Danmachi, Ch 146-150

Chapter 146 – If No One Else Wants Him, I Won’t Hold Back

“Lucky Rabbit???”

Tsubaki's jaw dropped as she stared at Tsuna. The word lucky alone made her brain short-circuit for a moment.

“You’re telling me… you can even create luck?”

Tsuna nodded slightly. “As long as it’s something that can be conceptualized, I can make it. But the degree of luck depends on the limits of my imagination.”

Of course, what he didn’t say was that luck needed a reference point. Without a defined “target” for what luck meant, it was impossible to create something that would actually boost his own fortune.

So, to define that standard, Tsuna simply used his own experiences as the baseline for “luck.”

And sure enough… it worked.

He’d successfully created a Lucky Rabbit—a creature that genuinely brought good fortune. It constantly boosted his luck in a stable, measurable way.

Its effect? Mostly noticeable when gambling or hunting in the Dungeon—rare Drop Items would practically rain down nonstop.

The phrase “limits of imagination” made Tsubaki glance down instinctively at the pile of rare materials scattered from Amphisbaena’s corpse.

“This is definitely beyond the normal limit.”

But then, excitement quickly replaced her shock.

“In that case, I’ll never have to worry about running out of rare materials again!”

“Next time, I can just borrow Tsuna’s creations and farm the Dungeon myself!”

The thought of being self-sufficient in materials made her swallow hard.

For a smith, could there be anything more thrilling than that?

“Tsuna, lend me that rabbit next time!”

Caught up in her excitement, Tsubaki suddenly leaned in until her face was right in front of his.

Tsuna froze for a second, then gave a small nod. “Sure. Just come to me directly when you need it.”

That was all the answer she needed. A grin spread across Tsubaki’s face—and in her rush of joy, she threw her arms around him in a tight hug.

Her monstrous strength pinned him completely, pressing his face deep into something soft and suffocating. Under normal circumstances, this might’ve been heaven—but right now, it was pure suffocation.

He quickly flailed a hand and patted her shoulder, and only then did Tsubaki snap back to her senses and let go.

“Ha…”

Tsuna exhaled heavily, finally able to breathe again. His lungs felt starved for air, his chest aching from the compression.

“Tsubaki, next time, go easy on the hugs. My body can’t handle that.”

“Ah—sorry, sorry!”

She rubbed the back of her neck, embarrassed. She’d only wanted to thank him, but this time she held back her strength and pulled him in again—gently.

Same gesture, completely different experience. It was softer now, more affectionate—and for Tsuna, a bit too stimulating.

When he froze up in her arms, Tsubaki immediately caught on, a teasing grin spreading across her face.

“Oh? So that’s what you’re into.”

Tsuna didn’t even try to deny it. “Pretty normal for a guy, isn’t it? I mean, what guy wouldn’t like being hugged by a hot older woman?”

The “hot older woman” in question burst into laughter. She placed a hand behind his head, pressing him lightly against her chest again.

“Exactly, exactly. Nothing wrong with having healthy tastes.”

“Tell you what, Tsuna—if you ever feel like it, just come find me. I like you, you know.”

Thinking about the Loki Familia, Tsubaki realized there weren’t many who fit that description.

Tione was hung up on Finn.

Riveria? A perfectionist elf with a stick up her ass.

So really… no one else could spoil Tsuna quite like she could.

A sly smile bloomed on her face.

“Well, if no one else’s claimed him… then I won’t hold back.”

A capable, clever kid who could offer insight and even help her improve her craft—how could she not like him?

If Tsuna didn’t belong to the Loki Familia, she probably would’ve dragged him straight back to Hephaestus’s forge and never let him go.

“I’ll remember that,” Tsuna said with a small smile. And he meant it—if she was offering, he wasn’t going to waste the opportunity.

“Mhm.”

“Oh, right,” Tsubaki suddenly said, eyes brightening. “About that Excellia extraction method you mentioned earlier—how exactly does it work?”

“Ah, that.”

