In the space of a single instant, the Ishtar Familia members surrounding Demeter were already separated from their heads.
Blood sprayed, and their corpses hit the ground before they could even scream.
Genichi appeared beside Demeter and reached out to catch her.
It was an instinctive movement, filled with protectiveness and concern.
His arm wrapped around Demeter's waist, and in the next instant, he brought her to the safe house he had arranged outside Orario.
"What happened?"
Genichi's voice was low and urgent.
Demeter had the Shadow King magic he had given her. Even if she could not win, escaping should have been no problem at all.
How could she have been surrounded by them?
Demeter lowered her head, looking somewhat guilty.
"I was charmed."
Those three short words made Genichi's brows tighten instantly.
Charmed.
The charm of a goddess of beauty.
Of course he knew what that was.
Ishtar, goddess of beauty and fertility, and also a goddess who governed sex and war.
In the lower world, her reputation was terrible. She was practically called a public woman because she took pleasure in playing with men, even treating the male adventurers of her Familia as toys.
But there was no denying that she was a true goddess of beauty.
And the most terrifying ability of a goddess of beauty was charm.
That charm was not ordinary magic. It was not simple mental control, but a power born from the essence of her divinity.
It could bypass every defense and act directly on the depths of the target's soul, making the charmed person willingly submit, even offering up everything of their own accord.
No matter how high an adventurer's level was, resisting that charm was extremely difficult.
Although Demeter was also a god, she was a goddess of agriculture, not a god specialized in resisting mental attacks.
Against Ishtar's charm, she truly had difficulty holding out.
"You stay here for now. If anything dangerous happens, use the Portkey immediately and leave."
Genichi said in a low voice, "I'm going to avenge you."
Demeter abruptly raised her head, her eyes filled with worry and resistance.
"No!"
Her voice carried a trace of urgency, even trembling slightly.
Genichi was slightly startled, then understood what she meant.
She was not worried that he could not defeat the members of the Ishtar Familia.
She was worried that he would be charmed by Ishtar.
After all, Ishtar was a goddess of beauty, and Genichi was a man.
Demeter gripped Genichi's sleeve tightly, the worry in her eyes nearly spilling over.
She had seen with her own eyes how terrifying Ishtar's charm was. That power was enough to turn even the most steadfast warrior into her slave, enough to make the most loyal Familia member betray their own patron god.
She did not dare imagine what Genichi would become if he were charmed too.
That calm, decisive boy, the boy who would risk anything to protect her, would become Ishtar's toy. He would turn his blade against her. He would...
Demeter did not dare think any further.
"Don't worry."
Genichi looked at her, the corner of his mouth lifting into a faint smile. That smile carried a trace of comfort, as well as confidence. "I won't face Ishtar directly."
Of course he knew what Demeter was worried about.
He was also very clear that with his current strength and willpower, he most likely could not resist the charm of a goddess of beauty.
After all, that was a divine authority, a power beyond human comprehension.
No matter how strong he was, no matter how many spells and skills he possessed, it would be very difficult for him to remain clear-headed before an attack that struck directly at the soul.
So from the beginning, he had never intended to try resisting the charm.
He simply planned to kill every member of the Ishtar Familia here, then leave.
If possible, he would retaliate a little, enough to make Ishtar understand that laying a hand on his people came with a price.
"Trust me."
Genichi said softly, "I understand how terrifying charm is better than you do. I won't take risks."
Demeter looked into his eyes. Those eyes were still clear and calm, showing no trace of being charmed.
She hesitated for a moment, then finally let go.
"Be careful."
She said softly, "If it really won't work, run. Don't worry about me."
Genichi smiled and nodded.
Then his figure vanished on the spot.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Genichi's figure appeared not far from Ishtar.
He did not rush out recklessly. Instead, he hid in the shadows and carefully observed the surroundings.
Genichi took a deep breath and began chanting.
"Shadow King."
The shadows beneath his feet began to squirm, and a dark silhouette surged out from within them, silently slipping into the darkness.
First, he would let the shadow test the waters and figure out what was happening inside.
However, the instant he saw Ishtar's face from the front, Genichi's body jolted violently.
She extended her hand toward him, smiling as if to say:
Come. Come to my side.
Genichi's gaze began to lose focus.
His hand loosened unconsciously, and his body instinctively tried to walk in that direction.
But just as he was about to take the first step...
Genichi suddenly bit down on the tip of his tongue. The intense pain instantly snapped him awake.
Damn it!
So this was the charm of a goddess of beauty?
Just seeing her nearly made him fall.
