nownovels Chapter 273 The Useless Elf: 99% Complete
Chapter 273 The Useless Elf: 99% Complete
Chapter 273 The Useless Elf: 99% Complete
The artificial maze, the eighteenth floor.
The effect of the False God Card ended, Roy returned to his original form, the heavy divine power permeating the air dissipated, and the captivating charm also disappeared.
But it didn't matter. The vast man-made maze was deathly silent, rivers of blood flowed, and he was the only one left.
Liu An has been killing people for over a year, going on a killing spree, but it still can't compare to the number of dark faction members he killed tonight, not to mention that many of them were cadres.
Just to be on the safe side, Roy put on his hood.
Having explored the man-made labyrinth, Roy filled both spatial rings to the brim with cursed weapons from the dark faction and precious materials—
After defeating Naraku, Roy obtained a legendary spatial ring from the golden treasure chest. The ring had a volume of 100 cubic meters, enough for Roy to pack up and take away the important assets of the Dark Faction, probably making him a billion dollars.
Robbery is indeed the fastest way to make money.
Roy has been robbing Orario's wealthiest Ishtar Familia and the man-made labyrinth that has been built for a thousand years. He's lost count of how much money he's made recently, but luckily Lily is there to help him with the tedious work.
Several hours later, Roy left the artificial maze.
With the Eye of Daedalus, one can enter the man-made labyrinth at any time and eventually empty it of its contents.
Roy didn't believe that the escaped Sanatos, Bacca, and others would dare to return anytime soon, so the man-made maze was his backyard during that time.
The only pity is that Roy did not find any trace of the Jewel Fetus or the Six Rings of the Fairy. The former is the embryo of the tainted fairy, and the latter is a magic circle that can wipe out the entire Orario and the surrounding area in an instant!
Roy gazed intently at the man-made maze. Although he had nearly wiped out the dark faction by using Freya's allure, there was still an even deeper layer of darkness.
Many people are destined to have a sleepless night.
Suddenly, another pillar of light appeared from the sky, signifying that a god had been sent back to the heavens. Orario was thrown into chaos. Gods were terrified, adventurers and the public were curious, and guild staff were running around trying to find out which god had gotten into trouble. They were all in a frenzy.
Roy returned to the Star Court early, and no one would suspect him no matter what.
After all, everyone witnessed "Sprout of Justice" getting completely drunk at the celebration banquet yesterday!
If his mental state isn't near its limit, with his LV.5 physique, just three hours of sleep is enough for Roy to maintain his energy for the entire day.
Roy returned early in the morning, passing through other entrances and exits of the man-made maze. When he woke up, it was almost noon, and the bright sun was high in the sky.
"Who awakens first from this great dream? Only I know the truth of my own life!"
Roy stretched and stepped out of his room, only to see a graceful elven girl staring at him with her bright sky-blue eyes.
Her pretty little face showed a complex mix of emotions: gratitude, joy, excitement, and a hint of affection.
When Ryu met Roy's gaze, her eyes darted away.
When Ryu saw the pillar of light returned by the gods, she was shocked. She didn't expect Roy to go so far as to violate the most serious taboo in the mortal realm.
If Roy is found out, the gods will not let him off easily. In the dark jungle law, even the gods have to worry about whether Roy will send them back to heaven.
Liu pursed her thin, cicada-wing-like lips, her heart pounding wildly. She knew that Roy was targeting the dark faction because the conflict between the two sides had reached its peak.
But even if it's only one in ten thousand, or just one of the reasons—is it possible that the other person did it for her?
Although Ryu was slow to grasp the emotions involved in Roy and the goddess Astrea's rescue plan, over the course of a year and a half, she had begun to vaguely sense something of it.
Roy returned the gods for her sake!
Just thinking about this possibility filled her with a surge of emotion, like a torrent of heat coursing through her entire body. Happiness filled every corner of her heart, and she was so shy that a blush gradually crept up her beautiful cheeks and pointed ears. She didn't dare to look up at Roy's face at all.