Tsuna gently slipped out of her arms and summoned one of his Puppets. Placing his hand over its abdomen, he activated it. The Puppet’s body turned partially translucent, and within it, golden fluid flowed like liquid light.

“Whoa!!!”

Tsubaki’s eyes widened in awe. It was her first time seeing Excellia with her own eyes.

“So it’s… real.”

“Of course it’s real,” Tsuna replied. “Though I haven’t studied it much yet. I only know that with a proper containment process, it’s possible to store Excellia instead of letting it disperse when earned.”

“That’s… perfect!”

To materialize Excellia—

Even if it had to be gathered through his Puppets killing monsters or Floor Bosses, the ability to capture that energy was revolutionary.

If Excellia could be stored, that meant it could also be used as a material!

Tsubaki’s imagination took off instantly, her breathing quickening. She could already see it: forging weapons infused with Excellia itself.

Just picturing it made her giddy.

“Tsuna, you genius!” she shouted, grabbing his face and kissing him before he could react.

"Come on, let's head back already—Lady Hephaestus is waiting for us!"

Now she was practically vibrating with excitement, eager to start forging right away.

Using Excellia as a new forging material… she could barely contain herself. The possibilities were endless.

Tsuna could only sigh. He knew how she got when inspiration hit—but did she really have to ambush him like that every time?

Still, he couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his lips.

He opened a spatial gate leading to Hephaestus’s workshop.

Tsubaki, meanwhile, effortlessly hefted the enormous dragon heart—over a meter in diameter—onto her shoulder and walked through the gate like it weighed nothing.

Before disappearing inside, she glanced back and called, “Tsuna, hurry up!”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.”

Tsuna shook his head with a helpless smile.

He was starting to get a pretty good grasp of the blacksmith's personality.

Chapter 147 – Still Think He’s a Hassle?

The moment the spatial gate opened, Hephaestus—who had been waiting in her office for Tsuna and Tsubaki to return—immediately looked up.

When she saw the enormous heart being carried through the portal, she already knew what it meant.

“Looks like the hunt was a success.”

Her sharp eye caught the faint, pulsating glow radiating from the heart. “And that dragon heart... what incredible luck. You actually managed to get a Drop Item like that.”

Dragon hearts weren’t something you could just pick up in the Dungeon. They were among the rarest of rare drops.

Hephaestus studied the massive organ now exuding waves of mana—it was still alive. That alone made it a priceless treasure.

As the heart was carefully set down in her office, Tsubaki stepped out from behind it, followed by Tsuna, who walked in holding a handful of materials—dragon scales, dragon fangs, and two distinct types of power crystals.

Hephaestus leaned back slightly, letting out an amused hum.

“You two really had quite the run this time. Not only did you take down Amphisbaena, but you came back with a mountain of rare Drop Items.”

Setting the heart aside, Tsubaki quickly waved her hands. "Lady Hephaestus, that wasn't my doing."

She wasn’t about to take credit for something she didn’t earn. She’d only delivered the finishing blow—nothing more.

“I was just support. Tsuna did all the real work. I only stepped in at the end to make sure Amphisbaena stayed dead.”

Hephaestus didn’t look particularly surprised.

Tsubaki’s individual combat strength still far surpassed Tsuna’s, but the boy’s abilities were… different. His creations—born purely from imagination—were capable of matching monsters that should’ve been far beyond his level.

“Tsubaki’s right,” she mused. “He probably handled the fight with something ridiculous again.”

Tsubaki nodded, eyes gleaming. “He made Silence.”

“Pff—!”

Hephaestus nearly choked, spraying the sip of tea she’d just taken.

She’d assumed Tsuna had used some clever trick to deal with Amphisbaena, not that he’d gone and recreated Silence, one of the strongest legends of the past.

“You mean the Silence? The one I’m thinking of?”

She wasn’t looking at Tsubaki anymore—her gaze snapped to Tsuna.

“Yes,” he replied simply. “That Silence. I modeled her based on the information I’ve gathered, combined with my own reasoning and imagination. The result was a Level 6 Puppet version.”

Hephaestus stared at him for a long moment, then exhaled.

