fellow humans is often more deadly. Don't just look ahead. Be wary of your sides and back as well."
"I will remember it."
Hearing Charlie's answer, Astraea looked at him for a moment, then smiled softly.
"Just in case, let them protect this house and Goddess Astraea while you're gone."
"Them?"
Under Goddess Astraea's curious gaze, Charlie raised his right hand. The Spirit Mark etched on the back of his hand glowed softly, then formed a complex magic pattern in the air.
*BUZZ!*
In an instant, five magic circles appeared floating in the living room, each with a different elemental symbol. A strong yet controlled aura flowed from them.
The five small figures appeared one by one. A small blue-scaled dragon that exuded a cold aura. A tiny white tiger with a wild yet docile aura. A turtle intertwined with a snake. A fiery red bird with feathers that shimmered like flames. And lastly, an animal that looked like a combination of a deer and a dragon, with glowing antlers.
The five Divine Beast Spirits—the manifestations of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, Vermillion Bird, and Kirin—appeared in chibi forms intentionally created by Charlie himself, by limiting the output of magical essence on them.
If they were present in their original forms, the size and aura of the five Divine Beast Spirits would surely immediately attract the attention of all of Orario—including the gods. That's why Charlie specifically modified their manifestation into cute and inconspicuous chibi forms.
"These are... Spirits?" Astraea said in surprise.
Like other gods, she recognized the identities of the small animals before her as spirits with just a glance!
'How many spirits has Charlie contracted? Maybe what Loki said is true. He found a spirit hiding place or something.'
Moreover, from her experience as a goddess who had long descended to the lower world, Astraea could recognize the power level of the five Divine Beast Spirits before her. Although not at the level of Great Spirits, they were clearly below them, falling into the category of High-Rank Spirits.
"Well... a lot of things happen in adventures." Charlie said with an awkward smile. He couldn't explain everything, and more importantly, couldn't lie in front of a god.
"I see..."
Realizing this, Astraea wisely chose not to ask further. Her eyes glanced at the tiny White Tiger that was sitting on the floor and rubbing its body against the side of the sofa like an affectionate cat. Intrigued, she bent down and stroked its small head.
"So soft..."
"Rawr~"
The White Tiger mewed softly, seeming to enjoy Astraea's touch.
The Vermillion Bird perched on the back of a chair, flapping its tiny wings and chirping cheerfully, as if greeting her. The Black Tortoise simply closed its eyes, calm as if asleep. The Kirin occasionally flicked its tail. The Azure Dragon floated and circled the ceiling, leaving trails of bluish light.
Amidst that scene, Est—who had been silently standing by Charlie's side—suddenly hugged his arm tightly. Her expression was as flat as usual, but there was a sharp glint in her eyes as she stared at the five Divine Beast Spirits.
"I am the first spirit Onii-chan contracted." Est said in a flat voice, but the possessiveness in her tone was unmistakable.
"Ara~, it seems Est is jealous. How adorable."
Astraea smiled amusedly at the small change in the little girl's face. Although her expression didn't change, the atmosphere around Est felt slightly colder, like a sudden gust of winter wind.
Charlie could only sigh and smile awkwardly. "Ahem... Actually, Aishia was my first spirit."
As if waiting for her turn, Aishia immediately took Charlie's other arm and hugged it gently. Her gaze turned to Est, who now looked back and glared at her briefly like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
But Aishia only returned her gaze with a calm and elegant smile.
"The order doesn't matter. What matters is... we all support Charlie together." She said softly.
"..."
Est stared at Aishia for a moment, then turned her face away without saying anything. But the grip on Charlie's arm loosened slightly. It was a sign that she accepted the situation—albeit reluctantly.
Astraea, who had been observing the interaction, couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"You all really are like a family."
From her perspective, Charlie was the father, Aishia was the mother, and Est was their daughter.
Charlie smiled, this time sincerely.
"Then, I'll be going now. Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, Vermillion Bird, and Kirin, please protect Goddess Astraea while I'm gone."
Each of the Divine Beast Spirits responded to Charlie with different sounds.
Standing in front of the door with the five chibi Divine Beast Spirits lined up around her, Astraea saw them off.
"Be careful, Charlie. The Dungeon is not a place to be underestimated. But... I believe in you."
"See you later, Goddess Astraea."
With Aishia on one side and Est on the other, Charlie stepped out of the Empyrean Citadel. In the distance, the Tower of Babel stood majestically like a spear piercing the sky—the destination of every adventurer.