The Lady of Justice

Astrea used to be the head of the largest law enforcement group in Orario- a fitting job for the Goddess of Justice. She had made many enemies during her tenure, as law enforcement tends to, but it hadn't mattered. Her children included multiple high-ranking adventurers who criminals couldn't fight. Consequently, Astrea had been untouchable.

That had changed after the Rudra Familia laid an ambush for her children in the dungeon. The Rudra Familia's original plan, using a series of explosions to **** Astrea's Familia, failed. Unfortunately, the damage caused by the bombs had unforeseen consequences. The dungeon summoned a unique and ludicrously powerful monster to defend itself and prevent further damage.

The monster killed almost every member of her Familia, with one exception- Ryuu Lion.

In the aftermath, Ryuu came to Astrea and begged her to leave the city. Ryuu had two reasons. The first reason- the one Ryuu stated- was because Astrea was no longer safe. With most of the Familia dead, the criminals they had made enemies with could take ****. Ryuu couldn't protect Astrea alone. The second reason- what Ryuu didn't say- was she wanted ****.

Astrea understood the impulse well. She felt what Ryuu did- rage and grief- but ultimately, **** and justice are incompatible. One can seek ****, or one can pursue justice. One can't do both.

For Astrea, the Goddess of Justice, the choice between justice and **** was obvious. Simultaneously, as she watched Ryuu's prostrated form tremble, she realized forcing Ryuu to make the same choice would destroy Ryuu. Consequently, the last thing Astrea told Ryuu was to abandon justice. Hopefully, **** would bring her peace.

Astrea left Orario the same day and began her years-long exile. She wandered the countryside, moving from village to village and serving as a mediator in disputes. She never stayed in one place for long and never used her real name. Doing either would run the risk of her enemies finding her. Consequently, she is alarmed when she hears someone say her real name.

"Lady Astrea? My name is Marcus. Ryuu is in danger."

She turns and stares. Astrea has lived for hundreds of millennia and seen countless mortals. The man before her- Marcus- is undoubtedly the most beautiful man she has ever seen.

A perfect face- an aquiline jaw and aristocratic nose. Silky hair and piercing eyes. Only a single blemish- a mole beneath his right eye- that somehow enhances his appearance further. Her eyes involuntarily flit to his mole despite her attempts to meet his gaze.

His beauty is unnatural, reminiscent of a love deity. That puts Astrea on edge. Is his appearance the result of a skill? And if so, is it a passive or active skill? She can't fault him for the former. The Goddess of Justice didn't judge individuals for factors out of their control. If, on the other hand, he's attempting to cloud her judgment by using an active skill...

Then she processes what he said. "How do you know Ryuu is in danger?"

"Are you aware of what Ryuu did after you left Orario?" Marcus' voice lent credence to Astrea's theory his appearance is artificial. It's too smooth- too compelling. His voice reminds her of the charm-speak Freya, Ishtar, and Aphrodite are capable of.

"I'm aware. I want to know what makes you think Ryuu is in danger."

"She didn't kill every member of Evilus, my lady. A few escaped, including a knave of the Rudra Familia. Jura. He wishes to take **** on Miss Lion, so-"

"How do you know this?" Marcus remains stoic, but Astrea can see the confusion glimmer in his eyes. Astrea sighs. "Are you part of Evilus?"

His startlement is sincere. "No! Why would you think such a thing?"

Astrea relaxes slightly. "You know my name, despite the fact I haven't used it for years. You seem to know a bit about Evilus' plans- something a layperson shouldn't. You waited until I was alone to approach me. Who are you?"

"Marcus, captain of the Hestia Familia." Hestia is a Goddess Astrea knew in passing. Their domains aren't close to each other in Heaven, but because Hestia is one of the Three Celestial Virgins, she was a topic of gossip. From what Astrea had heard, Hestia is a kind individual. Not someone likely to work with Evilus.

"I- Ryuu works as a waitress at the Hostess of Fertility. She's gorgeous- wait! Forget I said that. What I meant to say is- I have lunch at the Hostess often. I always try to talk to Ryuu, and I think we're friends now."

"Talk or flirt?" He is gorgeous. Ryuu can do worse.