“So it’s a reconstruction, based on existing data and your perception?”

This ability really is absurd…

She was starting to understand the scope of what he could do—creating powerful beings purely from imagination and information. His skill wasn’t just creation; it was reconstruction, adaptation, and evolution, all rolled into one.

And apparently, he could even recreate legendary adventurers.

As long as his imagination could grasp it—he could make it real.

“Complete replication, though… that’s impossible,” Tsuna clarified, shaking his head.

Hephaestus raised a brow. “Oh?”

“It’s extremely difficult to fully restore any individual’s exact power. The monsters or people I create with Annihilation Maker, or the Puppets modeled after them, are all incomplete versions.”

“Partly because I don’t have full data on them. But also because my imagination—and by extension, my power—has limits.”

“When my own strength isn’t high enough, my imagination gets bound by that same ceiling. So no matter how vivid the concept, there’s a hard limit to what I can actually manifest.”

Hephaestus nodded slowly. It made perfect sense.

A power that overpowered had to have restrictions—or else it would break the world.

Though, she thought privately, it wasn’t exactly a permanent restriction. Once Tsuna’s personal strength grew strong enough, that limiter would likely vanish.

When that day came, Annihilation Maker would probably evolve into something terrifying.

Even now, with a not-even-complete version of Silence, he’d wiped out Amphisbaena. If he ever created her in her full glory…

The entire Labyrinth City might need to start worrying.

She turned her attention back to Tsubaki, her lips curling into a teasing smile.

“So, what do you think? Up for working with him from now on?”

“Hell yes!” Tsubaki nearly jumped out of her chair.

She slung an arm around Tsuna’s shoulder like a proud big sister. “He’s perfect for me! As an team member, I mean.”

“He’s strong enough to handle high-level fights, and he boosts the rare drop rate on monsters! Even against Floor Bosses, he’s a reliable partner. Seriously, he’s the best assistant a smith could ask for.”

Hephaestus couldn’t help but laugh. Just a few days ago, when she’d first brought up partnering with Tsuna, Tsubaki had looked like she’d swallowed a lemon.

Now she was singing his praises like a proud mentor.

“Not complaining anymore, I see?” Hephaestus asked, grinning. “You looked a lot less enthusiastic when you thought he’d slow down your forging schedule.”

“Oh, come on~ that was before I knew what he could do!” Tsubaki said with a shameless grin. Not even a hint of embarrassment.

"If you'd just told me the full story earlier, Lady Hephaestus, I wouldn't have complained at all!"

Tsuna, still half-pinned under her arm, shot her a flat look.

Now that he'd spent more time around the blacksmith, he understood her personality completely.

A pure, straightforward craftswoman. Her entire world revolved around forging and perfecting her skill.

Everything else was just background noise.

“Alright, jokes aside,” Hephaestus said after a chuckle. “Let’s move on to serious matters.”

“Tsuna’s situation is… special. His power has a strong connection to forging—he can manifest things, after all. But that means he needs experience and refinement in that field too.”

“As he said himself, imagination is his weapon. So for now, aside from laying low under our Familia’s protection, I want the two of you working together closely.”

Her tone turned a little sharper. “And Tsubaki—don’t let his identity slip.”

“Got it!”

She gave a crisp nod. She already knew the stakes. From now on, any fieldwork, experiments, or Dungeon runs—Tsuna was coming along.

After the formal talk, Hephaestus’s curiosity got the better of her.

“So,” she said, eyes gleaming, “did you manage to get the Excellia?”

Tsubaki glanced down at the boy still beside her and smirked.

“Of course we did.”

“Thanks to Tsuna’s help, we actually managed to capture the Excellia.”

“Perfect.” Hephaestus’s eye lit up in excitement.

“Both of you—come with me. I want to see it for myself.”

The goddess of the forge could barely contain her curiosity now.

After all, the idea of forging with Excellia was far too tempting to ignore.

Chapter 148: The Forging Space

“Using a Puppet’s body as a vessel to contain Excellia? Now that’s a fascinating idea.”

