"Actually...", Astraea hesitated, "Shirou and I have already met."
Ryuu: "Huh?"
'Before meeting me, Lady Astraea went to see Shirou first? Why?', Ryuu tilted her head, very puzzled.
"I wanted to see first what kind of child could change Ryuu," Astraea gently stroked Ryuu's hair, which had recently been dyed green.
"So that's how it is, Lady Astraea, you care so much about me, I am truly touched," Ryuu said sincerely.
The goddess Astraea, however, somewhat guiltily averted her gaze, "Ryuu, there's something I need to explain to you first, do you remember a child named 'Sanjouno Haruhime'?"
"Sanjouno Haruhime?"
"That's the fox girl who was with [Beauty Elite] when you, Shirou, and the child from the Loki Familia were hunting the black Goliath...", Astraea explained to Ryuu about Sanjouno Haruhime.
"I see," Ryuu sat up straight, "If that's the case, we were able to be saved at that time thanks to Haruhime's power, we must go save her, we cannot stand by and let the Ishtar Familia commit such a taboo."
"Ryuu, I'm glad you understand," Astraea was relieved, "To save Haruhime, I have devised a plan."
"Goddess, please command, whatever you ask, I will definitely do it," Ryuu said firmly.
Astraea: "There are no other requirements for now, just that my plan requires Shirou to spend the night in the pleasure district, Ryuu, I hope you can understand."
Ryuu: "...What did you say?"
The elf girl looked incredulously at the goddess she trusted, Astraea could only smile apologetically while stroking Ryuu's emerald green hair.
———
"Are you sure it's okay, Lord Takemikazuchi, this seems like a very expensive tavern," At the entrance of the [Hostess of Fertility] tavern, a male god and a female adventurer were hesitating.
This tavern, the most popular in the labyrinth city, is famous not only for its delicious cuisine, rich wine, beautiful waitresses, but also for its expensive prices and its unforgiving attitude towards troublesome customers.
Even a Lv.5 first-class adventurer who dares to dine and dash at the [Hostess of Fertility] will be stripped and thrown onto the street, and if they dare to harass the waitresses here, they should be prepared to have their legs broken, such is the urban legend circulating in Orario.
"Don't be polite, today is my treat," Emiya, standing next to the male god, said, "Please come in, God Takemikazuchi, and Miss Yamato."
"Yes, senior," The adventurer girl next to God Takemikazuchi answered nervously, the god hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Emiya 'coincidentally' met God Takemikazuchi in the commercial street, at that time He was pushing a cart selling sushi, and the adventurer girl named Yamato Mikoto happened to come looking for God Takemikazuchi, and coincidentally met Emiya.
So, Emiya invited the god and his familia he 'coincidentally' met to come here, his reason was that he wanted to learn about the Far East country.
Because his name is Emiya Shirou, a name with obvious Far Eastern style, it is logically reasonable for Emiya to be curious about the god from the Far East.
God Takemikazuchi seemed somewhat uneasy about this, Yamato Mikoto was both surprised and apprehensive, [Sword King] such a titled high-level adventurer is undoubtedly a big figure for Mikoto who just became an adventurer, not to mention coming from a top familia like Hephaestus.
"Excuse me, please prepare a private room for us," Emiya led God Takemikazuchi and Yamato Mikoto into the tavern.
Syr looked at him with some resentment, but still professionally led the way, "Please follow me, guests."
Emiya, God Takemikazuchi, and Yamato Mikoto entered a quiet room.
They sat on either side of a square table, Emiya subconsciously observed the two guests.
Takemikazuchi is a handsome male god, His divine duties are "God of Thunder" and "God of War", but He gives off a gentle, even soft feeling, just from a brief exchange Emiya felt that God Takemikazuchi's personality is completely the opposite of the word 'tough', very easy to talk to, even somewhat overly kind.
Yamato Mikoto is a beautiful girl. She has glossy black hair and bluish-purple eyes, her back is also straight without any slack. Through the purple combat clothes, her limbs are tender and delicate, her appearance is so proper and beautiful that even gods would sigh in admiration.
The [Takemikazuchi Familia] arrived in the labyrinth city not long ago, the time they arrived in this city is close to the time Emiya was picked up by Ryuu, now they are one of the many exploration-type Familias in Orario.
The so-called exploration-type Familias, as the name suggests, explore the dungeon, bring back magic stones and drop items and make a living from them.
Including Yamato Mikoto, the Takemikazuchi Familia has a total of six members, all of whom are human, and all are citizens of the Far East country who came to Orario with God Takemikazuchi.
The familia's leader, Kashima Ouka, is a Lv.2 high-level adventurer, the other members are Lv.1, Yamato Mikoto is the youngest newcomer.
Although the number is small, having level-sublimated adventurers, in the labyrinth city can already be considered a middle-tier familia, the main god also has the qualification to attend the gods' meeting, among the many emerging familias in Orario, it is relatively noteworthy.
"Hello, Emiya-kun," God Takemikazuchi was quite polite to Emiya, not at all like a god. Emiya's achievements before leveling up were not publicized, but after leveling up, the feat of single-handedly destroying the Soma Familia is somewhat famous.
"God Takemikazuchi, hello, I would like to learn some things about the Far East country, I hope you can enlighten me," Emiya said.
He did not mention "Mikazuchi" at the first time, but first asked about some other things, while probing and assessing the other's personality.
Emiya's intuition is: whether it's God Takemikazuchi or Mikoto, they are upright people. But after all, the matter is significant, he still maintains a cautious attitude.
God Takemikazuchi's impression of Emiya is similar, as a god He can sense that the other is an upright and determined adventurer, but He is puzzled by Emiya's purpose.
