I'm Here in Honkai, Grinding Stats to Level Up

Gwen, still not accustomed to having his head patted, shook his head and met Rita's smiling, wine-red eyes.

"But I have complete faith in your cooking and taste, Rita. I'll leave all the arrangements to you...

However, you just got back from a mission, shouldn't you rest for a bit?"

"Just like you, Rita isn't someone who forces herself. Since I suggested it, it means I have the energy..."

Sensing Gwen's discomfort, Rita's smile deepened as she withdrew her hand from Gwen's head and said with a laugh, "After all, this mission, while a bit long, didn't have any unexpected incidents. It was just guarding and assisting an archaeology team excavating a prehistoric ruin.

For me... it was probably like a paid vacation for half a month?"

"Since you put it that way, Rita, I won't be polite then..."

Hearing this, Gwen didn't say anything more. He just ruffled his tousled short hair, a look of anticipation on his face.

That evening, Rita personally cooked, with Gwen, You Lan Dai Er, and Anna helping out. The four young people held a small gathering at Gwen's place.

And all of this, without a single detail missed, fell into the eyes of a certain Archbishop of Destiny...

Chapter 27: Void Archives: Hope someone remembers their 'father-making' history.

In the surveillance footage, warm light spilled through the windows onto the street. The laughter of the young boys and girls reached Otto's ears through the monitors and network, echoing in the room and further highlighting the quietness of this office, which could be considered the power center of more than half the world.

Beside him, a neat stack of reports was piled up—

These were the results of Gwen's physical examinations after his medicinal baths over the past half-month, clearly documenting Gwen's leaps and bounds of progress, with small steps every three days and big leaps every five.

In front of the computer, Otto rested his head on his hands, facing the screen.

Between his fingertips, he held the latest examination report.

"In just half a month, he's made progress that someone else couldn't achieve in several years. I'm willing to call this child a genius."

Although angering Otto could put his life at risk, whether it was to retaliate for his five hundred years of imprisonment or because he no longer cared about his own survival, the Void Archives, as always, continued to provoke Otto.

"This child is indeed a genius..."

Otto sighed, agreeing with the Void Archives for once.

"We were all too self-righteous...

This child, while inheriting his frail physique, also inherited her potential. It was just limited by his environment, preventing him from unleashing it."

"The saying 'A golden dragon is no ordinary pond dweller; it soars to the heavens when it meets the wind and clouds' probably describes this situation," the Void Archives said, its tone filled with emotion, as if simply surprised by Gwen's talent.

However, Otto, who had been frequently provoked by the Void Archives recently, clearly detected the subtle sarcasm in its words—Otto had invested considerable manpower and resources into Gwen's modern medicinal baths, initially intending only to give Gwen the strength to protect himself, so he wouldn't be capsized by an insignificant wave in the future's stormy seas.

Yet, the reality was that Otto's investments seemed to be cultivating a "monster" who might exceed his control...

History seemed to be repeating itself, and it was once again the stage where Otto reaped the consequences of his own "self-inflicted troubles."

"Indeed, while I saw things more clearly than you, I still misjudged."

Although the unbelievable progress Gwen had made reminded Otto of certain unpleasant memories, Gwen's identity still afforded him an extraordinary degree of tolerance.

In fact, Otto even had the leisure to "show off" to the Void Archives at this moment—

"That child is not a fledgling needing my protection, but a young dragon merely waiting for the winds and clouds.

My misguided help might just be the gentle breeze that helps him ascend."

—Kallen's child, isn't he amazing?

"..."

After a moment of silence in response to Otto, the Void Archives seemed to be shocked by Otto's smug demeanor.

A moment later, the Void Archives, now shaped like Otto, quickly regained its composure and spoke, "However, I still advise you not to celebrate too early—

Over the past five hundred years, you must have encountered many geniuses who progressed rapidly at the beginning but hit a wall at a certain point.

Although there's no detailed scientific basis, such people do exist.

In modern Chinese literature, they seem to be quite common."

"As you said, they are more common in modern Chinese literature.

In reality, such people are ultimately a minority..."

Otto shrugged nonchalantly at this, unconcerned.

"That's true. None of those characters in the works had an all-powerful 'good father'..."

The Void Archives didn't seem to mind its words being refuted and continued to speak with a smile, "So, how do you plan to treat this child?

For such a genius, your previous arrangements are no longer quite suitable."

"A little patching up and they can still be used for a while, can't they?"

Otto paid no mind to the Void Archives' reminder about overtime, his smile as warm as a spring breeze.

"While that plan was primarily to ensure a baseline, it doesn't mean it's only for the baseline..."

Although he had just refuted the Void Archives, Otto was indeed worried whether Gwen could maintain his current pace of improvement, or rather, if Gwen could grow to a height where he could stand at the pinnacle of the world.

If not, then this plan, originally just guaranteeing a baseline, would still hold its value.

Of course, if he could, Otto could also set up the entire world as a stage for this emerging dragon...

Meanwhile, Gwen, unaware that Otto was discussing his future with the Void Archives, with whom he'd had a strained relationship for five hundred years, was trying to find ways to continuously grow stronger—

"Anna, do you have time tomorrow?

I think... I should be able to start some basic combat training..."

