All day long, from the moment he stepped onto the Dungeon's First Floor at dawn until evening shadows began to climb Babel's outer walls, Genichi poured nearly every spare minute into fighting those green-skinned little pests: goblins.
There was no suspense in the "battle," and no real technique to speak of.
With baseline physical ability far beyond an ordinary Lv.1, calm judgment, and a sharp standard-issue longsword, goblins were as fragile before him as weeds in a wheat field.
He didn't chase flashy swordplay or efficient area clears. He simply used the most stamina-saving, most stable method, repeating the same loop: search, approach, kill, pick up the magic stone, find the next target.
Clean. Precise. Efficient.
Like a killing machine running a fixed program, he advanced through the First Floor's not-too-complicated corridors and chambers, steadily sweeping them clean.
Countless adventurers who passed by, whether they were Lv.1 rookie parties or veterans hurrying toward deeper floors, noticed the black-haired boy who seemed to be permanently anchored on the First Floor, grinding away at the weakest goblins with stubborn diligence.
At first, their looks held curiosity. Then it quickly turned into open contempt and ridicule.
"Hey, look at that guy. Still killing goblins on the First Floor."
"He's been at it all afternoon, hasn't he? What a coward."
"Probably from some weak Familia. Got scared out of his mind and only dares to bully goblins."
"Hah. Bet he can't even look at any other monster."
"Waste of time. Even if he kills a thousand goblins down here, his Status won't go up much. And forget getting a feat."
Whispers and unhidden mockery drifted into Genichi's ears in fragments. Those gazes were like needles, full of judgment and smug superiority.
Genichi didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow.
His mind was a frozen lake. Their noise couldn't raise even a ripple.
He'd come to this world with a clear and singular goal: get stronger.
Second was building combat experience, but that came after he ensured his safety and built a baseline of strength.
Right now, what he needed was a safe, stable, sustainable way to accumulate power.
Other people's opinions?
Randoms' laughter?
Meaningless background noise. Compared to the core goal of strength, it was lighter than dust.
He didn't need to prove anything to anyone, and he didn't need to care what anyone thought.
His path was his to define.
As for "coward"…
As for "afraid to go deeper"…
They had no idea his staying wasn't driven by fear, but by the intent to forge something unprecedented—
Time slipped away amid the dull repetition of swinging a sword and picking up one crude magic stone after another.
Genichi wasn't without results.
He could clearly feel that as the kill count rose, the power plundered by Greed, while negligible per kill, accumulated into something real. The change was extremely slow, but undeniably present, a sense of being packed down and reinforced.
Like the finest sand building up grain by grain. You couldn't see the height changing, but the foundation was steadily hardening.
At the same time, he didn't neglect collecting the magic stones goblins dropped.
The lowest-grade crystals, no bigger than a fingernail, went carefully into a separate compartment of his pack.
He had an idea he wanted to test. If it worked, it might open another route for rapid accumulation of power.
When the hands of his pocket watch reached the time he'd set for his return, Genichi stopped without a hint of reluctance.
He quickly wiped off the dust and the barely noticeable traces of goblin blood, checked his equipment and haul, then turned and headed back along the route he'd come, walking straight toward the Dungeon entrance.
His pace was steady. His eyes were calm.
Compared to other adventurers returning with exhaustion, excitement, or disappointment written all over them, he stood out.
By the time he reached Demeter's Familia grounds, where the air carried the scent of soil and plants, dusk was nearing.
The last glow of sunset laid a warm gold edge over the fields and windmills, a sharp contrast to the Dungeon's cold damp darkness.
Genichi had just stepped onto the main house's porch, not even taken off his pack yet—
"Genichi!"
With a cry that carried obvious panic and immediate relief, a figure rushed in on a wave of fragrance, like a tired bird diving back into its nest.
Demeter practically slammed into him, then, without asking, threw her arms around him and hugged him hard.
She used real strength, like she meant to pour the entire day's gathered anxiety into that embrace and wring it out.
Honey-colored hair brushed Genichi's cheek and neck. Her soft, fragrant body pressed tight against his cold light armor. He could clearly feel her slightly quickened heartbeat and the faint tremble she couldn't quite control.
"You're finally back!"
Demeter's voice was muffled against his shoulder, carrying a faint hitch and thick resentment.
"If you'd been even a little later, even one minute, I was going to send people to the Dungeon entrance and drag you back myself!"
She'd been restless all day.
In her mind, one possible disaster after another kept flashing by: an unexpected strong monster, an ambush by ill-intentioned adventurers, getting lost in an unfamiliar route, even something as simple as slipping and getting hurt.
For this boy she saw as special, and as her greatest unknown, she'd poured in an unusual amount of attention and emotion.
Genichi's body stiffened slightly from the impact, but he relaxed quickly.
He didn't struggle. He simply let her hold him, feeling the heat and directness of her worry.
Somewhere in the frozen corner of his heart, something shifted, a tiny loosened space he hadn't noticed existed.
"Please be at ease. I'm fine."
His voice was still steady, though it carried a faint chill, perhaps from having just come in from outside.
"I followed the plan and adapted on the First Floor. If you'll allow me, I'll clean up first, change clothes, and then I'll come to you so you can update my Status…"
"No waiting!"
Demeter cut him off instantly.
She loosened her hug, but her hands locked around his wrists, her amber eyes scanning him up and down. Only after confirming that aside from being dusty he wasn't injured did she ease up slightly. The urgency on her face didn't disappear.
"Come update your Status now. I don't want to wait even a second longer!"
Before Genichi could object, she grabbed him and nearly dragged him upstairs toward her room.
Her steps were fast, honey-colored hair flying behind her, her impatience unmistakable.
Back in her room, filled with the scent of herbs and flowers, Demeter shut the door behind them, not even giving Genichi time to breathe.
"Shirt. Now!"
She urged him, fingers already at her lips, ready to bite.
Seeing her like this, Genichi knew there was no winning against a goddess who'd decided to be stubborn. He quickly undid the buckles of his light armor and the buttons of his undershirt, pulling the top down to his waist to expose his back.
He hadn't even fully turned and settled into position when Demeter was already crowding in.
She bit her lip with her small, pale teeth. A bead of bright red blood, carrying the unmistakable presence of a god, welled up.
Then she reached out and rather roughly tugged his clothing higher to ensure the sacred script on his back was completely exposed.
Next, she let the drop of divine blood fall right onto the center of the sacred letters.
"Mm…"
The instant the blood touched Falna, that familiar resonance surged again, straight to the soul.
(End of Chapter)
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