Talented.
That's how I will describe Lefiya-san. She could discern many details with just a look. I got quite surprised with the questions she asked.
Oftentimes, geniuses not only has a high intellectual quotient but also a unique worldview. Of course, this leads to certain disadvantages for them. Some geniuses could have difficulties understanding others while some develop a complex.
As for Lefiya-san, it is the latter. After interacting with her during these days, I noticed how she has an inferiority complex. She tends to view herself as inferior in contrast to the other executives of the Loki Familia.
Though, her worries are not unfounded. The executives in this familia are all geniuses in some aspects.
Most importantly, they have Aiz-san, an extremely talented person who went to level five in less than six years. This ratio of talented people should have overwhelmed her.
How could I know what she was thinking?
I experienced how it is to be in her position.
I got the chance to be around talented people. Satoru-san, Yuta-san, Megumi, Itadori… There's also Suimei who's mastered spells such as [Enth Astarle] and the infinite conversion of [Mana Furnace] that gave him unlimited mana. Through that, he was able to equally fight against an absurd existence, goddess Alshuna, who tried to manipulate them… as a sixteen-year-old teenager.
Truly, comparison is the thief of happiness.
"Right. Lili will treat me to a breakfast."
I was too deep in my thoughts that I briefly forgot this. I was enthralled to discover I could put up a proper fight against a Level Five. That was a huge leap that shouldn't be possible. But, [Mana Furnace] made things work this way.
Shockingly, I didn't have to undergo the process to build dream organs. Later on, I found out that my [Mana Furnace] completely changed my entire being. Tsubaki-nee wasn't mistaken when I am 'similar' to a spirit—I completely transformed into one.
Even so, my output should be limited. I still have to tweak it in the future to increase it in a similar state as Suimei's.
However, that's the problem. I couldn't control my body during that state. I don't know if it needs some tweaking or if it could automatically do that. Thus, I need to fix the consciousness problem first.
"Teacher!"
I saw Lili waiting in front of Soma Familia's residence.
"I hope I didn't let you wait for long."
"It's not! You're just in time, teacher!"
Due to her current status in Soma Familia, she no longer had to disguise. She won't have to worry about hooligans tracking her.
Though, she still looked like my little sister more than anything.
With bright eyes, she led me toward Benevolent Mistress. I brought here there several times which is how she discovered the place.
When we arrived, I spotted Miss Syr serving food.
"Mister Akasaka!"
"Good morning, Miss Syr."
"Here with your little sister?"
Hearing her words, Lili immediately corrected:
"I'm not a 'little sister'! I'm teacher's student!"
"Is that so?"
Miss Syr was clearly joking.
"A table for two, am I right?"
"Yes, please."
We are about to go to the table she pointed when she asked something.
"Was it just me or did Mister Akasaka become closer with Ryuu?"
"We had a few talks."
"I see."
I don't know how she interpreted that. Nevertheless, she saw us off as she took another order.
"Who is Miss Ryuu?" Lili asked.
"She's one of the people working here."
"Oh…"
A while later, a waitress arrived to take our order.
"Oh, Sirius. What do you like?"
The one who arrived is none other than Miss Ryuu. She wore her usual expressionless face. Her coldness was enough to fend many men away. Though, there are people who revel in that.
"A serving of omurice for me. What about Lili?"
"Uhm… I'll take what teacher did."
"Got it."
She wrote our orders and headed to the kitchen.
"Wait a moment."
"Yes..?"
I discreetly passed a note to her. I mouthed the words 'Thank You' before she left with a confused gaze.
"Fu…"
Today is a special day—not in a way that I like. With the bait planted, I could guess Valletta's actions. Presented with a lone Nobu, she will definitely bite. Two weeks already passed without my appearance in the dungeon. She must've gotten impatient already.
"...acher..?"
"Yes?"
"Uhm… Thank you for coming with me."
"There's no need to be formal, Lili. You're my student. Actually, you can call me Nobu instead."
