To be honest, after seeing Dio’s status, Demeter found herself considering whether she should keep him in this world forever.
The thought came suddenly and with surprising force, like a stone dropped into the still waters of her heart.
The ripples it created refused to fade.
Perhaps Dio was the one who could save this world.
Only a few years remained before the promised day, yet Orario had still failed to produce anyone capable of posing a genuine threat to the One-Eyed Black Dragon.
The so-called first-class adventurers might be renowned throughout the world, but before that ancient calamity, even they would likely be little more than insects.
But if it was Dio…
Demeter studied the young man before her, complicated thoughts flickering through her amber eyes.
With his monstrous rate of growth, his endless supply of absurdly powerful Skills, and the [Dimensional Gate] that allowed him to travel between worlds…
Perhaps he truly could defeat the One-Eyed Black Dragon and save this world.
How long had it been since Dio awakened his abilities?
Three or four days at most.
In that brief span of time, he had gone from a hopeless beginner with every Basic Ability at I 0 to a monstrous adventurer with S 999 across the board, several powerful spells, and an equally ridiculous collection of Skills.
Such growth was unprecedented in Orario’s history and might never be seen again.
If he continued developing at this pace for several months—or even an entire year—what heights could he reach?
Level Seven?
Level Eight?
Or something even greater?
Demeter did not dare imagine the answer.
It was so extraordinary that even a goddess who had witnessed countless miracles found it difficult to believe.
Yet she soon abandoned the idea.
Demeter knew perfectly well that she could not keep Dio here against his will.
If she tried to force him to remain in Orario and burdened him with the responsibility of saving the world, she could already imagine the expression he would make.
More importantly, expecting a lustful coward like him to challenge the One-Eyed Black Dragon was absurd.
That creature was the ultimate calamity, an enemy that every Familia in Orario might fail to defeat even if they joined forces.
How could she convince a lazy man terrified of death to march toward almost certain destruction?
He would probably pack his bags and flee before she even finished explaining the situation.
“Goddess, were you just thinking about something unpleasant?”
Dio had noticed the complicated expression that briefly crossed Demeter’s face, and his voice carried immediate suspicion.
He already knew her far too well.
Whenever she looked that thoughtful, she was usually planning another way to trick him or digging a hole for him to fall into.
“Hm?
What unpleasant thing could I possibly be thinking about?”
His question pulled Demeter back to reality.
She instinctively considered hiding her thoughts, but quickly decided there was no point.
Knowing Dio, he would never take the idea seriously anyway.
She rolled her eyes and answered as though testing his reaction.
“I was wondering whether I should keep you in Orario forever, turn you into a hero, and have you defeat the One-Eyed Black Dragon to save this world.”
Even Demeter sighed inwardly after saying it aloud.
“Forget it!”
Dio rolled his eyes so hard that his entire face practically asked what ridiculous joke she was making now.
He waved dismissively.
“Me, a hero?
Have you ever heard of a hero like me?
Heroes are supposed to be brave, fearless, and willing to sacrifice their lives for everyone else.”
He pointed to himself with complete honesty.
“I may not have many virtues, but at least I know my own limits.
I can handle goblins.
The One-Eyed Black Dragon, though?
Absolutely not!
My legs would probably give out before I even reached it.”
Demeter sighed again, though her expression clearly said she had expected no other answer.
“I suppose you’re right.”
She pouted, her voice carrying a mixture of exasperation and mockery.
“How could someone so lustful and terrified of death ever become a hero?
Every legendary hero was willing to sacrifice themselves for what they believed in.”
“Then there’s you.
All you think about is fooling around in dreams, becoming stronger without taking risks, and living as comfortably as possible.
Even you wouldn’t believe anyone who called you a hero.”
“That’s an unfair way to put it.”
Rather than becoming offended, Dio puffed out his chest and spread his hands as though his reasoning were beyond reproach.
“Aren’t most ordinary people exactly like me?
They like money, attractive women, and staying alive.
What could be more normal than that?”
“I’m not a saint or some chosen savior.
I’m only an ordinary man who happened to get a little lucky.”
Demeter opened her mouth to argue, only to discover that she had no immediate response.
When she thought about it carefully, most ordinary people truly were as Dio described.
They were greedy, lustful, afraid of death, selfish, or willing to place profit above loyalty.
Nearly everyone possessed at least one or two of those flaws.
People without desires—or those capable of consistently restraining them—were the true rarity.
Those who could master their desires, remain faithful to their convictions, and willingly sacrifice themselves for others were rarer still.
Dio’s willingness to openly admit that he was lazy, lustful, and afraid to die almost made him seem unusually honest.
At least he was not a hypocrite.
He did not make noble speeches in public while committing filthy acts in secret.
He did not pretend to reject pleasure while craving it in his heart, nor did he conceal his fear beneath false displays of courage.
Dio was simply Dio—a perfectly ordinary man with ordinary desires, ordinary fears, and an ordinary amount of selfishness.
Perhaps it was that honesty that had gradually made Demeter trust him in a way she had not expected.
“Oh, forget it.”
Demeter waved a hand, temporarily pushing aside her thoughts about the promised day and the One-Eyed Black Dragon.
Her expression relaxed once more.
“If you don’t want to become a hero, I won’t force you.
Saving this world was never your responsibility alone.”
“The adventurers already standing at the very top haven’t given up yet.
There’s no reason a brand-new Level One should be worrying about it.”
Dio visibly relaxed, looking as though he had just escaped a death sentence.
“Exactly!
If the sky starts falling, the tall people can hold it up.
Someone short like me should stay safely behind them.”
“You always have an answer for everything.”
Demeter shook her head with a smile, though a deeper uncertainty remained hidden in her eyes.
What would happen if those tall people all fell one day?
What if this world truly reached the brink of destruction?
Would this boy who valued his life above everything else still turn around and run?
Or would he…
Demeter did not know.
Yet somewhere in her heart, she suspected that even Dio himself might not fully understand what possibilities lay hidden within him.