One week later.
Genichi returned to the Familia from the Dungeon.
To be honest, over the past week, he had not known how to face Demeter.
The tears in her eyes when he left that day, the heartbreak hidden behind her words telling him to go, the sorrow buried deep in those amber eyes...
Every scene kept replaying itself in his mind.
He did not know how to face her.
He did not know how to explain himself.
He did not know how to...
Make it right.
So he had simply stayed away.
He spent the entire week in the Dungeon grinding status.
He let the shadow fight while he rested.
Once he had rested enough, he switched, and fought while the shadow rested.
The two of them alternated, doubling the efficiency.
His status rose rapidly.
But inside him, there was always a hollow place that never quite filled.
Now, he was back.
Standing outside Demeter's door, Genichi hesitated.
He raised his hand, then lowered it.
Lowered it, then raised it again.
He took a deep breath, and finally reached out and knocked softly.
Knock, knock, knock.
A moment later, the door opened.
Demeter stood inside, looking at Genichi outside the door.
She froze.
Complex emotions surged into those amber eyes in an instant.
Surprise. Disbelief. And...
A cautious little spark of hope.
Then she could not hold herself back any longer.
She threw herself straight into Genichi's arms and wrapped both hands tightly around his waist.
His body stiffened slightly.
Very quickly, he felt the fabric over his chest grow damp.
Warm liquid seeped through his clothes and onto his skin.
Her tears.
Genichi was silent for a moment.
Then he raised his hand and slowly embraced her.
Those hands that had hovered stiffly in midair at last came to rest against her back.
Demeter trembled slightly, then went completely soft in his arms.
She buried her face in his chest and let her tears run freely.
For the entire past week, she had stood by the window every day, watching the sunset, the sunrise, the drifting clouds.
Every day, she had stood there looking toward the Familia gate.
Waiting for him to come back.
Waiting for that familiar figure to appear.
Waiting for him to push open that door and step into her sight.
But every time, all she got was empty disappointment.
When the sun rose, she waited.
When the sun set, she waited.
Late into the night, she still waited.
But he never came back.
One day, two days, three days...
He never returned.
She had started thinking too much.
Had what she said that day made him unhappy?
Had she pushed too hard and made him want to run?
Had he...
Decided not to come back at all?
The moment that thought appeared, it wrapped around her heart like a venomous snake.
She was afraid to think it, yet could not stop herself.
And every time she did, her heart hurt all over again.
Now...
He had finally come back.
He was standing right in front of her.
Alive, warm, real.
Demeter could not hold herself together any longer.
She lifted her head, eyes blurred with tears.
Those amber eyes were overflowing with tears, but also with humble pleading.
"Please don't leave me."
Her voice choked, yet every word was clear.
"I'm begging you."
She paused.
"I'll never do anything that makes you unhappy again."
Genichi looked at her.
At those tear-filled eyes, at that face flushed red from crying, at the painfully humble look on her face.
It felt as though something had gripped his heart and squeezed.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
Wanting to explain, to comfort her, to tell her...
That it was not her fault.
That he had been too cold.
That his words had hurt her.
That he...
But in the end, all the words he wanted to say became just one sentence.
"I'm back."
His voice was quiet, but it carried a certainty that made people feel at ease.
Demeter froze.
Then she smiled.
That smile carried tears, carried joy, carried all the hurt and longing of the past few days, and also...
The happiness of getting back what she thought she had lost.
She stepped out of Genichi's embrace and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Those amber eyes were full of tenderness.
"Welcome back."
She spoke softly.
Genichi looked at her and gave a small nod.
"Mm."
The two of them simply stood there facing each other, neither saying a word.
But the air around them was filled with sweetness.
The joy of reunion after being apart.
The flutter of two hearts drawing close again.
The distance that had stood between them seemed to vanish in an instant.
Inside the room, Genichi sat at the edge of the bed, and Demeter sat across from him.
They remained like that quietly, neither of them speaking.
After a long while, Demeter finally broke the silence.
"Where did you go this past week?"
Her voice was soft, not accusatory. Only curious.
"The Dungeon."
Genichi's answer was brief.
"You were in the Dungeon the whole time?"
"Mm."
Demeter was silent for a moment.
"Why didn't you come back?"
