"I see. Then I can relax." Xien grinned to himself. "A Level 7 mage as my teacher—and she's a beauty? I'm seriously looking forward to it."
Who wouldn't want a gorgeous, sweet-voiced instructor? If nothing else, interacting with a beautiful woman was always good for the mood.
He quietly ended the mental conversation with the orange cat. Confidence surged through him—along with a deeper understanding of just how absurd his healing power really was. The next stage can completely cure terminal illnesses? Then what about after that?
This really was "Abundance." Once you had it, dying would practically become difficult.
While Xien's thoughts drifted in that direction, they arrived at the Hera Familia's residence.
The gatekeepers had already been informed, and the moment they recognized Lady Astraea's unmistakable figure, they waved her through without hesitation.
She looked gentle, elegant, even easy to bully—but whether due to official duty or genuine respect, none of them wanted to make unpleasant memories with a goddess like her. They weren't the Familia's heavy hitters—people who could ignore the threat of the Evilus factions.
After entering the main gate, a servant greeted them and guided them through the magnificent building, leading them into a grand reception chamber meant for formal meetings.
Tea was served. They were asked to wait a moment.
Soon the room held only Xien and his goddess.
Only then did he truly look around.
As expected of one of Orario's top-tier Familias—just the opulence of their residence spoke volumes about their scale. Even a single meeting hall looked comparable to the interior of a royal palace.
Was it wasteful?
Or simply extravagance taken to the extreme?
Sinking into a leather sofa soft enough to swallow him whole, Xien couldn't help feeling uncomfortable. He immediately cursed himself inwardly.
What am I, some hill pig that can't handle fine grain? Born to be poor trash forever, huh…
At the same time, he couldn't help admiring Lady Astraea's effortless composure. She could sit on the Astraea Familia's hard wooden benches without complaint—and she could sit here on luxurious leather just as naturally, never losing her elegance. Every movement carried an ancient, noble refinement.
Maybe that was one reason people felt drawn to gods.
He didn't have to wait long. After only a few minutes, footsteps approached from outside.
The doors opened.
Two women entered.
In an instant, Xien was hit with a crushing discomfort—like altitude sickness. His body felt pinned down by an invisible weight. The air became thick and sticky, like he couldn't breathe properly.
In moments, his face flushed red.
Lady Astraea noticed immediately. She raised a hand and gently patted his head, easing the pressure a little as the newcomers took their seats.
"Miss Alfia," Astraea said calmly, "could you restrain your presence a bit? This child is only Level 1…"
At that, both Xien and the silver-haired beauty froze.
Presence?
Just the unconscious aura of a Level 7 was enough to do this to him?
Then if she released her full killing intent…
I'd die. That's insane.
Xien's heart shook violently. For the first time, he truly felt what it meant to stand before a mountain of power. He wasn't frightened so much as… overwhelmed—then, inevitably, consumed by hunger for strength.
"I apologize, Lady Astraea," the silver-haired girl said, her voice clear and beautiful. She lifted her skirt in a formal curtsy. "That was my recklessness. Please allow me to apologize."
As she spoke, the suffocating pressure vanished completely.
She wasn't doing it on purpose. Someone of her standing rarely met people who couldn't even withstand her aura—so she simply hadn't paid attention to it. But the moment she noticed, she pulled it in instantly.
Terrifying.
Only now did Xien have enough strength to look up properly.
Silver hair. A black, gothic-style evening dress. A breathtaking face and a figure that made a man feel spiritually "healed" just by looking.
A beauty of the highest order.
"Mm, it's fine," Astraea replied. "I know it wasn't intentional. Still… worthy of being a designated ace, aren't you? Just Level 7, and your presence is already like this. If you ever reached Level 9, you might even surpass that person."
"Enough, Astraea." The other woman spoke—an elegant blonde, her tone naturally lofty and impatient. "We aren't gods with deep ties. Don't waste time. Let's get to the point."
She'd heard the subtle barb in Astraea's words, but since her side had made the first mistake—and they were the ones asking for help—she couldn't argue.
Her looks and figure were even more striking than the silver-haired girl's, yet her aura was cold—like a queen gazing down on the mortal world.
Xien's private verdict:
A mature beauty—if she'd just never open her mouth.
"Ah, fine," Astraea said lightly. "As expected—you big Familias must be busy."
Then Astraea's gaze turned to the silver-haired girl.
"Miss Alfia. Please come forward and extend your hand."
Alfia glanced at her goddess, drew in a breath, then walked over and offered her slender hand.
At that moment, for reasons even she didn't understand, her heart beat a little faster.
"Xien," Astraea prompted.
Understanding what he needed to do, Xien stepped forward and naturally took Alfia's hand.
He wasn't the timid hatchling he'd been when he first joined the Familia. Shaking hands with a beautiful girl was nothing he couldn't handle calmly.
Mm… soft.
This is what a girl's hand is supposed to feel like.
As expected—Tsubaki is the abnormal one.
While his thoughts wandered, he activated his skill.
"Breath of Abundance."
Visible green life-energy poured through their joined hands, flowing from Xien into Alfia.
At once, the blonde goddess who had looked bored earlier straightened slightly, her expression sharpening.
Alfia's body suddenly felt weightless.
Pain—everything that had plagued her for so long—vanished. Something warm, gentle, and overwhelming filled the emptiness inside her, rapidly restoring what had been lost. She could feel life returning, as if her body was blooming again.
Her cheeks flushed red.
