Astarte’s Frustrations

While nursing the lump on her head, Astarte introduced herself, "Hestia-chan and Artemis-chan already knew me, but I'm Astarte! Nice to meet y'all!"

"And I'm the Captain of the Astarte Familia, Carys Cattell. It's my first time meeting most of you and I'm grateful to be your acquaintance. Also, I'm sorry for Astarte-sama's behavior just now." The person who gave her the lump also introduced herself.

Astarte wanted to start conversing about random things since it has really been a while since they've seen each other and she was incredibly curious about how Kisuke had melted Artemis' heart. But before she could do that, Carys immediately interrupted her with a serious expression, "Astarte-sama, we don't have much time, so please leave it for later. I didn't really want to agree for you to climb down here since it's dangerous, so I'd like for us to return to the surface as soon as possible. Besides, if those people realized that you've descended into the Dungeon, they are going to use that fact however they want."

Although she was really curious as to why Kisuke and the others had brought their patron Deities down here, it was none of their business and they didn't have the right to question them.

Astarte's gleeful expression also disappeared and was replaced by a solemn one, "Then I'll go straight to the point. Kisuke Urahara, what do we need to do for us to keep our position regarding the Teleportation Circle?"

Kisuke looked straight at them without any sort of expression, "You still want to keep it despite all the pressure coming from all sides?"

Astarte closed her eyes and crossed her arms while sighing, "We would have relegated it if it's Poseidon or the Alliance who wanted to take it. But there's no way I'll give this up if it's only going to end up with Aruna."

"Heh... I already heard the rumors, but you really don't like the other side, huh."

"There's no way we'll get along with them! Not when they've hardly changed their way!" Carys had a sudden outburst while clenching her fist.

Right away, Astarte turned her eyes to her, "Carys, I know how you're feeling but this isn't the place and they are newcomers that might have never heard their history. Curb your emotions."

"History?" Kisuke asked. The truth is, however, Yoruichi, Kuroka, and he already knew about it, but they'd still pretend that they didn't know. After all, it would be unnerving if they revealed that they searched through their history.

Scratching her head, Artemis answered after sighing, "I'll make it short. The reason my Familia is the way it is now was primarily to oppose that arrogant blockhead Aruna. In the past, they used their women as if they were tools, so I gathered those victims and created my own group."

Astarte understood that love comes in all kinds of shapes and forms. However, she didn't like Aruna's children that instilled fear in everyone and hated Aruna himself for letting them do as they wanted. As an advocate of 'love', she never welcomed 'fear' that instilled terror for the feeling of power and authority. After all, 'love' could never be born from 'fear' and she doubted that anything worthwhile would.

"The generation that started all this hate was already long gone and they're a lot tamer these days. But as Carys said, they haven't really changed their ways and do things in a more secretive way. Although there are some who wanted to change it from the inside, no one had succeeded."

Astarte recalled Carys' parents and they were two of the people who tried to change the Aruna Familia but only ended up becoming victims. Thankfully, Carys herself was saved and avoided suffering the same fate as them.

'Looks like the Aruna Familia are experts in navigating the grey area.', thought Kisuke, since they were still thriving now, 'Well, this is the limit of a society where strength is the most important.'

"And that's the gist of it. If you want to know more, just ask the old folks or some Deity in Pandemonium. It isn't exactly a secret at this point. It's just that only a few individuals still remember the events of the past." Astarte then looked back to Kisuke, "Now that I've answered your question, It's your turn to answer mine."

Kisuke smiled and replied, "I don't like taking back my words so I promised to everyone that if you're willing to stand your ground, then nothing will change from our side. Though if you wanted some assistance to defend yourselves, then I would need some compelling reason to act."

Astarte and Carys' eyes widened in surprise. They didn't think it would be this easy. A few seconds later, Astarte started laughing while shaking her head, "Just your reassurance that nothing will change is plenty enough. I couldn't ask for more."

Now that they got the answer that they wanted, there is no more reason to stay here, especially since they are within the Dungeon. Standing up, Astarte and Carys intended to leave, "Thank you for your time and I apologize that we couldn't offer much. But since you're Hestia-chan and Artemis-chan's children, if you need our help, we won't hesitate to give a hand, no matter the situation we're in."

As her long-time friends, Astarte trusted Hestia and Artemis' judgment when they accepted their children. If there's something they need, Astarte would happily assist them.

"You too, Astarte. If you need some help. Don't hesitate to ask them. It may not look like it, but they're very capable children~!" Hestia immediately answered back with a big smile. She doesn't like how she usually acts, but it never changed the fact that she's one of her good and sincere friends.

Artemis also nodded along with Hestia's words, "That's right. These kids wanted some exercise so if you want to, we'll lend them to you."

"Fufufu, then I'll remember that~.", Though Astarte did say that, she has no intention of involving them any further with their problem. Although Kisuke started all of this, she knew that he was just the trigger of the long-brewing conflict between her and Aruna that could start any time.

Kisuke also stood up intending to escort them, "By the way, Astarte-sama. What do you think is happening for the other two to back the Aruna Familia if they really are such an unsavory bunch?"

Astarte shook her head, "I don't know. But I have a feeling that it's not for a good reason and the other two are just feeling helpless with the situation. That's how it looks like for me, at least."