...
{3rd Pov}
After six long months, Ember finally returned to Shawn Village.
In that period, he had been constantly hunting — day after day, week after week — refining both his swordsmanship and magic through the harshness of survival.
Along with that, he had also started meditating every single day for at least half an hour.
At first, he didn't expect much out of it.
He had no idea whether meditation would bring any real benefit in terms of strength or mana control, but surprisingly, it helped him keep his mind calm and focused, allowing him to think clearly during battles.
The last six months had been nothing short of hectic; a beast tide had struck the region — an event where a massive number of monsters simultaneously go berserk and invade human territories.
That was the main reason behind the sudden increase in monster numbers all around.
Fortunately, the strongest monster that appeared during the beast tide was only a Level 3 creature, which was swiftly slain by one of the town's Level 4 adventurers.
Ember didn't participate directly on the frontlines but instead played a crucial supporting role, using his powerful magic from the rear to thin out waves of enemies.
Despite not being in the vanguard, he earned quite a lot of recognition and fame for his efforts.
People began calling him by a new nickname — Blue Hell — after witnessing the terrifying blue flames that engulfed his enemies.
His reputation spread fast, even catching the attention of the gods in Argon.
Many extended invitations to join their familias, impressed by his potential and strength.
Even the Goddess Aschelois herself sent him an invitation, yet Ember turned them all down without hesitation.
That was three months ago.
Now, after finishing another long hunting trip, Ember was finally heading back to Shawn Village, intending to take a well-deserved break for a week or two.
As he approached the familiar wooden gates, the guards nodded at him with recognition, allowing him through.
Not far inside, he ran into Maria, a cheerful young villager who immediately spotted him and shouted excitedly, "Sir Ber! You've returned!"
Before he could respond, Maria's mother, Martha, gave her daughter a light smack on the head.
"Call him Tithonus, Maria! You were already told that's the alias he's using. The Goddess herself explained it," she said firmly.
"Hmph!" Maria pouted, rubbing her head.
"Still, Sir Tithonus, are you an Elf Nobility or something? Did you run away from your home?" she asked with big curious eyes that gleamed with innocent curiosity.
Ember chuckled at her childish behavior, amused that she hadn't changed one bit.
'Some things never change, huh? I'm glad she's still this energetic,' he thought warmly before answering, "It's nothing like that, Maria. It's just safer to use an alias in a world as dangerous as this."
Martha nodded understandingly.
"Indeed. We're just villagers, and even we face occasional trouble from low-level monsters. But someone like you, Sir Tithonus — an adventurer — you've got it harder. Even if you're strong, your family or friends might not be, so it's better to stay cautious and keep your true name hidden."
Maria puffed her cheeks but didn't argue further.
After exchanging a few more words with them, Ember waved goodbye and continued walking through the village toward the Goddess's house.
The moment he reached the front, a blur of white and gold jumped straight at him.
"Welcome back!!!" a loud, cheerful voice shouted.
It was Aurora — his Goddess — who practically launched herself into his chest.
Ember instinctively caught her midair and held her securely, twisting slightly so that she didn't crash painfully into him.
"Goddess! What are you doing?!" Ember groaned, struggling to balance as she clung to him tightly, because damn she is heavy, and not because of being obese, but rather being fat in right places.
*Ahem*
"Mmm~ you smell as elegant as ever!" she said in a teasing tone, rubbing her face against his chest like a spoiled cat.
Ember sighed and lightly smacked her head.
"Ouch! That's mean!" Aurora pouted dramatically, looking up at him with pitiful eyes.
But Ember was completely unfazed.
"Goddess, I want you to update my status," he said in his usual straightforward tone.
Aurora puffed her cheeks again, pretending to be hurt.
"What!? We haven't seen each other for six whole months, and the first thing you ask for is a status update instead of a romantic reunion or a heartfelt date?" she complained.
Then, her expression suddenly brightened mischievously.
"Wait—! I get to see your naked back again!" she said, grinning like a pervert.
Ember facepalmed internally.
He was used to this by now.
Gods were eccentric — that was already common knowledge — but Aurora, his goddess, was a certified expert in the Dao of Otakuness, possibly one of the highest-tiered ones at that.
Still, he followed her inside, resigned to her antics.
