Danmaku, my skills refresh weekly.

"Hmm..." Ais puffed out her cheeks and came to the bedside without saying a word, grabbing the blanket with her small hands and pulling it out.

The two lost their balance and rolled onto the bed.

"What are you doing?"

Ais pointed at the bewildered Ryu, her little face hardening: "You cunning thing!"

"what?!"

"Escapee! I won't lose!"

"Nani?!"

"Quickly tell me the methods for becoming stronger that Ciel taught you."

"what?"

"I am the strongest in the world!"

Liu went from panicking at the beginning, to being confused, and finally her eyes went blank.

"Alright, Ais. Stop fooling around." Riveria quickly assessed the situation around her.

Seeing that both of them were wearing normal hospital gowns and were injured, the responsibility should fall on Amid, given the current situation. Moreover, judging from the way Charles and this young member of their clan seemed to have no other thoughts at all.

To Rivera, 14-year-old Ryu was practically a baby.

"We have something to ask you. Would it be convenient for us to talk somewhere?"

Charles raised an eyebrow: "Don't you think this place is perfect for interrogation?"

“I didn’t mean that,” Rivera said calmly.

As she spoke, Riveria glanced around the ward. Amid turned and went to another room to move two chairs, then closed the door and left. Before leaving, she subconsciously locked the door, saying that she wanted to maintain the 'uniqueness'.

Inside the 'hospital room', the four people looked at each other, speechless at Amid's plight.

Forget it, I can't argue with a child.

Rivera quickly adjusted her mindset and got straight to the point, telling them everything that had happened that night.

"I never expected so much to happen in one night." Ryu was greatly surprised and stared at Ciel in astonishment.

“The Hera Familia makes sense, but why did the Freya Familia also… and even Alfia appear from behind the scenes?” Riveria asked, voicing the doubts she had been keeping to herself.

"That's probably because I'm an orphan of the 'Hera' Familia," Ciel explained briefly about his background.

Hera only told Freya about this. Riveria got the answer from Ciel and was surprised, but also relieved.

"I didn't expect you to have this connection. No wonder Hera is so fixated on you."

“I only found out about this recently.” Charles nodded. “As for Freya, because my sister was later taken in by the Freya Familia, she now plays a very important role.”

"Oh? There shouldn't be any female officers in Freya's Familia, right? Could it be Mia, the shopkeeper? But the age doesn't match up." Riveria pondered.

Ryu did think of a certain street girl, but she had never heard of her having any connection with Freya.

Ciel shrugged: "That's a secret of her clan, so I can't say much about it. Besides, Freya helped me, probably because she also wants to get information about Jester. After all, she seems to have taken a liking to that child."

“Now that you put it that way… I can understand it now.” Riveria said with relief.

After understanding the background, Rivera turned to the main point: "About you... and the relationship between Alfia and the Joker, how much do you know?"

Ryuya looked at Ciel.

Without a doubt, given Charles's current status and situation, he is probably the only one who can access their core group.

Charles put on a 'I knew you'd ask that' look, rested his chin on his hand, and pondered how to answer.

After a moment, he raised his head and sighed:

"We should be considered two groups with different ideologies."

“Oh?” Ryu and Riveria recalled Alfia’s unwavering beliefs.

Charles continued, "Hera and Zeus's kin were initially formed to fulfill the 'covenant' of the gods by conquering the 'Three Great Commissions.' For a thousand years since the Age of Gods, the two kin have been studying grace, gathering strong individuals, and accumulating power, ultimately achieving 'salvation.'"

"Compared to the gods who are currently in the mortal realm and only think about 'entertainment,' Zeus and Hera's retinue share a common 'goal.'"

"So, even though Alfia experienced the despair of fighting the Black Dragon and decided to fight in her own way, it was all for the sake of 'saving the world.' Perhaps the Joker is the same way..."

Ryu bit her lip, her eyelashes trembling: "But that's an evil path!"

Charles sighed, "Yes, that's why Jester and I couldn't travel with Joker."

"Have you ever heard of a toy called 'playing cards' from the gods? Among them, the two 'Jokers' represent absolute power, one gray and one colored."

"Just as there is justice, there is also evil. Lady Astrea has also said that 'absolute justice' does not exist."

"So when justice and evil unite, all forces will submit to this 'royal flush'."

"Joekr is the gray clown that symbolizes evil."

Ryu clenched her fists: "I cannot accept that destroying Orario and using Fallen Fairy Spirits to control adventurers is supposedly for 'saving the world'!? I..."

Chapter 493 Who is the King of Chuunibyou in DanMachi?

“He’s fooled us like this, manipulating our emotions like puppets, all for something like this? Isn’t that incredibly arrogant?!” Riveria said, becoming even calmer.