"No. I should call teacher, 'teacher'!"
I could only concede. Lili might be shy, but she has things she wouldn't give up.
"Hm… Are there any enemies you would like to fight?"
"Enemies? Aside from the curses… A dragon…"
"Didn't you fight against a wyvern before?"
In one of [Alice Wonderland]'s uses, I set a place similar to the dungeon. It has the details I know up until the fifteenth floor. That was to make her accustomed to the dungeon.
"Then… Can teacher tell the cause of that earthquake?"
"The one from the start?" I recalled the 'scenarios' I wrote. "I see. If you are curious about it… The earthquake's cause is none other than two strong beings fighting."
"What..?!"
"You might be wondering how they could shake a huge area of the city. You can also achieve it with several level ups."
"Really…"
"Don't think about that too much. Everything in that spell were just illusions. It came from a theorized person, too."
I said some consoling words to counteract her being discouraged. Seeing the summit from below could be intimidating at times.
"I believe in Lili. You are my student, after all."
"Teacher…"
*****
'Teacher is awesome!'
Lili thought as she recalled Nobu's feats. His fight against the Goliath, being able to hit the Sword Princess, knowing a plethora of combat arts…
The list goes on and on. Even beyond his age, he is extremely impressive. Nobody could simply cast spells as if it was a child's play.
Somehow, Lili found his demeanor to be admirable out of them all. It perfectly captivates everyone around him, especially girls. Lili already noticed this when she thought of the people he's interacting with.
Artemis Familia.
Hephaestus.
Eina Tulle.
Aiz Wallenstein.
Tiona Hiryute.
Ryuu Lion.
…
'It's this long?!' Lili was surprised when she thought of it. 'Teacher…'
Thinking of his appearance, Lili imagined how he would look a few years later.
'Handsome… No, how could I think of it?!'
Lili's hands stuffed the omurice in her mouth faster than before. It didn't take long before she looked like a squirrel. When she swallowed everything, bits of rice were seen in her face.
"Here. It's an unused one."
Nobu offered his handkerchief to her. For him, it is better if Lili wipes it on her own. He knew she doesn't want to be looked like a kid.
'Teacher's handkerchief…'
Lili's mind went overload that day.
*****
The moon cast its rays to the lively Orario. After having prowled for nearly half of the day, the adventurers returned to their respective pubs and homes. There is no lack of noise coming from the parties of adventurers.
Orario is just as lively as the night on Japan. Though, the former held a certain distinct charm over the latter.
Unbeknownst to the common populace, invisible turbulent waves will sweep over tonight—the stakes being the life of Evilus' vilest commander or the city's brightest star.
"A leave?"
Syr noticed that Ryuu disappeared for the night. When she came to inquire to their boss, Mama Mia, Syr was told that she took a leave.
"As to what it is, I don't know. I only saw that it was urgent."
"Where would she go tonight..?"
Shockingly, the propriettress of 'Benevolent Mistress' carried a faint respect to one of her waitresses. The waitress Syr is a lively girl who's sought by the frequent visitors of Benevolent Mistress, but only Mia knew her true identity—her former goddess, Freya.
When she left the hostess, a cloaked man appeared beside her.
"My lady. She had left for the dungeon just now."
Unlike his previous gait, the man carried nothing but love towards his goddess.
"The dungeon…"
Syr thought of the person who became closer to Ryuu the past few days. The boy didn't have any specialties except his identity as an otherworlder. Nevertheless, he proved to be an exemplary adventurer that stirred up a huge wave in the dungeon city.
Still, it wasn't enough to make her throw everything away. He is not her Odr but a destined person of another goddess.
If that person is her Odr, she is willing to overturn the entire Orario itself to get him.
What she didn't know was that her Odr will be coming three years later in Orario. Before then, she will retain her lack of interest to others.
Meanwhile, several goddesses has tonight's events in their minds.
Artemis silently stared at the tower that pierced the sky. She recalled her conversation with Nobu an hour ago.
