Genichi voiced the doubt in his heart.
He did not believe that he had gained such an outrageous skill simply because he had slept with Demeter.
There had to be more adventurers than just him in Orario who had gotten involved with goddesses.
Those promiscuous gods, those adventurers willing to do anything to climb higher, those impulsive men and women -
had all of them gained abilities like this too?
Absolutely not.
If skills could really be farmed that way, Orario would have descended into complete chaos long ago.
When Demeter heard his question, a complicated emotion flickered through her amber eyes.
Then she slowly spoke.
"Did you forget about that one skill among your Seven Deadly Sins, Gluttony?"
Genichi paused slightly.
Gluttony?
That skill's effect was this:
By consuming blood, he could obtain part of the other person's skills or magic.
His pupils contracted faintly.
"You mean...?"
Demeter nodded.
"That's right."
Genichi fell silent.
Of course he remembered what Gluttony did. But it required consuming blood to activate.
And he did not remember consuming Demeter's blood at all.
"You were bleeding?"
Demeter turned her face away, an unnatural flush crossing her cheeks.
"I was."
She answered in a small voice.
Genichi froze.
Bleeding?
She had really been bleeding?
He stared at Demeter with a blank look, then suddenly seemed to realize something.
His eyes widened sharply.
Those dark eyes filled with disbelief.
"You... you still..."
"That's exactly it."
Demeter cut him off, her voice carrying a trace of embarrassed irritation.
She did not let him finish.
But by then, Genichi already understood.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out.
That night, he truly had not noticed.
Or rather, the possibility had never even crossed his mind.
After all, Demeter was a goddess.
Even if she usually acted like a girl hopelessly in love, he had never imagined that she actually...
Genichi took a deep breath and forced down the emotions surging inside him.
Then he turned and looked at the bed.
On the pristine white sheet, a single red blossom had quietly bloomed.
After that, he looked back at Demeter.
"But the problem is, doesn't the skill say I have to consume it? I didn't exactly..."
He trailed off.
Demeter still would not look at him.
She only said quietly, "When I kissed you, I bit my lip a little."
Genichi fell silent.
So when she kissed him, she had deliberately bitten her own lip and let him swallow that trace of blood.
And then -
Gluttony had activated.
He had gained the skill Love of the Goddess.
He had gained the absurd Development Ability Healing Power S.
Genichi looked at her, and something indescribable flickered through his dark eyes.
After a long moment, he slowly said, "So in other words..."
He paused.
"There was no need for us to go any further than a kiss..."
He could not finish the sentence.
Because Demeter was looking at him with those amber eyes full of grievance.
That look said everything.
Try saying that again.
Genichi silently shut his mouth.
Silence spread between them.
A moment later, he sighed.
"All right. That one was my fault."
Demeter looked at him. The grievance in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a warm, gentle light.
"I forgive you."
She spoke softly.
"But only this once."
Then her tone turned serious.
"Trampling on a goddess's feelings is the sort of thing that gets you punished by heaven."
Genichi looked at her, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly into a faint smile.
"Got it."
Of course he knew.
How much this woman had done for him, how could he possibly not know?
From the moment she took him in, from the moment she granted him her Falna, from every time she prepared supplies for him, worried herself sick over him, and went to plead with Hephaestus for his sake -
she had always been giving.
And only now had he truly answered those feelings.
He would never trample on that devotion.
After a moment of silence, Genichi suddenly thought of something else.
"So..."
He looked at Demeter.
"If consuming a god's blood can give me power, then if I consumed the blood of other gods too, would I also be able to...?"
Demeter's gaze turned dangerous in an instant.
"Don't even think about it."
There was a warning in her voice.
"Why not?"
Genichi frowned.
"According to Gluttony's effect, as long as it's blood..."
Demeter let out a sigh.
She stepped closer and lightly tapped him on the forehead.
"That would be stealing a god's divine authority."
Her voice turned serious.
"Gluttony lets you obtain the other person's skills or magic by consuming blood, but the premise is that the other party has to be willing to give it."
"In our case, it happened because I love you, so I do not mind letting you take a piece of my authority."
"But other gods..."
She paused.
"Go ahead and try it. See what kind of reaction you get."
Genichi fell silent.
Of course he knew what reaction he would get from other gods.
Having their authority stolen was something no deity could tolerate.
If it ever became known, what awaited him would be the wrath of the entire divine realm.
At that point, forget Level 5. Even Level 10 would not save him.
"I understand."
He nodded.
"Forget I said anything."
Demeter looked at him, satisfaction flickering through her amber eyes.
"That's more like it."
She stepped forward and leaned lightly against him.
"As long as you have me, that's enough."
"Don't go looking for other gods."
Genichi was quiet for a moment, then gently wrapped an arm around her waist.
"All right."
He knew she was right.
Having her was enough.
He did not need anyone else.
And he did not need the power of any other god.
Demeter buried her face in his chest, the corners of her lips lifting faintly.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, bathing their embracing figures in warm gold.
A little while later, Genichi slowly let her go.
"It's about time."
He paused.
"I should get going."
Demeter's body stiffened slightly.
But she did not try to stop him.
She only nodded.
"All right."
She lifted her head and looked at him.
Those amber eyes were full of reluctance, but also resolve.
"Remember what you promised me."
"Come back alive."
Genichi nodded.
"I will."
He lowered his head and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.
Then he turned and walked toward the door.
When he reached it, he suddenly stopped and looked back at her.
"Demeter."
"Hm?"
"Wait for me."
Demeter smiled.
That smile was bright and radiant, like the warmest sunlight of spring.
"All right."
Genichi pushed the door open and walked out.
The door closed softly behind him.
Demeter remained standing where she was, staring at the closed door, unable to hide the worry in her eyes.
After a long while, she murmured softly to herself,
"You have to come back..."
(End of Chapter)
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