Danmaku, my skills refresh weekly.

……

Charles didn't look at Lyra; he went straight downstairs.

The lobby on the first floor was now full of people, and all the family members who had gone out had returned to the base.

Kaguya scoffed in dissatisfaction: "Hey, you said you were going to see Lyra, but you've been chatting with Lady Astrea for so long! What have you been saying behind our backs?"

"About Jester," Ciel casually made up an excuse.

"...So, do you know where that kid went?"

When Jester was mentioned, Kaguya became a little hesitant. Although her memory was hazy, she could still vividly recall the events that had happened.

Will we ever have a chance to see her again?

"Hmm..." Charles didn't dare to make a guarantee: "If you haven't been killed in the last two years, you should be able to."

"Damn it, you're cursing me!" Kaguya's expression instantly turned sour, but due to her injuries, she didn't resort to violence.

"What I mean is, if you still want to see her, then don't die so young."

"Isn't this the same thing?!"

Kaguya's expression grew increasingly gloomy.

At this moment, another laugh rang out:

"Ciel-chan is worried about Kaguya and wants you to take care of yourself."

At the dining table, an Amazonian girl with curly ponytail, dark skin, and mature makeup smiled and beckoned to Ciel.

“Little brother Charles, you still can’t speak properly. If you care about someone, you should be more honest.”

“You are…” Charles stared suspiciously at the overly familiar Iska.

"Huh? That's so mean, it's Iska!" The Amazonian girl puffed out her cheeks.

“Sister?” Charles said seriously, “My sister abandoned me and ran away. Besides, Amazons probably can’t have boys.”

“No way!” Iska covered her forehead. “Back in Maria’s orphanage, they even laughed at the bruises and scars on my face.”

"What are you saying? If you don't know how to do makeup, don't do it. It's all so dark and annoying." Iska clutched her chest. "They were fighting tirelessly for everyone back then."

"Hey, Mr. Charles was pretty rude back then," Ryu exclaimed.

“No, that’s not it,” Iska explained. “This brat just doesn’t know how to talk. He’s clearly concerned about people.”

"Later, I also started to pay more attention to resting. And I learned how to do makeup. Even now, staying beautiful at all times is the justice I follow!"

Although she claims that she maintains her beauty so that powerful males will invite her to spend the rest of her life with her.

It's about pursuing a sense of superiority.

But only Ciel knew that maintaining her beauty at all times was to prevent her family from worrying about her; this was the justice Isca wanted.

This idea suddenly opened the Pandora's box of long-sealed memories.

When he was young, Ciel, who was alone and had no one to rely on, did indeed experience something similar.

That was the time when Sister Maria fell ill, and the story of her sister, also an orphan, who ran away to become an adventurer.

After that, the food at the orphanage improved, and many children were able to eat their fill.

This is also why Charles later decided to become an adventurer when he received an invitation from Chanis.

“…” Ciel lowered his head.

So, in the beginning, I became a member of the gods' kin so that everyone in the orphanage could have a better life?

Iska's voice still echoed in my ears:

"Kaguya, you're not allowed to bully Ciel, okay? Or I'll beat you up!"

"Ugh... I see, this is such a hassle."

Looking at Kaguya's eyes, which had gone from 'enemy' to 'one of us'.

For the first time, Ciel realized that he also had ties to the Astrea Familia.

Chapter 253 The Orphanage's "Goddess"

One more connection!

Charles seemed to see a notification pop up above his head.

And Kaguya, are you really that kind of character?

Your eyes have become so clear when you look at people, you bastard!

Under Ciel's strange gaze, Kaguya blushed with practiced ease: "Shut up, you noisy bastard! Keep your voice down!"

“I haven’t said anything yet!” Charles forced a comical smile.

"Well, it's getting late. Ciel-chan, would you like to stay for dinner? How about having your older sister sleep with you tonight, something we haven't done in a long time?"

