Chapter 765

From inside Loki's room, the Sword Princess girl walked out.

"Ais, how is it?"

Tiona went up to meet her and asked.

"Loki said I can already level up."

"Ah, then doesn't that mean Ais-san is now a Lv. 6 Adventurer?"

Beside them, the elf girl widened her eyes and asked.

"No, not at all."

Ais shook her head, just about to explain something, when Loki poked her head out from behind the door.

"Ais's situation is a bit special, or rather, you two are the same. Hmm, both of you come in, I'll update your Ability Values together."

Loki ushered the two into the room, first having Tiona take off her upper garment, then pressing a blood-beaded finger onto the Amazoness girl's wheat-colored spine. Once the Ability Value surfaced on the girl's back, Loki revealed an 'as expected' expression.

"Tiona, this expedition, you've also gained a feat that allows you to level up."

"Yay~"

Hearing this, the Amazoness girl clenched her fist once, a happy look surfacing on her face.

"However, I don't recommend you level up."

However, the next moment, she heard Loki say this.

"Eh, why?"

"Simple. Because leveling up is a negative return for you, just like Ais."

Loki answered, and seeing the Amazoness girl still confused, began to explain.

"Adventurers usually level up because their Ability Values have reached the limit of their current level and can no longer rise, so they pursue a level increase to gain the opportunity to continue growing.

But you're different. Under the blessing of Broly's Wings Skill, your Ability Value growth has no limits. So what you need to consider isn't the problem of your Ability Values hitting the limit and needing to level up, but how to acquire Excelia faster and more, thereby raising your Ability Values.

And Excelia acquisition can be divided into two aspects: one is Excelia gained from your own training, the other is Excelia gained from defeating monsters.

From an Adventurer's perspective, the latter is the simplest, most straightforward way to gain Excelia, but high-level Adventurers fighting low-level monsters cannot gain Excelia.

Tiona, you're currently a Lv. 5 Adventurer. Generally, fighting monsters below Lv. 5 yields no Excelia harvest. But if you level up to Lv. 6, it becomes a situation where fighting monsters below Lv. 6 yields no Excelia.

Conversely, if you stay at Lv. 5, you can gain Excelia by fighting Lv. 5 monsters, and your Ability Values can keep growing endlessly, making your strength far surpass what a normal Lv. 5 Adventurer possesses. In other words, your monster-killing efficiency will increase……"

After a somewhat roundabout explanation, Loki summarized: "Locking your level to farm monsters, gaining Excelia to raise Ability Values, is the most correct, effective, and easiest way for you to get stronger!"

"Too bad you met Broly a bit late. Otherwise I'd definitely have properly suppressed your levels — the lower the level, the simpler to gain Excelia, and defeating monsters many levels above yourself also grants more Excelia bonuses."

"But, fortunately, Lefiya is only Lv. 3 right now. For her, as long as she fights Lv. 3 monsters she can keep getting stronger."

As they spoke, Lefiya was also ordered to take off her upper garment. Loki's blood-stained finger touched the elf girl's smooth back.

She looked at the Ability Value panel surfacing on the elf girl's back — likewise already exceeding the limit values — and couldn't help but remark with a sigh: "This child's potential now actually surpasses Ais's. Hmm, same advice: she can level up, but shouldn't — lock level and train Ability Values."

*Rip—*

The moment the words fell, Lefiya suddenly stood up, chair legs scraping the floor with a piercing screech.

"Eh, Lefiya, what are you doing? I haven't even imprinted your Ability Value yet."

Loki held a blank Ability Value Imprinting Paper, looking at the elf girl with a puzzled face.

"Lady Loki, I want you to help me level up."

"Eh, why? Was my explanation of the situation just now not clear enough?"

"No, it's not that. It's that I don't intend to become Mr. Broly's wife."

"Uh, you knew about this?"

"Mm, I know. I heard it from Mr. Broly himself when we went into the Dungeon this time."

"The elf race can't accept being in someone else's harem — that doesn't surprise me much. But what does that have to do with you wanting me to raise your level?"

"Invisible Wings should be something Mr. Broly gave to his future wives. Since I don't want to agree to become his wife, yet continue enjoying such a Skill, I feel that's not right."

Lefiya was somewhat stiff and proper about it. She obviously wasn't the kind of girl who wouldn't agree to marry someone yet still string them along enjoying benefits meant for a future wife. At this moment of updating her Ability Value, she intended to draw a clear line.

"Alright, I understand. However, a Skill already updated won't disappear just because you level up. Even if it's temporary, the subjective permission to grant this person this Skill lies with Broly.