Even Hephaestus couldn’t help but marvel as she watched golden, mist-like energy flow inside the Silence Puppet.

Excellia—that mysterious force—had always been a crucial requirement for an Adventurer’s Level Up. Yet until now, no one had ever actually seen it.

For the goddess of the forge, this was a first.

Who would’ve thought something so abstract could actually be captured—and with such a simple method, too?

It felt… wrong, in a way. Unreal.

But the fact remained—it worked.

“If you want to use Excellia in forging, you’ll need a weapon good enough to handle it,” Hephaestus said after a thoughtful pause. “By using Excellia’s inherent power to elevate Adventurers, we could use that same energy to elevate the weapon itself.”

After a short observation, she proposed the most straightforward method to make use of it.

Tsuna, however, had other thoughts.

“Lady Hephaestus, that’s probably the simplest approach, right?”

“Indeed,” she nodded. “It’s the easiest way to apply Excellia’s power.”

Then she gestured toward the golden energy swirling within the Puppet.

“Actually, the best method would be to forge it directly into the weapon itself—use Excellia as a material. But capturing Excellia in the first place isn’t easy, and turning it into a workable substance is even harder.”

“Especially since it’s in a gaseous form right now,” she added, frowning. “Transforming something like that into a usable material… won’t be easy.”

“True enough,” Tsubaki agreed. She shared her goddess’s assessment completely.

Just thinking about Excellia as a material was already a groundbreaking concept. But trying to convert it into something that could be forged into a weapon—that was another level entirely.

Hephaestus’s reasoning was sound, and Tsubaki’s reaction was natural. But both of them were still thinking like traditional blacksmiths.

“I can do it,” Tsuna said.

Those simple words cut through their confusion like a beam of light through fog. Both women froze, then blinked at him in surprise.

“…You’re right.”

What a ridiculous oversight.

If traditional craftsmen couldn’t do it, that didn’t mean Tsuna couldn’t. He wasn’t bound by normal limitations.

Hephaestus and Tsubaki caught on instantly.

“How exactly are you planning to pull that off?” Tsubaki asked, curiosity bubbling over.

“It’s simple,” Tsuna said with a grin. “I’ll just create a space that can contain and control the Excellia.”

Both women stared at him, dumbfounded.

It was such a simple answer—and yet, the implementation would be anything but.

No ordinary person would’ve ever thought of it, let alone made it possible.

But Tsuna Sawada wasn’t ordinary.

When he finished explaining, he got straight to work.

In mere moments, a door materialized right there in the room.

He walked up to it and pushed it open. Beyond the threshold was… a forest.

“Hephaestus, Tsubaki—after you.”

Driven by sheer curiosity, the goddess and her captain followed him through.

The instant they stepped inside, a rush of fresh air greeted them.

The forest air was crisp, rich with oxygen—it made their minds feel clear, their bodies light.

Tsuna moved past them, gesturing toward a building nestled among the trees.

“That’s the rest area and material storage. A place to relax between forging sessions—keeps your body and mind in top condition.”

He pointed toward a path paved with white stone bricks leading deeper into the forest.

“And this,” he said, “is the heart of the space—the Forge Mountain.”

“Follow me.”

Under Tsuna’s guidance, the two women walked the stone path until they reached the end—an entrance built into the base of a mountain.

Dim Magic Stone Lamps lit the tunnel walls. As they walked down the long passageway, the temperature steadily rose.

By the time they stepped into the open chamber beyond, the heat was palpable.

The vast cavern before them was breathtaking.

In the center, a massive molten hearth pulsed and roared with golden light, illuminating the entire underground forge.

Along the sides were rows of tools—some handcrafted, others mechanical—covering every step of the forging process.

And beyond them stood a special chamber, shrouded in a faint blue barrier.

Both Hephaestus and Tsubaki immediately zeroed in on it.

“Tsuna, is that the one?” Hephaestus asked.

He nodded. “Yes. The interior of this Forge Mountain—especially that chamber—is designed with a spatial boundary that stabilizes and limits Excellia’s presence.”

He gestured toward the blue-shrouded room.

