When she arrived, she wore a cloak to conceal her identity.
It was also to minimize fallout—after all, Hera Familia and Zeus Familia were being watched like hawks. Their situation was worsening by the day, and they were essentially being held up by her alone.
If her goddess hadn't managed to rally a little, she wouldn't even have been able to come.
And besides, the person she was here to see was in an uncertain state as well—hiding her identity was better for everyone.
Today's gate duty was handled by Asta. The moment she saw Alfia's face, she froze briefly—then remembered the captain's instructions that there would be a guest today. After Alfia stated her purpose, Asta let her pass without further questions.
To be honest, this was Alfia's first time dealing with a familia like Astraea's, and her feelings were… complicated.
She had no special attachment to their "justice."
Her creed had always been simple:
Strength is truth.
If you're strong enough, nothing is a problem.
And reality seemed to support that.
Those who preached justice were weak—so weak they couldn't stir any meaningful waves in Orario. If not for her own familia's catastrophic decline, and the fact that Astraea's familia had suddenly produced a "special talent," their paths should never have crossed.
She looked down on their weakness.
And it wasn't that she was unreasonable—but if she were the type to act without restraint, then the possibility Hera once proposed… might not have been impossible.
Someone like the former captain, the "Empress," would probably have been delighted to do it.
Alfia was powerful, but influenced by the gentleness of someone she loved dearly, she remained relatively "reasonable."
She entered the hall.
The boy she had met once before was already waiting.
No other members of the familia were present.
He was the same as that day—unremarkable at a glance.
Yet his fame had already exploded across Orario.
A title unlike any before had been pinned to him:
"The Miracle Man"—the one who performed a divine feat and reversed life and death.
Nearly everyone had seen that disturbance.
In some sense, it was more shocking than the emergence of a first-class adventurer—
Because reversing life and death was something even most gods couldn't do.
And yet a boy had done it.
Orario had healers who could treat severe injuries, sure.
But someone who could reverse death?
Either nonexistent—or never once recorded.
They weren't even in the same category.
If no one had personally witnessed him revive an elderly woman burned to charcoal, nobody would have believed it.
But fame like that came with a price.
It dragged him straight into the vortex of fate.
"Good morning, Teacher Alfia. Welcome to Astraea Familia."
Alfia was mildly surprised.
Many adventurers, after sudden power and praise, swelled with arrogance.
But she couldn't feel that in him.
If anything, he seemed more mature than before.
A faint change—something softer, a gentler quality—had quietly appeared in him.
Still, none of that mattered to her.
He wasn't strong enough.
He couldn't control his own destiny yet.
Not enough to earn her serious attention.
Even now, she believed power was the only thing that truly mattered.
So she only wanted to finish quickly.
"Mm. You're Xien, right?"
"Do you have a room?"
"No time to waste—we start immediately."
"And this—hand it to your captain afterward."
"Yes. This way, Teacher Alfia."
Xien accepted the document and led her to his workshop.
He didn't question her coldness.
She was Level 7—an absolute powerhouse.
Pride was natural.
His job was to manage himself and get stronger as fast as possible.
The Workshop
The room had gained some character over the past few days, but it was still dominated by documents and books.
The space was large enough—more than suitable for instruction.
Xien seated her, poured tea, and then said:
"Teacher Alfia… this may be rude, but please—hold out your hand."
"Hm? Are you…?"
Alfia blinked in surprise.
Was he planning to treat her condition immediately?
"Yes."
"With my current ability, I should be able to solve your problem."
Xien looked at his own hand, then smiled softly.
To him, Alfia wasn't "Level 7."
In that moment, she was simply—
a patient.
He couldn't accept letting her carry pain he could heal just to teach him.
"…"
"You're aware of the agreement between the gods, right?"
"If you do this, your loss won't be trivial. Do you understand?"
Alfia pressed her forehead, convinced this newcomer didn't grasp the value of the transaction.
"Of course."
"I've personally witnessed the strength of upper-tier adventurers."
"And someone stronger than them—your instruction—must be an opportunity that's beyond price."
"If I do this, the most likely outcome is that I'll waste Lady Astraea's goodwill."
Xien gave a bitter smile.
After surviving the edge of death, he understood upper-tier strength far too well.
But fear hadn't made him timid.
It had tempered his soul.
It had helped him grow.
He'd accepted it.
He'd gained resolve.
Now, he believed nothing mattered more than staying true to his heart.
Alfia unconsciously nodded.
So he did understand exactly what he was giving up.
Just as she thought he might retract his offer, he continued:
"But after everything I've experienced, I've learned one truth."
"Life is not something that should be priced like a commodity."
"What it brings is the continuation of will."
"So… please. Give me your hand."
He smiled, extending his hand—just like the first time they met.
But last time, he'd acted under his goddess's order.
This time—
It was his own choice.
He wanted to save the woman in front of him.
He couldn't become the Healer who granted every wish.
But he had felt the weight of life and death.
And now, he carried the resolve to walk this Path called Abundance.
Alfia stared at him.
He hadn't said much.
But the will in his eyes—the reverence for life—moved her.
So the thing I once wanted to discard… is that precious in his eyes?
A strange shame rose in her.
The rescue he'd once given her—back then it was curiosity.
This time, he was serious.
And somehow, she felt… released.
A faint smile—so small she barely noticed it herself—appeared on her usually icy face.
Only a few days, and you've already found your true will?
Then I can't let a junior outshine me.
Willpower? I, Alfia, won't lose to anyone.
If you're a talented junior like me… then I acknowledge you as my disciple.
Her decision made, she finally extended her right hand and clasped his.
Abundance's Touch
"Abundance Touch" activated!
Alfia felt that same comfort as before.