Hmm, you still have two Basic Abilities on your panel that haven't reached the limit value. How about this: you go explain to Broly and have him retract the Wings Skill from you. I'll wait until your other two Basic Abilities also hit the limit value, then level you up~"

Loki touched her chin and said so, silently putting away the Imprinting Paper she had prepared to imprint the elf girl's Ability Value.

Ais, who could read the Holy Scripture, looked at the Ability Value panel on Lefiya's back where all Basic Abilities had already exceeded the 1S limit value, and kept silent.

Before the elf girl had come to draw the line, Broly received a tip-off letter from Loki, Main God of Twilight Manor.

The gist of the letter was to give Broly a heads-up about Lefiya intending to draw the line with him, and it'd be best if the Saiyan boy could think of a way to win back the elf girl before she came over to explain.

"Broly-san, I told you not to reveal your true intentions until the end. Now look, the elf wife in your room is about to fly away."

That night, because of Loki's letter, Liliruca complained to him a bit.

"Now's not the time for that. We have to help think of how to let Broly win back that child Lefiya."

The Loli Goddess spoke, sitting cross-legged on the bed, hugging her chest with a serious pondering look.

"Hestia, you're actually helping think of ideas for even this?"

Hephaestus was a bit surprised. Willing to let Broly have a harem was one thing, but to even worry about the boy's impending failure with another encounter.

"Of course. I'm the Goddess of the Hearth, and also the Goddess of Home. My Authority includes blessing family harmony and bliss. Now my child's future family is about to have a deficiency — how could I not worry for him?"

"Then Lady Hestia, don't you feel jealous because a rival for affection has increased?"

"Jealous? Haha, of course I would. For example, when you held Broly upside down and drooled eating him, I felt very displeased. But displeased is displeased — at most I'll have Broly compensate me on my body too. As for making you divorce him, that's impossible."

"Then have you thought of any good ideas now?"

"Not yet."

"How about letting Broly act more domineering? Like when he forced the encounter with you and Liliruca?"

Hephaestus suggested.

"Broly-san, may I ask you to step out for a moment? I have something I want to tell you."

The next day, Lefiya came to the door, and Ais and Tiona came with her.

"Hmm."

Under the watchful gaze of Hestia and Hephaestus, Broly agreed and went outside with the elf girl.

"Tiona doesn't mind you encountering multiple people, and Ais-san has her own purposes and thoughts. I respect Ais-san's choice and will not obstruct your encounters.

However, Broly-san, I personally truly cannot accept being part of a harem, so please retract the Invisible Wings Skill from me."

"Hmm, Lefiya, I respect your current wish, but I still want to strive for it. Can you give me that opportunity?"

"Ah..."

Lefiya's brain somewhat crashed; she should have already clearly indicated her refusal.

"Broly-san, doing this, you won't get any repayment from me. I'm not the kind of person who would, ugh, fine, even if it were a very large benefit, just hand themselves over haphazardly!"

The effect of the Invisible Wings Skill — even Lefiya couldn't speak words against her heart — but she still sternly warned the Saiyan boy: be careful, or it'll be like drawing water with a bamboo basket, all for nothing.

"I know, but the future you might just change your mind."

Broly nodded and said.

"Absolutely impossible."

The elf girl flatly denied.

"Alright, even if the future you also absolutely won't agree to become my wife, there's no need to make me retract the Wings Skill on you, right?"

"Uh, but I already don't agree."

"But we're friends, aren't we? Anyway, the Wings Skill doesn't consume anything from me. Giving this friend a benefit has no downside for me.

Or rather, Lefiya, are you worried that your future self might change your mind because of this, so you want to draw a line with me, not even wanting to be friends anymore?"

"Ugh..."

The elf girl was somewhat at a loss for words.

"Broly, if you end up receiving a result that disappoints you from me, that's not my responsibility!"

"Hmm."

Looking at the elf girl whose face had flushed red, looking somewhat huffily angry, Broly nodded, acknowledging her advance disclaimer of responsibility.

"By the way, Lefiya, are you still going to stay here?"

The elf girl wanted to say no, but seeing the boy's 【'Are you worried you'll change your mind?'】 expression, she immediately changed her mind again.

"Stay, of course I'll stay. Until Ais-san truly marries you, I'll responsibly spy on you. I absolutely won't let you do those things to Ais-san that can only be done after two people are married!"

"Which things?"

"That is..."

Lefiya just wanted to answer, but paused.

She looked at the Saiyan boy seriously gazing at her, and her ear tips instantly turned red.

