Chapter 4: Because I am Astraea.

Aphrosia’s eyes lit up!

“I can change back?!” Her heart leaped with joy.

“You don’t have to change back if you don’t want to~”

“No, no, no, I knew you were the best…” Before she could finish, the plates on her head toppled, shattering with a series of crashes.

“Aaah! My plates!”

Those were bought with Aphrosia’s hard-earned money! This goddess senior’s move was too cruel!

“By the way, there seems to be some kind of restriction on you~”

Aphrosia froze at her words. The goddess’s omniscience was terrifying—nothing could be hidden from her.

While picking up the broken pieces, the girl explained, “You only need to know it’s for my own good.”

“Fine, I won’t meddle in other matters, but don’t think you can skip out on etiquette~”

“Tch!”

A sharp pain shot through Aphrosia’s head, and she let out a whimper.

“No clicking your tongue~”

“You’re so annoying…”

*

Time flew, and the year drew to a close. After enduring inhuman torment, little Aphrosia finally saw the troublesome goddess off.

‘As long as Mother is alive, that’s enough.’

The silver-haired boy thought to himself.

Placing a report stamped with the Adventurer’s Guild seal on the table, Flo clapped his hands, his face saying, “I’m ready.”

After all, he needed to make money, and adventuring was his only source of income.

He’d been tracking this D-rank mission for a while, but it hadn’t progressed.

The mission: Several children from Saint Ann’s Orphanage in Phoenix County had gone missing. Retrieve them for a reward of 10 gold coins.

Originally, this simple task was an F-rank mission worth 1 silver coin, but for some reason, its rank rose to D, with a reward matching B-rank standards.

Flo had thought this was a golden opportunity, a windfall, but upon investigating, it was far from simple.

There were no signs of a struggle in the orphanage, yet a bone-chilling wind lingered where the children vanished. Flo suspected magic was at play.

How did he know? His sensitivity to magic was weak, but he could still see a massive magic circle with his own eyes…

Few people could wield such magic. Following the trail, Flo discovered the matter was tied to the Dema Trading Company.

A mere D-rank adventurer like him couldn’t possibly take on a trading company.

No one dared to cross such a powerful entity. The only recourse was to donate to increase the mission’s reward, hoping someone capable would step in.

Perhaps that explained the absurdly high bounty.

But Flo didn’t see himself as that capable person. A fallen noble, his manor lacked even a single servant. His value as a saintess’s kin had been usurped, and as a half-elf, he was shunned by both humans and elves. How could he challenge a formidable company?

With these thoughts, he decided to abandon the mission at the Adventurer’s Guild. He strapped his “sword”—really just two low-quality daggers—to his waist. Trained by a former assassin butler, his fighting style relied on the agility and stealth of an assassin.

That was how he’d become a D-rank adventurer.

The boy strode into the Phoenix County Adventurer’s Guild.

The receptionist bowed respectfully, offering a professional smile. “Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild, esteemed adventurer. May radiance and miracles be with you.”

She showed no disdain for his half-elf heritage. The guild didn’t discriminate, which was why Flo chose this path.

Handing over the report, Flo wore an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry, Miss Della, I can’t complete this mission.”

Della, unsurprised, glanced at the report. “Thank you for your efforts, adventurer. Don’t feel guilty—this was an impossible task.”

“So the guild knows the truth behind it?”

“Even we can’t move against the Dema Trading Company, can we? And leaving a magic circle like that—almost taunting—shows how untouchable they feel.”

Honestly, everyone knew the fate of those missing children. Everyone wanted to help, but no one dared cross the powerful…

Even with legal action, the Dema Trading Company’s connections to the elite—or their bribes—would keep them untouchable. Even if jailed, they’d be out in no time.

Flo recalled a tycoon from his past life in America, cozy with presidents, living like a king even in prison.

And here, the church and royalty might be involved…

The Dema Trading Company served the Third Prince. Did the royals really know nothing? If they did, why hadn’t they acted?

Flo understood it all.

In his past life, as a commoner, he knew knowledge changed fate, not status…

As Flo was about to leave the guild, snippets of conversation caught his ear.

“Did you hear? More people have gone missing in the county.”

“What? More kids?”

“Not just kids—now it’s young adults too.”

“How? My daughter…”

The situation was worsening. Flo couldn’t handle it before, and now? He could barely protect himself…

Maybe he should skip town for his own safety. But what about the innocent victims?

The missing children, the suffering people, the secrets lurking beneath—Flo sensed something big was coming. If left unchecked, not just them, but the entire Kingdom of Garna would descend into chaos.

But he was the despised son of a saintess, a scorned half-elf. Why should others’ suffering concern him? Weren’t there nobles, the church, or that substitute saintess to handle it?

Did he really need to risk himself for those who weren’t worth it?

Yet such thoughts never lingered in Flo’s mind for even a second.

His strength was small, but someone had to act. Even the tiniest being should shine for the world.

He recalled a great man from his past life: “If I were a bird, I’d sing with a hoarse throat.”

If he did nothing, even his long-missing mother would never forgive him.

Somehow, the mission report he’d handed over was back in his hands.

“Because I’m an Astreya, that’s all.”