Cold sweat seeped from Genichi's forehead, and a lingering fear surged through his heart.
If Ishtar had actively used her divine authority of charm, he would probably have become her devoted servant on the spot.
That divine authority of charm was truly terrifying.
Genichi took a deep breath, trying hard to calm the tremor in his heart.
At the same time, he gave the shadows an order.
Retreat immediately.
No more fighting.
Before he found a way to deal with charm, he absolutely could not face Ishtar head-on.
The shadows silently withdrew into the darkness, vanishing without a trace.
Genichi took one last look at the luxurious palace, and a cold light flashed through his eyes.
Ishtar, I'll remember this debt.
Once I have a way to deal with your charm, I'll come settle accounts with you.
His figure disappeared into the night.
Ishtar's lips suddenly curved into an amused smile.
"Interesting."
She murmured, "I didn't actively use my charm, but he still managed to resist my beauty. That has certainly caught my interest."
"Demeter's Familia member? What an interesting child."
She licked her lips, a greedy light flashing through her eyes.
"One day, you will belong to me."
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Genichi returned to the safe house.
Demeter was waiting anxiously at the door. The moment she saw him appear, she immediately went up to him.
"Are you all right?"
She looked Genichi up and down, her eyes filled with worry.
Genichi shook his head.
"I'm fine. I didn't face Ishtar directly. Once I realized I couldn't resist her charm, I withdrew."
Demeter breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately grew nervous again.
"You weren't charmed, were you?"
Genichi looked at her nervous expression and could not help laughing softly.
"No. I kept far away from her, but even then, I almost fell for it."
Demeter's face instantly turned pale.
"The charm of a goddess of beauty really is terrifying. Before we have a way to deal with it, we absolutely can't face her head-on."
Demeter was silent for a moment, then tightly gripped Genichi's hand.
"Promise me you won't take risks. If you really encounter her, run. Don't worry about me, and don't worry about anyone else. Your safety is the most important thing."
Genichi looked at her, and warmth surged through his heart.
"All right."
He said softly, "I promise you."
After settling Demeter, Genichi returned to the Dungeon once again.
The glow of the portal slowly closed behind him, sending him back into the depths of that labyrinth filled with monsters and danger.
But this time, his mood was completely different.
Ishtar.
That name burned in his heart like a flame that could not be extinguished.
That damned goddess had actually dared to lay a hand on Demeter.
If he had not arrived in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Genichi clenched his fist, his knuckles whitening from the force.
But he knew this matter could only be left unresolved for now.
The Guild would never support him in seeking revenge.
It was not because the Guild would not believe that Ishtar had attacked Demeter. With the Guild's capabilities, investigating something like this would not be difficult.
But knowing was one thing. Handling it was another.
The Ishtar Familia held an important position in Orario.
Gambling, drugs, and sex were unavoidable in any world.
And in Orario, the Entertainment District operated by the Ishtar Familia represented the "sex" side of that equation.
Those male adventurers fought desperately in the Dungeon every day, risking death in the jaws of monsters at any moment.
They had too much energy and pressure with nowhere to release it, and they needed some kind of outlet.
The Entertainment District became the place those adventurers went.
There, they could use the valis they earned to purchase a brief moment of pleasure and temporarily forget the fear of death.
The women of the Ishtar Familia used their bodies and tenderness to comfort those warriors struggling on the edge of life and death.
Precisely because the Entertainment District existed, Orario had much less crime.
Imagine if that place did not exist. What would those adventurers with too much energy do?
Brawl in the streets?
Rob and steal?
Or something even worse?
Orario's public order incidents would probably increase severalfold at once.
From a certain perspective, the Ishtar Familia did play an irreplaceable role in maintaining Orario's stability.
On top of that, there were no witnesses to Ishtar's attack on Demeter this time.
Demeter had been charmed, so she could not serve as a witness.
By the time Genichi arrived, the Familia members surrounding Demeter had already been killed by him.
As for other witnesses?
They had probably long since been dealt with by Ishtar.
Without evidence, there was no charge.
The Guild would definitely smooth things over.
Even if the Guild believed that Ishtar had definitely attacked Demeter, it would be the same.
Because the bigger picture mattered.
Genichi sneered.
The bigger picture.
What a grand-sounding phrase.
The so-called bigger picture meant making you swallow your anger.
It meant forcing you to bury your grievances in your stomach.
It meant making you watch helplessly as your enemy walked free, while telling yourself it was all for Orario's stability.
How disgusting.
Genichi took a deep breath, trying hard to calm the anger in his heart.
