"So that's how it is… That really is a terrifying ability. If you belonged to those people, it would probably turn into another disaster."
"It won't," Alise said firmly. "As long as it's him, something like that can't happen."
"Oh? Astraea Familia… I see. In that case, kid—let's take care of each other from now on."
"And if you ever need equipment later, just come to me. Tell the attendant your name and I'll sell to you at cost."
The one-eyed master smith looked at Xien with an easy, generous grin, casually showing off the kind of "I can afford it" confidence only someone at the top of Orario's weapon trade could have.
"Yes—thank you, Ms. Tsubaki."
"Mmm. So nice… A cute little junior like this, I want one too. Like a kitten."
"..."
Ma'am. You said the inside thought out loud.
Xien's face went blank with despair. He never imagined he'd be compared to a kitten.
He reflexively glanced at the fat orange cat.
Don't tell me this is some kind of 'birds of a feather' situation? No. Absolutely not.
I'm going to be a savior. How can I be a kitten?!
With the deal settled, everything else moved smoothly.
Tsubaki took Xien to a specialized room for measurements—height, body dimensions, the whole works. After that she asked about his habits: dominant hand, preferred weapon type, and other details.
Every step screamed one word:
Professional.
In the end, she promised to deliver the completed set to Astraea Familia's base within a few days.
Under her enthusiastic send-off, Alise and Xien left the Hephaistos weapon shop.
A while later—at the residence of the goddess Hephaistos.
When Hephaistos saw her captain push the door open, she blinked in surprise.
Tsubaki almost never came to seek her out on her own. So what was this? A major familia crisis? The sun rising in the west?
And…
Wait.
Tsubaki is wearing makeup?
Was this the same Tsubaki who usually treated herself like one of the guys? A late-blooming maiden's heart?
Tsubaki, unaware of her goddess's internal commentary, went straight to the point.
"Lady Hephaistos… could you check if there's anything wrong with my body?"
They were friends—but just in case, she had to confirm it. Bold didn't mean stupid. When it came to unknown things, caution was never excessive.
"?"
Hephaistos took the offered hand—confused, but willing—and began examining her.
The moment she touched it, she noticed something off.
The calluses that used to define Tsubaki's hands… were gone.
A moment later, Hephaistos let go and spoke, brows knit.
"Mmm. No problem. You're fine."
"…Actually—too fine."
"The life force inside your body has increased. You look younger, and for a while you'll probably feel unusually good."
"So what happened?"
Only then did Tsubaki finally exhale, her heart settling. She explained everything that had happened.
After listening…
"I see. A newborn healer-type… That really is good news—whether for Astraea Familia, or for all of Orario."
"But as Alise said, that craving of life for life force isn't something to underestimate."
"For people with weak willpower… it can be as dangerous as the wine brewed by that Soma bastard."
"Is there no way to solve it?" Tsubaki asked.
"Who knows," Hephaistos said, tidying her desk while she spoke. "I'm not a life-aspect goddess. Maybe once that kid grows stronger and gains finer control, it will improve."
"…So it's just that, then."
"Still," Hephaistos added, "I really approve of your decision."
"A talent like that is a potential stock. Building a relationship with him is worth losing a bit of money."
"If nothing goes wrong, and that kid truly grows up…"
"He might even be able to revive the dead and regrow bones."
"…Isn't that exaggerating?" Tsubaki stared.
She hadn't expected her goddess to go that far. Her valuation of the boy rose another level on the spot.
"No," Hephaistos said flatly. "You don't understand."
"Life force is the essence of life itself—origin energy on the path of 'life.' It's the kind of creative power that beings on the level of Gaia, an earth-mother goddess, can wield with mastery."
"Doing something like that isn't hard."
"And it might go even further…"
"Then… that child…"
"That's what I find strange," Hephaistos murmured, looking up at the ceiling. "How does he even possess this power? By rights, it shouldn't be possible."
"And if he's only transferring his own life force into others without replenishing it…"
"That child's future won't be easy."
Even a god's ancient wisdom couldn't answer it.
"..."
Hearing her goddess say that, Tsubaki felt a stab of guilt.
But thinking back—when the boy released that power, he didn't show discomfort.
Was he unaware… or was there something else?
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
"You won't blame me for making you use that power, will you?" Alise asked quietly.
"Of course not," Xien replied. "You wouldn't harm me."
"And I could tell—you trust Ms. Tsubaki's character."
"Besides, earning the goodwill of a master smith is priceless for my future."
"…Wow. You're so smart you're making me look stupid," Alise sighed.
"Not at all. Captain is the smartest."
Seeing the red-haired girl look genuinely wounded, Xien panicked and immediately started praising her.
Alise burst out laughing.
"Hahaha—you really know how to make girls happy."
"But you saw Tsubaki's reaction. You should understand now how important your ability is."
"Yes, Captain. I honestly didn't expect it to be that desirable."
To be honest, he still felt dazed.
A sum like ten million valis. His familia's terrifying investment. Tsubaki's generosity.
