Inside the executive office area of the Guild headquarters, several veteran clerks in charge of archive management gathered around an updated adventurer record, staring at each other in disbelief.
"Three months? Truly, only three months?"
A human woman wearing reading glasses pushed them up her nose, practically pressing her face against the parchment.
"Ninety-two days since the initial registration date," a dwarven colleague pointed at the date stamp on the file. "The update to Level 2 yesterday was verified without error."
"This breaks the previous record... no, this is a different concept entirely," an elven staff member whispered. "Even during the 'childhood' of those Monsters, there was never a growth rate like this."
The office door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man in a high-ranking Guild uniform walked in, the badge of the Administrative Director pinned to his chest.
"Have you all reviewed the file?" His voice was steady, but his brow was furrowed.
"Yes, Director. It has been archived and marked as a 'Special Promotion' record according to regulations," the dwarf replied.
The Director walked to the window, looking out at the bustling Guild hall below. Through the glass, he could see the silhouette of the boy who had left not long ago—the newcomer of the Astraea Familia, Su Lun.
"The news has already spread, hasn't it?" he asked, his voice laced with doubt.
"I'm afraid so," the elf said helplessly. "There are more adventurers coming in to update their status and exchange magic stones this morning than usual. Many of them are fishing for information."
"That isn't necessarily a bad thing." The Director turned around. "Orario needs a new stimulus. But be careful not to let the rumors get too out of hand. The Guild will not participate in the gossip."
"Understood."
"Furthermore, report this to Lord Ouranos and the Guild Master. An anomaly of this growth rate needs to be known by that Lord."
The staff nodded solemnly. The Director took one last look at the copy of the file on the desk, where the words "Level 2 in Three Months" remained glaringly bright.
"First time in a thousand years..." he muttered to himself before stepping out of the office.
The news did indeed spread, traveling in the way unique to Orario: through the boisterous shouts of taverns, whispers at market stalls, and messengers darting between Familia headquarters.
That afternoon, inside the Hostess of Fertility tavern.
"Did you hear? That rookie from the Astraea house!"
"Three months! Only three months from receiving the Grace to Level 2!"
"That's got to be fake, right? They must have the dates wrong."
"My friend is a clerk at the Guild; he saw the file with his own eyes! Ninety-two days, precise to the day!"
A tankard slammed heavily onto a wooden table. A beastman adventurer with a face full of scars growled, "It took me two years to reach Level 2! No! Three years! On what grounds does he get to be that fast?!"
Various voices rang out across the tavern. Behind the bar, the owner, Mia, polished a glass, her ears twitching slightly as she took it all in. She glanced toward a corner of the tavern where several members of the Loki Familia were sitting, also discussing something in low voices.
"Now this is getting interesting," Mia whispered to herself.
Twilight Manor, Loki Familia Training Ground.
Seven-year-old Ais Wallenstein completed her basic sword drills for the day, wiping away sweat with a towel. Her breathing was slightly labored. Finn closed the training log in his hand and looked at the golden-haired girl walking toward him.
"You've made clear progress today, Ais. The precision of your thrusts has improved," the Pallum brave said with a smile.
Ais nodded, but there was no joy on her face. She remained silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "Finn... is it true? That someone reached Level 2 in three months?"
"News travels fast. I sent someone to investigate—it's true," Finn replied.
"How?" Ais's voice was soft, but it held a sense of confusion. "I've trained for so long... and I'm still not fast enough."
Finn set down the log and looked at her earnestly. "Ais, everyone's path is different. You have your talent and potential, and young Su Lun has his. Comparison is meaningless. What matters is whether you can break through your own limits."
He added, "And according to our intel, that boy's growth... is very special."
"Special?" Ais tilted her head.
"We don't have the specifics yet, but the Astraea Familia didn't try to hide it this time. Instead, they let him update his status normally. That suggests they have their own considerations." Finn looked toward the Tower of Babel outside the window. "Perhaps it's a show of strength, or perhaps there's another goal... regardless, the landscape of Orario might undergo a subtle shift because of it."
Ais gripped her sword. She didn't understand landscape shifts; she only wanted to know how to become stronger. Level 2 in three months... if I could get stronger that fast, maybe I could...
"I want to meet him," Ais said suddenly.
