To maximize his odds of success, Genichi didn't recklessly rush to summon a black Goliath right away.
He knew his own condition better than anyone.
Level 3. His stats had already reached Rank B, but he was still a long way from SSS1499.
Challenging a mutated Floor Boss in that state was too risky.
So he decided to push as deep as he could.
Grind up to SSS1499.
Then summon Goliath.
By then, with all stats at peak, plus Alfia's magic, plus Alise's support, plus Apparition as his life-saving trump card-
He'd have over a ninety percent chance of keeping that mutated monster from escaping.
However, a problem immediately surfaced.
He was already Level 3 now.
The monsters on the Sixteenth Floor, ordinary Level 2 and Level 3 mobs, were completely beneath him.
One slash per kill, sometimes three slashes for several at once.
It felt like an adult beating up children, zero pressure.
And without pressure, there was no growth.
So he had to go deeper.
To where the monsters were stronger.
The Eighteenth Floor, the safe zone: Rivira Town.
Genichi led Alise through the town without stopping, then went straight into the Nineteenth Floor.
From here on out, monster levels climbed to Level 3, even Level 4.
For an ordinary Level 3 adventurer, this was already a dangerous region.
For Genichi-
Perfect.
The Twentieth Floor.
Genichi stopped, his eyes sweeping the surroundings.
A dim corridor. Damp air. Distant monster screeches echoing faintly.
He tightened his grip on his blade and walked forward.
Alise followed behind, scanning around with boredom written all over her face.
Watching her for a moment, Genichi fell silent, then spoke.
"You stay on the side and watch."
"Huh?"
Alise blinked.
"Just watch. Don't interfere."
Alise's eyes widened, an odd expression forming on her face.
"You summoned me just so I could stand here and watch you kill monsters?"
Genichi didn't answer.
He kept walking, and a huge lizard-type monster came charging straight at them.
One slash.
Dead.
Magic stone secured. Clean and efficient.
Alise stood behind him, watching the smooth, flowing slaughter, and rolled her eyes hard.
"Hey, hey, hey, I-"
She hurried after him, continuing her complaints.
"I feel like you summoned me out here and there's literally no reason for me to exist!"
"You're seriously making me stand here just to watch you kill mobs?"
If she was summoned, she should be supporting and fighting.
But in reality?
Her only job was standing on the side while he performed solo.
Genichi casually ended another monster that lunged at him. Without even turning his head, he said,
"Summoning you, and maintaining your presence, is already an enormous drain."
He paused.
"So this is enough to raise my Magic stat."
Alise froze.
She looked down at herself, then back up at Genichi, her expression turning strange.
"So what you're saying is-"
"You didn't summon me to help you fight?"
"You summoned me as a tool to burn mana?"
Genichi didn't deny it.
"Yes."
Alise: "…"
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
But in those emerald-green eyes, a very specific flame was burning.
A flame called: speechless.
"Sure. Absolutely."
She gritted her teeth.
"You're completely right."
Genichi ignored her dripping sarcasm and continued forward, continuing to kill.
Alise followed behind, staring at his cold, indifferent back, her irritation building.
This guy seriously had zero romance in him.
But then-
Her eyes spun, and she suddenly let out a mischievous little laugh.
"Honestly, you don't have to act tough about it."
She quickened her steps, sliding up beside him with a teasing grin.
"If you want your Magic stat to grow, you just need to use magic. Summoning me means you wanted-"
She deliberately dragged it out.
"Because I'm a cute girl."
Genichi's foot paused for the slightest instant.
Seeing that reaction, Alise's smile brightened even more.
"So you really don't have to hide it. Just be shameless about it."
She patted her own chest, brimming with confidence.
"I mean, what can I say? I'm gorgeous!"
Genichi was silent for a beat.
Then he turned his head and looked at Alise.
Those dark eyes showed not a ripple.
"No matter how pretty you are…"
His voice was calm, but carried a force that made it impossible to argue with.
"Can you compare to Demeter?"
Alise's grin instantly froze on her face.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.
Demeter.
That agriculture goddess.
Of course Alise had seen her. Honey-colored hair, amber eyes, that spring-breeze gentleness, all of it stuck in your mind.
But more importantly-
That chest, easily one of the most outrageous in all of Orario.
Demeter was a goddess.
Most gods and goddesses were unreliable, obnoxious, and questionable in character, sure.
But there was one thing that couldn't be denied-
Their beauty was enough to crush everyone in the Lower World.
It was their nature, their inborn charm, a height mortals could never reach.
To a child of the Lower World, the highest praise was merely: "as beautiful as a god."
Like Riveria of Loki Familia.
That elf princess was praised as beauty worthy of a goddess.
But that was only "worthy."
A real goddess could stand there doing nothing, and mortals would still fall over themselves.
Alise considered herself pretty enough, outstanding among humans.
But compared to a real goddess?
That was asking to be humiliated.
She shut her mouth.
Genichi watched her deflate, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Then he turned away and kept walking.
Kept killing.
Alise trailed behind him, muttering under her breath.
"Tch. Even gods are getting vulgar these days."
"What's so great about that…"
Her voice grew smaller and smaller, until it vanished under the monsters' screeches.
Genichi didn't bother responding.
He just kept swinging.
Slash after slash.
Monster after monster.
And Alise-
Stayed on the side, watching him kill.
Burning his mana.
Raising his Magic stat.
Perfect.
(End of Chapter)
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