Marcus blushes to Astrea's amusement. She can see him try to regain composure- and to his credit, he does a decent job at it. "What I was getting at, Lady Astrea, is that when I discovered a plot involving Ryuu, I couldn't leave it alone."

"You mentioned a name- Jura?"

"Yes, my lady. He's a member of the Rudra Familia that escaped Ryuu's purge. He- are you familiar with the Juggernaut?"

"One killed all my children, so yes. I think I am familiar with the Juggernaut."

"Jura intends to summon another one. Did you know- for damage calculation- floors twenty-four through twenty-seven count as a single floor?"

"That would mean-"

"Jura wants to firebomb all three floors after luring Ryuu into the dungeon. He's hoping that will summon a Juggernaut and kill Ryuu like it did the rest of your Familia. He also intends to try to tame the monster.

"As to how I know this- they discussed part of their plans in an inn on the eighteenth floor. I happened to overhear them. Their plot targeted Ryuu, so I conducted an independent investigation and discovered the paper trail for the firebombs, which led to me deducing more about their scheme. Unfortunately, I went to Ryuu with my findings."

"It's unfortunate you alerted Ryuu to the danger she's in?"

"It's unfortunate she immediately threw herself into danger," Marcus says. "I need to know- how familiar are you with what Ryuu did after you left Orario?"

"I only know what I managed to hear through the grapevine. I know she hunted down the members of the Rudra Familia and their allies. I know she nearly exterminated Evilus, but due to the collateral damage, was deemed a fugitive. And now, thanks to you, I know she is working as a waitress at the Hostess of Fertility."

"She's destroyed multiple Familias- root and stem. She killed the Captain of the Rudra Familia, a level five she had no place fighting, and nearly died in the process. She's banished evil Gods back to heaven. Would you agree she's probably eligible for a level-up?"

"It's impossible to say without updating her Falna, but if I had to guess-"

"She hasn't had her Falna updated in years. At the very least, she'd be stronger, right?"

"Yes."

"I wanted Ryuu to seek you out and get her Falna update. Jura and his cronies won't be ready to act in months. Ryuu, on the other hand, disagreed."

"And you ignored her wishes?"

Marcus is visibly uncomfortable but meets her gaze. "Yes, Lady Astrea."

"Not an attractive quality in a man."

"My lady, I wouldn't have done this if- Ryuu doesn't want to see you because she thinks you hate her."

Astrea's heart stops. "What?"

"My lady-"

"Why would she think that?"

"The last thing you told her was to abandon the path of justice. Ryuu thought you were kicking her out of the Familia because you were disgusted by the fact she survived where your other children didn't."

"Oh, that stupid girl. She's believed this for years?"

"All this time, my lady."

"I need to see her," Astrea says. "I need to set the record straight."

"My hope was you would be willing to return to Orario with me. You wanted to know how I found you. I have a skill that allows me to track individuals I am familiar with." When Astrea opens her mouth, Marus clarifies he tracked her from traces of her divinity left in Ryuu's Falna.

"Impressive," Astrea says. "And worrying."

"My Goddess doesn't wish for knowledge of my skill to spread. Can I put my trust in you?"

"Of course," Astrea says. "You are doing me and mine a tremendous favor. I won't forget this."

Marcus smiles and tells her not to worry about it. "Just help Ryuu and I'll call us even. I want you to update her Falna to make her more capable of dealing with the Evilus remnants but to also help her get over her survivor's guilt. Can you do that?"

"You forget- Ryuu is my child. You're not the only one who wants what is best for her."

Marcus backtracks. "A thousand apologies, Lady Astrea. I meant no offense." And then he transparently changes the subject. "I am hoping to get back to Orario tonight. I wish to leave you with my lady Hestia, before using my tracking skills to locate Ryuu. Once I've found her, we will rendezvous with you so you can help her. Is that acceptable?"

"Tonight? Orario is weeks away."

"By carriage, yes. But we might not have weeks, my lady. Ryuu has gone after Jura and I worry she might encounter a situation she can't escape."

"And you plan to solve that by..."

"I have a second skill," Marcus starts to float. "I can share this ability with you and we can fly back to Orario together."

