"Recovery" needed no explanation. It was one Fron had wanted since Lv.4, but at that time, since he was offered the rare "Escape" ability available only at Lv.4, she had chosen that instead.
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"'Harmony,' this ability needs no further explanation, it was the third sub-profession development path chosen by Fron.
With 'Blacksmithing' and 'Mystery' already reaching considerable heights, without major opportunities or long periods of accumulation, it was difficult for him to make any further progress.
Without significant progress, naturally, he could no longer gain new knowledge , something extremely disadvantageous for Fron.
As someone who could convert unknown knowledge into ability points, after reaching Lv.6, if he wanted to keep leveling up at the same pace, he needed to open up another professional path.
Thus, [Pharmacist] entered his sights.
'Harmony' not only enhanced potion-mixing abilities, but also boosted the effects of certain tools and magical items. For instance, the material he collected from the northern volcano range, Volcanic Flower , required harmonization during refinement.
His level, attributes, and developmental abilities had all improved to varying degrees, yet the only magic recorded on his status panel was still the lonely "Surtr."
However, Fron didn't care about magic. He shifted his gaze toward the skills column.
The originally four skills list now had one more.
"Thinker!"
Thinker
· Enter a state of full concentration in adversity
· Automatically exit concentration when adversity ends
The skill name still carried Fron's distinct personal style.
And the effect was just as direct, no fancy embellishment, simple and straightforward.
When in adversity, he would enter a focused state; when out of it, the state would automatically end.
Although, like "Magic Dominator," it could only activate under specific conditions, the difference was that "Thinker" was passive.
Moreover, the judgment of what counted as "adversity" was rather subtle.
Someone lost in contemplation, with countless thoughts swirling in their mind.
"Hah, another life-saving skill." Loki smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"In normal situations, you're already strong enough. So, a skill like this is perfect for you."
Fron understood as well, even without invoking his terrifying magic, his extraordinary attributes alone were enough to make people of the same level shy away from fighting him.
In one-on-one combat, Fron was invincible, that much was already recognized within the Familia.
But battles were never pure duels; they involved countless strategies and schemes.
Before the word "Victory," any conspiracy was only meaningful if it led to success.
"Well then, Loki. We'll be heading out first."
"Damn brat, stealing Ais away from me! Why don't you stay out a few more days instead of coming back so soon!?"
"..." Scratching his head awkwardly, Fron quickly pulled Ais away, he didn't want to get drowned in Loki's endless complaints.
The two walked side by side onto the sky corridor, one leaned against the railing, gazing at the gradually awakening city of Orario, while the other stood quietly beside him, her golden hair gleaming softly.
Knowing that Ais wasn't good at conversation or expressing emotion, Fron took the initiative to start talking.
"So, how have you been lately? Anything fun happen?"
"Lately?" Ais tilted her head cutely, her eyes blinking as if she were trying hard to recall.
"Hmm, well… I heard the Apollo Familia has been pretty active recently, kind of noisy."
'Apollo Familia? That damn pervert's at it again?'
Well, that was typical. With the god's tendency to fall in love with anyone he met, it was no surprise he'd stir up trouble again , especially now that another adventurer had reached Lv.2 in just over a month.
Back when Fron rose to prominence, Apollo had also tried to provoke them, but Loki had crushed him thoroughly, even breaking his family jewels.
Twice, in fact.
Compared to Fron, Bell Cranel wasn't nearly as lucky, after all, the Hestia Familia was still weak, and their goddess wasn't particularly assertive. They couldn't stand toe-to-toe with Apollo's faction.
But… that was the key.
The Loki Familia was one of Orario's top-tier groups, while the Hestia Familia currently had only Bell Cranel as its sole member, right?
"Well, there's a saying from the Far East, 'When the cart reaches the mountain, there'll be a road; when the boat reaches the bridge, it will find a path by itself.' Let's just wait and see."
He said it casually to Ais, but inwardly, he was grumbling.
'With Freya backing Bell from behind, if Apollo dares to mess around, he'll basically be picking a fight with the entire city.'
Thinking of that beautiful goddess residing atop the alabaster tower, Fron shivered involuntarily.
Fortunately, he was a transmigrator, his jumbled mass of worldly knowledge made his soul appear ordinary enough.
...
When talking with someone one likes, that sense of ease can make a person lose all track of time.
Enjoying the long-missed feeling of relaxation, Fron and Ais ended up chatting for two hours without noticing. Their eyes were only on each other, oblivious even to the Familia members passing by and glancing curiously at them.
No doubt, their closeness would soon spread throughout the Familia like wildfire.
"Hey now, you young folks, could you spare a thought for us old-timers? I just got home from work, and the first thing I see is you two flirting here!"
That bold voice came from one end of the corridor.
Within the Familia, the only one who could speak to them like that was none other than the dwarf, Gareth.
Their conversation came to an abrupt halt, both turning curiously toward the old man trudging over with his axe.
"You just got back?"
"Hmph! A bunch of youngsters made me run errands for them. No respect for their elders!"
"..." Under his glare, Fron immediately felt guilty.
He hadn't forgotten, the errand Gareth just returned from was originally his responsibility, one he'd quietly dodged.
With his capabilities, the task should have fallen to him, not the old dwarf.
"Heh, don't be mad, old man. Anger's bad for your health. Tell you what, I've still got a bottle of genuine Soma Divine Wine in my workshop. I'll gift it to you! Let's call it even, yeah?"
For dwarves, two things mattered most in life,
First, ore.
Second, alcohol.
Especially for old Gareth, he might seem calm and stoic most of the time, but the man hid his love for drink well.
"Hah! At least you know your place, kid!" Stroking his thick beard, Gareth laughed heartily as he walked away.
Watching Fron bowing obsequiously and Gareth laughing boisterously, Ais tilted her head again, her eyes full of question marks as she stared at the man, completely puzzled.
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T/N: Bonus chapter for reaching 250 power stones~