“That’s the refinement zone. Inside, we can process Excellia—adjust its density, refine its form, even experiment with merging it into physical materials.”

“My current plan,” he continued, “is to condense Excellia into a liquid state first, then try to infuse it directly into a weapon’s structure.”

He gave a wry smile. “Of course, that’s just my theory. Whether it’ll actually work—that’s something you’ll need to test yourselves.”

Even Tsuna couldn’t say for sure. All he could do was manipulate Excellia’s properties enough to make experimentation possible.

To keep things safe, he’d built multiple containment barriers into the forge, just in case something went wrong during testing.

“I don’t know much about the finer points of forging,” he admitted. “So if there’s anything you’d like changed, Lady Hephaestus, Tsubaki—I can reshape the space however you need.”

Hephaestus’s eye gleamed as she surveyed the workshop—a place capable of melting metal, tempering blades, and merging rare materials, all within a secure environment built to handle Excellia.

It was perfect.

“This is more than enough, Tsuna,” she said warmly.

Even if his understanding of blacksmithing was incomplete, this space exceeded every expectation.

In fact, it was more advanced—and more comprehensive—than Tsubaki’s own forge.

When Hephaestus turned to look at her captain, she found Tsubaki completely mesmerized, eyes sparkling with unfiltered excitement.

“Take a look at her,” Hephaestus said, chuckling. “Does she look unsatisfied to you?”

Tsuna turned—and immediately bumped right into Tsubaki’s face as she leaned in close, grinning wide.

“I’m super satisfied!” she shouted, eyes blazing with enthusiasm.

Chapter 149: I’ll Be Counting on You

Inside the Excellia Workshop, the once-gaseous energy began to condense—slowly forming a single droplet of shimmering, golden liquid.

Hephaestus and Tsubaki both exhaled in disbelief.

“It actually worked!”

After a moment of stunned silence, their excitement spiked like a forge fire bursting to life.

Hephaestus leaned forward, eyes locked on the droplet floating inside a specially designed container.

“Changing Excellia’s very form… this is historic.”

Excellia had always been something intangible—an unseen force that symbolized an adventurer’s growth. Yet here it was, solidified right before their eyes.

“Yeah,” Tsubaki breathed, nodding in awe. “To manifest Excellia itself—and even turn it into a usable forging material…”

This was the birth of a new era.

For craftsmen, this breakthrough meant that the old limits were no longer the limits of tomorrow. It meant their craft had just stepped into an entirely new future.

“The next step,” Hephaestus said thoughtfully, “is figuring out how to actually infuse Excellia into a weapon—or even make it a part of the weapon itself.”

She didn’t expect it to be easy. Even for her, handling a material like Excellia would require extreme precision.

How the weapon would react to such a substance—that was something only thorough testing could reveal. And such testing wouldn’t be quick or simple.

“Tsuna, Tsubaki,” Hephaestus finally said, “that’s enough for today.”

“Eh~?”

Tsubaki’s entire face fell, like a kid told it was bedtime.

“Don’t be so willful,” Hephaestus sighed, shooting her a look. She understood all too well how terrifyingly powerful—and invaluable—Tsuna’s abilities were.

“What we’ve achieved today is already an incredible success. For the future of forging, results like these can’t be rushed.”

She smirked. “Besides, didn’t Tsuna create this forge space specifically for you?”

“Are you really worried you won’t get another chance to use it?”

Tsubaki pouted but didn’t argue.

It wasn’t like she wouldn’t have more chances—she and Tsuna had already agreed to keep working together. And since he was currently under the Hephaestus Familia’s wing, their collaboration was practically guaranteed.

So no, she didn’t have to worry about losing access to the forge.

“Also,” Hephaestus added pointedly, “we don’t have much Excellia to work with. Were you planning to use it all up in one go?”

“Goliath was only slain recently, and the Amphisbaena was taken down by you and Tsuna not long after. You’re not seriously thinking of diving even deeper into the Dungeon just to find more trouble, are you?”

That hit home.

Tsubaki looked down at the single droplet of liquid Excellia resting in the container—it was barely enough for one forging experiment.