Astrea smiles wistfully. "Did you know Ryuu has a similar skill? She can't share hers with others, though."

"Have you ever wanted to fly, my lady?"

"Once or twice. I suppose I'll get the chance today," Astrea says. "How are you going to share the skill?"

"My power will surround you and impart the skill onto you. It'll last exactly twenty-four hours before it needs to be reapplied. Are you ready, my lady?"

Astrea gives her assents and Marcus' shroud surges forward. Once it rescinds, she is bound to him.

He smiles. "I'm going to need you to do me a favor, Astrea."

---

"Hello, Ryu."

The tray clatters to the ground. The wooden tray thumps- not too bad- but the glass plates on the tray shatter, creating a mess. More work for the bedraggled waitresses of the Hostess of Fertility. Despite this, not a single person gets mad at Ryuu.

"L-lady Astrea?" Ryuu trembles. "What- what are you-"

"Can we speak?" She glances around the busy tavern. Ryuu's reaction had drawn eyes. "In private?"

"You don't have to speak with her if you don't want to." Mia Grande- known as Mama Mia to her workers- says.

"No. I mean- no. I want to speak with her," Ryuu says. "May I be excused?"

It is rush hour, but Mama Mia doesn't hesitate. "Of course."

"Thank you," Ryuu leads Astrea up a flight of stairs and down a hallway to her room. Once they are inside, Astrea sits down on the bed while Ryuu remains standing. There's plenty of space inside Ryuu's room, but she hadn't seen fit to decorate in the years she had been living in the Hostess.

There is a bed, a wardrobe, a table, and a chair where Ryuu can sit down, but she doesn't. Notably, there isn't a vanity or mirror.

"Why are you here, Lady Astrea?"

Astrea cocks her head. Ryuu can see she's thinking. "It's been years since we have last spoken. I can jump straight into business, but I think I'd rather catch up first. How have you been? I see you're a waitress now. How did that come about?" Astrea's question cuts to the heart of Ryuu's sins.

After Ryuu had fought- and killed- the Captain of the Rudra Familia, she had been injured. Ryuu collapsed in an alleyway and was bleeding out when Syr found her. She would have died if Syr hadn't taken her to the Hostess and nursed her back to health. After recovering, Ryuu accepted a job at the Hostess, partially to repay Syr, but also because she had nothing else to do after killing the Rudra Familia.

Ryuu can't explain how she had gotten this job without explaining the battle between her and the Rudra Familia Captain. She can't discuss her fight with the enemy captain without mentioning her crusade against Evilus. Ryuu slaughtered everyone with even the slightest connection with the organization to avenge her fallen sisters. How many innocents had she massacred?

Ryuu had imagined confessing her sins to her Goddess- the Lady of Justice- a thousand times. She knew she deserved to be condemned, and had anticipated and dreaded the prospect in equal measure. She had even practiced her confession- wording and rewording it until it sounded right- and yet now that the time had come to confess for real, Ryuu couldn't find the words.

"Ryuu?" Astrea's eyes are warm. Soft and caring and nurturing, like a mother's gaze should be. "Are you okay?"

"I'm a monster," Ryuu says. "You shouldn't look at me like that."

"You're not a-"

"You didn't need to leave Orario. I lied when I said it was for your protection." This wasn't something Ryuu planned to confess in her imaginings, so it's fitting it's the first thing that tumbles out of her lips. This truth had haunted Ryuu just as much as the murders.

There's a noble path Ryuu had intentionally looked down and turned away from. After their Familia died, she could have continued to serve as Astrea and tried to rebuild the Familia. Ryuu could have recruited more members, trained them in law enforcement, and gradually reestablished their presence.

Instead, to sate her bloodlust, she had betrayed Astrea. She had exiled her Goddess from their home under pretenses, all so she wouldn't see what a monster Ryuu was.

Ryuu tried to continue her confession, but Astrea interrupts. "I already know."

Ryuu stares at her, uncomprehending. "You know?"

"Why do you think I freed you from the pursuit of justice? You needed to take **** on the Rudra Familia. Abstaining would break you, so I let you go."

Her eyes burn. "You mean- all those years ago- you weren't exiling me from the Familia?"

