Riveria stood up and approached the counter where Kisuke placed the bisected cup to continue his cooking.

Riveria grabbed the cup and examined it carefully, "How did you do it? Is it not really magic nor skill?" She also looked towards the chopstick that Kisuke used to cut the cup and figured that nothing is special about it.

"It's a technique known as Suikawari (Watermelon Splitting). A simple sword art that focuses on cutting."

"Suikawari?" Riveria knew that if Ais, who's the best swordsman among them, did the same, she'll just smash through the cup instead of cutting it.

Kisuke didn't answer her as he didn't need to and placed the last chicken being fried on the plate he prepared and proceeded to make some soup.

Riveria sat back down and stayed quiet for a moment to think of what she just witness, "So you're saying that this isn't a skill or magic that is granted by a God's blessing?"

"Yep... It's a skill that doesn't rely on Falna... Even without it, I can still perform it..."

"Although it's possible for magic... I didn't know that it's also possible for martial arts... I didn't even know that this branch of power exists. I've read it from some books, but I thought those are just fantasies and myth..."

"Fantasies... huh... If you think that's the case, then these kinds of arts must be almost extinct if not entirely."

"But how can you use it? Although it isn't magic, if it's a technique, there should be some energy fluctuation from the Mind..."

Kisuke stayed silent and Riveria thought that that particular information already has a price and she's right. A few seconds later, Kisuke turned his head to her and said, "Say, why don't we exchange basic parameters. More specifically one of my Familia member's basic parameters with your basic parameters from Level 1 to 6."

Riveria furrowed her brows at Kisuke ridiculous offer. Why would she trade her basic parameter information from levels 1 to 6 for the basic parameter information of a rookie? However, she didn't immediately reject the idea as she knew that Kisuke's offer isn't that simple, "Is that the price?"

"Yes... And I don't think you'll regret this trade." Kisuke asked for her parameters because he wanted to estimate the strength of those in the higher echelons of Adventuring.

Riveria didn't agree immediately and contemplated silently for a few minutes. She then reached a decision and asked, "Do you have any parchment, pen, and ink I can use to write on?"

"I don't have parchment, but I do have something you can use." Kisuke then pointed at the corner of the room, "Please open that drawer and you'll see what you need."

Riveria followed Kisuke instruction and opened the table drawer in the corner of the room and found two things, "This is... paper? Such great quality... Where did you get this? And... What's this cylindrical object?" Riveria brought both of them back to the table as they're the only items in the drawer.

Kisuke did a taste test of the soup and thought that it's already enough and turned off the flame. He then took off his apron and approached Riveria to show her how it's used. Kisuke grabbed the cylindrical object and removed its cap, revealing the tip of the ballpoint pen before giving it to Riveria, "This is a pen. Use it like how you would a dip pen."

Riveria inspected pen which is very different from the feather quill pen that she knew. Moments later, she inspected enough and tried writing her name on the paper provided. She's amazed at how clean and thin the resulting ink is and even tried to touch it but it didn't even smudge, 'Did he use monster blood for this?'

However, that is not important right now and continued writing while Kisuke went back to the kitchen to prepare everything else so that they could have lunch. A few minutes later, Riveria finished writing and waited for Kisuke.

Everything is already done and all that is needed is to set the food, however, Kisuke thought that it would be a good idea to write Koneko's basic parameters first and exchange it with Riveria so that they would have something to talk about during their meal.

Kisuke wrote Koneko's parameters and gave it to Riveria and Riveria gave hers to Kisuke. She didn't know why, but she trusted Kisuke more than those who display themselves as perfect gentlemen. Maybe she preferred Kisuke's straightforward personality, although she doesn't really like his tricky side.

Kisuke read through her status and commented, "So you have more balanced parameters on lower levels while you become more and more focused on Magic parameter in your later levels."

However, Riveria didn't listen to a thing that he said and just blankly stared at Koneko's parameters, 'What's this!? It's very surprising that she went through the supposed limit of parameters but why is there a new basic parameter!? What does this mean!?'

While waiting for Riveria to arrange her thoughts and respond, Kisuke brought their meal on the table.

It was until Kisuke placed a plate and utensils in front of her that she reacted, "What's this!? This is impossible! I know all of the Adventurers only has five basic parameters! Why would someone have six!?"

Not minding her energetic reaction, Kisuke responded casually while also starting his meal, "Did you think that Mana... or this case, Magic is the only superpower in the world?"

"What do you mean?"

"Mana... Or Mind is how you call it, is the energy that gives power to Magic or most of the supernatural thing. Ki, on the other hand, is the life force itself. It's the innate power of almost all living beings has and emit. Tapping on this power also gives you strength."

"Could it be... Another power system that we aren't aware of? And the slash you did just now?"

"Correct. It used Ki... My own vitality to perform it."

"Why...? Why haven't we discovered it until now?"

Kisuke just smiled, "Hmm? Dunno~. It's probably because it's harder to detect what's already part of you as opposed to the flashy things magic could do."

Riveria then proceeded to calm herself down and started eating the food in front of her, "Thank you." Aside from shock, an unprecedented amount of excitement started to fill Riveria as a new and unknown path of knowledge opened in front of her. And aside from that, fear also started to take root on her because she got it 'too cheap' and is horrified by Kisuke's non-monetary price.

A few seconds later, she said, "My basic parameters isn't enough... Would you like to see the rest of my status?"

"Oh? Is that fine?"

"It's fine... And honestly, I would really be happy if you would take a look at it! I'm really afraid now because maybe you have hidden charges for this!" Information about the sixth basic parameter, her own status information is a cheap price to pay.

Kisuke chuckled, "Well, I'll be taking your kind offer~." And Riveria happily wrote down her magic, skills, and developmental abilities. It's a dangerous move for her, but she wanted to gain some trust from him as she needed him to teach her more than just about the sixth parameter.

But before she could finish writing, Kisuke perked up his head and smiled, "Looks like I have some more guest today~."

Riveria looked at him curiously and a few seconds later, a voice she's familiar with came calling from outside, "Excuse me~! Anyone in there?"