Chapter 189
"Level up?"
Kiriya looked over the Status written on the parchment, then nodded.
"Go ahead."
Every one of his ability values had already reached the highest SSS rank. Advancing to the next level was the obvious choice.
"All right."
Hestia placed her hand against his back and completed the procedure. The information engraved into his Falna shifted once again.
Kiriya
Level 4
Strength: SSS 1338 → I 0
Endurance: SSS 1323 → I 0
Dexterity: SSS 1361 → I 0
Agility: SSS 1378 → I 0
Magic: SSS 1521 → I 0
Magic:
Forest of All Things
Yang Power: Everflowing Vitality
Blade Storm
Skills:
Strong One’s Wish
Demonbane
Mirror Calm
Divine Will Sharingan
Development Abilities:
Mage (H)
Luck (H)
Hestia stared blankly at the result.
How long had it been since Kiriya first received her Falna?
And he was already Level 4?
If news of that growth rate spread through Orario, the entire city would be thrown into an uproar.
Of course, Hestia had not yet realized that what happened earlier that day was already more than enough to cause one.
After recovering from her shock, she turned to Kiriya.
"It’s time to choose another Development Ability. You have three options: Abnormal Resistance, Fist Strike, and Spirit Healing."
Abnormal Resistance reduced the effects of poison, paralysis, and other abnormal conditions.
At Rank G, it could provide near immunity to most common ailments.
Fist Strike strengthened the user’s unarmed attacks.
Spirit Healing automatically restored Mind, with the recovery rate increasing as the ability ranked up.
Kiriya considered the three choices briefly before settling on Spirit Healing.
In this world, Mind was fundamentally tied to mental and spiritual energy.
His newly awakened Skill, Divine Will Sharingan, could convert that spiritual energy into the special chakra needed to strengthen and evolve his Sharingan.
Kiriya intended to feed energy into his eyes whenever he had time.
With Spirit Healing, he would not need to worry nearly as much about exhausting his mental reserves.
After hearing his explanation, Hestia agreed and selected the ability for him.
His Status changed once more.
Kiriya
Level 4
Strength: I 0
Endurance: I 0
Dexterity: I 0
Agility: I 0
Magic: I 0
Magic:
Forest of All Things
Yang Power: Everflowing Vitality
Blade Storm
Skills:
Strong One’s Wish
Demonbane
Mirror Calm
Divine Will Sharingan
Development Abilities:
Mage (H)
Luck (H)
Spirit Healing (I)
"There. All finished."
Hestia immediately threw her arms around Kiriya, her voice overflowing with pride and excitement.
"I really do have excellent judgment! I knew you were special the moment I saw you."
Kiriya’s expression became solemn.
Hestia had attacked without warning, using the unfair advantage of close-range divine affection.
Naturally, he could not allow such a challenge to go unanswered.
"Huh?"
Before Hestia understood what was happening, she found herself lying back against the sofa while Kiriya began removing his formal butler accessories.
"What are you doing?"
"What do you think?"
Kiriya looked at her as though the answer were obvious.
"Our butler story isn’t finished yet. I still have more services to provide."
"M-More services? Didn’t you already do that earlier?"
Hestia’s gaze briefly wandered over his athletic build before she hurriedly looked away.
Now she understood why so many goddesses favored handsome young warriors.
That face combined with that physique was completely unfair.
"That was merely the standard package," Kiriya explained with perfect seriousness.
"Next comes the premium service."
He placed one hand dramatically against his chest.
"The cruel young mistress uses wages and debt to force her innocent, handsome butler into performing all manner of unreasonable duties..."
Kiriya’s face shifted into an expression of theatrical despair so convincing that Hestia stared at him in fascination.
She had to admit, the scenario sounded rather entertaining.
"Shouldn’t we... prepare something first?"
Hestia tried to sound calm.
"What preparation could we possibly need?"
"The young mistress wants an oil massage."
Hestia turned her head away, her face burning.
"..."
Kiriya paused and looked at her strangely.
His goddess had adapted to the role frighteningly quickly.
She was already adding her own scenes.
"I don’t mind, but we don’t have any massage oil."
He spread his hands.
"We can’t exactly go shopping for it now."
"I-I have some."
Hestia pointed toward the bedroom.
"It’s in the cabinet beside the bed."
Kiriya entered the room with a puzzled expression and returned holding a small glass bottle filled with golden oil.
"Oh. This is expensive stuff."
"Demeter gave it to me."
Hestia buried her face in a cushion, making her voice sound muffled.
"She said it worked very well."
The original scenario had apparently involved a domineering young noble and an innocent maid, but this version worked well enough.
"Demeter truly is a wonderful person."
Kiriya removed the stopper.
A rich rose fragrance immediately filled the room, leaving him feeling unusually refreshed and energized.
A suspicious grin appeared on his face.
Then he remembered the role he was supposed to be playing and quickly replaced it with an expression of righteous outrage.
"So this is the depravity of the wicked aristocracy."
He spoke with dramatic conviction.
"You may force me to obey, but you will never possess my heart!"
Hestia stared at him, completely absorbed in the performance.
Unfortunately, when it became her turn to respond, she discovered that she had forgotten every line she had intended to say.
Kiriya delivered one passionate speech after another while Hestia could only manage a series of flustered noises.
It was a tragic waste of his exceptional acting talent.
The lights in Hearthfire Manor remained on late into the night.
...
While Kiriya and Hestia lost themselves in their ridiculous role-play, a very different conversation was taking place inside Freya’s vast chamber at Babel Tower.
"You’re saying that child defeated you with those eyes?"
Freya leaned forward with obvious interest.
"And he did it easily?"
"...Yes."
Allen hated admitting it.
The humiliation alone made him want to disappear, but he would never lie when his goddess questioned him.
He described everything in careful detail, beginning with his encounter with Kiriya and continuing through every stage of their battle.
Freya listened intently.
Her cheeks gradually became flushed, and her posture shifted as excitement took hold of her.
"What a wonderful child."
A proud, almost entranced smile appeared on the Goddess of Beauty’s face.
"He always finds new ways to surprise me."
Allen’s stomach twisted with jealousy and frustration.
Freya had never smiled at him like that.
"Allen."
Freya’s pale violet eyes settled upon him.
"One defeat means very little."
"I’m certain you’ll overcome this setback, rise again, and become even stronger. Am I wrong?"
"No, Lady Freya."
Allen clenched his right fist and struck it against his chest.
"I will never disappoint you."
All the bitterness and jealousy inside him vanished beneath the warmth of that single sentence.
"Good."
Freya smiled gently.
"That is the spirit I expect from one of my beloved children."
"Now go and recover. I look forward to seeing how much stronger you become."
"Yes."
Allen bowed firmly before leaving the chamber, his fighting spirit completely restored.
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