Chapter 48 - Gift

Arrived at the Abandoned Church, the two looked at each other before Lili opened the door

"Hestia-sama!"

Before she could say something else, Hestia said

"Why you're so late? Did something happen--"

Seeing Ethan was with her, she understood it was the case. Facepalming, she waited for the two to explain. Although she was happy that he was here, she couldn't act childish when something serious happened.

Sitting on the sofa, intertwining his hands and bringing them to his face, Ethan said

"It's as you say, a member of her previous familia tried to attack her. Although I thought something like this would have happened, the fact they acted so fast..."

She wanted to comfort him somehow but, she couldn't find the right words. Glaring at Lili, Hestia sighed.

"It's not your fault. I understand you can't always protect her..."

Finally, understanding she had to say something, Lili added

"Hestia-sama is true! I am already grateful for your help so far... I will grow stronger than anyone else so E-Ethan will no longer have to worry about me!"

Hearing her words, Hestia made a nod while Ethan was thinking about something different. Smiling, he said

"After I will return from the expedition, I'll crush them with my two hands..."

Although the two wanted to reply it wasn't necessary, Lili still had her trauma caused by Adventurers. Hestia instead, couldn't say anything to someone that wasn't in her own familia... Looking down, she clenched her fists.

"I... I.."

Before she could add something, Ethan understood he went too far..

"Don't worry, There is nothing to gain by killing them, the only thing I want is that the Soma familia will stop disturbing Lili... It's the only thing I'll ask.."

Doubtful of this, Hestia decided to trust Ethan's judgment anyway. Looking at Lili, Ethan added

"You should stay at home for these few days. In alternative, you can come with my group to train but you must always stay where we can see each other"

With a few quick nods, Lili accepted his offer to continue the training. After the atmosphere finally stabilized, he saw on the time of the system that it was already late.

Smiling, he added

"I have to go home... So I can't really stay here...but I haven't forgotten the promise I made.."

Giving a quick hug to Lili, Ethan stared at Hestia for some seconds before hugging her.

'It's still difficult to get used to this feeling...'

Holding her tightly, he thought about their nights together.

"I'll look forward...to that promise..."

Hearing her words, his smile grew larger

"Me too"

After some seconds, the two distanced themselves while Lili said in an angry tone

"Why Hestia-sama got that long hug while I just got a quick one? It isn't fair!"

Before Ethan could reply, Hestia smiled proudly

"Because Ethan likes me more!"

With a shocked face, Lili replied

"It's not true! Ethan-sama is doing a lot for me, he obviously likes me more!"

with her expression darkening a bit, the two stared at Ethan, saying

"Who do you prefer between me and her?"

Understanding where the conversation was going, he answered

"I really need to go! I'll see you next time"

Quickly exiting the Abandoned Church, Ethan sighed.

"These two...how can they act so carefree?"

With this, he moved away from the place.

'I guess my [Phantom's Cloak] is still needed'

Equipping his Cloak, Ethan headed towards the Twilight Manor. Seeing the guard still missing, he just passed the other guard he had never seen before.

Entering the hall, he headed to Loki's room.

'I need to upgrade my status...'

With this, he directly opened the door. Seeing Lefiya while Loki was on her, upgrading her status, he wanted to facepalm.

'Why..you chose such a moment to upgrade your status..'

Hearing the door opening, Lefiya somehow understood it was Ethan. Mainly because Loki said

"Oh, Ethan, you finally returned. I was upgrading Lefiya's status but if you want to remain"

Smiling mischievously, she saw him close the door behind him.

"After you two finished, come to my room. I need an upgrade too"

Replying with a laugh, Loki didn't say anything more while Lefiya was hiding her face and body with her hands.

'S-S-So embarrassing...!!'

'At least I'll receive some useful information about his powers..'

With this, Ethan returned to his room.

'I'm unlucky...maybe'

Entering his room, he saw Ais on his bed. Smiling at her, he saw her pouting face.

With his smile still on his face, he approached her. Sitting on the bed, he placed a hand on her hair, moving them from her face.

"Is everything okay?"

Looking away, Ais said

"You were paying all that attention to..that girl..strangely, it made me feel bad..."

Thinking about it, Ethan understood the problem.

"What you've felt is..jealousy..."

Lying on the bed so that they could look in each other's eyes, he added

"I will always be with you..no matter what.."

Moving his hand on hers, he saw her reacting at his words

"I know.."

Getting even closer, he kissed her before taking her in his embrace, but before he could lose himself in the emotions he felt, he heard a mischievous laugh.

C.a.r.e.s.sing her hand, Ethan got out of bed while Ais was still brooding about their earlier situation. Seeing Lefiya looking away with a blush on her face, he sighed.

"I know I was the first who ignored knocking before entering, but...you did it on purpose, didn't you"

Nodding, Loki said

"You wanted to update your status?"

Without saying anything about Loki's intrusion, Ais got up from the bed while exiting the room

"I'll wait outside.."

Nodding, Ethan stared at Lefiya. Understanding she needed to exit the room, she followed Ais again.

