The self from his past life, or rather, his phantom, laughed upon hearing his words: "The infinite... is it?"
"That's right." Levi nodded calmly, yet his words were laced with a strong desire he had never shown in the real world. "Infinite time, infinite life, infinite power, infinite knowledge, and infinite growth."
"I want to become just such an absolute existence."
The moment he finished speaking, the figure opposite him suddenly burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at?" Levi frowned.
The words he had just spoken came from the heart, yet the phantom before him didn't seem to think so.
"It seems the experiences of these years have truly made you forget your own desire." The man, who bore Levi's appearance from his past life, wiped away a non-existent tear from the corner of his eye. "Or perhaps, you actually understand everything in your heart, but you're just pretending not to have noticed?"
"As much as I'd like to grant you a magic of 'the infinite' according to your wish, unfortunately, the rules limit me. I can only materialize your true desire."
"So, I hope you like this gift."
The instant his words fell, giving Levi no chance to retort or refuse, the man dispersed like smoke. Almost simultaneously, the space they occupied shattered with a "crack."
When Levi opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on Hestia's lap.
The once-dark sky outside the window was already showing a faint light.
"You're awake?"
Sensing movement on her lap, Hestia, who was flipping through the now-ineffective grimoire, lowered her head. However, with a smile on her face, her overly ample chest only allowed her to see the lower half of her familia captain's face.
"Mhm." His view was filled with magnificence, but Levi didn't get up right away. The relationship between them had already started to change after they had previously shared a bed. "How long was I asleep?"
"About eleven hours."
Hestia replied as she casually tossed the grimoire in her hands onto the bed.
Leaning down, she carefully checked Levi's condition before finally being unable to contain her curiosity and asking:
"Do you want to update your status now?"
Normally, Levi would have certainly agreed, since she already knew his biggest secret.
But this time...
Having already checked his magic slots right after waking up, he showed a rare, embarrassed expression upon hearing her question.
"How about we talk after I get back from grinding in the Dungeon today?"
"Muuu~~~~~" Hestia pouted, pinching Levi's cheek. "You're acting very suspicious right now~"
Levi averted his gaze and, after hesitating for two seconds, said softly, "It's just that... I haven't figured out how I should explain it to you, Hestia."
"Now that you've said that, I'm even more curious." Hestia put on a lecherous expression. "Be a good boy and take off your clothes for me."
"..."
Since the magic had already been generated, this was an ordeal he couldn't escape no matter what.
Understanding that he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't, Levi decided to just get it over with.
As he took off his shirt, he gave a 'well-intentioned' warning: "You can't get mad at me later, okay?"
"Me? Why would I get angry? Don't worry, Levi, you have such a good personality, how could I possibly get mad at you?"
That was Hestia's answer, at least a minute ago.
And then...
[The Goddesses' Loving Protection · 5-Star (-)]
[Status Magic]
[Chant: 'Name(s) of the corresponding goddess(es) (multiple names can be called simultaneously)', I pray to you (all), please grant me the goddess's protection!]
[For every goddess who develops a favorable impression of 'Levi Bright', a new protection will be formed.]
[The higher a goddess's favorability towards 'Levi Bright', the stronger the magic's effect correction. When it reaches the highest level (V), the corresponding protection will become a permanent passive.]
[The greater the number of goddesses with a favorable impression of 'Levi Bright', the higher the magic's star rating.]
[Current Protections Held:]
[One · The Pure White Love III of Hestia, the 'Goddess of the Hearth': Greatly increases mana recovery, greatly increases health recovery.]
[Two · The Distorted Love I of Freya, the 'Goddess of Beauty': Moderately increases resistance to mental abnormalities.]
"Le~vi~"
The twin-tailed goddess, emanating a gloomy aura as if she were a demon crawling out of hell, now had a sweet smile on her face, yet the tone of her voice was utterly chilling.
"Yes, I'm here."
Levi swallowed hard. He wanted to escape, but he was pinned underneath the girl and couldn't go anywhere for the moment.
"Could you please explain to me what 'Protection of the Goddesses' means?"
Hestia put extra emphasis on the plural suffix.
"The protection of the goddesses is the protection from multiple goddesses."
Levi put on a serious expression as if he were discussing a serious academic topic. However, the moment he finished speaking, he was smacked hard on the back.
"Hmph! I knew you, you little pervert, were up to no good!"
Hestia punched and kicked at Levi, though the force was barely stronger than a tickle.
"Tell me, when did you meet Freya?"
"I don't know!" Levi clutched his head. Having consciously avoided 'The Hostess of Fertility,' where Freya could be found, ever since entering Orario, he felt he had been completely and utterly wronged. "Although I've heard the name of the Goddess of Beauty, and I did consider joining her or Loki's familia, I have never actually met her to this day."
As a goddess, Hestia could, of course, tell that her familia member was not lying.
At least, in Levi's own perception, he had absolutely never had any contact with Freya.
But that was precisely why Hestia was even angrier. If not for the information revealed by Levi's newly awakened magic, she wouldn't have even known that the dessert she had put aside in a bowl, planning to savor it slowly at the very end, was currently being coveted by someone else.
"Damn it!"
The twin-tailed goddess bit her thumb.
Although she had guessed Levi's little scheme from the magic's name and effects, the little rascal currently pinned beneath her hadn't actually done anything yet.
Hestia wasn't the type to be unreasonably stubborn.
It was the other goddesses that were the problem.
As a goddess herself, she knew all too well just how many suitors his situation would attract if it were ever exposed.
However, unless she hid Levi away from now on, the gazes fixed upon him would only multiply as he continued to grow.
Hestia may have been a virgin goddess, but that was because she looked down on the other male gods in Tenkai, not because she was genuinely uninterested in love.
For the first time since establishing her familia, she faced her own heart directly and quickly made a decision.
_____
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