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"By the way, Hestia, don't forget to update my status."
Anos called out to Hestia just as she was about to head back to her room.
"Hm? Didn't we just do that a few days ago?"
Hestia tilted her head in confusion. Based on Anos's natural growth rate, it should have taken a while longer for him to reach Level 3.
"I went out and cleared some monsters yesterday, so…"
Anos left the sentence hanging.
"So you leveled up, Anos!? That's my Anos!"
Hestia bounced excitedly, her twin tails swaying as she beamed with pride.
Of course, Her Anos was the strongest and the coolest.
In truth, her earlier estimate had been off.
She had calculated everything based on his natural growth rate. Ever since receiving her blessing, Anos had been progressing steadily without any extreme pushes.
Completely different from normal adventurers.
He could practically level up just by coasting.
Of course, that wasn't his only option. He could grind monsters if he wanted, and today's level-up was exactly the result of that.
"All done."
Before long, Hestia handed him his updated status sheet.
---
[Anos Kanzaki]
[Level 3]
Strength: B
Endurance: B
Dexterity: B
Agility: B
Magic Power: A
Magic: A
Skills:
1. Tenfold Path Formation: …
2. Sage Arts: …
3. One-Blade Asura: …
4. Secret Sword Techniques: Seven advanced techniques, each suited for different combat scenarios. Highly versatile, with potential for further evolution.
5. Divine Authority ???: Can transform anything into a magic blade, embodying pure destructive force.
Talents:
1. Absolute Dichotomy: ???
2. Scared Overdrive Mode: ???
---
"Mm, pretty much the same as last time."
Hestia nodded, satisfied.
She knew that when someone advanced with high stats, they didn't drop all the way back to the lowest tier. Anos's already outrageous attributes settling into A and B ranks actually looked… normal now.
Anos could feel the change within himself too. His body and mind both felt elevated, as if refined into something greater. Spiritual energy swirled around him, almost as if it were celebrating his growth.
"Oh right, Hestia, have you thought about how big you want your familia to become?"
After getting dressed, Anos asked casually.
"The size of the familia…"
Hestia frowned slightly.
Her goal had always been to make the Hestia Familia the strongest in Orario.
But there was a problem with that.
If they aimed for the top, it meant recruiting a lot of members.
A lot of members meant a lot of girls.
And a top-tier familia would definitely attract outstanding women.
There was no way she wanted her Anos surrounded by that kind of environment all the time… but at the same time, she couldn't exactly fill the familia with only guys either.
"Well, I'll leave it to you, Don't worry. Even with just the current members, I'll make the Hestia Familia the strongest."
Seeing her conflicted expression, Anos chuckled and shook his head.
Some things didn't need overthinking.
…
The next day.
Lili stood outside Anos's door.
She hadn't slept at all last night. Only after seeing him again did everything start to feel real.
She had actually… escaped the Soma Familia.
Even though she was working as a maid now, her life was far better than before.
"Ready, Lili?"
Anos adjusted his clothes as he spoke.
"Yeah... Bell is already waiting at the entrance."
Lili's maid outfit fit her perfectly.
She had forced herself to stop wondering how Anos could casually pull out something like this at any time. Some questions were better left unanswered.
If this peaceful, stable life was the reward, she wasn't about to nitpick over small details.
Being a maid might not sound as impressive as being an adventurer, but having lived at the bottom tier, she knew the truth.
In terms of safety and stability, it was leagues better.
Besides, she was earning her keep honestly. There was nothing shameful about it.
And on top of that… well…
Everyone in the familia just happened to be ridiculously good-looking.
Lili made up her mind.
She would start over as a maid and stay by the side of the one who saved her.
"Hm?"
As Anos stepped outside with an excited Bell, he noticed someone waiting ahead.
A maid.
Unlike Lili, who had only just taken on the role, this was a professional.
From the Hostess of Fertility.
Syr and Ryuu.
They stood along the path to the commercial district, as if they had known exactly when Anos would pass by.
"Good morning, Mr. Kanzaki."
Syr walked forward with a bright smile, greeting him as if they were already close friends.
Her presence was disarming. Anos could feel Bell and Lili instinctively relax the moment they saw her smile.
"Syr, Ryuu, you both look great today."
Anos replied calmly.
And he meant it. Neither of them was in their usual maid uniforms, showing off a completely different charm.
"Thank you."
Ryuu responded evenly, though Anos caught the faintest ripple in her composure.
She probably wasn't used to receiving compliments like that.
Her elven beauty made her seem distant, and most people wouldn't dare approach her so casually.
"Wow, you really do talk like that to every girl, don't you?"
Syr teased lightly.
Of course, Anos matched her tone effortlessly.
"We're friends, right? No need to call me Mr. Kanzaki, just call me Anos."
"Then can I call you Anos-chan?"
Syr tilted her head, finger resting near her lips, blending innocence with something far more alluring.
A toned-down version of a goddess of beauty.
That was Anos's assessment.
Too bad. Even the real thing did not affect him.
"Anos-chan won't work, That's a name reserved for my future wife."
Anos shot back without missing a beat.
"Oh? Are you proposing to me?"
Syr leaned in, clearly unwilling to lose this little exchange.
Anos simply smiled.
"Marriage? I wouldn't mind, Syr. As long as my goddess approves."
That was enough.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Ryuu watching them with an increasingly strange expression.
"Ah, right, you'd need Lady Hestia's approval. She does keep a very close eye on you."
Syr laughed it off, steering the conversation away.
"Actually, we wanted to help you pick out some clothes."
Ryuu stepped in, her tone calm but firm.
"Clothes? That sounds like my kind of luck."
Anos smiled.
"Of course, it's not for free. You'll have to come by the tavern tonight."
Syr added with a playful grin, still a little competitive from earlier.
"Yes. That's the deal."
Ryuu nodded.
She had only come along because Syr asked her to. No matter how good-looking the guy was, she wasn't about to betray her friend.
Absolutely not.
…
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Anos's vision shifted.
Everything was tinted with a faint purple glow.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations. Treasure Chest Triggered.]
[Rarity: Purple]
[Unlock Condition: Path to the Strongest Familia – Obtain your first Level 5 member.]
Only then did he realize.
The chest was floating right above his head.
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~Support with 300 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
(Just remove the - hyphen to access normally)
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