Ryuu and I got out of the elevator and made our way to the shop. I opened the door for us and entered with Ryuu following behind me.
"Welc–" Tsubaki stopped in the middle of her greetings, her eyes settling on me and then on Ryuu.
"Arin… I only joked about bringing Gale with you, but you…" she stopped again, "you know what, never mind."
"Good evening, Cyclops. I am here to get my sword." Greeted Ryuu.
"Um. It's nice to see you as well, Gale, and yes, your sword is ready. Let me get it for you." Saying that, Tsubaki got under the counter and brought out a sword wrapped carefully in a green cloth.
THUD!
She put the sword on the table and motioned towards Ryuu. "Go ahead and have a look."
Ryuu moved forward, picking up the blade and unwrapping it from the cloth.
What appeared was an elven blade, similar to a katana but slightly longer. The branch of the world tree supported the blade; the blade itself shone silver-ish green.
Ryuu lifted the blade to her eye level, observing everything. "Thank you, it's everything I hoped for and more."
"You are welcome, so have you thought of a name yet?" asked Tsubaki.
Ryuu nodded once and spoke, "Yes, I have." She continued, "Alf's Justitia."
"Oh! That's a pretty cool name," spoke Tsubaki and looked at me, "You should learn something from her and give your sword a name as well."
"I told you I am not very good with names, and I don't want to give my sword a strange name because of that." My naming sense is horrendous; all the names I thought of were too on the nose.
"It's fine, Arin-san. You can take your time and think carefully about it. Since our weapons will remain with us for a long time after all."
"Thanks, Ryuu, I will think of a good name for sure."
After Ryuu got her sword, we decided to go back home. Ryuu and I also parted ways, promising to meet tomorrow, both to test out her sword and for me to get the money for the magic stones.
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After entering the Twilight manor, I made my way to Loki's room. Entering the room, I found her along with Finn and Bete.
"Tsk! I am leaving," said Bete, walking past me, without even a glance.
Bete and I usually stay out of each other's way, or more like he actively avoids me for some reason. And I prefer that as well, while I don't think he is a terrible person, though he is an as*hole for sure, but not a bad person to the point where I would want to punch him.
"Sorry about Bete, Arin. He just doesn't know how to talk with you." Finn apologised as I walked inside and took a seat on the sofa.
"Don't worry, I am not offended or anything." I mean, there was nothing to be offended about. "By the way, what are you reading so intently, Loki?" I asked, seeing Loki hunched over a letter.
"Hm?" Loki hmmed, raising her head to look in my direction, "Oh, Arin?" As if just noticing my presence, she spoke. "It's just an invitation, though I guess it concerns you as well."
"Concern me? What did I do?" I asked, clearly remembering not getting into any kind of trouble as of late.
"That's the wrong question; you should be asking what you did not do?" Finn intervened, clearly finding my reaction amusing.
"It's an invitation to Denatus." Loki put the letter down on the table. "It was being delayed for a long while now, but with evilius threat gone, it was decided we would hold it before the usual time."
If I remember right, this is the meeting where the gods decided to give a second name to adventurers who level up.
"And your Alias is going to be the main agenda for sure." Loki pointed in my direction and spoke.
"Then please try to think of a good name, or better yet, start thinking now!" I don't want to get some weird Alias.
"How about keeping the one that people give you, huh? Mr. Hopebringer," Finn said, as if it was that simple.
My nose scruched up, "Please, that name is too on the nose."
"Don't worry, Arin-kun, I won't let them give you some weird Alias, as your goddess, I promise you." Though usually I doubt Loki a lot, but with that expression of determination she had, it made me believe her.
"Yeah, I am counting on you, Loki." I smiled, "But when will the meeting be held?"
"It's next week, 5 days before the Elgia festival," Finn informed, sipping on the tea.
"Elgia Festival?" I asked, not remembering that term.
"Yup, it's a festival to mourn the heroes of ancient times, though this time it will also work to mourn the heroes of the present who lost their lives in the great conflict," Loki explained.
I guess that's reasonable, though the damages were lower than expected, but the lives lost in the great conflict still amount to thousands, around ten thousand to be exact.
"It will also work to lift the heavy mood still settling on Orario and will boost the economy again, since this festival will work as a symbol that Orario is safe again," Finn explained the reasoning.
"I see, that's understandable." A festival is a good way to distract people from the gloominess.