Of course he hated it.
But he also knew that this was reality.
No matter the world, no matter the era, the so-called bigger picture was always a mountain pressing down on the heads of ordinary people.
But there was nothing he could do.
Even if Genichi wanted revenge, he did not currently have the ability.
Ishtar's divine authority of charm was far too terrifying.
Just seeing Ishtar's appearance had nearly made him fall.
If he faced her directly, he had no chance of victory.
Without the ability to counter the charm of a goddess of beauty, even if Genichi were given the opportunity, he could not take revenge.
This was a gap in strength, a fundamental gulf.
Genichi was not someone who let anger cloud his mind.
He clearly understood his own limits, and he knew when to advance and when to retreat.
Now was the time to retreat.
But retreating did not mean giving up.
A thought flashed through Genichi's mind.
Use Freya's hand.
In the original plot, Freya had wiped out the Ishtar Familia in a fit of rage for Bell Cranell.
That goddess of beauty had instantly turned hostile because Ishtar touched her sore spot.
If he could also make use of that and push Freya into attacking Ishtar...
Genichi shook his head and rejected the idea.
That was not what he wanted.
Revenge was only revenge if he did it with his own hands.
What kind of revenge was it if he borrowed someone else's hand?
That was just killing with a borrowed knife, using someone else's anger to achieve his own goal.
Even if Ishtar was truly destroyed because of it, Genichi would not feel the slightest satisfaction.
He wanted to kill Ishtar with his own hands.
He wanted to watch her eyes change from charm to fear, from arrogance to despair.
He wanted to pierce her heart with his own blade.
Only that could calm the anger in his heart.
So now, he had to endure.
He had to become stronger.
He had to find a way to resist charm.
Genichi clenched his fist, then slowly loosened it.
The Dungeon's 60th Floor.
The members of the two great Familias were locked in a bitter battle with the corrupted spirit.
The situation on the battlefield was even more intense than he had imagined.
The nine who had been level-boosted were engaged in a desperate battle against the corrupted spirit.
Ottar was like a true beast, every strike carrying the force to destroy heaven and earth.
Ais moved as swiftly as the wind, sword light flashing as she left countless wounds across the corrupted spirit's body.
Finn commanded the entire battlefield, every order given at exactly the right moment.
Riveria's magic precisely supported everyone who needed help.
But the corrupted spirit refused to fall behind.
She used all kinds of magic with casual ease. Although her body was covered in wounds, her recovery speed was extremely fast. Injuries that had just been inflicted healed in the blink of an eye.
This was a battle of attrition.
Whoever failed to endure first would lose.
Genichi did not immediately join the battle. Instead, he stood at the edge of the battlefield and observed.
"Genichi!"
Finn noticed him and shouted, "You're back! How are things above?"
"For now, there's no problem."
Finn's expression changed slightly. He naturally heard the implication in Genichi's words, but he quickly regained his focus.
He understood that now was not the time to ask questions.
"Then let's deal with this side first!"
He shouted, "We'll talk after we get back!"
Genichi nodded. For now, they had to deal with the corrupted spirit first.
As for Ishtar...
Wait for me.
One day, I will make you pay.
Genichi charged into the battlefield, Mitsukotoba in his hand turning into a streak of light as it aimed straight for the corrupted spirit's vitals.
The battle continued.
Meanwhile, on Orario's surface...
Deep within the Guild, Ouranos stood before a giant crystal ball, his profound gaze fixed on everything happening in the Dungeon.
Beside him, Fels stood quietly.
"God Ouranos."
Fels spoke. "How do you intend to handle Ishtar's attack on Demeter?"
Ouranos was silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"There is no evidence."
Three short words contained all the helplessness and compromise of the situation.
Fels fell silent.
He understood what Ouranos meant.
Without evidence, they could not convict her.
Without a conviction, they could not punish the Ishtar Familia.
And the Ishtar Familia was also vital to Orario's stability, so they could not be moved lightly.
Therefore, the matter could only be left unresolved.
"That boy will be dissatisfied."
Fels said softly.
Ouranos nodded.
"He certainly will."
He paused, a complicated light flashing through his eyes.
"But he will understand. He will understand what it means to prioritize the bigger picture."
Fels said nothing.
He merely looked at the boy in the crystal ball, the one locked in combat with the corrupted spirit, and silently thought to himself:
Understanding was one thing. Accepting it was another.
That boy was not the sort of person who would obediently accept the bigger picture.
One day, he would use his own methods to settle this debt.
(End of Chapter)
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