"Next, let's fast-forward to selecting Ron's Lv3 title!"
What kind of statement was that!
Did it mean that they disliked the title "Brown Hyena," and even did not want it to spread throughout Orario—so they intended to use this divine council to update the title again?
The gods present looked at one another.
But the answer to the question ultimately pointed toward Ron.
After all, in the War Game, the combat power this guy had displayed was not the level of strength an adventurer who had only recently undergone level ascension could possess!
For an adventurer to ascend in level, it only required that the ability values reach a D rating. If the achievements were sufficient, the requirements for ability values could even be relaxed somewhat. For this new star who had broken the world record, perhaps all aspects had already met the requirements.
It was just that...
Hestia's behavior, in the eyes of many of the gods present, was somewhat lacking in consideration. Matters such as titles could be overwritten.
Even if she was dissatisfied with the title "Brown Hyena," there was no need to gamble the future of her Familia and act out of momentary emotion!
As the host of the meeting, Ganesha looked toward Hestia. Rarely, he did not fan the flames and instead advised: "Could it be... a little too rash?"
"The talent Ron possesses..."
"All the gods present have seen it. Continuing to accumulate and striving to reach the extreme at each level would be more suitable for his long-term development."
"As for the matter of the title."
"Even if you are truly dissatisfied, it can be discussed again."
Although Ron truly might be able to break through continuously to Lv3 within a month, adventurers did not pursue speed alone. Consolidating their ability values was equally crucial.
Even though Ron and Ais were both competitors on the path of heroes, Loki did not think this was a bad thing. Only competition could bring growth. Moreover, she had not expected that Hestia would go this far in this matter—especially regarding the ownership of the title.
She lightly shook her head and, because of her conflict with the shorty, did not continue insisting: "Pretend I didn't say anything. As for the title, you can vote among yourselves."
"..."
Why was everyone trying to persuade her not to act impulsively?
When the gods cast puzzled gazes toward her, Hestia did not feel as though she were sitting on pins and needles. After all, only she knew that Ron's various ability values... had long since reached the theoretical limit of the Falna system.
And such crucial information could not be announced in front of so many gods. Moreover, she had not yet reported the level-up to the Adventurers Guild.
'The problem is...'
'Ron has truly already become a Lv3 adventurer—why don't any of you believe it!'
Perhaps because the consecutive breakthroughs were too astonishing?
Before the goddess could explain further, just as Loki declared the nominated title "Brown Hyena" void, the most influential goddess present—the goddess of beauty, Freya—smiled brightly and looked around at the many gods present.
"I actually think..."
"The title 'Tarnished' is quite good. After all, he has accomplished a feat great enough to shake the entire world—with Ron, this child, setting the standard before them."
"Those so-called geniuses will only be set off by comparison, their aura of genius fading away."
"I wonder what everyone here thinks?"
"..."
"Since Freya says the title makes sense, of course we have no objections. Explained this way, the title no longer seems so inexplicable."
"Agreed."
"Let's call him Tarnished!"
"I wonder whether the other adventurers will have any objections~"
The influence of the 'Goddess of Beauty,' Freya, was beyond doubt.
Most of the male gods present chose to raise their hands in approval of the title proposed for Ron by Hestia. With an overwhelming number of votes, it surpassed the previous nominations.
It was just that, for some reason...
Even after securing the title Ron wanted, the goddess did not feel happy at all—especially when she noticed Freya's meaningful smile.
'Why does it feel like there's a trap!'
'At least the result is good.'
Hestia could only comfort herself like this.
Watching the gods gradually leave the divine council, she did not linger and prepared to return to the Familia's residence to bring this piece of good news to Ron.
Yet she did not expect—
Loki, who had never gotten along well with her even in the heavens, crossed her hands behind her head and, with narrowed eyes, reminded her: "Shorty, from now on..."
"Pay a bit more attention to Freya."
"Thanks for the reminder."
"..."
As for what Hestia had just said, Loki had no intention of asking further. She absolutely could not give that woman any opportunity to show off.
However, after leaving the divine council hall, she quickened her steps and found Hephaestus.
"Um."
Loki rubbed her hands together, with not the slightest elegance expected of a goddess.
"About Ron's level ascension—do you have any exclusive information?"
"Which aspect do you want to hear about?"
"Is it really... just like Shorty said? If the title isn't satisfactory, then they use this divine council to select a Lv3 title again?"
It was hard not to feel curious.
Would there really be an adventurer who could ascend levels consecutively within such a short interval?
She could not help clicking her tongue.
"It feels a bit exaggerated..."
She could barely be considered a witness to Ron's growth and also knew this guy's steady personality. He would absolutely not allow Hestia to fool around at the divine council.
Hephaestus slightly frowned, then nodded.
"It is very likely true."
"Then Hestia really isn't responsible enough. If it were a child of my Familia, I would absolutely make him raise his abilities to the limit of his current potential."
"Then we should consider the matter of ascension again..."
After obtaining the accurate answer, Loki's gaze turned somewhat wistful, though it was mostly helplessness.
Why was it that Shorty could have such good luck and encounter such an outstanding Familia member? If he had appeared in her Familia, she would definitely have groomed him as her successor.
"Hehe."
Hephaestus only smiled without speaking.
In her mind, she could not help recalling the information Ron had revealed when he first underwent level ascension and specially invited her to attend the celebration banquet.
'Limit value.'
The limit value of the Falna system.
Without giving too much reminder, she spoke in a casual tone: "Since it involves ability values, it's not convenient for me to reveal it to you. Compared to the feat he created in Orario, the talent Ron truly possesses..."
"is only more exaggerated than what you imagine."
"???"
Back in the heavens, being a 'riddle speaker' was one of Loki's few sources of amusement, but when such a thing happened to herself, Loki only felt extremely irritated.
This woman definitely knew inside information!
But for gods—the cruelest thing was that when a miracle was placed before them and their curiosity was completely aroused, what awaited them was only an abrupt stop.
"The specific situation is not convenient for me to say."
"As for the matter of the elf secret realm and the branch of the Great Sacred Tree, you may need to pay more attention to it. When the time comes, I will have Ron go to your Familia residence to find you."
"..."
"I will."
Such an obvious reminder from a friend—of course Loki could understand the meaning behind it. Since the secret Ron possessed was even more astonishing than the talent he displayed, then... it was indeed necessary to reconsider how to handle relations with the Hestia Familia.
The grudges from the heavens, within the nearly infinite time of the gods, were nothing that could not be passed over. After coming to Orario to develop her Familia, she cared more about how to look after the children of her Familia.
"I estimate... the Familia expedition should be ending soon. Finn and Riveria should return to Orario within these two days. When that happens, I will push forward this matter."
"Besides..."
Facing Hephaestus's gaze, Loki narrowed her eyes and lightly shook her head with a smile.
"I actually think quite highly of Ron as well..."
...
Being able to scrape nearly twenty million Valis from Zanis, Ron truly had not expected such an unexpected windfall.
After all, the reason Zanis had been able to stabilize his rule over the Familia was precisely because of his excellent methods of exploitation.
He could continuously provide Soma with the materials needed to brew divine wine.
Setting aside the expenses of running the Familia and purchasing materials for divine wine, this guy had still managed to accumulate such an enormous sum of wealth before fleeing Orario.
It even... was almost close to the Apollo Familia's liquid funds!
It could also be considered as continuously adding bricks and tiles to the development of the Hestia Familia. He did not linger any longer. As he prepared to return to the Familia's residence, he looked toward the girl standing where she was.
Since he had more or less earned quite a bit thanks to her information, he casually asked: "Zanis is already dead, so what do you plan to do next?"
"..."
With Zanis, the captain of the Familia, having been executed in this alley, the Soma Familia would certainly elect a new captain to maintain normal operations.
Lili had no intention of facing the god Soma.
Relying on the magic "Cinder Ella," whether leaving Orario or hiding her identity and continuing to live in this city that had troubled her for more than ten years, she still had no clear plan.
Continue being a supporter?
But how could she face her extremely disgraceful past—those adventurers whose weapons she had stolen... Lili did not believe she deserved forgiveness.
Until this period of time, because of Ron's appearance, she had become a figure drifting on the edge of the Familia.
Lili finally clearly realized—after leaving the so-called umbrella of the Soma Familia, it was not as though it was raining in Orario. No matter where she went, she was unquestionably still someone on the margins.
The girl's somewhat childish face carried a smile of relief as she said seriously: "I don't want to continue being an adventurer anymore."
"Probably..."
"I will find a job at a flower shop. When I escaped from the Soma Familia before, two elders once took me in there out of kindness."
"Until now..."
"I have never had the chance to say sorry to them."
In truth, Lili still did not have the courage even now. She only wanted to compensate as much as possible for the losses from the flower shop being smashed, and also leave herself a reason to remain in Orario.
Before they parted, Lili paused slightly in her steps, the corners of her mouth curving into a gentle arc.
"I don't know... through what channel you learned about those disgraceful parts of my past. I also know that those experiences are not worthy of sympathy or forgiveness."
"But without you, I probably would have had a hard time gaining freedom."
"Thank you."
"As a supporter at the very bottom, I really can't help you with much. But if there is ever something that requires assistance, you can find me at the DearFlora flower shop."
"And then..."
At the end, the girl—whose back had never bent even after suffering bullying and mistreatment from her Familia companions—bowed toward Ron in gratitude: "Mr. Ron."
"I wish you victory in every battle!"
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