"By the way, Arin-kun, did you come to get your status updated again?" Loki's words remind me of my purpose for coming here.
"Oh! Yes, I've gone to the 17th floor to fight with Goliath, hoping that it will increase my stats to some degree, before I level up."
"You already defeated it?" Finn spoke, putting his cup down. "I was thinking of sending Tione and others to go down and take it out, but it seems that will be unnecessary now."
"Yes, though I was not alone, Ryuu, Kaguya, and Alise were with me as well."
"Oh? So, Mama Riveira and Ais-tan weren't enough now that you are going after girls from other familias as well? Though I am not going to give up Ais-tan!" shouted Loki.
"You are too loud…" I said, rubbing my ears, "Also, it's completely up to Ais what she chooses to do. I am not going to let anyone take that freedom away from her, not even you, Loki." I warned her.
"Humph!" Loki scoffed, "Like I would stop her from doing what she wants." Her eyes landed on Finn, who stood up to leave.
"Well then, congratulations in advance on your Level up, Arin." He said and walked towards the door, before stopping just before exiting.
"Then I will see you later, Arin. Also, Loki, let's move forward with the plan we discussed."
"Really!" Loki jumped with a start.
"Yeah," Finn replied, and left the room.
"What plan?" I asked Loki.
"Hehe, that's a secret." Loki gave an annoying laugh, before I could speak up, she cut me off. "Now! Let's get your status updated." She skipped towards the bed.
"Haa…" I sighed, knowing she won't answer, so I just got up and made myself comfortable on the bed, ready to get my status updated.
Loki straddles me like always and starts the procedure, a faint light illuminating my back.
"Oh! All your stats are in the SS or SSS category! Now I will start the level-up process." I remained lying on my stomach. Before long, Loki put a paper on my back and lifted, but instead of giving it to me, I felt her scribbling something on it. I raised an eyebrow but didn't do anything else. Since I knew she won't hide anything regarding my status from me, I at least have that much trust in her.
I didn't have to wait long before she gave me the status sheet.
____________________________________________________________________________
STATUS
Lv. 4
STRENGTH SSS1187→I0
DEFENSE SSS1108→I0
DEXTERITY SS1094→I0
AGILITY SSS1190→I0
MAGIC SSS1196→I0
ABNORMAL RESISTANCE E
LUCK F
MYSTERY E
MAGE I
MAGIC
MAGIC
MAKES THE USER CAPABLE OF WIELDING MAGIC
ASTRUM CORDIS
STRENGTH-ENHANCEMENT MAGICSTAR ELEMENT
SKILL
EXTREME ADAPTABILITY
RAPIDLY IMPROVES ADAPTABILITY IN ANY ENGAGED FIELD
SLIGHTLY BOOSTS AGILITY AND DEXTERITY DURING SUSTAINED FIGHTS
EXTREME GROWTH
ENHANCED COMPREHENSION AND PROGRESSION IN FOCUSED FIELDS
AMORIS PULSE
STRENGTHENS THOSE BOUND THROUGH EMOTIONAL TIESGROWTH RATE DOUBLES FOR TARGETS LOVED BY USERIF FEELING IS MUTUAL, EFFECT QUADRUPLES AND GRANT HIGH HUMAN CHARACTERISTICSEFFECT VARIES BY EMOTIONAL INTENSITY AND BOND TYPESTRONGER BONDS YIELD FASTER GROWTHWORK IN TENDEM WITH DEIDICE AND GRANT PROTECTION AGAINST DIVINE POWERS
DEICIDE
INCREASE ALL STATS WHEN FIGHTING BEINGS OF DIVINE NATUREGRANT RESISTANCE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT AGAINST THEIR POWER
Wealth→ -480,000,000
____________________________________________________________________________
"F*ck you, Loki!" Pointing out my debt like that is not fair!
"HYAHAHA!" She laughed like a psycho B*tch, "Arin-kun, maybe before you chase after some girls, you should focus on getting out of debt first."
"Again, F*ck you, Loki! I am paying my monthly installment." First thing tomorrow, I am going to give Tsubaki the money I earned from the Goliath magic stone.
"Hehe, sure you are, or maybe you want to be a gigolo?" she spoke and started laughing again.
It didn't help with the fact that Riveria and Asfi had already offered to help me pay it sooner, saying that way I won't become reckless in the dungeon.
For the first time, I was unable to argue back with her, so I simply left the room and walked straight towards mine. I drove straight onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow.