Chapter 12: Cheat-like Status
Loki's pleading ultimately failed to win Ryuu's sympathy...
Well, tonight the lonely goddess would guard an empty room alone!
But... Loki never closed her eyes to sleep!
The vermilion-haired goddess sat rocking gently on the small bed in the guesthouse single room, seemingly waiting for something. Finally, the room door knocked.
"Come in, little Keyaru!"
"The door's unlocked—been waiting for you forever!"
Pushing the door open, the freshly showered Keyaru was immediately met with Loki's burning gaze.
"Didn't expect you could clean up this handsomely!"
"Not bad. When our Familia goes recruiting beauties later, we'll probably need you to be our mascot! Finn deserves some rest too!"
Offering no response to Loki's praise, Keyaru remained completely silent, simply lying down on Loki's bed. To any observer, he might have seemed like a virgin sacrifice offered to this perverted goddess~
"So eager?"
"But that's fine—I can't wait either!"
"To make a proper deity stake everything... what kind of Skills and 'vessel' could this be...."
The crimson-haired goddess swallowed hard, pulling out a silver needle she carried and pricking her finger, letting a drop of Divine Blood fall...
The essence of Falna is a catalyst!
It quantifies potential... Basic Abilities, Magic, Skills...
And the adventurer's level is the major tier built upon basic abilities, magic, and skills!
It could be said that the major level is the most crucial, as there aren't many adventurers in Orario capable of fighting above their level. Among high-tier adventurers, no one's Skills are significantly weaker than others...
But there's one noteworthy aspect of Falna!
It's the unknown of the lower world that the gods delight in discussing!
A person's potential cannot be fully revealed by Falna alone, but someone who starts with an impressive panel surely has remarkable potential!
In any case, Loki now felt like she was opening a mystery box!
A lottery... How delightful for a god!
And knowing it was guaranteed to be a gold card made the pleasure even greater!
Unlike Asmodeus, Loki performed the divine ritual with remarkable speed, and this wasn't the initial bestowal of Falna but a conversion! Before long, the crimson-haired goddess opened her eyes, her hands trembling as she held the parchment inscribed with Keyaru's information...
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Adventurer: Keyaru Asmodeus (Disordered)
Level: Lv. 1
[Ability Scores]:
Strength: A853
Endurance: A899
Dexterity: A899
Agility: A899
Magic: I0
[Development Abilities]: None
[Magic]:
[Optimization]
— Enhancement Magic / Sublimation Magic
— Intensity limited to current level: I0 ~ SSS199
— Cross-level boost: up to h150 from 9
— Chant: "Optimize"
[Deterioration]
— Status Magic / Transformation Magic
— Weakens opponent's strength; effect scales with power gap
— Alters memories
— Chant: "Deteriorate"
[Skills]:
[Hero of Healing]
— Skill unlocks when conditions are met
• ...$＆?anwk's Love (?＆.... Achieved)
• World-Shaking Feat (Divine Sacrifice... Achieved)
— True Recovery
• Can be activated once per week
• Stores "healed" targets
• Bears the pain from healed targets' memories, turning it into nourishment for growth
• Stored targets: Roal, Kechas, Enlo... Alfia
— Healing
• Heals all non-curse injuries
• Bears the pain of the injured
• Shares experience; boosts Ability Scores
— World-Blessed Hero
• Breakthrough in desperate situations
• Greatly enhanced pain tolerance
• Wide-area mental correction when using "Healing"
• Growth speed significantly enhanced; early maturation
[Wheel of All Magic]
— One Who Yearns for Magic
• Admiration for magic grants major corrections to magic power & dexterity
• In desperate situations, magic power and "special effects" greatly amplified
— Abyss of Greed for Magic
• Can consume excess feats from level sublimation to draw magic
• Can consume world-recognized "treasures" to draw magic
— Endless Azure
• May use stamina in place of spirit for spellcasting
• Magic power & spirit recovery speed greatly increased when depleted
[Blessed by Lust]
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Silence...
Endless silence...
Loki didn't know what to say anymore!
Are they even the same species as my Ais-chan, Finn, and the others?
Cheating Skills, cheating Sublimation Magic, and most importantly... that thing called Recovery...
The crimson-haired goddess's oppressive eyes fixed intently on Keyaru, who was examining his Skills. After a moment of contemplation, Loki's tone shifted from her usual casual demeanor to one of utmost seriousness:
"Keyaru, promise me—before you use that Skill called True Recovery, you must discuss it with me first!"
"Bearing the pain from the memories of the stored target... It's indeed possible to acquire their Magic and Skills this way, but... as a price..."
"I can tell you with full responsibility that the pain brought by memories is not that simple!"
"Just take my children... Ais... Bete... Tione, Tiona—any one of the injuries they've suffered in the past would be enough to crush an ordinary person!"
"Since you've joined my Familia, you're my child now! I don't want any heroes or brave warriors—the price of this Skill is far too heavy..."
Deeply moved by the goddess's concern, Keyaru smiled at her.
"Don't worry, Loki, I understand the reasoning..."
"This Skill doesn't just harm me—it also hurts those who care about me..."
Hearing this, Loki nodded approvingly and stroked her chin. This kid sure knows how to talk—she'd have to jot this line down in her phrasebook and show off in front of that shorty when she descends to the lower world!
"However..."
"I'll use it when necessary, but I'll act within my limits! It's still better than losing what I cherish due to a lack of power!"
Loki gazed deeply at Keyaru, sensing his determination. As a Patron God, she had always respected her children's decisions...
Besides, Keyaru's Skill was only unlocked because Asmodeus staked his own life to help him. A deity willingly sacrificing themselves—such a feat carries far more weight than deicide!
With her mind at ease, Loki decided not to persuade Keyaru further, but...
Had she just seen something absurd?
Stored target... Alfia?
Holy shit!
The Red-haired Goddess instantly sprang up and grabbed Keyaru's shoulders, shaking him violently!
"You brat, confess everything to me right now!"
"Besides Asmodeus, you don't have any connection with Hera too, do you?"
"Otherwise how could you have encountered that woman?"
"Have we gotten involved in some unprecedented grand scheme between Zeus, Hera, and Asmodeus?"
"Hurry up and tell me every detail from your memories, Keyaru! I'll describe the characteristics of that woman named Alfia right now, so think hard, Keyaru! We can't afford to be passive!"
Shaken so hard by Loki that his brains felt like they were turning to mush, Keyaru desperately searched through the memories of this lifetime...
Finally, he remembered...