DanMachi: Cheat? What's a Cheat?

Chapter 40 – The Color of a Soul (POV Syr)

Bright afternoons in Orario always had their own special charm.

The streets were buzzing with the chaos of daily life: merchants tidying up their stalls, adventurers wandering around looking for food, and kids playing tag weaving through the crowds.

Syr Flova walked with light steps beside Ryuu Lion, her bright grayish-blue eyes sparkling as she took in the everyday scenery that never got old for her.

At least, that's how it looked from the outside.

"Ryuu-san, look! That bakery's selling new pastries!" Syr called out cheerfully, pointing toward a small shop filled with sweet aromas.

"They're purple like rose petals! I bet they taste amazing!"

Ryuu gave a brief nod, her sharp green eyes still alert as they scanned the crowd.

"Maybe another time, Syr. We need to get back to the Hostess soon."

"Ah, right," Syr laughed softly, her voice chiming like silver bells.

"Mama Mia's probably waiting for us. But look, Ryuu-san! That dress in the shop is so pretty! It'd totally match your hair color!"

From the outside, their conversation sounded like two normal friends enjoying an afternoon stroll through the city.

But behind Syr's bright grayish-blue eyes, a pair of purple eyesmuch older and wiser—watched with completely different attention.

'Every soul around us moves with a rhythm I can predict', thought Freya while maintaining Syr's sweet smile.

'Merchants with their greedy glints, mothers with their family warmth, children with their pure innocence.'

'All of them...'

'boring.'

Ryuu suddenly stopped.

Her pointed elf ears twitched slightly, catching something Syr couldn't hear.

"What's wrong?" Syr asked innocently, though the purple eyes behind hers had already sharpened.

"Sound from the alley next door," Ryuu replied, her voice turning flat and cold.

"A child crying..."

Ryuu's whole posture changed drastically.

From a calm elf girl, she transformed into a Level 4 adventurer ready for battle.

Her palms clenched, her green eyes went cold as ice, and the aura radiating from her made several people nearby unconsciously step back.

"Ryuu-san?" Syr called with a slightly worried voice.

"Stay here," Ryuu ordered in a tone that brooked no argument.

"I'll be right back."

Syr nodded obediently, maintaining the expression of a clueless waitress who didn't understand the situation.

But when Ryuu disappeared into the dark alley, Syr's smile faded slightly.

'Interesting', thought Freya.

"What could make Ryuu react like that?"

The purple eyes hidden behind Syr's mask began to glow faintly.

This special ability of the Goddess of Beauty allowed her to see the soul of every living being the color, shape, and deepest essence of their existence.

And in that dim alley, she saw something that captivated her.

Three souls.

[Note: Freya can use her perception to see from afar even through walls, like when she sees souls from the top of Babel Tower]

The first was a small child's soul dull gray that wavered, filled with fear and despair. Nothing special there, just ordinary suffering you could find anywhere.

The second was Ryuu's soul bright green that moved straight and sharp like a blade. Strong, steadfast, unshakeable in its belief in justice. But also rigid, with no room for mercy or situational consideration.

But the third one...

'So beautiful', Freya thought to herself, her breath catching slightly.

The third soul was a storm. A storm raging inside a crystal ball, full of colors clashing and mixing in chaotic yet mesmerizing harmony.

At its center was a silver core like tempered steel this color represented stubborn determination, untapped potential, and an unbreakable will to survive.

But surrounding it, other colors swirled in complex spirals:

Dark gray that shrouded like fog cynicism born from bitter experience, understanding that the world isn't always fair.

Deep red that flashed like lightning—passion for life, strong survival instincts, and flashes of anger ready to explode at any moment.

Deep blue that flowed within profound loneliness, longing for something that had been lost.

And black that moved like shadows—unhealed trauma, gnawing regret.

'This isn't the soul of an ordinary child', thought Freya, her purple eyes unblinking.

'What a fascinating sight', thought Freya in Syr's mind,

while Syr's face showed just the right worried expression for an innocent waitress.

'A storm full of potential, about to be struck by an uncompromising blade of green justice. What will happen to that intriguing soul? Will the silver at its center shatter into pieces? Or will it be forged into something stronger and more brilliant?'

'I really want to see.'

The sound of hard impact echoed from inside the alley.

Freya watched the "colors" in the young man's soul change.

First, there was a surge of frustration that made the red blaze when he felt the situation was unfair.

Then, there was a swirl of gray moving faster as he became confused facing power far greater than his own.

And finally, there was an explosion of all colors at once when his body was brutally struck by Level 4 strength that held nothing back.

Freya saw the silver light at the center of that soul dim drastically as the young man lost consciousness.

But what pleased her was that the light didn't go out.

It was still there, still glowing weakly, still trying to hold on.

'Beautiful', she thought with satisfaction.

'Even in a broken state, this soul keeps fighting.'

When Ryuu returned from the alley, her steps were as calm as when she'd entered.

There wasn't even a drop of blood on her neat clothes.

Her expression had returned to neutral, as if she'd just finished a boring routine task.

"It's done," she said briefly.

"Eh? What's done?" Syr asked innocently.

"Nothing you need to worry about," Ryuu replied, starting to walk.

"Let's go back to the Hostess."

Syr went quiet for a moment, then suddenly cried out with very convincing panic.

"Ah, Ryuu-san! The hair clip Mama Mia gave me! I think I dropped it earlier..." Syr patted her hair with somewhat hurried movements.

Syr made a truly panicked face.

"She'll be so mad if I lose that hair clip! You go ahead to the Hostess, okay? I'll look for it real quick. It must've fallen around here somewhere!"

Ryuu paused, considering. "I can help look—"

"No need!" Syr cut her off quickly.

