After sensing carefully for a moment, Takumi quickly understood what had changed in Boosted Gear.
First, it gained a new trait: [Shapeshift].
It was no longer limited to being just a gauntlet—and an armor mode after Balance Breaker.
Now it could transform according to Takumi's will into all kinds of forms and weapons.
The second trait was [Artifact Merge]—it could absorb and fuse other divine artifacts, gaining their abilities.
And after fulfilling Takumi's two core requirements, Hephaestus had added a third, brutally strong trait:
[Soulbound].
This wasn't just recognizes its user.
Once Takumi bonded with it, the gauntlet could slowly feed on his power to advance.
And even if it was shattered in battle, it could be rebuilt inside him—because the gauntlet's true core had already fused into Takumi's body.
"Hephaestus's craftsmanship really is something…"
Takumi couldn't help praising her. Even if he tried, he didn't think he could forge something this clean.
This was far beyond what he'd expected.
"Sorry, Hestia… no matter what, I'm going to have to pay Hephaestus back properly."
He silently recorded the debt in his head.
Then, on the walk back, he immediately started feeding it the divine artifacts he'd hand-crafted.
Holy Mother's Smile, Coffin of Abilities, Boosted Gear—none of them were spared.
After absorbing Holy Mother's Smile, he could feel his gauntlet's healing capability strengthen slightly.
The Coffin of Abilities gave him a new skill: spend mana to forcibly seal an opponent's abilities.
But when he tried fusing the same type again, there was no noticeable change.
Even when he fed it more copies later, Boosted Gear's strength didn't rise or shift.
"So once it's eaten something, it won't count again. Picky little bastard."
Takumi clicked his tongue, not really surprised.
If it worked like some game upgrade system—just smashing materials into it endlessly—that would be the real horror.
And low-tier weapons wouldn't help much anyway.
Even something like Holy Mother's Smile only gave a mild boost to recovery.
"I need real heavy hitters… holy swords, the Holy Spear of Twilight…"
Just thinking about the higher-tier divine artifacts from his main world made him grin.
He planned to stay a few more days, harvest more progress, then head back.
"For now, let's test how strong this nourishment effect really is."
Back home, Takumi began channeling mana and divine power, steadily strengthening the gauntlet inside him.
…
At the Hostess of Fertility, they closed early today.
In an empty room of the tavern, Syr—busy preparing for tomorrow—caught Anya's attention.
Anya had undone a few buttons, her uniform collar gaping open enough to show more of her voluptuous cleavage than you'd ever expect from her.
She leaned in with a gasp.
"Eh?! Syr, you invited Takumi to tomorrow's festival, nya?!"
Even as she shouted, Anya's face was full of envy.
She wanted to invite him too… but right now, there were simply too many girls thinking the same thing.
And Takumi hadn't come to the Hostess lately, so she'd had no chance to get close to him.
So Anya couldn't help wondering—how did Syr even manage to do it?
Under Anya's relentless questioning, Syr's cheeks were rosy red, like a girl in love.
As if trying to hide her embarrassment, Syr smiled and answered softly.
"I… wrote a letter. I asked someone I know to deliver it to Hestia Familia's base."
"You had someone else pass your letter along? That doesn't really feel like your style, nya."
Anya narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"W-Well…"
Syr—rarely awkward—let out an embarrassed smile, her pale-gray hair swaying gently as she moved.
Then she looked downright blissful, voice turning small and sweet.
"It's just… getting close to Takumi-san is really hard. And I want him to respond to my feelings…"
Seeing Syr look both shy and glowing, Anya had nothing left to say.
Sullen, she could only swallow her own feelings back down.
Still—she decided that if Syr failed, she might use the same method and confess too.
…
Meanwhile, at Freya Familia's residence, Alfia learned about Syr's move.
She glared at Horn, her resentment completely undisguised.
"You actually moved before Freya!"
Horn's eyes narrowed. Purple light shimmered around her—and in the next instant, Freya stood before Alfia in person.
Freya met Alfia's gaze head-on, making no attempt to hide what she'd done.
"I can't hold back anymore. I'm going to show Takumi my true feelings—as the version of myself I've always dreamed of being."
"I need him to accept my heart. Every second without him, I can barely restrain myself!"
Listening to Freya's lovesick, borderline-deranged declaration, Alfia wanted to punch her.
But Freya was still her goddess.
So Alfia didn't move.
She only said coldly, "I don't care how you confess. But whether Takumin accepts you or not, you are not allowed to hurt him."
Freya laughed, as if offended by the very idea.
"Hurt him? How could I? He's my beloved. My hero—the one I've always dreamed of."
The certainty in her tone made Alfia's jaw tighten.
And Freya's expression—too bright, too hungry—made her impossible to trust.
Alfia decided then and there: tomorrow, she'd monitor everything.
With that, she turned and left.
Freya, standing there, gradually shifted back into Horn.
"Horn. The others don't need to know. My date with Takumi cannot be disturbed."
That order was all she left behind before her will withdrew.
From beginning to end, Freya's true body was "Syr Flova" at the Hostess of Fertility.
And "Freya" inside Freya Familia… was Horn's disguise.
Regaining control of her body, Horn nodded quietly, her expression lonely.
Once, serving her goddess had been her only purpose. But now, a girl's love had taken root in her too.
Finally, Horn didn't hide it anymore. In silence, she admitted it to herself—and to Freya.
"My goddess… I've fallen for him too…"
For once, Freya's face showed genuine surprise.
She understood better than anyone how loyal Horn was.
"That's unexpected… but if it's Takumi, I understand."
Hearing that, Horn's impulse surged into a plea.
"I'm your counterfeit… your tool. But I… I still want to express my feelings."
"Please… give me one chance. Just once. I know how shameless and arrogant this request is. But I won't back down."
"Time can't rewind. If I miss this chance, I'll regret it forever."
Horn had reached the point of no return.
Cold sweat slid down her cheek, yet her voice stayed firm—she spoke her heart like she'd staked her life on it.
...
Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon! [patreon.com/METARLN]