"Oh? Update your Falna? That simple?" Zanis looked at Kael with interest. Although updating Falnas was restricted within the Familia, it did
"Oh? Update your Falna? That simple?" Zanis looked at Kael with interest.
Although updating Falnas was restricted within the Familia, it didn't require much falis compared to the cost of leaving the Familia. After all, only when pawns grow stronger can they make more money.
Zanis hadn't expected this would be his request.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Kael straightened his back and spoke without hesitation, "I've passed the God's trial, so I must have gained quite a bit of experience. Only by becoming stronger can I help ease Lord Zanis's burdens!"
In truth, he understood something about Falnas. While his talent might have been lacking before, now that he had seen through chaos and awakened from confusion, he could surely unlock remarkable power!
"Pfft... hahaha. You've got a long way to go!"
Zanis recalled this kid's background information.
His parents had joined the faction seven years ago and died six years ago. In those seven years, the kid's average attributes hadn't even exceeded H rank. He had only worked as a supporter — completely useless, unable to make any waves.
If it weren't for Zanis's kindness in letting the orphaned boy join the faction back then, the kid probably couldn't even have become a supporter.
He remembered that couple had another child... but after their death, they only found Kael. Perhaps someone had taken the other child?
But never mind. It wasn't important. He only cared about how much profit this new pawn could bring him. The better the talent, the faster they could make money.
As for surpassing himself?
Don't be ridiculous. Except for that monster puppet who leveled up in one year, normal people needed at least seven or eight years of effort to surpass him. And he had the power to nip any threat in the bud during that process.
Thinking of this, Zanis turned and said indifferently, "If that's what you want, I'll grant it. Follow me."
"Yes."
Kael followed him around the main hall's screen, through the courtyard behind it, to the workshop inside the mansion.
Zanis knocked on the door and opened it, "Lord Soma, I'm coming in."
Kael followed closely behind, and what met his eyes was a huge iron pot, with a male deity with long, messy hair that covered his eyes, wielding a wooden stick and stirring the liquid in the pot.
He immediately realized that the divine being before him was a genuine deity.
Noble, majestic, and inviolable — even in his unkempt, vagrant-like state.
The male deity didn't raise his head, treating the two who had entered as mere floating specks, unworthy of his interest.
Kael felt his own insignificance for the first time...
Is this what a God truly is? A being whose single word determines the fate of mortals?
"Lord Soma, the regular trial has ended, and this child is one who stood out." Zanis stepped forward respectfully.
Soma's stirring motion paused briefly, his lifeless eyes rarely lifting as he peered through the gaps in his bangs at Kael.
There had been similar cases before, but none as quick as this mortal boy!
Kael was excited inside.
'Sure enough, I bet right! This so-called ritual is both tradition and Soma's last act of kindness! As long as he is here, Zanis won't dare harm me.'
Soma put down the wooden stick, slowly walked to stand before Kael, and said in a deep, weary voice:
"What... do you seek from me?"
Of course, Kael wasn't foolish enough to make an absurd request like "wanting to leave the Familia". Without the backing of a protagonist, leaving the Familia now would mean being found dead in the streets the next day.
After careful consideration, he replied, "Lord Soma, I want to update my Falna."
"Come with me." Soma's expression grew more peaceful.
Soma, the wine, had originally meant his power as a reward to encourage Familia members to grow stronger. Although things had become twisted now, Kael's request perfectly aligned with his original divine intention, leaving a good impression.
Zanis didn't follow as the two went to the divine chamber next door.
"Turn around and take it off."
"Ah? Oh!" Kael froze for a second, instinctively covering his behind. When he realized what was meant, he took off his shirt.
Soma pricked his fingertip with a needle, and a cold sensation slid down Kael's spine.
A glow emerged from his back, taking the shape of a wine glass. As the sacred letters fluctuated, his parameters refreshed.
In that moment, his chaotic memories seemed to sort themselves out, and Kael fell into a daze.
Looking at the sacred letters on the kid's back, Soma hesitated for a long while, not making an impression on the parchment.
