Chapter 64: Surprise

Lilly did not show any particular fear toward the Ganesha Familia, which was responsible for maintaining order in Orario, and she generally held a positive image of adventurers.

The real problem now was that she had underestimated the fallout caused by the annihilation of the Soma Familia.

Even Shakti, the "Master of the Elephant," had hurried to the central plaza. Lilly raised her head to look at the blue-haired woman walking steadily toward her.

There was a stern look upon that dignified and beautiful face...

Setting aside status and strength, Lilly still felt a wave of oppression when meeting those eyes directly, but as long as she stubbornly feigned ignorance...

She should be able to buy Liang Yue some time, right?

"Captain Shakti."

The escort team member accompanying Lilly said respectfully, "This is the remaining supporter from the Soma Familia... Liliruca."

Shakti nodded gently, her gaze fixed on Lilly, who looked somewhat flustered.

Having just concluded a dungeon exploration, she clearly already knew the news of the "annihilation of the Soma Familia," bringing them very close to the ultimate answer.

Yet, recalling the arrangements made by her god, Ganesha, an inexplicable sense of vexation welled up in her heart.

She waved her hand casually to dismiss the familia members guarding the area: "Continue maintaining order in Orario, especially regarding the movements of those remnants of the Evils."

With the familia members cleared away, Shakti once again scrutinized the prum girl standing before her.

"Liliruca, who is the true culprit behind the annihilation of the Soma Familia?" She crossed her arms over her chest, her calm gaze filled with detachment.

"I am merely an ordinary supporter."

"Captain Shakti, you are asking me something rather redundant." The oppressive aura was certainly real, having spent years mingling among low-level adventurer parties.

Lilly's mental fortitude was more than adequate; facing the interrogation, she tilted her head slightly.

With a clear smile, she countered: "Besides, Lady Shakti, didn't Lord Soma tell you that I have already left the familia?"

"Or do you truly believe that I, a supporter with no combat capabilities, could accomplish such a feat?"

"Leaving the familia does not mean the things you have done in the past can simply be covered up."

This was precisely the worst-case scenario Shakti had anticipated: the supporter Lilly stubbornly denying any involvement, unless there was substantial, direct evidence pointing right at her.

Otherwise, this would take a very long time to resolve.

Refusing to drop the matter just yet, she spoke directly: "...Based on the clues we currently have, you are a supporter who was oppressed by your familia members for years."

"You are the prime suspect in the annihilation of the Soma Familia."

"I even have reason to suspect that you are in league with the remnants of the Evils. Now, please accompany me to the Ganesha Familia headquarters."

The enforcement process went even smoother than anticipated.

Mainly because Lilly knew full well that before a Level 5 adventurer, she had no hope of escaping. Before leaving the central plaza with Shakti,

She took off the hood of her grayish-brown cloak, revealing that somewhat childish yet pretty face.

The young girl smiled softly, though her words struck straight to the heart: "Lady Shakti, will the order-maintaining Ganesha Familia actually choose to take up this case?"

"..."

"Or are the extortion and blackmail incidents involving members of the Soma Familia, submitted by ordinary adventurers, simply deemed unworthy of investigation?"

Shakti's footsteps paused, though she quickly recovered her composure.

This was not justification enough for a familia massacre; she desperately wanted to explain that Orario had far too many incidents to handle, yet the words caught in her throat and refused to come out.

If the "Astraea Familia" were still around...

Remaining silent for a moment, she finally gritted her teeth and said, "I am sorry for the bullying you suffered in the past, but this time... what you people did... went too far!"

***

For Hestia, nothing brought her greater joy than Liang Yue returning safely from his dungeon exploration, updating his status, and spending quiet time alone together.

It was another status update.

Yet her mood felt inexplicably heavy. Following the advice given by a "qualified deity," Liang Yue had actually taken her suggestion to heart.

This was certainly something to celebrate, but she herself had failed to consider all the angles thoroughly.

For Liang Yue to head off into the dungeon to explore alone meant he could very well place himself in grave danger—something Hestia desperately wished to avoid.

After preparing the blank parchment and the silver needle,

She hesitated for a moment, ultimately deciding to temporarily put aside her words of caution. There would be plenty of time to lecture him after she finished updating his status!