Finn smiled. "There will be a chance. Next week, I'll be inviting the key members of the Justice Familia. They'll all be there. You'll be able to see that miraculous new star then."
Three days later, the Tower of Babel, Denatus Hall.
The light from the crystal lamps illuminated the hall as if it were midday. The long tables were laden with delicacies and fine wines from across the Lower World, but the attention of the Gods was clearly not on the food. Whispers and probing gazes were like invisible threads, tangling around the central figures of the hall.
Loki leaned back in the high-backed chair at the head of the table, squinting her eyes and scanning the room with interest, that trademark mischievous smirk on her face.
Clink, clink, clink!
She tapped a crystal glass with a silver spoon, the sharp sound cutting through the murmurs.
"Alright, alright~ Quiet down! The quarterly Denatus officially begins now! Following the old rules—" She drew out her tone playfully. "First, let's exchange some interesting info. After all, we've been up in the Heavens for so long, we've gotta share the fun stuff from the Lower World, right?"
The Denatus had originally started as a simple gathering of a few gods, but it had evolved into a meeting held every three months for all the gods to share the latest news or exchange opinions. It was the assembly where titles were granted to "Level Up" adventurers and urban-scale plans were discussed.
Before she could finish, a well-informed God of Travel and Trade spoke up. "Speaking of fun, I heard the new theater in the East District recently put on a tragedy that was absolutely exquisite. The talent of that mortal playwright..."
"Who wants to hear about those old-fashioned plays!" a lively goddess interrupted. "The kids in my Familia said a new variant species appeared in the Middle Floors recently. Its form is quite peculiar!"
"Ah, I heard about that. It's like a fusion of..."
The conversation began to drift, but the sense of anticipation in the air did not fade. The gods exchanged truths and lies, the important and the trivial, but their eyes frequently drifted toward Astraea, the Goddess of Justice. She sat quietly, her expression serene, seemingly out of place amidst the surging undercurrents.
Loki listened patiently for a while before she finally seemed unable to hold back. She tapped her glass again, her smirk widening. "My, my, everyone's talking so much, but why are you all avoiding the biggest topic lately? Playing dumb isn't any fun~"
The hall fell silent instantly.
Loki nodded in satisfaction, her crimson eyes locking onto Astraea. "Astraea-chin, that kid in your house... what was his name again? Oh, Su Lun. I heard that in just three short months, he shot up from a mere mortal to Level 2?"
As soon as she spoke, it was like a spark falling into a pool of oil. The previously suppressed skepticism could no longer be contained.
"Level 2 in three months? Is that for real? Did something go wrong with the Grace?" an old god known for his rigor frowned, adjusting his monocle. "According to the conventional growth curve, this is almost impossible. Even the top geniuses need time to solidify their foundation in the beginning. Astraea, have you... been too hasty?"
The implication in the old god's words was clear.
"Hasty?" Another goddess, who did not have a harmonious relationship with Astraea, sneered. "I'm afraid it's more than just haste. The character, ability, and even the capacity of the children of the Lower World require time to grow and be verified. Such a preposterous promotion speed makes it hard not to wonder if certain divine powers or unconventional methods were used for modification."
Her words cut to the core.
"I heard his variety of magic is ridiculously high?" another god chimed in, his tone full of curiosity. "Can a child who just received 'Grace' upgrade that fast? Are you sure he hasn't been training for years?"
Gods prioritize their own entertainment, experiencing everything the Lower World has to offer—food, hobbies, friendships, art, even illness—enjoying every moment like a game. Because of this, they detest it when other gods use divine power to "cheat."
Facing the barrage of skepticism, Astraea finally raised her eyes slowly. Her gaze was as calm as a still pond.
"It is all true," her voice was clear and steady, echoing through the hall. "Every battle he experienced, every drop of sweat and blood he shed, and every ounce of pain he endured has been faithfully carved by the Grace—justly, flawlessly, and without blemish."
She didn't raise her voice, nor did she release her divine aura, but the calm and resolve in her tone silenced many of the skeptics. She didn't explain exactly how Su Lun had done it; she simply defended the legitimacy of his growth with absolute certainty.
"Tsk, such confidence." Loki tilted her head, tapping her finger on the table, her eyes flashing with a probing light. "But Astraea, even you have to admit this kid's trajectory is too special. That in itself is the greatest anomaly." She grinned. For Loki, it didn't matter if he cheated; she was simply fascinated by the mystery of the "anomaly" itself.
