Inside the room.
The light was still soft, and the air was filled with the lingering magical resonance unique to the qualitative change of a Falna that had just dissipated.
The red light on Inaba Tsukuyo's body gradually faded away.
The original sense of fragility, as if she would be blown over by the wind at any moment, had vanished, replaced by a resilience like a new bud about to bloom.
Probably not yet adapted to this brand-new feeling.
Inaba Tsukuyo slowly rose from the tatami mat and looked at her body with some confusion.
"Alright."
"Adapt to it first."
"Even though it's only Lv.2, for you, this is a qualitative change from nothing to something."
Heimer gently helped Inaba Tsukuyo put on her Kimono, covering the Sacred Text that had just cooled down.
"Yes..."
Hearing this, Inaba Tsukuyo also hurriedly clutched her collar, her face flushed with a blush from excitement and shyness, as she obediently stepped aside.
At this point.
Heimer turned his head.
His gaze fell upon the few people who were still in a daze.
The slaughter in the Dungeon yesterday.
Coupled with the two consecutive level-up critical hits just now—first Kirukiru Amou's suicidal full-attribute explosion, and then Inaba Tsukuyo's resolve to find life in death.
One had to admit.
This atmosphere was indeed a bit heavy.
This wouldn't do.
Since they joined his Familia, although pursuing strength was a must, there was no need to make it so bitter and resentful.
Thus.
Heimer clapped his hands.
The crisp sound of clapping echoed in the quiet room, instantly breaking that frozen atmosphere.
He gave a gentle smile toward the girls at the doorway.
"What are you all staring for?"
"Since everyone is so motivated."
"Let's not waste time."
Heimer pointed to the long tatami mat that had just become vacant in front of him, his tone relaxed.
"Next."
"Rin."
"Take it off."
"Eh—?!"
Rin, suddenly being called out, gave a full-body jolt.
Although...
Although this wasn't the first time.
It was the same when updating the Falna the previous two times.
And as a member of a god's Familia, showing the Falna on one's back to their god was a matter of course, a sacred ritual.
Theoretically speaking, there shouldn't be any stray thoughts.
But!
No matter what!
Having a young girl undress in front of the opposite sex... even if that person is the God-sama she admires...
Even though it had been done several times and her brain had accepted this setting.
The girl's body would still instinctively feel shy!
"Th-that..."
Rin slowly shuffled in from the doorway, her hands tightly clutching her skirt, her delicate and cute doll-like face now as red as a ripe tomato.
"I-is it still the same... take it all off?"
Rin muttered softly, her eyes darting around, completely not daring to look Heimer in the eye.
"Of course."
Heimer looked at Rin's bashful appearance and asked back somewhat helplessly.
"Do you want me to drip the blood in through your clothes, Rin?"
"If you have that ability, I wouldn't mind."
"Ugh..."
Rin let out a cry like a small animal that had its tail stepped on.
"I-I get it already!"
"I'll take it off!"
"Anyway... anyway, it's not the first time!"
As if to bolster her own courage, Rin closed her eyes and charged forward with an air of one ready to face death.
She turned around.
Her back was turned.
She took a deep breath.
*Rustle—*
The sound of clothing sliding off.
Although Rin said it "wasn't the first time," her hands were still trembling slightly as she unbuttoned her clothes.
Her body, stripped of its outer layer, was exposed to the air.
Compared to Inaba Tsukuyo's sickly thinness, Rin's body was clearly much healthier, with tight skin full of a young girl's unique vitality and elasticity.
Heimer didn't say much.
His expression was calm.
The divine blood fell.
*Drip.*
The blood touched her skin.
The sacred characters on her back seemed to come alive, beginning to dance and reorganize frantically.
Heimer focused his gaze.
Though he had expected this.
After all, these girls were like maniacs yesterday.
The massive monster density.
High-intensity life-and-death combat.
The gains brought by these were bound to be terrifying.
However.
When the final strings of data materialized before his eyes.
Heimer still couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
——
Is this the true value of the [Monster Feast]?
Heimer remembered clearly.
Just two days ago, when he had first engraved the Falna on this girl.
While her status was excellent, she was only at the level of a newcomer who had just broken through the H stage.
Strength: H102.
Endurance: H105.
But now...
——
[Name]: Rin.
[Level]: Lv.1.
[Abilities]:
Strength: H102 → SS1055.
Endurance: H105 → SS1021.
dexterity: I88 → S958.
agility: I92 → S942.
Magic: I0 → I0.
——
Absurd.
Truly absurd.
The growth speed of these girls was truly like being on a rocket.
Although Heimer knew in his heart.
This situation was an exception.
Challenging higher levels.
A tide of monsters.
Plus Kirukiru Amou's frantic pace-setting, the others were desperately swinging their blades, even if it meant gritting their teeth until they broke, just so they wouldn't be left behind.
