Judas turned to look at Ais' expression.

  Although her face still carried its usual doll-like expression, he could catch the faint excitement shimmering in her eyes... clear anticipation for her rank-up.

  Given how well-known they were, it wasn't unusual for passersby to stop what they were doing and stare, the way one might when spotting a celebrity on the street.

  Still, most of the gazes weren't directed at Ais or Riveria, but at Judas... more specifically, at the giant sword resting on his shoulder, easily more than twice his height.

  "Is that a drop item? I've never seen anything like it before."

  "It must be from a monster in the deep floors."

  "As expected of the Loki Familia... casually going in and out of the deep floors like it's nothing."

  "I bet that thing would fetch a ridiculous amount of valis."

  Though some of those looks carried a hint of greed, not a single person entertained the thought of stealing it.

  Doing so would be no different from suicide.

  "I'll see you guys ter at the manor."

  Judas said as he turned in another direction, heading toward Tsubaki's smithy.

  "And thanks for giving me this sword, Ais."

  "You accompanied me because of my selfishness."

  Ais replied with a light smile.

  "It's the least I could do."

  "Take care."

  Riveria added as they waved him off.

  When they returned to the manor, Ais wasted no time searching for Loki, bursting straight through the door to the goddess' room.

  "Oh? Ais? What's the rush?"

  Loki asked, before her expression twisted into a lewd grin.

  "Hehe... breaking into my room like this—did you finally realize your goddess' love for you and come here to confess?"

  She wiped a bit of drool from her lips as her gaze openly traced Ais from head to toe.

  The only response she received was a cold gre.

  A menacing aura spilled from Ais, causing Loki to immediately break into a cold sweat.

  "Ahaha... c-chill out, Ais. I was just joking."

  Loki said with a nervous ugh.

  swoosh

  A flying dagger shot past her, embedding itself into the headboard of the bed.

  Loki flinched violently.

  "Do you need your fingers to update?"

  Ais asked ftly.

  "Yes! I need them... absolutely need them!"

  Loki cried out, frantically waving her hands.

  "I won't do anything weird, I promise!"

  Ais narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Loki as if weighing the truth of her words.

  After a brief moment, she finally nodded.

  Only then did Loki release a long, relieved sigh.

  "The fact that you're asking for a status update right after your little adventure, means your excursion succeeded, right?"

  Loki said, pulling the dagger from the headboard.

  "Yes... it was difficult, but I succeeded."

  Ais replied with a nod.

  Hearing that, Loki's grin widened as she sliced her finger with the dagger.

  "Hehe... let's see if a brand-new level 6 appears in my familia today."

  She said, barely containing the excitement in her voice.

  Ais blinked once before calmly removing her shirt and turning around.

  The process of updating her status proceeded as it always did.

  Bathed in the soft blue glow of the falna, Loki watched the level indicator on Ais' falna shift from 5 to 6.

  For a brief moment, the goddess of mischief simply stared.

  Then she broke into a grin.

  "Oh shit! Level 6 Ais is here!"

  Loki shouted in excitement as she quickly finished the update and handed over the status sheets.

  In Ais' hands were two papers... one documenting her final status as a level 5, and the other reflecting her new status as a level 6.

  ========================================

  Ais Wallenstein

  LV 5

  STR: D 595 ---> C 612

  END: D 592 ---> C 622

  DEX: A 884 ---> S 901

  AGI: A 875 ---> A 892

  MAG: S 953 ---> S 974

  Hunter - G

  Abnormal Resistance - G

  Swordsman - H

  SKILLS: [Avenger]

  MAGIC: [Ariel]

  ========================================

  ========================================

  Ais Wallenstein

  LV 6

  STR: C 612 ---> I 0

  END: C 622 ---> I 0

  DEX: S 901 ---> I 0

  AGI: A 892 ---> I 0

  MAG: S 974 ---> I 0

  Hunter - G

  Abnormal Resistance - G

  Swordsman - H

  Spirit Healing - I

  SKILLS: [Avenger]

  MAGIC: [Ariel]

  ========================================

  Staring down at the sheets, Ais felt a quiet sense of satisfaction settle in her chest.

  "Hehe... would you look at that."

  Loki said, folding her arms with a smirk.

  "You picked up a new development ability... [Spirit Healing]. That's the same one Judas got when he ranked up to level 3."

  She tilted her head slightly.

  "Riveria has it too. That makes three people in my familia alone who possess that ability."

  But Ais barely heard the rest.

  Her attention locked onto a single detail, everything else fading into the background.

  "...I got the same ability as Judas?"

  Her voice came out softer than she intended.

  Her thoughts grew unfocused, and before she realized it, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

  'That means... I've gotten a little closer to him, right?'

  The thought lingered, quietly stirring something unfamiliar in her chest.

  Had Loki been able to hear Ais' thoughts right now, she would have immediately questioned how sharing a single development ability could possibly mean she had gotten closer to Judas.

  However...

  Just from the expression on Ais' face alone, Loki's brows slowly knit together.

  'Ais... I've never seen her make that kind of face before.'

  A bad feeling welled up in her chest.

  Then, realization struck her like a thunderbolt.

  "That expression!"

  "Ais! Don't tell me you're lovesick?! Are you into a guy?!"

  Loki froze.

  Her expression looked no different from someone who had just been informed that the world was about to end.

  Despite her goddess' outburst, Ais completely ignored her.

  She calmly folded the status sheets, slipped them away, and began putting her clothes back on.

  "Dammit! It must be that Judas brat! It's him, isn't it?!"

  Loki yelled as she violently ruffled her own hair.

  "I'm off to take a bath."

  That was all Ais said before turning and walking out of the room.

  Normally, the moment Loki heard those words, her mind would have immediately gone to unspeakable pces... plotting, scheming, and contempting sneaking a peek.

  But not this time.

  "Ais was such an airhead that I never thought she'd actually start taking an interest in someone!"

  The door shut.

  Left alone, Loki erupted.

  "Fuck! I can accept Lefiya and Tiona... hell, even those pretty elven mages from Riveria's group... but not my Ais-tan!"

  She clutched her head, pacing wildly.

  "Ah! Dammit! I invited a hungry wolf into my perfect flower garden!"

  She pointed accusingly at the door Ais had just left through.

  "Curse you, Judas!"

  ...

  Meanwhile, the person in question let out a sneeze as he arrived at Tsubaki's smithy.

  "Is someone talking badly about me?"

  Judas frowned, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand.

  "Judas! You are my lucky star! Who would've thought you'd bring back something this incredible?!"

  He barely had time to react before turning his head... only to find Tsubaki Collbrande practically vibrating with excitement.

  Her remaining eye gleaming as it locked onto the massive sword resting on his shoulder.

  In the very next second, the weight on his shoulder vanished.

  "Huh?"

  Before Judas could even question it, Tsubaki had already hoisted the giant sword up with arming enthusiasm, clutching it like a treasure-hungry gremlin as she burst into delighted ughter.

  "Such a great material for bcksmithing, I am so happy I could hug you right now!"

  Tsubaki excimed as she shifted her gaze at him.

  "I refuse."

  Judas replied bnkly.

  ---

  +15 chapters at .com/drdedot