At that time, perhaps it was because they had soaked in the hot spring for too long, and the rising steam made their blood flow accelerate, or perhaps it was just after finishing a fierce battle against a world-ending monster that their moods suddenly relaxed, thether it was her or the boy, their rationality had become a bit out of control.
Emiya wasn't very old, but under the assistance of the gods' blessing, his body had developed extremely quickly, with distinct muscle lines, strong and full of power. Even if Riveria deliberately tried to forget that scene, the image of the boy was still deeply engraved in her mind, impossible to erase.
Fortunately, at that time, neither of them truly did anything improper. Whether it was Emiya or Riveria, both possessed enough self-restraint to suppress their inner impulses in time and didn't cross the line.
Now looking back, Riveria couldn't help but ask herself, 'Since I found it unforgettable, can Emiya really forget it so easily?'
Although saying this might sound a bit conceited, she clearly understood that her appearance and figure were top-tier among both gods and mortals.
She couldn't help but wonder, 'Would that boy occasionally recall that moment in the deep of night?'
That thought made her feel somewhat uneasy, even slightly ashamed.
At the same time, she glared seriously at Loki and warned, "If you dare make any unnecessary moves…"
Although Riveria didn't voice the threat, Loki understood well. If she really dared to mess around, her head would definitely be smashed by Riveria's staff.
Thus, the goddess immediately showed a look of obedient surrender, "Okay, okay, I promise not to touch anything!"
However, doubt rose in Loki's heart. Just now, in that instant, the complex expression that flashed across Riveria's face, 'Shame, trouble, and reminiscence intertwined, what exactly is going on?'
As a god, Loki possessed the ability to see through mortals' lies, but she couldn't read minds. Still, Riveria's fleeting expression change aroused Loki's curiosity and vigilance, but since the other party didn't say anything, she couldn't just ask directly.
Loki the goddess could only pray in her heart, 'My Riveria-mama couldn't have really been taken by that bastard [Elf Slayer], right? That must not happen…'
Riveria was unaware of Loki's emotional storm at that moment because she had already begun preparing to update her status, removing her top and revealing her smooth back in front of Loki.
Her skin was fair and delicate, faintly glowing with a soft luster, making it hard to look away for a moment.
Loki put away her earlier teasing and careless attitude, her face showing a rare seriousness. She picked up a small knife and gently made a cut on her own finger, and crimson divine blood flowed out.
In the center of that perfect back, the smiling jester emblem of the Loki Familia emerged.
The goddess's finger touched Riveria's back, and the divine blessing power spread like a trickling stream, outlining complex and mysterious runes across her back.
The emblem as a "lock" disappeared, and the barrier that had blocked others from seeing the status was lifted. Riveria's status slowly surfaced, clearly presented before Loki's eyes.
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[Riveria Ljos Alf]
[Lv. 6]
Strength: G211 → G216
Endurance: G256 → G260
Agility: D599 → C601
Dexterity: D524 → D532
Magic: S960 → S999
(Omitted below)
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"Riveria, your Magic has risen to S999, and you've gained a new skill!!!", Loki's voice carried undisguisable shock. Before she could even see the skill's name clearly, she instinctively shouted it out.
Riveria was stunned, "I gained a skill without leveling up?"
The awakening of a skill was an extremely rare event. Many high-level adventurers only ever possessed one or two skills in their whole lives, some didn't even have a single one.
Theoretically, obtaining a skill wasn't necessarily tied to leveling up, but in the vast majority of cases, skills would emerge during the level-up process.
Because generally only after an adventurer underwent extremely special experiences or reached a breakthrough might they awaken a new skill. And Level Elevation was precisely the embodiment of such a breakthrough.
Not only the skill, S999 in Magic, this value was also surprising enough.
The goddess carefully reconfirmed the data she had just seen. Yes, Magic had indeed reached the S999 limit. And in the skill column, a new skill had indeed appeared, increasing from two to three.
"That's right," Loki spoke seriously, "You really awakened a new skill."
The goddess rubbed her hands excitedly, unable to contain the excitement inside. Riveria's strength had already been formidable, and now with the sudden awakening of a new skill, it meant her combat power was about to climb another level.
Moreover, Loki's joy wasn't only because Riveria had gained a new skill, but also because her Magic stat had directly soared to the extreme value of S999.
Riveria's Magic had already been a staggering S960, a tremendously astonishing number. Now, her Magic had risen even further.
Don't be fooled by how it seemed like only a small step. Under the system of divine blessings, the higher the stat, the harder it was to raise. The 39 points from S960 to S999 were even harder than the total of I0 to A800.
And the closer the stat was to the limit, the closer Riveria was to the peak in the field of magic.
It also signaled that she wasn't far from Level Elevation.
However, soon after seeing the specific skill effect, the goddess couldn't laugh anymore.
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[Skill: [King's Bond]]
— When fighting together with a "specific individual" or teammates who have a "Bond" type skill, all stats increase (to a small degree).
— Skill is influenced by the user's perception.
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"Bond"-type skills. Loki had seen them before. She even believed she understood the awakening conditions of this type of skill.
Loki pounded the ground with both fists, unwilling, 'She really got taken by him…'
Then, she shouted through gritted teeth with fury: "DAMN YOU, [ELF SLAYER]!!!"
Riveria's delicate face blushed, and she didn't hesitate to chop her hand onto Loki's head, her tone laced with a bit of shy anger, "Goddess Loki, please don't shout nonsense!"
Loki's voice just now had been way too loud, making Riveria suspect the entire Familia had already heard it. Her face was now completely red, her refined cheeks covered in embarrassment.
A bump immediately rose on top of Loki's head, but even so, she still looked unwilling to let it go, "How far have you two gone?"