After this, he removed his t-shirt before sitting on the bed. Seeing the volume of his muscles increased from last time she saw them, Loki was speechless

'What kind of training he's doing...to have this results?'

Staring at him for a moment, she cleared her mind from these thoughts before sitting on top of him. Although she wanted to tease him, for the moment Loki was more focused on his status.

'Let's see...the result of your training'

-----------------------------

Name: Ethan

Age: 15

Race: Human

Lv 2(+)

[Falna: 420/1.000]

Pow: 450E→ 590D

End: 318F→ 522D

Dex: 323F→ 630C

Agi: 403E → 702B

Mag: 500D → 824A

{Total Parameters : 7.701 →8.975}

Skill: [Qienta's Blessing:SSS], [Mana Control:B→A], [Boost Magic:G→F], [Avian:I→G](new)

Magic: [Sagitta Magica:D]

Development Ability: [FeatherFoot:H→E], [Spirit Healing:H→G], [Hunter:H]

-----------------------------

Seeing a new skill she never saw before, Loki was thinking about the name but, failing to remember anything similar, she handed the sheet of paper to Ethan.

With the parameters altered and some information missing, he wasn't that much interested in his status.

The disappointed face clearly showed on his face made Loki think he was angry because he couldn't become stronger faster.

"It's still pretty impressive for someone to upgrade their parameters that much without gaining falna, you know?"

Nodding, Ethan said

"Yes, I know these stats are pretty good, but still.."

Although it weren't his real stats, he felt that he should have trained more, something picked up by Loki that, asked with her mischievous smile as always.

"Tell me about your new magic... I'm curious"

Nodding, he started to explain to her the new magic he 'obtained' while putting back his t-shirt. After he explained nearly anything without giving too many details, he opened the door. Seeing Ais and Lefiya still waiting for him, he asked

"Ais, can I talk with Lefiya alone? It won't take long"

Hearing this question, she didn't even reply before entering his room. Although Loki wanted to tease her, she got out of the room to return in her own.

'I will have my chance another day...'

The fact Ethan asked Ais to talk with her 'alone' made Lefiya think about many things that made her blush hard but, before she knew it, they were already alone.

She was ready to run but, with a smile, Ethan stopped her, saying

"I just want to give you a present..."

Trying to calm down, Lefiya tried to understand what he was saying

'A present?... Why...'

Even though she was 'aware' of him right now, she tried not to mind it for a moment because she understood Ethan didn't want to do anything to her

'I can't make him..think I don't trust him... The real question is why I act this way...? I wish to be in their group without always be a burden to them... Even though I should be the senior.. Ethan is always taking care of me...'

Getting lost in her mind again, Ethan snap his fingers a few times. Making her return to their current situation, he saw the blush on her face fade slightly.

'Please...make it work...'

Taking out the gloves from his inventory, Ethan said

"I...felt how cold your hands were...from that time, I thought about buying these for you.."

Hearing this words, Lefiya was surprised. Looking at the gloves in his hand, she felt speechless.

'My hands...oh..that t-time..'

With the blush on her face more evident, she didn't reply, staring at the gloves

Seeing this, Ethan understood he had to act. Approaching her hands, he put the gloves in her hands while saying

"Just take them"

Feeling in her world again, Lefiya brought her hands on her c.h.e.s.t.

'I can feel the warm feeling of Ethan's hands... It's the second time I realize my hands were cold...'

Deciding not to act shyly for a moment, she stared at him, with a smile while saying

"I... Thanks, I'll treasure them"

Seeing her somewhat radiant smile, he was surprised. Replying with a smile, he felt as if a blow had been dealt to his heart.

'She should smile more like this..'

With the awkward atmosphere falling on them, Ethan said

"I guess.. I'll go to sleep"

Understanding what he meant, the blush on Lefiya's face returned but, without saying anything more about it, she smiled again.

"Good Night...Ethan"

Surprised again for the second time, he waved his hand while directing towards the door of his room.

'I don't know why..but the present was somehow effective...'

Entering the room, Ais looked at Ethan before sitting on the bed.

Lefiya instead, immediately put the gloves Ethan gifted her on her hands. Feeling a warmth similar to Ethan's hand, she felt immensly happy.

Bringing her hands on her face, she felt the warm spread.

'These gloves...maybe it's one of Ethan's magic..? He said he bought them..maybe using some magic we don't know yet...'

Thinking about Ethan work hard to produce gloves that can protect her from the cold, she felt the heat on her face increase by several degrees.

'he's taking so much care of me..I can't disappoint him!'

---

(I have a discord server. discord.gg/cpVr5X8 If you enter it, you can choose one of Ethan's future powers from the pool I created, but that's not all! On the server, you can see the reference on some things that will be present in the story! Right now you can freely see some things like the [Twin's Digimon] and [The Devoted Heart].)

(A/N: In the comments section, I will post another comment 'If you want Lili in the harem, then like this comment', I want to see who wins. In previous chap I posted the reversed one. If you don't want Lili in the harem, then like that comment)

(Alternate Titles: "Lefiya...you can do it!", "Ethan! Choose, me or Lili? -Author: My readers choose.", "Ais is jealous but her innocence is so cute.....")