Genichi
LV. 5
Strength: SSS1499 -> I0
Endurance: SSS1499 -> I0
Dexterity: SSS1499 -> I0
Agility: SSS1499 -> I0
Magic: SSS1499 -> I0
Development Abilities: Mystery E, Mage E, Luck F, Harmony G, Abnormal Resistance H, Healing S, Healer I
Magic: Omitted
Skills: Omitted
Demeter set down the parchment in her hand and looked up at Genichi.
Her amber eyes were full of relief and pride.
"Congratulations, Genichi."
Her voice was gentle, but the joy in it was impossible to hide.
"You're a Level 5 adventurer now. Even in all of Orario, that puts you among those at the summit."
Sixty-seven days.
From Level 1 to Level 5.
From a worthless nobody that no one spared a glance for, to one of Orario's apex powers.
At that speed, no matter who it was, it would be a miracle worthy of being recorded in history.
And yet...
There was no smile on Genichi's face.
He merely stared quietly at the numbers on the parchment, his black eyes calm and still.
Level 5?
So what?
As long as he had not yet ruled over Orario, had not yet become the one truly standing at the very top -
then Level 5 was still only that much.
He thought back to the battle with Udaeus.
He thought of how miserably he had been beaten, how battered and bloodied he had been.
He thought of Alfia's casual strike, the one that had instantly killed the monster that had left him utterly helpless.
A Level 6 floor boss had been nothing more than a single Gospel to her.
And he, at Level 5...
Was still far from that realm.
Seeing how utterly unmoved he was, Demeter found herself at a loss.
She walked up, reached out with both hands, grabbed his cheeks, and gently tugged them outward.
Genichi paused in surprise and instinctively tried to pull away.
But Demeter gave him no chance.
Still holding his face like that, she looked straight into his eyes with her amber gaze.
"You should at least smile a little."
There was a faintly spoiled, coaxing note in her voice.
"No matter what, this is to celebrate your reaching Level 5. Let's go out and celebrate together today."
Genichi looked at her and fell silent for a moment.
He wanted to refuse.
He did not want to waste time on meaningless things.
He still had many things to do.
He needed to get used to his newly leveled body, and now he finally had the power to kill Shalzad and take his revenge...
But when he saw the expectation in Demeter's eyes, he finally nodded.
"Fine."
He paused.
"But where are you planning to celebrate?"
Demeter's eyes lit up instantly.
"Ryu Lion and Lunoire both work at a tavern called the Hostess of Fertility. Let's go celebrate there!"
Genichi's brows furrowed instinctively.
The Hostess of Fertility?
Of course he knew that tavern.
Officially, it was just an ordinary pub, but in reality...
It could practically be called Freya's second Familia.
How could he not know that the Goddess of Beauty herself had taken on a vessel and was working there as the proprietress?
It was said that she often appeared there as a customer, secretly observing the adventurers who came and went. Or rather, searching for her Odr.
Celebrate there?
Wouldn't that just be delivering himself right under Freya's nose?
Genichi's first reaction was to refuse.
But very quickly, he changed his mind.
He was Level 5 now.
He was still some distance away from the true summit, but he was no longer that weakling who had to tread carefully and hide himself away.
So what if Freya noticed him?
He could run.
He had Apparition, he had Alfia, and he had enough trump cards.
At worst, he would just flee.
And besides...
Ryu Lion worked there, and Lunoire was there too.
There was nothing wrong with going to see them.
Genichi looked at Demeter and nodded.
"Fine. I agree."
He paused.
"But who are you planning to invite?"
Demeter looked at him, and her amber eyes brimmed with tenderness.
"Just the two of us."
Her voice was very soft, but it carried a kind of gentleness that made it impossible to refuse.
Genichi was silent for a moment.
Then he gave a slight nod.
"Alright."
That evening, at the Hostess of Fertility.
Genichi and Demeter entered the tavern side by side.
The moment they pushed open the door, a wave of warmth rushed over them.
Firewood crackled in the hearth, dyeing the whole room in a cozy orange glow.
The air was thick with the aroma of ale and roasted meat, mixed with the loud laughter and chatter of adventurers.
Behind the counter, a towering woman was skillfully mixing drinks.
That was the tavern's owner, Mia Grand, once the captain of the Freya Familia.
Ryu Lion was carrying a tray as she moved between the tables.
Her aqua eyes still held a trace of cool reserve, but compared to the icy sharpness she had when they first met, she had softened considerably.
Lunoire sat in a corner with a mug of ale in front of her, chatting with a few adventurers she knew.
When she saw Genichi and Demeter walk in, she froze for a moment, then raised a hand and waved at them.
Genichi gave her a nod in response.
Demeter pulled Genichi along and sat down at a seat by the window.
Before long, Ryu came over.
She looked at Genichi, and a trace of complicated emotion flickered through her emerald-green eyes.
But she said nothing.
She only took out a menu and set it on the table.
"What would you like to order?"
Her voice was still cool, but compared to the distant tone she had at first, it had softened considerably.
Demeter took the menu and began flipping through it eagerly.
"This, this, and this-"
As she ordered, she turned to look at Genichi.
"Is there anything you want to eat?"
Genichi shook his head.
"You can decide."
Demeter smiled and continued ordering.
Ryu wrote everything down beside them, occasionally glancing at Genichi.
There was scrutiny in her gaze, curiosity too, and also a trace of something...
Difficult to put into words.
Once the order was finished, Ryu turned and left.
Watching her back, Demeter suddenly spoke.
"She's changed a lot."
Genichi was slightly taken aback.
"Hm?"
"In the past, she looked at everyone with that cold expression. Now, at least, she's willing to interact with ordinary people."
Demeter turned to look at Genichi.
Her amber eyes were gentle.
"That's because of you."
Genichi fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"It has nothing to do with me."
"How could it have nothing to do with you?"
Demeter smiled.
"You gave her hope, gave her a goal, gave her a reason to keep living, didn't you?"
Genichi said nothing.
He knew Demeter was telling the truth.
But he did not think he had done anything all that remarkable.
He had merely...
Given her a choice.
That was all.
Very soon, the dishes were brought out.
Demeter happily placed food into Genichi's bowl, asking from time to time whether this tasted good, or whether that suited his palate.
Genichi ate in silence, occasionally nodding, occasionally shaking his head.
And just like that, the two of them spent a rare, peaceful evening together.
Meanwhile, at the very top of Babel Tower.
A languid goddess was reclining on a sofa, a glass of red wine in hand.
Freya.
Her jewel-like eyes were fixed on the window, on that brightly lit tavern in the distance.
"Interesting," she murmured softly.
A faintly amused smile curved Freya's lips.
"Let me see what kind of person you really are."
(End of Chapter)
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