After a moment...
"What's wrong?" Kael turned his head in confusion.
Soma snapped out of his daze, shook his head, took up the parchment to make an impression, and used translation magic to convert the text.
"Take it."
Kael took the parchment and looked it over.
Eleven years of memories flooded back, allowing him to easily recognize the text on the paper.
╔══════════════════════════╗
║ Kael Kane
║ Level: 1
╠══════════════════════════╣
║ Strength: I 40 → I 50
║ Endurance: I 50 → I 60
║ Dexterity: I 70 → I 80
║ Agility: I 33 → I 50
║ Magic: I 0 → I 0
╠══════════════════════════╣
║ Magic: [ None ]
╠══════════════════════════╣
║ Skills:
║ [Bearing the Burden]
║ • Reduces Equipment Weight Burden
║ • Slightly Increases Endurance
║ • Effect Scales With Weight Increase
║
║ [???]
╚══════════════════════════╝
Wow... these attributes are terrible. They're all at the lowest I rank, and I only have one magic slot.
Falna attributes range from I to S across ten ranks. Only rare individuals possess up to three magic slots.
With stats like these, he'd barely qualify as an R-rank card in other games—just enough to have a name and tag along on expeditions.
But... that question mark below...
"Lord Soma... what is this skill?" Kael looked up at his God.
Soma: "..."
Kael: "..."
They stared at each other for two minutes before Soma averted his gaze like someone with social anxiety.
"I don't know..."
"Huh?"
Seeing the bewilderment in his eyes, Soma added, "It's unreadable."
Unreadable?
Kael was stunned for two seconds, then his eyes widened.
"Are you sure it's unreadable? Not just that you can't recognize it?"
Soma guiltily averted his gaze, packed up his things, and walked straight to the door.
"Eh?"
Bang—
The door closed, leaving Kael alone in the room.
"Unreadable? Is it really unreadable?" He clenched his fist secretly.
In the known history of Danmachi, there was only one unreadable skill — Five Dimension Troia. That was a terrifying skill that could predict the future. He hadn't expected to have a skill of the same caliber.
{T/N: The Skill from Cassandra Ilion from the Apollo Familia.}
What could it be? Could this be his cheat ability?
Kael was bursting with excitement. He clenched his fist and flashed a Joey Wheeler-like smile.
"Cheat Skill! Activate!"
…
Silence. Not even a whisper of dust stirred in the air.
Kael's enthusiasm deflated as a harsh reality dawned on him: an ability you don't know how to use might as well not exist!
"Damn..."
❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈
Outside the room.
Seeing Soma come out, Zanis curiously asked, "Lord Soma, were there any changes in that child's Falna?"
Soma's footsteps paused as he pulled at the hair covering his eyes, "He got a new skill."
This kid actually has talent?
"Oh? What effect does it have?" Zanis asked, surprised.
Soma awkwardly turned to leave, his embarrassment turning to anger, "I don't know."
"Huh?" Zanis stumbled after him, "Wait — what do you mean you don't know? Can't you tell me?"
Soma's gaze turned cold, "Silence!"
Zanis thought: Has love disappeared? Or does he value that brat more than me, his Captain?
Soma was at a loss. How could he explain that the kid's skill changed every moment? Who would choose an answer they knew would be wrong?
The skill transformed so rapidly that even if he wrote down one version, it would change to another the next second, making any recorded text meaningless.
Soma's true embarrassment stemmed not from the skill being unreadable, but from his inability to read it.
The distinction mattered — one would be simply unknown, while the other revealed his own limitations.
And this kid... was he trying to mock a deity?
Soma's thoughts drifted, but as someone who never showed interest in anything, he couldn't find the words to explain this to his subordinate.
Hmph, just another child drowning in Soma, not worth the effort of communication.
Zanis pressed on, "Can you at least tell me the skill's name?"
Soma seethed inwardly, but realizing that leaving him without an answer might interfere with his wine-making...
"Let's call it... Second Dimension Pandora."