Al Cranel's morning begins early.
As the sun rises, he grips his sword and slips into the Dungeon. He specializes in rapid solo penetrations, recently reaching the lower floors—specifically the 25th floor—within a mere hour.
There, at the Great Fall, he faces monsters armed with "Natural Weapons" and aquatic beasts equivalent to Level 3. These creatures exploit the terrain of an area seasoned adventurers call "The New World." Al bathes there, then sprints back with lightning speed, finishing the cleaning of his room just as the others begin to wake.
After eating breakfast with Ais, Tiona, and the other young leaders, he spends his day in one of two ways. He either descends alone into the Deep Floors to hunt for loot—his drop rate significantly boosted by his "Luck" development ability—or he remains in the training hall to gently instruct the members of the second and third tiers.
On the days Al participates in training, many scramble to face him, desperate for a chance to learn from the strongest man, only to end up defeated. Occasionally, Ais, Tiona, and other young leaders unite to attack him as a group. Meanwhile, the Level 4 elites of the second tier avoid these sessions entirely, paralyzed by their fear of him.
Naturally, Al receives no payment for this training. Instead, he works diligently to gradually increase the affection of those around him. He does this to heighten the "Catharsis" he feels when the time finally comes to shatter their spirits and drown them in misery and depression.
After lunch on his days off, he might visit the Hephaestus or Dian Cecht Familias, or dine at "The Hostess of Fertility."
At this moment, it was just after lunch.
In a corner of a street where foot traffic had thinned out following the midday rush, a goddess stood waiting, as if she had been lying in wait for Al. It was the Goddess Freya—the silver-haired woman who seemed to be the divine embodiment of beauty itself.
"Hello. What a coincidence."
"──."
However, what caught Al's attention was not the woman's transcendent beauty, but the man standing steadfast behind her like a loyal servant: Ottar, known as "The King," who prided himself on being the pinnacle of martial power.
Both were Level 7. Both were the strongest men in the two greatest factions in Orario. They rarely met face-to-face, a result of the mutual discretion practiced by the goddesses Loki and Freya.
Four years ago, when Al was still Level 2, he had fought a life-and-death duel with Ottar using real blades, orchestrated by Freya. Although Ottar was the undeniable victor, Al had managed to seize something during that battle, leading to a level-up that shattered the world speed record.
Since then, Al viewed Ottar as a rival, while Ottar considered Al exceptional—the only one to reach the same summit following the disappearance of the Zeus and Hera Familias, and the only person with whom he could fight at full strength.
Nevertheless, a clash between these two surpassed a mere dispute between adventurers; it was more akin to a war between two individuals from an entirely different dimension. Even the gods could not predict the scale of destruction that would befall the city if their blades clashed within its walls.
More dangerously, one—or both—might die in such a conflict. This would not only be a loss for their respective Familias but a catastrophe for Orario and the world at large. At worst, it could revert the world to the state of the "Dark Age" from fifteen years ago.
Consequently, the Guild, in cooperation with the leaders of neighboring nations, had issued extraordinary orders prohibiting private combat between them. Freya, knowing this full well, had deliberately brought Ottar with her to meet Al. What was her reason?
"My goodness, you're looking at Ottar more than you're looking at me. It makes me quite jealous. Rest assured, bringing Ottar along was merely a whim; I have no other intention."
"Enough small talk. What do you want?"
"I simply wanted to see your face. Am I not allowed that?"
Freya, who enchanted every sentient being—not just men—smiled, her cheeks flushing like an ordinary city girl in love.
In that instant──the world stopped. All sound vanished from the street that had been bustling seconds ago. Every movement ceased.
Dogs, birds, insects, humans, and even gods froze, staring at a single point: Freya, whose heart-melting smile adorned her face. Everyone turned into thralls, their bodily functions focused entirely on perceiving this beauty alone. In the center of the world she had created, Freya smiled seductively.
Time had not truly stopped. It was obvious that the gods of the lower world, stripped of their divine powers, possessed no such ability. The true nature of this phenomenon was "Charm." It was the absolute "Beauty" that ensnares the souls of all beings in a heartbeat. Freya, possessing beauty that resided literally in the realm of the gods, spoke quietly while maintaining that luxurious smile.
── Hear me. Become mine.
Freya's voice did not echo in the world as an audible sound; nevertheless, everyone who "heard" it obeyed her command without exception, becoming her property. The followers who heard Freya's words swayed like sleepwalkers and stood before her, then knelt in unison.