"Lady Astraea wants you to go to the main hall; she has something important to discuss." Ryu said quickly, her head bowed.
After saying that, she turned around and left in a panic.
thump!
Before she could take two steps, Liu tripped over her own foot with her left, cried out in surprise, and fell face-first to the ground, her clumsy appearance startling everyone.
Ryuna's snow-white swan neck was also covered with a blush. She quickly got up, covered her face, and ran away.
Roy's eyes widened. What's going on?
It wasn't until a few seconds later that Roy realized he was seeing a world-famous painting: LV.6 Adventurer Falls Flat on the Ground!
The Waste Elf is 99% complete!
Roy followed Liu into the hall.
Besides Lily handling the assets of the Ishtar Familia, everyone else was present, along with a fox-girl who was about to join the Familia—Sanjou Haruhime.
"Lady Astraea, I am deeply sinful and dare not hope to join the Astraea Familia. Please allow me to serve as a maid in the manor to atone for my past sins!" Haruhime knelt in a standard Japanese kneeling posture, bowing her head and making a humble request.
The fox-girl, only thirteen years old, was petite and delicate. Her long hair cascaded down like a golden waterfall, sparkling and radiant. She had bright, jewel-like emerald green eyes, and her two fox ears and tail on her small head were fluffy, making her look like an extremely cute rag doll. She spoke in a soft, gentle voice, which was endearing to all.
Goddess Astraea sat on the sofa, her deep blue eyes falling on Roy. Only after Roy nodded slightly did she smile warmly, "You're very welcome!"
The tense atmosphere in the lobby eased considerably.
After the expedition ended, Roy told everyone about the "Level Up" magic on Haruhime.
Astrea and Ryuto were astonished.
This magic is too overpowered! It forcibly raises a person's level without any conditions. This is the truth behind the outside world's speculation that the Ishtar Familia is hiding its strength!
The real reason lies with this insignificant little prostitute, leaving Astraea and the others deeply moved.
Although those who temporarily level up gain half the experience points in battle, the benefits are real. Roy's Synchro Contract grants a level-up, or Ryu gets a level-up, making them LV.7 adventurers!
The highest level currently in the city!
With Haruhime joining the familia, the Astrea Familia may now be able to stand on equal footing with Loki.
While they are far outnumbered, in terms of high-level combat power, one lower-level LV.7 is no match for three of their LV.6 who have not yet reached their peak.
"Haruhime, welcome!"
Ryu, Tione, Tiona, Daphne, and Cassandra all welcomed Haruhime.
They knew that Haruhime had participated in the underground city hunt, which had caused them considerable trouble, but how could a mere prostitute defy Ishtar?
Roy had already defined the nature of the matter in that war game: as long as Ishtar, the mastermind, was eliminated, the others could be dealt with leniently.
If everyone were thoroughly purged, they would slaughter everyone in Orario. Ishtar's family runs a brothel, and too many people are connected to them. Before the War Game, there were even people who dared to monitor Roy and secretly report their itinerary to Ishtar.
The most important reason why the girls are so enthusiastic about Haruhime is that Haruhime's magic level has been elevated, which can raise the strength of the entire clan to a higher level!
It's the same principle as defeating a powerful enemy and capturing their top-tier weapon.
This next "weapon" will be used by him!
With the permission of the goddess Astraea and the welcome of the girls, Haruhime Sanjou was moved to tears; she, who had committed unforgivable sins, was actually accepted by others.
Subsequently, Astrea converted Haruhime to a different religion.
Nominally a maid, but no one would leave this powerful asset at home as a decorative vase.
Of course, the maid's work also needs to be done.
The vast Star Garden needs cleaning, and previously everyone took turns doing it. Now that there is a resident maid, it will be much more convenient.
Chunji's conversion was slightly more complicated.
The reason is that Ishtar was sent back to the heavens by Astraea, and there was no time to prepare for the conversion of her family members, so the blessings of all Ishtar's family members were locked away.
