93: A Few Wolf Hairs

Kevin came back to his senses after hearing the exclamation and subconsciously looked at Neil, the bird, standing by the window. Her wings were stretched out, covering her face in an oddly humanlike manner but leaving her eyes exposed. She was staring at him and Slude intently.

"Wait…"

Kevin's eyes widened as he turned to Neil and then back to Slude, who had a blush staining her face. She was clutching his hand, visibly flustered, and panting slightly.

Panicking, Kevin waved his hands at Neil, trying to explain. "It's not what it looks like, Neil! I can explain—"

Before he could finish, Kevin froze mid-sentence.

Wait. What am I even doing, explaining myself to a bird?

Meanwhile, Slude, still gasping, gradually regained her composure after Kevin's hand left her feather ornament. Her cheeks were still red, but her breathing steadied. Finally, she clenched her teeth and shot Kevin a glare filled with fury and embarrassment.

"Kevin…" Slude's voice trembled slightly, and Kevin instinctively braced himself. "You… you bastard!"

"Huh?" Kevin scratched his head awkwardly, his expression a mix of confusion and guilt. "But you didn't say your reaction would be so… dramatic."

Though his words were barely above a whisper, Slude's glare intensified, forcing Kevin to shut his mouth. He quickly lowered his head, his posture radiating guilt and silent surrender.

That said, Kevin couldn't help but think to himself: The feeling just now… was incredible.

Slude, however, was too mortified to process Kevin's internal musings. Angrily, she kicked him in the shin, causing him to yelp softly. Although her face was still flushed, her anger was evident.

Neil, witnessing the entire exchange, hopped onto the table and tilted her head curiously. "By the way… what exactly were you two doing?"

"Nothing!" Slude snapped, regaining control of her tone. She separated herself from Kevin and resumed her usual demeanor—aside from the faint blush that lingered on her face.

Kevin chimed in defensively, "I swear, I didn't do anything! I just touched the thing on her head. Don't even think about tattling to Master or Sister Hodel!"

Neil glanced at the feather ornament on Slude's head, her eyes narrowing knowingly.

Yep, that definitely seems like something Kevin would do.

"Do I look like the kind of bird who snitches?" Neil asked indignantly, though she clearly enjoyed teasing him.

Slude, having calmed down further, glared at Kevin with a mixture of exasperation and embarrassment. "Don't ever touch me like that again!"

"Hey!" Kevin protested, folding his arms. "You were the one who said I could touch you as long as I could beat you!"

"I thought you wanted to sleep with me!" Slude retorted, stomping her foot.

Kevin froze mid-protest, his eyes going wide.

Neil's jaw metaphorically dropped as she looked back and forth between the two. "Wait, what?!"

"I thought you wanted to sleep with me," Slude repeated matter-of-factly. "That's why I agreed."

Neil covered her face with her wings again. "Hold up. Let me get this straight. Kevin, you gave up the chance to sleep with her just to play with her feather ornament?"

Kevin's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water before he finally shouted, "I didn't know that was an option!"

He groaned in frustration, muttering to himself, "Can I go back and reconsider?"

Despite his flustered demeanor, Kevin wasn't entirely joking. He wasn't some kind of ascetic monk—he was just a man. Slude, being a Valkyrie, was undeniably beautiful, and he would have been lying if he claimed he wasn't tempted.

Still, Slude's feather ornament had caught his attention from the start, and curiosity had simply gotten the better of him.

"Anyway, no!" Slude exclaimed suddenly, as if regaining her resolve. She glanced at Neil before continuing, "I just remembered—Kevin, you still need to resist the charm of Lady Freya. I almost forgot! Yes, before you fully master that resistance, you must not… sleep with anyone. Especially not me!"

Kevin blinked, stunned. "Wait, that's the reason?"

"Huh?" Slude tilted her head in genuine confusion.

Kevin hesitated for a moment before asking tactfully, "So… if it weren't for that reason, would you have agreed?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Slude replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "You're a warrior. As long as you can defeat me and prove your bravery, why would I refuse?"

This left Kevin speechless. Neil, on the other hand, simply nodded along, as though it made perfect sense.

Although Kevin couldn't help but feel a pang of regret over the missed opportunity, he quickly shifted his focus. After all, the thrill of playing with Slude's feather ornament had been satisfying enough… for now.

Once the awkward atmosphere began to dissipate, Kevin turned to Slude with a more serious expression. "So… why are we heading to Midgard?"

Slude didn't ask Neil to leave, fully aware that the curious bird would follow them regardless. Instead, she began to explain.

Slude had an older sister—Brunhilde, the leader of the Valkyries. Kevin was familiar with the name; Brunhilde's tale was destined to become one of the most famous stories in all of Norse mythology.

"I've been in Asgard for a while now, but I've never heard anyone mention her," Kevin mused. "It's like… she's a taboo subject."

Slude nodded, her expression turning somber. "That's because she is. Brunhilde defied the Great God and was cast out of Asgard. She's no longer considered a god—or Odin's daughter."

As she recounted the story, Slude's voice softened. "I followed her to Midgard after she was exiled. When I asked her why she disobeyed Odin, she smiled at me… It was the most dazzling smile I'd ever seen. She said she had found something more important than orders—two warriors who embodied true bravery."

Slude paused, her gaze drifting toward Kevin. "Since then, I've always wondered what could be more important than Odin's orders. When Lord Balder told me about you, the Warrior of Erin, I thought… maybe I'd find the answer in you."

Kevin smiled gently. "Have you found it now?"

Slude hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Maybe. But I still want to meet her—to hear her thoughts directly."

Kevin rose from his seat and bowed slightly. "Then I'll gladly accompany you, Lady Slude. It would be an honor."

The next morning, Kevin and Slude informed Balder of their plans. The god of light took the news in stride, granting his blessing with a lazy smile.

"Go early and come back soon," he said, waving them off. "And remember to tell Hodel and Fenrir before you leave."

Their first stop was the forest where Fenrir lived. Upon their arrival, the massive silver-haired wolf greeted them eagerly.

"Why are you here so early today?" Fenrir asked, tilting his head.

Kevin smiled. "We're heading to Midgard for a bit. Is Hodel here?"

"Yes," Fenrir replied, wagging his tail. "And Skadi is here too."

As they chatted, Fenrir suddenly plucked a few silver hairs from his head and handed them to Kevin without explanation.

Kevin stared at the hairs in surprise. "What's this for?"

Fenrir turned his head away, pretending to be indifferent. "You might need them. Just take them."

Though puzzled, Kevin accepted the gift with gratitude. He knew well enough that Fenrir's wolf hairs carried great power—and even greater meaning.

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