Kei stared at Charlie with a mix of anxiety and swelling anticipation inside her. Deep in her heart, she already believed 90% of the truth behind the story told by the youth before her.
Charlie did not leave Astraea or Kei waiting any longer in uncertainty. He gave a firm nod.
"Of course there is a way, Goddess Astraea. The only way for someone to remember and realize my existence again permanently is to make that person my Familiar. By binding their soul directly to mine, they will no longer be affected by the conceptual effect of the power that makes the world forget me."
Without hiding anything, Charlie then explained in precise detail the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a Familiar.
Astraea was stunned, her heart severely shaken upon hearing the explanation—especially when facing the reality of the advantage of immortality gained by a Familiar.
Had it not been for her passive ability that detected absolutely no lies in Charlie, she undoubtedly would have dismissed all those absurd explanations as mere nonsense.
Observing the increasingly serious situation, Astraea cast her gaze out toward the quiet inn hallway.
"Let's step inside my room first." She spoke in a lowered voice. "This conversation is far too dangerous if overheard by outsiders. Should the contents of this conversation leak to the ears of other gods and goddesses in Orario, you will undoubtedly face countless troubles, Charlie."
And so, Charlie and his group stepped inside following behind Astraea into the room.
The size of that inn room was not particularly large. Inside, there was only a soft bed, a wooden chair, and a small round table—clearly insufficient to accommodate seating for everyone unless they were willing to sit directly on the floor.
Seeing that, Charlie flicked his hand, summoning a soft long sofa straight out of his Space-Time Cache.
After the sofa was placed in a corner of the room, Charlie sat down in the middle. Aishia took a seat on his right side, Mahiru sat leaning against his left side, while Est naturally climbed up and sat spoilably on Charlie's lap.
On the other side of the room, Astraea and Kei chose to sit side by side on the edge of the bed, watching Charlie's group with rapt attention.
With a serious expression, Astraea looked straight at Charlie, who now appeared so shrouded in mystery in her eyes.
"Charlie... who are you really?"
"It is truly unbelievable that there exists a mortal capable of bestowing immortality upon another person."
"As far as I know throughout the history of the Lower World, there was once a genius Alchemist who succeeded in creating the Philosopher's Stone—a legendary item said to grant immortality. Sadly, however, that fact could never be verified because that Alchemist's god actually destroyed the Philosopher's Stone merely to see the crushed expression of that Alchemist who had labored so hard to create it."
Pausing for a moment, Astraea let out a long sigh.
Her face radiated pity for the misfortune of the Alchemist in her story, while simultaneously harboring anger over the behavior of her fellow deity who was so selfish and narrow-minded merely for entertainment's sake.
"Even though there has been a precedent regarding someone attaining immortality through the Philosopher's Stone, the truth of it still cannot be verified with certainty." Astraea continued with a weighted expression. "On the other hand, if what you said about this Familiar ability is true... it means you have stepped into and touched the domain of power belonging to the gods."
Charlie understood very well that Astraea's shock was a justified reaction.
In any case, his primary source of power was indeed not merely the Falna alone, but the perfect integration of the Karasuki Rio Template.
The existence of the Falna on his body was merely like a layer of sweet icing on a cake that was fundamentally very sweet from the start.
"Forgive me, Goddess Astraea. As for the full details and origins of this power, I cannot convey them to you just yet."
Astraea smiled faintly and then waved her hand casually, displaying a remarkably generous and wise attitude.
"You have no obligation whatsoever to disclose the secrets of your power to me, Charlie." She said gently. "Besides, I am not your true Main God; Hera is."
"And I must admit, Hera, who was once famously selective and would only accept women into her Familia, actually made a massive exception for you. She truly possesses fine eyes when judging a person's true potential."
Astraea clapped her palms together softly, shifting the focus of the conversation.
"Alright, let us bring an end to this topic of mystery. Next, let us discuss the plan for Kei to become your Familiar."
"Are there any adverse consequences or dangerous side effects that will befall Kei? For instance... will there be a clash between the Falna already present on her body and the Familiar bond? Because from what I've heard, the concept of your Familiar sounds remarkably similar to how we gods bestow Falna to make mortals our followers."
Rather than feeling offended by Astraea's inquiring tone, Charlie actually felt very pleased.
Compared to other gods who were indifferent and neglected their followers—like Soma who allowed his members to be ensnared in alcohol addiction—Astraea was clearly a goddess who was deeply responsible and cared for the safety of her followers.
"You don't need to worry, Goddess Astraea." Charlie answered in a reassuring tone. "I guarantee everything will be fine. Making Kei my Familiar will not conflict with her Falna in the slightest, and this will not alter her status as a loyal follower of Goddess Astraea."
Hearing that direct assurance, a sigh of relief finally blew from Astraea's lips.
The anxiety that had briefly hung over her mind vanished instantly. She then turned her head to the side, looking at the white-haired girl beside her.
"Kei... what is your own opinion regarding this matter?" Astraea asked softly.
Kei did not hesitate in the slightest. Her eyes radiated firmness as she looked straight at Charlie.
"If Charlie-san is indeed a person very precious to me..." she said in a clear, confident voice, "then I want to remember him again. I accept this ritual, Astraea-sama."
With that consent given, the serious discussion among them reached its conclusion.
Charlie stood up from his spot, slowly lifting Est's tiny body and gently setting her down on the sofa. At the same time, Kei rose from the bed. The two of them now stood facing each other right in the center of the cramped room.
Without needing to waste any more words, Charlie began. He activated the Divine Authority of the Dragon King, initiating the ritual to make the girl his Familiar—exactly like the procedure he had performed on Mahiru earlier.
*BUZZ!*
However, just as the ritual commenced, the atmosphere inside the room suddenly altered drastically.
The calm expression on Astraea's face crumbled in an instant. Her pupils contracted, overtaken by a sense of shock she had never felt before.
(D-Divinity...?!)
(How is it possible... how could Charlie possess a radiance of Divinity like this?! Is he actually a god?! But that makes no sense whatsoever!)
(If Charlie were a god in disguise, the absolute rules of the Lower World would surely drag him straight back to Heaven the moment he used Arcanum!)
Astraea clutched her dress tightly, her chest heaving up and down due to the severe mental shock.
(And furthermore... how could my eyes have failed to recognize a fellow god from the very start?! What on earth is happening with this man?! The level of Divinity he is radiating right now... this is even far higher than most gods! Its density might already be comparable to the supreme rulers like Zeus, Hades, or even Odin!)
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