In DanMachi, I Was Targeted by Freya from the Start! Chapter 41

Freya looked at Cao Ye, her tone taking on a slightly lecturing note.

Leveling Up to Lv.2!

Leveling up and accomplishing so-called "great deeds" was not so easy.

The "level" of a God's Blessing would not rise simply by constantly defeating low-level monsters for experience. One had to defeat stronger opponents in order to gain enough high-grade experience.

In other words, a level increase represented the growth of one's body, mind, and capacity. It required accomplishments grand enough to earn the gods' praise, and many adventurers spent their entire lives unable to cross the Lv.2 barrier.

"Just give it a try. It's not like it costs anything."

"Updating your Blessing requires my divine blood. Is that something money can compare to?"

Freya glanced at Cao Ye. Other familias had to submit applications just to update their Blessings, and there were only a few slots each week. Yet for Cao Ye, updating his Blessing was as commonplace as eating and drinking.

"I happen to have a few 'gifts' for Lady Freya~"

As he spoke, Cao Ye took out several qipaos in various styles: long qipaos, embroidered ones, landscape-patterned ones, and solid-colored ones. There were three in total, each one like an exquisite and gorgeous work of art.

At the sight, Freya's eyes immediately lit up. She was extremely fond of qipaos.

Especially in Orario, she was the only goddess who had them. No other goddess could obtain one, and even those willing to pay a huge price could not find anyone selling them.

That sense of being the only one with something was what most easily gave people a feeling of superiority.

The problem was that she only had one qipao. She could not wear it every day, could she? She had originally been waiting for Cao Ye to give her a few more, but before she knew it, there had been no further word.

And now that he needed something from her, he directly brought out three sets. That left Freya both pleased and annoyed.

"It seems your stash is quite substantial."

Freya looked at Cao Ye, emphasizing her words slightly. There was clearly another meaning behind them.

"That's all I have~ Just these~~"

Cold sweat broke out on Cao Ye's back as well. The Jujutsu Kaisen card pool had already ended, so these qipaos had become limited editions. There would be no more even if he wanted them.

Every one he gave away meant one less for himself. Cao Ye had been planning to save a few for his future girlfriend.

As for Freya, while he had considered having something "beyond friendship" with her, he had never considered dating her.

After all, she was a god and he was human. That was a gap they could never cross.

Besides, gods were not so easy to win over, especially someone as clever as Freya. Getting along with her was too troublesome. Something physical was fine, but something emotional? Better forget it.

Freya was somewhat dissatisfied by Cao Ye's evasiveness, but for the sake of the three qipaos, she did not say anything more.

"Go on, take off your clothes."

"Okay~"

Cao Ye expertly removed his shirt right in front of the goddess.

Freya had become used to Cao Ye's body by now. At first, she would sneak a few extra glances, but after seeing it so often, it no longer felt like much of anything.

Drip—

A drop of divine blood fell, instantly activating the Blessing on Cao Ye's back.

Under the catalysis of the divine blood, the experience Cao Ye had accumulated over the past few days transformed into ability values. Though the increase was not particularly large.

[Name]: Cao Ye

[Level]: Lv.1

[Ability Values]:

"Strength: S·950---S·955" "Endurance: S·989---S·993" "Dexterity: S·969---S·972" "Agility: S·966---S·980" "Magic: SSS·1250---SSS·1251"

[Development Abilities]:

[Magic]: Imaginary Magic, ()()

[Skills]:

"Miracle of Absolute Evil"

"Imaginary Space"

"Sorcerer"

His ability values had long since met the requirements. In fact, his [Magic] had broken past the S-rank limit and reached the terrifying SSS rank. The only pity was that his other attributes were still somewhat lacking.

Cao Ye guessed it was because he absorbed magic from magic stones and extracted magic from his own negative emotions that [Magic] had risen so much.

"You really can level up. What did you do?"

Seeing that Cao Ye had truly fulfilled the conditions for leveling up, Freya was surprised as well.

How long had it even been? Just one month, and he could already level up?

Ottar, the strongest member of her familia, and the other executives had all spent several years leveling up. Even the Sword Princess, who maintained the fastest leveling pace, had taken a year to level up.

"Nothing much. I just defeated Goliath, the Floor Boss on the seventeenth floor."

"A Floor Boss?!"

Freya's voice rose several pitches when she heard Cao Ye's words.

That was a monster boss with the potential strength of Lv.4. You were only Lv.1 and had received your Blessing just a month ago, yet you defeated a Floor Boss?

Good grief. Not only was his Blessing advancing at an absurd speed, even his actual combat strength surpassed the Blessing system.

"You really are a monster."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Cao Ye was enjoying the goddess's jade-like hand stroking his back, so he did not mind Freya's words.

Whoosh—

Under Freya's manipulation, Cao Ye's Blessing level rose.

