"Oh, right... Judas."
Kaguya's dark pink eyes flicked toward him as she spoke.
"Lion told me your gear... especially your armor... was badly damaged."
Alise stayed crouched on the ground, hugging her legs as she listened.
"Yeah... it saved me from a fatal blow. If not for that, I probably wouldn't have made it out alive."
Judas admitted.
Kaguya's lips curved into a small smile.
"I'm glad the armor we gave you fulfilled its purpose."
She tilted her head slightly, voice lilting with elegance.
"When I heard Goddess Loki's account of your adventure... of how you slipped away from those Freya Familia boors... I was impressed. Judas Spade, you are truly a remarkable adventurer."
She lifted her arm with practiced grace, hiding her lips behind her sleeve in a ladylike gesture.
Judas frowned faintly, locking eyes with her.
"Hmm? What is it? Did my beauty leave you speechless?"
Kaguya teased, feigning confusion.
"...No. It's just... your vibe feels completely different from the last time we met,"
Judas said, his gaze unwavering.
Her smile didn't falter.
"Ara... do you prefer me like this, then? I heard gentlemen are drawn to women who are gentle, elegant, and refined."
But to Judas, her smile carried something unsettling.
"Nah. I prefer the real you. I can't stand it when people put on an act in front of me."
At that, Kaguya's eyes narrowed, her dark pink gaze flashing.
The smile dropped, replaced by a flat expression.
She clicked her tongue.
"Tch. Damn it... you really are boring. I've never met anyone so bland and dull."
Her refined façade vanished in an instant, replaced by her true brash self.
Judas didn't flinch.
"That's more like it."
He said with a nod.
Just then, Alise bounced back to her feet, her embarrassment forgotten, her usual cheer returning to the group.
"Judas, you don't have any armor right now, do you? With Loki Familia off on an expedition, I bet all that's left are the cheap spares."
Alise placed her hands on her hips as she spoke.
"Yeah. That's why I plan to buy a replacement first and then save up for the repairs,"
Judas replied.
He already knew the equipment left in the armory was meant for low-ranked adventurers... good enough for upper floors, but useless deeper down.
"Hmm... I would've lent you some from our familia's storage, but everything we have is designed for women."
Alise suddenly clapped her hands, her smile brightening.
"Oh! We could go shopping with you instead. Or better yet... we could even cover the repair costs for your old armor."
At that, Lyra stiffened and raised her hand in protest.
"H-Hey, Alise! What are you saying? Do you realize how bad our finances are right now?"
Her tone grew tense.
"We're already stretched thin because of the expedition we'll be taking right after Loki Familia finishes theirs. We don't have the luxury to be spending that much valis."
Judas chuckled softly and shook his head.
"I appreciate the thought, but I'd rather not rely on you like that. I have my own pride as an adventurer."
Lyra let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Good... well, it's your decision to make after all."
Alise gave a small nod, her smile returning.
She didn't push the matter any further.
"Alright, enough with the sentimental stuff."
Kaguya cut in, stepping forward with the air of a warrior.
Her stance was sharp yet composed, every movement exuding strength and discipline.
Her far eastern garb reminded Judas of his homeland back on Earth.
"Since you're with us now, how about a little spar?"
She asked, a competitive gleam in her eyes.
Judas could see it... her thirst for battle.
"Right now?"
He replied, brow raised.
Alise chuckled at their exchange but soon turned back to him, her eyes burning with anticipation.
"Actually," she admitted, "ever since I saw your fight against the Juggernaut, Kaguya and I have been itching to test ourselves against you."
She crossed her arms, tilting her head with a playful smile.
"So? Care to see how our skills measure up?"
Judas rolled his shoulders and stretched, a grin tugging at his lips.
"Alright," he said.
"I'm always up for a little roughhousing."
Truth be told, he wanted this.
He needed to test himself.
Astraea Familia... one of Orario's top factions, home to two Level 5s.
Even without knowing their levels, he could tell just how strong these women were.
The way they breathed, the way they stood, the way they carried themselves... seasoned warriors, through and through.
Anyone foolish enough to see them as just pretty faces would pay dearly.
"Now then... Kaguya, how about letting your pure and perfect captain go first?"
Alise said, smirking as she glanced at her comrade.
"I can wait. Just don't take too long."
Kaguya replied, closing her eyes.
Later, in the Astraea Familia's training grounds—
The midday sun hung high, casting sharp shadows across the yard.
Judas walked in with Alise and the others, his presence immediately drawing attention.
"Hey, who's that?"
"Isn't that the record holder?"
"Yeah, that's Judas Spade... Loki Familia's new recruit. The one who saved the captain and the others five years ago."
Whispers spread quickly, more and more Astraea members gathering with curiosity.
Their gazes lingered on Judas, studying him with intrigue.
"They say he's as strong as a first-class adventurer despite being only Level 2. Is that true?"
"Who knows... but since our seniors and even Lady Astraea speak highly of him, there must be truth to it."
But it wasn't just Judas who caught their attention.
"That elf..."
"It's Gale Wind, one of our former seniors."
"What?! You mean the Gale Wind? The adventurer who got blacklisted?"
Hearing their chatter, Ryuu lowered her head slightly with a faint, wry smile.
'It's been a while.'
It had been a year since her last visit, so it was understandable that the newer recruits failed to recognize her.
She looked around, a strange sense of familiarity filling her mind.
Although a few changes had occurred over the years, the Stardust Garden was still exactly as she remembered it.
"Tsk. Why the long face, stupid elf? Getting all nostalgic?"
Kaguya's sharp words broke her thoughts.
"Kaguya... that unrefined mouth of yours hasn't changed, I see."
Ryuu's eyes twitched in irritation.
"Oi, oi... you two can argue later. The fight's about to start."
Lyra interjected, turning their attention back to the spar.
Judas stood at the center of the grounds, facing Alise, who casually twirled her wooden sword in one hand.
The air buzzed with anticipation.
"Who do you think will win?"
A young hume-bunny whispered.
"Is that even a question? Of course the captain will win."
Nearby, Ryuu, Lyra, and Kaguya exchanged glances... but not out of doubt or amusement.
They were watching with curiosity. They wanted to see how Judas fought.
"Care to state the rules before we start?"
Judas asked Alise, who was standing a few meters away.
At his words, Alise tapped her chin and thought for a moment.
"Well... not really. No lethal attacks, I guess? Other than that, everything else is fair game."
She spoke with a nonchalant shrug.
'She's too carefree.'
Judas exhaled slowly, tightening his grip on the wooden staff he was holding.
'Speed. Power. Timing.'
He studied her stance, her breathing, the subtle shifts of her weight.
In his current state, relying only on his Falna, he knew this wouldn't be easy.
The only reason he had outmaneuvered Freya Familia's executives was because they had been ordered to capture, not kill.
'If they were coming at me with the intent to kill... the outcome would have been different.'
But this... this was a pure one-on-one.
Still, he wasn't one to shy away.
'Every fighter has a flaw. I just have to find hers.'
The two locked eyes, each measuring the other in silence.
Kaguya stepped between them, taking the role of referee.
After a brief glance at both sides, she raised her arm high.
"Let this duel... begin!"
The moment her arm swung down, the sharp crack of concrete splitting echoed through the training grounds.
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