Genichi did not answer right away.
He knew what she was really asking.
Why did you not come back?
Why did you make me wait so long?
Why...
Did you worry me like that?
He lowered his head and looked at her in his arms.
There was no blame in those amber eyes, only curiosity.
And a small, careful hint of hope.
Genichi was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"...I didn't know how to face you."
Demeter blinked in surprise.
"That day..."
Genichi continued.
"I went too far with what I said."
He paused.
"I know you were only worried about me. You only wanted me to spend more time with you."
"But I..."
He drew a deep breath.
"I can't stop."
Demeter looked at him, a complicated emotion flashing through her amber eyes.
"I know."
Her voice was very soft.
"I remember everything you said that day."
She paused.
"You said you were either getting stronger, or dying on the road to getting stronger."
"You can't stop."
"The moment you stop, you might die."
Genichi fell silent.
He had not expected her to remember it so clearly.
"I can help you."
Demeter's voice continued.
"I can do anything. If you need it, I'll do whatever I can for you. Just please don't abandon me."
She lifted her head, eyes shining with tears.
Those amber eyes were filled with earnestness.
Genichi looked at her.
At those sincere eyes, at that serious expression, at how openly she showed everything she felt.
It was as though something inside him was being filled.
Warm.
Full.
Heavy in the gentlest way.
He lowered his head and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.
"All right."
His voice was very soft, but it carried the weight of a promise.
"I promise you."
"No matter what happens, I'll come back."
Demeter smiled.
That smile was bright and radiant, like the warmest sunlight of spring.
She burrowed into his arms a little more, curling up in a comfortable position.
"That's good."
She spoke softly.
The day after Genichi returned to the Familia, people from the Guild came knocking.
In truth, the Guild had already come by earlier, but Genichi had gone into the Dungeon and had not returned.
They had only managed to catch him now.
Genichi opened the door and saw the figure standing outside. His brows moved slightly.
She wore glasses, had a neat and capable face, and was dressed in the standard uniform of a Guild employee.
Eina Tulle.
A Guild advisor, and the same person he had met before his very first trip into the Dungeon.
"Mr. Genichi, it's been a while."
Eina adjusted her glasses, a professional smile on her face.
But her eyes were fixed sharply on him.
"I'm Eina from the Guild. I'm here this time to verify the true level of Genichi, a member of the Demeter Familia."
She paused.
"An adventurer filed a report claiming that you concealed your true level."
Genichi fell silent.
A report?
Who had filed it?
The Loki Familia?
Or someone else?
But he quickly understood.
That day outside the tavern, he had defeated Bete with a single strike.
A newcomer who had only been an adventurer for two months defeating a Level 5 of the Loki Familia...
There was no way something like that would not cause a sensation.
Everyone was curious what level he really was.
So it was only natural that the Guild had received a report and wanted to verify his true level.
Genichi looked at Eina, and there was not the slightest ripple in those black eyes.
"About that..."
He paused.
"I think we need to have a talk."
One of Eina's brows rose slightly.
Not a refusal. Not a denial. Not an excuse.
A talk?
That response was a little outside her expectations.
She had assumed this boy would flatly deny it, come up with all kinds of excuses, or even refuse to cooperate outright.
After all, concealing one's level was explicitly forbidden by Guild regulations.
If it was confirmed, the lightest punishment would be a fine. In serious cases, the person could be barred from entering the Dungeon.
She had seen all kinds of reactions from adventurers under investigation.
But someone as calm as Genichi was a first.
"All right."
Eina nodded.
"Where would you like to talk?"
"Come in."
Genichi stepped aside to let her pass.
Eina entered the room, her gaze sweeping over the surroundings.
Simple. Clean. Nothing unnecessary.
She sat down in a chair and looked at Genichi.
Genichi sat across from her and met her eyes.
The two sat facing one another, and the atmosphere was subtly tense.
Eina was the first to speak.
"Mr. Genichi, according to the report, you have only been an adventurer for around two months."
She paused.
"But as far as we know, a few days ago you defeated Bete of the Loki Familia, a Level 5 adventurer."
Her gaze sharpened further.
"A Level 5 adventurer being defeated by someone who has only been an adventurer for two months..."
"Does that sound normal to you?"
