Loki, who seemed to have shaken off her drunken state, was left baffled when she looked at the status sheet of the boy in front of her.
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Judas Spade
LV 1
STR: I 0
END: I 0
DEX: I 0
AGI: I 0
MAG: I 0
SKILLS:
[The Blessing of the World Tree]
[Elemental Master]
[Eternal Persistence]
[The Venerated One]
MAGIC:
[Otherworld Thaumaturgy 5th-Tier]
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"Hahaha, a treasure! I just found a great treasure!"
After her initial shock subsided, Loki laughed like she had just won the lottery.
"Let me see."
Judas grabbed the sheet from her hands and studied it carefully.
Compared to Loki's excitement, he kept his composure as his eyes trailed down the list of skills and magic.
'The Venerated One?'
'What is this?'
He was clueless about this particular skill, but he had a clear idea about the rest.
'The Blessing of the World Tree and Elemental Master... these should be the original powers of Estelon, the Spirit King.'
With this, he confirmed that his past life could influence his falna.
But what caught his attention most was [Otherworld Thaumaturgy 5th-Tier].
'Looks like my abilities as a mage were listed by the falna, condensed into one magic slot.'
Then his eyes stopped at the last ability.
'Eternal Persistence. From its name alone, I can already guess what it does.'
While Judas silently examined the sheet, Loki noticed his lack of surprise.
"Oh? Look at you, calm and composed. You do know most adventurers start out with an empty falna, right? No skills, no magic."
"Oh really? Wow, I must be special then."
His words sounded prideful, but his flat tone made them come across more like dry sarcasm, which made Loki's ears twitch with amusement.
"Don't get a big head, boy. You're still level one. There are plenty of adventurers in this city who can beat you bloody."
When Judas stayed silent, Loki assumed she had curbed some arrogance and continued with a grin.
"I'll tell you the descriptions of your skills and magic. Listen up."
She picked up a different piece of paper.
"The descriptions are here. I wrote them separately, otherwise your status sheet would get too clogged."
Judas finished putting his shirt back on, and Loki began to read.
"[The Blessing of the World Tree]... starting off hot, huh?"
"The user is blessed by the ancient World Tree, granting enhanced vitality, faster recovery, and a deep connection to nature. Wounds heal quicker, mana flows more smoothly, and natural energies respond favorably to their presence."
"Heh, if the elves find out about this, even I wouldn't know how they'd react."
Loki opened her slit eyes wider, staring at Judas with a probing gaze.
"Mind telling me how a human like you came into contact with the World Tree?"
Judas stayed silent, knowing gods could detect lies.
They stared at each other for a long minute until Loki relented with a click of her tongue.
"Tch. Fine. If you don't want to tell me, just say so."
She continued reading.
"[Elemental Master]"
"Enhances all elemental spells by 200% effectiveness. Negates elemental weaknesses."
She glanced at Judas, who showed no reaction, then pressed on.
"[Eternal Persistence]"
"Determination that never fades."
"A tame one compared to the rest, but still a solid skill."
"[The Venerated One]... woooh, this one's a heavy hitter."
"The one who has received the world's favor and the blessing of the heavens. They are the pinnacle of potential, the harbinger of destiny, and a soul unbound by mortal constraints. To witness their rise is to know that the impossible is merely an illusion."
"Looks like you're loved by the world, kid. I've never seen someone so glazed over by their own skill before."
Chuckling, Loki read the final entry.
"[Otherworld Thaumaturgy 5th-Tier]"
"The accumulation of the user's magical knowledge from another world, 213 out of 13,250 spells unlocked."
For just a moment, her playful expression vanished, replaced by sharp seriousness.
Judas noticed it, brief though it was.
"Over thirteen thousand spells. Magic from another world."
Loki gently set the paper on her desk before fixing her gaze on him.
"Now you're making me even more curious. Just who are you, kid?"
Judas stayed calm.
"Who knows? Maybe in the future you'll find out."
Since Loki loved to tease him, he decided on a little payback.
"You're really playing with fire, acting all mysterious with me, boy."
Loki smirked, then waved her hand dismissively.
"Fine, keep your secrets. There's only one thing I have to say."
She leaned forward.
"Welcome to the Loki Familia, kid."
She didn't push further. Everyone had secrets. She'd uncover his eventually.
'Sooner or later, I'll learn everything about you. Ah, I can't wait until Finn and the others get back. The looks on their faces when they see this kid's status will be priceless.'
The thought made Loki chuckle to herself.
"Right. Now that you're in my familia, you can have the spare room at the end of this hallway. Pack your stuff from wherever you were staying and meet me tomorrow morning."
Loki shifted back into her proper goddess demeanor.
"Okay. Thank you for the hospitality, Goddess Loki."
"Yeah, yeah. You can go now, I'm tired."
She yawned, slamming her head onto her pillow.
Judas gave a small smile as he closed the door behind him.
"Welcome to the familia, kid."
The guards at the gate greeted him warmly.
"Thank you."
Judas returned the smile out of courtesy.
On his way back to the inn to retrieve his belongings, he ran into a very distraught Belle Cranel.
He had seen her several times today, searching for a familia.
'Looks like she failed, just like in the anime.'
The original protagonist had faced rejection after rejection before finally meeting Hestia.
'Don't worry, Belle. Hestia will find you soon.'
With that thought, he wished her luck and continued back to the Loki Familia's base.
"Is this where I'm staying? Looks more like a storage room than a bedroom."
The small space was crammed with stacked boxes, but at least it had a bed.
"It's not ideal, but livable."
By morning, Judas had prepared himself and waited outside Loki's door.
"She didn't specify a time... I guess it won't hurt to knock."
Before he could, Loki's voice came from inside.
"You can come in, boy."
Judas paused, then entered.
Inside, he saw Loki and the guard from yesterday.
"I'm sure you already know, but the familia left on an expedition yesterday. Bad timing for you, kid."
"Ren here will guide you and answer your questions."
She gestured to the middle-aged rabbit demi-human standing by her side—the gatekeeper of the Loki Familia.
"Don't worry, Goddess. I'll make sure the newbie's ready and doesn't die an early death in the dungeon."
Although plain and rough-looking, Ren was still a level 2 adventurer.
He had been forced into this position after taking an arrow to the knee, but his experience was invaluable.
"I am Judas. Please take care of me, senior."
Though older mentally, Judas showed respect, since Ren had seniority within the familia.
"I'm Ren Satoshi, level 2. Don't hesitate to ask if you're curious about anything."
Loki grinned at their exchange.
"Looks like you two get along already. Ren, take him to the armory and get him a proper weapon. Those shabby daggers won't cut it."
Judas glanced at the short twin daggers on his waist.
Though he didn't use them, they were mementos of his parents—his mother's adventuring weapons.
Rusty, worn, and weathered, but precious.
"These daggers have sentimental value, Goddess. I can't just throw them away."
Loki frowned.
"Kid, the dungeon isn't a joke. If your weapon breaks mid-battle, that's game over—no matter how talented you are. Don't underestimate it."
She realized then—Judas was a little arrogant, not taking the dungeon as seriously as he should.
'All talented children of the Lower World are like this. I'll have to guide him properly or else he'll die before his talent can bloom.'
"I'm not telling you to throw them away. If those rusty things matter to you, we'll get them repaired—but you'll pay the expense."
"For now, I strongly advise you to use an actual weapon on your first dungeon run."
She spoke with a serious expression, no longer the jester, but the head of a familia.
"I have no disagreement with your arrangement."
Judas could feel the care behind her sternness, and he didn't object.
At that moment, he was certain... he didn't regret joining her familia.