"That's—"
Before Charlie could explain, Ais's confident voice cut in.
"You've grown even stronger."
Ais observed him without blinking.
His growth wasn't just rapid—it was extraordinary. For someone like her, who craved strength for revenge, she was deeply envious and curious about how Charlie managed to become stronger each time they met.
"Just a little. My swordsmanship improved thanks to an epiphany during training." Charlie replied humbly.
Hearing this, Ais's eyes sparkled. "Let's spar. Maybe seeing your swordsmanship will change something for me."
"Ahem, Ais, don't get too excited." Finn interjected, clearing his throat to remind them. He was surprised to see the two so absorbed in their own world, ignoring everyone around them.
"I'm just an adventurer carrying out a Guild-issued Quest. For the details, Finn, ask Perseus." Charlie casually deflected the troublesome task to Asfi and the others.
"So, Perseus, can you explain what's going on that led to gods entering the Dungeon?" Finn turned to Asfi, demanding answers.
"Alright, I'll tell you everything." With her calm demeanor, Asfi began explaining the entire situation.
While Asfi and Finn spoke, Hestia approached Ais, her voice filled with worry.
"Where's Bell?"
"Bell? He's over there."
With her characteristic flat expression, Ais pointed to a tent.
"Bell!"
Hestia rushed into the tent, and soon, emotional sobs and joyful cries echoed as she found Bell safe.
Mikoto, Ouka, Chigusa, and the other Takemikazuchi Familia members hurried to check the tent, ensuring Bell was alright.
"So that's how it is. Still, breaking the rules is wrong. What if other gods follow suit and sneak into the Dungeon? Hermes-sama, please don't repeat such reckless actions. We don't know the consequences of gods entering the Dungeon."
Finn sighed helplessly, verbally reprimanding Hermes. He was genuinely worried that the presence of gods could trigger a backlash from the Dungeon.
"Haha… This was a special case, no next time. Probably." Hermes chuckled without a hint of guilt.
"Come on, Charlie, fight me." Without waiting for approval, Ais grabbed Charlie's hand, dragging him away from the camp to a wider area.
This intimate action left Loki Familia's members stunned. It was rare to see the aloof Sword Princess take the initiative to hold a man's hand.
The sight was like a dream that broke the hearts of many male adventurers, including Bete.
Loki Familia's members were shocked by Ais and Charlie's intimate interaction. It was incredibly rare to see someone like Ais, a Level 6 adventurer known as the Sword Princess, take the initiative to hold a man's hand. Many men felt heartbroken, though they knew from the start they had no chance of a romantic relationship with Ais. Still, hope lingered in their hearts.
"That bastard…!"
Clenching his fists until his veins bulged, Bete's blood boiled as he restrained himself from starting a fight.
It wasn't just the men who were hurt. A lesbian elf—Lefiya—was also suffering. She bit her handkerchief, her eyes fixed on Ais and Charlie walking away.
"Ais-san… What's so great about Charlie Avalon? He doesn't have much going for him except being a bit handsome and strong…"
"Lefiya, don't you realize those are qualities? What woman doesn't like a handsome and strong man? Sigh, I'd love to get close to Charlie too, but I give up. I don't want to compete with Ais."
Beside her, Tiona rolled her eyes at Lefiya's complaints. As one of Loki Familia's executives and a Level 5 adventurer, she was an Amazoness, and desiring the seed of strong men was an innate trait of her race.
Only her older sister, Tione, was an anomaly, fixated solely on Loki Familia's captain, Finn.
Though Tiona wasn't as promiscuous as most Amazonesses, it didn't change her nature of desiring strong men as partners.
"If life is a misery competition, as long as someone's worse off than me, I'm fine." Lefiya muttered to herself, realizing how miserable Bete must be. She couldn't help feeling sympathy. However, she didn't dare show it, knowing Bete's high pride would only make things worse if he noticed her pity.
(If Bete knew Ais-san and Charlie had done things married couples do, who knows what he'd do.)
Lefiya could already imagine Bete turning Berserker from jealousy and envy.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Many Loki Familia members decided to watch the spar between Ais and Charlie. Even the executives—Riveria, Finn, Gareth, Tiona, and Tione—were intrigued, wanting to witness Charlie's mysterious strength firsthand.
The camp fell silent, all eyes fixed on the two.
"I feel like an animal in a zoo." Charlie sighed, slightly uncomfortable with the attention from the surrounding Loki Familia members.
"Zoo? What's that?" Ais asked, drawing her rapier, Desperate. The term was unfamiliar to her.
"A zoo is a place where animals are kept in artificial environments and displayed to the public… Forget it." Charlie shook his head. "Even if I explain, we wouldn't find a zoo in this world."
He realized how limited entertainment was in this world.
*KRRRSHHH!*
White mist appeared in his palm due to an extreme temperature shift, quickly forming a beautiful ice sword.
"I'm ready. Attack whenever you want, Ais."
"…"
To ordinary eyes, Charlie's stance seemed full of openings, but Ais sensed an invisible pressure. She knew that behind his relaxed posture lay immense power ready to erupt.
*WHOOSH!*
Without warning, Ais charged. She didn't run—she shot forward. Her body became a silver blur, imperceptible to the naked eye. Only the whistling wind slicing through the air served as a clue.
In an instant, Desperate darted, targeting Charlie's neck with terrifying speed. But Charlie's ice sword moved first, parrying the blade with absolute precision.
*CLANG!*
The clash of metal echoed, but Ais didn't stop. She spun, swinging Desperate in a complex arc, then thrust at Charlie's heart, followed immediately by another thrust at his stomach.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
Each attack was a perfected movement, honed and repeated until it became instinct.
*CLANG!* *CLING!* *CLANG!* *CLING!*
Charlie didn't move from his spot. His feet stayed rooted, his body only slightly shifting to the side. His ice sword was the only part of him that danced.
With minimal movements, the icy blade parried every one of Ais's attacks, creating sparks and a continuous clanging of metal. He didn't counter, only defended, as if he already knew Ais's attacks before her blade moved.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
Ais intensified her assault, unleashing thrust after thrust at increasing speed. Nine thrusts in a second, ten, eleven… she searched for a nonexistent opening.
*CLANG!* *CLING!* *CLANG!* *CLING!*
With a calm expression, Charlie parried them all. In his eyes, Ais's rapid attacks seemed to slow, giving him ample time to react.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
*CLANG!* *CLING!* *CLANG!* *CLING!*
Desperate and the ice sword clashed in a dance, but only one side led.
Ais attacked with all her might, while Charlie merely defended, maintaining his serene expression.