Aurora quickly prepared the ritual for the status update, pricking her finger and letting a drop of divine blood fall on his back as she began writing.
A few moments later, her excited voice filled the room.
"Woooow! What's this?! You've improved so much!" she exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise and awe.
When Ember received his updated status sheet, he immediately understood why Aurora had reacted that way.
[Level 1
Strength: H187 → D546
Endurance: H199 → D523
Dexterity: G212 → C604
Agility: G201 → C619
Magic: G255 → A802
Skills:
Decipher: Allows the user to logically interpret, analyze, and deduce the truth, theorems, and underlying mechanisms of the world through reasoning, observation, and calculated prediction.
Orc Slayer: Provides a 20% increase in all parameters when fighting against pig-type monsters.
Magic:
Cremation (Chant): "O' Flames of Legends! Burn brighter than thy enemy! Turn them into cinders! Let their ashes wash in your blue flames! Cremation!"
N/A
N/A
It was a massive increase in just six months — honestly, nothing short of shocking.
Counting from the day Ember first received his falna, it had barely been over seven months in total.
Aurora stared at the updated sheet with her jaw practically hitting the floor.
"Damn! Ember, what on earth were you doing all this time?!" she shouted in disbelief, her eyes sparkling like stars.
"I expected your growth to be impressive, but this… this is beyond substantial! You've even gathered enough high-ranking excelia for a rank-up! Do you want to level up right now?" she asked eagerly, looking at him as if she was witnessing the rise of a legendary hero.
However, Ember's expression remained calm and composed.
"Nope," he replied firmly.
"I won't level up. Not until every single one of my parameters reaches S999. Even after that, I want you to hold off on ranking me up. I'm planning to test something." His voice carried a tone of certainty that made it clear he wasn't going to change his mind.
He wanted his parameters to reach at least the limit of SSS before each rank-up.
Although Ember didn't know whether he could break the limits of his falna like Zald, Alfia, or Bell, he still wanted to try.
Even if it took a decade, he was willing to put in the effort.
Only after seeing the final results would he decide what to do next.
'Still, having high-rank excelia is a good thing—it means I can rank up immediately once I reach my target parameters,' he thought.
Meanwhile, Aurora crossed her arms and nodded approvingly, clearly impressed by his mindset.
"Indeed! That kind of thinking shows true determination! If you reach S999 in all your parameters, your foundation will be absolutely solid. Once you rank up after that, your growth will be monstrous! You'll be completely invincible among those of the same level!" she declared proudly, speaking as if she were some ancient cultivator imparting wisdom.
Ember, however, just stared at her blankly, watching the overly dramatic way she nodded to herself with her eyes closed and arms folded like some divine sage.
'…Was she reading Chinese novels back in Heaven?' he wondered silently, his expression flat but his inner thoughts dripping with exasperation.
Aurora, on the other hand, was still nodding to herself, completely immersed in her imaginary world of overpowered protagonists and legendary realms.
He decided not to dwell on it any further and instead focused his attention on analyzing his parameters.
'They work pretty much as I expected,' he thought to himself.
'Strength increases whenever I push my physical power to its limit during combat, and even constant running seems to help it grow. Endurance rises as I deplete my stamina and withstand incoming attacks. Dexterity improves as the synchronization between my mind and body becomes more refined. Agility doesn't just enhance my speed—it also sharpens my reflexes and reactions. And as for Magic, it seems to grow in proportion to the capacity and strain placed on my mind.'
He took a moment to organize his thoughts before continuing internally.
'Still, if I had to point out the biggest reason behind the massive improvement in my parameters, it would be the fact that I've constantly been fighting opponents much stronger than me. Since I didn't update my status even once during the past six months, all that accumulated excelia must have piled up. After all, I've been fighting Orcs and other powerful monsters that someone with only G or H ranks in their parameters shouldn't even be facing.'
Coming to that conclusion, he decided it would be best to wait at least another year before updating his falna again.
There was no need to rush—building a stronger foundation was far more important.
He also took note of the new skill he had gained.
It wasn't difficult to guess the reason behind it—he had been hunting and killing Orcs even before receiving his falna, so that likely contributed to the birth of this ability.
'Well, this skill isn't useless by any means,' he mused.