"Liang Yue-kun, time for a status update!"

Looking at Hestia sitting brightly and smiling by the bed, the sense of anticipation he had felt upon leaving the dungeon began to steadily fade as the update drew near.

Liang Yue's heart was filled with more anxiety than anything else.

When he hadn't returned home from the dungeon exploration last night, his gentle goddess had been panicked to that extreme degree.

He didn't even dare to imagine what level of anxiety Hestia would feel if she ever found out he had slaughtered the entire Soma Familia!

Standing up from the sofa, Liang Yue took off his short-sleeved shirt.

As he walked over and lay down flat on the soft mattress, he did not forget to express his gratitude to Hestia: "Alright, sorry to trouble you, Lady Hestia."

"..."

Offering no response to his previous words, Hestia, straddling Liang Yue's waist, maintained an eerie silence before pricking her finger with the silver needle.

Accompanied by the dripping of divine blood, a soft glow bloomed continuously.

The status accumulated from his previous high-intensity trials was erased, replaced by the changes in his abilities over this recent period, which she began to imprint onto the parchment.

***

Liang Yue
Level 1
Str: S911 -> SSS1297 | End: S970 -> SSS1293 | Dex: S903 -> SSS1289 | Agi: S955 -> SSS1299 | Mag: i0
Development Abilities: None
Magic: None
Skills: Power of the Sword Soul

***

For ordinary adventurers, having their stats reach an average of the S rank was already an extreme rarity, practically signaling the potential to become a hero.

Without even updating his status, Liang Yue was already a target most adventurers could never hope to reach!

Even though she had mentally prepared herself beforehand, the moment she truly looked at the completed status update, Hestia's facial expression was once again on the verge of spiraling out of control.

Her fingers trembled as they hovered over the number of "S" ranks.

There were a full three of them!

And they covered critical attributes like Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, and Agility—every single one of them had reached the theoretical limit of the status growth system!

Of course, there was nothing wrong with the Falna system itself...

It was simply that the "vessel" possessed by Liang Yue was unprecedented. Not even the great heroes of antiquity could have achieved such a feat, could they?

"Just what kind of terrifyingly talented familia member have I picked up!"

Hestia's voice trembled as she spoke. Noticing the young man turning his head with an expectant look, she did not dismount from Liang Yue's back.

Instead, she shuffled forward and ended up sitting squarely on his waist.

Handing the parchment imprinted with the brand-new status over to Liang Yue, she said with mounting excitement: "Liang Yue-kun, your... your stats right now..."

"They've reached the absolute upper limit of the status system!"

"Yeah."

"This is something worth celebrating!" At least, that was how Hestia felt. She blinked in confusion as she looked at Liang Yue's calm demeanor.

Why did he always feel as though he had something on his mind?

The young girl blinked her eyes and asked blankly: "Um... do you really not feel surprised at all?"

"It was well within expectations."

"Since my status has already reached the limit, Lady Hestia, please help me perform the rank up." Liang Yue requested with a light smile,

playing along to provide Hestia with emotional validation.

Yet when he mentioned "surprise," his expression gradually grew strange: "Actually, compared to that, I do have a surprise..."

"I wanted to tell you..."

A "surprise."

And coming from a familia member who held special... feelings for him, a surprise specially prepared just for her. Hestia's bright smile brimmed with eager anticipation.

Before preparing to perform the rank up,

she suppressed the smile at the corners of her lips and playfully offered a suggestion: "After leveling up, I want to relax. I want to... go on a date for just the two of us."

"Yeah, yeah... that kind of surprise sounds pretty great!"

Only,

just as Hestia prepared to conduct the rank up and noticed the new great feat Liang Yue had recently accomplished, the bright smile on her face vanished entirely.

"Faced with multiple Level 2 adventurers, he still successfully accomplished the grand feat of a familia massacre!"

"?"

"Um... Liang Yue-kun."

The young girl blinked her eyelids repeatedly, raising a smile that turned out exceptionally pale and forced as her voice trembled: "The surprise you mentioned just now... it couldn't possibly be this, right?"