After eating his fill and cleaning up the tableware, Gwen, drying his hands, asked Anna, who had already settled onto the sofa.

Anna, who had just finished a satisfying meal and was comfortably leaning on the sofa with a blissful expression and a slightly dazed look on her face, realized she wasn't at home upon hearing Gwen's question. She quickly composed herself, dropping her overly relaxed posture.

However, as her brain, a bit sluggish after the meal, processed Gwen's words, Anna's expression turned serious:

"Gwen, are you serious?"

Although Gwen underwent physical examinations after his medicinal baths, which occurred every few days, these checks were done at night and the results were not sent to Anna. Thus, Anna was unaware of Gwen's progress.

You Lan Dai Er and Rita, whose impression of Gwen was still that of his weakness from half a month ago, perhaps with an additional half-month of diligent training, also lost their relaxed smiles. They looked at Gwen with serious expressions.

All three were Valkyries of at least B-rank. They had all progressed from reserve status to their current positions and had all experienced the journey from weakness to strength. They understood the mental process involved.

Therefore, the three were worried that Gwen might become overconfident due to his physical improvement—

This wasn't about his mind or personality, but simply a result of not accurately understanding his own strength.

"Gwen, I know you're eager to become stronger, but you have to eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time. Don't get ahead of yourself."

You Lan Dai Er jogged over from the kitchen doorway to Gwen's side, placing her still-damp hands on his shoulders. Their sky-blue eyes met, each reflecting the other.

"Lady You Lan Dai Er is right..."

Putting down the towel in his hand, Rita walked over to Gwen's side and also said earnestly, "Gwen, your priority right now is to recover from your physical depletion. You're still young and have plenty of time, so don't push yourself too hard."

Chapter 28: Anna's Frozen Smile

"Uh..."

Faced with the simultaneous warnings from the three people who had been enjoying a harmonious dinner just moments ago, Gwen blinked and awkwardly scratched his head, quickly pondering if anything he said could have been misinterpreted.

Confirming that his words had no ambiguous meaning, Gwen relaxed and replied to You Lan Dai Er's serious blue eyes:

"Perhaps there's a slight communication gap between us—

What I meant to express is that my recent training has yielded significant results. The consequences of my prolonged weakness have been largely compensated for, and I should now be capable of participating in basic combat courses with my peers.

I wanted to ask Anna, as my instructor, whether I need to submit a formal request to train with my peers, or if you will be providing me with individual instruction?"

"..."

Hearing Gwen's calm response, You Lan Dai Er, Rita, and Anna collectively breathed a sigh of relief—

From Gwen's tone and demeanor, they detected no sign of the overconfidence they had feared, indicating that Gwen was still the Gwen they knew.

However, while relieved, the three did not fully relax. Instead, a hint of suspicion arose—

"Gwen, are you sure?"

You Lan Dai Er, her hands already on Gwen's shoulders, looked at him with earnest, sky-blue eyes.

"Gwen, I believe you've been diligent in your training over the past half-month; we've all witnessed it.

However... based on Anna's and my estimations, it would take you at least three months, or even six months, to overcome the disadvantages brought about by your physical condition. To completely erase the physical gap would require years of long-term training and recovery."

Since Gwen wasn't overconfident as they had anticipated, You Lan Dai Er quickly set aside her initial impatience and began to analyze the current problem from an objective perspective.

At this point, the seriousness on Rita's face transformed back into her usual smile. She came to their side and said softly, "Lady You Lan Dai Er, since Gwen is calmly making a reasonable request, how about we sit down and discuss it slowly?"

As the person who had known You Lan Dai Er the longest among the three, Rita couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion seeing You Lan Dai Er now able to analyze problems objectively, rather than acting solely on emotion as she had in the past—

"Lady You Lan Dai Er... has truly grown up..."

With this thought in mind, Rita's gaze fell upon Gwen—

"Hmm...

For Gwen, perhaps there won't be such a drastic change as Lady You Lan Dai Er?

Just a bit taller..."

"Rita is right, let's sit down first..."

At this moment, Anna, who had been sitting on the sofa, also got up, pulling You Lan Dai Er and Gwen onto the sofa, one by each hand.

"I'm sorry, Gwen, I was a bit too agitated just now..."

After calming down and being separated, You Lan Dai Er realized her attitude had been a bit too forceful. As soon as she sat down, she apologized to Gwen—

You Lan Dai Er, having established her life's goal, could not allow herself to be as willful as she was in her childhood.

"It's alright, after all, Bianca, you were doing it for my own good..."

Gwen smiled and waved his hand, accepting the cup of water Rita handed him.

As Gwen pulled the two to sit down, Anna had already briefly explained the reason for their previous attitudes in just a couple of sentences, clearing up Gwen's doubts.

"Doing it for my own good doesn't give me the right to make assumptions and jump to conclusions about you."

You Lan Dai Er, however, shook her head seriously.

"I will always keep this in mind from now on and strive not to make the same mistake."

"Alright..."

Seeing the serious expression on You Lan Dai Er's face, Gwen, knowing her personality, didn't try to persuade her further. He nodded with a smile.

"Then I'll readily take on the role of your supervisor in this regard..."

"It's a deal!"

Upon hearing this, You Lan Dai Er's eyes lit up, and she extended her fist towards Gwen.

"It's a deal."