It all made him feel like he was floating in fog—unsteady, unreal.
Alise didn't notice his worry. She continued explaining.
"You know that saying, right? 'Adventurers can't afford to gamble.'"
"Your ability proves that saying."
"If you grow up properly, and you're in a party… you'll be the core of the entire team."
"Understood. Captain—I'll work hard. I won't disappoint everyone."
Right now, that felt like the only thing he could do.
Everyone had helped him, believed in him, acknowledged him.
He had to answer that expectation.
Alise smiled, shook her head, and rubbed his hair.
"Just do your best."
"And remember—being happy is the most important thing. That's how everyone gets through it."
"…Mm."
With the day's main business finished, they still had daily necessities to buy. While familiarizing themselves with the streets, they picked up what they needed.
After that, Xien finally saw the famous tavern:
The Hostess of Fertility.
Inside, it wasn't extravagantly decorated—but it was clean, warmly lit, and cozy.
Same effect as always: when people recognized Alise, the room quieted for a beat.
But when they saw she was only bringing him to a seat, the noise gradually returned.
The hulking figure he remembered wasn't at the front counter—judging by the apron-clad staff rushing around, she was probably busy in the kitchen.
They chose a relatively secluded spot. A female waitress quickly came over.
Xien took one look and thought:
That's Syr… no—Freya?
What an honor—my ass. You're already working here as a waitress this early?
He kept his face still, pretending he didn't care. He stared at the menu, which the system automatically converted into Chinese for him.
It was oddly fascinating—and it helped distract him.
"Lady Alise," the waitress asked softly, voice gentle and sweet, "what would you and this little brother like today?"
"Oh, it's Syr," Alise said. "Same as usual. Thanks."
"Of course. Please wait a moment."
Xien couldn't help glancing at her retreating back.
Gods were hard to read.
Better to keep his distance in the future.
Alise caught the movement and teased him immediately.
"What, you want her private beacon too? Need me to help? Syr is a very gentle girl, you know."
"..."
Xien stared at his captain like she was an idiot.
Do you hear what you're saying?
If Lady Astraea heard this, she'd probably cry. Was his captain seriously trying to invite a wolf into their home?
Also—since when did she start acting like a matchmaker? Massive character collapse.
Alise laughed awkwardly.
"Alright, alright, my fault. I shouldn't tease you. Forgive me."
Truth was, Alise found it strange herself.
Whenever she was with this kid, she felt an inexplicable calm—like he was some perfectly complementary old friend.
It made her want to talk, joke, play.
If she had to name the reason…
It was probably the "equality" she felt in his gaze.
That answer had shocked her, but after testing it, she couldn't deny it.
When he said "Captain," it was just a label—like a name. He naturally placed himself on the same level as her as a person.
It gave her a rare sense of being accepted.
She had friends, sure—but most people "respected" her, and the "respect" part itself created distance.
Over time, it made it hard for her to put down the burden in her heart.
Loneliness, in a way.
But with this kid, she could drop the responsibility and just be herself.
Which was why she got so playful with him.
She didn't know that Xien came from a world where "everyone is equal," where education and environment trained him to see every person as an independent individual.
That neutral gaze—neither moral judgment nor fear, only respect—was something most people in this strict hierarchy world simply didn't have.
It was his natural advantage.
Not long after, dinner arrived.
But the one who brought it was a towering figure.
A tray nearly half a meter wide balanced easily in one hand—no shaking, no sloshing.
"Yo, Alise. Long time no see. Here—your dinner."
The voice was bold, but warm.
Xien looked at the smiling, powerfully built dwarf woman—around 180 cm tall—and knew exactly who she was.
"Mama Mia."
The manager of The Hostess of Fertility.
Title: "Little Giant."
A Level 6 adventurer—
And also the captain of Freya Familia.
At this time she looked younger. In his memory, she had already stepped down as captain and only ran the tavern, but he didn't know whether that had happened yet.
And he definitely wasn't stupid enough to ask.
"Yes, Mama Mia," Alise greeted warmly. "It's been a while. You look as spirited as ever."
"Hahahaha! Good. Thanks to you lot, this place can keep running peacefully."
"So enjoy yourselves. If it's not enough, call out."
Her booming voice filled the whole tavern.
No one objected. Everyone clearly agreed with her sentiment—some even raised their cups in respect.
"Thank you, Mama."
Mia turned her eyes to Xien.
"So this is your new kid? Hm. Quiet-looking. Lacking a bit of manly spirit."
Then—
A palm like a sandbag smacked his shoulder.
His shoulder nearly dislocated.
The force was perfectly calibrated—right at the limit of what his body could take. Not enough to injure him, but more than enough to "wake him up."
Crack—
An innocent bystander's heart shattered a little.
Xien watched the orange cat laughing itself sick and his captain trying to hold back a grin.
In that instant, he made a quiet decision.
"Kid," Mia said, "being this skinny won't do. Eat more."
"Only when you're full can you build strength."
"T-thank you, Mama Mia."
Xien forced a smile.
