Astraea bit her lower lip, hesitating, and whispered, "…Akira~ Just one more time."
Her voice was delicate and shy, but filled with unmistakable longing.
Akira didn't need to be told twice. He moved closer, his body leaning in as he gently pressed Astraea back onto the plush cushions of the sofa.
A small, surprised gasp escaped her lips as her back met the fabric, but before she could say anything, her lips were once again claimed by the boy she had grown to care for.
Compared to the earlier moments, this time felt different—less restrained, more intimate.
Astraea hummed softly from time to time. She, who had preserved her chastity in the heavens for untold eons was now utterly intoxicated by the warmth and intimacy shared with Akira.
As her breathing slowly steadied, she could still feel the wild thumping of her heart.
Thump... thump... thump...
Her chest rose and fell with each beat, and she gently pressed her hands against it, as if trying to calm the storm of emotion within. Her eyes, tinged with softness and longing, fell upon Akira, still seated on the sofa.
"Tonight... Akira is staying with me." She whispered.
"As you command, my goddess." Akira replied gently, his tone full of respect and subtle affection.
After an indeterminate amount of time had passed in tranquil silence, the two finally composed themselves, remembering they still had something important to do.
They both stood up and began to straighten their slightly disheveled clothing and smooth out their tangled hair.
"Alright, let's update your status quickly and then get you into a shower. You're soaked in sweat." Astraea said with a crisp clap of her hands, trying to refocus her thoughts and dispel the lingering desire clouding her heart.
Akira chuckled softly, the corners of his lips lifting in amusement. He reached out, gently sliding his fingers beneath Astraea's arm, then brought them to his nose and took a playful sniff.
"Mmm... What an intoxicating scent."
He grinned. "Makes it sound like Astraea-sama doesn't sweat at all."
Without hesitation, he mischievously extended his fingers toward her, as if inviting her to verify the scent herself.
That jolted Astraea back to her senses. She quickly dodged with a slightly exasperated expression and lightly tapped Akira's head in mock reprimand.
"Really now, what kind of follower behaves this way in front of their goddess? I don't understand you sometimes... Turn around already."
This child... he's completely forgotten how to show respect to a goddess.
Astraea thought, sighing inwardly.
But then again... it only took a single glance for me to fall for him.
"Okay." Akira replied with a grin and obediently removed his top, turning his back to her.
Astraea's eyes lingered on his bare back as her fingertips hovered just above his skin.
His body wasn't bulky like a warrior's, but the lean muscle that lined his figure had become increasingly well-defined. Strong yet supple.
Sometimes, it was hard to believe this young man with such a calm and noble bearing was only thirteen years old.
With a quiet laugh at her own wandering thoughts, Astraea flicked her hair over her shoulder and focused her mind on the task at hand.
Her fingertip gently touched his skin. First, she applied a trace of her divine blood to unlock the falna, then began to extract the hidden "experiences" embedded deep within his body.
Akira
Level: 2
Strength: D531 → SSS1443
Endurance: D512 → SSS1413
Dexterity: C623 → SSS1421
Agility: C609 → SSS1432
Magic: S965 → SSS1981
[Development Ability]
- Mystery I
[Skill]
[NEW] Armor Break
As the divine light gently faded, the status update came to an end.
Every drop of effort, every battle fought, had now been converted into real, tangible power.
"All done." Astraea said softly, withdrawing her hand. "This expedition really bore fruit… and you even gained a new skill."
She printed the updated status on parchment and handed it to him.
Akira's eyes scanned the astonishing growth of his stats. Skimming past the now-glowing magic value, he focused on the new skill that had emerged.
Armor Break — Enhances damage dealt to enemies with special armor.
"Huh… Looks like this one came from smashing that Juggernaut's shell."
Although the skill was situational, it was still progress. A new skill was a new possibility.
Thank you, Juggernaut …!
Akira inwardly offered a word of thanks to the monster who had indirectly granted him this gift.
Astraea watched him with a warm, loving gaze. The sacred script on the parchment recorded everything about the child she loved.
If it hadn't been for Akira standing at the front during the expedition—facing down the filthy forces of darkness—how many of her children would have made it back alive?
The danger they faced was beyond words. That was why, no matter how extraordinary Akira's growth became, it no longer surprised her.
In her heart, Akira had already become the irreplaceable hero of the Astraea Familia.
The only thing she could offer in return was her unwavering affection, her boundless love.
"Judging by your talent and your previous upgrade stats, it's still not time to level up yet, is it? Shall we hold off for now?" Astraea asked as she leaned forward, draping herself gently over his back.
Her soft body pressed against him, and her cool fingers trailed along the parchment, pointing to the stats aside from Magic.
Akira gave a quiet nod. "Yeah, not yet. I want to fight a few more strong opponents after I've rested. At the very least, I want to bring all the other stats up to match my last level before I think about an upgrade."
"Hehe. Akira always keeps his word." Astraea replied with a tender laugh, full of admiration and unwavering trust.
After a few moments, she gave him a light push toward the door and said, "You've updated your status. Now go take that shower, will you?"
"I know." Akira replied with a helpless chuckle. "No need to be so eager. Alise and the others will be here soon anyway."
Having completed the update, Akira exited the room and found himself face-to-face with four familiar figures in the corridor.
Alise, Kaguya, Lyra, and Ryuu.
It looked like they had finished their bath ahead of him. Judging by their timing, he could easily guess the four of them had bathed together.
After all, the shower room only had space for four. That said, if they didn't mind squeezing in, they could technically fit eight...
Their skin was freshly washed and glistening with moisture, and their expressions were noticeably refreshed.
Especially Alise—her usual ponytail had been let down, and her vibrant crimson hair now cascaded freely over her shoulders like a waterfall. Dressed in soft, animal-print pajamas, the once-fiery warrior now looked like a docile, fluffy housecat.
The contrast between the bold adventurer and this cozy, homey version of her was enough to make Akira blink.