The comfort was so intense she let out a soft, involuntary sound—something between a breath and a moan. If it were any normal day, she would never have allowed herself such shameful loss of composure.
Seeing her reaction, Xien wasn't even surprised. He could only think: Yeah… she's really been suffering.
He'd noticed it before. People receiving his healing for the first time were always overwhelmed by the unprecedented comfort—especially those tormented by illness or injury. The swing from pain to comfort hit far harder than the swing from normal to comfortable.
Alfia's response was far stronger than Tsubaki's.
That could only mean one thing:
Her ruined body had been torturing her mind for a very long time.
The treatment didn't last long.
When Alfia's breathing steadied, Xien released her hand on his own.
And—maybe it was his imagination—but her fingers seemed to hesitate, like she didn't quite want to let go.
Astraea's lips curved upward.
"Well? Our agreement still stands, yes?"
Her expression made it clear: she already knew the answer.
Hera immediately seized Alfia's arm and began examining her.
Her body was saturated with pure life-energy—so much that it filled her completely, suppressing the "cursed" diseased core for now.
It was far better than Hera's most optimistic expectation.
Alfia had been restored to something close to her health when she'd first joined the Familia. It wasn't a cure—but the suppression and stabilization were extraordinary.
And, just as Hera had suspected…
At this rate, a complete cure was genuinely possible.
Hera met Alfia's gaze—still tinged with shame from her earlier loss of composure—and for once, the noble goddess's face softened into the faintest smile.
Then Hera looked at Xien.
"Child. What's your name?"
Xien blinked, then glanced at Astraea. When she gave a tiny nod, he answered with full formality.
"To Lady Hera—I am Xien, a new member of the Astraea Familia."
"Good." Hera's gaze sharpened. "Xien, frankly speaking, you surprised me."
Then, unbelievably, the goddess who had seemed so untouchable gave him a shallow smile—before turning to Astraea.
"Next time Alfia visits your residence, she'll bring the formal contract. Three times a week, full instruction. One treatment per session—until that child has the ability to fully restore her. No objections?"
"None." Astraea answered at once. "That's reasonable."
With what she wanted secured, the goddess of justice agreed smoothly.
"Good." Hera's mood lifted. "Then as the head of Orario's strongest—Hera Familia—let me offer an additional gift to celebrate our cooperation."
She clapped her hands.
The side door opened. A male attendant approached carrying a tray. On it lay a single book.
He presented it to Astraea.
Astraea's eyes widened.
"This is…"
She hadn't expected Hera to be so generous—to toss out something like this as a "bonus."
"Consider it thanks for agreeing to help, Astraea." Hera's voice was cool but honest. "I never expected to receive your justice one day. This debt—I acknowledge."
In that moment, the leader of the strongest Familia showed true magnanimity.
"Then…" Astraea said warmly, "cooperation is a pleasure."
"A pleasure," Hera replied.
Not long after, the door shut.
The guests departed the luxurious residence.
Hera turned toward Alfia, who was still slightly dazed, and her expression shifted into something teasing.
"Well? Can't bear to part with him? Your strength is what it is—they haven't gone far. Want to go grab him and bring him back? I wouldn't mind."
"Hera-sama," Alfia said quietly, cheeks faintly red, "please don't make such low jokes."
"I just…" She stared at her own hands—hands that were no longer deathly pale, but now held a healthy warmth, even faint veins of life visible beneath the skin. "It feels… unbelievable."
For someone who'd lived with a terminal illness for years, being given hope of life… made everything else feel strangely unimportant.
"Yes," Hera murmured. "That was the purest life force imaginable."
Then her eyes narrowed.
"And I noticed something else. He wasn't channeling external power. He was transferring his own life force into you—yet after giving that much, he looked completely fine."
"That child has secrets. Many."
"Alfia." Hera's smile returned, sharp and knowing. "He's a boy. Your task just got easier."
"Ah… that…" Alfia faltered.
Until they met him, they'd assumed Astraea's "new child" would be a girl—because it was hard to imagine Orario producing a male adventurer who met Astraea's standards in this turbulent era.
Even the "pure" elves were filled with hatred after losing their homeland—so what about everyone else?
And Alfia herself didn't know when it began… but after that healing—after being handed hope—something in her dead-silent heart had stirred.
A world that had long turned gray…
was quietly beginning to regain color.
Outside the Hera Familia residence, Astraea handed the wrapped book to Xien.
"Once we're home, open it and read it immediately. It's a very precious item—better to use it quickly before trouble finds you."
"Yes, Lady Astraea."
Xien took the bundle and held it tight against his chest.
With what he'd learned from Eina recently—combined with his anime memories—he could already guess what it was.
A Grimoire.
Unlike the "spellbooks" of many fantasy worlds, in this world grimoires were one-time consumable magical tools—and their effect was extreme: reading one could awaken a new magic.
In the original story, Bell received one (arranged by Freya) and awakened his signature spell—Firebolt.
The creators of grimoires were usually masters of magic—figures honored as "sages," people capable of creating miracles by themselves.
Even in Orario, where gods gathered, grimoires were incredibly rare. Their value was essentially immeasurable—enough to make even major Familias go red with envy.
It might look "casual" in the anime when Bell got one, but that had been a scheme orchestrated by the strongest Familia of the era.
Which meant—
Right now, Xien was basically a child carrying gold through a crowded marketplace.
If Astraea weren't right beside him, his heart would be shaking out of his chest.
He also couldn't help feeling grateful toward Hera.
Her personality might be terrible…
but damn, she was generous.
-------
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