Even if there weren't many pig-like monsters around, having a twenty percent boost to all parameters against them was still a useful advantage.
After all, even with his current strength, facing even a small group of Orcs without using magic would still be extremely dangerous.
After finishing his thoughts on that matter, Ember decided to head to Martha's inn for lunch.
Aurora, as usual, followed him cheerfully.
On the way, they greeted the passing villagers, most of whom smiled warmly upon seeing them.
During the walk, Aurora suddenly said, "Jason and Maria's relationship seems to have changed quite a bit recently! At this rate, it won't be long before I become a Great-Great-Great-Great Grandmother!" she announced proudly, puffing out her chest like she had accomplished something amazing.
Ember gave her a strange look, which made her pout immediately.
"Hmph?! What's with that look?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
Ember simply shrugged and said casually, "I just thought women are usually sensitive about their age."
Aurora's pout disappeared in an instant, replaced by a smug grin.
"Of course, that's true—but only for certain old hags who lack confidence and live in constant denial!" she declared dramatically.
"My great self is far above such mortal concerns! I am a Level 999 Endgame Goddess! Muahahahahaha!"
Ember was genuinely caught off guard by her words, unsure if Aurora actually meant what she said or if it was simply another part of her eccentric and unpredictable personality.
He had long since stopped trying to fully understand her logic—it was an impossible task—but her random bursts of self-proclaimed greatness still managed to leave him speechless every now and then.
Soon enough, they arrived at Martha's place, and the moment they stepped inside, they were greeted by the rich, mouthwatering aroma of freshly cooked mutton broth.
"Oh, you two are here! Sir Ber and Goddess, I've made mutton broth and steak for both of you," Martha said with a wide grin, clearly pleased with her own handiwork.
Both of their eyes instantly lit up, and their mouths began to water just from the smell alone.
The sizzling sound of the steak being placed on the plates only made it worse.
"Damn, Martha! You sure know the way to this Goddess's heart—or rather, her stomach!" Aurora exclaimed dramatically, already drooling as she sat down.
Ember chuckled at her over-the-top enthusiasm before joining her at the table.
They didn't waste another moment and immediately began to eat.
"This is so delicious!" they both said in near unison.
Aurora devoured her food with the energy and speed of a starving wolf, while Ember ate just as eagerly, though his movements were far more controlled and graceful.
As he took another bite, Ember couldn't help but feel his eyes sting slightly.
For the past six months, he had been living off practical, nutrition-focused meals—lots of vegetables, basic cuts of meat, and whatever carbohydrates he could find.
The food had been filling but completely lacked any real flavor.
He hadn't taken a single proper break to rest or enjoy a decent meal since he began his long hunting streak.
If it weren't for how addictive slaying monsters had become to his inner gamer instincts, he might have actually stopped to treat himself earlier.
When the steaks were finished, Martha brought out the mutton broth.
The savory scent filled the air again, and both Ember and Aurora instinctively thanked her before eagerly digging in.
The first spoonful alone was enough to make Ember sigh in contentment—it was warm, flavorful, and comforting in a way that reminded him of home.
By the time they finished, Ember was completely satisfied, though the sight of Aurora leaning back with a bulging stomach made his eyebrow twitch uncontrollably.
"Haha! Ember, I ate ten times more than you!" she declared proudly, patting her stomach as if it were a trophy.
Ember glanced at the mountain of empty plates stacked beside her and realized, much to his disbelief, that she might actually be telling the truth.
"Did you two enjoy the food?" Martha asked with a warm, knowing smile.
Both of them nodded in agreement.
Ember thought to himself, 'Damn, it's been so long since I've had a meal that even comes close to my everyday breakfast back in the Capital.'
He couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic, remembering that such meals used to be a daily luxury for him.
Silently, he shed an invisible tear.
'I guess this is part of the sacrifice I made… but as they say, no pain, no gain.'
Martha's expression suddenly shifted, her warm smile turning into something much more devilish.
"Alright then," she said sweetly, "Ember, your total comes to 3,700 valis, and Goddess, yours is… 29,000 valis."
The words hit Aurora like a lightning bolt.
"Huh?! W-wait, what?!" she stammered, nearly choking on air as the color drained from her face.
Ember, however, didn't even flinch.
