Evening had fallen, and it was time for dinner.
Tonight, the rare host was none other than Loki herself.
"I have some good news to announce to everyone."
Standing at the front, Loki's eyes swept over the room, unable to hide the excitement on her face. With a wave of her hand, Tiona and Tione stepped up onto the platform.
"Tiona and Tione have completed their breakthrough from Level 4 to Level 5 today. From now on, our Familia has two more Level 5 Adventurers."
"Eh!?"
Gasps of surprise exploded throughout the hall.
"They've already reached Level 5?"
"Even though I knew Tiona and Tione were already at their limit, I didn't think their Level Up would come this fast."
Most of the Familia members were aware that the Hiryute sisters had long been brushing against the boundary of Level 4. Everyone assumed it would take at least another year or two for them to reach Level 5.
Yet here they were—breaking through so suddenly, almost casually.
"Tiona, Tione… their promotion speed is so fast!" Alise said, looking at the two sisters standing proudly on the stage with some envy showing on her face.
"They must've challenged a Floor Boss."
Kaguya instantly pieced it together. The two must have fought a Floor Boss and earned enough Excellia for their Level Up.
"Goliath?"
"No. Even if they faced Goliath alone, that wouldn't be enough for both of them to reach Level 5."
Alise was the first to think of Goliath, a foe roughly equivalent to their previous level. But Kaguya shook her head. Even though Goliath was indeed a Floor Boss, it was only a Level 4 threat. Defeating it wouldn't grant enough Excellia for two people to Level Up simultaneously.
Which meant—it had to be a stronger Floor Boss.
"Amphisbaena. I think they challenged it."
Kaguya was certain.
Alise, however, still sounded doubtful.
"But Amphisbaena is only Level 5 too, right? Is that really enough for both of them to Level Up together?"
"Impossible," Kaguya said flatly. "Unless… they fought it at a severe disadvantage."
"A disadvantage… you mean they challenged Amphisbaena in a terrain that favored the monster? Isn't that suicide?"
Realization struck Alise—and she immediately thought the idea insane.
Kaguya didn't bother to argue. Instead, she pointed toward the sisters on stage.
"And yet, they're both alive and well, aren't they?"
Alise fell silent at that.
Kaguya then turned her gaze toward the crowd, searching for someone she was sure had a hand in this. After scanning for a while, her eyes found him sitting quietly in the corner of the dining hall.
"The biggest reason Tiona and Tione could defeat Amphisbaena against the odds… is him."
Alise followed her gaze, and that familiar figure came into view.
"Ah… him. That does make sense."
"His abilities are completely beyond standard limits. With his help, it's entirely possible they could have taken down a Floor Boss under such disadvantageous conditions."
Alise still regarded Tsuna as an all-rounder—someone whose power simply defied logic. After all, she had experienced it firsthand.
He had saved them from that monster they couldn't defeat even after exhausting all their strength. Later, he'd recreated that same monster perfectly right before their eyes. That ability alone had driven home one simple, terrifying truth:
This guy… can't be beaten.
It wasn't a lack of confidence in herself—just a painfully clear understanding of how far beyond human Tsuna's power was.
However, Ryuu seemed confused.
"Weren't the Floor Boss challenges completed by the two of them alone? If someone else participated—especially him—wouldn't that prevent them from receiving the proper Excellia?"
It was a fair question. If that strange power had intervened, the fight would have been effortless. But if it was merely his ability doing the work rather than their own strength, would it still count as a legitimate challenge? Would the Falna even recognize it?
Kaguya only shook her head slightly and gestured toward the sisters' hands.
"Look closely. They didn't use to wear rings, did they?"
"Those two are Amazons. They don't care for accessories—rings definitely aren't their style."
"Then those rings were made by him."
Kaguya's eyes gleamed. Her sharp perception had picked up the subtle change right away—the difference in the sisters' appearance, and the presence of something crafted specifically to aid them.
With her words, everyone's eyes turned toward Tiona and Tione's hands. Sure enough, the two Amazon sisters each wore a simple, gleaming ring.
The girls of the Astraea Familia exchanged curious glances.
"Should we… ask them about it later?" Alise said, unable to hide her curiosity—or the spark of desire that came with the thought of getting stronger.
"Of course," Kaguya replied. "A chance like this doesn't come twice. When opportunity appears, you grab it."
It seemed she had no intention of letting it slip by.
Watching her captain and vice-captain both stir with excitement, Ryuu looked worried.
"Alise, do you really think he'll tell us anything?"
"It's fine!" Alise shot her a mischievous smile.
"If he refuses, we'll just send you, Ryuu. With your beauty, he'll definitely agree."
"Alise!"
"Okay, okay! Don't take it so seriously. Can't you tell she's joking?" Kaguya sighed helplessly.
"Honestly, you know Ryuu takes things literally, and yet you still tease her."
"Hehe~ sorry, Ryuu. I really didn't think you'd believe it," Alise said, sticking out her tongue playfully.
Ryuu's face flushed bright red.
"Alise! You're dead!"
"Ah! Ryuu, wait—you're actually mad!?"
Ryuu didn't answer—her fists did the talking.
Kaguya could only pinch the bridge of her nose and sigh.
"I told you. Ryuu's too pure for your jokes."