The room felt thick with air gone rigid from sheer shock, until Demeter's hurried breathing gradually steadied and the alarm in her amber eyes finally receded.
She watched Genichi tuck away the status sheet that recorded that terrifying growth potential, as if he'd merely done something trivial. The roiling emotions in her chest slowly settled, distilling into a ruthlessly practical thought, one that was dangerously tempting for her.
"Genichi."
Demeter spoke, and there was a faint tremor in her voice, the lingering edge of excitement she couldn't quite hide.
"About magic stones… if you need them, I can use the Familia's funds to buy them in bulk for you."
She took a step closer. Her honey-colored hair swayed softly with the motion, carrying a warm, calming fragrance, but the content of her words was the opposite of gentle.
"Demeter Familia may not rank at the very top in combat strength within Orario, but we've run farms and supplied crops and ingredients for years. The wealth and liquid capital we've accumulated is nothing to scoff at. Supporting your early consumption wouldn't be a problem."
Her gaze was bright, her tone earnest. This wasn't an offhand offer.
She was genuinely weighing whether to pour the accumulated fortune of a long-established Familia into Genichi's near-cheating path of growth, feeding him an endless stream of fuel.
It wasn't just an investment. It felt more like staking everything on a gamble, an expectation. An expectation to witness the birth of an unprecedented monster she herself had raised.
But faced with Demeter's heavy offer, the kind that would drive any adventurer insane, Genichi only shook his head slowly, clearly.
"Thank you for your kindness, Demeter-sama."
His voice was calm, and the refusal in it was absolute. "But… it won't be necessary."
Genichi wasn't oblivious, and he wasn't too proud to understand what a massive supply of magic stones would do to his growth rate.
He could plainly feel the wholehearted support and anticipation behind Demeter's words.
But he had his own reasons.
First was pride.
The grimoire Demeter had given him earlier was priceless, likely something money couldn't even buy. That debt was already on his back.
If he now calmly spent the wealth her Familia had struggled to build over years, buying magic stones just so he could devour them and grow stronger… then he really would be grinding his dignity into the floor.
Second, and more importantly, was safety.
If Demeter Familia suddenly started buying magic stones in huge, abnormal quantities, there was no way it wouldn't draw attention in Orario's business circles and information networks.
A Familia centered on agriculture suddenly needs an ocean of magic stones for what, exactly?
Soil improvement?
Crop acceleration?
Those excuses might fool people for a little while, but they wouldn't survive real scrutiny, especially from forces with sharp noses and ill intent.
And the first name Genichi thought of was Dionysus.
Dionysus was lurking in Orario right now, plotting in the shadows, watching Demeter Familia like prey.
Any unusual movement from Demeter Familia could easily trigger the god's suspicion and investigation.
If Dionysus noticed Demeter Familia going out of its way to buy massive amounts of magic stones for a special newcomer, how long could Genichi's secret stay hidden under a god that sly?
And how dangerous would it become for Demeter Familia once they were dragged into that kind of attention?
Genichi was still untested, his wings not yet grown. He was nowhere near strong enough to confront the forces under Dionysus, especially that modified monster, Filvis Challia.
Until he had enough power to protect himself, or even strike back, hiding his hand and avoiding unnecessary notice was simply the optimal survival strategy.
So whether out of pride or security, Genichi had to refuse.
"…All right."
Demeter looked into Genichi's unwavering eyes and understood he wasn't being polite. He'd already decided.
She puffed her cheeks a little, a childish, dissatisfied yet helpless expression appearing on her mature, beautiful face, full of maternal radiance. The contrast was oddly adorable, as if a gentle goddess had, in an instant, become a sulking girl.
Genichi's gaze paused on her face for the briefest moment, the full, rosy lips slightly pouted, honey-colored hair falling along her cheeks, those amber eyes holding a hint of grievance.
It was a picture with undeniable allure, one that could make a heartbeat stumble.
But he quickly looked away, forcing the flicker of male instinct, that almost-uncontrolled ripple, down into the coldest corner of his heart.
These goddesses…
Whether it was Rias Gremory in the DxD world or Demeter here, they were flawless like divine masterpieces. Their figures, their faces, their unique aura, all of it constantly radiated an irresistible pull, like walking treasures.
