Xio's face showed a tangle of emotions. Abner remembered the "Loen-style" reserve from the original story and, instead of answering directly, chuckled.
"No need to envy me. You'll catch up soon enough."
Only a few days earlier, the military higher-ups had finally approved Xio's ritual application. They had given her access to a Berot Mountain Ape nest under their control, where the disorderly rules had helped her resist the urge to punish herself after taking the Potion. She had become a Sequence 5 Disciplinary Paladin.
Abner really is a Demigod... Xio vaguely recalled the promise they had made about becoming Demigods when they traveled together. Back then, such exalted beings had seemed impossibly distant to her, perhaps forever beyond her reach...
But how long has it been? Just ten months, and Abner has already crossed the threshold to become a Saint and gained Divinity... And I'm a Sequence 5 Beyonder now, too...
Maybe in a few years, I'll finally learn the truth behind the injustice done to Father!
Through her position as a full member of MI9, Xio had quietly uncovered a little about what had happened to her father and formed a few guesses. But she sensed she was still far from the truth. Anything that both Abner and Princess Vera chose not to discuss could hardly be simple.
"I'm not confident I can keep up with you... Even Her Highness had to gather her own Demigod characteristic. I probably couldn't get the materials from MI9, no matter how much I contributed..." Xio laughed at herself, then composed herself and teased, "Congratulations, Abner. And since you've succeeded, shouldn't you treat us to a celebration?"
"Of course I'll treat everyone. I've already made plans. Quite a few people helped with my ritual, after all..."
*I'll just have to invite them