I, Ritsuka, The Siscon Grand Hero

Even a fraction of that power gave her the confidence to face the Holy Sword without fear.

"Death isn't scary... I've already died once."

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PS: 1. Based on Hestia's display of divine power in episodes 12 and 13 of the anime, I've added a setting where Loki can use a portion of her divine power. There's too much in the novels, and it doesn't relate to this volume, so I haven't read them. If anyone has, please let me know if there are any plot holes.

2. Please modify what can be modified, and label anything that cannot be as "heavily modified."

Section 69: Chapter 62 - The Blessing That Expands Possibilities

The shutter of the dessert shop automatically closed, and the lights, developed using Magic Stones as raw material, automatically illuminated.

When Ritsuka first killed the Minotaur, and the other monsters she casually dispatched, most of their drops were crystals containing magic, which adventurers called Magic Stones.

Of course, Ritsuka herself preferred to call them crystals.

"To be able to afford these kinds of lights, Ritsuka-chan... you're not simple either."

Loki had never heard any news about Emiya Ritsuka before. She only learned about her through Riveria.

Even a typical mid-sized Familia would hesitate to use the product installed above her head.

"Well, I just arrived in Orario and I'm a bit tight on cash, so I had to go to the Dungeon and 'borrow' a little bit from those kind-hearted Minotaurs."

The girl, who was close to clearing the seventeenth floor, smiled and held up a finger.

The terrifying aura emanating from Loki gradually dissipated. Her eyes, which had been opened, narrowed again, returning to the infuriating half-lidded gaze from their first meeting.

She always felt like this guy was looking down on her, not even bothering to open her eyes to look at her.

(Please apologize to everyone with small eyes, Miss Ritsuka)

War God Ares's belt was released, and the pseudo-Excalibur was sheathed. Ritsuka let out a silent sigh of relief.

Being on the opposing side of a god was more stressful than she had imagined.

Loki stated with certainty, "Hmph, this is considered getting revenge for Riveria. Although I don't know the specifics, her previous collapse was related to you, wasn't it?"

"It was indeed related to me. I apologize for that."

Ritsuka bowed to Loki. Gods were like parental figures to their Familia members; it was only fitting to apologize after causing trouble for their child.

She even considered making several Noble Phantasms and gifting them to Loki.

However, with a god's discernment, they might not care. Ritsuka wasn't sure...

Seeing Ritsuka looking somewhat troubled, Loki's lips curved upwards.

Riveria had a very good impression of the girl before her, for reasons unknown, but Loki was well aware of this.

Moreover, judging by Riveria's reaction when she was asked after waking up that day, Riveria might have also encountered something extremely terrifying.

It had almost caused a psychological trauma, leaving Riveria dazed for an entire day.

Loki's curiosity about Ritsuka grew.

With a testing mindset, Loki had privately broken the rules and taken out her Divine Power. As expected, this girl was a rare talent, a gem that appeared once in a millennium.

She was almost like an uncarved jade.

She possessed no 'Blessing' or Spirit power whatsoever. She relied entirely on something akin to a Heroic Spirit, and those peculiar things all over her body that resembled neural circuits.

She truly didn't seem like a creation of this world...

And not only in terms of willpower, but her strength even surpassed Ottar, Freya's subordinate.

In an instant, the desire to recruit her into her Familia reached its peak.

"Hey, girl, I wonder if you're interested in joining my Familia?"

Goddess Loki asked with great interest, making Ritsuka helpless.

This goddess had been hiding nearby and should have overheard her conversation with the members of Loki Familia. Yet, she still made this move.

When Ritsuka refused Riveria earlier, part of her intention was to inform the one hiding in the shadows that she had no intention of joining any Familia and hoped they would leave on their own.

Her expression turned serious, and she slowly replied, "I don't need a 'Blessing.' It doesn't help me, and I have no reason to need more power."

"Wait, Ritsuka-chan, I have a question."

As if unable to read the atmosphere, Loki ignored the weariness and numbness written all over Ritsuka and leaned in.

The distance between them shortened to less than half a meter.

"Lord Loki, you..."

Given Loki's previous lewd actions, Ritsuka decisively picked up Alcides's sword-axe.

The rough exterior of the temple's foundation made the serious-faced Loki instinctively lean back, as if afraid Ritsuka would chop her.

"Calm down, don't get excited..."

"Emiya Ritsuka, do you clearly understand the concept of a 'Blessing'— understand that it's not about acquiring power, but about expanding possibilities?"

Not acquiring power, but expanding possibilities?

Ritsuka furrowed her beautiful brows. Being quite intelligent and quick-witted, she thought of a possibility she had overlooked, which was also related to the potential of beings like humans.

"You mean..."

"Humans, including various demi-humans, even if their upper limit isn't low, not everyone can become strong."

"Because the lower limit is already set."

Loki extended a finger and flicked Ritsuka's forehead.

With a crisp 'snap', she, using a tiny bit of Divine Power, made Ritsuka's forehead turn red and Ritsuka's eyes water.

