Ryu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Ryu Lion (琉)
Alias(es)	Gale; “Useless Elf” (used mockingly by her companions); Sifir
Species/Race	Elf
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Astraea Familia
Occupation/Role	Adventurer; Familia vanguard; member of Orario’s gendarmerie
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Background / History

Ryu came to Orario from Lumia Forest and had spent two years in the city by the time of the Astraea Familia’s expedition. She dedicates her life to justice and serves alongside the Familia’s other fighters, though Alise worries that Ryu’s aversion to men and physical contact will leave her alone. 27

During a return from the deep floors, Ryu attacked merchants in Rivira after they tried to touch her hand, provoking a dispute that forced the Astraea Familia to leave early and compensate others with expedition materials. Kaguya repeatedly derides her as a “Useless Elf” over the incident, while Alise and Lyra defend and reprimand the group in turn. 26 27

On the seventeenth floor, Ryu first recognizes Noah as the silver-haired swordsman she had noticed in Orario. Watching him fight Goliath, she is simultaneously drawn to his swordsmanship and alarmed by the dangerous joy he displays in battle. 10 27

Appearance

Ryu is a golden-haired elf with sky-blue eyes. She typically conceals much of her face beneath a mask and wears a cloak over her combat attire. 7 29

• Golden-blonde hair. 7
• Sky-blue eyes. 26 28
• Often wears a mask and protective cloak while adventuring. 26 29
• Carries a sword as a frontline combatant. 28 42

Personality

Ryu is deeply committed to justice and protecting civilians. When the Dark Faction uses children as hostages, she refuses to abandon them despite recognizing that confronting Valetta and more than a hundred enemies is strategically disastrous. 27 41

She is vigilant, proud, and quick to react when her companions are threatened. During Goliath’s ambush, she immediately attempts to force her mana into a chaotic burst to buy time for the Astraea Familia, despite the danger to herself. 28

Ryu has an unusually strong aversion to physical contact, even by elven standards. This restraint collapses into embarrassment and panic around Noah, whom she tries to avoid while struggling to reconcile her attraction with her principles. 26 38 39

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and High-Speed Combat

Ryu is a Level 3 adventurer and one of the Astraea Familia’s principal vanguards. Her speed is sufficient for Noah to compare her pursuit through the forest to a “Gale.” 26 28 41

• Fights at the front alongside Alise and Kaguya against threats such as Goliath. 28
• Uses speed-based swordsmanship in hostage-rescue and anti–Dark Faction operations. 41 42
• Can rapidly incapacitate enemies while prioritizing the safety of civilians. 41 42
• Her abilities are heavily diminished within Valetta’s magic barrier. 43

*Wind of Light*

Ryu’s powerful magic can be released as a devastating wide-area lightning assault. Noah uses her spell to overwhelm Valetta during the battle on the eighteenth floor. 41 43

• Can be cast without an incantation under extreme emotional pressure. 41
• Sacrifices precision and efficiency for overwhelming area coverage and destructive power. 43
• Engulfs the battlefield in thunder and uncontrolled lightning arcs. 43
• Its wide effect makes it hazardous to allies and surroundings as well as enemies. 43

Equipment / Items

• Sword. 28 42
• Mask and combat cloak. 26 29
• Protective scarf woven from precious materials; Ryu later crushes it while trying to suppress her feelings for Noah. 39

Relationships

• Astraea — Her patron goddess. Ryu respects Astraea and seeks her permission before entering the Dungeon. 38
• Alise Lovell — Astraea Familia captain and a concerned companion who urges Ryu not to sacrifice her personal happiness entirely for justice. 7 27
• Kaguya — Rival and frequent verbal antagonist. Their clashes are sharp, but Kaguya’s criticism often reflects concern for Ryu. 7 26 29
• Lyra — Companion who helps mediate disputes within the Familia and recognizes Ryu’s role in the group. 26
• Noah Cipher — Her rescuer during Goliath’s ambush and later ally against the Dark Faction. Ryu is captivated, embarrassed, and increasingly conflicted by her feelings for him. 28 30 38 41 47
• Valetta — Dark Faction leader and dangerous adversary. Ryu faces her during the rescue of three captured girls and is wounded by Valetta’s cursed sword. 41 43 44

Story Role / Major Arcs

Astraea Familia Expedition

Ryu returns from a deep-floor expedition with the Astraea Familia, where her reaction to unwanted contact in Rivira creates tension among the group. She later witnesses Noah’s solo fight against Goliath and cannot look away despite judging him dangerous. 26 27

Goliath Ambush

When Goliath traps the Astraea Familia with a cave-in and thrown boulder, Ryu attempts to protect her companions by overloading her mana. Noah kills Goliath with a lightning-charged sword and shields her from the resulting blast. 28

Encounter with Noah on the Eighteenth Floor

Ryu attempts to escape her growing attraction to Noah by entering the Dungeon. After accidentally encountering him at a bathing spot, she is nearly struck by his thrown weapon; Noah intercepts it and protects her, intensifying her confusion and embarrassment. 38 39

Dark Faction Hostage Rescue

Ryu joins Noah against Valetta’s forces after they discover children held hostage. She fights through the enemy ranks, assesses Valetta’s traps, and ultimately casts Wind of Light after Noah throws her into position. 41 42 43

Cursed Wound and Return to the Surface

Valetta’s cursed sword pierces Ryu’s abdomen during the final attack. Anti-curse items in Rivira fail to treat the wound, leaving Noah to use an alternative method that creates a resonance between their magic circuits. Exhausted and injured, Ryu is carried toward the surface by Noah. 43 44 47

Trivia

• Ryu’s fellow Familia members call her “Useless Elf” when teasing her about her poor composure around romance and physical contact. 26 29
• Although she fears Noah’s effect on women, she declares that she will “take responsibility” for him in order to protect women in Orario from his perceived danger. 40
• Her instinctive reaction to Noah’s presence is inconsistent: she repeatedly tries to avoid him, but also finds his scent calming and comforting. 29 38 39