"I was the careless one, so I should take responsibility. Besides, Mama Mia's probably already waiting. I'll catch up soon!"

This excuse sounded very "Syr"—a clumsy waitress who could lose important stuff.

Ryuu would never suspect reasoning like this.

"Alright," Ryuu said, nodding.

"Don't take too long. Mama Mia will ask questions if we're both late."

"Of course! I'll be quick!" Syr waved cheerfully.

"See you at the Hostess!"

Ryuu walked away with her same efficient stride, disappearing into the crowd that was thinning as the afternoon wore on.

After making sure Ryuu was really gone, Syr stood still for a few moments.

She pretended to search for something on the ground, bending down and looking around with natural movements in case anyone was watching.

But slowly, the entire aura around her began to change.

First, the cheerful smile on her face faded, replaced by a calmer and more controlled expression.

Then, the way she stood changed her back straighter, her chin lifted slightly higher, and an aura of authority began radiating from her small frame.

She was no longer Syr Flova, the innocent waitress.

She was Freya, the Goddess of Beauty, one of the most feared and respected beings in Orario.

With soundless steps, she entered the alley Ryuu had visited.

The scene that greeted her wasn't surprising. A young man lay unconscious, his body covered in bruises and blood flowing from his nose and mouth.

His breathing was labored but still regular.

Freya showed no sympathy or mercy. Her eyes examined the young man like an expert appraising a damaged painting.

"She didn't hold back... but good, no permanent damage," she murmured softly.

"Ryuu knows exactly how hard to hit without killing... no permanent damage to his body. Just internal injuries and broken bones. Good."

With her fingertip, Freya lifted the young man's chin, examining him like touching a precious fragile statue.

A slightly surprised expression appeared on Freya's face but quickly became calm.

Somehow she remembered again her conversation with God Ouranus from some time ago.

They were discussing reports about unusual activity on the early dungeon floors, when Ouranus mentioned a rookie adventurer who had somehow managed to cause a commotion there.

"An adventurer from Hestia Familia," Ouranus had said with a slightly amused tone.

"Just got his falna a few days ago, but already making chaos."

Freya remembered she hadn't paid much attention then.

Just a little curious.

Hestia Familia?

The small familia led by that loli goddess who was always fussing about money?

The broke goddess?

Not interesting.

But now, seeing this soul spinning in its storm, she realized that this young man must be...

'Ah, so you're the one Ouranus meant', thought Freya while continuing to observe the young man's face.

'The young man who caused chaos in the dungeon.'

'No wonder your soul is so fascinating.'

Her purple eyes refocused on the soul spinning in the young man's chest.

The colorful storm that had been so captivating was now moving slower, weaker, but still hadn't stopped.

'This soul... even though it's broken, it's still spinning', thought Freya, something that might be called admiration flickering in her eyes.

'Even after being crushed by Level 4 power, it still hasn't given up.'

'Still trying to rise.'

'Its potential is too great to let it end here', Freya continued in her heart, her finger still touching that wounded face.

'No... this game is too interesting to end now.'

'I want to see how this beautiful soul will react after being destroyed and then... saved.'

From within her waitress robe, Freya pulled out a small bottle containing a clear liquid that shone silver.

A rare elixir that even among the Gods was hard to obtain medicine capable of healing internal wounds and stabilizing someone on the brink of death.

Carefully, she dripped one drop into the young man's mouth.

The effect was almost immediate. His breathing became more regular, the bleeding stopped, and the silver core in his soul pulsed faintly a sign that life was still strongly bound to his body.

"Enough to keep you alive," Freya whispered.

"Now let's see what you'll do next."

The sound of footsteps echoed from the end of the alley.

Two tired-looking vagrants appeared, probably looking for shelter or leftover food.

Freya stood and threw several valis coins toward them. Both vagrants' eyes immediately widened seeing the glittering coins.

"Take that young man to the Abandoned church in the southwest part of Orario" Freya commanded in a calm but undeniable voice.

"Place him carefully. After that, forget my face and this incident. Now."

Both vagrants nodded with empty eyes.

Her voice carried a gentle melody that made refusal feel impossible.

They carefully lifted the young man's body and his weapon.

Then walked in the direction Freya had indicated.

Freya watched their retreating backs, then turned her attention back to the now-empty alley.

There was no trace showing this incident had ever happened.

A thin smile appeared on her lips.

'How lucky for him. Or maybe... this is my luck.'

Her purple eyes gleamed with something dangerous—not kindness, not mercy, but the curiosity of a predator who had found interesting prey.

With smooth movements, the cold aura around Freya faded. A sweet smile returned to her face, her purple eyes changed to bright blue, and her posture became that of an innocent waitress again.

She was Syr Flova once more.

"Ah, found it!" she exclaimed cheerfully while pretending to pick something up from the ground.

"My favorite hair clip!"

With light steps, Syr left the alley and returned to Orario's bustle.

The golden afternoon swallowed her as if nothing had ever happened.

'Now...'

She stepped cheerfully toward the Hostess of Fertility.

'Show me, fascinating soul... how will you react after being destroyed and then saved by an unknown hand?'

'Will you search for whoever helped you?'

'Will you grow stronger from this experience? Or will you break down and give a different kind of performance?'

'Whatever happens, I'm sure it'll be very... entertaining.'

The evening breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of fresh bread and flowers from the market that was starting to empty.

On the surface, nothing had changed in Orario.

Life continued as usual.

Merchants closed their stalls.

Children were called home by their parents.

Adventurers began looking for dinner spots.

And the young man lying unconscious in the old church, without realizing it, had become the first pawn in a chess game played by a goddess.