The potential squeezed out in such an extreme state was indeed incomparable to normal, step-by-step training.
"God..."
Perhaps sensing Heimer's silence behind her.
Rin shifted her body uneasily, her voice tense.
"My abilities... how are they?"
"How are they?"
Heimer snapped back to reality and couldn't help but laugh.
"I can only say."
"As expected of Rin."
"See for yourself."
Heimer tapped lightly with his finger, transcribed the updated status onto parchment, and handed it to Rin.
Rin took the parchment.
She looked down.
Her pupils contracted sharply.
"This..."
Especially the two large SSs, which almost blinded Rin's eyes.
Was the reward for that feeling yesterday—where her arms were so numb she could barely hold her sword—actually this generous?
"Alright."
"Don't just stand there being surprised."
Heimer suppressed his smile, his tone becoming more serious.
"Now Rin, your basic abilities are just sufficient."
"Since Tsukuyo and Kirukiru have already taken that step."
"Then now, Rin."
"You have two choices before you."
Heimer stopped smiling, his tone turning serious.
This was also the most important moment as a primary god.
"First, maintain the status quo."
"Although your numbers are already exaggerated, you haven't reached the true limit—or rather, you haven't reached the domain of that maniac named Kirukiru Amou."
"You can choose to continue polishing yourself, trying to reach for that theoretically impossible SSS."
"Of course."
"This requires immense willpower."
"Kirukiru's method is an exception."
"Her skill [Delusion of Struggle] ensures she can turn every battle into nourishment."
"Moreover, her suicidal fighting style is completely overdrawing her life."
"If you want to take this path."
"The price you might have to pay is the collapse of your body, or even permanent internal injuries."
At this point.
Heimer paused, observing Rin's expression.
"Second."
"Is to level up now."
"Using these two SSs and two Ss as the most perfect foundation."
"Step into the domain of Lv.2."
"This accumulation is already enough to look down upon all others in the history of the Lower World."
"As your god, I suggest you choose the second option."
"Of course."
"The choice is yours."
"I will not interfere."
There were no unquestionable commands.
Heimer gave her a choice.
As a god.
He did not force her.
Even though he knew that for Rin, the current SS was already an extremely perfect point for sublimation, and forcing a push for SSS not only carried huge risks but also had diminishing returns.
But he still wanted to leave the choice to her.
Hearing Heimer's words.
Rin was also stunned for a moment.
Lowering her head, she looked at the startling numbers on the parchment.
In her mind, she thought of the demon-like Kirukiru Amou, who Inaba Tsukuyo said had even attacked God last night for the sake of becoming stronger.
And Inaba Tsukuyo, who although weak, had resolutely chosen to level up just so her body wouldn't hold them back.
Rin was silent for a moment.
Finally.
Rin took a deep breath, looked up, her face full of seriousness.
"God, you're right."
"Amaha is an unrepeatable exception."
"Although... although I know her abilities are definitely higher than mine, which makes me very frustrated!"
"It feels like leveling up now is like losing to her."
"But..."
Rin lowered her head and said very honestly.
"I'm not like her."
"She's a monster who uses her body as a blade."
" That way of pursuing the ultimate moment at the cost of shattering oneself... I know very well I can't do it, nor do I want to do it."
" I am not the kind of lunatic who would throw away their life just to become stronger."
" I have the path I want to walk."
" Compared to reaching the absolute limit..."
" Tsukuyo was right just now."
" If there isn't a sufficiently tough vessel, even the sharpest sword cannot last."
" Instead of chasing SSS and ending up covered in wounds..."
" I would rather possess the strength to protect everyone right now, the power to stand firmly before the Deity, and walk this path step by step."
" Become stronger right now, and then slay even stronger monsters!"
" As long as I don't stop, I will eventually catch up to that person!"
By the time she finished speaking,
Rin even waved the small fist she had clenched, as if cheering herself on.
" A very good resolve."
Heimer, upon hearing this, also looked at Rin, who was waving her small fist as if declaring her determination to the whole world, and the corner of his mouth unconsciously curved into a gentle arc.
He didn't mock her overestimation of herself, nor did he offer perfunctory encouragement.
It was like a parent watching their child finally grow up, with nothing but pure admiration in their eyes.
Moreover,
To be honest,
If viewed purely by the numbers,
Rin's current status panel—Strength SS1055, Endurance SS1021, Agility S958, Dexterity S942.
This string of data, if displayed on the streets of Orario, would already be enough to cause quite a stir.
However,
Even so,
Rin was still not satisfied.
Or rather,
It was precisely because Kirukiru Amou stood ahead as a benchmark, because that lunatic who treated herself like firewood to pursue power was leading the charge.
So even though she had already received a perfect score on the test paper,
Rin still felt she wasn't good enough; she could be better.
But,
Even so,
The fact that she could still pursue goals rationally and clearly.
-------------------------
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