── It was a Charm into which the Goddess of Beauty poured her entire being.
It was an act of absolute spiritual dominance, forcing the consciousness of all existence to turn toward her alone. To every living creature in this world, Freya represented true divine beauty. The goddess's emotion twisted souls to the point that she dyed the target's entire being in her beauty, dedicating all vital activities to its perception. This power possessed a coercive effect that made even Ottar forget to breathe if he wasn't careful, and it repainted the entire world within seconds.
Opposing Freya now was equivalent to rebelling against the entire world. Anyone unprepared to make the whole world their enemy would be crushed by the concept of beauty, their meager human personality dyed a thousand times over.
But──.
Freya smiled as she looked at the man who did not bow before her Charm—the magic that enchanted even gods and turned all things into her absolute puppets. It was not a mocking smile directed at the people of the lower world, but a laugh born from the joy that her magic had failed to affect him in the slightest.
"Just as I thought... this boy!!"
Freya trembled with delight before this young man who was not only undisturbed by her Charm but was projecting a gaze so sharp she felt herself nearly falling for him. She had never seen a human of such beauty. No, he radiated a brilliance that seemed to declare: this is true beauty.
Of all the humans Freya had met, Al was her favorite. It wasn't because he was more talented than others, but for a more fundamental reason. Al possessed an aura that felt somewhat divine. Above all, Al was beautiful. He was purer than anything her eyes had ever seen. This wasn't limited to his physical appearance; it was his pitch-black soul that no one, not even Freya, could shake.
For this reason, she cherished Al. However, she had no intention of doing anything to him. To Freya, Al was an object solely for observation. A masterpiece to be looked upon. An artifact she could touch if she wished, but one she never intended to tamper with. This was her assessment of him.
In truth, it hadn't always been this way; she had exerted great effort in the past to obtain him by any means. Yet, no matter what Freya did, she failed to move Al's soul even a fraction of an inch. So, Freya gave up. She abandoned the idea of subjugating him. At the same time, she found satisfaction. She had wondered why she was so drawn to this boy, and now she understood.
Freya had learned that "some things are beautiful only because they are out of reach."
Having understood this, she decided she was content to simply watch him. Freya didn't want to make Al a "God-made Hero" or a "Husband." She simply wanted to feel the wind he stirred. Therefore, she did nothing to him. She just watched. Freya wanted Al to act as he pleased, for no one had the right to stop him.
This boy, Al, was staring at her now. His gaze was direct, as if expressing something, carrying a heat that one might mistake for love. But Freya knew better. While Al possessed the insight to distinguish between a "nobody" and a "goddess," he was utterly uninterested in her.
Al saw no value in her being the Goddess of Beauty. Through her dealings with countless souls as the head of the city's strongest Familia, she recognized his complete indifference. Yet, even this neglect was a delightful unknown to Freya, who was accustomed to being the "beloved" being.
Freya was happy. Truly happy that the first young man she cared for had not fallen into her trap. He was the one and only person with whom "Beauty" did not interfere in their relationship. Because Al was like this, Freya looked forward to him with longing. She was eager to see what he would do when that inevitable moment arrived in the future.
As she thought this, Freya directed her words toward the embodiment of "Beauty" standing before her.
"Ah, just as I thought. You don't find me beautiful, do you?"
"Because I know something I can truly call more beautiful than your smile."
(In reality, it is the faces of everyone when they are shrouded in misery and depression──passionate emotions).
Man, I hate this woman because she's always smiling. I don't know if she's the Goddess of Beauty or whatever, but she needs to get depressed for once. Is she invincible?
Freya invites me to join her Familia from time to time, but my answer is always a flat refusal. Unlike the members of the Loki Familia, those people in the Freya Familia would never get depressed, no matter what happened to me or what I did. Their leader is Ottar, who worships Freya; it's incredibly boring and not even worth discussing.
Ah, but I do like Allen. His twisted feelings for his sister—even if they aren't directed at me—interest me. To draw those feelings out, I always go to "The Hostess of Fertility" to get close to Anya.
●○●○●
Ais Wallenstein - Level 5
Strength: D555 → D564 Endurance: D547 → D563 Dexterity: A825 → A827 Agility: A822 → A824 Magic: A899 → S900
Development Abilities: Hunter: G | Abnormal Resistance: G | Swordsman: I → H
Magic: [Ariel] (Enchantment Magic / Wind Element)
"These are your final stats at Level 5!"
