Tsuna gave a concise introduction to the Flames of Dying Will. Alicia and Anqi listened, eyes shining, a little dizzy from the flood of new possibilities.
"Hold on. This power… isn't it basically a kind of magic without chanting?"
As a mage with real talent, Alicia grasped the essence at once—and the realization made her throat go dry.
"!?"
Anqi understood it too, and both of them fixed their gaze on Tsuna.
"That's right," Tsuna nodded. "Just as Alicia-san inferred: once you master the Flames of Dying Will, they'll appear in your status as a skill called 'Dying Will Circuit.' It will be part of your growth record, and in practice it works like chant-less magic. In terms of versatility, it already has Riveria-san's approval."
His confirmation made their expressions turn even more serious; their breathing quickened despite themselves. And with Riveria's name attached, they had no doubt—no one would toss that around to deceive them. What mattered most now was the chance being offered.
"Tsuna, I have a question," Anqi raised her hand.
"If Alicia and I both have this opportunity… does Raul get it too?"
Tsuna looked at her and shook his head.
"Unfortunately, no. Raul used to be a model of hard work, but right now he isn't. His mind isn't on the Familia at the moment—and it isn't entirely his fault."
"Eh?"
Anqi's eyes widened. Hearing Raul described as no longer the hardworking type made something twist uncomfortably inside her. She was about to protest when Tsuna added:
"Anqi-san, Alicia-san—you two spend a lot of time moving between the 'Training Space' and the 'Challenge Space,' right? Have you seen Raul there regularly, lately?"
They tried to recall, and their faces darkened a moment later.
Their memories weren't so poor that they'd miss someone who showed up often. They could picture plenty of lower-level adventurers who cycled through both spaces—usually more time in the 'Training Space,' less in the 'Challenge Space.' They even often spotted Bete and Tsuna.
But Raul… they had rarely seen him in either place.
"Don't tell me Raul betrayed the Familia?"
Anqi blurted out the bold thought.
"Uh… that's going too far," Tsuna coughed and waved it off. "It's just that, for a while, his head won't be in the Familia. He's seventeen this year—and he's become a father. Naturally, his thoughts are on the next generation."
"…The next generation? Already?"
Anqi stared. She knew Raul was involved with an elf from the Ishtar Familia, but they'd only been seeing each other for about three months… how was there already a child?
Her eyes flicked—pure reflex—toward Alicia, and a theory flashed through her mind.
"Don't tell me that elf is the quiet-but-wild type too?"
A vein throbbed on Alicia's forehead.
"Anqi—could you not look at me when you say things like that?"
"I wasn't talking about you, Alicia. Definitely not."
Anqi's cheek twitched; the stiff smile on her face screamed awkward backpedaling after being seen through.
Alicia snorted and, face dark, refused to chase that topic any further.
Tsuna clapped his hands lightly, pulling their attention back.
"Anqi-san, let's not discuss other people's private matters. It isn't our place."
Anqi chuckled weakly and dropped it.
"As for Raul, that's how it is. Right now his focus is on his child. I expect that for quite some time after the baby is born, he won't be able to bring his mind back to the Familia—maybe a year or two, even two or three."
He spoke with certainty.
Anqi's smile faded completely. She understood perfectly: this meant that, for the next few years, Raul would all but vanish from the Familia's grind.
In the past, that might not have been a fatal problem.
After all, once you reach Level 4, going further isn't easy. Beyond slowly raising abilities, you also need to accumulate "deeds" over a long span. Leveling could take years—or longer.
But now, things were different.
With Tsuna's support, many adventurers had broken past shackles they couldn't crack before. One advancement after another, one proof after another—everyone now knew that effort would bear real fruit. Even those without talent in magic or skills had ways to grow. The 'Challenge Space,' which let them fight stronger monsters and floor bosses, laid a solid foundation for future breakthroughs.
Under conditions like these, an adventurer who doesn't work hard doesn't exist.
Not giving your all would be an insult to the opportunities laid before you.
And in such an environment, losing one or two years would erase every prior edge. A few years from now, the Familia's minimum standard might rise another full level. By then, Level 4 wouldn't be far off for anyone—indeed, many might already have climbed to Level 4.
A one-to-two-year gap would be devastating.
"Raul… sigh…"
Anqi could only lament inwardly. Focusing on his child wasn't wrong—but missing these pivotal years was a pity she couldn't fix.
"So then, Anqi-san, Alicia-san—are you ready to accept it now?"
Tsuna laid the choice before them.
They swept aside every stray thought. There was only one answer.
"Of course we accept."
(End of Chapter)
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