"Ah, you really are a bad guy!"

The elf girl ran away in shame and anger, while Broly watched her retreating back and scratched his head.

"Good job, Broly-san~"

Liliruca poked her head out from behind the tree thicket.

"This provocation was perfect."

Chun also stood up from her lying-down posture; obviously she had also been hiding in the tree thicket eavesdropping just now.

"However, Broly-san, what if in the end, Lefiya-san still doesn't change her mind?"

"Then that's just how it is. I've already done my best, no way around it."

"Broly-san, won't you be a bit more forceful with Lefiya-san?"

"No, I respect her choice."

Broly thought for a moment, then gave his true heart's answer.

"Eh? Then how come you're a bit forceful with me and with Hestia-sama?"

Liliruca was confused.

"Maybe, I like you all more."

Only liking produces possessiveness. As for Lefiya, she probably falls in the category of ordinary good friend or slightly above on Broly's side.

If not for the identity of a Capture Target acknowledged by the Crystal Palace, she might not even compare to Tiona, that Amazon girl who actively leaned in.

At least, as far as Broly's personal feelings go, he likes Tiona, who's a bit more carefree and bold.

"Fels-san..."

Lefiya ran away from Hearth Manor, didn't return to Twilight Manor, but went to the Dionysus Familia residence and found the White Shrine Maiden to vent.

"Broly, he's a really hateful guy, isn't he? I feel like in the end, he was definitely deliberately teasing me!"

"Perhaps, he really might not know."

"Impossible. Back in the Dungeon, I clearly heard from outside his tent..."

Speaking to this point, the elf girl paused.

"Hmm, Lefiya, what did you hear?"

"Ah, Fels-san, you don't want to tease me too, do you?"

"Eh?"

Seeing the puzzled expression on the White Shrine Maiden's face, the elf girl's complexion eased, though her cheeks were still slightly red, and she spoke of what she had heard.

Inside the tent came stifled panting — Miss Chun's, and Tiona's……

White Shrine Maiden: "……"

"Two-timing, and still wanting to come provoke you — Mr. Broly really is a bad guy."

She agreed with the elven girl's words.

……

Broly of course didn't know that two elves were badmouthing him behind his back; that evening, when he had agreed with Loki Familia to go to Abundance Mistress for a celebration banquet, he was sought out by the quest board girl.

"Broly, where's the amulet I gave you?"

Xier directly asked about his amulet.

"Ah, I put it in a safe place, what's wrong?"

"Amulet, amulet — if you don't carry it on you, what do you call it an amulet for?!"

Helen Xier loudly complained — who knew her own Goddess sent out a surveillance tool and saw nothing at all, that recent constant welling irritation inside her, the uncomfortable feeling it brought to this substitute of hers!

"Uh, sorry, I'll carry it on me from now on."

Broly hurriedly apologized.

"Forget it."

Xier exhaled, adjusted her mood, then said: "Welcome back safely from the Dungeon, Broly."

"Mm, thanks."

"Right, Ryuu didn't come back with you?"

"Yesterday, when I came up, I ran into Ryuu on the 18th Floor — she said she still had to farm monsters in the Dungeon to earn money."

"Is that so."

Xier nodded, paused, then told the boy: "Ryuu's personality is a bit stubborn — you mustn't forget your promise to me, to properly have an encounter with her."

"Rest assured, I haven't forgotten."

"Good then."

The celebration banquet began; since Hestia's side planned to make a killing on the quiet, the main credit for this joint expedition was claimed by Loki for her own Familia.

"I'm not taking advantage of you for nothing — compensation welfare, hmm, want to go together to the seaside beach at Port Melen and properly relax?"

The flat-chested alcoholic Goddess spread her arms, draped one around Hestia's neck and one around Broly's neck, and asked.

"Hah, Port Melen is right next to Orario — what kind of compensation welfare is that?"

Hestia pushed away Loki's approaching face, somewhat dissatisfied.

"A normal seaside beach certainly doesn't count as compensation welfare — but if I bring some pretty girls from my Familia, wearing swimsuits to keep you company?"

"What, you still want to find more girls for my kid?"

"That depends on his own willingness — though, Hestia, don't you want to see your own kid in a nice swimsuit? Broly's build feels great to touch; if he takes off his clothes and changes into a swimsuit, he'll definitely look sharp."

Hestia: "……"

I've seen him without clothes, even touched and kissed him — do I need to see him in a swimsuit?

But then again, a beach-swimsuit Saiyan young boy isn't out of the question.

(Chapter End)