Chapter 100: Intelligence That Cannot Be Overlooked

"...I'm sorry, Bell-kun."

Hestia felt a bit disheartened by how things had turned out. What should have been a perfect opportunity had been spoiled by her own actions.

"Please, don't worry about momentary setbacks."

"I'm not surprised that Loki-sama caught on. The Rune Stones may be powerful, but we're still dealing with a god—her will isn't something that can be easily shaken."

"And honestly, if Loki-sama hadn't noticed that detail, I might've thought working with the Ganesha Familia would be a better idea."

Bell quietly comforted the disheartened goddess. This development wasn't outside his expectations.

With Loki-sama's intellect, it was inevitable that she would notice the flaw.

Bell had hoped that the other functions of the Rune Stones might shake Loki's resolve enough to create the opening he'd planned for.

But if Loki could be swayed that easily, perhaps she wasn't the best choice for a partner after all.

That contradiction left Bell feeling conflicted.

He had wanted Loki to fall for it, yet also hoped she wouldn't.

Now that it had come to this, though, there was no point in second-guessing. Loki had found their weak spot—so it was time to offer something else that could convince her to back the Hestia Familia.

"Besides, over the past three days, I've had more than enough time to prepare a new condition that Loki-sama would agree to."

"Oh~?"

Loki's interest was piqued at once.

Bell didn't keep her waiting and jumped straight to the next topic.

"After three days of investigation and intel gathering, I found an adventurer who's truly terrifying."

"If her Skill becomes public, I believe every Familia in Orario would start tearing each other apart just to recruit her."

"Loki-sama, you're familiar with how difficult it is to level up, aren't you?"

"Of course. Even I belong to the Loki Familia, after all."

Leveling up was notoriously difficult for adventurers. Without talent, many were doomed to remain stuck at Level 1 forever.

For most, even advancing from Level 1 to Level 2 was a near-impossible hurdle.

Sure, gifted adventurers might reach Level 2 without much struggle—but sooner or later, even they would hit the wall of advancement difficulty.

That's why growth was such a struggle.

But Loki couldn't quite understand why the shorty's kid was stressing this point so much.

Then Bell looked at the three goddesses and calmly dropped a bombshell.

"What if there were an adventurer whose magic could temporarily raise someone's level?"

"!?"

Level... up!?

The phrase detonated like a thunderclap in the minds of all three goddesses.

Just moments ago, even Hestia and Hephaestus had wondered if Bell was exaggerating.

Surely no adventurer could be worth such a mad scramble that Familias would literally go to war over them.

But if the adventurer in question possessed magic that could temporarily boost another's level...

Then yes—they could see it. Clear as day. The major Familias would absolutely lose all restraint and fight each other tooth and nail for that adventurer.

For Loki, it was like the world itself had exploded.

The moment she heard of magic that could raise someone's level, her breath caught in her throat.

If that intel was true, then she would do whatever it took to secure that child for herself.

Someone with a skill like that wasn't just rare—they were a strategic asset to any Familia.

As long as such a child existed, Loki would make sure they were brought into her Familia.

She already had three Level 6 adventurers in her ranks. If she added a child with that kind of ability... wouldn't that mean her Familia could, at any time, field someone temporarily at Level 7?

The allure was overwhelming.

"This information is true!?"

At that moment, Loki couldn't hold herself back any longer.

Learning something this explosive and still pretending to be calm? That wouldn't be restraint—that would be idiocy.

"Of course it's true."

Bell's tone was certain. This was one of the three major secrets in Danmachi. He might be wrong about other things, but not this.

That was the advantage of knowing intel—even if he hadn't investigated it himself, he could still provide solid, game-changing information.

"And I've also thought of a way for you, Loki-sama, to deal with that Familia's god."

Loki caught on to the word "deal," but she quickly composed herself.

Trying to snatch a child with that kind of magic outright? That would mean completely severing ties.

But if it came to that—if things were already heading toward open conflict—wouldn't the best solution be to send that god back to Tenkai?

Besides, Loki didn't believe for a second that a god who had control over such a child would ever hand them over willingly. There was a good chance they'd choose to go down swinging.

So if she wanted to make a move on that child, she had to be ready to send a god back to the heavens.

"It's not something too over the top, is it?"

"Of course not. Given what that god has done, honestly, driving her out of Orario would be the reasonable course of action."

"But the real challenge is that just expelling her from Orario isn't enough. For that, Loki-sama would need solid evidence."

"Oh~ sounds like that guy's been up to a lot behind the scenes."

From the way it sounded, Loki could already tell—this so-called god had been getting into all sorts of interesting trouble.

Bell gave a slight nod.

"If that god is connected to Evilus—or worse, an actual member—"

"Then doesn't that mean she should be sent back to Tenkai?"

The mere mention of Evilus nearly made Loki laugh out loud.

Seriously, how stupid did that god have to be to let the shorty's kid catch him with something like that?

It was a gift-wrapped opportunity.

Now that Loki had this kind of intel, there was no hesitation left in her.

Anyone affiliated with Evilus was as good as done. Even if she didn't yet have the authority to kick that god back to Tenkai herself, there was no way she'd show mercy.

For a child with that kind of unique magic, she was more than willing to do whatever it took. If it meant removing a threat to Orario's peace and stability—so be it.

"Of course she should."

"A menace like that, a threat to Orario? I'd be ashamed to even share a city with her. She must be sent back to Tenkai!"

With that, Loki knew her decision was already made.

She believed without a doubt that a child with the "Level Boost" ability existed. After all, mortals in Genkai couldn't lie to the gods.

With that conviction burning inside her, Loki's excitement rose.

"Wait here. I'll give you a definite answer tomorrow."

And with that, Loki turned and sprinted off toward her Familia's home at full speed.

...

(60 Chapters Ahead)

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