'This is really a blessing in disguise.'
Upon realizing the effects of his newly acquired development ability, Riezel was pleasantly surprised.
Every time he defeated an enemy, the next encounter with the same kind of enemy triggered the ability, boosting his basic abilities.
This was undeniably an excellent development ability.
Originally, 'Hunter' was already a valuable ability, but now having the better version of it, not only did it eliminate the restriction to only monsters, but the enhancement it brought was also greater than that of a 'Hunter'.
This was undoubtedly a stroke of luck. It was not without reason; not everyone could acquire development ability when leveling up.
Take Ais, for example. She leveled up from Level 4 to Level 5 without triggering any development ability.
Given such precedents, Riezel didn't believe he would acquire development ability every time he leveled up. As a result, he was mentally prepared for that.
Little did he know that not only had he acquired a new development ability, but what he got was also a rare and powerful one, similar to 'Lightweight', with conditions that no one else had ever triggered.
"Another development ability for combat, huh? How do you always manage to trigger these power-boosting abilities?"
Even Loki remarked in amazement.
So far, all the development abilities Riezel acquired were combat-oriented abilities that enhanced his power.
'Lightweight' allowed him to boost 'DEX' and 'AGI' by reducing weight and equipment.
'Swordsman' enhanced all basic abilities by simply wielding a sword.
'Mage' amplified the power, effects, and range of magic.
Adding 'Battle Adept,' which enhanced all basic abilities when facing an enemy of the same kind as the once defeated enemy, Riezel's development abilities, acquired with each level-up, were all combat-oriented.
Thanks to this, he could probably defeat opponents with a higher status just by relying on the enhancement from his development abilities alone, not to mention his astonishing accumulated SSS-rank latent basic abilities.
"I can only say, no wonder you awakened a skill like 'Endless'. Maybe you really have a natural knack in this area that others don't?" Loki seemed to grasp something.
Endless—the skill provided Riezel with three highest-ranked development abilities—Healing Power, Spirit Healing, and Abnormal Resistance. It even boosted the effects of already obtained development abilities.
In essence, this skill greatly boosted various aspects of his development abilities, crucially enhancing his strength. Being able to awaken such a skill was enough to show that he had a natural talent in the development ability aspect compared to others.
'On second thought, does this kid have any shortcomings compared to others?' Loki started to ponder.
No need to dwell on his basic abilities; each time, they were all SSS, crushing all adventurers.
Development abilities were the same, triggered every level up, repeatedly acquiring valuable and rare development abilities.
Not to mention magic; although he only had one magic called 'Almighty', with this magic alone, he could make all mages bow down in awe.
His skill? No need to talk more about it. His three skills—one more ridiculous than the other, one more insane than the next. Without them, there was no way her familia had the current Riezel.
His growth and potential on the 'Falna' were off the charts, unmatched throughout history. Even the strongest adventurer from the Freya Familia, Ottar, couldn't hold a candle to his growth and potential.
Logically, an anomaly like Riezel should have a weakness, likely in combat skills and experience. Even if the hardware quality was top-notch, if the software wasn't up to par, it wouldn't have worked.
Yet, Riezel didn't have a weakness even in that regard. He had just sparred a few times with Ais and picked up bits and pieces of her swordsmanship. His combat experience had skyrocketed from repeatedly diving into the dungeon and battling countless monsters.
It was just absurd.
Was there nothing he wasn't good at?
Loki was in doubt.
It was precisely at this moment that Riezel, who had been staring at the parchment translating his status, suddenly spoke.
"I've been with the familia for three months now, right?"
The sudden question brought Loki back to reality.
"Yeah, three months..." Loki nodded and then sighed. "More precisely, it's been 97 days."
Riezel joined Loki Familia on the first day he arrived in this world, receiving a blessing from Loki. After that, his leveling-up times were countable.
7 days to Level 2.
15 days to Level 3.
30 days to Level 4.
45 days to Level 5.
When they got added up, it was exactly 97 days.
So, it had been 97 days since Riezel joined Loki Familia, and it had been 97 days since he arrived in this world.
