After returning to the Familia, the first person Genichi went to find was Demeter.
"Update my status."
His voice was calm, but there was a faint urgency hidden beneath it.
Demeter looked at him, a complicated emotion flickering through those amber eyes.
She knew he had just come back from the Dungeon. She knew he had just gone through a major battle, and she knew he was probably still carrying wounds on his body.
But the very first thing he said was always the same.
Update my status.
She let out a sigh, stepped behind him, and pressed her hand against his back.
Then she began updating his Falna.
A moment later, she opened her eyes.
"Is it enough for a level-up?"
Genichi turned to look at her.
Demeter shook her head.
"No."
Genichi fell silent.
He had already expected that answer.
In his previous level-ups, when had he ever not come close to dying before earning a feat great enough?
From Level 1 to Level 2, he had done it by killing the black mutated infant dragon.
From Level 2 to Level 3, he had fought Ryu Lion in a life-and-death struggle.
From Level 3 to Level 4, he had challenged the Black Goliath, a monster close to Level 6, and only barely won after using every last trump card he had.
Every single time, he had walked the line between life and death.
Every single time, he had proven his worth.
And this time...
Although killing Amphisbaena had not been easy, he had never truly fallen into mortal danger.
He had controlled that battle from start to finish and, in the end, harvested the victory cleanly.
A fight like that could never produce a feat great enough.
Genichi lifted his head and looked at Demeter.
"What are my numbers now?"
"B-rank."
Demeter handed him the parchment.
Genichi took it and gave it a quick glance.
Every ability had reached B-rank, and Strength and Magic were even close to A.
"Looks like..."
He held the parchment to the candle flame and burned it away, his voice as calm as ever.
"If I want the feat I need to level up, I'll have to challenge Udaeus."
Demeter's body suddenly stiffened.
"No!"
Her voice instantly turned sharp.
"That's too dangerous!"
Genichi turned his head to look at her.
Those dark eyes did not ripple in the slightest.
"I need a feat to level up. I need to reach Level 5."
"That still doesn't make it okay!"
Demeter quickly stepped in front of him, her amber eyes filled with anxiety.
"A feat doesn't have to be earned all at once. You can build it up little by little. At worst, it just takes more time!"
She paused, and when she spoke again, her voice trembled faintly.
"And besides, at your speed, you're already far faster than anyone else. How long has it even been for you? Forty days from Level 1 to Level 4. Do you know how long that takes for other people? Years. Sometimes more than ten years!"
"You do not need to rush like this. You really don't!"
Genichi looked at her and was silent for a moment.
Then he slowly said, "Demeter, you don't understand."
"I do understand!"
"I understand that you have enemies to face. I understand that you need to get stronger. I understand that you don't want to wait!"
"But..."
She took a deep breath and met his eyes directly.
"Udaeus is a Level 6 floor boss. Its individual power is at least above Level 6. Floor bosses are not the same as ordinary monsters. They have special abilities, stronger vitality, and more dangerous attack patterns!"
"You're only Level 4 right now. For a Level 4 to challenge a Level 6 floor boss..."
Her voice shook even harder.
"How is that any different from throwing your life away?"
Genichi said nothing.
He knew Demeter was telling the truth.
Udaeus, the floor boss of the thirty-seventh floor, truly was a monster with Level 6 power.
As a deep-floor floor boss, it was far stronger than an ordinary Level 6 monster.
Even Level 6 adventurers had to be extremely cautious when fighting it as a party. One careless mistake could wipe them all out.
And for him, a lone Level 4, to challenge it by himself...
That really was not much different from suicide.
But he had no way out.
"The Black Goliath before this was close to Level 6 too."
He spoke slowly.
"And I still won."
"That was because you got lucky!"
There was anger in Demeter's voice now.
"Do you know what I felt when I saw you come back? Do you know what I felt when I saw you collapse on the ground, covered in blood? Do you know how terrified I am every single time I wait for you to return?"
She stepped forward and grabbed his clothes at the chest.
"I don't care what reasons you have, what burdens you carry, or why you have to get stronger..."
"This time, I absolutely will not agree!"
Genichi looked at her.
He looked at the tears flickering in those amber eyes, at her trembling body, at the hands clutching his clothes so tightly.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But Demeter did not give him the chance.
