Chapter 278: 276
The resurrection of the Astraea Familia's members was obviously not something that could remain hidden for long.
The Guild was the first to learn about it. After all, they had been keeping a close eye on Genichi ever since he first made a name for himself in Orario, ever since he began performing miracles in the Dungeon, and ever since he defeated the Black Goliath, challenged Udaeus, and became a Level 6 adventurer.
With that much attention focused on Genichi, discovering that every member of the Astraea Familia had returned to life was easy.
Ouranos sat in the depths of the underground altar.
Before him, Fels reported everything she had uncovered in meticulous detail.
Each resurrected adventurer's name fell like a pebble into the long-still lake of Ouranos's heart, sending ripples spreading across its surface.
"Are you certain?"
Ouranos's deep, majestic voice echoed through the underground altar.
Fels nodded.
"I am. The members of the Astraea Familia who died in battle are now walking the streets of Orario again. They can eat, drink, and fight. They are completely indistinguishable from the living."
Ouranos remained silent for a long time.
He seemed to be thinking, yet also hesitating.
Then he spoke.
"Bring him to me."
Fels raised her head, surprise flashing in her eyes.
"Genichi? You wish to meet him?"
"Yes."
Ouranos's voice was calm.
"I want to confirm this personally."
"Understood."
Fels rose and left the underground altar.
Her footsteps echoed through the empty corridor, gradually fading into the distance.
Ouranos watched her leave, a complicated look passing through his eyes.
Genichi followed Fels through the long corridor until they reached the underground altar.
Ouranos, guardian of the Dungeon and protector of Orario.
An ancient and majestic presence permeated the air.
Genichi stood before him with his back straight, calmly meeting the god's gaze.
His expression never changed. There was no reverence, fear, or nervousness.
Only calmness, so absolute that it bordered on indifference.
Ouranos studied him, a hint of approval flashing through his golden eyes.
This young man was no ordinary adventurer.
"There is only one thing I wish to know."
Ouranos's voice was deep and commanding.
"Can you resurrect adventurers who have already died? And if you can, what price must be paid to bring them back?"
Genichi looked at him and remained silent for a moment.
He knew exactly what Ouranos had in mind: the Zeus Familia and the Hera Familia.
The fallen heroes who had once fought against the Black Dragon.
If Genichi could resurrect them, Orario's strength would skyrocket overnight, greatly increasing their chances of defeating the Black Dragon.
Ouranos had been waiting for an opportunity like this for a very long time.
"Yes, I possess resurrection magic. I can bring dead adventurers back to life."
Genichi spoke calmly, as though merely stating a fact.
"But there is a price. Every time I resurrect an adventurer, my stats are significantly weakened. The higher the adventurer's level, the greater the loss."
Ouranos's eyes lit up.
A reduction in stats?
What kind of price was that?
Stats could be trained back up. The Dungeon had no shortage of monsters, magic stones, or opportunities to improve one's abilities.
But those heroes, the warriors who had once stood at the very summit of Orario and fought against the Black Dragon, had to be resurrected as soon as possible.
Every minute of delay could cause the plan to defeat the Black Dragon to end in failure.
"What do you want?"
A trace of urgency entered Ouranos's voice.
"If you can resurrect those heroes, we can negotiate whatever price you desire."
Genichi looked at him, the corners of his lips curving upward slightly.
He knew that he now held Ouranos's greatest weakness in his hands.
This ancient god was willing to pay any price to defeat the Black Dragon.
And Genichi was the one person capable of helping him fulfill that wish.
"First, I want full access to the Guild's resources."
Genichi raised one finger.
"Every grimoire, magic item, rare material, and potion formula. If I consider it useful, I'll take it."
Ouranos frowned slightly, but said nothing.
The Guild's resources were precious, but compared to the resurrection of those heroes, they were insignificant.
"Second, I want you to owe me a favor. Not the Guild and not Ouranos as its leader. I want a favor from you personally."
Ouranos fell silent.
His golden eyes gleamed in the darkness as he considered and weighed the demand.
He understood exactly what Genichi meant. He wanted a personal promise from Ouranos, one of the oldest and most powerful beings in this world.
