"...Speculation..." Ais muttered. But even if Kisuke made that clear, she still asked, "And why did the Gods descend if they could fend for themselves?"

"It could be because the Gods are really bored so they decided to come down to entertain themselves. It may also be because everyone's efforts still fell short." Kisuke happily answered her.

"What do you mean?"

"A hole in the earth kept spewing out fully matured monsters that could fight, meanwhile, the people had to train for years to reach the same height. Even if they got stronger and could fight back, it takes a very long time for one to develop. Probably seeing that they were at their limit, the Gods decided to help them."

"Thanks to the Gods' blessings, the people didn't have to search for themselves as the Falna would automatically bring out their potential as soon as they received it and so they could start fighting the weaker monsters, making the required amount of time to get stronger become a lot shorter and easier." Kisuke explained, 'Well, I think there were other, more compelling reasons aside from those, but she doesn't have to know that.'

"...Then are you saying that you acquired strength without any help from a God?" Ais went back to their original topic.

"Well, it's a little bit different than what you're thinking but something like that. Although, we're also trying to Level up since it'll also add to our strength." Kisuke thought that she would be leaving after this and started cleaning the table and packing up the cookies. Ais was eating earlier so that she could take some with her as an apology for what he had to put her through.

However, instead of bidding her farewell and leaving, she gritted her teeth and clenched her fist instead. "Hmm? Is there something else?", asked Kisuke.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Ais looked up to Kisuke with determination, "Please teach me how to get stronger!"

Kisuke stared at her for a moment before replying, "Didn't I already promise to teach you a thing or two about wind magic?"

Ais immediately shook her head, "Not that! Please teach me how to get stronger like you!"

"No." Kisuke immediately rejected her.

"Please! I'll do anything!" Ais didn't give up and pleaded.

Kisuke was not a hormonal teenager who would just jump at the 'I'll do anything' statement. He could tell how desperate Ais was from her demeanor and joking about it right now would be incredibly rude to her resolve. They weren't enemies, after all. Turning around, Kisuke said the same thing, "No."

Ais kept her head down and continued, "Please... Please help me get stronger... I'll do anything."

Kisuke figured that she wouldn't leave as long as he didn't give her a good reason so he spoke after sighing, "It's as you said, I can make you stronger. Within just a few months, you can contend against Ottar or even stronger without raising your Level."

Ais hurriedly looked up with a smile on her face, "T-then!"

Turning back to Ais, Kisuke looked at her with a cold expression that startled her, thinking that she had done something wrong, "However, I refuse to do so."

Gathering her courage, Ais asked him, "W-why?"

"One of the few things which I don't really like, is training someone who would abuse their power after they gained strength."

"W-what?" Ais confusedly asked.

Kisuke stepped forward and came closer to her. He then looked down and continued, "You still don't get it? I don't really feel like training you."

Gritting her teeth, Ais asked again, "Why?"

"Because you're exactly the type of person who would abuse her power to attain a skewed goal."

"Y-you don't know me!"

Lifting her chin, Kisuke said it right to her face, "Right~! However, I at least know that you'd do anything in your power to decimate what you consider your enemies without any questions asked."

Glaring at him, Ais raised her voice, "And what's wrong with that!?"

Separating from Ais, Kisuke sighed, "The fact that you don't see anything wrong with it proves my point. Come back after you've realized that your point of view is too narrow and maybe I'll reconsider."

While gritting her teeth, Ais walked out of the tent without saying a word.

A few seconds later, Yoruichi came in, "You're too harsh on her."

"Nope, that's just right," Kisuke replied with a smile.

"I don't think she'll give up though."

"That's fine. I'll just keep repeating my excuse. For once, I don't really feel like teaching someone like her."

"Well, I understand you. If she gained strength now, she'd be a lost cause."

"Right~. Though she has to realize this before the emergence of that Black Dragon, or else she'll be in for a rough time."

Something clicked in Yoruichi's mind, "Do you plan to let Sona, Aika and Koneko deal with the Black Dragon?"

Kisuke grinned, "Not just them, but also Kuroka and Medusa~."

"Then what about us?"

Kisuke stayed silent for a moment before shaking his head, "I don't know... But I have a feeling that we'll encounter something like that in the future. So aside from going back, attaining Transcendence is the next priority. Of course, while still having fun in the process~!"

"I'm still really wondering how you were able to live this long despite having that kind of personality. What do you mean while still having fun in the process? Wouldn't it be the main reason why we would make a strong enemy?"

"Then are you fine with just watching everything passively?"

"Of course not! I didn't mean that I don't agree with you!"

"Hahaha~, I guess it's time to ramp things up~! I've also finished the basic necessities for transfer and I'm only searching for any signal that would come from our previous world."

Yoruichi gave him a dirty look, "Even though you threatened Ais-chan not to tell anyone what she discovered."

"You've got it wrong. I'll still be the unassuming and normal shopkeeper. I'll be using the Crimson Apocalypse Thieving Group persona to have some fun~."

"It's too late for the unassuming and normal shopkeeper, Green Crusader: Gigolo Master~."

"...I'm still unsatisfied with what I did..."

"Oh, if you're going for a second round, lemme join you~!"

"You're my partner so that's a given. By the way, how did it go on your side?"

"Nothing much aside from meeting some group of Adventurers who were dissatisfied with Bell Cranel. I think they don't like the fact that a new Level 2 reached the 18th floor despite them using years to crawl down here." Yoruichi reported in an uninterested tone, "And I think that Hermes will make his move tonight, so I plan to watch out for them."

"Got it. I also want to know what he plans to do. It seems interesting."

Yoruichi turned around before saying, "Well then, that's all the information I gathered. I'm going to take a bath with the others." She then left the tent.

"A bath?" Kisuke rubbed his chin, 'I wonder what would happen if we make a commotion on the eastern side of the floor? Maybe I'll discover something?' With that in mind, Kisuke cleaned up the remaining mess, before going out to look for Hermes.

Editors:

28th00: NAY! HE ACQUIRED STRENGTH FROM A GOD! PHIS-CHAMA ALLOWED HIM TO PAT HER AND FEED HER WHILE SHE SAT ON HIS LAP! Nothing can change this… His patting skills are terrifying enough to pacify that Infinite Dragon God…

Alexander: Nope, he receives his strength from satisfying his urge to tease others. Annoying gods gives him an especially great xp boost.