60: Well, it’s cute.

"Wait!"

Although Kevin was thoroughly enjoying the fight, he maintained a level head. He noticed that the magic sword Fragarach at his waist had begun to stir. Observing Tyr assuming an unknown stance, Kevin quickly called a halt.

"Hm?" Tyr paused, his gathered magic dissipating slightly. "What's wrong?"

For Tyr, sparring was an excellent way to connect with another warrior. After an exhilarating hour of combat, he had already developed a strong respect for Kevin.

Kevin hesitated, then dropped the spear in his hand. Drawing Fragarach, he held it aloft and said, "This is Fragarach, a gift from my father, Luger, the God of Light and the Sun. It's one of the four secret treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

"It has the ability to strike first after being attacked. If the wielder is targeted by a special skill, it negates the ability, reverses cause and effect, and automatically counters the attacker." Kevin sighed awkwardly. "It's passive, and completely out of my control."

Tyr froze in realization, as did the warriors and Valkyries watching the match.

Kevin's words were clear: if Tyr had continued and activated a special move, Fragarach might have killed him outright. And given the weapon's legendary reputation, no one could deny the possibility.

Seeing Tyr relax his stance and fully dissipate his gathered magic, Kevin exhaled in relief. He had deliberately explained the situation to avoid Tyr's pride as a god pushing him to test the sword's ability. The consequences, even if not fatal, could have been catastrophic.

Feeling the tension subside, Kevin became aware of the growing crowd around him. Subconsciously glancing at the onlookers, he was startled to see a gathering of burly warriors in elaborate armor, all staring at him with intrigue.

"Who is he? He looks so frail, like a girl, but he just fought Lord Tyr head-on!"

"I don't know, but isn't he the son of a god from that... Irene Continent or something? The Valkyrie mentioned it a few days ago."

"He's brave, I'll give him that. But are all their warriors so... delicate-looking? I don't think I could bring myself to fight someone like him!"

"Delicate? More like cute. I kind of want to knock him out and take him home!"

"Yeah... it's cute, though."

Kevin's mouth twitched as he listened to the loud, unabashed voices of the warriors. He felt several black lines appear on his forehead but forced himself to remain calm.

"Yeah, it's cute," Tyr suddenly added with a teasing smile.

The surrounding warriors erupted in laughter, nodding in agreement.

Neil, perched on Slude's shoulder, burst into peals of laughter. "Hahaha! I knew it! I knew this would happen!" she exclaimed, flapping her wings in delight. "It's so worth it to follow him here!"

Slude, meanwhile, tilted her head and asked, "Are all warriors from the Irene Continent like Kevin?"

Neil stopped laughing just long enough to reply. "Of course not! The warriors there are just like your brutes!" she said, pointing a wing at the gawking onlookers. "Kevin's special. Why, his brothers once tried to give him a sex-changing potion when he was little!"

"...A sex-changing potion?"

The three Valkyries present—Slude, Ortlinde, and Hildrede—stared at Kevin in shock, their eyes flicking between him and Neil as they tried to process the information.

Kevin, who overheard, sighed and shot a glare at Neil. The Valkyries, however, began nodding to themselves as if silently agreeing with the sentiment.

"Well," Slude said after a pause, "it's not entirely wrong. He is..." She glanced at Kevin, her expression softening. "...a little cute."

After the lighthearted commotion, Tyr dismissed the onlookers. Kevin, meanwhile, introduced himself more formally to Ortlinde and Hildrede, who were sisters to Slude. Despite their curiosity about Kevin, they soon left, citing pressing duties.

With the crowd dispersed, Tyr turned back to Kevin. "So, what brings you to me, Kevin? What is it you seek?"

"I'd like to meet Fenrir," Kevin replied earnestly.

Tyr's expression darkened slightly. "Fenrir?" He studied Kevin closely. "Are you sure you want to meet him?"

"Yes," Kevin said firmly.

"Why?"

Kevin hesitated, then smiled faintly. "No particular reason."

Kevin's vague answer left both Tyr and Slude puzzled. After exchanging a glance, Tyr finally sighed. "Alright. I'll arrange for you to meet him."

"Really?" Kevin's eyes lit up.

"Yes," Tyr said, smiling faintly. "The battle we just shared earned you that right."

Kevin felt a surge of gratitude but also a renewed sense of curiosity about Fenrir. His knowledge of the wolf came from Norse myths in his previous life, where Fenrir was portrayed as the Earth-Shaking Monster, bound by the gods using the magical chain Gleipnir.

What struck Kevin about the tale was Fenrir's trust in Tyr, the only god who treated him kindly. Fenrir allowed himself to be bound, believing Tyr's assurances, only to realize too late that it was a trap.

Despite the prophecy foretelling Fenrir would kill Odin during Ragnarok, the gods chose not to slay him outright, deeming it dishonorable.

The contradictions in Fenrir's story always intrigued Kevin. He felt a strange empathy for the wolf and was eager to see the creature firsthand.

As Tyr and Slude led him toward the place where Fenrir was bound, Kevin couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and unease.

Behind him, Neil sat silently on Slude's shoulder, her earlier cheer replaced with a contemplative gaze.

"Fenrir," Kevin thought as the landscape shifted around them, the air growing heavier. "Let's see what you're really like."

His journey had only just begun, but the trials ahead promised to be far more dangerous—and far more revealing—than he had ever anticipated.

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