Ais marveled silently at her great achievement. Defeating Udaios, the 37th-floor boss, single-handedly had boosted her basic abilities and brought her to the brink of a level-up. Since she used "Ariel" daily, her Magic stat was particularly prominent, reaching the highest rank: S.
Usually, an adventurer's ability ranks stall at C or D, or B at best. Reaching Rank S before a level-up is a rare and brilliant success.
(Let's exclude that nearby monster who bypasses Rank S to reach SS and SSS every time).
Ais stared blankly at the numbers written on the paper.
"You can also manifest a new development ability! This is wonderful, Ais-tan! Last time, when you reached Level 5, you didn't get anything!"
"── What is the ability?"
"It's Spirit Healing!! In our faction, only Riveria and Al have it! You can only choose one, so it's best to activate this one!"
"Like those two...? I'll do it. Please activate it."
Loki laughed as she saw Ais answer with such eager intensity. She loved her Familia members dearly; the growth of these precious children filled her with joy and sadness simultaneously. This was why she constantly teased them; their cute reactions made it hard to stop. However, Loki sensed a dangerous edge to Ais's current drive, though she decided to simply celebrate the level-up for now.
The effect of the "Spirit Healing" development ability is the rapid recovery of Mind—the fuel for magic. Thanks to it, a magic user can recover their mental strength quickly, as if they had enjoyed a deep rest, without needing potions.
From the expression on Ais's face, Loki saw she had made up her mind and set to work. After a few blinks, Ais nodded firmly to Loki, who was enthusiastically confirming the choice. The falna on Ais's back began to glow with a faint light, announcing the possibility of ascending to Level 6.
Once Loki confirmed this, she moved her fingers with practiced skill. After a short while, she wrote the new status on the paper and handed it to Ais. It contained slightly different content than before:
Ais Wallenstein - Level 6
Strength: I0 Endurance: I0 Dexterity: I0 Agility: I0 Magic: I0
Development Abilities: Hunter: G | Abnormal Resistance: G | Swordsman: H | Spirit Healing: I
Magic: [Ariel] (Enchantment Magic / Wind Element)
The Loki Familia headquarters was buzzing with talk of Ais's level-up. Even as the city's strongest faction, the members had been in a state of loud celebration since morning. This was natural; breaking the Level 5 barrier is proof of "Heroism," but reaching Level 6 is a formal entry into the ranks of the world's strongest. For the adventurers of this city, this realm is trodden only by the chosen few.
Ais Wallenstein had been superior even among first-tier adventurers from the start. At Level 5, thanks to her "Ariel" magic, she was considered a candidate for the city's strongest swordswoman alongside Level 6 veterans. Now, after defeating Udaios, she had actually reached Level 6, placing her at the very top of those vying for the title of the strongest in the city. To the members who looked up to the beautiful and powerful Ais as a role model, her achievement was a source of indescribable pride.
── For the record, two years ago, when that rabbit-colored boy with a mental glitch reached Level 6 at the age of fourteen, no one congratulated him. Instead, everyone was stunned and disgusted by his nonsensical growth rate.
Tione and Tiona were overjoyed for Ais, and the girl who achieved this feat was at the headquarters now. After being swarmed by everyone with congratulations, Ais took a chance to escape the dining hall and sought refuge in the central garden when no one was around.
However, a man—the one who had just rejected the Goddess Freya—was lying on the neatly manicured grass.
"Ah, Al. ── Ah... oh..."
Ais's eyes sparkled, and she shyly lay down beside him. Al was slightly surprised, then tilted his head and spoke to her.
"Oh. Did you run away from them?"
"Yes."
"── Level 6. You've done an amazing job."
"Yes. ── Yeah!"
In that brief moment of tranquility, Ais smiled as she recalled childhood memories of her parents. As for Al, he felt a harsh chill pierce his body, caused by the terrifying, icy stare "Lefiya Viridis" was directing at him from behind Ais.
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As I clearly stated before, the goal was 50 Power Stones, but we only managed to hit 30. Honestly, this is quite disappointing. I promised a bonus chapter if the goal was met, and since it wasn't, there will be no extra release today.
I expected more effort from the readers who enjoy this story. For now, I'll stick to the regular schedule. Whether I give this another chance in the future or not remains to be seen, but today... we failed
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