Syr is very confident about what's inside~ (Please follow along~)

Night.

At home.

Bell and the others had once again entered the dreamscape for training.

Thor slowly opened his eyes, ending his role as the "supervisor" within the dream.

The absurd scenes from Lefiya's dream still lingered in his mind; that perverted elf had come up with new tricks again.

However, when Thor regained his senses, the warm, soft embrace he expected was nowhere to be found.

Syr was not hugging him from behind as she usually did. Instead, she was kneeling beside him, silent.

Her body bumped against his arm, gently, over and over again.

The movements were so slight they caused no pain at all, like a silent, protesting kitten stubbornly reminding him of her displeasure.

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze fixed elsewhere, deliberately avoiding his eyes.

This posture clearly showed she was waiting for him to speak, waiting for an explanation.

Thor looked at the sulking figure beside him and sighed silently in his heart.

He naturally understood that Syr was still bothered by him revealing the secret of the Familia core to Hestia and Hephaestus.

Thor pondered for a moment before finally speaking.

"I do not bring every god or person under the Stardust. Every addition to the stars is a choice I have made after careful consideration."

As his words fell, the rhythmic bumping of Syr's body stopped abruptly.

It was as if a pause button had been pressed.

Yet, she kept her face turned away, refusing to look at him, though her slightly tense shoulders revealed she was listening intently.

However, the small hand resting on his sleeve was very "honest"; far from letting go, it quietly tightened its grip.

Clearly, this explanation was not enough to satisfy her.

Thor's gaze rested on her stubborn silhouette as he continued to explain.

"The main reason for taking in Hephaestus is the strength of her Familia. With her joining, the pressure on your Familia will be greatly reduced. And..." He paused, "the possibility of Uranus allowing you to enter the Dungeon will also increase significantly because of this."

Syr's body stiffened almost imperceptibly the moment she heard this.

Could it be... that Lord Thor knew all along that my negotiations with Uranus had reached a stalemate?

This thought surfaced uncontrollably in her heart, bringing with it a subtle tremor.

Thor seemed not to notice her slight vibration and continued in a natural tone: "As for Hestia... well... Hestia is Hestia; she is special. She once helped me. I must repay that debt."

Thor finished speaking.

He prepared to apologize, saying, "If this matter made you unhappy, I can apolo..."

Before the word "apologize" could leave Thor's lips, Syr suddenly turned her head, her soft lips pressing firmly against his, cutting off everything he was about to say.

She kissed him with an urgency that brooked no argument, as if to seal away his unspoken apologies and any words that might create distance between them.

The Stardust, already exceptionally nourished by divine power, was instantly drawn by a strong resonance. It detached from her life core and, following an invisible channel, was reabsorbed into Thor's body.

Hum—!

A sense of satisfaction as power returned exploded deep within Thor's consciousness.

The Stardust in his body, which had been slowly accumulating to 92 through natural condensation and Dungeon exploration, instantly surged after absorbing the heavy gift from Syr!

93... 97... 100!

It finally settled steadily at 102.

A new ability had been unlocked.

But at this moment, all of Thor's attention was captured by the soft, warm sensation on his lips.

He was on the verge of being completely submerged by the love almost overflowing from Syr's eyes.

The kiss was long and gentle, carrying a devotion akin to a sacrifice.

For a long, long time, Syr finally pulled away, breathing slightly.

Her gray eyes were like deep pools bathed in moonlight, so tender they seemed to drip with water.

She brushed her fingertips lightly over Thor's lower lip, her voice so soft it was as if she feared disturbing the quiet moment:

"Lord Thor, there is no need to apologize."

Her gaze was firm and pure.

"I accept all your decisions. Because they are your will. Syr will support you unconditionally. But..."

She paused slightly, leaning forward to nestle into Thor's arms, her arms naturally wrapping around his waist and back, burying herself deeper into that reassuring scent.

Her voice resonated against Thor's chest:

"I only... hope you can trust Syr a little more."