Emiya and God Takemikazuchi conversed, as the conversation progressed, his understanding of the Far East country gradually deepened.
"I know an adventurer named 'Gojouno Kaguya'," Emiya thought of the gorgeous iaido sword [Higanbana], "She seems to be from the Far East country as well."
"Yes, Lady Kaguya is also a celebrity in the Far East country, she is a princess from [Gojouno], one of the [Nine Families]."
The [Gojouno] family members are all beautiful in appearance, but have a slightly strange custom of covering the upper half of their faces with cherry blossom-like masks.
They are also known for their upbringing and demeanor, the men are elegant, the women are chaste, the mysterious aura they exude is admired by many who come and go, truly the cherry blossoms that adorn the Far East.
"[Nine Families]... Sanjouno, is also one of the Nine Families?", Emiya took the opportunity to ask.
"Yes, Sanjouno is the family responsible for Rituals and Offerings among the [Nine Families]... May I ask, [Sword King] senior, have you met anyone from the Sanjouno family?", Yamato Mikoto seemed to think of something, couldn't help but ask.
Emiya: "I know a fox girl named 'Sanjouno Haruhime'."
"You, where did you hear that name!", Mikoto was first shocked, then leaned forward, her reaction was quite strong.
'This adventurer from the Takemikazuchi Familia knows Sanjouno Haruhime?', Emiya was surprised by this sudden development, he asked without showing any signs, "If possible... could you tell me, Miss Mikoto, about your relationship with Miss Haruhime?"
Mikoto was silent, motionless, only slowly nodding after a while.
"...My companions and I grew up in a shrine where God Takemikazuchi and other gods lived. We crossed the sea from the Far East to Orario because of financial difficulties... life in the shrine was not enough to make ends meet."
The shrine adopted more and more orphans, the income was meager. The life of poverty and hardship one day finally reached its limit.
Mikoto and others discussed with the kind gods who supported the children's livelihood and made a decision. Among the shrine's elders, those who could fight, Miss Mikoto and others, under the guidance of the God of War, crossed the ocean to Orario.
This was to earn money in the labyrinth city where gold and silver treasures sleep, to send living expenses to the shrine that raised them.
This is also why, despite being a middle-tier familia with a Lv.2 high-level adventurer, God Takemikazuchi is so poor, most of their income is sent back to their hometown.
"I met Lady Haruhime before coming to Orario. Counting from now, it was about five or six years ago," Miss Mikoto's gaze wandered on the floor, talking about her encounter with Miss Haruhime.
"My shrine and others were on the mountain, Lady Haruhime's mansion was at the foot of the mountain. That lady was of noble birth, could not leave the mansion, grew up in a different environment from us... but God Takemikazuchi took pity on her."
Miss Mikoto said, since childhood she and other companions who learned martial arts under the God of War, trained like ninjas, sneaked into the mansion, avoided the guards, took Lady Haruhime to play in the back mountain.
"So, Lady Haruhime and Miss Mikoto, you were childhood playmates?"
"We interacted with Lady Haruhime several times, ran in the mountains, walked around the fields, played by the river... however, everything suddenly ended."
"...What happened?"
"Because life in the shrine became difficult, everyone went out to work to earn daily living expenses, no longer had time to go to the mansion... after a long time, when we went there, we found out Lady Haruhime was disowned."
The girl was expelled from her home. Mikoto and others searched everywhere, but ultimately couldn't find any trace.
"Compared to Ouka-sama and others, I spent a short time with that lady... but, I and Lady Haruhime, were indeed friends, confidants," Miss Mikoto always kept her head down, telling the whole story.
Her words revealed her feelings and remorse for Lady Haruhime.
"I met Lady Haruhime in a previous adventure, because she is a rare fox person, plus a special name, so I was deeply impressed," Emiya was silent for a moment, explained, "I didn't expect Lady Haruhime and Miss Mikoto to be friends... later, I will help you keep an eye out for her news."
"Thank you so much!", Yamato Mikoto actually bowed deeply to Emiya, God Takemikazuchi also bowed in thanks.
The waitress Lunoire served the dishes, at the strong request of God Takemikazuchi and Mikoto, they only ordered the cheapest chicken stew.
God Takemikazuchi and Yamato Mikoto thanked Emiya again after eating, saying things like "this is the best meal I've had in Orario".
After they left the tavern, Emiya still sat in the room.
The side door opened, and several women walked out.
The goddess Astraea, the [Beauty Elite] Aisha, and Mama Mia.
"Lady Astraea, the one who sold Haruhime to the Ishtar Familia was...", Aisha paused for a moment, then spoke the name of a human male.
Under Aisha's deliberate display, the sisters of the Ishtar Familia believed she was pursuing a handsome youth from the Hephaestus Familia. Therefore, Aisha's visit to the tavern raised no suspicions and instead garnered cheers and encouragement from her sisters.
This caused the [Beauty Elite] great inner turmoil, but since she had already made her decision, she would not regret or retreat.
"That name... I know him," Lunoire, who was cleaning the table, spoke up. As the former [Black Fist] who once roamed the underground world of Orario, her connections proved to be surprisingly effective.
"Mama Mia, can I borrow the kids from your tavern for a while?", Astraea looked at Mia.
"Sigh... this is going to be troublesome...", Mia sighed, but then muttered to herself, "However, my tavern is indeed short-handed, and having a rare fox-person waitress would probably boost business quite a bit..."
Lunoire couldn't help but laugh.
Mia: "What are you laughing at, silly girl? Since you know that human trafficker, you go and break his limbs, then bring him back."
"Yes, Mama Mia."
Lunoire punched her palm, grinning fiercely: "Mission guaranteed!"
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