"Enough!"
After exchanging over a hundred blows—
Riveria's sharp command cut through the chamber, and both Roy and Ais halted.
The duel ended in a draw.
Ais reluctantly sheathed her rapier. A Lv. 4 failing to defeat a Lv. 3 was, without question, humiliating.
Without relying on external means, Roy also found it difficult to defeat Ais. After all, there was still a full level between them.
"How can I become like you?" Ais asked again, even more impatient this time.
Before, she had only thought Roy leveled up quickly. Now she realized it wasn't just his speed of advancement—his actual combat strength was even more outrageous.
"Join Ast—"
"Ahem!"
Under Riveria's warning gaze, Roy quickly changed his words. A Lv. 6 archmage was not someone he could afford to provoke.
"Your anti-personnel combat skills are lacking."
Roy shook his head, pointing out her most fatal flaw.
All of Ais's training focused on hunting monsters. Against adventurers, she relied mainly on overwhelming stats. But once faced with an opponent of similar numerical strength, victory became difficult.
Roy, on the other hand, had undergone Spartan-style training under Ryuu. Back then, fueled by hatred for the Rudra Familia, she had practically poured every killing technique she knew into him.
The way they fought simply didn't favor Ais.
She had brought her weakness against Roy's strength.
Of course she couldn't win.
If the contest were changed to monster hunting instead, Roy would surrender immediately—without hesitation.
Driven by her hatred for the Black Dragon and monsters, Ais's skill Avenger Princess was hailed as the strongest anti-monster offensive ability in the Lower World.
Without equal.
If she truly unleashed it, that golden-haired girl could likely one-shot Amphisbaina.
Of course, she would still need teammates to create the opening. Having the damage to kill and being able to reach the target were two different matters.
Receiving an answer that barely qualified as one, Ais looked disappointed and turned toward Riveria.
"Go on. I'll return shortly," Riveria said, gently patting Ais's head.
Ais left the Dungeon reluctantly, glancing back every few steps as if it were a parting of life and death.
Riveria was about to pay for her indulgence—
Watching the scene, Roy felt an inexplicable excitement.
Ryuu left as well.
Before departing, she shot Roy a sharp warning look.
Do not be disrespectful to Lady Riveria.
Soon, only Roy and Riveria remained.
Riveria looked at the boy calmly.
"Speak. What is your condition?"
Roy smiled.
"You must keep this confidential. You cannot tell anyone."
"I agree."
His caution piqued her interest slightly. She had no desire to spread rumors—doing so would only entertain the gods and earn her a powerful enemy.
"I want to learn your magic," Roy said.
"…?"
Riveria stared at him, several question marks practically floating above her head.
Roy explained, "I possess a skill that allows me to use others' magic through learning."
Riveria's eyes widened.
He wasn't joking.
No wonder he hadn't stated his condition back at the tavern.
Such a skill was absurdly overpowered.
"A skill like that must come with severe limitations," Riveria said cautiously. Even Ais's Avenger Princess risked spiraling out of control.
Great power always carried great risk.
Roy nodded vigorously. "Exactly."
"How many spells do you wish to learn?"
"All of—"
Riveria's gaze turned cold.
Roy quickly corrected himself with a grin.
"Eight would be fine. I'm not greedy."
Riveria was hailed as Orario's strongest mage. She possessed attack, defense, and healing magic—not just categories, but multiple spells within each.
As a member of elven royalty, her magic featured a unique chanting system. By rearranging short, medium, and long chants, she could alter effects and amplify power.
Ordinarily, adventurers were limited to three spells.
Riveria possessed nine.
Hence her title—Nine Hell.
Among those nine spells, attack, defense, and healing each accounted for three. Their power scaled from first-tier to third-tier depending on chant length.
Her highest-tier attack magic could cover most of Orario. Two casts would be enough to reduce the city at the center of the world to ashes.
Strategic-class power.
Riveria almost laughed in disbelief.
There was no way she would teach all her magic to someone from another Familia.
"If you join the Loki Familia, I will teach you all of it," she said, emerald eyes gleaming slyly.
Roy glared.
He had intended to poach the Sword Princess, yet Riveria was trying to take everything instead.
"Not happening. I'm very comfortable in the Astraea Familia."
"That much is obvious."
Riveria cast him a sidelong glance. The Astraea Familia clearly revolved around him. He would never come to Loki Familia as a mere officer.
"Six spells."
"One."
"Four spells."
"One."
"Two! That's my absolute limit!"
Seeing Roy's exaggeratedly tragic expression, Riveria sighed softly.
"Very well. But I will not teach you attack magic."
Power invited murderous intent.
She had not yet fully judged Roy's character. Long-chant attack spells—especially those of catastrophic scale—were too dangerous.
Defense and healing magic, at least, posed less risk.
Roy nodded repeatedly.
"No problem."
But seeing the barely concealed curve of his lips, Riveria realized something was wrong.
His true expectation had likely been two spells all along. He had never planned to learn her attack magic.
A spoken promise was like spilled water.
She could not take it back now.
Riveria shot him a glare.
You act well.
"Rea Laevateinn—this is my first-tier defense magic. It enhances resistance to both physical and magical attacks and forms a protective aura around the target. The effect lasts for a period of time."
Roy extended his hand.
Riveria frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"Physical contact is required."
Unlike Ryuu, Riveria was an adult with far greater life experience. Aside from a faint blush rising on her flawless face, she showed little outward reaction.
She extended her jade-like hand.
Roy took it without hesitation.
"Ha… ha…"
Feeling the warmth of his broad palm, a rosy tint spread across her beauty that rivaled even the gods, giving her an unexpectedly alluring charm.
Roy nearly felt his heart seize.
Despite being over ninety-nine years old, Riveria's experience with men remained at zero.
Naturally, she felt tense.
After several steadying breaths, she calmed herself.
"Gather, O breath of the earth—my name is Alf!"
She completed the chant swiftly.
As the words fell, her mind stirred the magic power within her. Multicolored light garments enveloped both of them without blind spots.
Roy examined the effect closely, sensing the flow of magic within Riveria's body.
Then—
Riveria froze.
Her flawless face stiffened.
Emerald eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Roy's hand clasping hers.
Why did it feel—
As though their bloodlines were connected?
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