36. Celebration and Spar

The Hostess of Fertility was as lively as ever, filled with the chatter of adventurers, the clinking of mugs, and the enticing aroma of freshly prepared meals.

Tonight, two Familias gathered to celebrate—Loki Familia and Hestia Familia.

For Loki Familia, it was another victory against Evilus. For Hestia Familia, it was a more personal celebration—Orcbolg had reached Level 2.

Sitting beside her child, Hestia puffed out her chest with pride, her smug grin practically glowing.

"Ehehe~! My child broke the fastest Level 2 record! Take that, Loki!"

Across from her, Loki snorted.

"Pfft, don't get cocky, Big Boobs Runt."

Hestia twitched.

"B-Big Boobs Runt?!"

Loki grinned mischievously. "Yeah. You've got the chest of a goddess but the height of a gremlin. Pretty funny contrast, don'tcha think?"

Hestia slammed the table. "You damn flat-chested goblin, say that again!"

She lunged at Loki, attempting to grab her face, but the mischievous goddess leaned back, laughing.

Loki, however, wasn't one to lose in an insult match. Smirking, she shot back, "Oh yeah? Well, at least I ain't a lonely goddess clinging to her only child like a needy mother!"

Hestia gasped, offended beyond words. "W-Who are you calling needy?!"

The banter between the two goddesses escalated, drawing amused looks from the adventurers around them.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the table…

Orcbolg sat with his usual calm expression, watching their antics before turning back to his drink.

Next to him, Ais Wallenstein took a sip of her own, then turned toward him.

"You leveled up fast," she said.

Orcbolg met her gaze. "…So I've been told."

Ais tilted her head slightly. "Six months… that's faster than me."

There was no jealousy—just curiosity. She wasn't one to care about records, but seeing someone else grow at such a pace intrigued her.

"I trained a lot," Orcbolg replied simply.

Ais nodded. Then, without hesitation, she asked—

"Do you want to spar?"

Orcbolg blinked. "…Spar?"

Ais stared at him, unwavering. "I want to see how strong you are."

Orcbolg considered it. He didn't mind sparring, and Ais was undoubtedly strong. Testing himself against her… it would be interesting.

Before he could answer—

"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!"

Hestia suddenly jumped between them, grabbing onto Orcbolg's arm and pressing herself against him protectively.

Her goddess instincts were screaming.

She had seen this before. She knew where this was going!

First, they spar. Then, they train together. THEN THEY BOND.

And before she knew it—Ais would be stealing her child away!

She clung to Orcbolg tighter. "You can't just go asking my child to spar like that! What if he gets hurt?!"

Orcbolg: "I won't."

Hestia: "You're not helping!"

Ais blinked at Hestia's reaction but didn't seem fazed. "…Then, later?"

Orcbolg nodded. "Alright."

Hestia's soul left her body.

IT WAS HAPPENING.

Loki, who had been watching from the side, grinned devilishly.

"Oh ho~? What's this? Could it be that Miss Boing-Boing is feeling jealous~?"

Hestia turned red. "SHUT UP, YOU DAMN DRUNKARD ELF!"

But then—Loki's grin twitched.

She narrowed her eyes, leaning on the table as she looked between Ais and Orcbolg.

"…Actually, hold up. Ais, you don't need to spar with this guy."

Ais blinked. "Why?"

Loki clicked her tongue. "Tch. I don't like it. You should stick to training with Bete or Riveria. This guy's an outsider."

It wasn't just teasing anymore—Loki genuinely didn't approve.

Ais frowned slightly, tilting her head. "But he's strong."

Loki crossed her arms. "Ain't the point! I just got a bad feelin' about this. Who knows what kinda weird habits he's got?"

Ais, unfazed, turned back to Orcbolg. "…So when can we spar?"

Orcbolg shrugged. "Whenever."

Loki facepalmed.

They completely ignored her.

Hestia, however, wasn't ignoring it.

Her goddess instincts and Loki's intuition were telling her the same thing.

Orcbolg and Ais bonding was dangerous.

She just didn't know why yet.

And so, the banter continued, the tavern lively with laughter, teasing, and the ever-growing connections between adventurers.

---------

A Secluded Forest Clearing – Outside Orario

The soft rustling of leaves filled the quiet forest. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground. This was a secluded spot, far from the bustling city of Orario—where one could focus only on battle.

Orcbolg stood with his sword and shield in hand, his gaze locked on Ais Wallenstein.

Ais had chosen this place for their spar. She had trained here before—alone—but today, she was here with him.

There were no spectators.

Just the two of them.

Ais stood with her sword at the ready, her golden hair swaying gently. Her expression was calm but focused.

"…Ready?" she asked.

Orcbolg nodded, adjusting his stance. His shield was raised, sword positioned for quick counters.

A breeze passed between them.

Ais vanished.

—Fast!

Orcbolg barely had time to react before she was already upon him.

His shield came up instinctively.

CLANG!

Ais' blade slammed into his defense, sending a sharp vibration up his arm. The sheer impact forced him back a step.

But he held firm.

Ais' golden eyes flickered with interest as she leaped back, resetting her stance. "Good reaction."

Orcbolg didn't respond. He couldn't afford to—not against her.

Ais Wallenstein. Level 6.

The gap between them was immense.

Yet—

He would not fall easily.

Ais lunged again, her movements fluid and precise. This time, she didn't aim for his shield—she went low.

Orcbolg twisted his body, dodging the thrust aimed at his leg. At the same time, he brought his sword down in a quick counter.

Ais deflected it with ease, spinning to the side and delivering a swift kick.

He blocked with his shield—but the force sent him skidding back.

She was holding back.

And yet, she was still overwhelming.

Orcbolg took a breath, resetting his stance. He needed to change tactics.

His grip on his sword tightened.