Such a promise was more valuable than any resource, spell, or material reward.
"Very well."
Ouranos finally spoke, his voice deep and resolute.
"I agree."
Genichi smiled.
It was a faint smile, yet it carried a strangely reassuring power.
"Then we have a deal."
Ouranos studied him, a complicated light flashing through his golden eyes.
This young man was extraordinary.
Not merely because he possessed resurrection magic, nor because he dared to bargain with a god, but because something about him felt both familiar and foreign to Ouranos.
It was divine authority.
Ouranos could sense an aura emanating from Genichi that should have belonged solely to the gods: the presence of one who commanded the laws of existence and looked down upon all living beings.
It was faint and unstable, but it undeniably existed.
Ouranos did not know how Genichi had acquired this authority, where it had come from, or what kind of being he truly was.
But he knew that this young man was no longer merely an adventurer.
He was a god in the making, an existence growing steadily toward divinity.
A complicated mixture of emotions welled up within Ouranos.
There was surprise, curiosity, and even a trace of indescribable anticipation.
"Genichi."
Ouranos's voice carried an unusual gentleness.
"Do you understand what the divine authority within you represents?"
Genichi looked at him and remained silent for a moment.
He knew exactly what Ouranos meant.
It was the authority he had gained after becoming the master of the throne in the World of the Dead, the power to govern vengeful spirits, Spirit Tamers, and life and death itself.
Of course he understood what it meant, but he did not answer. He merely watched Ouranos calmly and waited for him to continue.
"It means you possess the potential to become a god."
Ouranos spoke quietly, yet each word carried undeniable weight.
"Not an adventurer. Not a hero. A true god who commands one of the fundamental laws of existence. If you succeed, you will change everything."
Genichi looked at him, the corners of his lips rising slightly.
"I know."
Ouranos froze for a moment, then laughed.
It was a quiet laugh filled with relief, helplessness, and an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
"You know? Then you should also understand that becoming a god is no simple matter. Your authority must grow, its laws must be perfected, and your power must accumulate. You still have a long road ahead of you."
Genichi nodded.
"I know."
Ouranos remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
"I will help you. Not because of our deal, but because Orario needs you."
A complicated light flashed through Genichi's eyes.
He knew Ouranos was speaking sincerely.
This was not about resurrecting the heroes, nor was it about defeating the Black Dragon. It was about Orario's future.
This ancient god's feelings for Orario were genuine.
Otherwise, he never could have spent thousands of years seated before this underground altar, praying without rest to keep the Dungeon suppressed.
"Thank you."
Genichi's voice was quiet.
Ouranos shook his head.
"There is no need to thank me. This is something I must see through."
The two fell silent.
The underground altar became so quiet that a falling needle would have sounded deafening. Only the light from the magic-stone lamps remained, casting mottled shadows across the walls.
Fels stood nearby and watched them, an indescribable feeling rising within her.
She had lived for many years, yet she had never seen Ouranos treat an adventurer this way.
He was not commanding Genichi or demanding anything from him.
He was treating him as an equal.
"Then we should discuss the order of resurrection."
Genichi's voice broke the silence.
"The heroes of the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia cannot all be resurrected in a day or two. I'll need time and resources."
Ouranos nodded.
"Arrange matters however you see fit. If you need anything, tell me immediately."
Genichi nodded and turned to leave.
When he reached the entrance, he stopped and glanced back at Ouranos.
"Lord Ouranos."
"Yes?"
"If I truly become a god one day, how will you treat me?"
Ouranos looked at him and remained silent for a moment before smiling.
"I will treat you as an equal god. I will not look down on you because you were once an adventurer, nor will I fear you simply because you possess divine authority. You will always be yourself, Genichi."
Genichi looked at him, the corners of his lips rising slightly.
He said nothing more. He simply turned and left the underground altar.
Fels followed behind him, their footsteps echoing through the corridor.
Ouranos watched him disappear, a gleam passing through his eyes.
That young man would become a god.
It was not merely possible or probable.
It was certain.
Ouranos had a feeling that day would not be far away.
And when it finally came, Orario would enter an entirely new age.
(End of Chapter)
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