Seeing Ryuna's pained and struggling expression, Ciel sighed:

"He's like a 'writer,' writing a 'heroic tale' in his own way. Regardless of whether 'justice' ultimately triumphs over 'evil' or 'evil' emerges victorious, the victor who devours the other side's experience has a chance to defeat the Black Dragon."

"This is Alfia, or rather, Erebus, who champions the 'last hero's' method of 'sacrificing a billion to give birth to one.'"

Charles paused for a moment and continued, "I don't think he's arrogant; on the contrary, he's more cautious than the more idealistic Jester."

Ciel and Riveria exchanged information about 'Fallen Fairy Parasite'.

Rivera exclaimed in surprise, "I thought the Astraea Familia was wiped out in the dungeon, but it turns out they were transformed into 'monsters'?"

She looked at Ryu, who was lost in grief and silent, with sympathy, as if she could understand why she had become so crazy.

"According to information obtained from Finn, the Joker seems to have turned himself into a 'freak' as well."

Charles pondered for a moment: "No wonder he's a guy who truly follows the 'evil path.'"

"We know that the monster that devoured the Fallen Fairy is, theoretically, on par with the Black Dragon as an 'Endgame.' Now, his choice to help the Fallen Fairy, who is still hiding in the dungeon, and attempt to use her power to annihilate the Black Dragon, might also be a way to fight against the Endgame."

Based on Fels's speculation, the 'end' will arrive earlier than the 'promised day,' and using the Fallen Fairy Essence to deal with the Black Dragon seems like a very reliable decision.

"Since both sides are bombs anyway, regardless of winning or losing, we can at least reduce one threat."

Ais pondered for a moment and nodded: "Killing the black dragon is not impossible!"

咚）

As soon as she finished speaking, Ais got hit on the head by Riveria.

“You’re too extreme.”

and……

“Alphia…” Charles mentioned the name.

"If the Fallen Fairy can 'cure' Alphia's illness, then even fighting the Black Dragon might not be impossible."

The words fell.

A suffocating feeling enveloped the four of them.

They had never seen the black dragon and did not know how terrifying it was that brought despair to Alfia.

But if they were to face Alfia at his 'prime', the sense of oppression would be overwhelming.

"Think about it, if Alphia were controlled by the Fallen Fairy, it would be even more dangerous, wouldn't it?" Ryu retorted.

“This is the heretical path…” Charles nodded.

"Furthermore, Rukawa... based on my understanding of grace, 'experience,' 'desire,' and 'destiny' are catalysts for strengthening grace, thereby giving birth to corresponding skills. You may have become the Joker's test subject."

"That's why I'm telling you to be careful not to be influenced by him and thus deviate from justice."

Ryu looked at Ciel, recalling tonight, the divine servants who colluded with the dark faction, and the guild staff who were returned by Hera.

To uphold her justice and prevent her from being burdened with the guilt of slaughtering the 'innocent,' Ciel seems to have done a lot.

Ais glanced at the blushing elf with her head down, tilted her head, and looked at Rivera: "Is this the reason for my defeat?"

"?" Riveria's face showed confusion.

Ais climbed onto the bed, wrapped her little arms around Ciel's arm, and pressed herself against him: "Is this the secret to getting stronger?"

"Ha...haha? That can't be right." Charles scratched his face.

Rivera raised her head, having gained a deeper understanding of the Joker after learning his code of conduct.

While increasing vigilance against the Joker, it also strengthened Riveria's resolve.

We absolutely cannot lose to the Joker.

If those who uphold justice fail, the world will be led astray by the Joker.

Thinking of this, Rivera turned her head and said, "By the way, Ciel. What did Ais mean when she said that as long as you're 'chuunibyou' (a Japanese term for someone with delusions of grandeur), you can become stronger?"

“This…” Ciel broke free from Ais’s hand and put her on the ground.

"Just like Alpha, you have a very powerful hidden force within you. Once you master that force, you will become stronger than others."

“The wind…?” Riveria frowned.

"Correct."

"But that will affect Ais's body!"

Charles countered, "Rather than having to unleash this power in a dangerous situation, causing irreversible consequences, it would be better for Ais to become familiar with it under your supervision."

Charles stroked Ais's hair: "The wind is the embodiment of your hatred, and also proof that someone is protecting you."

Charles looked up at the worried Madam: "Ais should learn to accept it, instead of constantly running away from it."

"As for the 'chuunibyou' thing, I don't think you should ask me that. You should ask Finn, shouldn't you?"

“Finn?” Riveria asked in surprise. “Why him?”

A comical expression appeared on Charles's face: "Who do you think is the person in the lower realm who best embodies the 'chuunibyou' (delusional) mentality the gods speak of?"