"Didn't you say that once you reached Level 5, you'd give me your answer?"
Her voice suddenly became very soft.
"Then live long enough to reach Level 5."
"Use the safest way possible. Build up your feat slowly."
"It's fine if it takes longer."
"I'll wait for you."
Genichi fell silent.
A long, long silence.
He simply stood there, looking at Demeter, looking at the tears in her eyes, at the worry and fear she made no effort to hide.
He knew she was worried about him.
He knew she did not want him to risk his life.
He knew she would rather he go slower than die in some forgotten corner where no one would ever know.
But...
"...Demeter."
His voice was quiet, but it carried a force that could not be ignored.
"If I go slower, I might not get another chance."
Demeter froze.
"What do you mean?"
Genichi did not answer.
He merely raised a hand and gently wiped away the tears at the corner of her eye.
"There are some things I still can't tell you right now."
He paused.
"But there is one thing I can tell you."
"That enemy won't wait for me to slowly grow stronger."
"If I slow down, the one who dies might not be just me."
Demeter's pupils shrank slightly.
A god could see through lies, and Demeter realized it at once.
She realized Genichi was not lying. If he stopped pushing himself to become stronger, then death was a real possibility.
He did not have time to build himself up slowly.
He had to get stronger as fast as possible.
Fast enough to face that enemy.
Demeter lowered her head and bit hard on her lip.
She did not know what to say.
Reason told her Genichi was right.
He did not have time. He had to level up as soon as possible.
But emotion told her she could not let him go throw his life away. Absolutely not.
The two feelings clashed violently inside her, so fiercely that she could barely breathe.
Genichi looked at her like that, then raised a hand and gently stroked her trembling back.
He let out a soft sigh.
Then he opened his arms and pulled her into an embrace.
Demeter's body stiffened slightly, then softened completely.
She buried her face in his chest and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
Tears slid down soundlessly.
Genichi said nothing.
He simply held her quietly, letting her tears soak into his clothes.
After a long while...
Demeter's muffled voice came from against his chest.
"Promise me one thing."
"Hm?"
"If you can't win, then run."
She lifted her head and looked at him.
Those amber eyes were wet with tears, but they were also full of determination.
"Use your Apparition and run."
"Don't force it. Don't risk your life. Don't die."
"Come back alive."
Genichi looked at her and was silent for a moment.
Then he gave a small nod.
"All right."
After returning to the Loki Familia, Ais reported everything she had seen on the twenty-seventh floor to Finn in full detail.
"...He used an ice spell and froze the entire lake."
Ais's voice was calm, but there was a trace of gravity in it that she could not quite hide.
"Then he fought Amphisbaena and successfully killed it."
Finn's brows drew together tightly.
"You're certain that magic was Riveria's?"
Ais nodded.
"I'm sure."
She paused.
"Lefiya can confirm it too."
Finn fell silent.
He turned and looked toward Riveria, who was seated nearby.
Riveria's expression was just as serious.
The fact that Genichi had used Alfia's magic was already a massive question in itself.
And now he had used Riveria's magic as well.
What did that mean?
Did it mean that boy possessed some kind of ability that let him learn other people's magic?
Or did it mean there was an even deeper secret hidden behind him?
Whichever it was, Finn could no longer remain calm.
"Riveria."
He spoke, and there was a rare urgency in his voice.
"Go to the Demeter Familia yourself and find out exactly what is going on."
He paused.
"I was planning to approach this slowly, but there's no need for that anymore."
Riveria nodded.
"All right. I'll go now."
She rose and headed for the door.
When she reached it, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Ais and Lefiya.
"Ais. Lefiya."
She paused.
"The two of you are coming with me."
Ais nodded without the slightest hesitation.
Lefiya, on the other hand, looked a little nervous.
"I'm going too?"
Riveria nodded.
"You're a witness. I need your testimony."
Lefiya took a deep breath and nodded.
"All right."
The three of them turned and headed for the Demeter Familia.
Finn watched their departing backs, a complicated light flickering through his blue eyes.
He hoped that boy would give them a reasonable explanation.
Otherwise...
This was going to become troublesome.
At the Demeter Familia estate.
Inside Genichi's room.
He had only just returned from the Dungeon, and was planning to rest for a bit before heading out again.
But before he could even lie down, Demeter's voice came from outside the door.