Just like in the original timeline, Ishtar was slapped back to the Celestial Realm by Freya, and the grace of her familiars was also locked away. Roy felt it was more like a seal than a complete erasure of the grace's existence.
The grace of God is to evolve the human body, affecting the genetic level, rather than simply strengthening it.
It's impossible for it to just disappear like that.
Chunji's conversion requires another special item, the Unlocking Medicine, a special potion made from the blood of a god. It can forcibly unlock the locked grace and is extremely valuable.
This potion can forcibly manifest blessings locked away by the gods. It is usually used by those with ill intentions to obtain information about others. It is prohibited from being produced and sold by guilds, but it still appears on the black market, indicating that there is a huge gray industry chain involved in the dark, involving an unimaginable number of gods and their families.
There are also more advanced upgrade potions, which can update the stats of members of different clans, but they cannot be used to level up or unlock new skills and magic.
With Astraea's wealth, obtaining a bottle of unlocking potion from the black market would be an easy task.
Astrea took out the unlocking potion and dripped a drop onto Haruhime's smooth, delicate back.
Centered on the point of impact, ripples spread outwards, forcibly revealing the locked-in grace.
Astraea pricked her finger with a silver needle, and divine blood dripped down. Haruhime's grace gradually transformed into a sword of justice and two snow-white wings.
A moment later, the conversion was completed, and the two walked out.
"The conversion is complete." A smile appeared on the goddess Astraea's beautiful face as she announced the result.
"Yay!"
The girls cheered with joy, the clan grew and prospered, and everyone was happy.
The fox-girl was also infected by the atmosphere, her little face full of joy, her eyes secretly glancing at Roy, the emotions deep in her eyes seeming to overflow.
As if in a stress response, Tione fixed her sharp gaze on Haruhime. Oh no, another thief has set its sights on the captain!
"Little sister Haruhime, I have something to remind you." Tione, who was only one year older than Haruhime, pulled her into a corner with an air of maturity.
It's unclear what the two said, but the fox-girl blushed deeply and repeatedly waved her hands in denial, though her tender gaze occasionally drifted towards Roy in the hall.
Thione was so angry her teeth itched.
Meanwhile, the fact that Roy could help others quickly improve their stats and level up spread through the gossipy gods, immediately causing a frenzy of excitement in Orario.
The atmosphere in Orario has been completely transformed!
Acts of kindness, such as helping elderly women cross the street, giving way to children, and helping others, are seen everywhere.
Street disputes and conflicts decreased rapidly, and even the usually burly and menacing adventurers seemed much more amiable.
A scene of joy and harmony.
Roy's skills require a firm belief in "justice." Living in Orario, a melting pot of all sorts of people, even though adventurers know they are unlikely to join the Astrea Familia, they still want to fight for even the slightest chance.
After all, that's an opportunity for rapid upgrades.
Gaining great power means that money, beautiful women, and fame are all within easy reach!
Whatever their purpose, the Astrea Familia did change some things in Orario, enough to make countless people grateful to them and greatly increase their prestige.
Rather than exploring dungeons to obtain mysterious materials, people are more focused on the little things in life.
With Roy wiping out the Dark Faction, Orario's security situation has visibly improved, almost turning it into a model city.
Roy's amazing skills have made countless people eager to join the Astrea Familia, with applications pouring in like snowflakes.
Outside the Court of Stars, a long line of interviewees stretched to the northern city gate, including elves, dwarves, and...
Amazons, humans, demi-humans, and other races suddenly became a spectacle in Orario.
The blessings bestowed by the gods upon their followers are all the same. What matters is one's own faith and subsequent growth. Apart from that, there are the resources of the followers.
Given the choice between the Loki Familia and the Takemikazuchi Familia, anyone would choose the former.
The Loki Familia possesses vast resources and connections, along with high-level adventurer training partners and dungeon knowledge—enabling individuals to quickly develop into competent adventurers.
But all of this pales in comparison to Roy's "skills" in helping people grow.
Rank is everything!
It's only natural that the Astrea Familia is so popular.