"97 days, huh...?" Riezel fell silent for a while, then glanced at Loki. "I might have to leave for a while."
At his statement, Loki raised an eyebrow.
"Leaving for a while?" Loki stared at Riezel. "Where?"
To her question, Riezel's reply was very brief.
"Back to where I was before I came here."
His tone was indifferent.
He didn't forget that the time limit for dimensional travel was one day in the main world, precisely a hundred days in this world. Now, the time limit was approaching, and he had to say a temporary goodbye to this side.
Loki stared at Riezel for a long time, then relaxed her shoulders.
"How long are you going to be away?" Loki asked with an uninterested tone, not delving further into the matter.
This caught Riezel somewhat off guard.
"You're not even asking where I'm going?"
"Does it matter?" Loki shot a glance at him casually. "In our familia, tons of kids are like you, carrying secrets and the burden of unfathomable mysteries on their shoulders."
She had no intention of prying into his privacy; it wasn't important to her.
"As long as you're my kid..." Loki grinned. "What you're up to isn't important. What matters is when you'll be back, kiddo."
Upon hearing this, Riezel chuckled.
"It shouldn't be too long, I think?"
That was the truth.
Though he was returning to his main world according to the instructions of the Dimensional Magic Cube, when he finished his dimensional travel, the time ratio between the main world and the target world of dimensional travel would reverse.
In other words, the scenario where Riezel spent a day in the main world while 100 days had already passed in the world of Danmachi wouldn't occur.
During dimensional travel, the time ratio was based on Riezel himself as the reference point. Therefore, while he was in the world of Danmachi for a hundred days, only one day would have passed in the main world, and vice versa.
This time ratio adjustment remained the same even if he traveled to another world. Even in a world different from his main world, it would still be a hundred days passing on his side while only one day passed in other worlds.
All time ratios worked this way, using Riezel's actual time as the reference to determine time speed. No matter which world he was in, time flowed faster in the world he was in and slower in other worlds.
Considering this, Riezel wasn't worried that upon leaving, everything here would have changed drastically when he returned.
Based on the time ratio, even if he spent a year in another world, only around three to four days would have passed in this world.
Therefore, Riezel answered Loki's question with ease and calm.
"Shortest, a few days; longest, around a month. In short, I'll surely come back." Riezel promised.
After all, this world was the first place where he made a name for himself and the first place where he felt the warmth of 'home and family'.
Even though dimensional travel to the personally selected world required ten times the energy, Riezel would absolutely find a chance to come back.
Typically, accumulating a month's worth of energy was needed for random dimensional travel, so with ten times the energy, that meant accumulating ten months. He would endure, even if it took this long.
Of course, playing it safe, he still set a maximum deadline of one month in this world's time. In terms of the time ratio, after he left this world, if a month passed here, over eight years would have passed on his side.
Over eight years, yet he still couldn't gather enough energy for dimensional travel to the personally selected world? Impossible.
"A month, huh?" Loki breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, that's not too long."
"Yeah..." Riezel smiled at Loki. "Remember to wait for me to come back before going on another expedition; I'm looking forward to revenge."
"No worries~ Every expedition needs a couple of months of preparation anyway. As long as you come back on time, you won't be left behind." Loki said while nodding. "When are you planning to set off?"
"In a few days." Riezel thought for a moment. "I also won't enter the dungeon during these days."
"Then spend some good time with your familia's friends." Loki patted his shoulder. "Remember, they're all here waiting for your return, kiddo."
Hearing her words, Riezel nodded silently.
===
After leaving the divine room, Riezel descended the steps along the central tower.
As he walked, he suddenly came to a halt.
There, in front of the steps, by a window next to the passage, a silent girl stood, gazing at the scenery outside.
*Whoosh—*
A gentle breeze swept in, tousling the girl's golden long hair, making its silky strands sway and flutter.
"Ais?" Riezel unconsciously called out.
It seemed like Ais had just noticed his presence as she turned her head to him after hearing her name being called.
Under the moonlit night, the two locked eyes—one on the steps, the other by the window—creating a strangely beautiful scene.
The breeze continued to caress them both as they remained bathed in the wind, silent for a long while.