"Hoo!"
Roy stared at the "Synchronization Contract" with fiery eyes. Stacking a teammate's ability values, development abilities, even skills—this thing was absurdly powerful.
He couldn't wait to find a sucker.
At dusk, the Astraea Familia members returned one after another. Goddess Astraea who had purchased fresh ingredients, Daphne and Cassandra who had just returned from training in the Dungeon, and Ryuu who had assassinated Evilus faction members.
"Welcome back!"
"Mr. Roy, welcome back!"
Seeing Roy appear in the mansion, everyone showed joy on their faces, greeting him one after another.
"Today Miss Ryuu and I are cooking, please wait a moment!" Roy said apologetically. They took turns cooking, and he would frequently wander outside for several days at a time. This time he had stayed in the Land of Waves for five or six days.
After bathing, washing away the bloody scent from her body, Ryuu came to the kitchen to cooperate with Roy in cooking. Wearing a white apron, she had quite the air of a housewife.
Although Miss Ryuu's culinary skills were lacking, helping out was no problem. Washing dishes, washing vegetables, cutting vegetables—these tedious processes were all handled by her alone.
Roy only responsible for seasoning and stir-frying two steps.
"Pass me the pepper salt. How many did you eliminate?" Roy was making pepper salt pork ribs, asking casually.
With her back to Roy, while washing vegetables, Ryuu tossed the small bottle of pepper salt before her over, answering, "Three merchant guilds and one mercenary group."
Roy stared at the frying pork ribs, not even looking, as if he had eyes on his back, catching the pepper salt bottle and placing it aside for later use. He furrowed his brows, "You didn't eliminate anyone from the Guild, right?"
"Of course not!"
A trace of displeasure appeared on Miss Ryuu's small face. Was she someone with crazy killing intent? She only assassinated Evilus faction members and those colluding with them.
And only after prior investigation, with conclusive evidence!
"That's good then."
Roy sighed with emotion. Only someone who had walked this path could understand how hard-won this statement was.
In the original timeline, Ryuu had killed to the point of madness, eliminating Guild people as well, which was why the Guild put an 80 million valis bounty on her. If not for that, would the Guild be bored enough to put a bounty on a peak Level 4 adventurer?
It seemed his and Goddess Astraea's saving (conquest) work had been somewhat successful.
"Right, after dinner, come to my room. There's something." Roy said.
Ryuu hesitated for a moment, then agreed.
The subconscious hesitation was her elven cleanliness. Agreeing was her recognition of Roy.
Roy's room might be even cleaner and tidier than her room. Actually, she quite liked it.
Daphne and Cassandra sat in the hall, simply maintaining their weapons and armor. Even if not professional blacksmiths, they could handle such small matters themselves.
But their attention was quickly attracted, watching Roy and Ryuu in the kitchen—the two of them completely didn't need to look at each other, even without verbal communication, knowing what the other needed. The entire kitchen was quiet except for the sounds of stir-frying.
Daphne and Cassandra's mentality collapsed.
It's just cooking, is this necessary? Cooperating so perfectly, you two must have something going on!
Somehow having the feeling of a losing dog.
Hardly ever having their hearts moved, yet they lost so miserably this time, damn it!
Over half an hour later, a large table of Chinese cuisine appeared on the dining table, emitting enchanting aroma, making people's fingers move involuntarily, constantly swallowing saliva.
Roy was the only one in the Familia who could make Chinese food. Other times it was bread plus hot soup.
Chinese food with full color, aroma, and taste, large portions and filling, was deeply welcomed by everyone. Yet Roy frequently played missing, making people deeply helpless, glaring at him fiercely.
Roy's skin was thick enough to completely ignore it.
Although the Astraea Familia currently had few members, everywhere revealed the warmth of a small family. Everyone dined, passing time in pleasantness and laughter.
Compared to others enjoying the food, Roy looked at Goddess Astraea with complex eyes.
He thought of the Synchronization Contract.
If Goddess Astraea could sign this contract, he would immediately transform into a war god, punching Orario, kicking the Black Dragon, dominating heaven, earth, and air!
Of course, he was only fantasizing. Roy hadn't considered Goddess Astraea at all.
Signing such a contract with a Goddess whose divine power was sealed had no meaning whatsoever.
Even if she could release her divine power, Goddess Astraea who presided over "Justice" wouldn't help him do such cheat-like things. For Gods, everything in the lower world was a game—what's the point of playing with cheats?
Even those Evilus faction Gods who acted without bottom lines obeyed this bottom line.
If they didn't want to play, they would return to Heaven, release their divine power, and regain omniscient and omnipotent power. Releasing divine power in the lower world—other Gods would laugh at them for a lifetime.
Roy's only choice was his own elf maiden.
Knock! Knock!
After dinner, light knocking sounds rang out.
Roy casually said, "Come in."
The elf maiden pushed open the door, the simple environment entering her eyes, making her feel very comfortable.
Roy extracted the "Synchronization Contract," placing this parchment scroll before Ryuu, "Take a look at this contract. If there's no problem, sign it."
Ryuu extended her small hand, receiving the scroll, a trace of disappointment flashing in the depths of her eyes. She had thought he called her over to discuss eliminating those Evilus faction people.
But seeing the contents on the scroll, Ryuu couldn't remain calm.
"The contents above are real?"
Ryuu scanned the contents on the parchment scroll with ten lines at a glance. Her sky-blue eyes couldn't help but be shocked—at critical moments, allowing two people's ability values, development abilities, even part of their skills, to stack onto one person.
Roy nodded.
Ryuu opened her small mouth slightly, her little brain somewhat unable to process, "You're certain you want to sign this contract with me?"
According to this contract's contents, when borrowing power, the other party's consent was required. If rejected, nothing would happen.
The relationship between both parties was equal.
From this aspect, it was best to choose someone with absolute trust to sign this contract. Otherwise, it would equal wasting this miraculous contract.
"Miss Ryuu, I trust you very much."
Roy's gaze directly faced Miss Ryuu, his clear eyes without a trace of falsehood. Even without a God's ability to detect lies, Ryuu could see it.
Making people unwilling to betray this trust.
Ryuu pursed her thin lips, her eyes subconsciously moving to the floor. She who had once wanted to abandon "Justice" wasn't worthy of receiving such trust.
The guilt of attacking her close friend using magic, the hatred of wanting to destroy the Evilus faction still remained in her heart. Only mixed with the expectation of reviving her former companions and restoring the Familia, supporting her until now.
Ryuu ultimately still signed this contract.
And the instant her pen finished, the parchment scroll self-ignited, not even leaving residue behind.
Roy and Ryuu's spirits stirred. In the dark, it was as if a thin line connected them. Both could clearly sense each other's existence.