Phaethon continued, his voice calm yet resonant, as if imbued with the power to see through all things.
"I also know the future that was originally destined in your world."
"Destined… future?"
Kanae's eyes widened in shock, as if she wanted to peer into the soul of the god before her. She quickly asked, urgently:
"Then… if I had really died, would my sister—Shinobu—would she have done what I hoped? Quit the Demon Slayer Corps and lived a peaceful, happy life?"
But Phaethon's response was cold and direct:
"No."
He stated the cruel future with clarity:
"After your death, your sister, Shinobu Kocho, was determined to avenge you.
She inherited your role and your will… and in the end, she too died at the hands of the same demon who gravely wounded you."
"!!!"
Phaethon's words struck like a bolt from a clear sky. The brutal truth crushed Kanae's heart.
Overwhelming grief consumed her. Tears burst from her eyes uncontrollably.
She couldn't accept it—the little sister she loved most, fated to such a tragic end.
As Kanae was overwhelmed by sorrow, Phaethon's voice rose again—this time with a turn of hope.
"But the future is not unchangeable."
He looked directly at Kanae, her vision blurred with tears, and said slowly, with emphasis:
"As long as you become strong enough—gain power far beyond what you once had—
you can slay Dōma with your own hands.
You could even eradicate every demon in your world and reshape fate, not only for yourself but for your sister as well.
You could restore true order to your entire world."
Kanae instinctively raised her head. Her tear-filled eyes trembled, her voice choked but urgent:
"Become stronger…? How… how do I become strong?"
To this, Phaethon smiled gently and offered her a path forward:
"It's simple—become my family, Kanae."
Kanae was momentarily stunned and confused by the invitation.
Family…? What did he mean?
In her world, "family" meant those bound by blood—by love and support.
But she and this god had only just met, strangers by all accounts.
Moreover, she was merely a mortal—how could she be worthy of being called the "family" of a god?
The sudden closeness overwhelmed her, filling her with nervousness and a touch of awe.
She didn't understand—why would this divine being treat her with such regard?
As if sensing her unease, Phaethon gently shook his head, his eyes clear and unclouded.
"You don't need to overthink it, Kanae. I treat everyone equally. And 'family'—it simply means becoming a member of my Familia."
He paused, then began explaining the world's structure.
"In this world, gods bestow blessings upon mortals to help awaken their potential.
Together, they fight monsters in the Dungeon to grow stronger.
Those who receive a god's blessing become members of that god's Familia—living, adventuring, and growing like a true family."
Phaethon went on to explain the mechanics of the Falna—the divine blessing—and how adventuring in the Dungeon would allow her to raise her stats and level up.
Through accumulated achievements, she could gain strength that transformed her from the core.
"This… is how you become stronger."
He concluded:
"As long as you continue to level up, your strength will surpass anything from your original world.
At that point, defeating the demon who wounded you—or even cleansing all demons from your world—will no longer be impossible."
Hearing this—hearing that she could gain the power to change not only her own fate but her sister's as well—rekindled the light in Kanae's sorrowful eyes.
That tragic future… she would never accept it!
For her sister—for all those who had suffered at the hands of demons—she had to seize this chance!
"I understand, my lord!"
Kanae took a deep breath, her gaze firm and unwavering.
"Please let me join your Familia—let me become your family!"
Seeing her unwavering resolve, Phaethon smiled in satisfaction.
He nodded and motioned for her to follow.
They headed to a room on the second floor. Phaethon pointed to a bed and said gently:
"Then let's begin the ritual to grant you my blessing. Kanae, lie face-down on the bed, remove your outerwear, and expose your back."
"Eh?"
At those words, Kanae's fair cheeks flushed a soft crimson.
In all her years, she had never been in such close proximity to a man.
Let alone undressing in front of one—exposing her back—it made her feel shy and flustered beyond belief.
Her heart pounded wildly, filled with nervousness… and a strange, unfamiliar anticipation.
But for the sake of changing her fate, she suppressed her embarrassment.
Trembling slightly, she obediently lay down on the soft bed.
Slowly, she removed her haori and uniform top, revealing a smooth, flawless back—like it had been carved from the finest white jade.