[14] The Will of the Weak

Chapter 14: The Will of the Weak

When Liliruca Arde opened her eyes, the lingering warmth she felt in her bedding still didn't feel real.

The faint warmth she had once known had been shattered by the very people who were part of the same [Soma Familia] as her. She thought she'd never feel it again.

But one person had brought that warmth back to her.

"Haa, my mind feels so cluttered."

Yesterday, she'd overheard a conversation between the owner of the house, Riseria, Luke, and Susanoo. She didn't know what they talked about, but it seemed to have ended well.

Now she wondered, What should I do?

In this strange place, neither Luke, who called himself her father, nor the god Susanoo, expected anything from her. They seemed content to let her be without interference.

Yet doing nothing made her angry at herself.

Even if their first meeting was chaotic, Luke had risked his life to help her. To not be able to repay him in any way felt unbearable.

But she was just a Pallum.

A small, frail Pallum girl. And to make matters worse, her role as a supporter was considered useless.

Lili clenched her stomach, suppressing the urge to retch in disgust.

She despised herself for being weak and for the fact that, even when others helped her, she couldn't give anything in return.

Luke had declared he needed strength because of her. He had accomplished feats worthy of ascending to LV.2 and had stormed into the [Soma Familia] to "convert" her and take her away.

Eleven years as a Pallum. She didn't know how many years she had left, but she felt like every moment would still fall short of repaying what she owed.

After calming herself and suppressing her emotions, Lili went down to the kitchen on the first floor.

There, she found Susanoo reading a book, already having breakfast by himself.

"Oh, you're up? Want some breakfast?"

"L-Lili will prepare her own! How could a god be serving one of their followers?!"

"What does it matter? Kids should eat well. Before a god looks after their follower, a child should naturally be protected," Susanoo said with a shrug.

As he spoke, he placed the dishes Luke had set aside for Lili in front of her.

"Um, Lord Susanoo, where is Luke—"

"Call him Dad."

"...What?"

"You should call him Dad. Not 'Lord Luke' or anything like that."

"I never agreed to be his daughter!"

"You're practically his daughter already."

"There's only a three-year age difference between us!"

"Well, is that really true?"

Though Luke's physical age was only three years older than hers, his mental age exceeded a hundred.

Of course, his actions often didn't align with that level of maturity.

Still, if nothing else, he knew how to care for someone, proving that his claim of being a father wasn't entirely baseless.

"Lord Susanoo, what should I do from now on?" Lili asked hesitantly.

"Do whatever you feel like," Susanoo replied casually. "For example, if there's something you want to learn, go and learn it. If there's something you want to do, then do it. Do you have anything like that?"

"Lili... I..."

A simple life.

Her dream had always been to live a peaceful, happy life, free from the dangers of being an adventurer. Although that dream had once been shattered, she felt that now, she might be able to start anew.

Finding a job somewhere would be nice, or maybe attending a school to study. If it were Luke, he'd probably say something like, 'It's not my first time earning college tuition for my kid!' and tirelessly delve into dungeons to fund her education.

"I haven't decided yet," Lili admitted.

"Take your time," Susanoo said reassuringly. "This is about your future. It's better to think it through and make a decision you won't regret."

Listening carefully to his words, Lili took a bite of the omelet Luke had prepared and left for her.

...She felt happy.

"Huh?"

Startled by the thought that came to her mind, Lili blinked in surprise.

What was that just now? The thought crossed Lili's mind. This warm, comforting feeling... it was just like the time she lived with the elderly couple who owned the flower shop.

"What? Morning already? Looks like Luke went out first. How sneaky—he could've woken me up to go to the dungeon together," Riseria grumbled as she walked into the kitchen.

"Eek! The overpowered character is here!" Lili squeaked.

"What's that supposed to mean? Why are you so startled?"

"It's the genius elf with both talent and determination, who used to hesitate and lack confidence because of her surroundings!"