"Holding hands?"
The goddess asked tentatively, trying to discern the answer from Riveria's reaction.
However, Riveria remained silent, only lowering her head, the blush on her face growing deeper.
Loki dry-swallowed and asked again, "Have you kissed?"
Riveria still didn't respond, her gaze slightly lowered, lost in thought.
Seeing Riveria's reaction, Loki laughed dryly, "It couldn't be that you… 'saw each other naked,' right…"
She half-joked, her tone carrying a bit of suspicion and unease.
But Riveria still said nothing. Loki was momentarily speechless, and the teasing smile on her face froze completely. She couldn't laugh anymore.
Moments later, Loki spoke in an exaggerated tone of grief, "It's fine. If you have a child, I'll raise it."
"There's no child!", Riveria refuted in shame and anger.
Yet Loki assumed a determined and solemn look, continuing with a serious expression, "Even if there is a child, it's okay. As long as you don't marry over to that side, I can accept it."
As she spoke, Loki somehow took out a hat and gently put it on her head.
Her hat was the same style as the traveler's hat Hermes often wore, only in a different color.
This hat bore a forest-style that elves liked, that is, deep green.
Loki sighed, her tone melancholic, but her words were extremely improper, "Just let him come live here in the future. Then have Lefiya and the others help push your butt."
"Goddess Loki…", Riveria was both shy and annoyed, "Can you please not mess around like this?"
"Okay, okay, I won't joke anymore!", Seeing Riveria raise her staff, Loki immediately raised her hands in surrender, afraid her head would be smashed the next second.
The goddess muttered, softly grumbling, "Riveria-mama is really too strict. If she gets married, her partner will definitely have a hard time."
The words "get married" made Riveria's heart skip a beat. In her mind, the image of Emiya involuntarily surfaced, along with that ring she had personally given to him.
Her thoughts tangled, her emotions complicated, Riveria felt her head heating up, as if steam would come out.
She pushed Loki aside, her face red as a ripe apple, didn't even say a word, and fled in a panic.
———
"[King's Bond]…", Riveria curled up on a sofa chair, staring at the rough paper she had taken from Goddess Loki, which recorded her status.
Among the basic stats, the S999 limit Magic stood out the most. But even more, the newly awakened skill written clearly on the paper made Riveria's emotions complicated.
Seeing this [King's Bond], another person came to her mind. Alicia, who possessed [Elf Bond].
That elf of the same Loki Familia as her, not-so-pure member, the [Pristine Garden, and the very-unruly Disciplinary Committee Member.
'Could it be, Alicia and I are the same kind of person?', Riveria couldn't help but begin doubting herself.
Just imagining the possibility made Riveria's cheeks flush, a wave of heat rushing upward. She instinctively covered her face, trying to hide her inner turmoil.
'Alicia clearly harbours a rather abnormal affection for that boy, yet stubbornly refuses to admit it, always insisting she is cursed, hypnotized, or mind-controlled…'
Riveria had once used her wisdom and life experience to see through Alicia's excuses at a glance.
But now that it happened to herself, she had likewise stepped onto the path of stubborn denial.
'Everything I do is for the Loki Familia,' Riveria convinced herself this way.
'The relationship with Emiya directly affects the Loki Familia's strategy. It's for the sake of the Familia that I'm improving relations with Emiya. So that we can commission him to forge a new weapon for Ais. That's right, I'm doing this for Ais… Ais…'
Speaking of Ais, Riveria suddenly remembered something.
Before the mission at the Great Tree Sea, she had already decided that after the Familia expedition ended, she would properly teach Ais a lesson.
And now, even though Riveria herself hadn't participated in the expedition, the expedition had indeed successfully ended.
Riveria suddenly found a way to temporarily ignore her chaotic emotions. Rather than doubting herself, it was better to attack someone else.
She decided not to dwell on her feelings for the time being, and instead vent a little on Ais first.
Thinking about the bad things little Ais had done, in an instant, Riveria felt a sudden urge to let her taste the [Magna Alfs] powered by S999 Magic.
However, just as that thought emerged, she immediately suppressed it. After all, if that magic landed, Ais might really end up dead at thirteen.
She couldn't be that cruel yet. After all, when it came to educating children, it was still better to use more 'traditional' methods.
Riveria stood up, picked up her staff in her right hand, and with her left opened the wardrobe, taking out a spare leather belt.
The belt was made of tough leather dropped by monsters from the deep floors of the Dungeon. Durable, strong in texture.
At one end of the belt, a hard bronze buckle was attached, swaying slightly with her movements and glinting with a cold shine.
Riveria opened the room door, walked to the hall of the Twilight Manor, and called out to the elven girl who happened to be passing by, "Lefiya."
The girl was stunned for a moment, then said excitedly, "You're back, Lady Riveria!"
"Yes, I have something to do. Call Ais to come see me in my study," Riveria spoke calmly.
Lefiya was stunned for a moment, somewhat confused, but still nodded in agreement, "Alright, I'll go right away."
Riveria watched Lefiya turn to leave, then added, "Tell Ais, I have prepared a gift for her."
Upon hearing that, Lefiya's eyes flashed with a hint of envy, "A gift? Ais is so lucky!"
However, when she saw the smile hanging at the corner of Riveria's mouth, she couldn't help but feel a chill surge through her.
Lefiya involuntarily shivered, dared not ask more, and could only hurry to deliver Riveria's orders.
———
For all the adventurers staying at the Loki Familia residence, today was an unusual day.
First, in the evening, they heard Loki shouting something like "Damn you [Elf Slayer]". Such strange words, which filled everyone's hearts with doubt and curiosity.
And not long after, the real show began.
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