If they used it up recklessly, they’d have to halt all research until they could find a new source.

So yes—if they wanted to make the most of this rare material, careful planning was essential.

“Going deeper to hunt another Floor Boss is out of the question,” she muttered.

No matter how powerful Tsuna’s Silence construct was, venturing into the Dungeon’s deeper floors was dangerous.

Charging ahead without caution was the same as throwing your life away.

“Besides,” she added with a grin, “I’m just a blacksmith with a bit of muscle. If something pops up that even Tsuna can’t handle, I’d just be dead weight.”

She wasn’t wrong.

From any angle, diving deeper for more Excellia was a terrible idea. Between Goliath and the Amphisbaena, they already had enough to work with.

Her curiosity was strong—but not uncontrollable.

Still, even knowing that, she couldn’t bring herself to look away from that droplet.

Watching her struggle, Tsuna finally spoke up.

“Tsubaki, how about I set up a forging simulation for you?”

“A… simulation?”

“Yeah. A controlled environment where you can perform mock forging. No real materials consumed—just a full simulation of the process. It’d help you test ideas, gain experience, maybe even predict possible outcomes.”

Tsubaki paused, considering it. Then she shook her head.

“I’ll pass.”

“Even if it’s accurate, simulation’s still just simulation. Forging’s all about feel and flow—the result’s never the same twice.”

She smirked faintly. “Any ‘predicted result’ from a simulation would probably be the same every time. That’s not training—it’s just repetition.”

Even so, the offer clearly warmed her heart.

“Thanks anyway, Tsuna,” she said with a smile. “I need to think carefully about how to approach forging with Excellia. What kind of process… what kind of weapon it could become.”

“As for putting it into practice…” She sighed, shoulders slumping. “Guess I’ll just have to be patient for now.”

If she could’ve started experimenting right away, she absolutely would’ve locked herself in the workshop until she dropped.

But Excellia wasn’t like any other material—it was far rarer, and the time between possible sources was painfully long.

So for now, all she could do was wait.

After making their decision, the three finally stepped out of the Forging Space.

“Mmm~”

Stretching her arms high, Tsubaki took a deep breath of fresh air, the tension melting from her shoulders.

“Man, I learned way too much today,” she groaned, though there was a smile behind it. “And my hands are itching to forge again… but I guess that’ll have to wait.”

She steadied her mood, then reached out and threw an arm over Tsuna’s shoulders, pulling him close with a wide grin.

“Still, today’s been one hell of a harvest. From now on, I’ll be counting on you, got it?”

Tsuna chuckled softly. He really did like this big-sisterly blacksmith—so blunt, yet so genuine.

“Yeah.”

Watching them laugh together, Hephaestus smiled quietly to herself.

This was exactly the kind of result she’d been hoping for.

Chapter 150: Three Months

Three months was enough time for most things to fade—and in this case, it really had.

The Labyrinth City was never a place that stayed quiet for long.

The gods and goddesses who lived there rarely kept their attention on one topic for too long—especially once it lost its heat. Even if there’d been some juicy gossip behind it, interest eventually cooled.

And with no one stoking the flames, the chatter naturally died out.

The silence from both the Loki Familia and the Astraea Familia had snuffed out what had once been the hottest topic in Orario.

Even the gods who had been the most curious about those two Familias gradually lost interest as time went on.

Only Ishtar still showed a lingering curiosity toward Loki’s people. But even she had grown lazy about it—taking longer and longer between her little “information exchanges” with Raul.

With no one prying into their affairs, the Loki Familia finally had peace.

Inside the Familia, every member focused on their own growth. Whenever someone had free time and hadn’t yet reached their Status limit, they would enter the Training Space Tsuna had created and work themselves to the bone.

The atmosphere within the Familia had never been better.

Everyone had a clear goal.

For low-level Adventurers, it meant raising their Status and pushing their limits. Once they reached their peak, they’d take on stronger monsters—maybe even Floor Bosses—together with their allies.

After that, their sights naturally shifted toward higher levels.

