After resting for half a minute, Judas could finally move without feeling pain echoing through his body.
"Mister Judas... are you alright?"
Belle ran up to him, her voice laced with concern.
Her aura of purity and warmth stood in complete contrast to Alfia's cold and violent demeanor.
'How are these two even related?'
Judas couldn't help but wonder.
For Belle to remain this kind despite being raised by someone as extreme as Alfia was a miracle in itself.
'Or maybe this is just who Belle is... even in an alternate universe.'
Brushing off the dirt from his clothes, Judas stood and looked at Belle.
"I'm fine. And from now on, you can drop the 'Mister'—just call me Judas."
Belle's eyes lit up.
"T-Then... you can call me Belle as well..."
Her cheeks reddened as she smiled... a pure, bright smile.
"Alright, fair enough... Belle."
Judas nodded.
Watching their exchange, Alfia remained silent for a moment before stepping closer.
"Belle, ready your weapons. And you, my disciple... get in position. I'll be keeping a careful eye on both of your performances."
Alfia spoke with her arms crossed.
"Eh? I'm using real weapons?"
Belle asked with a puzzled look on her face.
"Stop asking stupid questions, or I'll beat you."
The reply was brief and cold.
Hearing that, Belle straightened up, her nervousness evident.
"Y-Yes, ma'am."
Her hands reached toward her waist, gripping the hilts of her daggers.
"For your sparring match today, I'm adding a condition," Alfia said.
Both Judas and Belle turned to her with raised brows.
"What is it?"
Judas asked curiously.
"If my niece manages to land a single hit, she wins."
Her calm tone made Belle freeze for a moment before turning to her in disbelief.
"Eh? Mother... what do you mean by that? Have some faith in me, will you?!"
Belle's voice carried both frustration and hurt.
She knew Judas was stronger her, but hearing her own relative set those terms stung... it sounded as if Alfia didn't believe in her at all.
Judas, however, understood it differently.
He immediately grasped the unspoken meaning behind Alfia's words.
Just from the few times he'd interacted with her, he already knew what kind of person Alfia was.
'On one hand, she set the condition to make things fair. But at the same time, she cleverly turned it into a trial for both Belle and me to overcome.'
Which meant one thing...
'Even if that chance is small, she believes Belle is capable of landing a hit on me.'
It was surprising... and almost absurd.
Judas Spade, a Level 2 adventurer, a full level higher than Belle.
Back when he was still Level 1, his stats had reached the realm of EX.
Even now, he possesses enough feats and stats to qualify for yet another level up.
Even without using magic, it should've been unthinkable for a beginner like Belle to pose any challenge.
Just landing a scratch should be impossible.
But when he looked at her... flustered yet determined... he remembered the time she fought against the Soma Familia and nearly wiped them out on her own.
Back then, he didn't think much of it.
He'd simply dismissed it as plot armor, the kind of mysterious power every protagonist seemed to have.
'Is she really that skilled... to the point that Alfia believes she could land a hit on me?'
He frowned.
Yet he knew that for someone of Alfia's caliber, her judgment was almost never wrong.
"Judas... please take care of me."
Belle's voice had changed.
She took her stance, twin daggers glinting in her hands.
And then... her aura shifted.
The nervousness in her eyes vanished, replaced by sharp focus.
'Huh?'
Judas's eyes widened slightly.
That sudden change in demeanor caught him off guard.
He could feel it... the presence of a warrior, something eerily reminiscent of Alfia herself.
It was as if Belle had become a smaller, softer version of her aunt.
Years of training and trials were etched into her body.
Even before the fight began, Judas could see it... the callouses on her hands, the steady rhythm of her breathing, and the lack of any opening in her stance.
'I see...'
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
'They are related after all.'
This was a different Belle Cranel... one shaped, hardened, and raised by the Silence of the Hera Familia.
"Let's have a good match, Belle."
Judas said as he took his stance.
A moment of silence passed.
A lone bird flew overhead, cutting across the sky before disappearing into the distance.
After sizing each other up for a few seconds—
'Now!'
'Now!'
They rushed forward at the same time.
Both were quick on their feet, but it was clear that Judas was faster.
By the time Belle took her third step, he was already in front of her.
But she had anticipated this. Her dagger swung forward in advance, slashing through the air.
Judas raised his arm, blocking the attack with his gauntlet.
The sharp clang of metal echoed between them.
Unfazed, Belle crouched low.
Her next strike came sweeping upward, followed by a feint to the side... her daggers flashing like silver streaks.
Clang!
Judas deflected both attacks with a single sweep of his arm, the gauntlet ringing sharply as steel met steel.
He countered with a short jab, forcing Belle to twist away, her boots skidding across the floor.
"Good reaction time."
He said calmly, watching her regain her balance.
Belle exhaled sharply and charged again.
Her movements were relentless... daggers dancing in rapid arcs as she aimed for his blind spots.
Judas blocked, parried, and sidestepped each strike with effortless precision, his calm expression betraying the storm of motion around him.
A sudden spin... Belle's heel sliced through the air, followed by twin blades aiming for his ribs.
Judas caught both strikes mid-flow, locking her wrists between his gauntlets.
Sparks flickered where metal scraped against metal.
Belle grit her teeth, pushing back with all her strength, but Judas twisted, disarming her with a smooth motion that sent one dagger flying into the ground.
'Oh no!'
Without taking her eyes off him, Belle jumped back to create distance.
Her hand reached toward the dagger that had fallen—
But before she could grab it, Judas was already there.
His foot struck out, kicking the weapon even farther away.
'He's so fast!'
Belle knew the truth.
The difference in their status made it clear from the start... she was at a disadvantage.
"What now, Belle?"
Judas asked calmly, his purple eyes watching her closely, curious to see her next move.
Behind her focused gaze, Belle's heartbeat quickened.
Just the thought of sparring... of being this close to her idol... filled her with joy.
But this wasn't the time to be a fangirl.
'Judas... I want to impress you. I want to make you and Mother proud.'
Most of all—
'After this, I want you to look at me...'
Not as a fellow adventurer, but as a girl.
She knew the Loki Familia was full of beautiful women, and right now, she wanted to leave an impression strong enough that he could never ignore her.
A small, burning wish ignited within her heart.
And because of that—
'I'll give it my all!'
----
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