"Are you mocking me right now?!"

"Of course!"

With a loud thwack, Riseria flung a book at Susanoo's face.

Susanoo ducked and dodged the flying book effortlessly. Chuckling, he handed Riseria a plate with an omelet to change the subject.

"Honestly, though, she's got a point," he teased. "You weren't born with all that talent—it bloomed as you learned and trained. The real issue was your lack of confidence."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Riseria frowned.

"If you've spent your whole life being compared to others, it's no wonder you ended up timid, right? All you needed was a little courage, but you'd already given up in your heart before trying. For example, your idea of creating a 'Grimoire' without relying on a preexisting one—if you didn't have even the slightest belief in yourself, could you have even attempted it?"

"...I guess you're right," Riseria admitted, unable to argue. Susanoo's words hit the mark.

"Talent...?" Lili murmured quietly, her expression darkening.

"That's not a word that has anything to do with me," she said bitterly.

Susanoo didn't miss her soft words.

Lili wasn't just held back by her age; as a girl, her physical capabilities were lacking, and she didn't have the traits needed for combat. That's why she ended up as a supporter.

But more than anything else, it came down to talent.

Ais Wallenstein, who was just a year older than Lili, had already reached LV.3—no, LV.4 by now.

It was the difference between the heavens and the earth.

"But there's something more important than talent," Susanoo said firmly. "Without the will, talent doesn't mean anything. It's a strong resolve that drives people forward."

He didn't name anyone in particular, but his gaze fell on Lili as he spoke.

Lili heard his words, but…

"Lili can't do it," she muttered.

She had already given up on herself.

By the time evening came, Luke finally returned home.

Unlike usual, however, he had visible burn marks on his body.

"Ouch, ouch... The middle floors are tough. I really need to get a 'Salamander Wool' set. Maybe some better armor while I'm at it," he groaned.

"What's this? Got scorched by a Hellhound?" Riseria teased.

"Pretty much. Monsters down there are not only stronger but more diverse. They attack in coordinated groups, too. It was a rough day."

Part of his clothes were singed, and there was a glaring burn wound on his lower back.

"Damn it. I can't reach it properly... Can't even see where to apply the potion," Luke complained, struggling to tend to the burn.

"Give it to Lili. I'll take care of it for you," Lili offered.

Taking the potion from Luke's hand, Lili moved closer to examine his wound. The burn was worse than she'd expected—raw and blistered skin, with patches where the flesh had charred. Even though he was LV.2, pain must still feel the same.

How could someone endure such pain and keep fighting?

"Oh, right, Lili," Luke said, his tone suddenly bright. "Even though I got hurt, I made decent money today. After saving some, there's still a bit left. How about we have something nice to eat tomorrow? I'll cook it for you."

"...What?" Lili looked up, startled.

"There's got to be some food you like, right? I can make most things, so just tell me. If it's something too hard for me to cook, we'll just go out and buy it."

This person...

How could someone fight so fiercely for a girl he's only known for a few days?

The pain of burns is one of the worst kinds of suffering imaginable, yet he endured it, and now he wants to spend the money he earned on someone who's not even his own child?

This absurd kindness, this selflessness...

Lili, knowing full well she didn't deserve such love, couldn't hold back the emotions surging within her.

"I'm not even your real daughter!"

"Huh?"

"We're not related by blood! We're only three years apart! We're from different races! Our levels are different! Our genders are different! Even our jobs are different! So why? Why are you so worried about me, so kind to me? I don't deserve any of this!"

The moment she finished, Luke responded without hesitation.

"Because you're my daughter. You're my daughter because I see you as one. What other reason do I need?"

"But..."

"Killing someone might require a reason, but loving someone doesn't. Love doesn't need justification—it's just something you feel."

Luke was a God Slayer—a person whose conscience and morals regarding taking lives were dulled, even absent. But in contrast, his capacity for love and affection burned brighter than anyone's.