"Must you do this..?"
"I'll have to settle it. If Evilus becomes impatient, they will definitely target everyone I know. Even if it will be three years later, I can't leave everyone with my burden. I don't want everyone to be harmed even if it's a small possibility."
Valletta Grede is a temperamental person. She could keep her emotions bottled, but when an opportunity arises, she will strike to the core. An example of that is Finn's near-death. She showed no remorse in killing members of Loki Familia, knowing how it could inflict the greatest amount of pain to him.
"Nobu… is like me."
That cool declaration did more wonders than Nobu thought.
Simultaneously, Hephaestus subconsciously tapped the desk. For her, Nobu is both her bundle of joy and worries. He let her experience the joys of having a good student. The progress he made under her tutelage skyrocketed to the point she became numb to surprises.
That wasn't all, either.
Perhaps it was his way of 'respecting' his goddess, but he only looks at her eyes. Part of it was due to how Hephaestus' body was built while another is his way of showing sincerity. He didn't care about her face and treated her normally.
These made Hephaestus feel more self-conscious.
"What am I thinking? I wouldn't steal him away from Artemis..!"
As Nobu's goddess, she acted 'coolly' on the outside. She never showed her soft side to everyone. Only when Tsubaki is at her side would she choose to do so.
Hence, the reason why she acted like 'that' a few times—most notably, that time when Nobu awakened his [Mana Furnace].
"Definitely not!"
Her increasing blush made it a questionable statement.
*****
"She chose a nice place."
I am on the tenth floor. It is the misty domain where infant dragons and orcs spawn. Many trees and steep rocks could be found in this terrain. Along with the mist, it is the perfect place for an ambush.
In fact, I encountered an ambush thrice in this place already. Valletta's will be the fourth.
"Fu…"
I calmed my slightly tense heart. I have been on guard since the moment I dove to the dungeon. Ironically, the gazes that I felt comforted my tension.
My vision briefly changed. My future memories overlapped with my current sight. I vaguely felt the pain of having my heart torn and chest pierced. The next moment, they are gone.
The cold touch of my dagger awakened me.
"Right…"
I held a catalyst hidden under my sleeve—to be exact, a sheathe under my sleeve. That will be the game-changer of this plan. I still have another one in case something goes wrong.
Minutes passed by as I strolled in this floor casually. I could feel the gazes fluctuating in numbers. My senses already warned me of how 'dangerous' they are. It is a delightful event to be able to act faster than before. It is frustrating to 'lag' behind my sharp senses.
Suddenly, the ground beneath my feet lit up. Multitudes of runes glowed as it got completed. The patterns lit up in a reddish-purple color, further enhancing the ominous aura that it has.
Immediately, I sensed the attempt to 'lower' my status. Just then, the ring on my chained necklace glowed. It put up a translucent white shield around my body.
"Miracle Maker… How true to its name."
Since I knew it was a curse, why would I come in unprepared? This is quite common in my world. Sympathetic Magic, something that curses others by simply knowing their names, is one such example.
Despite this being a different world, they have a similarity—the curse has to hit the astral body. The anti-curse magic tool prevents exactly that.
Detecting a specific gaze, I charged at my front.
"Raiju."
Shiing-!
Clang-!
My quick draw split apart the mist in front, revealing a goggled man. He wielded a red spear—a cursed weapon—as I saw him regain his footing.
"How did you—?!"
"Precis exsoltus nox. Grandis modicum optatum." (I pray to the wounded night. Grant this little wish of mine.)
I separated before locking eyes with him. I never stopped chanting as I completed the spell.
Unsurprisingly, one of my acquaintances is within its radius. I couldn't control its targets with its current level, but we came prepared.
That is enough.
The large magic circle spawned at this point. Its formation couldn't be stopped due to how I am in the last line already. It encompassed the radius of the prior curse magic.
"Apertus inanua terra mirabili." (Open the door to my wonderland.)
The bright light engulfed everyone including myself.