Evening.
The kitchen of Astraea Familia.
Laughter and chatter echoed around the dinner table as the members gathered, enjoying the warm, home-cooked meal prepared by their goddess.
As always, the conversation drifted toward daily life, and tonight, it was cheerful—no ambushes, no Evilus sightings.
Indeed, not a single report had come in about those vile factions causing trouble.
Ordinary citizens now dared to stroll the streets, and merchants resumed their businesses with hope. Even petty crimes seemed to be fading. Orario, for once, thrived in peace.
Amidst this rare serenity, Akira stood up from his seat with a mysterious smirk.
He threw both arms in the air and proclaimed dramatically, "Good evening, my lovely sisters!"
Everyone froze, turning to look at him in bewilderment.
What was he up to now?
After spending so much time with him, they'd all come to know his quirks quite well.
When they first met him, he'd been a shy and bashful boy. But over time, it had become clear—he was a curious blend of Alise's recklessness and Ryuu's aloofness. Half fool, half goof.
"Today is a day worth celebrating! No tragedy, no disasters—only pure, unadulterated good news!"
Akira closed his eyes, arms raised, wearing an expression of deep satisfaction and exaggerated elegance.
Laughter broke out around the table at his theatrical display.
"Look at what you've done, Alise." Someone teased, pointing at her.
"You've totally corrupted him. He's a miniature version of you now."
Rather than being offended, Alise looked absolutely thrilled, puffing up her chest proudly. "Naturally."
"Alright, Akira, stop being so dramatic. If you've got something good to share, spill it already."
With exaggerated slowness, Akira reached behind his back as if unveiling a grand treasure. Everyone leaned in, their curiosity bubbling.
With a smug grin, he suddenly pulled out a glittering golden egg and held it high over his head. The dazzling light caught everyone's attention.
"What is that? It's sparkling so brightly!" Someone exclaimed, shielding their eyes.
Truthfully, the "sparkle" was just a trick—Akira had secretly used a light enchantment to enhance the effect.
Alise was the first to pounce. She snatched the egg and inspected it with gleaming eyes.
"Whoa! It's a golden egg!" Her excitement quickly faded.
"Eh? What's it for though?"
Lyra sighed at Alise's confusion and stepped in with her usual calm.
She said, "If Akira's this excited to show it off, it must be a rare dungeon drop. Considering he's been underground all day, it likely came from some unusual monster."
Neze leaned forward impatiently and said, "Don't stop halfway—just tell us already!"
Flustered, Akira snatched the egg back, raising it high.
He said, "I-I got it myself! Shouldn't I be the one to say it?"
"Fine." Lyra smirked. "Then say it together."
"In fact."
Akira and Lyra chorused, "This is a drop from the elusive Jack Bird, a rare monster found only on the dungeon's first floor!"
Akira turned to glare at Lyra, who was sticking out her tongue mockingly. He sighed with exaggerated despair.
'Finally got payback for teasing me last time.' Lyra thought smugly.
Gasps rang out.
"The golden egg worth a million Valis?!"
Asta reached out to touch the golden surface and said, "I heard that thing's only appeared once in years… and Akira actually ran into it. What incredible luck!"
Ryuu gently tugged on Akira's sleeve, smiling. She asked, "So? What will you do with this treasure? Are you planning to sell it?"
Hearing Ryuu's inquiry, Akira blinked. He hadn't even considered that. He'd just wanted to show it off. But now that Ryuu mentioned it…
After a moment, he beamed and said, "No! Let's not sell it. I think… we should keep it as a keepsake! Something for our familia to treasure. It's rare because it's precious, after all."
He turned to Astraea, his eyes gleaming with pride.
He said, "Astraea-sama, don't you think this would be perfect for you to show off to the other gods?"
At the head of the table, Astraea had been quietly watching with a serene smile. When Akira looked at her with such innocent pride, her heart melted.
She walked over and gently tapped the golden egg with her finger, smiling warmly.
She said, "I will absolutely show this off to the other gods. I'll tell them it was a gift from my precious child—a symbol of luck and pride."
"Well done, Akira." Neze said as she ruffled his hair affectionately.
— — —
Later, in Astraea's room, she was updating Akira's Falna. Alise and the others had gathered too, and Astraea shared the momentous news.
Akira had broken through the limit.
Ryuu, who once aimed to reach S999 herself, recalled how she had fallen short of that impossible line. Upon hearing Akira had gone beyond, she couldn't hide her joy.
"Congratulations, Akira." She said with a gentle smile.
Looking at the happy faces surrounding him, Akira suddenly understood something—it wasn't just about breaking limits. It was about why he did it. He'd done it for this. For them.
"We've only just begun." He said confidently.
"You'll see even more surprises from me soon!"
Akira
LV 1
Strength: C689 → S912
Durability: C686 → S908
Agile: B787 → S986
Agility: B767 → S978
Magic: SS1008 → SSS1220
"I didn't even know SSS was a thing, Akira, you're full of surprises."
Hearing SSS, Lyra leaned toward the parchment and stood on tiptoe to peek. "What's this? A brand-new tier!?"
Astraea chuckled and handed the parchment to her. Lyra's eyes lit up as the others crowded around to see.
When they saw the soaring magic stat, Alise burst out laughing and said, "Hahaha! With Akira and me at the helm, the Astraea Familia will defeat Evilus and slay the One-Eyed black dragon!"
Kaguya, watching their antics, exploded. "You two idiots!!"
She punched them both on the head.
"Ow!" ×2
"Quiet down, morons!"
Ryuu quickly pulled Kaguya into a hug and said, "They're just excited, that's all. No need to get violent."
Watching them bicker and banter as usual, Lyra's concerns eased. Akira hadn't changed at all despite his skyrocketing stats. He was still the same boy who got flustered easily and acted goofy around family.
Astraea watched them with gentle eyes.
Akira… While your breakthrough is incredible, what truly makes me proud is your humility. Fame, power—you don't chase those things. You value your familia.
She stepped forward, pulling them all into a warm hug. "Having all of you as my children… It's the greatest blessing I've received since descending to this world."
"And we're lucky to have you too, Astraea-sama!" Alise grinned radiantly.