Astrea gives her a soft smile. "You are my child, Ryuu, and you always will be. I would never cast you away."

Her mouth is open, but no words come out. When her lips begin to tremble, she hastily closes them and presses them together. The burning in her eye intensifies, and the rate of Ryuu's blinks speed up accordingly. Her vision is blurry. Ryuu almost regains control of herself- but then Astrea pulls her into a hug.

"It's okay," she says, and Ryuu's self-control shatters. Emotions she had been holding in for years come tumbling into the fore as she begins to sob. Ryuu thinks she's still speaking- confessing- but she's not sure what. All she can feel is her Goddess' arms around her, hands gently rubbing her back. All she can hear is her Goddess assuring her everything will be okay.

It's a lie. Alise, Kaguya, and Lyra are dead and nothing will ever bring them back, and yet it's also what Ryuu wanted to be told. For just a few moments, she tries to believe it.

Ryuu's not sure how long it takes for her to regain control, but when she does, she realizes they've sunk to the floor. Ryuu's head is resting on Astrea's breasts in an embarrassing position, but she can't find the energy to move. Despite this, she feels lighter than she had in years.

Minutes pass before Ryuu breaks the ensuing silence. There is something else she needs to hear. "You know?" She's not asking about the exile.

"I heard things through the grapevine- and also through Hermes. Mostly through Hermes," Astrea says. "I know about you hunting down the members of the Rudra Familia. I know about the purges it took to end Evilus. I know about your current status as a fugitive."

"I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"For disgracing the Astrea Familia," Ryuu says. Having the last member of their Familia become a criminal destroyed a lot of the prestige associated with their name.

"Don't be." The room descends into silence again as the two women enjoy each other's presence. This time it's Astrea who breaks it.

"Ryuu," Astrea says, "I'm not sure if now is the right to bring this up, but there's something you need to know. And there's a time limit, so if I don't tell you now-"

"What is it?"

"Promise me you won't run off as soon as I tell you?"

"Why would I run off?"

Astrea tighten her hold on Ryuu, as though that was going to do anything against the strength of a level-four adventurer. "You missed an Evilus splinter group. Before you run off after them, I want to update your Falna and introduce you to someone you'll be working with when going after them."

"That's impossible," Ryuu says. "I hunted down everyone even loosely associated with them."

"You are familiar with Daedalus Street. Do you know anything about the street's maker? Daedalus the inventor?"

Ryuu shakes her head.

"According to the stories, Daedalus looked at the Dungeon and despaired, knowing he would never create anything half as grand. He was still determined to try, however, so he started construction on a parallel dungeon he called 'Knossos.' It is within Knossos the remnants of Evillus hid after you eradicated their brethren."

"Where is Knossos located?"

"You need to be a descendant of Daedalus to gain access to the caverns. He left his bloodline with two things- a compulsion to continue working on Knossos until it was greater than the dungeon, and special eyes. Their eyes open the entrance to Knossos.

"The individual you'll be meeting in three days- he's a Daedalus descendant. Barca Peredix. He accepted his ancestor's mission. His brother, Dix, is a different story. Dix is the captain of the Ikelos Familia." A name Ryuu is very familiar with from her law enforcement days. It's also one of the Familia's she had thought she exterminated. "Dix hates the compulsion and considers it a curse. He's also determined to exterminate the Daedalus bloodline to keep the compulsion from spreading."

"His own family?"

"And now you see why Barca is willing to help you. Evilus has been hunting down Daedalus's descendants and gouging out their eyes to create keys to Knossos."

Ryuu grimaces. That sounds like something Evilus would do.

"If you are willing, I'll update your Falna now. Three days from now, you'll rendezvous with Barca, and together you'll take care of the last Evilus cell." Astrea hesitates. "I love you Ryuu. That will never change, and you'll always be my child. That said, this mission is a test for you."

"A test?"

"This is a chance for you to come back to the path of justice. You'll be stronger than ever once I update your Falna. You can choose not to kill, Ryuu."

"I don't think I can," Ryuu says. Her hand's knot into fists. "I don't think I can ever forgive them."

