No Need to Ask for Help

Sitting next to Leo, Ais's pair of transparent eyes, which had originally shone with brilliant gold, trembled slightly before dimming at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Clearly, Leo's blunt words dealt her a significant blow.

Leo, however, seemed not to notice and continued talking to himself.

"The reason I've grown so quickly, barring any unforeseen circumstances, is probably because of that skill I just told you about." Leo gazed at the courtyard scene before him and slowly said, "It's a special skill that even Loki couldn't decipher, and even the skill's name couldn't be translated."

"Although I can't decipher it, the only reason I've grown so quickly is because of this skill. Otherwise, no matter how great my potential is, I couldn't possibly surpass your record when you reached Lv.2 so quickly."

"I just normally raid Dungeon as usual, I haven't done anything special, so you can completely rule out the possibility that I did something to level up so quickly."

That's why Leo said that Ais couldn't improve her stats as quickly as he could.

After all, it was a skill unique to him, and there was probably no one else in the world who possessed it. Ais couldn't possibly acquire such a skill suddenly, so it was practically impossible for her to become stronger as quickly as Leo.

"An undecipherable special skill?"

Ais glanced up, seemingly somewhat surprised by the matter.

Is there really a skill in this world that even the gods cannot decipher?

What kind of skill could possibly achieve such an effect?

While feeling disappointed, Ais couldn't help but become curious.

"Remember to keep this a secret." Leo smiled when he saw Ais looking over and said, "This should only be known by you and Loki —well, maybe the captain and the others. Nobody else knows."

Although they were from the same clan, Leo didn't really want others to know that he had this skill.

Unfortunately, an adventurer's magic and skills are influenced not only by their own experiences and obsessions, but also by their very essence.

The most typical example is the protagonist of the original work, whose skills are almost entirely derived from his personal obsessions.

[Liaris Freese] was obtained because he developed a deep affection for Ais, who saved him, and had an extremely strong yearning for her.

[Argonaut], as the name suggests, is the embodiment of one's own desire to become a hero.

[Ox Slayer] awakens within him because he wants to defeat his nemesis and overcome the shadows of the past.

Just from the names of these skills, you can tell what kind of desires and obsessions he has. Once others know about them, it's practically revealing his inner thoughts and exposing the secrets hidden deep within his heart.

Similarly, if Leo's [People of the Alien Star] ability could be deciphered, people like Loki would likely be able to guess his origins simply by seeing the name of the skill.

At that time, his identity as Transmigrator will likely be exposed.

That's why, even though the person he was talking to was Ais, Leo didn't really want to reveal the true information about the [People of the Alien Star]. He could only tell her that it was a special skill that couldn't be deciphered, and that the reason he had become so strong so quickly was probably because of this skill.

Loki and Finn probably had some suspicions about this, so Leo wouldn't hide it from Ais.

But it's different for others.

Within this clan, Leo was only close to Ais; he was merely acquaintances with most of the others. At most, he had a relatively good relationship with a limited number of people, such as Lefiya and Raul, but not to the point where he could reveal everything about them.

This isn't about distrusting family members; it's just that everyone has their own privacy, and even the closest relationships don't necessarily mean they'd want to reveal everything.

Although Ais couldn't hear Leo's inner thoughts, she could roughly understand Leo.

She also possesses skills that she cannot readily reveal to others.

[Avenger] - If even a little bit of this skill is revealed, it will expose the secret of the intense hatred hidden deep in her heart.

Therefore, Ais never revealed the existence of this skill to outsiders; only Loki, Finn, and two others knew about it, just like Leo.

In fact, there are quite a few people in the Loki Familia who, like Leo and Ais, conceal information about their own magic or skills.

Because it might expose their inner secrets, their obsessions, or their ugly desires, they can only hide these things, conceal their pain, and silently lick their wounds in a corner.

Only Loki, the Chief God, and the three leaders of their respective clans have ever fully understood the affairs of these people. The four of them also understand that this is not something that can be revealed casually, so as their parents, they are willing to keep it a secret for them and guide them in secret, hoping that one day they can face themselves and get out of the shadows in their hearts.

This is why Leo never mentions his origins, yet Loki and the others are willing to let him continue to hide himself after confirming he is harmless.

They are not the type to pry into other people's secrets. As long as they are sure that the secret is harmless to themselves or their family, they can turn a blind eye until the person involved completely trusts them and is willing to be honest with them before they become qualified listeners.

They have such patience and understanding that the group members trust them implicitly and are willing to give everything for them and their families.

In other words, Leo's situation is quite common among the Loki Familia and wouldn't cause Ais any dissatisfaction.

She herself had never told Leo about her skills, and for Leo to have gone this far in telling her was already more than enough.

Ais was thinking this way, was unaware that Leo actually knew very well what she was hiding, including the skills and origins she was unwilling to reveal to outsiders.

"I won't tell anyone."

Ais made this promise, but her tone didn't sound very enthusiastic.

It seems that she was quite disappointed that she couldn't get the secret to becoming stronger quickly from Leo.

Seeing Ais's undisguised dejection, Leo couldn't help but reach out and stroke her smooth, long golden hair.

"Actually, you don't need to look for ways to become stronger from others," Leo said. "In my opinion, you already possess amazing potential that others don't have. Once you can unlock it, you will be no less than anyone else."

No matter what, she was once the person who caused a sensation throughout the entire Lower World and achieved the fastest leveling record. It's entirely conceivable how much potential Ais possesses.

