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Lefiya stared at her open palm, as if hoping to see a new spark of magic emerge from her skin. Yet curiosity still tickled her mind.
"Loki..." she said, turning to the goddess. "Is this everything? Or... is there another surprise you haven't told me about?"
Loki sighed loudly and tossed a small pillow at Lefiya, who caught it just before it hit her face. "You're so greedy, you know that?! This is already insane progress! Many adventurers only dream of getting a Level Up, Skill, Development Ability, and Rank S Magic all at once!"
"Hehehe~" Lefiya giggled, hugging her status sheet lovingly. "Well then... I'll take my leave now!" she said cheerfully, then skipped lightly toward the door. Her steps seemed to float, full of energy and hope.
Loki watched her retreating back and let out a long sigh. She grabbed a half-empty bottle of liquor from under the table, swinging it gently before taking a swig.
"These kids... they grow up so fast," she murmured with a small smile. The goddess nodded slowly, not to anyone in particular—just to the passage of time and the new generation that kept surpassing even the gods' expectations.
Lefiya walked out of Loki's room with light steps and a heart full of euphoria. Every step she took down the hallway felt like a dance, and a wide smile never left her face. Her status sheet remained clutched tightly in her left hand, as if she wasn't ready to let it go.
As she descended the stairs to the lower floor, her steps slowed when she spotted a very familiar figure coming up from the direction of the kitchen.
"Aiz!" she called out spontaneously.
Aiz paused on the stairs, one hand resting on her slightly bloated stomach. She looked... satisfied. A crumb of bread lingered at the corner of her lips, and her breathing was slightly heavy—clearly a victim of a massive eating session.
"Lefiya," Aiz greeted flatly, though her eyes widened slightly at the elf girl's enthusiasm.
"I leveled up!" Lefiya exclaimed excitedly, almost bouncing in place.
Aiz remained silent for a moment, processing the information. Then, with a slightly awkward expression, she raised one thumb into the air. "Congratulations."
Lefiya laughed happily and took two steps closer. "Not just that! I also got a new skill!"
Aiz—whose expression still hadn't changed—raised another thumb, now holding both up like a victory statue.
"And..." Lefiya leaned forward with sparkling eyes, "I also got a rare Developmental Ability... Mystery!"
Aiz froze. Her eyes blinked once, then again. Her thumbs remained raised, unable to offer further praise because... well, the swordswoman had run out of thumbs.
She looked at her own thumbs, then slowly turned to Lefiya. Her face remained blank, but her mouth opened slightly.
"...Cool."
Just one word. But coming from Aiz Wallenstein, it was praise of divine proportions.
Lefiya covered her mouth with a small laugh, her heart bursting like fireworks. Today—without a doubt—was one of the best days of her life.
The elf girl continued her cheerful descent down the stairs to the lower floors of Twilight Manor. Unable to contain her overflowing emotions, she began humming while twirling lightly on the steps.
"I leveled up I leveled uuup!"
Several members of Loki Familia, relaxing in the common room, turned at the sound.
Raul, who was polishing his sword, smirked, while Gareth, sitting with a cup of tea, chuckled softly and shook his head. Aki nudged Raul lightly and whispered, "Wow, she's really happy, huh?"
But as usual, one person reacted differently. From a corner of the room, Bete grumbled without turning. "Tsk... noisy."
But Lefiya didn't care. Her feet hopped lightly, like a small fairy who had just grown extra wings.
When she reached the main hall, her gaze immediately landed on a figure that made her pause, and her smile widened even further.
On one of the long sofas sat a woman with emerald-green hair and an elegant long dress that radiated grace and nobility: Riveria Ljos Alf, her mentor.
But this time, the High Elf wasn't holding a magic staff or reading a book. She was massaging her temples with one hand, her expression showing extreme exhaustion... and a hint of nausea.
Riveria didn't even notice Lefiya's arrival until—
"LADY RIVEEEERIAAA!!"
The loud voice made Riveria flinch. The hand massaging her forehead pressed harder. "...hnghh..."
Lefiya slid onto the sofa, sitting beside her mentor with shining eyes.
"I leveled up, Lady Riveria! Level 4! And that's not all—I also got a new Skill! It's called Double Cannon! It lets me store a chant circle as a ring on my arm! Isn't that amazing? It's super cool, right?!"
Riveria still held her forehead, as if Lefiya's magic wasn't Double Cannon but Headache Amplifier.
