Paladin of Shadows Chapter 24

In but a couple of minutes, Hestia was pouting at me as she woke up fully from her nap after I made her worry that Astrea had got her while she was asleep.

Still Hestia's pouty expression was truly adorable, honestly. 

"Youuuu, hmph, I will get you back for this!" She whispered as we left the townhouse but I just smiled knowing any prank Hestia got me back for wouldn't be too bad.

But with the slight fear I had of the scorned greek Goddess I gave Hestia's head a soft pat as I said softly. "I am sorry for worrying you Hestia. I just wanted you to wake up and not go back to sleep."

To which Hestia's pout lessened a bit, but she still just gave a huff to show she was still dissastisfied with me. Either way, we quickly made our way to the Astraea manor with Hestia taking the lead as we were greeted by the lower leveled members of the goddesses all female familia that I didn't recongize.

"Lady Astraea has talked about you a good bit Lady Hestia, she will be excited to see you already having recruited yourself a familia member." A Maryuu, the somewhat famous healer of the Astraea familia spoke.

And she was somewhat 'infamous' for being a bit of a berserker of a healer as she was noted for being... Very skilled with her war mace that she used at the front lines to bash criminals and monsters to death with.

"And you are her Captain. I am suprised one of the virgin goddesses recruited a man to be her captain though." She noted with a small wry smile.

I shrugged and said with a calm smile. "Her purity should have little to do with my gender as I respect her boundaries. Still, this is a very beautiful mansion, how long has the Astraea been established anyway?" 

Maryuu tilted her head to the side before she shrugged and said easily. "Oh? We have been around for like five years. Why ask?" 

To which I shook my head as the Astraea familia was filled minor protagonist templates. No one seemed to be all to surprised how Astraea's female-only Familia despite being very busy with doing much of the police work of Orario had many of it's members at level four and three.

Sure it wasn't anything compared to Loki, Amaterasu, and Freya's Familia's. But the Astraea familia had only been around for five years in comparison to Loki's Familia that has been around for more than fifty years!

"I was just curious. I have only recently entered Orario after all." I said thoughtfully.

Then with the sharp click of a door, a new female voice spoke out and I instantly felt the divinity of a new goddess reach my senses and make me tense for but a moment.

"Ah! Hestia it truly is you, I was somewhat worried if you would get your feet underneath your self in Gekai." 

We both looked over and I idly mused that a symbol of the Greek goddesses must be their bountiful breasts as Astraea's bountiful chest pillows bounced with each elegant step she took in her tight dress towards us.

Then Astraea looked away from Hestia to me as Hestia said with a weak smile. "I am not so helpless, Astraea! It's not like I was going to mooch on anyone or anything!"

To which Astraea's quick glance became an amused upturn of the lips as she looked between us and said. "Oh, and you didn't ask Hepheastus for a... Rather significant loan as well?"

"Herk!" Hestia swallowed before she said helplessly. "I already have a familia and I need to help support them to get started. And I am already working to help repay the loan to Hepheastus as well!"

Astraea gave a knowing nod before she said kindly. "I understand your love and care for your children, Hestia. Now... Come with me Hestia, Maryuu. I hope you can keep her captain entertained while Hestia and I talk?"

Maryuu gave me a glance to the side, but still smiled and said easily. "Of course, Jake. Would you care to follow me to the library? We have some snacks and drinks there if you would like?"

Although we were supposed to talk to Astraea about making a contract for me to get a skill or spell, I wasn't going to say anything out in the open. I should trust Hestia to broach the topic with Astraea.

"Sounds good. Hestia, don't get too deep into any wine." I said with a knowing look to Hestia, who pouted along with Astraea, giving a small giggle at how I pinned Hestia in place with a look.

Still, I followed the healer who shared some light conversation with me before showing me how they sorted their books via genres instead of like alphabetically or whatever.

So I just settled into a large sofa to read while Hestia hopefully... Hopefully got Astraea to at least question me with her divinity to see if I was worthy of her blessing/contract.

'Hmm, I wonder where Ryuu and I suppose Alise is?' I mused, thinking about how with the Amaterasu familia being a thing. Evilus got brutally stomped out, even with the Silence and the Gluttony doing their bullshit.

Which meant that the Astraea familia in the current era was still going strong. Either way, I was thinking that with how Ryuu was kinda Alise's protege, it was likely the red-haired beauty was taking the elf around the city or in the dungeon.

After all, the Astraea familia was noted for constantly running patrols between the main path from the surface and down to Riviria the town built in the dungeon.