Greetings, everyone. Ren here.
The subsequent weeks unfolded as you might have anticipated.
I dedicated several days to training Ais during the intervals when we were not engaged in safeguarding Orario.
Ais's progress was astonishingly swift.
Now, I am aware of what most of you are eager to witness, so here it is:
---
Name: Ais Wallenstein
Level: 6(+)
•Strength: 154H ⟶ 901S
•Endurance: 121H ⟶ 911S
•Dexterity: 180H ⟶ 922S
•Agility: 197H ⟶ 932S
•Magic: 209G ⟶ 234G
•Hunter: G
•Abnormal Resistance: G
•Swordsman: H ⟶ C
•Spirit Healing: I
---
Allow me to present to you Ais' updated status.
Understandably, some may not comprehend the intensity of the training I subjected Ais to.
My love for her was immeasurable, and it was precisely that love driving me to push her to her limits.
Holding back any further would have only frustrated Ais, impeding her growth.
Her proficiency in swordsmanship has flourished beyond my expectations, leaving me pleasantly surprised.
The cause of that transformation eluded me, but I respected her privacy and chose not to pry.
Ais would confide in me when she felt ready to share the details herself.
I also harbored a desire to teach her the intricacies of forming a mana core, but as I attempted to explain the process, it became evident that Ais was utterly bewildered. Any further explanation seemed futile.
Moreover, with her physique, the creation of a mana core could pose risks to her physical well-being and potentially hamper her innate talents. I cannot fathom the idea of unintentionally hindering her progress.
The only alternative would be to resort to the crude methods employed by warriors of the Asura race, but employing such an incomplete technique would result in more harm than benefit.
Hence, my approach has been to train her to reach the perceived pinnacle of this world's levels.
Whether achieving the conditions of a level 9 with respectable stats automatically triggers her ascent remains uncertain. Nevertheless, I am unwilling to let her attain such a status with ease.
There are other crucial considerations to take into account. Her physical constitution must be sufficiently robust to accommodate the presence of a [Divine Soul]. Thus, I have resolved to guide her along a path similar to that of Bell Cranel.
All attributes need to be elevated to SSS. I shall not permit her to forcefully raise her level unless she fulfills the stringent conditions set forth.
Also, allow me to express my sentiments regarding Loki, the Goddess who oversees the Loki Familia.
While I acknowledge her concern for her child and that Ais owes her well-being and growth to Loki's care as well, I must confess that she can be rather vexing.
At times, she attempts to hinder our dates, and on other occasions, she "compels" Ais to undertake tasks in areas where I am not assigned. However, I consented to this arrangement solely to grant Ais some personal time...
To put it succinctly, Loki comprehends Ais' desires, but she cannot accept them. Instead, she resorts to these feeble, amusing ploys that hold no power over the bond between Ais and me.
How much perseverance have I displayed to arrive at this point? Do you honestly believe your overprotectiveness will impede me?
Keep dreaming.
Silently harboring these thoughts, I chose to wholly disregard the foolish Goddess.
---
Whenever I found myself alone, with Ais busy and my own tasks completed, my gaze would often wander towards the imposing gates of the Loki Familia manor.
In those moments, a faint sense of loneliness would seep in, but I remained steadfast in not allowing my desires to jeopardize our bond.
I firmly believed that if we continued on our current trajectory, our relationship would eventually progress to the next level, fulfilling the deep yearning within my heart.
Unconsciously nibbling on my lower lip, I suppressed any intrusive thoughts as I prepared to record Ais' updated status and address other pertinent matters within the Archive.
However, before I could proceed, a familiar voice interjected, interrupting my focus.
"...So, even you are not immune to emotions."
I turned my head to find Finn regarding me with a knowing smile, his eyes twinkling with understanding.
"Weren't you in a meeting with the other members? How did you find your way here?" I inquired, genuinely surprised by his unexpected presence.
Finn chuckled "We just wrapped up the meeting. I happened to notice you were lost in thought for quite some time. Shouldn't this be an opportunity for you to explore the city?"
I sighed, resignation dripping in my tone "I have scoured the city countless times over. While ensuring its safety is a crucial responsibility, I cannot be perpetually absent from the moments when Ais is not by my side. If, by prioritizing the city's security, this Manor were to face an attack, I wouldn't know how to face her."
As a result, boring moments began to unfold, as I dutifully carried out my duties with greater vigilance than the guards stationed at the manor's gates.
My words seemed to strike a chord with Finn, who let out a resigned sigh before taking a seat beside me.
"You know, Ren," he began, his voice laced with a tinge of nostalgia. "When you first crossed my path, my hands trembled uncontrollably. My heart recognized the presence of a formidable monster—one I could never hope to defeat. Yet, while that was my perception, Ais saw something entirely different. To her, you were another challenge, another obstacle she was determined to overcome."
Confusion flickered in my eyes as I tried to make sense of his unexpected revelation. Why bring up such a memory now?
"Upon witnessing your reciprocation of Ais' feelings and witnessing the intensity of your training sessions, a sense of bewilderment and apprehension gripped me. I feared that you might draw her away from us by revealing the extent of her untapped strength through your guidance. Our minds were consumed by such thoughts as I observed your calculated control over the situation, leveraging it to your advantage. In that introspective moment, despite my years of experience as a Captain and Commander of the Familia, I found myself questioning my own competence and even doubting the sharpness of my spear."
Sensing a purpose behind Finn's reflections, I remained silent, allowing him to continue.
"That realization, however, propelled me to surpass my own limitations," Finn continued, his voice carrying hope. "I no longer clung to the belief that I stood at the pinnacle. Once you catch a glimpse of the boundless sky, ascending the steps towards greater heights becomes a far less daunting prospect."
At that moment, he passed me a familiar sheet of paper—a status sheet:
---
Name: Finn Deimne
Level: 6(+)
•Strength: 402E ⟶ 940S
•Endurance: 388F ⟶ 900S
•Dexterity: 801A ⟶ 999S
•Agility: 605C ⟶ 953S
•Magic: 608C ⟶ 823A
•Hunter: E
•Abnormal Resistance: E
•Magic Resistance: H
•Initiative: H
•Chain Attack: H
•Spearman: A
---
To my genuine surprise, I witnessed a remarkable change in Finn.
While my focus remained on Ais alone, it became evident that he too was experiencing unprecedented growth.
This rapid development surpassed anything I had previously known or anticipated.
---
Legend:
(+) : It means the adventurer has reached the level-up requirements. Now, they just need the push brought by their own way of putting their abilities to the test.
Author's Note:
Join the discord, or I'll cry.
Everyone is slowly being influenced by Ren, lmao