Genichi watched as Alfia looked from afar at the boy living together with Zeus.
Bell Cranel.
The child chosen by fate.
The one destined to become a hero in the future.
Genichi did not go forward to disturb him.
Alfia simply watched from a distance. Confirming that her nephew was still alive and living well was enough.
Genichi said softly to Alfia beside him, "He's doing well."
Alfia gazed at the boy's back, and a complicated light flashed through her eyes.
Relief. Reluctance. And a faint blessing.
"Thank you."
She spoke softly.
Genichi nodded and released the summoning.
Alfia's figure faded into the air, completing her final wish.
After that, Genichi and Demeter took Demeter's friend back to Orario.
They walked slowly along the way.
They did not use teleportation magic, nor did they hurry their journey. Like an ordinary pair of travelers, they slowly admired the scenery along the road.
They passed through forests, crossed mountains, and stopped in one small town after another.
They ate at roadside shops, camped beneath the stars, and watched the sunrise through the thin mist of morning.
It was the first time Genichi had truly relaxed since arriving in this world.
He did not have to think about getting stronger. He did not have to think about fighting. He did not have to think about schemes and conspiracies.
He simply stayed beside Demeter and walked slowly with her.
The two of them spent an entire month that way before finally returning to Orario.
When the towering city walls appeared in their view again, complicated emotions welled up in Genichi's heart.
"We're finally back."
Demeter spoke softly, her tone carrying a trace of reluctance.
This past month had been the happiest time of her life.
No worries. No danger. Only Genichi by her side.
But she knew that happiness always came to an end.
Genichi was going to leave.
"Yeah."
Genichi nodded and tightened his grip on her hand.
The two walked into Orario. The familiar streets, the familiar crowds. Everything looked the same as when they had left.
But Genichi knew some things had already changed.
After they returned to Orario, Demeter did not let Genichi leave right away.
"Stay a little longer."
She looked at Genichi and said seriously, "I want to prepare a surprise for you."
Genichi froze for a moment.
A surprise?
What surprise?
He wanted to ask, but Demeter only smiled mysteriously and gave no explanation.
"Just wait."
She said, "Half a month. At most, half a month."
Genichi looked at her serious expression and finally nodded.
"Okay."
So he stayed.
Over the following days, Demeter left early and returned late every day. He had no idea where she kept going.
Every time he asked, she only smiled mysteriously and said, "You'll know when the time comes."
Genichi did not press her. He simply waited quietly.
Until one day, Demeter brought someone before Genichi.
Astraea.
The goddess of justice wore a plain, elegant dress, with a gentle yet solemn smile on her face.
Genichi looked at the two of them, completely confused.
"What is this?"
Demeter stepped forward, took his hand, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"I successfully persuaded Astraea to give you divine blood."
Genichi's pupils contracted instantly.
Divine blood?
Give him divine blood?
Of course he knew what that meant.
Gluttony: by consuming blood, he could obtain part of the other party's skills or magic.
And a god's blood contained their authority.
Consuming divine blood meant stealing a god's authority.
That was the taboo he had learned from Demeter.
Back then, when a sudden thought had occurred to him and he had wanted to obtain the blood of other gods, Demeter had told him that it meant stealing divine authority. Unless the god willingly allowed it, it would provoke divine wrath.
And now, Demeter had actually persuaded Astraea to voluntarily give him divine blood?
Genichi looked toward Astraea, inquiry in his eyes.
Astraea nodded.
"Demeter told me about your situation."
She paused, and her gaze turned serious.
"Rest assured, I understand. But before I give you divine blood, I need to see your Falna in full."
That was her condition.
As a god, she had the right to know what kind of person she was entrusting her authority to.
Moreover, Genichi's Falna was already a legend throughout Orario.
The boy who had gone from an ordinary person to Level 6 in two months. The madman who had destroyed Knossos alone. The ruthless man who had driven three gods to suicide. The hero who had turned the tide in the battle against the corrupted spirits.
What, exactly, did his Falna look like?
Astraea was curious as well.
Not just her. At present, there was no one in Orario who was not curious about Genichi's Falna.
