Reborn in Danmachi as a Dragon-Kin (Rewrite)

That same day, early in the morning, while the Bahamut Familia was dealing with the Goliath, the Astraea Familia woke to a sky that had lost its usual blue hue, now covered by layers of ash-coloured clouds.

The persistent grey in the sky mirrored the feelings of the residents of Orario, who were increasingly troubled by the activities of the evilus and the rising crime rate.

However, one energetic young girl was determined not to let the dreary weather dampen her spirit.

"It's time we keep our promise to Shakti and Draco! We're going to patrol the city and catch all the bad guys today!" Alise declared.

She had split the Astraea Familia members into pairs, assigning each group a specific area to patrol.

Alise was teamed up with Ryuu, the elven girl wearing her usual mask.

Ryuu still felt sleepy, having stayed up till late at night, listening to stories from her goddess Astraea about the Zeus and Hera Familia .

Woken up early, she couldn't muster the same enthusiasm as Alise.

"I doubt they would target another factory so soon after the last incident, but it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye out," Ryuu said.

"That's the spirit!" Alise cheered, her positive energy infectious.

It was a double-edged sword, as it could be both motivating and somewhat annoying.

Patrolling the city hadn't been a frequent occurrence for the Astraea Familia until three years ago.

They usually dealt with civilians who fell into temptation and committed crimes, as evilus activities had seemed too daunting for them before then.

The Ganesha Familia were the primary protectors of the city, and the Astraea Familia assisted them, but they also had time to delve into the dungeon to grow stronger.

Now, however, they found themselves with little time for deep expeditions, their duties focused primarily on patrolling the city.

"There doesn't seem to be a pattern to the attacks, but the first and second districts have suffered the most damage," Ryuu noted.

"Yeah, this area is the heart of Orario's magic item industry. I heard they're managing to hang in there for now, but it won't be long before the remaining factories are overwhelmed," Alise replied.

"Sigh, all we can do is try our best," Ryuu said.

"Yeah," Alise muttered, her expression turning serious.

The two were currently patrolling the northeastern part of the city.

Alongside their rounds, they also questioned civilians.

Alise had a knack for getting people to open up, making her perfect for the task.

The only downside was that she tended to talk the ears off anyone willing to listen, often regardless of the topic's relevance.

As they proceeded with their investigation, the clouds above began to thin, eventually giving way to the orange glow of evening.

It was during a stroll down an ordinary side road that Ryuu felt something unusual about a place they had passed that morning.

"The city feels lifeless. Orario is supposed to be the capital of the world, but who would believe that after walking through these streets?" Ryuu observed.

"Everyone we met looked miserable, and even the shops have barred windows to keep thieves out. It's bizarre seeing people move so cautiously," Alise agreed.

People walked the streets with their eyes cast downward, flinching at flickering shadows, warily checking their surroundings before clutching their purses.

The usual clamour of street vendors hawking their wares was entirely absent.

"The evilus has everyone spooked, and yesterday's incident only made it worse. There were many deaths, too," Ryuu replied, frustration evident in her voice.

"Despite our best efforts, people don't feel any better. What can we do?" Ryuu asked.

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Alise's face; she, too, didn't know the best answer.

"If it's any consolation, this isn't as bad as it was three years ago. Remember when we first met?" Alise said.

'It's already been three years! Three years since Alise saved me and led me into Lady Astraea's care,' Ryuu recalled.

Not long after Ryuu arrived in Orario, the city had felt like a maze to the elf who didn't know her way around.

Despite its size, Orario resembled a ghost town, and the faces of those she passed were dark and depressing.

Back then, the evilus acted with impunity, and public order was nearly nonexistent.

It had been only about four years since the fall of the Zeus and Hera Familia, who had effectively ruled over the city for almost a thousand years.

Power struggles among various familias sought to fill the void left behind, so most adventurers didn't really care for order.

At that time, Ryuu hadn't yet received the blessing of Falna and had almost fallen victim to dangerous kidnappers.

Elves were quite valuable in the slave trade market, making a naïve young elf an enticing target.

Luckily, Alise had been nearby, coming to her rescue like a charming fairy tale prince.

"Hmm, I still can't believe how unreasonable you were back then. After I saved you, you looked at me like you'd bite my hand off if I so much as touched you—almost like a stray cat!" Alise teased.

"I-I didn't do that on purpose! I was a nervous wreck, and everyone seemed untrustworthy!" Ryuu stammered, embarrassment creeping onto her fair cheeks.

"Hohoho! I still remember what you said to me. It was something like, 'If you only saved me to satisfy your ego, don't expect a reward, hmmf.' Did I get it right?" Alise mimicked Ryuu's tone.

"Aliseeeee!" Ryuu called out, gritting her teeth in frustration.

It was quite embarrassing to recall her past self, and she could only whine in response, her long ears growing redder with each passing moment.

"That was quite an interesting story to hear," a voice suddenly said from behind the girls.

Startled and alert, Alise and Ryuu quickly tensed.

It was concerning that someone had managed to approach them unnoticed. Despite their playful conversation, their instincts remained sharp.

Alise drew her sword with impressive speed, swinging it toward the source of the voice.

However, a hand reached out, catching her wrist before she could complete her swing, shocking her.

There weren't many who could overpower a level 3 like her.

Ryuu prepared to defend herself against the cloaked figure and free Alise when she heard a familiar voice.

"Aren't you a bit too feisty today, Alise?" the cloaked figure said.

"Draco!" Alise exclaimed, still on edge.

"The one and only," Draco replied with a grin.

"How?" Ryuu muttered, puzzled.

"That's a secret," Draco said, still smiling.

"Phew! How are you not embarrassed to eavesdrop and scare pretty girls like us?" Alise asked, finally lowering her sword.

"So you were scared, huh?" Draco teased.

"Ugh, I was so not scared! Just surprised, that's all!" Alise retorted.

"Sigh, your optimism will always be a mystery to me," Draco remarked.

"Hmmf," Alise snorted, annoyed at his comment.

"By the way, what are you doing here?" Ryuu asked, sheathing her wooden sword.

"Patrolling with Michalis," Draco replied.

"Michalis?" Ryuu asked, confused as she looked around for him.

"Behind you," Draco said.

"Yo!" Michalis greeted, startling both Alise and Ryuu once again.

"Hehehe, we got 'em good, Draco nii!" Michalis said, raising his hand for a high five.

Smack!

The two boys smacked their hands together, smiling widely.

"This is why men are so…" Alise began, but was cut off by a voice.

"Ah, it's the Astraea Familia!" a young girl called out from the street recognizing them.