But it wasn't "stronger" in the crude sense.
Last time, it was like a forceful flood.
This time, it was deeper—more refined—a soothing that penetrated everything.
As if every cell in her body were gently stroked once.
One word captured it perfectly:
Euphoric.
Pure life energy flowed into her.
Congenital defects—flaws rooted in her very genes—were mended by that near-miraculous power.
Withered organs were nourished.
Every cell recovered to its theoretical optimal state.
The greatest genius finally broke free of the prison that shackled her talent.
From this point onward, her flesh would no longer be a cage restraining her mind—
It would become the foundation supporting her gift.
A wave of unprecedented lightness washed through her.
Her thoughts became clearer than ever, as if some invisible shackle had snapped.
For a moment, she even felt as though her strength had increased.
Then, on the divine blessing carved into her back—
A skill quietly changed.
"Genius-Calamity Compensation – Gia Blessing" → "Eternal Luminary"
Stats can remain in a permanently "limit-release" state; heavy stamina consumption after use.
(A genius soul has gained a vessel capable of keeping up with its talent.)
"All right."
"Mission accomplished, Miss Alfia."
"Your illness should be cured."
After having Orange Cat check her condition and confirm that she was fully healed, Xien finally relaxed.
If she could be cured, then the threat of the Evil Faction would lessen—at least somewhat.
A Level 7 mage alone would force them to hesitate.
He didn't realize it—
But Alfia was far stronger than he imagined.
And now, every shackle restraining her was gone.
She would stand above Orario in her true strongest form.
"Yes."
"But there's one thing you got wrong."
"From now on… you should call me Teacher."
"Huh?"
Seeing that gentle smile on her face, Xien felt like he was dreaming.
What was this?
A sudden personality shift?
But her eyes told him she wasn't joking.
And just like that—
Xien became the only disciple of "Silence."
This wasn't announced publicly.
It was a private pact between the two.
Alfia wouldn't speak of it—and she demanded Xien not brag about it outside.
She had intentions of her own.
But she absolutely didn't want her decision to make him complacent or corrupted.
She would be his teacher for one reason:
To make him strong—quickly.
Xien readily agreed.
He didn't know why she suddenly decided to help him.
But if she offered that sincerity, then he needed to match it with the backbone a man should have.
The "trade" was void.
What remained was true instruction.
And to be perfect, Alfia invested real effort—starting from the very beginning, guiding him step by step onto the path of a mage.
Only…
Her "teaching style" was not remotely normal.
So Xien's hell journey began.
The Training Ground… Became a Bomb Testing Site
That afternoon, Astraea Familia's members were drenched in cold sweat.
Because their training ground should have been renamed:
Explosion Test Field.
Alfia erected a powerful barrier over the entire area to prevent the shockwaves from reaching outside.
But nobody dared to look.
The scene was… too brutal.
The occasional "magnitude 2–3 earthquakes" were enough to explain what was happening inside.
Was this really teaching?
If they hadn't seen that their little brother wasn't showing any sign of quitting, they would've stormed in to demand an explanation.
Are you sure this isn't revenge?
Xien had never felt death so close.
His newly acknowledged master didn't do "gentle."
After assessing Xien's basics and spending half an hour explaining fundamentals—confirming he'd memorized everything—she had him lead her to the training ground for "practice."
But the method…
Was indeed "special."
He had to use every method he had to resist attacks that came as casually as breathing.
One tiny graze—
And he would be gravely wounded.
Whether by talent or instinct, she'd discovered the best training method for him:
Ultra-high-pressure, face-death head-on education.
Instructions rang in his ears.
If he didn't correct mistakes in time, the consequences became even more terrifying.
There was no time to think.
The Sharingan's dynamic vision—maintained at the limit—was the last thing keeping him alive.
Compared to this…
Ryuu's training felt unbelievably gentle.
But results under this pressure were undeniable.
In just one afternoon, he "auto-learned" two skills:
Combat Intuition
Not a vague "sixth sense," but experience distilled from countless battles—where the body responds before conscious thought, producing precise counters and finishing moves.
Fire Magic (Beginner)
Familiarity with converting mana into the fire element; can cast basic fire spells with simple chanting.
He realized the "magic slot limit" in this world might not apply to him.
Because this "skill" was simply the result of him mastering mana control after Alfia explained casting fundamentals.
Time passed quickly.
The afternoon ended.
Xien walked his master to the entrance to see her off.
"Next time we meet, I want to see your growth."
"Otherwise…"
"Don't worry. I won't disappoint you."
Xien was drenched in sweat, and his legs were practically shaking.
Only he knew what he'd lived through that afternoon.
"Good."
"And… there's one request."
Alfia hesitated, as if struggling to speak.
"Teacher—please say it."
"If it's something I can do, then I will."
"That's my promise as your disciple."
Xien spoke solemnly.
No matter what, she had truly taught him as a student.
So her request had to be answered.
She exhaled.
"All right."
"Then I hope… the next time I come for you, you can accompany me to see someone."
"To see whether you can save her."
"…Can you?"
Xien froze.
He had never seen Alfia look so vulnerable.
That "someone" must be the person she treasured most.
Seeing that pleading look, he nodded seriously.
"Life's power is never stingy with its mercy."
"Your wish will be fulfilled."
"Curse, terminal illness—whatever it is…"
"This power will crush it."
Alfia smiled.
A real smile—brilliant and genuine.
"Mm."
"I believe you… my disciple."
On the way back, Alfia felt like the world had changed.
Everything seemed… beautiful.
A word surfaced in her mind:
Happiness.
"Lady Hera…"
"I think I've found… an opposite-sex partner worthy of being 'dominated.'"
....
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