After all, he was already being called a "hero candidate."
Almost everyone believed that Genichi would undoubtedly become a new hero in the future, defeat the Black Dragon, and save the world.
His growth speed, his combat ability, and those bizarre spells of his.
Everyone wanted to know the source of those miracles.
Genichi was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Fine."
He turned around, took off his shirt, and exposed his back to Astraea.
His lean, powerful back was densely covered with text and patterns.
That was the mark of his Falna, proof of the power Demeter had bestowed upon him.
Astraea stepped forward and carefully examined the text.
Then her expression froze.
At first, it was surprise.
"Level 6, all abilities at SSS 1499?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
As a goddess, she had seen the ability values of countless adventurers.
But all abilities at SSS 1499 was a miracle she had never seen before.
One had to know that raising each ability value by even a single point required tremendous effort.
And maxing out every ability value was something almost unheard of in all of Orario's history.
But next, her eyes filled with shock.
"Development Abilities: Mystery D, Mage D, Luck E, Harmony F, Abnormal Resistance G, Spirit Healing S, Healing H?"
She counted them.
Seven Development Abilities in total.
For an ordinary adventurer, having three or four Development Abilities was already impressive.
Yet Genichi had seven.
Even more terrifying, one of them was Spirit Healing S, a legendary existence among Development Abilities. It was a rare ability that only a tiny number of top-tier adventurers could obtain.
But what truly silenced Astraea was the content that came afterward.
Magic.
Magic Archive: records all magic and allows the user to use all magic.
Heavenly Dominion: summons any person who has ever existed from the river of time.
Shadow King: summons shadows to fight. The shadows possess the full strength of the main body, and the great deeds achieved by the shadows are synchronized with the main body.
Astraea's hand began to tremble.
As a goddess who had lived for thousands of years, she had seen countless spells.
But she had never seen magic like this. She had never even imagined it.
Records all magic?
Summons figures from the river of time?
Shadows grow in sync?
How was this magic? This was clearly something chosen by the divine.
But what made Astraea fall completely silent were the skills.
Devour: becomes stronger by devouring souls.
Demon: greatly increases magic growth.
Seven Deadly Sins: seven terrifying abilities with different effects.
Dragon Eater: special attack against dragon-type enemies, with the ability to transform into a red dragon.
Ascension: the possibility of becoming a god.
Thou Art Dragon: grants enemies the dragon attribute and greatly increases damage against dragons.
Goddess's Love: obtains Spirit Healing S.
Schrift: grants and reclaims power. Those whose power is reclaimed die.
Astraea read them one by one. With every line she read, her expression grew a little graver.
When she reached the last line, even her breathing stopped for a moment.
Granting power. Reclaiming power. The reclaimed target dies, regardless of where they are, regardless of distance.
This was divine authority.
No, it was even more terrifying than the authority of some gods.
Astraea finally finished reading everything. Slowly, she raised her head and looked at Genichi.
In her eyes, the initial scrutiny and curiosity were gone.
Only an indescribably complicated emotion remained.
"Even though I knew your status sheet had to be extraordinary, now that I've actually seen it..."
She took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm.
"Is this Falna really the same kind of thing as what other adventurers have?"
There was a trace of bitter laughter in her voice. A trace of helplessness.
And a trace of awe.
Standing nearby, Demeter looked at Astraea's reaction and could not help laughing.
"Well? I wasn't lying, was I?"
Astraea nodded and exhaled deeply.
"You weren't. This is indeed the most terrifying Falna I have ever seen."
She looked at Genichi, her gaze turning serious.
"With abilities like these and growth speed like this, no wonder you reached Level 6 in two months. No wonder you destroyed Knossos alone. No wonder you turned the tide in the battle against the corrupted spirits."
She paused, then spoke each word clearly.
"You are not a genius. You are a monster, an existence beyond all common sense."
When Genichi heard that, he only smiled faintly.
"Monster or hero, it makes no difference to me."
He looked at Astraea and said seriously, "Then, Goddess Astraea, are you still willing to give me your divine blood?"
(End of Chapter)
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