Genichi looked at her and said nothing.
Eina continued.
"So the Guild needs to verify your true level."
"If you really did conceal your level, then according to the rules, you will face a fine and be prohibited from entering the Dungeon for a period of time."
"If you did not conceal it, then we need to know how you attained this level of strength in only two months."
She paused.
"Please cooperate with the investigation."
Genichi was silent for a moment.
Then he slowly spoke.
"Miss Eina."
"Yes?"
"I want to ask you a question."
Eina blinked, slightly surprised.
"What question?"
Her brows drew together a little.
"What is the Guild's purpose?"
"To maintain order in Orario and protect the safety of adventurers."
Genichi nodded.
"Then let me ask you this."
He looked at her.
"What impact has my concealing my level had on Orario's order?"
Eina fell silent.
"When I defeated Bete, it was in a fair fight. I didn't hurt any innocent adventurers, I didn't break the Guild's rules, and I didn't do anything that harmed Orario."
Genichi's voice was calm, yet carried a force that was hard to refute.
"So why is the Guild pursuing the issue of me concealing my level?"
Eina opened her mouth, wanting to say something, only to realize she had no real rebuttal.
Because what he said was true.
Concealing one's level was not some grave crime in itself.
The Guild required adventurers to register their true level mainly so it could keep track of the city's strength distribution and prevent people from falsifying their Falna.
But Genichi's case...
He really had not caused any negative consequences.
If anything, him defeating Bete had, in a certain sense, preserved the Loki Familia's dignity, if that even counted as dignity.
"And besides..."
Genichi continued.
"The Guild has a few secrets of its own that can't be made public, doesn't it?"
Eina's expression sharpened.
"What do you mean?"
Genichi did not answer directly.
He simply looked at her, and a meaningful glint flashed through those black eyes.
"I know some things."
He paused.
"About which people inside the Guild are connected to Evilus."
Eina's pupils contracted.
"What did you say?"
Genichi's voice was calm, but it carried a certainty that sent a chill down the spine.
"The Guild has already been infiltrated by Evilus."
Eina's face changed.
Of course she understood what that meant.
It would shake the Guild to its foundations.
"Do you have proof?"
Her voice had gone slightly dry.
"No."
Genichi shook his head.
"But I know."
He looked at her.
"Just like you know what I'm saying might be true."
Eina fell silent.
She looked at the boy sitting before her, a complicated feeling rising in her heart.
Who exactly was he?
Why did he know these things?
Why did he dare say them to her face?
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
Genichi looked at her and slowly spoke.
"What I'm proposing..."
"Is a deal."
His voice was calm.
"I don't pursue the matter of those people inside the Guild, and the Guild doesn't pursue the matter of me concealing my level."
"What do you think?"
Eina froze.
A deal?
Trading information about Evilus infiltrating the Guild for leniency over concealing his level?
This...
"Are you threatening the Guild?"
Her voice carried a note of disbelief.
"No."
Genichi shook his head.
"I'm cooperating with the Guild."
He looked at her.
"The Guild needs to know who the traitors are. I need this issue of my concealed level not to be pursued."
"Each side gets what it wants."
Eina fell silent.
She had to admit the deal Genichi proposed was extremely tempting.
If he was telling the truth, if the Guild really had been infiltrated by Evilus...
Then learning the identities of those traitors was far more important than pursuing one adventurer for concealing his level.
"I..."
She started to speak, only to find her throat dry.
"I need to go back and consult my superiors."
Genichi nodded.
"That's fine. But I suggest you go directly to your Guild master."
He paused.
"And one more thing."
"The fewer people who know about this, the better."
Eina took a deep breath and stood.
"I understand."
She walked toward the door.
When she reached it, she suddenly stopped and looked back at him.
"Mr. Genichi."
"Yes?"
"Who exactly are you?"
Genichi was silent for a moment.
Then he smiled.
It was a faint smile, but there was something indescribable in it.
"Just someone who wants to stay alive."
Eina looked at him for a long time without speaking.
Then she opened the door and left.
The door closed softly behind her.
Genichi was left alone in the room.
Sitting in the chair, he looked at the closed door and let the corners of his lips lift slightly.
The Guild would probably agree.
After all, they had no other choice.
(End of Chapter)
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