"Lady Ais~"
Lefiya stared at Ais with lifeless eyes, as if she had lost the meaning of life.
Tione sighed, watching the child being so strongly stimulated.
"Hey, August, can you show us your spatial skill?"
Tiona turned to August and asked.
"I can, but it's not suitable here."
August looked around, there were quite a few people on the street now.
Tiona, on the other side, also realized that this wasn't a good place.
"Then let's go back first!"
"Okay!"
"Hurry!"
While speaking, she grabbed August's hand and rushed towards the familia's residence.
She didn't have any other thoughts. After all, Amazons were a combat race, very open in terms of relationships between men and women, unlike elves.
Tione also grabbed the dejected Lefiya.
As for Ais, watching August being pulled away by Tiona, for some reason, she felt a little uncomfortable in her heart.
Looking at the fried potato balls that should have been delicious in her hand, suddenly she felt no appetite.
In this way, the group quickly returned to the familia.
They arrived at the familia's training ground, a place specifically for familia members to practice and spar.
But now it was afternoon, and most people were not in the familia, so it seemed quite empty here.
"Hurry up, I haven't seen the spatial skill yet!"
Tiona couldn't wait.
Not only her, but Tione was also curious about why Finn valued August so much.
As for Lefiya, she was staring at August, and if looks could kill, August would have been torn to pieces.
Buzz~
Without further ado, August directly activated the Gate of Babylon.
The golden door opened, and weapons extended through the golden ripples.
"Wow! So cool!"
Looking at such a splendid scene, Tiona was amazed.
But it didn't end there. Next, two weapons suddenly shot out.
Bang~
Two weapons were inserted into two distant wooden stakes.
And these two weapons pierced through the stakes, showing the strength of the shot.
"Wow..."
Tiona was almost jumping up, this attack style was just too cool.
In terms of elegance, it was even cooler than using magic.
"Gate of Babylon, with the skills I possess, I have a treasury that can collect all the treasures in the world. The items stored in it become my weapons!"
As he spoke, the two weapons turned into golden dots and disappeared, returning to the treasury.
Seeing this ability to automatically retrieve items, Tiona's eyes almost sparkled.
Unlike Tiona, Tione thought of many things.
In Finn's words, August would be the future core of the entire familia, and also the strategic core.
Yesterday, she couldn't understand it. Even the Ais of the past, no one dared to say she would definitely become the core of the familia, as a person's growth had to go through too many things.
But now, after seeing August's ability, she understood.
A strategic core, August with the spatial skill, after growing up, could bring a lot of benefits and convenience to the familia.
"I'll come find you again in the afternoon!"
Ais said this at this moment and then left.
And with her words, August became the target of everyone.
Especially Lefiya, who was already close to despair, was now completely devastated.
"Hey, August, what's going on between you and Ais? Why is she coming to find you in the afternoon?"
Tiona, at this moment, was full of gossip.
"I'm not good at fighting, and I don't know how to use a sword. Ais said she would teach me swordsmanship."
Suddenly, both Tiona and Tione widened their eyes.
Ais was actually voluntarily teaching someone?
Is this the same Ais who used to be so autocratic?
At this point, the gazes of the sisters Tiona and Tione towards August also changed quite a bit.
If it was just gossip before, now it had escalated to ambiguous.
Throughout the Loki familia, throughout Orario, the only male that Ais treated like this was August.
This is unique.
On the other hand, after Ais left, Lefiya couldn't give up and followed her.
"Lady Ais!"
"Hmm?"
Ais stopped her steps and looked at Lefiya with confusion.
Staring at Ais like this, Lefiya felt a little embarrassed. This was her first time being alone with Ais.
"Is there something, Lefiya?"
"Lady Ais, I want to ask, what is the relationship between you and that newcomer? Are you a couple?"
Lefiya looked at Ais full of expectations, hoping to get the answer she wanted.
"Relationship? Couple? No, August and I are not a couple."
"That's good!"
Hearing this answer, Lefiya felt relieved.
The despair and disappointment in her heart were all swept away. That newcomer hadn't succeeded yet, and she still had a chance.
But this was only her own thoughts.
"I want to observe him. He will become very strong, and after he becomes strong, he can definitely help me become stronger."
The plot suddenly reversed. Lefiya couldn't have dreamed that August would hold such an important position in Ais's heart.
"Lady Ais, that guy is just a newcomer. How can he be compared to you, not to mention helping you become stronger? You're already the strongest!"
"No! Lefiya, I'm not strong enough, and August can definitely help me become stronger!"
Without any hesitation, she immediately refuted Lefiya and sounded extremely determined.
In an instant, the world that had just welcomed the light was covered with dark clouds again, and darkness arrived again.
It's only been a day, no, not even a day, and that man has already occupied such an important position in Lady Ais's heart?
In comparison, she was really too inferior.
Lefiya's soul was once again shrouded in despair.
"Lefiya?"
Looking at Lefiya, who was silent, Ais called out in confusion.
"Lady Ais, do you still want to find that newcomer in the afternoon? Is there something you need?"
"He doesn't know how to use a sword, so I want to teach him swordsmanship."
"Then, then can I come too?"
"Are you not a mage, Lefiya?"
"Can I come?"
Lefiya stared at Ais with wide eyes, looking straight at her.
"Of course!"
"Lady Ais, I'll definitely come in the afternoon!"
After saying that, she turned and left, leaving Ais confused.
"I must protect Lady Ais. A mere newcomer, don't even think about getting involved with Lady Ais!"