"Ugh—!"

"Honestly, don't look down on our 'Blessings'."

"If humans are compared to a barrel, the strength of the container is limited by the length of the staves. If the legendary heroes are the upper limit of the barrel, then most people will be stuck by the shortest stave, which acts as the lower limit."

After all, how much water a barrel can hold isn't determined by the longest stave, but by the shortest one.

Although Ritsuka wasn't entirely sure how strong the historical heroes were, Ritsuka roughly understood Loki's meaning. Ritsuka had been misunderstanding things all along; even with a 'Blessing', one didn't necessarily become strong.

If one's talent was strong enough and their potential was strong enough, their speed of improvement would naturally be faster.

"I see, I've been wrong all this time."

"Mhm, it's good that you understand. So, join my Familia."

Loki looked at Ritsuka with anticipation. If she could recruit such a promising talent, Loki Familia would soar.

After all, this individual's combat power already surpassed that Lv. 7 Ottar, and they weren't even an adventurer yet.

"If it's about raising the upper limit, I imagine it would greatly improve my strength..."

"Yes, yes."

Loki nodded naturally.

"—However, I refuse."

The air suddenly fell silent. Loki stared blankly at the calm Ritsuka, beginning to question her life choices.

Hadn't she just successfully tricked them?

"I should have said, there's no point for me to get stronger anymore, unless... the power of a 'Blessing' can resurrect the deceased."

"Resurrection, I'm afraid that's probably not possible."

Loki suddenly understood. A vague guess suddenly became clear, and she finally understood the source of the strange sense of dissonance surrounding Ritsuka.

Witnessing someone important leave her, that kind of powerless gloom expressed through her very soul.

Ritsuka's eyes dimmed.

"No! You absolutely must join my Familia!!"

Loki immediately lunged forward and hugged Ritsuka's waist, moving so fast that Ritsuka had no chance to react.

Like a rocket-powered headbutt, she charged forward, knocking Ritsuka to the ground.

The impact, augmented by Divine Power, was quite fierce. Dazed, Ritsuka opened her eyes and saw a perverted goddess trying to take advantage of her. Ritsuka's expression immediately darkened.

[Mighty Bowl that Held Up the Sky and Split the Sea]

Acting on the principle of "if it can't be killed, hit it until it dies," Ritsuka decided.

Ritsuka threw a punch at Loki's stomach. As her magic power drastically decreased, a crimson aura overflowed from her body, instantly transforming into a torrent of heat that propelled Loki's body through the floor-to-ceiling window in the wall.

Bang—!!

Loki flew (literally).

Chapter 70, Chapter 63: That Day, She Saw Hell ②

"Wow, that punch is too fierce! Is it some kind of close-combat magic?"

"Judging by the power, it must be on the level of area-of-effect annihilation, right?"

Loki patted the dust off herself, her cheeks slightly pale, and struggled to get up from the ground.

Looking up, she saw the hundreds of meters Ritsuka had skidded across the ground, trembling.

If she hadn't used Divine Power to protect herself just now, with her normal physical capabilities, which weren't much stronger than an ordinary person's, she might have been blasted into pieces.

Walking back, Loki met Ritsuka's gaze outside the shop.

The entire ruined wall served as the backdrop, the huge hole a testament to the astonishing power of that punch.

"What a terrifying child."

"Lord Loki, given your recent egregious behavior, please compensate me for the ruined wall and floor-to-ceiling window."

I, Emiya Ritsuka, will pay.

With a serious expression, Ritsuka extended her fair left hand towards Loki, while her right hand gripped her sword-axe and slammed it into the ground in front of the shop.

With a 'thump', it sank three inches into the earth.

"I can pay you, but it'll have to wait until the Familia's expedition is over... Also, are you really not going to reconsider?"

"Although no one has developed the ability to revive others at this stage, it's not impossible."

Just because it hasn't appeared doesn't mean it doesn't exist. After all, in Orario's history, the strongest adventurers only reached Lv. 8, a far cry from the level of gods.

Furthermore, not every god possesses the ability to resurrect the deceased.

Otherwise, there would be no need to establish Familias. Wouldn't it be better to simply revive dead heroes and the brave warriors who once saved humanity?

Most people start from scratch, but those heroes and warriors have an extremely high starting point. Perhaps some could even rival gods in the future, like Heracles, who ascended to Demigod status after his death. He's an existence that can truly go toe-to-toe with a Sovereign.

This is also why Loki has such high hopes for Ritsuka.

Heracles, who had not yet become a god, had an inextricable connection with Ritsuka, even making her incredibly powerful.

"I'm sorry..."

Ritsuka sighed and slowly began to speak, but the sudden movement of the Crystal Dice cut her off.

Her expression immediately became animated.

Quest Name ①: Path of the Future

Quest Type: Optional

Quest Requirements: Join any Familia and become an adventurer.

Quest Difficulty: Low

Quest Reward: One brand new character template (corresponding to the current world).