"Don't rush. Wait a little longer. Isn't little Xien worth waiting for?"
"…Fine.""…Fine."
Truthfully, Kaguya didn't even know what she was feeling anymore. Watching the two in the distance laughing together made something inside her sting.
Only now did she realize how impulsive she'd been. She even regretted it.
But there was no turning back.
Since they'd come this far, they couldn't just slink away like losers. They had to follow it through to the end.
On the other side, under Ryuu's insistence, the two of them picked out several outfits for Xien—each one "verified" by both parties. After that, they chose a restaurant and ate together…
Like a real couple.
They ran into all sorts of amusing little moments along the way, and Xien finally succeeded—after plenty of effort—in getting Ryuu to smile.
By afternoon, at Xien's suggestion, they went to a flower field Ryuu liked.
At that moment, there was no worry in her eyes—only curiosity and delight.
Xien couldn't help it.
The elf girl beside him was just… ridiculously cute. Calm, earnest, and a little airheaded in a way that made you want to protect her.
Sitting among the flowers, Ryuu felt shy again. She had come to apologize, yet from start to finish she'd been the one being taken care of. Her heavy mood had eased into something light and soft.
But after thinking it through, she still spoke.
"Xien… I'm sorry. I need to apologize to you."
"Oh?" Xien sounded unconcerned. "Go ahead—what do you need to apologize for?"
He had never believed Ryuu had done anything wrong.
But if she felt the need to say it, then he would take it seriously.
Because distance was born from misunderstanding.
If he wanted their bond to hold, he had to understand her heart—and untie the knot.
"I'm sorry for suspecting you of being cold and inhuman."
"The truth is, you were right. Those rules that looked unreasonable… were for the people who truly needed them."
Ryuu spoke the truth in her chest, and the moment she finished, she felt an incredible relief.
She'd done it.
"Alright, Ryuu." Xien nodded. "I accept your apology."
"And… congratulations. You've grown a little more mature."
"A-ah… thank you."
Ryuu's cheeks warmed. Being taken seriously like this made her heartbeat accelerate.
Xien asked quietly, "And my question—do you have an answer now?"
Ryuu's gaze steadied.
"A miracle… is not something that should be obtained easily."
"Otherwise, what it brings… will become disaster."
Xien smiled.
"Good. You pass."
He rose from the flowers, amused. This elf really was stubborn—almost comically earnest.
But that stubbornness was also part of what made her so lovable.
Then his tone changed.
"Ryuu. Let me ask you something."
"Is Orario right now… the Orario you hoped for?"
Ryuu hesitated.
"…No. Because evil still exists."
"And its symbol… is the Evilus."
"Then what do you think will solve them?"
"What will make this city better?"
Ryuu's instinctive answer was almost automatic.
"…To uphold our justice."
Xien chuckled—and gave his own answer.
"I think we need to make our justice strong."
"Strong enough to rival—no, to surpass—the peak of Zeus and Hera Familias."
"You can't refute that, can you?"
"Or… have you never looked at it from that angle?"
"Evilus didn't appear overnight. They've always existed."
"But when those two pillars stood at their height, Evilus could only hide like rats in the gutter—barely daring to breathe."
"Why?"
Ryuu went silent.
"And now that those two familias are gone, they've grown rampant."
"Why?"
"Because they believe there is no longer an absolute force capable of suppressing them."
As those words landed, Ryuu felt something crack open in her mind—like a blunt truth finally becoming visible.
Even the three "spectators" nearby stopped arguing at some point. Without realizing it, they were listening with focus.
"So what we must do now," Xien said, voice steady, "is become stronger."
"Strong enough, when the old pillars collapse, to raise a new sky for the people we care about."
"Strong enough to provide a safe, warm space for those who genuinely need it."
"Only when we have the power to truly realize our ideals—when we have the strength to wipe Evilus out with a snap of the fingers—"
"Only then will our justice stop being mocked as hypocrisy."
"And only then, when someone tries to force an 'impossible choice' on us…"
"We can choose everything."
"Or… kill the bastard who thinks he has the right to make us choose."
He exhaled, gaze unwavering.
"Power may not represent all of justice."
"But if you want to defend justice…"
"You cannot do it without power."
"And right now—"
"With Zeus and Hera gone…"
"We don't have much time."
Ryuu's pupils tightened.
Her heart shook.
It felt like she was seeing a new road—one that could actually protect what she believed in.
"So that's why…" she said softly, voice trembling. "That's why you've been training so desperately…?"
Ryuu looked at him with a pain-filled tenderness.
While everyone else was consumed by the present, this boy had already drawn a line toward the future.
Now everything made sense.
His brutal training.
His relentless drive.
Even using precious favors to help the familia grow—
It was all for that future.
And that future wasn't fantasy.
If they were all Level 5 or above… Evilus would be crushed.
The old regrets and helplessness would stop repeating.
Xien's voice became quieter.
"Yes."
"I'm afraid."
"Not afraid of my own death."
"I'm afraid that someday, in an unknown future, you'll fall in front of me."
"I'm afraid that in the face of an unknown enemy's overwhelming power… we'll be helpless again."
"That's why I must become stronger."
"That's why we must become stronger."
"Without absolute strength, you can't handle the unexpected."
His eyes sharpened.
"You felt it too, didn't you?"
"That powerlessness."
"Afterward, didn't you imagine… if you were a little stronger, would the outcome have changed?"