Before, many hadn’t dared to dream that far. Effort often didn’t match results, and disappointment was common.

But now, the results were real. The growth was tangible. So they started to dream bigger—of breaking through their limits, of seeing how far they could truly go.

“How’s it going? Hit your Status cap yet?”

It was lunchtime, and most of the Loki Familia had gotten used to eating at home together.

Meals at the manor were comfortable, relaxed—perfect for casual talk, even the kind that wouldn’t fit in public.

“Not yet,” one Adventurer replied, picking at his food. “But when I went to update my Status with Lady Loki, all four stats were above seven hundred. Lately, my growth’s slowed down a lot. I think this might be my limit.”

“Everything except Magic’s maxed out already? That’s impressive.”

“What about you?”

“I hit my limit a bit earlier,” his friend said. “Agility and Dexterity are around seven-fifty. Strength and Endurance are lagging—about six hundred.”

“Then you’d better focus on what you’re good at,” the first said with a grin. “If Agility and Dexterity are your strong points, keep pushing those. You might still squeeze out a little more progress.”

“That’s easier said than done.” The smaller Adventurer shook his head with a rueful smile.

He’d always been on the lean side—light and quick, but weaker in raw power. Agility and Dexterity were his strengths, sure, but even so, he’d already pushed himself to the edge.

“Even with Tsuna’s Training Space helping us grow faster than before, hitting a new breakthrough isn’t easy,” he admitted. “Seven-fifty’s already the result of a lot of hard work. For us normal folks, once we reach a certain height, that’s it. The wall we hit… that’s talent.”

He smiled faintly, but there wasn’t any bitterness in it. He’d come to terms with it.

“The Captain and the others have the talent to go even further. With the setup they’ve got now, they’ll definitely reach new heights.”

“Maybe we can’t compare to them,” his friend said, “but we’ve come a long way ourselves.”

“No doubt about that.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration—every member of the Familia had gotten stronger, no question.

“Speaking of Tsuna, though… we haven’t seen him much lately.”

His companion nodded and gestured across the room—toward Tiona and Tione, who were quietly eating together.

“Tiona and Tione? What about them?”

The smaller man glanced over. The amazoness sisters didn’t look any different from usual.

“They’re in a bad mood today,” his friend said simply.

“You can tell?”

“Tiona’s harder to read,” the other replied with a smirk. “But Tione’s expression gives it away. Look—she’s clearly thinking about something.”

Following his gaze, the smaller Adventurer noticed it too. Tione’s eyes were distant, her usual spark dulled.

“Tsuna and Lady Loki are working on something together,” the first one said quietly. “That’s probably why we’ve seen less of him lately. I think the Captain knows about it. So do Tiona and Tione.”

He leaned in a little, lowering his voice. “Honestly, you can usually tell whether Tsuna’s shown up that day just by watching the sisters. From the look on Tione’s face, I’d say he hasn’t.”

“Ah, I see.”

The smaller man blinked, impressed by the observation—then suddenly frowned.

“Wait a sec… Why are you watching Tione to figure that out? Shouldn’t it be Tiona?”

Everyone in the Familia knew that Tsuna was close with the amazoness sisters, especially Tiona.

He'd always assumed she was the one with a special interest in him—after all, hadn't Tione's romantic interest always been the Captain?

His friend chuckled. "You don't get it."

"Sure, Tiona and Tsuna seem close—but the real tell is Tione."

"She's been spending way more time around him lately. Their age gap isn't that big either, so it makes sense they'd get along."

The smaller man's eyes widened. "But—I thought Tione was still hung up on the Captain?"

"Think about it," his companion said with a knowing look. "Amazons might be wild when it comes to picking partners, but do you really think the Captain would go for that?"

The smaller Adventurer blinked, still processing.

"...Is that really how it is?"

His friend nodded. "The Captain's got bigger goals—leading the Pallum to greatness, right? He doesn't have time for romance. And honestly? I doubt he'd fall for anyone outside his own race. Not with those ambitions."

The smaller man finally understood.

It wasn't about the individuals themselves. It was about race.

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