After waiting for Laguna to compose herself, Jane—the Almighty God known as Canalis—delved into the queen's memories.
"...Hmm. So, being left behind by Lilia has been your primary concern lately?"
"It seems one cannot keep secrets from a God. Yes, it is exactly as you say. Lady Lilia and I are currently close enough to hold mock battles once a month. We are supposed to be rivals, growing together as we sharpen our skills... No, there is no point in trying to dress it up."
Since her companion was an Almighty God who had already seen into her mind, deception was a wasted effort. This realization allowed the feelings Laguna had suppressed deep within her heart to finally spill out.
When Lilia grew significantly during the battle in the God Realm, reaching a level where she could compete on equal terms, Laguna had been genuinely thrilled. As the woman known as the Strongest in the Human Realm, Laguna had never encountered another person of the Human Race who could stand as her peer. While there were plenty of Demons and other beings who were her equal or superior, Lilia was the first human to ever reach Laguna's domain.
That fact had filled her with joy. She had devoted herself to training more than ever before, relishing the thrill of a back-and-forth rivalry where they constantly overtook one another.
"...However, Lady Lilia and I are operating under vastly different conditions. She is still in a stage of development, hasn't even reached her prime, and possesses a terrifying amount of potential that allows her to improve at a staggering pace every day. But I am different. I am roughly eighteen hundred years old. While I am a mere youngster compared to the higher-ranking Demons or Gods, I have spent a very long time honing my craft. Humankind is generally gifted with superior growth speeds, which is why I was eventually able to push my strength to the Count-class level."
"..."
Jane listened in silence, taking care not to interrupt Laguna’s flow.
"I reached my growth limit a long time ago. I won't say I have no room left to improve, nor that there are no elements left to develop. But the day is coming soon when my growth will stop entirely, and I will no longer be able to keep pace with Lady Lilia's progress. In truth, I have already fallen behind. I am only keeping up appearances through experience and technique, but even that is reaching its limit."
"And that limit has manifested as a worry born of impatience?"
"Yes. I know it is a selfish thing to fret over. I am well aware that I am likely one of the most talented individuals in the history of the Human Race... but it is still frustrating. To think that I finally found a rival, only to watch the gap between us widen for the rest of time..."
Laguna couldn't say exactly when it had started, but she had felt the shadow of her own ceiling for a while. She had hit the wall that stood at the end of a lifetime of training. She hadn't wanted to admit it. Refusing to accept that her growth was ending, she had only intensified her efforts.
Yet, the harder she worked, the more clearly she saw that her growth limit was near. If she stopped her training, Lilia would leave her in the dust in the blink of an eye. She had no choice but to keep charging toward a wall she knew she couldn't break. This was Laguna’s greatest burden.
"I see, I see. It really is a lonely thing to be left behind by a rival. In that case, let’s go with that after all!"
"...Eh?"
"I mean your gift. Let's see... remaking your entire existence to match Lilia’s talent and growth speed would be a bit much... so, how about this? I can extend your growth limit and give your growth rate a little boost. That should be fine. Just wait a second while I get permission from Shallow Vernal... Yes... uh-huh, something like that... Eh? You want food for lovers that doesn't exist in this world? I mean, I can make that... Sure, if that's all it takes, then it's no problem. Alright, deal."
After casually announcing her plan to resolve Laguna's existential crisis, Jane contacted Shallow Vernal, the God of the World, and secured permission.
Then, her expressionless face remained as she spoke in a gentle tone.
"Alright, the paperwork is done, so I'll get this finished lickety-split... and there, all done!"
"Huh? Ah, um..."
"I've raised your growth limit and adjusted your growth rate. Taha! Sorry for a reward that’s so hard to actually feel. To make up for it, I'll give you a spear I crafted as a bonus. It doesn't have any flashy special effects; it’s just incredibly durable and conducts magic power perfectly. Taha! Sorry it isn't some legendary Artifact. If I wanted to go that far, I'd need to file more permits with Shallow Vernal, so please forgive me!"
Faced with Jane’s bright, expressionless chatter, Laguna simply stared, her mind unable to process the divine intervention that had just occurred.
[Laguna's growth limit increased slightly (Almighty God standard)]
[Laguna's growth rate increased slightly (Almighty God standard)]
[Laguna obtained a spear that is durable (does not break even with universe-destroying scale attacks) and easy to pass magic power through (100% transmission rate)]
Serious-senpai: "The Almighty God standard is terrifying, but what's even more terrifying is the fact that Lilia's talent and growth rate are still higher... As expected of a World-level Bug."