"Like—if someone as strong as my teacher had been there that day…"
"Would the enemy have dared to show himself?"
Ryuu couldn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Because the answer was obvious.
Yes.
That was exactly why she had chosen to change.
If she understood—then she would follow him.
At that moment, Ryuu finally understood the strength and gentleness of his heart.
Emotion surged in her chest, fierce and overwhelming.
And in a motion almost driven by instinct—
She lifted her hand, brushed his cheek—
And while Xien froze in surprise, she leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
A warm softness touched him.
His mind blanked.
"…No matter what happens," Ryuu whispered, eyes shining, "I will stand beside you."
"Until forever."
The three onlookers stared.
Not one of them moved.
Because they all felt it—
This moment belonged only to those two.
A beautiful day ended.
Their relationship drew closer.
And Xien, for once, experienced something like genuine rest.
A day worth remembering.
He even had Orange Cat back it up.
What he didn't know was that the three-person "tracking squad" returned to the familia base half an hour after the couple did.
The guard, Asta, watched them come in with heavy, grave expressions—utterly unlike Ryuu and Xien.
Wasn't this supposed to be "catching them in the act"?
Why did it look like they were the ones who'd been caught and executed?
Asta could only shake her head.
That evening, Xien went looking for Astrea.
He found her in the kitchen. Astrea
"Eh? You want to update your status?"
"Of course I can… but that's rare. Little Xien, asking proactively…"
"…Want some?" she added, looking sheepish.
It was the exact expression of someone caught sneaking snacks.
Xien saw what was in her hands.
It was dessert he'd made days ago.
By now, it had probably gone bad.
"No. Please don't eat that—it's likely spoiled."
"I'll make you a fresh one."
He gently took the plate from her and set it aside, then scanned the pantry. He still had ingredients left.
"Are you sure…? Isn't it troublesome?" Astrea asked, embarrassed.
"Letting our goddess go hungry is worse," Xien said softly.
"Don't worry. It won't take long. Please sit and wait."
Astrea sat obediently, then returned to the earlier topic.
"So… what's your plan?"
"I want to propose an expedition to the captain," Xien replied while working. "Before that, I want to update my status and prepare."
He mixed the ingredients with practiced ease. With limited tools, he couldn't do the more complex desserts from his "cookbook," so he made something simple—enough to satisfy cravings.
Soon it only needed baking.
"An expedition?" Astrea blinked. "That's significant. Things have been peaceful lately, but… will Alysse agree?" Alise Lovell
"In our familia, big decisions are up to her," Astrea said. "I usually support her judgment."
"I have a card to play," Xien said with a smile. "Otherwise I wouldn't dare bring it up."
"That makes sense," Astrea laughed quietly. "Alright. I'll help you later."
Xien placed a steaming dessert in front of her and poured a drink, then sat across from her.
"Here, beautiful goddess—your late-night snack."
"Thank you."
Astrea ate happily, while Xien rested his cheek in his palm and watched.
A quiet night.
A warm lamp.
The gentle scent in the kitchen.
A beautiful goddess, eating the food he'd made.
Everything felt harmonious.
"…Is something wrong?" Astrea asked, flustered by his stare.
"No," Xien said softly.
"It's just… days like this are wonderful."
"I get a little drunk on them."
Astrea's smile softened.
"That's… exactly what I hoped for."
"Then," Xien said, "when I have the chance, I'll prepare something tasty in the kitchen every day."
"Please don't refuse."
"Consider it… my small act of filial devotion."
Astrea hesitated, then gave in.
"…That's hard to refuse."
"Alright. You persuaded me."
"Just don't exhaust yourself."
"Of course," Xien chuckled. "To be honest… the word 'tired' is starting to feel far away."
"…That's true," Astrea murmured.
After she finished, Astrea updated his status as promised.
Level: 2
Strength: S 948
Endurance: SS 1123
Dexterity: S 976
Agility: SS 1195
Magic: A 886
Development Ability: Hero I
Magic:
Touch of Abundance
One Thought: God and Devil
Skills:
Revealed Heartflame
Body of Abundance
Path of Life
Xien nodded unconsciously.
All that suffering hadn't been wasted.
The "double-team training" from two top-tier monsters, plus battles and brutal practice—paired with his skills—
Numbers like this were only natural.
"You're improving fast," Astrea said happily. "If you keep training, you'll probably level up soon."
Xien blinked.
"Wait… don't I still need a great feat?"
Astrea smiled and explained.
"You already did."
"Surviving a life-or-death crisis, awakening your resolve, and then saving people—"
"For a healer, that's a tremendous feat."
"This time it's a non-combat feat, so leveling doesn't have the same restriction."
Xien finally understood.
"I see… that's wonderful."
"Thank you, Goddess."
"That's what I'm here for," Astrea said gently.
Later, Xien returned to his room, satisfied, and rested.
The next morning, with a plan in his heart, Xien found the captain and spoke his proposal.
"Your meaning is…" Alysse stared. "A full-familia expedition?"
She was genuinely caught off guard.
It wasn't just this suggestion—his recent training too.
It was as if something invisible had been driving him, pushing him to become stronger.
"Yes," Xien said calmly.
"Captain, I believe this is the best thing we can do right now."
"It will strengthen Astrea Familia's reputation and power."
"And… it can also relieve some of our members' pressure, even if only a little."
He paused, then added—quietly, but firmly—
"And because we don't have much time left."
....
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