At this moment, Lefiya, full of despair just now, had transformed into a fervent fighting spirit.
...
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In the afternoon, Ais once again found August as promised.
However, this time was different. Ais had a little follower by her side.
Lefiya, a fangirl who admired Ais in her heart and chased after her.
Although she wasn't a weakling, as the second seed mage trained by the familia and Riveria's disciple, she was a level 3 adventurer.
The only drawback was that she had been well-protected by the familia, so although her strength was lacking, her combat skills were still only mediocre.
Especially in battles, she often couldn't chant magic because she was afraid of monsters.
"Hey, good afternoon, Ais!"
"Um, good afternoon!"
A very ordinary greeting, but in someone's eyes, it was equivalent to an ambiguous greeting.
Stare~
Lefiya, who had already started emitting bursts of black air behind her, stared at August with dead fish eyes, as if August had done something outrageous.
For this, August was at a loss, but there was nothing he could do.
"Uh, Miss Lefiya!"
"What are you doing?"
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
"I want to protect Lady Ais!"
"Huh?"
"I will never give Lady Ais to you!"
The feisty elf girl said to August with her hair standing on end.
However, she didn't know that compared to Ais, who had a flat figure and only the attributes of being cute, in August's eyes, she wasn't even as charming as herself.
August was certainly fan of beautiful women, but besides that, he had another preference.
He liked beautiful women with a 'broad minded'.
Just like Hestia, the heaven-sent beautiful women with a baby face and an impressive breast.
For this underdog in the original work competing with the protagonist Bell for Ais, August didn't feel any aversion. He was even interested in this girl who was easily immersed in her own fantasy world.
This also proved one thing: it's not just men who daydream, women do it too.
"Suit yourself."
August shrugged, indicating that he currently had no intention of pursuing Ais.
Admittedly, Ais's charm and beauty ranked high in Orario, but they didn't make August blush and heart race.
In August's heart, he was more inclined to find a beautiful women with a "broad-minded" personality, someone who could make him "bury" his face.
As for August's words, Lefiya naturally paid no attention.
Her only thought now was that she would absolutely not let Ais be taken away by August.
As for the source of all this, Ais, she stared with a pair of cute eyes, watching August and Lefiya, completely unable to understand their words.
"All right, Ais, let's begin!"
With a wave, two wooden swords passed through golden ripples and slowly fell.
These were specially requested by August from Finn. After all, it was just training and learning, and the target was Ais. If he really didn't hold back, he might end up with a few bruises.
"Okay!"
Ais took one of the wooden swords and nodded, then assumed a combat stance.
Seeing this, August twitched his mouth.
'Oh my lady, weren't you supposed to teach me? Why does it feel like you're about to start a real fight right away?'
"Uh, Miss Ais, what are you..."
"Actual combat is the best way to learn!"
"Uh~"
August was suddenly speechless. This teaching method was really "Ais".
Swish~
However, Ais didn't give August any chance or opening.
Before August could react, Ais had already moved.
Without any warning, August was directly knocked out by Ais.
"Lady Ais is amazing!"
On the side, Lefiya, seeing her adversary being knocked out, immediately jumped for joy.
"Cough, is this starting now?"
Several meters away, August climbed up, coughing a few times. Although Ais had restrained most of her strength in that last hit, it was still a painful blow for August.
"There are no rules in battle, only life, death, victory, and defeat!"
Ais slowly said, delivering her first lesson to August.
Although August was an otaku, it didn't mean he lacked awareness.
"Understood, let's continue!"
Picking up the wooden sword in his hand, August adjusted his posture.
Although he had a gacha system that could obtain countless mysterious things that most people could never touch in their lives, it didn't mean that August would definitely reach the top.
Bang~
Smack~
Thud~
Time and time again, there was no suspense, just a straightforward beating.
August's combat experience was limited to a few battles in the dungeon. Compared to Ais, who had been fighting in the dungeon since childhood, he was like a child, completely powerless.
Watching the battle, Lefiya, who initially felt delighted, slowly began to feel sorry for August.
Although she had some preconceptions about August, deep down she didn't have any malicious intentions. Moreover, he was also a companion from the familia. Watching August at this moment, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
Smack~
Ais's wooden sword struck again, directly sending August flying.
At this point, August's whole body was in bad shape, covered in bruises and swelling. Even his face was black and blue.
Although Ais had restrained most of her strength, the impact on August was still painful.
"Is this starting now?"
At the third-floor balcony not far away, three people were observing everything.
"I say, is this okay? Ais is not holding back at all. Look at August's appearance, don't let him develop any psychological shadows!"
Riveria, familia's mom, couldn't help but speak as she watched the miserable August below.
"Don't worry. Although Ais is not holding back, she still has a sense of measure. August only has minor injuries on his body. Applying some medicine will fix him up quickly!"
"He's only been an adventurer for a few days. Isn't this a bit too much?"
"Don't worry, Riveria. That kid is not simple!"
Finn smiled and said, underneath his seemingly weak physique lay terrifying potential.
As the Goddess Loki, who was overlooking August from a high vantage point, slowly opened her eyes, which had been squinted all along.
As a goddess, she could naturally see through most of her children.
But August was the small part she couldn't see through.
Although she didn't have eyes like Freya, she could still see that August had his own secrets.
And this secret might be related to August's future and strength.
She wouldn't touch anything that belonged to her familia's children, but she would always pay attention to August, the boy who surprised her again and again.
...
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