Cao Ye could clearly feel his own improvement. If he had once been a water bottle, then now he was a kettle. The amount of water he could hold had increased by a huge margin.

"You have three Development Abilities available. Which one do you want?"

Freya spoke to Cao Ye. Development Abilities were also one of the major features of a Blessing.

"Magic, Hunter, and Mystery~"

"Mystery?"

Cao Ye was immediately startled upon hearing "Mystery." It was one of the rarest Development Abilities.

"That's right, Mystery. I truly don't understand it. You're only Lv.1, yet when you advance to Lv.2, Mystery appears as your first Development Ability. It's unbelievable."

"That's because I'm exceptionally talented."

This time, Freya did not refute him, because it was the truth. Cao Ye had already broken many records in Orario. Calling him exceptionally talented was not an exaggeration at all.

"Then you'll choose Mystery?"

"Mm, Mystery."

"All right~"

With Freya's work complete, Cao Ye finished this level-up.

Cao Ye smiled as well. After working so hard for so long, he had finally leveled up to Lv.2. He could now be considered free of the ranks of "lower-class adventurers."

After all, in Orario, the difference between Lv.1 and Lv.2 was quite significant.

Noble Phantasm: Excalibur!

[Name]: Cao Ye

[Level]: Lv.1---Lv.2

[Ability Values]:

"Strength: S·955---I·0" "Endurance: S·993---I·0" "Dexterity: S·972---I·0" "Agility: S·980---I·0" "Magic: SSS·1251---I·0"

[Development Abilities]: Mystery

[Magic]: Imaginary Magic, ()()

[Skills]:

"Miracle of Absolute Evil"

"Imaginary Space"

"Sorcerer"

At this point, Cao Ye had officially left the "newcomer" stage behind.

Not only that, after Cao Ye advanced to Lv.2, a new [Achievement] had been completed. Though he had expected it, he was still extremely happy.

[Achievement: Making a Name for Yourself: Become a Lv.2 adventurer!]

[Reward: 200 Diamonds!]

Another 200 Diamonds had been added to his account, bringing his total assets to 500 Diamonds. This time, he was truly rich.

The only pity was that the Jujutsu Kaisen card pool had ended. Otherwise, he might have drawn something good.

After all, Jujutsu Kaisen contained many skills and abilities that Cao Ye coveted.

Things like Domain Expansion, Black Flash, and all kinds of cursed techniques would all be extremely powerful in Orario. Not to mention that Reverse Cursed Technique alone would be enough to make Cao Ye a top-tier healer.

"You... I really don't know what to say. To be honest, this is the first time I've ever seen a child as much of a 'monster' as you. Perhaps you really can become a new Hero."

Freya tossed Cao Ye's Blessing sheet to him and spoke with a hint of emotion.

As for the bet she had made with Cao Ye, Freya did not particularly care about it. If Cao Ye could truly defeat that legendary monster, then giving herself to him would not be impossible.

"Then please look forward to it, Lady Freya. Maybe one day, I really will become a new Hero."

"Then I'll wait and see."

Freya smiled as she looked at the confident Cao Ye. She did not dislike this side of him.

Afterward, Freya could not resist trying on the new qipaos she had received, so she had no mind to waste time with Cao Ye. It just so happened that Cao Ye was also completely occupied with thoughts of drawing cards.

One human and one god silently reached an understanding.

After returning to his room, Cao Ye impatiently opened the [Card Draw Interface]. It was still that familiar panel.

[Name: Cao Ye]

[Current Card Pool: Fate]

[Diamonds: 500]

Under the [Card Draw] section were two options.

[10 Diamonds (Single Draw)] [100 Diamonds (Ten Draws)]

"I offer up Goddess Freya's hundred years of lifespan. Come on—"

After a round of "prayer," Cao Ye directly selected [Ten Draws].

[Black Stockings] [Black Stockings] [White Stockings] [White Stockings]... ... ...

Looking at card after card of black stockings and white stockings, Cao Ye's face was full of helplessness. Damn it, it seemed every card pool packaged its [Thank You for Your Patronage] into a different kind of [Consolation Prize].

Still, looking at the exquisite illustrations of beautiful women on each card, Cao Ye decided that while it hurt, he could accept it.

[Class Skill: Item Construction]

"Hmm? I got something?"

Suddenly, when the second-to-last card flipped over, it was no longer a [Consolation Prize].

[Class Skill: Item Construction]: A trait possessed by the Caster class. It allows the creation of magic-infused tools, from combat items to everyday goods, freely producing all kinds of objects.

Item Construction. Good grief, another crafting-type skill, and it was a Caster class skill.

He had just gained the [Mystery] Development Ability, and now he had obtained the [Item Construction] class skill. Good grief, was this pushing him down the path of a "magician"?

"A good start. Not bad at all."