Whether it was romantic love or familial love, when Luke chose to believe in someone, he committed to them wholeheartedly. To him, they were family—unshakably so.

That was the crucial difference between an ordinary psychopath and someone like Luke, born with the talent to kill but the heart to love.

"So, let's have something delicious tomorrow, alright?" he said with a warm smile, ruffling her hair.

In that moment, the knot in Lili's heart completely unraveled.

And from that freed space, a single earnest desire emerged.

She wanted to help him.

Even if she was small, weak, and lacking, she wanted to catch up to him. She wanted to stand by his side.

As that thought settled within her, Lili wept.

In the middle of the night, long after Lili's so-called "childish antics" (as Luke called them) had subsided and she had fallen asleep, an intruder quietly entered her room.

The figure cautiously approached the sleeping Lili, took out a blade, and sliced his finger. A few drops of his blood fell onto Lili's slightly open lips as she peacefully breathed.

Having completed his objective, the intruder carefully made his way out of Lili's room—only to stop in his tracks when he saw Luke waiting at the door.

"What are you doing?"

"…How did you notice? I reduced my footsteps as much as possible."

"I had a bad feeling and came to check."

The person leaving Lili's room was none other than Susanoo. Luke had seen him drop his blood into Lili's mouth.

"And what's the point of that? If feeding someone divine blood made them stronger, wouldn't it already be a hot commodity among adventurers?"

But divine blood, at most, could lift status invisibility, and outwardly it was no different from ordinary human blood. Susanoo's actions were difficult to comprehend.

"Hmm… How should I explain this? Remember when I said that skills are less about innate talent and more about the manifestation of one's willpower?"

"You did say that."

The conditions for skill manifestation are usually a combination of inherent factors, natural talent, and mental resolve.

For someone like Riseria, whose talent is extraordinary, skills can manifest from talent alone. However, most skills are triggered by a strong and resolute will.

"Even if two people have the same level of willpower, there's a difference in how easily a skill manifests. That difference comes down to constitution… or how efficiently one's resolve is conveyed."

"…What are you saying?"

"I essentially turned a two-lane road into a 32-lane highway, making it easier for Lili's will to manifest in her skill, Falna. Since I'm a god born from humanity, my blood is especially compatible with humans, which makes it more effective."

"So, you made her drink that?"

"She's a child who wants to grow stronger. But if she stops just because she doesn't have the talent, it's like being stuck in a dead end, unable to move forward, right? I just gave her a push to move forward."

The wound on his finger had already healed, leaving no trace.

Once Luke realized that nothing had happened to Lili, he let out a relieved sigh.

"Poor girl, right? If bloodlines, connections, and equipment can't help, then at least something like potions should do the trick."

"…Your blood is like a forced skill-manifestation item, isn't it? The opposite of 'Grimoire'?"

"Huh? Now that I think about it, you're right."

Luke couldn't help but feel relieved that this guy was an incredibly powerful god. If not, things would have turned bloody.

The next morning, Susanoo updated Lili's status.

Lili tilted her head in confusion since this wasn't something he usually did, but since it was the god's order, she couldn't refuse.

Liliruca Arde

LV.1

Strength: 117

Endurance: 124

Dexterity: 170

Agility: G203

Magic: 10

Magic

Skills

[Athel Assist]

•Equipment Load Modification:

When the equipment load exceeds a certain limit, the correction is applied.

•Ability Modifications are proportional to the weight.

[Will of the Weak (Pride Of The Weak)]

•Does not yield.

•Endures.

•Amplifies.

[Weak Runner]

•Converts all stats except endurance into agility.

•Effect is canceled upon contact with others.

•Those who were in contact before activation are exceptions.

•Activated at will.

While none of these seemed particularly useful for immediate growth or combat, the will that Lily had desired was clearly conveyed.

Seeing this, Susanoo gave a satisfied grin.

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