Tiony, Tiona, Daphne, and the others peered out the window, their faces filled with astonishment at the magnificent sight outside. If they were to take all these people under their wing, the Astrea Familia would number in the tens of thousands!
The temptation of rapid upgrades is too strong!
This is only the first day. When the news spreads all over the world, people from all corners of the earth who want to become adventurers will probably break down the threshold of the Star Garden!
Goddess Astraea, on the other hand, looked worried, her bright, star-like eyes staring at Roy as if to say, "You've caused this mess, so deal with it yourself!"
Roy gave an awkward smile and walked out the door.
Upon seeing Roy, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the crowd. Everyone stared at Roy with burning eyes, and the Amazon girls licked their lips, their eyes gleaming with malice, as if they wanted to devour him.
With his ability to help others grow quickly, Roy is the most sought-after character in Orario, bar none!
It's enough to drive everyone crazy.
It's a pity that Roy and the Astrea Familia are too powerful, otherwise there would be no need for an interview, countless forces would just snatch them up!
Roy gathered everyone together, and facing the expectant gazes below, he coughed twice and said, "Everyone, I believe you've all heard that I possess a special skill that helps people quickly increase their abilities and level up, which is why we've gathered here—"
At this point, Roy paused for a moment.
The crowd's breathing quickened slightly.
Roy's deep, steady voice resonated throughout the room, "Let me clarify, that's not a rumor!"
"Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh—!"
After a brief moment of deathly silence, people's pupils dilated, and they erupted into a thunderous roar of cheers, a monstrous wave that tore through the air and spread wildly in all directions.
The voice was louder, more fervent, and more hysterical than ever before!
It's as if it wants to overturn and pierce the sky!
Countless people's faces flushed with excitement, their arms raised high, their fists pounding the air, all their excitement and fervor transformed into the purest form of body language.
Those pairs of eyes, filled with worship and ecstasy, gazed at Roy, almost like devoted believers.
The gods watching from the outside were dumbfounded.
Among those who want to join the Astrea Familia, many are from other Familias.
The gods certainly wouldn't let their core members take risks. They'd let some newcomers test the waters first. If they found Roy's skills to be useful and without side effects, then they'd let the officers, or even the captain, join in.
Roy's ability to incite the masses is too strong; the gods are a little scared, fearing they might go and never return!
Astraea smiled wryly. What was he trying to do by injecting people with a morale boost at this time?
Roy pressed his hands down, and the commotion and noise gradually subsided. He sighed softly, then changed the subject, feigning sadness, "But everyone must understand that I am only one person. No matter what, I cannot help everyone level up, just like Miss Amid, the 'Battlefield Saintess,' cannot heal all the wounded in the world—"
Amide, who was receiving treatment at the Pure White Sanatorium, felt a slight ache in her small nose, yawned, and rubbed her nose with her little hand. Who was talking about her?
Silence fell over the crowd. Yes, Roy was alone, while there were tens of thousands of people here, and more and more were still arriving.
Roy bowed, "It's because my abilities (cheat codes) are too weak, Red Bean Mud Smear Masai!"
People feel disappointed, but it's understandable.
Roy said, "Based on the principle of common development and building a better Orario, the Astrea Familia is also willing to contribute to the training of new adventurers. We will send everyone a questionnaire. After filling it out, submit it to our Miss Daphne. If you pass the preliminary test, we will send you an interview invitation —"
Daphne and Cassandra came out carrying towering questionnaires and handed them out to everyone in turn.
After the people who received the questionnaires left, the courtyard of the Star Garden quickly became empty again.
A strange light flashed in Goddess Astraea's beautiful eyes; it turned out that Roy had been prepared all along.
The questionnaire was nothing more than a survey of personal information: name, race, address, whether you have joined other clans, whether you have killed anyone, and if so, why, what your views on justice are, and what you would do if you were asked to carry out justice.
It's no different from the recruitment process of large companies in Roy's previous life.
However, those who wanted to join the Astrea Familia dared not fill out the form carelessly, especially regarding the last question: Roy's skills, which nominally required a belief in "justice".