The next morning, sunlight poured through the window, turning the whole room a warm, golden color.
After getting up, Genichi washed up quickly, changed into a fresh set of light armor, and prepared to head back into the Dungeon.
But the moment he pushed open his door and was about to leave—
"No."
Demeter stood in the doorway, hands on her hips. Her amber eyes were filled with unwavering resolve.
Genichi paused.
"Not today."
Demeter's tone left no room for argument. Her honey-colored hair swayed as she shook her head.
"You're coming out with me. I'm getting you proper equipment and some potions. Once all of that is ready, then you can go."
Genichi frowned.
"No need. My gear can still be used."
"Used for what, exactly?"
Demeter cut him off, and a flash of regret crossed her eyes.
"Do you even remember what your sword looked like when you came back? A serrated blade. Chips everywhere. You're planning to take that into the Dungeon?"
Genichi opened his mouth to argue, then realized he had nothing.
She was right.
That standard longsword had been ruined in his fight with Bullion.
If he hadn't used magic to escape later, it probably would have snapped on the fifteenth floor.
"I'll handle the equipment myself—"
"Handle it yourself?"
Demeter interrupted again. This time, her voice carried the faintest tremor.
"Do you know what it felt like when I saw you lying in a pool of blood?"
Genichi went silent.
"My legs went weak."
Demeter kept going. Clear fear surfaced in her amber eyes. "I didn't even dare check your breathing. I was afraid my hand would find nothing but cold."
She took a hard breath, then growled through clenched teeth.
"Today, no matter what you say, I'm not letting you rush into the Dungeon again."
She stared straight into Genichi's eyes, word by word.
"We prepare properly. Equipment, potions, emergency measures, all of it. Everything has to be ready."
"So today you're coming with me. We're going to the Hephaistos Familia to buy you a real weapon, then to the Dian Cecht Familia for the best recovery potions. And once all of that is ready…"
"Then you go to the Dungeon."
Her tone was absolute.
Genichi looked at her in silence.
Of course he understood how she felt.
What happened yesterday would scare anyone who cared about him half to death.
And for her—
The goddess who had sat by his bedside all night while he was unconscious.
The goddess who had clung to him when he woke up, her voice catching as she said, "Thank goodness you're okay."
The goddess who had held him last night and whispered, "Just like this, for a little while."
But—
"No."
Genichi's voice was calm, but heavy.
Demeter froze.
"I can't go out with you."
"…Why?"
Disbelief crept into her voice.
Genichi looked at her, his expression steady.
"If we go out together, someone will see us."
"So what?"
"We'll be noticed."
His tone stayed even, coldly analytical.
"If the god watching the Demeter Familia from the shadows sees Goddess Demeter personally escorting a new, unfamiliar member to buy equipment and potions, what do you think he'll assume?"
Demeter's brow knit.
"He'll assume there's something special about that member. Something special enough that the goddess herself is accompanying him."
"And then he'll investigate."
"And once he starts investigating, information about me could leak. My stats, my magic, my skills. If any of it gets out, it draws his attention."
"And then—"
Genichi paused. His voice dropped even lower.
"You can imagine what kind of ending I'm looking at."
"But…" Demeter's voice turned rough. "It's just one shopping trip. It shouldn't be…"
"Shouldn't."
Genichi cut her off, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"It 'shouldn't' happen? It 'shouldn't' be a problem? We 'shouldn't' be discovered?"
"But what if it does?"
He looked her straight in the eye.
"What if it just so happens that when we go out, we get seen?"
"What if he happens to be on that street, happens to notice us…"
"What if—"
He paused.
"If any one of those 'what ifs' becomes reality, what do we do?"
Demeter parted her lips, but no words came.
She knew he was right.
Those chances were small.
So small they were almost negligible.
But…
What if?
If it really happened, with their current strength, with the Demeter Familia as it was now—if Dionysus set his sights on them, if that LV.7 monster came knocking—
What could she use to protect Genichi?
What could she use to protect her familia?
She fell silent.
Genichi watched her, and a thousand tangled emotions rose in his chest.
He knew she meant well.
He knew she was worried.
He knew she only wanted to make sure he wouldn't come back again like yesterday, covered in blood and collapsing in front of her.
But he couldn't take the risk.
"In any case—"
Genichi's voice was calm, but firm.
"Demeter, I'm sorry."
He met her eyes.
"Right now, I'm not going to gamble on anything."
"Anything."
Demeter stared at him, stunned.
In her amber eyes there was disappointment, heartache, helplessness, and something else she couldn't quite name.
Her eyes reddened.
Genichi held her gaze for a moment, then—
He stepped forward.
And raised his hand.
Gently, he pulled her into his arms.
Demeter went completely still.
This…
This was…
Genichi hugging her.
Not her pulling him close.
Not her forcing him into her embrace.
But him—the boy who only spoke with his sword, who always kept his distance, who always wrapped himself in a hard shell—
Reaching out first, drawing her in.
Demeter's mind went blank.
She could feel the warmth of his chest. The strength of his arms around her. The awkward gentleness as he lightly rested his chin against the top of her head.
This hug was different from any before.
It wasn't passive acceptance.
It wasn't reluctant compromise.
It was… an offering.
All the small emotions roiling in her chest vanished in an instant.
In their place came a warmth she'd never felt before, surging up from the deepest part of her heart and wrapping around her completely.
She buried her face against his shoulder, arms tightening around his waist, greedily savoring this hard-won warmth.
Genichi didn't push her away.
He simply held her.
(End of Chapter)
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