"Genichi, someone's here to see you."
Genichi's brow twitched slightly.
Someone was here to see him?
In all of Orario, besides Demeter and Ryu Lion, who else would come looking for him?
He got to his feet and opened the door.
Then he stopped.
Three people were standing outside.
Riveria Ljos Alf.
Ais Wallenstein.
Lefiya Viridis.
The Loki Familia's Nine Hell, Sword Princess, and Thousand Elf.
Genichi's pupils tightened slightly.
But almost immediately, his expression returned to calm.
"What is it?"
His voice was cold and flat, without the slightest emotion.
Riveria looked at him, a complicated feeling flickering in those emerald eyes.
"May we come in and talk?"
She paused.
"There are a few things I want to ask you."
Genichi was silent for a moment, then stepped aside.
"Come in."
Inside the room.
Genichi sat in his chair, gazing calmly at the three people across from him.
Riveria sat opposite him, with Ais and Lefiya standing behind her.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Riveria was the first to break the silence.
"Mr. Genichi."
She paused.
"I'll ask directly."
Genichi nodded.
"Go ahead."
"Today, on the twenty-seventh floor of the Dungeon, you used an ice spell to freeze the entire lake, correct?"
A faint shift passed through Genichi's expression.
How did they know?
Had they seen it?
"Yes."
He did not deny it.
Riveria's gaze sharpened.
"That spell was my Ecstasy - Fimbulwinter."
She looked straight into Genichi's eyes.
"I want to know where you learned that magic."
Genichi was silent for a moment.
Then he slowly said, "That concerns my personal information."
He paused.
"I refuse to answer."
Riveria's brows drew together slightly.
She had not expected Genichi to refuse so cleanly.
"Mr. Genichi, you should understand how important this matter is."
Her voice turned serious.
"That magic is supposed to be unique to me. And yet you used it. That alone goes against common sense."
"I have a duty to determine whether there is some kind of danger hidden behind this matter."
She paused.
"So I hope you can give me an explanation."
Genichi looked at her, and those dark eyes did not waver in the slightest.
"I understand your position."
His voice remained calm.
"But I also have my own."
"The source of that magic concerns a personal secret of mine. I have no obligation to disclose it to anyone."
Riveria fell silent.
She looked at Genichi, a complicated feeling flickering through those emerald eyes.
This boy was answering her questioning with silence.
"And what if I say..."
She spoke slowly.
"That this is an inquiry from the Loki Familia?"
Genichi's brow lifted slightly.
"An inquiry from the Loki Familia?"
"Yes."
Riveria nodded.
"You should understand the Loki Familia's position in Orario. If we believe someone's actions may pose a threat to Orario, then we have the right to investigate while Ais is still looking into the matter."
She paused.
"The fact that you used my magic has already drawn our highest attention. If you refuse to cooperate, we may be forced to take further measures."
Genichi fell silent.
Riveria's words were already bordering on a threat.
And yet his expression still did not change at all.
"Further measures?"
His voice remained calm.
"For example? Arrest me and interrogate me?"
Riveria did not answer.
Genichi gave a faint smile.
It was a very small smile, but there was something impossible to read in it.
"Lady Riveria, since you're asking for my cooperation."
He paused.
"I'm not some lamb waiting to be slaughtered."
He rose from his chair, walked to the window, and looked out over Orario, bathed in sunlight.
"The source of that magic is my personal secret. I have the right to remain silent."
Riveria met his eyes.
Silence spread between them.
After a long moment, Riveria let out a soft sigh.
"I understand."
She stood and walked toward the door.
When she reached it, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Genichi.
"Mr. Genichi."
"Yes?"
"If you change your mind, you can come to me at any time."
She paused.
"The doors of the Loki Familia will always remain open to you."
Genichi was silent for a moment, then gave a faint nod.
"I'll think about it."
Riveria opened the door and walked out.
Ais and Lefiya followed after her.
The room was left with only Genichi.
He stood by the window, watching the three retreating figures as thoughts surged through his mind.
The Loki Familia.
They had already set their eyes on him.
That was not a good thing.
But...
He had no other choice.
There was no way he could tell anyone where those spells had come from.
If the truth about the magic he possessed ever leaked out, that would be even more dangerous than being targeted by the Loki Familia.
(End of Chapter)
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