Ais watched him, her expression unreadable.

"…Again," she said.

Orcbolg charged.

This time, he took the offensive.

The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through the forest.

Orcbolg pressed forward, his sword striking in controlled, calculated movements. Each swing was meant to test Ais—to find an opening.

Ais, however, was faster.

Her golden eyes remained focused as she dodged his blade with minimal effort, her body weaving through his attacks with inhuman precision.

Then—

She countered.

A sharp downward slash came at him with terrifying speed.

Orcbolg barely managed to raise his shield in time—

CLANG!

The impact rattled his bones, forcing him onto one knee.

Even when holding back…

She was still this strong.

But he did not falter.

He refused to.

With a grunt, he pushed forward, using his shield to shove Ais back. She leaped away effortlessly, landing lightly on her feet.

She was studying him. Analyzing him.

Orcbolg exhaled. He needed a plan.

If he fought her head-on, he would lose. No matter how skilled he was, no matter how much experience he had—the level gap was too great.

He had to fight his way.

Ais darted forward again, blade flashing in the sunlight.

Orcbolg didn't retreat. He met her charge head-on.

At the last second, he twisted his body—redirecting her strike with his shield instead of blocking it outright.

Ais' blade slid past him, missing its mark.

He saw his opening.

Orcbolg lashed out with his sword, aiming for her exposed side—

But Ais reacted instantly.

She twisted her body mid-air, using her momentum to bring her sword back around.

Orcbolg was forced to block again.

CLANG!

The force of her strike sent him skidding back.

He exhaled, gripping his sword tighter.

Ais stood a few meters away, her expression still unreadable.

"…You're strong," she said suddenly.

Orcbolg narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Ais tilted her head. "Your fighting style. It's… unique. Not exactly powerful, but you know where and when you need to strike and defense. You never miss a singel opening."

He didn't respond.

Ais continued, her voice quiet.

"It's like you're used to fighting something else. Something… different from what I've seen."

Orcbolg remained silent.

She wasn't wrong.

She was strong. Stronger than anything he had ever fought before.

And yet—

This fight felt different.

Goblin nests. Fortified lairs. Dark caves filled with monsters lurking in the shadows.

That was the world he had come from.

Not this. Not open fields and duels between adventurers.

Even so…

He was enjoying this.

For the first time in his life, he was fighting without hatred.

He wasn't here to slay. He was here to grow.

Ais raised her sword again.

"…One more round?"

Orcbolg exhaled, adjusting his stance.

"…Again," he said.

And the fight resumed.

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the treetops. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, filling the air with the scent of grass and earth.

Orcbolg sat on a fallen log, carefully inspecting his sword. The edge was still sharp, but he ran his whetstone along the blade anyway—more out of habit than necessity. Across from him, Ais Wallenstein sat on a rock, her golden eyes gazing at the sky.

Neither spoke at first.

The spar had been intense but satisfying. They had tested each other's strength, skill, and endurance. Ais had been holding back, of course—but that didn't make the match meaningless.

Eventually, Ais broke the silence.

"…I'll say this again, you're strong."

Orcbolg paused his work and looked at her.

"I just have experience," he said.

Ais shook her head slightly. "It's not just that. You… learning my movement. And make a way to counter attack in short time."

Orcbolg smirked faintly. "So do you."

Ais tilted her head.

"You don't hesitate," he continued. "Most adventurers do. Even the strong ones. They second-guess, hold back, think too much." He slid his sword back into its sheath. "You don't."

Ais was quiet for a moment before nodding.

"…Riveria says I rush forward too much," she admitted.

"She's probably right," Orcbolg said.

Ais blinked at him. Then, unexpectedly, a small smile tugged at her lips.

The wind carried the faint laughter of distant adventurers. The city of Orario wasn't far, but out here, beneath the open sky, it felt much farther.

Ais looked up again. "I like this place."

Orcbolg followed her gaze. The sky stretched endlessly above them, a deepening shade of blue as twilight set in.

"…It's quiet," he said.

Ais nodded.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Then, Ais turned to him.

"You leveled up in six months," she said, her voice calm but curious. "It took me a year."

Orcbolg didn't deny it. It was a fact. But in his heart, he thought Ais was more amazing.

"You reached Level 2 when you were eight," he said simply.

Ais blinked, caught off guard by the statement. She hadn't expected him to bring that up.

"That's… different," she said.

Orcbolg shook his head. "Not really." He looked down at his hands. "You decided to fight monsters when you were just a child. I—" His fingers curled slightly. "When I was a child, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't fight. I couldn't save her."

Ais didn't ask who her was. She could tell it wasn't something he wanted to talk about.

She wasn't sure what to say, either.

She wasn't used to being praised.

"…Thank you," she said at last.

Orcbolg didn't respond immediately. He only looked at her, then back at his sword.

Even though their worlds were different, the fact remained.

Ais had chosen to fight. He hadn't been able to.

He admired her for it.

But a part of him… also envied her.

What if he had her courage at that time?

What if he decided to fight at that time, instead of hiding?

What if.....

Orcbolg shake his head. Because he knew, even if he has the courage, even if he decided to fight, he can't win. He just gonna die infront of her sister.

In the end, it just pointless thought.

Then, after a long pause, Ais stood. "I should go back."

Orcbolg stood as well, adjusting the straps of his shield.

Ais hesitated for a brief moment before turning to him again.

"…Will you spar with me again?"

Orcbolg glanced at her.

He thought about the fight—the way she moved, the way she struck. She had been testing him, just as he had been testing her.

"…Yeah," he said. "Anytime."

Ais nodded in satisfaction.

Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the fading light.

Orcbolg watched her go before exhaling softly.

He glanced at the sky once more.

At this moment, they both felt it.

They were no longer just acquaintances.

They had become friends.