"I'll love you regardless of what you choose, but if you want to reenter law enforcement- if you want to restart the Astrea Familia-" Astrea cuts herself off. "You have three days. Think about it. Barca will follow your lead."

Ryuu agrees though she knows she's lying. Astrea must know too, for all the Goddess doesn't mention it. To change the subject, Ryuu asks about the status update.

"We can do that now. It'll be your first in years. Are you excited?"

Ryuu slips off her shirt. "Yes, my lady."

Marcus' supposition had been correct. Ryuu is eligible for a level-up and can select a new developmental ability. Ryuu chooses Mage, not knowing she'll never get a chance to use it.

---

The three-day interim gives Ryuu a chance to notify her friends at the Hostess she'll be taking a short vacation. While she can't give them an exact day she'll be back, she says she won't be gone for longer than a week.

All the waitresses had seen Astrea and knew Ryuu's Goddess had returned. Consequently, they don't press her. They infer she wants to spend time with Astrea.

Seventy-two hours after Astrea updates Ryuu's Falna, Marcus' claim over Ryuu is cemented. Four hours after that, Ryuu meets Marcus for the first time in an alleyway and learns she was never meant to meet Barca Peredix. While Knossos is real and Evilus is still around, she isn't going after either of them. It had all been a ploy to introduce her to her master.

"Follow me," Marcus says. He opens a portal and projects it on one of the walls of the alleyway. He steps through and Ryuu follows. They emerge in a bedroom.

To Ryuu's shock, Lady Astrea is in the room, naked in bed. "Hello Ryuu," her Goddess says. "Welcome to your new home."

"What is this?"

"Your new life," Marcus says. He places a palm on the small of Ryuu's back and urges her forward gently. His touch should disgust her- elves, as a rule, didn't like being touched- but it doesn't. On the contrary, Marcus sets her loins on fire, which in turn sets her cheeks aflame.

"Why is she naked?" It was a stupid question, given Marcus is maneuvering her to the bed.

"Your Goddess and I-" Ryuu looks at Marcus because he's speaking. Consequently, she doesn't see Astrea rise from the bed. She does notice when the deity leans in to kiss the side of her neck. On Ryuu's other side, Marcus leans in to lick an earlobe, "-we wanted to welcome you properly."

"This is your punishment," Astrea's kiss turns into a bite.

"And your reward," Marcus presses against her from the back. Ryuu can feel a thing- hard and hot and throbbing- press against her bum.

Her head is spinning. "I don't understand."

"You're not going to be leaving this apartment," Marcus says. "You've made too many enemies, and the chance of you getting hurt is too high." He turns her head, so she's facing him. Their eyes lock. He kisses her. When they break apart he tells her she is beautiful. "Too beautiful to risk **** or mutilation."

"This is a just sentence," Astrea says. "You've killed a lot of people, naughty girl. But they were mostly individuals who deserved to die."

She undoes Ryuu's cloak letting the garment flutter to the floor. Ryuu had been expecting to fight Evilus tonight and had come dressed in her combat outfit.

Without the cloak, she's left with only her bodysuit, panties, and boots on. Ryuu feels exposed, even before Marcus starts working on her panties. Astrea distracts her by kissing the cleavage her bodysuit left exposed. And then the panties are off, and she's left with boots and a bodysuit.

Being bottomless before a man and her Goddess aren't what embarrasses her. It's the fact she's dripping heavily enough that her panties cling. As Marcus removes them, strands of her arousal form a bridge between herself and the garment.

"You're being rewarded for killing evildoers," Marcus says. He's crouched behind her, mouth just behind her vagina. "You can't leave- but it won't be an unpleasant stay." He kisses her there, and Ryuu's vision goes white. She would have collapsed if Astrea didn't steady her. Ryuu's head is on Astrea's chest again, except this time, the Goddess guides Ryuu's mouth to an areola.

"But you're also being punished," she says. "Because of you, neither of us will be able to leave this place. You're going to make it up to me."

Obediently, Ryuu starts to suckle at her Goddess' breast. Astrea lets out an approving moan, letting Ryuu know she was doing a good job- though not nearly as good as Marcus had done over these last three days.

That's alright though. Ryuu will have plenty of time to improve.