Updating Status

Twilight Manor.

In a large room decorated with two sofas facing each other and a coffee table between them, the executive meeting began.

Finn, Riveria, Tiona, Tione, Bete, and Gareth—excluding Aiz—were all present as the executives of the Loki Familia to discuss the Dungeon exploration that was set to take place in two days.

"This time, we will attempt to break the record of the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia. We need to reach Floor 59!" Finn said excitedly.

"All preparations are ready. If everything goes smoothly, we can surpass Floor 58." Gareth said while stroking his beard.

"The captain's plan is perfect; I'm confident we'll set a new record."

Tione looked at Finn with love in her eyes.

"By the way, why isn't Aiz here? It's not like her to miss a meeting."

As the meeting was coming to a close, Bete asked a question off-topic.

"..."

Hearing this, Tiona had a guess as to where Aiz might be, but she didn't want to say it.

"Maybe Aiz went to the Dungeon as usual." Riveria speculated.

*BANG*

The door swung open forcefully, and all the executives turned to see Lefiya enter with gasping for breath.

"Lefiya, it's rude to enter without knocking first." Riveria frowned and advised her successor.

"Sorry for my rudeness, Riveria-sama, but there's something more important that I need to tell everyone."

Seeing Lefiya's unusual behavior, the executives didn't scold her further. They knew her personality; she wouldn't act this way if it wasn't something urgent.

"What happened? You look terrible, Lefiya." Riveria asked with concern.

"Riveria-sama… Aiz-san… s-she…"

Stammering, tears started to flow from Lefiya's eyes, and she began to cry without being able to finish her sentence.

Seeing her collapse on the floor, crying, Riveria stood up and approached her.

"What is it, Lefiya? Did something happen to Aiz?"

It wasn't just Riveria who was worried; the expressions of the other executives also changed.

Considering Aiz's strength, there were very few people in Orario who could harm her. In other words, something bad had happened to her in the Dungeon. After all, Tiona had mentioned earlier that they both had gone to the Dungeon in the morning.

"What?! Aiz-tan is in danger! Lefiya, quickly tell us what happened!"

Loki entered the room, shouting hysterically. She had only wanted to check on the progress of the exploration preparations; she didn't expect to hear bad news.

"Hey, crybaby, stop crying! What happened to Aiz? Tch, this is why I hate weaklings; all they know is how to cry."

Bete with his rough and short-tempered personality, quickly ran out of patience.

"Aiz-san… She entered a hotel with a man… They seemed very close…" Lefiya replied through her sobs.

"..."

The room instantly fell into silence.

They found it hard to believe what Lefiya had just said.

Aiz's personality was well known to all of them. She had never shown any interest in romantic relationships between men and women, and she was solely obsessed with becoming stronger as quickly as possible.

"Lefiya, your joke is terrible. Aiz-tan in a hotel with a man? That's impossible. I'd sooner believe the world is ending tomorrow."

Loki opened her usually closed eyes and looked at Lefiya seriously.

"Hic… Hic… Hic… I saw it with my own eyes. We need to save Aiz-san before that man does something bad to her!" Lefiya cried out in despair.

"Seriously?"

Not sensing any lie, Loki took a few steps back and almost stumbled.

"Damn it! Hey, which hotel are you talking about?"

"On the West Main Street, the xxx hotel—"

Before Lefiya could finish her sentence, Bete had already run out of the room.

"So, what should we do, Captain?" Gareth asked Finn.

"We need to follow Bete. Besides confirming Lefiya's statement, we need to ask Aiz about this; maybe Lefiya just misunderstood." Finn thought calmly.

"I'm coming too! I want to see what bastard dared to lay a hand on Aiz-tan."

"Tiona, you know something about this, don't you?"

As twins, Tiona noticed the anxiety in Tione beside her.

"I'll explain everything later. Let's go quickly; I'm worried Bete will kill Charlie in his rage." Tiona urged everyone to hurry.

"Charlie? Isn't that the member of the Hera Familia who recently came to Orario? So it's him. Ha Ha Ha… What a brave kid, just his second day in Orario, and he's already won Aiz's heart. A remarkable man!" Gareth laughed heartily.

"Full of hatred! I won't let anyone take Aiz-tan from me." Loki shouted in anger.

Then, Loki and all the Familia executives rushed to the hotel under Lefiya's guidance.

❀❀❀

Unaware of the trouble that was coming.

In his room, Charlie began to remove his shirt.

"..."

Her cheeks reddened at the sight, Aiz watched as Charlie, with his muscular yet lean body, stood in only his pants, leaving his upper body bare.

"This is the first time I've heard of someone being able to update their status without the help of a god."

Aiz watched as Charlie took a bottle containing blood, then applied the blood to his forehead. She then saw the Sacred Text on his back start to change.

"Good, defeating Goliath really did give high-quality Excelia."

Looking at his status on the parchment, Charlie nodded in satisfaction.

"This!!!"

Aiz approached him, standing beside him, her heart trembling as she looked at the contents of the parchment.

______

Charlie Avalon

Level 1

Strength: SS (1050) → EX (2101)

Endurance: S (991) → EX (2000)

Dexterity: SSS (1020) → EX (2224)

Agility: SSS (1034) → EX (2299)

Magic Power: EX (2124) → EX (2532)

Magic:

-Spirit Art

Skill:

-The Chosen Savior

-Prodigy Swordsman

______

"E-EX Rank…?"

Her hand holding the parchment trembled, Aiz was shocked to see Charlie's EX-ranked stats in his basic abilities.

This was the first time she had ever heard of EX rank. As far as she knew, SSS was the limit of a person's stat rankings.

Even Aiz, who held the record for the fastest level-up to Level 2 in just a year, only had an S rank in one category of basic abilities.

"There really is… a Savior…"

Aiz's gaze was drawn to Charlie's Skills and Magic.

Then, she suddenly remembered her father's words when he saved her in the Dungeon.

"I can't be your hero because I already have your mother. It would be wonderful if one day you met a hero who would be just yours."—Albert Waldstein.

"A hero…" Aiz muttered softly, a longing emotion in her voice.

The words "Hero" and "Savior" have different meanings, but essentially, both roles involve saving others or overcoming obstacles for others. In fact, the two terms can overlap, but "Savior" often has a larger or deeper connotation.

At this moment in Aiz's heart, Charlie was a hero like her father. Perhaps… This man was her hero.

"Aiz, what's wrong with you? You seem strange…"

Noticing the affectionate look Aiz was giving him, Charlie was filled with confusion.