It hurt.
"Alright, I won't disturb you. If you need anything, shout. I'm busy."
"Yes—goodbye, Mama Mia."
After Mia left, Alise tried to comfort him, afraid he'd take it badly.
"Don't take it personally. Mama Mia is just—"
"I know, Captain," Xien cut in. "She's right."
"So… about the training from now on."
"Please."
"…Good," Alise said, relieved. "That's the spirit. Now let's eat."
Xien looked at the huge plate of steaming food in front of him.
Then he opened his mouth with grim determination.
If I'm changing, it starts with nutrition.
Wasn't it said you need to be full before you can train?
Half an hour later, he walked out of the tavern with Alise, belly sticking out like a pregnant woman.
The food wasn't "unforgettable," but it was nutritious and filling.
-------
Promotion Valentine's Month Sale: 20% off for 7 days. Apply now!
My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (400 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (254 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (140 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (158 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (400 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (140 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (172 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(80 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (200 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (200 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (120 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (96 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (140 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (160 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (140 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (Ending)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (70 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (80 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (140 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (165 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (70 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (100 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (100 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (80 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (80 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (40 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (40 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (180 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (120 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (150 Chapter)
A Chef, the Vice-Captain of the Rocks Pirates? (160 Chapter)
Naruto : My Uchiha Girlfriend is Too Tsundere (130 Chapter)
Type-Moon: Reincarnated in a Lostbelt, I Became the Alien God (90 Chapter)
The Way These Horse Girls Look at Me Is Terrifying! (160 Chapter)
Naruto: Tsunade's Deskmate (130 Chapter)
I Just Want to Live a Normal (50 Chapter).
Genshin Impact: A Hundred Confessions? It's Just a System Task (70 Chapter)
OnePiece : Starting as a Veteran of the Roger Pirates (60 Chapter)
Uma Musume : I Have Special Horse Taming Techniques (190 Chapter)
Uma Musume : My other self is a Horse Girl (130 Chapter)
Jujutsu Kaisen : All Affection Stats Maxed Out (200 Chapter)
Satou Kazuma's Decision to Live by Swindling, Starting from Re:Zero (60 Chapter)
Bleach : Ichigo! Take Over the Soul Society (89 Chapter)
Crossover Anime: The Master of Plagiarism with a 'Love Obstacle (140 Chapter)
Arknights Succubus Nurturing System, But I'm a Quiet Office Worker (90 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: Using My Personas to Break the Hearts of Players (50 Chapter)
One Punch Man : i am King? (150 Chapter)
Genshin: My Stats Are Irresistible (70 Chapter)
Naruto: Master of Dream Fulfillment! (70 Chapter)
Why Are All My Chat Group Friends Spin-Off Characters? (123 Chapter)
Arknights : Batman System (30 Chapter)
Chat Group: Swapping Bodies with the Bad-Ending Herta from the Start (72 Chapter)
DanMachi: Why Did My Dungeon Turn Into a Soulslike Game? (92 Chapter)
Losing Money on Uma Musume...What Do You Mean You Actually Won? (93 Chapter)
I'm Gotou Hitori—Who Are You? (40 Chapter)
Were You Ever Even a Uma Musume? Stop Making Things Up! (75 Chapter)
Moon Project: A Full-Time Love Adventure for the Lobotomy Corporation (75 Chapter)
The Leisurely Days of the Hyuga Main House (65 Chapter)
Arknights : A Draco Surviving in a Matriarchal Terra (115 Chapter)
Arknights: What if My Luck Is Too Good? (105 Chapter)
Honkai: The Romance System Only Shows Up After I Marry Mei (55 Chapter)
Arknights: Who Are You Calling Repressed, X?! (105 Chapter)
The Chat Group Only Arrived After I'd Cleared the Game (42 Chapter)
Gojo Satoru Flat-Out Refuses to Admit He's a Supporting Character (40 Chapter)
Chat Group Isn't Supposed to Be Like This! (30 Chapter)
If You're Moriarty…then Who Am I? (50 Chapter)
Uma Musume: Since I "Can't See," They Take Turns Stealing My Underwear (50 Chapter)
Arknights: Why Are All My "Brothers" Girls? (54 Chapter)
Danmachi: Start Training Haki (47 Chapter)
Emiya Shirou's Rebirth (30 Chapter)
I Can Get Stronger Just by AFK'ing—So I Joined a Chat Group (50 Chapter)
Endfield: I Can Always Pull Out One Yuan (40 Chapter)
Limbus Company : I Started a Company in Project Moon (50 Chapter)
Lobotomy: Do Cooks of Alley 23 Dream of Bloodfiend Knights? (50 Chapter)
DanMachi: Freya Familia's "One-Blade Shura" (40 Chapter)
DanMachi: Emiya, the Great Hero Becomes the Protagonist (46 Chapter)
TYPE-MOON: One Special Instance Every Week (40 Chapter)
From Danmachi: The Abundance Apothecary (43 Chapter)
Lord Shadow Descends on DanMachi (30 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it