Unlike Leo and the original protagonist, who relied entirely on bugged skills to level up and achieve the fastest leveling record, she achieved her success entirely through her own potential and hard work, something no one else can match.

Her parents were of extraordinary background, and Ais, who inherited their bloodline and talents, could not possibly be inferior to any individual in the Lower World.

Therefore, the potential hidden within her is absolutely unimaginable to others; otherwise, she wouldn't have awakened such magic and skills.

It has to be said that Ais's magic and skills are absolutely overpowered.

If she uses her own magic and skills at the same time, challenging opponents of higher levels is a piece of cake. Under the right conditions, she can even challenge opponents two or three levels higher. You probably can't find anyone with this ability even if you search the entire Lower World.

Lefiya Viridis only possesses firepower two levels higher than her own level. If Ais were to go all out and use all her magic and skills, she would have combat power two or even three levels higher than her own level. There is no point in comparing the two.

Unfortunately, Ais's magic and skills are too dangerous to use, especially [Avenger], which symbolizes the hatred in her heart and could destroy her. Therefore, she has banned this skill for a long time.

However, this still demonstrates the immense power hidden within Ais herself.

"If, and I mean if, you could fully unlock the hidden power within yourself and completely control it, without being harmed by it, would you still need to imitate other people's ways of becoming stronger?"

Leo said this softly, causing Ais to look up.

"You----"

Ais looked at Leo with some surprise, seemingly astonished by his words.

Leo's words gave Ais the feeling that he already knew what she had been hiding.

But how could that be?

Seeing that the girl was startled by him, Leo didn't explain anything, but just smiled gently.

"Anyway, I think you don't need to follow in someone else's footsteps or learn how they became stronger."

Leo's voice seemed to come from a distant place, becoming ethereal.

"If you want to become stronger, the best approach is to face yourself honestly, pursue what lies deep within your heart, and work on yourself. There's absolutely no need to ask others for help."

Having said all he could, Leo said nothing more, only gazing at the courtyard and continuing to stroke Ais's excessively smooth long hair.

Ais did not resist Leo's advances, staring at him blankly, falling into a long, long silence.

"Oh dear, what are those two talking about?"

In the sky corridor connecting the towers, the Amazonian girl who had been hiding there, spying on the atrium, couldn't help but speak up, breaking the pervasive silence.

"They're too far away; I can't hear what they're saying at all."

Tiona was unhappy about this, and her complaints kept coming, which annoyed her sister, who was also hiding there spying on the courtyard.

"Can you please stop talking so much? I can't hear you anymore, and you're just making a racket, making it even harder to hear anything."

Tione really wanted to kick her incessantly nagging sister away; her annoyance was practically overflowing.

However, Tiona completely ignored her hot-tempered older sister.

"Look, look! Leo's touching her!" Tiona suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "He's touching Ais! He really is!"

The scene that Tiona was witnessing was Leo reaching out to touch Ais's hair.

This not only excited Tiona, but also elicited veiled gasps from many who were secretly watching.

"That Leo guy—he actually attacked Miss Ais!"

"Whoosh—that kid's got some nerve."

"They dared to lay a hand on our clan's Doll Princess; those stinky men must be furious now."

1

"Oh, I actually think those two are quite nice. What was Loki's saying again?"

"Is it easy to ship?"

"Yes, yes, that's exactly the feeling."

"Those forward-thinking deities always manage to utter words we don't understand, yet they deeply awe us."

"I also know a word that deities often use at this time to describe us, it's called—'auntie smile'?"

"Hopefully, Leo won't fall for those hot-blooded, stinky men's dirty tricks."

A group of female members had gathered here early in the morning, spying on the interactions between the young men and women in the courtyard, and they were chatting about it enthusiastically.

Leo and Ais practiced in the courtyard every day, so openly that it was impossible for the members of the Familia not to notice.

Especially today, with Leo having just leveled up, the spotlight is on, and the team members are eager to see how this newcomer, who leveled up in less than a month and broke the world record set by the Doll Princess everyone in the Familia is so proud of, will perform.

As it turned out, they were not disappointed.

They had witnessed the fierce battle between Leo and Ais.

Now they finally accepted it; Leo had indeed set this incredible record and become a Level 2.

However, compared to that, the sudden interaction between Leo and Ais sitting on the bench immediately attracted everyone's attention, instantly shifting the focus of their discussion.

Of course, as they said, most of the male members who also witnessed this scene were furious.

"That bastard, he's only leveled up to Lv.2, yet he dares to so blatantly reach out and touch Miss Ais?"

"What if he waits until he levels up to Lv.3 or Lv.4?"

"If you dare to touch someone's head at Lv.2, won't you dare to touch anything at Lv.3 or Lv.4?"

"----How about we chop his hand off sometime?"

The male members huddled in a corner, secretly discussing something that no one could see. This included even those who had previously surrounded Leo, excited and thrilled by his upgrade.

Clearly, Leo has truly attracted hatred this time.

It attracted not only the hatred of the male members, but also the hatred of a certain female member.

"You despicable scoundrel! You lecher! You shameless, vile man!"

The beautiful elf girl stared intently at Leo's hand that was touching Ais's hair, biting the railing and spitting curses while her body emitted black smoke.

"Get your claws off me right now!!!"

The elf girl was furious.

Leo remained completely unaware of all of this.