But as a noble Elf and her mentor, she maintained her composure. With a barely visible smile, she nodded slowly.
"Mm... of course. I'm listening," she said softly, trying to sound calm and dignified, though her voice was slightly hoarse from the hangover.
She didn't want her student to know that last night, for the first time in her life, she had consumed a significant amount of alcohol thanks to Finn and Gareth's antics, especially Finn's.
Embarrassed? Absolutely. Especially if another Elf—let alone her own student—found out.
Gracefully, Riveria stood up while massaging her temples again. "That's wonderful, Lefiya. We'll discuss the details... tomorrow. Or maybe the day after. During magic training, okay?"
"Okay! Yes, Lady Riveria!" Lefiya replied, standing and saluting with unwavering enthusiasm, completely oblivious to her mentor's attempt to escape the awkward situation.
Still brimming with excitement and joy, Lefiya walked out of Twilight Manor with little hops—her steps so light it was as if she wasn't touching the ground. Occasionally, she twirled happily, as if dancing with the afternoon breeze. On the hall table, she absentmindedly placed the status sheet she had been hugging and then sauntered out, forgetting to take it with her.
As soon as she stepped into the front yard of the manor, her eyes immediately caught sight of someone she had been waiting for: a red-haired young man in a dusty tunic, carrying a large supporter's bag on his back.
Shirou had just returned from turning in a quest at the Guild and hadn't even had time to catch his breath when—
"Shirouuuu!" Lefiya called out, approaching quickly and—without hesitation—grabbing both of his hands.
"Huh—eh, Lefiya?" Shirou could only surrender as she pulled him into a spin. "W-wait, what's—"
Surrounded by Lefiya's cheerful laughter, they spun once, twice, several times—until Lefiya finally stopped with a small laugh, slightly dizzy.
"Huff... hehe, sorry, I'm just too happy," she said, still holding Shirou's hands.
Shirou smiled in confusion. "You look really excited. Good news?"
Lefiya nodded quickly, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "I leveled up, Shirou! Now I'm... Level 4! Just like you!"
"Wow, congratulations," Shirou said sincerely, a little surprised but happy at the news. "That's amazing."
"But wait, there's more!" Lefiya added eagerly, her voice full of excitement. "I also chose a new Development Ability... and I picked Mystery! So now I can help you even more with our projects—Faker Company, remember?"
"Mystery, huh?" Shirou furrowed his brow, tilting his head slightly. "The name's... a bit confusing. What does it do?"
Lefiya raised a finger, ready to explain. But as soon as she opened her mouth, she paused, her eyes drifting upward as if searching for an answer in the sky.
"Umm... actually, I'm not entirely sure myself," she admitted with an awkward laugh.
"Hah? Loki didn't explain it to you?" Shirou raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled.
"Every user can have different effects," Lefiya answered quickly, trying to salvage her dignity. "For example, Asfi from Hermes Familia—she can make amazing magic items. Like those winged shoes she wears, she made them herself!"
Shirou nodded slowly, beginning to understand. "So it depends on the user, huh... Wow, then you can discover your own unique potential through it."
Lefiya smiled sweetly, her eyes never leaving Shirou. "And I want to use it... to support you."
Shirou was touched by her words and nodded gently. "Thank you. I really appreciate that... But yeah, I wonder when we'll get to work on projects at the Forge again. It feels like forever since we last made that bicycle."
Lefiya immediately puffed out her chest, her spirit blazing. "I'm ready anytime! Just say the word!"
Shirou chuckled. "Heh, your enthusiasm is incredible. But..." He leaned slightly closer, looking at Lefiya with a more serious tone, "You should probably figure out how your Mystery ability works first. It wouldn't be fun if it turns out differently from what you expect."
Lefiya opened her mouth to reply, but Shirou suddenly clapped his hands as if remembering something. "Oh, right!"
"Hm? What is it?" Lefiya asked, slightly confused by Shirou's sudden change in expression.
"Earlier, when I was at the Guild... I saw Asfi there too. She looked really busy, handling something at the reception desk," Shirou said, scratching the back of his head.
"Really? Is she still there now?" Lefiya asked, her eyes widening with hope.
"Probably," Shirou replied, recalling. "She said something like, 'I'm spending the whole damn day at the Guild today'—so chances are she hasn't left yet. Maybe you can keep her company for a bit. And ask her about Mystery while you're at it. She's the expert on that, right?"
