Chapter 43 Ryuu POV's

'Jake Barris was a perfect example of committing blasphemy yet it was useful blasphemy at the same time.' Ryuu pondered as she duly watched the Apollo Familia get splattered across the ground via the remote viewing system that Hermes was streaming to all the clubs, bars, and places where people gathered to watch War Games.

On one hand, Ryuu understood the sheer value of having High-Quality Excellia on demand, yet Ryuu couldn't for the life of her forget the army of white cloaked absolutely mind broke individuals that made up Evilus. And what better tool to destroy Orario and even uncap the Dungeon than having an army of Monster Rex's summoned throughout Orario.

"Jake is not even a threat to Orario. No with his summoned Monster Rex's he is a legitimate threat to the world itself as that Desert Scrouge could begin breaking down the Tower of Babel." She muttered under her breath so quietly that not even Anya or Chloe her coworkers could hear, as a flicker of murderous intent rose up in her heart.

But then Jake swung back in after the Apollo captain was eaten and killed the Desert Scrouge and although seeing his heroic action did blow out the murderous thought she had. In the end, she honestly considered hunting down Jake to save him from the torture that Evilus would use to break his mind even with their delusional evil gods no doubt being willing to dirty their hands to break in such a valuable mortal.

Then as Jake headbutted the Apollo onto the ground and accepted the fool's War Game challenge Ryuu grinned. It wasn't a smile of triumph or even happiness that someone Syr had mentioned in friendly terms before.

No, it was a smile of utter satisfaction... Because with Apollo's Familia being decimated in the Monster Rex but still being highly wealthy, it was obvious that Apollo was going to reach into the dregs of society to even the odds against the monster that was Jake with his no chant magic and being capable of dropping a Monster Rex on his opponents.

And who better to respond to such a call to action than the utter scum of society like assassins and Evilus... Ryuu worked and all but lived solely at the premier bar for adventurers, literally every rumor that passed through Orario ended up here at some point in the Hostess of Fertility.

Rumors of people in white cloaks, abducting people in the depths of the Daedalus District had been growing as of late, and Ryuu even though she had hung up her mantle. Sometimes at night, she wondered if the Gale should make a return and make the streets of Orario run red with the blood of sinners again.

"Mama Mia I am taking a week off. I have paid my dues for the month, and I need to take care of some things." Ryuu said as she watched the broadcast as Jake led that weird flying eye monster around the forest that got utterly wrecked by the stone pillar-sized beams of magic the eye would shoot at him to say nothing of the obviously cursed flames that melted off the flesh of any Loki member who got too close to it.

Yes, such a monster could cause terrible damage to Orario and thus of course Evilus will not be able to hold back its desire to make a move on Jake. He is literally the perfect bait for the rats.

"Well, business is probably going to temper down with all the damn customers getting sloshed watching the event tonight. But either way, you got till that brats War Game comes up, as it's going to be all hands on deck you understand?" Mia said pointedly and Ryuu reflexively nodded shuddering under the heavy gaze of Mia Grande.

She had seen the fates of Chloe and Lunoire when they decided to skip work for a couple of days and Mia had to hunt them down... She didn't want to be laid up in bed after Mia beat her to the precise point, that she would need to rest for however long she had skipped out on work.

"Yes, Mama." She said and then hurried into the back so she could finish her shift of work. Obviously following Jake Bariss was going to be the most trying thing in her years as even Loki and Freya's hounds couldn't follow the young man half the time due to how he teleported around and threw off any trace.

Like literally he is rumored to have the ability to teleport between toilets only? One time he said he had to go to the bathroom and with his space ability he left a toilet behind as he teleported, now everyone thinks Jake has the ability to teleport between all the toilets of Orario.

Ryuu huffed as she washed some dishes. Obviously, such a thing was a false rumor, 'What's next? Jake could only teleport to the last place he slept with a woman Ha!' Ryuu actually snorted at the thought making Syr who snuck up behind her loudly squeak in surprise instead.

"Oh Syr, it's just you. Is the broadcast over now?" Ryuu asked nonchalantly while hiding the smug little smile she had at actually scaring her troublesome savior under her elfish poised expression.

"Yup! It was so adorable! Apparently, Ais Wallenstein has a crush or something on Jake as she was making grabby hands and trying to beg for Jake's magical sword that he got from killing that weird eye Monster Rex!" Syr exclaimed gleefully, obviously taking great joy in the rumors that were going to fill the bar tonight.

But Ryuu frowned. 'Why in the world would the sword princess follow Jake around? And she most certainly doesn't like or have a crush on him as she is well known for having less emotional intelligence than the average tree stump.' Ryuu thought as she pondered how this was going to affect her stalk- shadowing of Jake to see how Evilus will go after him.

"Ais Wallenstein pining after a boy? That would be the day I suppose." Ryuu responded dryly giving Syr the validation she needed otherwise she would needle Ryuu for the entire night. No, she would actually go into her room after lights out and have a 'discussion' on why her theory or rumor had to be correct and the more Ryuu defended her point the more outlandish the points Syr would guess to bring validation to her claims, until Ryuu would give up and accept the rumor or theory as an iron clad fact so silver haired witch would leave her be.

"I know right! I mean Ais is obviously adorable and what not... But she is a broken doll and Jake doesn't need that in his life right Ryuu?" Syr's said energetically at first but spoke almost mechanically at the end in a voice that had Ryuu's senses tingle as she threw her coworker a side eye as she helped dry off the dishes beside the elf.

Syr's iron silver eyes dully stared ahead as she monotonously dried off the dishes and then she spoke softly. "It's just kind of pitiful you know... How she constantly reaches for him, wanting his things, only caring for him as a person that can make her strong. But I can't help but wonder how far she will push to get the things she desires to grow stronger." Syr continued to speak and now Ryuu was actually a bit concerned as although she knew Syr was a massive and even that was an understatement. But Syr was a massive meddler in the lives of anyone tangible related to her.

Jake could sort of fit in that category as she had seen them talk a couple times as Syr had just happened to meet the young man on the roads of Orario in quick exchanges as Syr dragged her to different parts of the city to get groceries from different stores.

'So maybe they were closer friends that she knew?' Ryuu thought as she coughed to get Syr out of her mental mess. "Jake is a smart human, isn't he? Then trust in him to know how to handle the Sword Princess. It's not like the she is going to seduce him or something." Ryuu said and Syr nodded taking a deep breath.

"Yes, yes of course. Jake doesn't even seem to be aiming for a life partner anyway... Always messing around with demi humans and what not." Syr muttered under her breath at the end at a level that Ryuu only thought Syr was grumbling about Jake not being romantically interested in anyone.

"Hmm maybe you should be more proactive then?" Ryuu spoke to get Syr out of her head. "I mean this War Game business is probably going to happen in either a few days or more likely get pushed back to this next weekend so everyone can watch. In the meantime, why don't you catch Jake on his way to the dungeon and ask him out on a date or something... I mean you already have a whole book on where you want to take Jake or have him take you." Ryuu said with a hint of red coming to her cheek.

Ryuu was a chaste elf and seeing Syr sordid diary filled with filth... Had made her feel some very unelfin desires.

"Ryuu! You can't just read a lonely maiden's diary!" Syr screamed with embarrassment as her face went atomic red and Ryuu only chuckled as she looked back down to her dishes while Syr pathetically asked what she had read, and Ryuu only hemmed and hawwed making subtle points that only drew more anguish from Syr.