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"What a strange human."
Thoru looked at Max with surprise.
Most people would've been terrified—or at least stunned—after hearing about challenging a god.
But this guy? His reaction was just: "Oh, really?"
It wasn't bravado. He just genuinely didn't seem to care.
"What are you going to do now?" Max asked, meeting her eyes again.
"I… don't know."
Thoru hesitated, a faint confusion flickering across her eyes.
She'd challenged a god for the sake of freedom—and failed miserably.
She barely escaped, wounded by the god's divine sword. Under the god's will, her injuries refused to heal. She'd already accepted death.
And then Max appeared… and saved her.
So what now?
Return to her world and keep wandering?
Train until she was strong enough to challenge a god again?
She didn't know. Not at all.
After brushing so close to death, Thoru had started to doubt some of her old convictions.
Now, she just felt lost.
She looked like a confused kitten.
…No, a confused little dragon.
Seeing the lost look on her face, Max suddenly said, "In that case, Thoru, how about you become my so—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
"…Sorry, wrong line."
He gave an awkward laugh, then smiled sincerely.
"Thoru, how about becoming my personal maid?"
"Personal… maid?"
Thoru narrowed her eyes slightly.
This human actually wanted her, a dragon, to be his subordinate?That took guts.
"Yeah, personal maid." Max nodded.
He smiled and continued, "From now on, we'll live together. We'll rely on each other."
"Your problems will be my problems."
"We'll face everything together—no matter what comes."
"Even if we have to fight gods again, I'll go with you."
"So, Thoru… will you?"
He held out his hand, smiling, patiently waiting for her answer.
Thoru stared at him, silent.
His words hit her heart like a stone dropped into calm water—sending ripples across her mind.
Her emotions tangled together: hesitation, curiosity, warmth.
In the end, hesitation won.
After a moment, she relaxed her furrowed brow and said quietly, "I need some time to think."
Maybe it was because he'd saved her life.Or because she hadn't sensed any malice from him—only kindness, and a strange fondness.Or maybe… it was because of the way he said those words.
Whatever the reason, Thoru realized something—she didn't actually dislike Max.
"Alright. I'll wait," he said, smiling as he withdrew his hand.
She hadn't said no.
That meant she wasn't against the idea.
Then he asked, "I'm heading home. What about you, Thoru?"
"…I'll wander a bit."
Her eyes flickered, and after a pause, she gave her answer.
She wanted to explore this world—to see how it differed from her own,and to think things through.
"Okay. Stay safe."
"…Mm."
For a brief moment, something unreadable flashed in Thoru's eyes.
Then she cast a transformation spell, returning to her true form—a majestic dragon.
Her enormous body shimmered in the sunlight, black wings small but elegant as they fluttered gently.
A faint red glow rippled across her scales—a concealment spell.
She looked down at Max one last time.
He smiled and waved.
Thoru turned away, beat her wings, and soared into the sky until she vanished over the horizon.
When she was gone, Max surrounded himself with a barrier, activated his Silver Sanctuary, and flew home.
On the way, he opened his Universal Archive.
Item Name: Dragon-Slayer Holy Sword.
Grade: Purple.
Description: Manifestation of divine will.
Obtained by: "A Knight Never Dies Empty-Handed."
Note: Unique entry. Similar items will no longer be recorded.
"…Purple rank?"
Max blinked in surprise.
It was shocking enough that the divine sword could even be archived—but its rank being purple made it even crazier.
Same level as Akashiya Moka.
Of course, even within the same rank, value differed.
Compared to Moka, the divine sword was worth less—but still unique.
Any future objects purely formed from divine will and power wouldn't be archived again.
Max rubbed his chin.
"So that's to stop people from farming duplicate rewards, huh?"
It made sense.
If gods could mass-produce swords like this by expending a bit of will and power,and each counted as a new archive entry…
Then anyone could just chain a few gods, force them to make swords, and grind infinite rewards.
Yeah, the Archive's system definitely wouldn't allow that.
Still, Max wasn't disappointed.
He simply claimed the reward.
A surge of invisible power coursed through him.
In his consciousness, the shadow of a knight appeared—then merged with his soul.
A Knight Never Dies Empty-Handed.Also known as A Knight Does Not Die Weaponless.
From the Type-Moon universe—one of Lancelot's Noble Phantasms.
Type: Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm.
Range: 1.
Rank: A++
Max Targets: 30
Effect: Any weapon held by the user is treated as a Noble Phantasm under their control.Can also temporarily convert enemy Noble Phantasms or normal weapons (like iron rods or fighter jets) into D-rank Noble Phantasms.If the original item's rank is higher than D, it retains that rank.Applies only to items identifiable as weapons.
Extremely practical.
Max focused and summoned his black sword—the one used to call God Armor Mecha Dragon: Bahamut.
He activated the ability.
Golden energy streaked with violet spread through his arm, wrapping the black blade in a sacred glow.
The sword now carried D-rank Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm properties.
Max tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Wait, does that buff only apply to the sword, or to Bahamut too?"
He stopped midair, rising a few hundred meters higher.
A faint thought—and a spherical barrier a hundred meters wide expanded around him.
He raised the sword before him and began the chant:
"Arise, devourer of divine flesh and blood!Tear through the heavens' black clouds—Bahamut!"
A blazing red light erupted.
From behind him, energy condensed into the shape of a massive dragon—God Armor Mecha Dragon: Bahamut reappeared, wrapping around him in a surge of power.
When the light faded, the imposing black mech-dragon stood tall,its surface traced with glowing violet lines pulsing like veins of fire.
Sensing through their connection, Max realized Bahamut itself hadn't inherited the Noble Phantasm's buff.
But that was fine.
He extended his will again, activating A Knight Never Dies Empty-Handed—and golden threads laced with purple coursed through Bahamut's frame, replacing its original crimson glow.
Buff applied—successfully.
Its attack and defense had both risen sharply.
Officially rated as D-rank.But the actual power… far beyond that.
Satisfied, Max spent some time inside the barrier testing Bahamut's movement.
Their mental link was perfect—every motion the dragon made was as natural as moving his own arm.
"....."