Astraea looked at Loki in silence, neither confirming nor denying. This silence, in turn, felt like an invisible admission. Loki stared back for a moment before suddenly grinning, as if she had found a satisfying answer, and dropped the subject.
"Alright, alright, that's enough info exchange. So, according to the process, next is—" She drew out the words, successfully pulling everyone's attention back. "Granting a title to this special, newly promoted Level 2 who created a three-month miracle!"
The atmosphere turned lively once more, though this time it was less about mockery and more about a complex interest fueled by the recent exchange.
"A title, huh... to reflect how fast he grows, how about 'Shooting Star'? Though it's a bit plain," one god suggested.
"The Outlier! A name that fits a presence that breaks conventional frameworks!" another voice added.
"The Otherworldly Magician! His magic system is indeed unheard of!" This was a suggestion based on the intelligence reports.
"Child of Miracles! Simple and direct, summarizes the phenomenon!"
Titles were tossed out one after another. The gods enjoyed the sport of naming; for them, the status of the Familia determined the quality of the child's name. For weak Familias, gods would often grant names based on crude humor—watching those children howl in despair over their embarrassing titles was a source of amusement. But for powerful Familias, it was a different matter.
However, when a God of Wine, known for his lecherous and frivolous nature, proposed the title "Lord of the Harem" with a mischievous grin, the atmosphere shifted abruptly.
Astraea raised her eyes. It was just a single look, but it felt like a cold blade sliding across everyone's skin. The temperature in the hall seemed to plummet, and the laughter died instantly.
Many of the younger gods were suddenly jolted into remembering—only a few years ago, Astraea had stood at the door of the Denatus with a sword in hand. It could be said that Astraea's martial skill was comparable to a God of War. Furthermore, with a sword, her strength was close to that of a Level 4 adventurer. Given that gods became ordinary humans in the Lower World, there were very few in the Denatus who could actually stand against the Goddess of Justice in a fight.
"Everyone," Astraea's voice remained steady, yet it was softer than before. "My child deserves a title that matches his substance, not one that caters to lowbrow humor."
Her gaze slowly shifted toward the pale-faced God of Wine, her tone flat but carrying an unquestionable finality. "If you have such a unique insight into the relationship between charisma and titles, I would be happy to discuss it with you privately after the Denatus. With my sword."
Cold sweat broke out on the God of Wine's forehead, and he waved his hands frantically. "A joke! I was just joking!"
Loki let out a cough, breaking the suffocating silence. "Alright, alright, let's keep it civil. We said we need a fitting title."
She rubbed her chin, her eyes darting between the cold-faced Astraea and the silent gods, the cunning smirk reappearing. "However," Loki changed the subject, standing up and dramatically spreading her arms. "After our talk, do we have a clearer understanding of this kid Su Lun's traits? His magic is bizarre and varied, completely beyond common sense..."
She paused, enjoying the gathered attention, before announcing with the weight of a major discovery: "So, let's call him Thousand Change!"
"His magic branches into infinite possibilities; he is like a constantly shifting puzzle... Thousand Change Su Lun! This title summarizes his magic while leaving room for the imagination..." She glanced at Astraea. "How about it?"
The hall was quiet for a moment before scattered, then increasing, sounds of agreement broke out.
"Thousand Change? It's quite fitting; it reflects his magic."
"Much better than those frivolous suggestions earlier."
"Loki actually comes up with a good name once in a while."
The gods turned their gaze toward Astraea, waiting for her final judgment. Astraea thought it over. This was likely the most acceptable and fitting name for Su Lun. She met Loki's half-mocking, half-observing gaze and slowly nodded.
"This title," she declared, "I accept."
"Great!" Loki slapped her hands together, smiling brilliantly. "Then it's settled! For the newly promoted Level 2 adventurer of the Astraea Familia, the title is—'Thousand Change' Su Lun!"
The gods raised their glasses, the atmosphere turning lively once more. But after the round of skepticism and confrontation, no god dared to joke lightly again. Astraea sat back down, gazing quietly out the window. She felt a slight sense of relief. The title was decent—not some nonsensical or vulgar joke.
She wondered what Su Lun would think of it.
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Danmachi: My Magic Style is Different from Yours (51 Chapters – Ongoing)
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