For his future, Sawada Tsunayoshi chose steady growth over unstable shortcuts. Step by step, he would harden his foundations. It was the most practical path forward.
In truth, no matter how obsessed Ais was with strength, her power could only climb one step at a time. And even before the "story" truly began, she had already reached Lv.5—arguably the finest proof of her talent and effort. What's more, not long after the story starts she attains Lv.6—far earlier than most adventurers at her tier.
Ais herself didn't see it that way. In her heart there was always an urgent need to grow faster.
That night, after being lectured half the day by Riveria, her muscle soreness finally eased. In exchange, her backside was covered with welts from the stick. They were deep. Watching Ais limp along made it clear just how hard Riveria had gone.
"Loki, update my status."
This kid really doesn't learn, huh. Loki watched Ais strip off her top and try to sit with her back against Loki, only to hop back up when the pain bit into her again—over and over. If your butt hurts, then rest. But she just couldn't help herself. Loki had no fix for this one.
"Ais, remember the phrase 'enough is enough.' Riveria went easy on you this time—you know that, don't you?"
Easy. Ais's face paled as she recalled almost blacking out under Riveria's "treatment" that morning.
That was not easy. Just remembering it made cold sweat bead as the sting in her backside flared. By any objective measure this punishment was lighter than last time, yet Ais felt more terrified than before.
"I'll be careful."
Ais drew a deep breath, pushing her fear of Riveria down for the moment. She wanted to see how much her stats had grown.
You definitely let my words go in one ear and out the other. Loki sighed. If only Ais weren't a brat forever chasing quicker growth. Loki couldn't help thinking of Tsunayoshi—and being grateful he wasn't like Ais.
Strength: I12 → I40 │ Endurance: I7 → H50 │ Dexterity: H23 → H42 │ Agility: H43 → H68 │ Magic: I78 → I79
"Oh-ho~"
Loki blinked, surprised. A week ago was Ais's last formal update. Under normal circumstances—and without entering the Dungeon—she shouldn't have seen this much gain. Yet the numbers didn't lie.
"Big jumps in Strength and Endurance. Honestly more than you'd get from ten Dungeon trips. Dexterity and Agility aren't small either. All that in a single day? Tsunayoshi's beast-gear is pretty effective."
Grew a lot? Hearing Loki's tone, Ais's anticipation spiked.
"Go on. You've been dying to see."
Ais quickly took the paper Loki held out from behind. Her growth values were clearly imprinted. The moment she saw them, her breathing went short. That much?
Aside from Magic, the other four stats had climbed by double digits—some by even more. She remembered that near the end of Lv.4, her growth had been single digits even while frequenting the deep floors. Now, in a single day, she'd achieved what used to take two—no, three—weeks.
"Feels fast this time, doesn't it?"
"Mm."
"Now think about why. You kept the load-increasing gear Tsunayoshi made running all night. I can't believe you left that thing on till morning. Tsunayoshi told me himself—it's dangerous to run it overnight. You've got guts, Ais."
…Busted. Ais froze. Loki's voice today lacked its usual rowdy teasing and was laced with a playful edge—that made Ais realize, instinctively, that Loki was angry too.
Normally Loki was easygoing, if a bit of a lewd old-man type in behavior. That side was controllable. The scary version wasn't the lewd one, but the one who spoke with a joking lilt. That Loki was the most dangerous—worse than a deadpan stare.
"Ais."
Here it comes. Ais shivered at Loki's voice.
"If you pull something like this again, I'll have Finn keep you home for six months. I'll make sure the thing you crave most stays out of reach. Understood?"
S-stay home for six months!? Ais felt her nerves snap. It shocked her more than a thrashing from Riveria.
For someone desperate to grow, being locked at home for half a year was hell itself. Severed from hope of progress, trapped indoors with no permission to leave. Just imagining it felt like damnation.
"Did you hear me, Ais?"
"!?"
Loki's voice smiled, but Ais heard death. She nodded mechanically.
"Understood."
"Good. I worried that if you didn't, then after I locked you up for six months, who knows what you'd be like. If it comes to that, I'll say just one thing—don't cry."
I'm already about to cry. Ais shook her head again and again.
"I won't… I definitely won't…"
Better to risk angering Riveria than be confined for half a year. Ais was certain. She was equally sure that if she were grounded that long, Loki would cut off her contact with Sawada Tsunayoshi—and that would be even worse.
"Excellent. Off you go."
Ais dressed in a flash and bolted from Loki's room. Loki pursed her lips.
"Brats need a little shock sometimes."
With the disobedient, strength-obsessed girl duly chastised, Loki found herself idle. Sitting around in her room was dull.
"Forget it—let's go find Tsunayoshi."
(End of Chapter)
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