And Demeter in particular, that softness and inclusiveness layered over a hidden toughness, the mature charm that occasionally let slip a touch of innocence, and that lush, breathtaking silhouette that somehow never looked heavy at all. She was the union of sanctity and temptation.
Her casual closeness, her touches, those seemingly thoughtless little motions…
Could Genichi truly stay unmoved, like some saint?
The answer was no.
All he did was take that biological thrum of desire and craving, and crush it under a rationality far beyond ordinary people, under an iron will.
The path to strength allowed no distraction. Emotional bonds were weaknesses, and beauty was a poison that could corrode resolve.
"Then I'll head back, Demeter-sama. Tomorrow, I'll continue going into the Dungeon."
Genichi stood. His tone returned to its usual flat distance as he walked toward the door.
"Mhm. Get some rest."
Demeter gathered up her brief sulk, her voice warm again as she reminded him.
Watching his tall, upright, yet faintly lonely back disappear through the doorway, Demeter didn't look away right away.
She stood there, slender fingers unconsciously tapping at her full lips. Deep in her amber eyes, something unreadable flickered, a dim light mixed with admiration, possessiveness, and intense interest.
"You're making me want to 'eat you up' even more."
She murmured so softly only she could hear, her tongue absently sweeping across her lower lip. The motion carried a lazy, dangerous seduction, utterly unlike her usual gentle image.
Like she was appreciating a one-of-a-kind treasure. A treasure that…
Sooner or later would belong to her completely.
Back in his own room, plain but clean and quiet, Genichi didn't rest right away.
He checked the doors and windows first, then pulled a fresh set of clothes from the simple wardrobe, a change of garments Demeter Familia had prepared for new members. Clean linen again, simple and comfortable.
He didn't go to the Familia's shared public bath.
His room included a small private washroom. It wasn't spacious, and the fixtures were far less complete than the public bath, just a basic shower head, a sink, and a toilet, but it had one advantage: privacy.
He turned on the tap and adjusted the temperature.
The water hit his skin with a brief chill, a mild sting, and then warmed into something comfortable.
Genichi stood under the stream, eyes closed, letting the warm water rinse away the day's fatigue, dust, and the invisible pressure and restlessness that had built up.
Droplets ran through his black hair, down the sharp lines of his face, over his solid chest and balanced waist, before disappearing into the drain at his feet.
He exhaled slowly, deeply, as if forcing every clogged-up emotion out with that breath.
And yet his mind, disobedient, dragged him right back to the scene in Demeter's room. Her anxious concern. The soft warmth when she hugged him tight. The cute pout after he refused. And at the end, that barely-there closeness and soothing scent that felt like it could set his blood alight.
Especially Demeter's figure, those curves half-hidden beneath thin sleepwear, the accidental brushes that carried startling warmth and resilience…
Could he truly not be moved at all?
The shower's steady roar covered the moment his breathing turned faintly heavier.
His hand braced against the wall, tightening without him noticing, fingers paling at the knuckles.
He wasn't a saint.
If anything, he understood better than anyone the desires and darkness buried in his heart.
Greed for power. Obsession with survival. And the most primitive urge to possess and conquer everything beautiful.
He kept those things pinned down, chained by cold logic and a single, clear objective.
But pinned down didn't mean gone.
They were magma beneath a sleeping volcano, still flowing in secret where no one could see.
Demeter's unguarded closeness and allure were a stone dropped into still water, stirring ripples that couldn't be avoided.
"Calm down."
Genichi barked the words at himself in his mind.
He snapped his head up and let the stronger stream hit his face directly, trying to use physical shock to drive those ill-timed thoughts away.
Strength.
Survive.
Devour.
Become the only one.
That was the sole meaning of his existence, the highest directive, above every craving.
Beauty?
Warmth?
Those were luxuries for the strong, ornaments for after victory, not chains that could slow his march[1].
Until he had the power to ignore any rule and truly control his own fate, anything that might scatter his focus or soften his will had to be isolated and rejected without exception.
The water washed away fatigue, and it seemed to rinse away that brief wavering too.
When he turned off the shower and dried himself with a towel, his eyes had returned to that deep, abyssal calm, cold and still.
(End of Chapter)
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[1] Women? They slow down my sword!