Chapter 22: Blood Magic

Yhe scalding water cascaded down, enveloping Akira in thick steam. He stood dazed beneath the shower, lost in thought. Was it really just about killing them? But what else could he have done? Even if they were arrested, they'd be out in no time. He had no proof they were murderers. And once free, they'd hurt more innocent people. After a long moment, Akira stepped out and stripped off his soaked clothes. He tossed them into a bucket, then crouched beside it. With a soft breath, he released a layer of frost that sealed over the surface, then gently blew into the bucket, mimicking the spin of a washing machine. "There's no point thinking about this anymore. I should just report to Astraea-sama and get my status updated." With that, he stood, feeling lighter, and made his way to her room. He knocked on the wooden door casually. "Akira? Come in," came the warm voice from within. Akira stepped inside, the soft light in the room washing over him. Inside were the four core members of the Alise group, each carrying different expressions—curiosity, concern, calm. "We were waiting for you." Alise said, "Time to check your stats. And while we're at it, we have some questions about what happened today." "Understood." Akira walked to Astraea's side and sat before her, quietly pulling down the back of his shirt. Astraea pricked her fingertip, and divine blood shimmered as she traced sacred runes across his back. The blood glowed, dancing with light. Moments later, invisible energy surged as his experience was transformed into raw strength. Akira LV 1 Strength: H171 → G274 Endurance: H156 → G256 Agility: G232 → F322 Dexterity: G201 → G295 Magic: F378 → D541 [Magic] Elemental Control – Can control all elements – Increase the power of elements by consuming magic power. – Ice Focus: Sacrifices other elements to exclusively enhance ice-based abilities – Wind Focus: Sacrifices other elements to exclusively enhance wind-based abilities Blood Magic – Under a certain state, grants the power to manipulate and absorb blood to strengthen the body and control enemies – Enables deep insight into a person's condition through their blood ..... Astraea stared in awe, her fingers pausing for a second as she watched the magic entries change. "The original magic has evolved—and there's a new one too. Akira, you really never stop surprising us." She copied the divine text onto parchment. Akira picked it up and scanned the page, his eyes narrowing slightly. Just as expected. The class advancement had triggered changes in his Elemental Control and now his Blood Mage traits had fully awakened. The other girls leaned over to look. "The stats are still increasing like crazy, but... not as explosively as last time." Alise muttered. "Maybe Akira's growth is finally stabilizing." Lyra remarked, half-relieved. "If he keeps growing like this, I'll have to hit the dungeon more seriously or I'll fall behind." "Is something unusual about Akira's magic, Astraea-sama?" Ryuu asked, eyes fixed on the parchment. A heavy silence followed. Astraea glanced toward Akira and then the others. "You all know why we came here tonight, don't you?" The four girls exchanged glances. Ryuu nodded and spoke first, "Akira... did you kill someone today?" Akira blinked and said, "Ah. Four people tried to mug me. I defeated them, but—" His voice grew quiet. "I sensed something... terrible in their blood. Even if they were locked up, they'd be released soon. I couldn't risk them hurting anyone else." "I see." Astraea reached out and gently stroked his head. "What do you all think?" "Haha! Serious topic, huh?" Alise chuckled, brushing her hair back. "But honestly? I think Akira made the right call. When we go after an evil familia, we don't always have the luxury of showing mercy." "Exactly." Lyra nodded. "If it were me, I wouldn't have let them go either." "Oh my, I'm with Akira on this too." Kaguya chimed in with a small smile. Her tone was light, but her past as a noble and assassin gave her words weight. "But..." Ryuu hesitated, her voice tinged with worry. "Even if it was justified, isn't it too soon for you to be exposed to this, Akira?" Akira's lips twitched as he said, "You're only a year older than me, Ryuu. I know you're worried, but don't look down on me." The others chuckled while Ryuu pouted in silent protest. Astraea stepped in with a soft voice, "Everyone's just concerned, Akira. You've always seemed like such a sweet boy... seeing you covered in blood, it scared us." She held his hand gently and said, "I'm not saying what you did was wrong. But listen, justice can vary from person to person. Just... don't lose yourself in killing. Don't let that become your purpose. Promise me." Akira nodded solemnly and said, "I understand, Astraea-sama." "Good." Astraea smiled. "Now, let's move on. About your new magic... I'm guessing you already know the trigger conditions, right?" As expected of a goddess—she had probably figured it out already. Ryuu leaned forward and asked, "What does 'a certain state' mean? Is it like Alise's skill that activates in battle?" "Want me to show you?" Akira grinned. "Eh!? That easy?" Alise puffed her cheeks. "That's so unfair! Mine only triggers mid-battle!" "Wow... blood magic that gets stronger through absorption. No wonder Astraea-sama warned him about killing." Lyra said dramatically, though she looked more curious than afraid. Kaguya tilted her head and asked, "What kind of blood strengthens it? Monsters? Humans? Even gods?" "You want to find out?" Astraea giggled. "I can give you a drop of divine blood if you'd like." "No thanks." Akira immediately waved his hands. "I'm not experimenting with your blood." He said with a smirk, "As for that 'certain state'... here it is." In an instant, a cold aura filled the room. Akira's hair turned a snowy white, his expression distant and serene. A quiet, emotionless boy stood in his place. "Kyaaaa! So cute!" Alise lunged and hugged him, rubbing her cheek against his. "Haha, you look like a doll." Kaguya laughed as she pulled at his blank face. Lyra said with a grin, "Even I'm a little captivated. Just imagine how many girls will fall for you in the future." "...So cute." Ryuu whispered, her face flushed red.