"Meteria…"
Whenever Hera mentioned that child, her feelings were always a mix of regret and fear.
Regret because the child's life had been far too short.
Fear because when that child got angry, she was truly terrifying—especially when lecturing someone. She could scold you for two hours straight without repeating a single word.
"Oh no… if she's actually 'The World,' will she come back just to lecture me again?"
Now Hera was worried that with Meteria's identity elevated, her scolding might get upgraded too.
"Mm… I'd say that's basically guaranteed."
Zeus then pointed at the projection in the sky.
"Our divine influence can't reach 'Beyond the World.' So who do you think is letting us watch all this?"
It wasn't just a saying—gods really could not reach "Beyond the World."
A god's power couldn't break through the limits of the world itself, so there was no way for their influence to seep into "Beyond the World '653'." Which meant the one controlling this projection definitely wasn't Hermes.
Hera trembled violently as memories she had tried to bury surged back.
In an instant, she straightened her posture completely.
Not because of anything else, but because Meteria's intimidation still held absolute power over her.
Back in Orario, Hera feared nothing—except stealing the sweets Meteria left behind.
Her last true moment of fear had been that time Meteria scolded her so harshly she ended up kneeling on the ground, reflecting on her sins.
Seeing Hera's frightened expression made Zeus feel a faint sorrow as well—because he, too, had once been scolded by Meteria. Just like Hera, he had been forced to kneel and reflect.
And now that her identity had skyrocketed, they would probably have to think carefully before doing anything reckless, just in case they triggered another lecture.
'But… if Meteria is really the World, doesn't that technically make her mine and Hera's mother?'
'No wonder she always scolded us like children.'
Zeus's face twitched violently. It was almost impossible to imagine how he was supposed to face Meteria now—as a mother.
But then, another far more troubling thought hit him.
"Hera… if Meteria is 'The World,' then doesn't that make it pretty suspicious that that brat got involved with her back then?"
Hera, who had been sitting upright, jolted.
"That's right! If Meteria was the World, how could that perverted brat have succeeded?!"
If she wasn't, then Meteria's pregnancy back then carried far more meaning than they had thought.
"Zeus, did that brat ever say how he managed to get close to Meteria?"
"No… he never said anything."
Zeus thought back. They had pressed him at the time, but that brat had clenched his teeth and refused to say a single word.
"It must have been because Meteria needed that brat to become Bell's father. She probably made some sort of agreement with him."
"Or maybe she was hiding her identity."
This possibility wasn't small at all. In fact, after thinking it through, Zeus found it terrifyingly plausible.
Meteria certainly had plenty of reasons to do something like that.
"If that's the case, then no wonder that perverted brat never said anything."
Hera sighed. No wonder that brat had stayed silent all those years, just toughing it out.
"What kind of agreement do you think that brat made with Meteria?"
"…"
Zeus fell silent for a moment, then a possibility surfaced in his mind.
"That brat may be a womanizer, but he's still pretty devoted to his family."
Hera's eyes flickered, though she chose not to continue down that line of discussion.
"So, what do you think about that kid Bell saying he'll abandon the Falna System?"
Zeus thought for a moment before giving his answer.
"It's probably true."
"That kid very clearly pointed out the flaws of the Falna earlier. His issue is just that his standards are too high. Most adventurers can't even dream of reaching Lv.9, and only a monster like him—someone who hit Lv.6 in half a year—has any reason to worry about hitting the ceiling."
The greatest strength of the Falna System was accumulation.
For the talented, the Falna let them accumulate power quickly, allowing them to leap into the ranks of the strong far more easily than through ordinary training.
For those without talent, the Falna helped drastically close the gap with gifted individuals, making hard work and perseverance a form of "talent" in themselves.
But for someone like Bell, who worried about the Falna's upper limits because he grew too quickly—that was an exception among exceptions. His case couldn't even be compared with ordinary examples.
...
"It seems we'll have to start preparing for this coming year as well."
Zeus couldn't help but sigh.
"A year… I originally thought Ouranos would send Bell to the 'School District' to continue his growth somewhere else. Didn't expect the entire plan to get thrown off."
Hera had also believed they'd still have several years to leisurely wait for news from Orario—but now it looked like they didn't have that long. At most, one year.
Zeus shook his head slightly.
"The 'School District' is useful for low-level adventurers, or those lacking battle experience—it might help them grow a bit. But Bell clearly doesn't need that anymore."
The School District was essentially a school built by a god and a Lv.7 adventurer. At best, it could teach adventurers combat experience and technique, helping them bring out their talent more efficiently.
But that only worked for a limited set of adventurers.
Those who already surpassed the School District's standards would gain little from going there. In fact, it would just waste their time.
"That kid Bell already has cross-level combat experience and a wealth of battle techniques. If he were sent to the School District, it would just be a waste."
"And even if Ouranos and Hermes wanted to send him, judging from that child's attitude, he likely wouldn't listen to their arrangements anyway."
Sending a child who has already reached the peak to the School District?
It would be hard to tell who was teaching whom.
Zeus was certain Ouranos and Hermes wouldn't interfere with Bell's growth trajectory now.
In fact, after this massive revelation, Bell absolutely couldn't show his face freely for the next year. Ouranos and Hermes wouldn't let him step out of the shadows either. The Guild would work hard to cover it up, not send Bell out of Orario.
Sending Bell away from Orario was indeed a plausible idea—but given Bell's special nature and rapid growth, any big upheaval now would only hinder him.
"So, we need to start moving as well."
"Ouranos and Hermes need to draw attention away for Bell. And this time, it looks like we'll have to return too."