He calmly reached into his pouch, counted the exact amount of valis, and handed it over to Martha as if he had already anticipated this outcome from the very beginning.
"W-Wait! Martha, you're seriously going to charge me? Your lovely, charming, and undeniably hot Goddess Aurora?!" Aurora exclaimed, her expression a mix of disbelief and betrayal.
Martha, however, remained unfazed.
"Goddess, I went through a lot of trouble to make that steak. I had to buy the ingredients myself, and it took quite a bit of effort to prepare it perfectly. So yes, you need to pay for it," she said firmly, crossing her arms.
"Normally, one serving would have cost about 4000 valis per person, but you…"—Martha paused, her eyes slowly drifting toward Aurora's slightly bulging stomach, her eyebrow twitching in irritation.
'As expected of a Goddess, even her hunger is on a divine level,' both Martha and Ember thought in perfect sync.
Aurora's gaze instantly shifted toward Ember, her golden eyes silently pleading for help.
Ember just sighed, almost as if used to this sort of thing by now.
He pulled out a pouch, counted the valis calmly, and handed Martha ten thousand more than his share before saying flatly, "Get the rest from the other Familia members," and walked away without another word.
Aurora watched his back as he left, her mouth hanging open slightly.
Then she glanced at Martha, who was now wearing a devilish grin that screamed, 'You're not getting out of this one.'
'Damn it! This guy really doesn't play according to the routine!' Aurora thought, puffing her cheeks. She couldn't even be mad at him; he had, after all, paid one-third of her gluttonous share despite being her newest child.
That kind of sincerity and decisiveness… it hit her differently.
For a brief moment, her usual smug grin softened, replaced with something closer to admiration—and, perhaps, affection.
'Well, time to go and "lovingly" collect from my other children,' she thought mischievously, her smirk returning.
Somewhere across the village, every member of her Familia suddenly shuddered, feeling a strange chill and the ominous premonition that their wallets were about to suffer.
Ember's POV
"...Cremation!" I finished the chant, releasing a wave of intense heat that pulverized the rock before me into molten fragments.
I exhaled deeply, steadying my breathing as the faint steam dissipated.
I had been practicing my mana control for hours now, pushing my limits little by little.
Normally, using about five percent of my mind allowed me to cast Cremation at standard strength—a level strong enough to kill most Level 1 adventurers instantly if they took a direct hit, though it would barely scratch a Level 2.
To take down a normal Level 2, I needed to pour at least twenty percent of my mind into the spell.
As for something as tough as an Infant Dragon? That took about one-fourth of my total mental capacity.
If my calculations were right, using more than half my mind should be enough to kill weaker Level 3s, and channeling nearly all of it might completely annihilate a mid-tier Level 3.
Of course, that was just the theory—the practical problem was actually landing a hit.
Condensing that much magic took time, and in battle, even a few seconds could mean the difference between life and death.
Still, these months of practice weren't fruitless.
By casting repeatedly, I'd learned more about how Cremation and my magic in general worked.
The longer the chant, the stronger the spell—that much was obvious—but my Cremation was a special case.
Despite having a short chant, it packed the destructive force of a long one.
It wasn't instant magic like Bell's, whose magic strength sat comfortably in the mid-tier range, but mine compensated with raw power.
Now, the real challenge was improving the speed at which I could channel my mind into my magic.
The faster I could pour my mind into it, the quicker the spell would activate, and the less time my enemies would have to react. My current goal was to shorten Cremation's activation time to that of a short instant chant—and once I managed that, to go even further and shorten it beyond that limit.
Eventually, I wanted to apply this on my concurrent chanting as well, but that would come after I'd perfected my current control.
I exhaled again, staring at the charred ground and the faint heat waves rising from it.
The path ahead was long—brutally long—but I wasn't the type to back off just because it was difficult.
'Since I'm back in the village, far away from the eyes of the other Familia members, it's best if I stay here until I perfect this technique,' I thought, clenching my fists.
What I was attempting was undoubtedly high-level—something only a few adventurers could even comprehend, and no one has possibly mastered.
But that didn't matter.
I had made up my mind.
So, without hesitation, I steadied my breathing, raised my hand again, and began another chant.
The air heated up instantly as I resumed my relentless training.
To be continued...
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