Lefiya didn't waste a second. "You're right! Shirou, thanks for the idea!"
Without waiting for a response, she turned and strode quickly toward the manor's gate. Her steps were light, her arms swinging confidently, and her smile never faded. "Finally, I can ask the expert directly!" she murmured excitedly, breaking into a light run as she headed toward the Guild through the bustling streets of Orario.
***
That afternoon, the aroma of spices and broth wafted from the kitchen of the Hostess of Fertility. Shirou stood in front of a large stove, wearing his signature green uniform. His face was serious, focused on measuring spices while tasting the broth he was preparing. Beside him, Syr helped with a gentle smile, chopping fresh vegetables and arranging meat on plates.
"Just a little, Shirou. Not too much pepper," Syr said softly, leaning toward the pot, her breath almost brushing Shirou's shoulder.
Shirou nodded. "Oh, right, this beef stew is for table seven. They asked for it not too spicy."
From outside the kitchen, lively chatter and laughter filled the air. Anya hopped around carrying a tray full of glasses, Chloe teased an old customer who laughed heartily, and Ryuu moved swiftly yet calmly, delivering a large plate of steak to another table.
"Another order! Three salads and two stews for table three!" Ryuu peeked in from the kitchen door, her voice firm but not as sharp as usual. Then she vanished like the wind.
Mama Mia stood in a corner of the kitchen, arms crossed, watching everything with sharp but proud eyes. "Come on, don't let the waitresses outpace you. Don't keep the customers waiting!"
"Yes, Mama Mia!" Shirou and Syr replied in unison.
Time passed steadily. The sun crept downward, replacing its warm rays with an orange glow that swept across the restaurant's windows. Customers came and went, chairs emptied and filled again, and food continued to flow from the kitchen.
Eventually, night fell. Magical lamps flickered on one by one, casting a warm, dim light throughout the room. The last customer left, wiping their mouth in satisfaction. Anya and Chloe had already gone home early for their morning shift the next day, and Mama Mia had left to tally the day's earnings.
Now, only Ryuu remained, cleaning the tables, Syr rearranging the chairs... and Shirou, still in the kitchen, quietly tidying up the remnants of the day's cooking.
The atmosphere grew quiet, broken only by the sound of cloth wiping tables and soft footsteps on the wooden floor. Shirou dried his hands with a towel and stepped out of the kitchen.
The three of them stood in the now-empty room, accompanied only by the lingering aroma of food and the gentle sway of magical lights. Night had fully descended upon the Hostess of Fertility.
As they stood near the door, ready to leave together, Syr narrowed her eyes at Ryuu. "Hmm... wait a second." She lightly touched a strand of Ryuu's hair that fell beside her cheek. "Ryuu, your hair... It's gotten long."
Reflexively, Ryuu touched her pale hair, which now fell past her pointed ears. "Ah... you're right." She pulled a few strands forward, noticing how the ends brushed her shoulders. "I haven't cut it in a while."
Shirou chimed in, observing carefully. "And it looks like... your natural color is starting to show." He pointed to the roots of Ryuu's hair, where her original blonde hue was beginning to peek through, contrasting with the fading pale green.
Ryuu frowned slightly, surprised by the realization. "I thought I could still hide it... Guess not."
Syr suddenly turned sharply to Shirou, raising an eyebrow with a teasing smile. "Speaking of hair..." She stepped closer and pinched Shirou's bangs, which hung over his eyes. "You're the same! Your bangs are touching your eyebrows—almost reaching your nose!"
Shirou nodded slowly, brushing his bangs aside. "Yeah, you're right... my hair's gotten pretty long." He agreed. "Maybe it's time for a trim."
Syr crossed her arms and sighed dramatically. "Honestly, you two. If this keeps up, you won't be waiters—you'll turn into mountain hermits!"
Without warning, she reached behind her apron and—clink!—pulled out a pair of scissors and a small comb from who-knows-where. "Well then... are you ready? Tonight, I'll be your stylist!"
Ryuu immediately stepped forward, suspicious. "Syr... have you been carrying those around?"
Shirou laughed nervously. "Don't tell me you planned this?"
Syr grinned at them with determined eyes. "You two are my personal grooming projects tonight. No one's escaping!"
And so, their adventure for the day wasn't truly over—because a late-night haircut session under Syr's hands was about to begin.