The blacksmith girl slammed the table with a loud bang, her strength rattling everything around.
But seeing her puffed-up cheeks and the expression of someone who'd just caught her wife sneaking off with another man, Shaka didn't know how to react.
"I was here first! If anyone's going to join this Familia, it has to be me first!" declared Cecil, making her stance clear.
Cecil Blackliza
Having once aimed to become the greatest blacksmith, Cecil had spent two years resisting Astraea's coaxing. But with the appearance of this new rival, Shaka, her defenses crumbled.
Truthfully, she had long since been moved by Astraea's ideals and had decided to devote herself to the goddess's wishes—even if the whole idea of "justice" had little to do with a blacksmith like her.
Astraea hadn't expected Shaka's presence to prompt this change in Cecil. With a serene smile, she clapped her hands.
"That's wonderful. Then why don't you and…"
"Shaka."
"…why don't you and Shaka both join today?"
The goddess smiled warmly, like a spring flower in bloom.
So beautiful… as expected of a goddess.
But Cecil still stood with her arms crossed, refusing to look at Shaka, muttering stubbornly, "I was first. Whether it's being invited or taking care of Lady Astraea…"
So?
Shaka blinked in confusion.
"So! I get to be the new captain of the Astraea Familia, got it?" Cecil suddenly leaned forward, wagging her finger in Shaka's face.
But… aren't you a blacksmith?
Shaka couldn't really grasp the depth of her obsession. As for being captain—he didn't particularly care. It was just a title.
So he reached out his hand with a grin. "Deal."
———
A short while later.
Cecil strutted out of the back room, her chin held high, radiating smugness.
"Your turn."
"You look happy," Shaka said, amused. "Did you unlock some powerful skill?"
"Hmph, that's a secret! But remember—call me 'Captain' from now on!" Cecil beamed.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm going in."
Interrupting the little tsundere's self-satisfaction, Shaka entered the room.
Astraea sat gracefully by the window, gently patting the sheets.
"Take off your clothes," she said softly.
This… sounds like a wife guiding her husband on their wedding night…
Shaka coughed, knowing this was part of the process—her divine blood would be dropped onto his back. "Ahem. Understood."
He stripped off his shirt and lay down on the bed. As he settled in, Astraea asked in a casual tone:
"You say you joined for the sake of the 'Stars,' and I can see that's mostly true. But there's something I still want to ask you."
"What is it?" Shaka tilted his head up to meet her gaze.
"What does 'justice' mean to you?"
Before engraving the mark of justice and the Wings of Order onto him, Astraea wanted to understand his beliefs.
Even if his true dream was among the stars.
Shaka was silent for a long time. Then, as if all his energy drained out, he buried his face into the pillow.
"I don't know. Justice means something different to everyone, doesn't it? Honestly… I've never really thought about it."
As a "normal" high schooler, he'd encountered very little true "evil," and therefore not much "justice" either.
At most, there were schoolyard bullies.
Like the time in elementary school when he beat up a kid who bullied Nishimiya Shouko. Or when he pulled Menma out of the river after she fell in. Or when he kept in touch with Konno Mami even after she was forced to drop out due to her rare disease.
But…
That wasn't really justice, was it?
"To me… a harem! That's the true justice for men! I want everyone to be part of my wings and live happily together!"
His voice was muffled under the pillow, but firm with conviction. The tips of his ears turned red, as if his embarrassing childhood fantasies had returned to haunt him.
Yes, in elementary school, Shaka had been obsessed with the idea of building a harem—capturing the hearts of many girls.
And now…
He felt like a cringe-inducing bug writhing in the shame of his own past.
So embarrassing! So embarrassing! So embarrassing!
But, well… this wasn't the first time. In front of a god, social death was probably just part of the process.
Eventually, he calmed down.
He peeked out from beneath the pillow, trying to catch a glimpse of Astraea's reaction. What he saw was a gentle smile.
"Justice is like the stars in the sky—there are so many kinds. I once heard someone say beauty itself is justice. A harem… well, it's not exactly proper, but I'll allow it."
To the goddess, Shaka's image overlapped with that of her former captain. If that child had been a boy, he probably would have chased a harem too. Or maybe… he already had one.
"Hey, Shaka," she said suddenly, gently patting his head, "did you choose me because I'm one of your 'targets' too?"
Caught off guard, Shaka's face turned scarlet.
Satisfied with his reaction—as if she'd just found a new favorite toy—Astraea slowly let her divine blood drip onto his back.
A white light radiated out, as sacred characters composed the divine blessing—Falna.
This sacred marking materialized his bodily stats, granting him the power to break through the limits of body and soul. The divine grace of the gods—Blessing of the Gods.
Compared to other powers from different worlds, this one grew slowly. But—
This was an enhancement of potential itself. In terms of development worlds, it was akin to transforming your innate spiritual or foundation.
In the world of Danmachi, it meant that through leveling up, mortals could get closer and closer to divinity.
There was no doubt—though the gods in this world were "weak" in terms of combat, their lifespan stretched across eons. And for Shaka's dream of a harem, that was more than enough.
Once the parchment was pressed to his back, sacred letters were translated into the common tongue and handed to Shaka.
He stared at the strange mutated-English.
Honestly, why not just give it to me in divine script? At least that's a dialect from my homeland…
Eventually, he deciphered his stats:
---
Shaka
LV.1
Strength: I0
Endurance: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
[Magic]
[Descender]Gate Master
Magic Type: Space, Summoning, Construction
Consumes mental energy to open temporary spatial gates. Can summon objects or beings through a medium.
Gate size depends on the amount of magic used.
Can permanently summon by sacrificing other stats.
Chant:
Foundation of the world, end of time and space, dual destinies entwined, shine forth, heroic spirits of all realms—heed the call of the Descender! Gather, O stars!
Release Chant :
The world has rejected me.
[Skills]
[Mystic Aspiration]
Accelerated mastery of all things mystical.
Considered to possess the development ability [Mystery].
[Mystery] growth receives a special bonus based on admiration and target of admiration.
[Wings of Justice]
Inherits the stats of fellow Familia members.
Stats inherited are based on the affection of the target.
Inheritance range: 0%–50%.
---
Shaka stared at the stats sheet, clutching it tightly.
A harem, huh?
If this was the path to making everyone happy under his wings—then this was indeed his justice.