"Iska! Has the Amazon's instincts awakened? Our Familia is a sacred place for young girls! Don't let boys stay overnight!" Kaguya retorted loudly and arrogantly.

"Hey, it's just a long-awaited get-together between siblings. Well, dinner should be fine, right?" Iska tossed her hair and gave a flirty wink.

During dinner.

Ciel fully understood what it was like to have 'my sister is an innocent, dark-skinned, hot Amazonian girl'.

Ryu would frequently exclaim in shock at Iska's extreme actions, "Shameless!!"

When Astraea saw this scene, her expression softened even more.

"Now, Ciel is truly family. So you're not allowed to play pranks on your sisters anymore, okay?"

"Damn it, they've got a hold of me!"

Even Kaguya, for the first time ever, grabbed her hair, looking awkward.

"Sigh, I'm so sorry for how I treated you before."

"Hmph." Ciel, who saw through Kaguya's true nature, remained arrogant and did not respond.

……

After dinner, Ciel finally succumbed to Iska's enthusiasm and left the Stardust Mansion.

Return to the church.

In "I'm Back," when you open the door, you see Alfia with her hands on her chest, and a black-haired loli with a "rebellious" face and an ugly smile.

When they saw Ciel return home, both pairs of eyes turned towards him.

Alfia: When did you get another dog behind my back?

Fels: You better control your woman.

"Hey, who is this arrogant little brat?" Alfia asked bluntly.

“In terms of age, I’m old enough to be your grandmother,” Fels said seriously.

"Hmph, who is this little old woman?"

"..."

“Alright.” Charles gestured with his hand. “She is ‘Sage’ Fels, you’ve met her before.”

Alfia: "...That's the one who lived for 800 years? How did she become like this?"

"Hmph, little girl. Do you know how to respect your elders now?" The little girl put her hands on her hips, and surprisingly became smug in a strange place.

Hmm, she's now a powerful [Mysterious A] level expert, Alfia is nothing to her!

“Fels, you seem a bit strange after just one day apart?” Charles asked curiously.

"Really?" Fels, oblivious, looked himself up and down. "I feel pretty good."

"No, I have a feeling you're recklessly courting death. Has your mischievous child spirit awakened?" Charles stroked his chin: "Can [Old Deng Reincarnated] even revert to a childlike state of mind?"

After being reminded, Alfia also subtly noticed something amiss: "So, it's the same for me. I thought it was a change in mindset after overcoming the illness, but it turns out it's a side effect of the skill?"

Alfia was once even more aloof. Her voice impairment and illness tormented her, causing her to subconsciously isolate herself and refuse to listen to the noise of the outside world.

She suddenly realized, why did she have the pointless energy to argue with a child?

In the past, she would have found a quiet place to rest.

Where can you find such lingering charm and vitality?

Fels stroked his chin: "It's probably because of pheromones. The amount of these things affects our emotions."

She forced an awkward smile: "How long has it been since I was affected by these hormones? I really miss it."

Alfia seemed to be deep in thought.

That's why I felt that child smelled inexplicably good. And the strange possessiveness was actually due to hormones.

Like Fels, Alfia's illness prevented her from experiencing joy. A person constantly plagued by tinnitus and physical dysfunction could never be truly happy. Naturally, she wouldn't develop any special pheromones towards the opposite sex.

It's all the pheromones' doing! Yes, that's right, it's absolutely impossible to be like my sister...

Alfia acknowledged Fels's knowledge.

She plopped down on the sofa and said casually, "Charles, I'm hungry. Go make some food."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

……

Full of wine and food.

Fels handed several documents to Charles:

"You did a good job using your identity as a member of the Phobos Familia before. I didn't change it, I just hid this record. Here's what's left, take a look."

Charles took the document, which contained information that had been relayed from other branches a few days earlier. The document had been delayed due to the major protests.

"The Phobos Familia actually disbanded a few days ago!" Charles realized that it must have happened all at once during the civil war in various kingdoms during the Great Rebellion.

"I see. That's why Forbus chose this moment to send Welf away."