She lifted her head, looking straight into Thor's eyes, every word clearly branded into the air.

"I am your Syr. As long as you need me, I will do everything for you... please let me prove that I can share more of your burden."

Thor looked at Syr in this moving state; even he felt a stir of emotion.

In this world, only two things could move him.

Wisdom that perceives all things and an unwavering will.

Syr's will, though directed at him personally, was it not also a form of unwavering will?

"I shall look forward to it."

His troubles finally dissipated.

However, Syr seemed to suddenly recall something important; her beautiful brows furrowed slightly, and with a hint of feigned reproach, she tapped his chest.

"However, Lord Thor!" Her voice was soft and sweet, yet unexpectedly serious, "There is something you must promise me."

"What is it?" Thor watched her sudden seriousness, thinking she was about to say something of great importance.

"The fact that you can take gods into your Familia," Syr leaned in closer, her grey eyes locked onto his, lowering her voice, "absolutely, absolutely must not be told to anyone else! Not a single word!"

"If those guys find out... they will surely try every means to lock you up, and then..."

She paused, her fingertips unconsciously tracing a circle on Thor's chest, her voice light and soft.

"...do this and that to you... very wicked things, you know~"

Thor was speechless.

"Who would do such a thing?"

Syr suddenly beamed, her smile as sweet as the purest honey: "For example... me~"

Thor: "..."

He was completely at a loss for words.

But this was truly her style.

Thor acted as if he hadn't heard, standing up to head downstairs.

The night was deep; he should go to the first floor and squeeze onto the sofa with Bell.

But his wrist was caught by a cool, soft hand.

Syr tilted her face up, having moved closer at some point; her warm breath, carrying a faint scent like a spring garden, brushed gently against his earlobe.

Her voice was lowered to a whisper, filled with a lazy, deliberate allure:

"Lord Thor~ tonight... wouldn't you like to stay on the second floor?"

Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her grey eyes shimmered with an alluring luster in the dim light.

"Syr is... very confident in what she's wearing underneath today~"

Thor felt his earlobe tickled by her deliberately softened breath, but his heart remained calm, even finding it somewhat amusing.

He pulled his hand back with more force, his movements crisp and decisive.

"Goodnight, Syr."

He walked toward the stairs without looking back, his figure quickly blending into the darkness of the floor below.

Stay on the second floor?

Impossible.

At this moment, his vast consciousness was split into four.

Three parts, like invisible threads, were already firmly tied to Ais, Lefiya, and Bell on the far side of their dreams, guiding them to hone themselves within their respective nightmares or illusions.

How could he be distracted from his duty as a "supervisor" that required his full attention?

What if something went wrong in their dreams?

The next morning.

Syr hummed a little tune, her steps as light as if she were walking on clouds.

When she placed the oddly shaped but at least not burnt omelet on the table, the smile at the corners of her mouth was practically overflowing.

Although Thor hadn't stayed last night, he had accepted that "gift," and even said he would look forward to it...

Just recalling it, a warm current rippled through her heart.

"Miss Syr... seems to be in an especially good mood?" Bell whispered to Lefiya beside him while holding his milk.

Lefiya stole a glance at the humming Syr, then quickly darted her eyes toward Thor at the head of the table, muttering to herself.

What on earth happened on the second floor last night?

Could it be...

She hurriedly shook her head, trying to banish certain provocative images from her mind.

Ais drank her soup quietly, her eyes shifting calmly between Syr and Thor. She could sense that the oppressive cloud hanging over Syr had dissipated; Thor must have done something.

As breakfast neared its end, Thor set down his cup, his gaze sweeping across the three of them.

"Today," his voice carried an unquestionable steadiness, "we can delve into the Dungeon with a bit more ease."

Ease? Delve?

All three of them froze in their tracks.

Thor explained calmly, "Last night, my Stardust count broke through 100. I've regained some of my power, so you all have something to look forward to."