After returning to the familia estate, Genichi only made one stop first: Demeter.
He told her the name of the sword.
"Mitsukotoba."
Just two words.
No explanation, no elaboration, nothing more.
But the moment Demeter heard that name, her amber eyes lit up instantly.
She understood.
Of course she understood.
Mitsukotoba.
"Mitsu" was from her name.
"Kotoba" meant words.
Put together, it became "Demeter's words."
That blade, personally forged by Hephaestus and carrying her feelings for him, had been given a name like that by his own hand.
What did that mean?
It meant that she had already found a place in his heart.
Demeter smiled.
It was a bright, radiant smile, like the warmest sunlight of spring.
Genichi looked at her like that, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly into the faintest smile.
Then he turned and left.
There was still a great deal he needed to do.
After leaving Demeter, Genichi went to find Ryu.
The blonde elf was standing in the courtyard, staring blankly at the distant sky.
When she heard footsteps and turned around, the moment she saw him, a flicker of unmistakable panic rose in her emerald eyes.
There was anticipation there, and tension, and a trace of excitement she could not hide.
She quickly walked up to him.
"I'm Level 5 now."
There was urgency in her voice.
"So now you can tell me, right?"
Genichi looked at her. His dark eyes did not ripple in the slightest.
"You are Level 5 now."
He paused.
"But with your current strength, you still don't qualify."
Ryu's body stiffened slightly.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came.
"Do you still remember our deal?"
Genichi's voice rang out.
Ryu fell silent.
Of course she remembered.
Back in the Dungeon, in order to get information about that person, she had agreed to Genichi's condition: she would become a fighter under his command and let him use her strength.
That was the agreement between them.
"What do you want me to do?"
Ryu took a deep breath and looked up at him.
Her emerald eyes were resolute.
No matter what he wanted her to do, she would do it.
As long as it would let her have her revenge.
Genichi looked at her for a moment.
Then he slowly spoke.
"Find me a grimoire."
Ryu froze.
A grimoire?
"As long as you bring me a grimoire..."
Genichi continued,
"I'll tell you what I know about that person."
He paused.
"What do you think?"
Ryu's expression instantly turned troubled.
A grimoire.
That was no ordinary thing.
On the market, even a single grimoire cost at least a hundred million valis.
And items like that were basically monopolized by the major familias. Even if you had money, you still might not be able to buy one.
She was just a lone avenger who hunted down members of Evilus. Even all of her savings put together amounted to only a few million valis.
Buying a grimoire?
That was completely impossible.
Genichi looked at the troubled look on her face and spoke calmly.
"I'm not in a hurry."
He paused.
"You can save up slowly."
Ryu looked up at him.
Complicated emotions churned in her emerald eyes.
She did not understand.
There were plenty of things he could have ordered her to do.
But instead, he had chosen this.
To have her find a grimoire.
Was this... his way of making things difficult for her on purpose?
Or did he simply never intend to tell her the information at all?
Countless thoughts flashed through Ryu's mind.
But in the end, she said nothing.
She only nodded.
"All right."
Her voice was soft, but unwavering.
"I'll find one."
Genichi looked at her and gave a slight nod.
"Then that's that."
He turned to leave.
"Wait."
Ryu called out to him.
Genichi stopped and glanced back.
Ryu met his gaze. A complicated emotion flickered through her emerald eyes.
"Are you..."
She paused.
"Trying to protect me?"
Genichi was silent for a moment.
Then he replied flatly.
"You're overthinking it."
He turned and strode away.
Ryu was left standing there alone, watching his back in silence.
As Genichi walked back toward his room, his thoughts churned.
Part of what he had just told Ryu was true.
And part of it... was false.
The true part was this: with Ryu's current strength, she genuinely was not qualified to face that enemy.
Dionysus was almost certainly involved in the Knossos affair as well, and Filvis Challia was at his side.
That woman, twisted by Dionysus into a selfless creature and raised into a Level 7 monster, was far beyond Ryu's ability to handle.
With Level 5 strength, Ryu would not last more than a few seconds against her.
That was why he could not tell her the truth.
At least not now.
So he had given her a goal that would not be easily achieved: find a grimoire.
Let her work toward it.
Let her grow stronger in the process.
Let her... stay alive.
As for the lie...
What he had said about not being in a hurry was false.
Time was running out.
Dionysus could make his move at any moment.
The conspiracy in the artificial labyrinth could erupt at any time.
Filvis could appear before them at any moment.
But he could not show that.
He could not let Ryu know that, in truth, they had very little time left.
Genichi drew in a slow breath.
But what if Ryu really did manage to find him a grimoire?
That thought passed through his mind.
If it really came to that...
Genichi stopped walking and looked out at the sky in the distance, stained red by the setting sun.
If it really came to that, then all he could do was honor the agreement: accept the grimoire and tell her the truth.
And then... let her choose for herself.
Whether to go die, or keep waiting.
That would be her fate.
He had no right to interfere.
At most, for the sake of the time they had spent around each other, once he possessed absolute strength, he might help her take revenge.
Beyond that?
No.
Genichi and Ryu were nothing more than two people using each other. Ryu Lion alone was not worth risking his own life for.
On the other side, after leaving the Demeter Familia, Ryu returned to the Hostess of Fertility.
The moment she got back, Mia Grand gave her a brutal scolding that lasted an entire month.
The main reason was simple.
Ryu had skipped work so badly that she had practically been absent for a whole month.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]