When Akira opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Astraea's gentle gaze.
Astraea was already awake and watching over him with a warmth that made his heart skip a beat.
She gently said, "Good morning, my child."
"...Good morning, Astraea-sama. Um... Can I leave now? If Alise and the others find out, I'll be dead meat!"
Akira flung the blanket aside, bolting upright with stiff movements, clearly flustered.
Astraea chuckled softly and said, "Go on. But before you do, if there's anything you'd like to eat today, tell me now."
"Having breakfast made by a goddess herself is already the happiest part of my day. Please, Astraea-sama, feel free to decide." Akira replied in a rush, then leapt out the window like a startled cat.
— — —
Back in the safety of his own room, Akira exhaled deeply, then sank to the floor, pitting his hands on his blushing cheeks.
"Uwahhh! I actually confessed to Astraea-sama yesterday! This is so embarrassing—aaahh!" He writhed on the floor, rolling back and forth.
"What was I even thinking?! She clearly sees me as a child! But... she didn't reject me either, right?"
His rolling halted abruptly, a foolish grin creeping across his lips as he covered his face, letting out an embarrassingly giddy chuckle.
Still red-faced, Akira quickly packed his gear, securing his weapons and some basic protective gear.
By the time he reached the kitchen, Kaguya was already preparing breakfast with Astraea.
"Good morning, Astraea-sama, Kaguya-nee." Akira greeted calmly, though he couldn't meet Astraea's eyes for long.
"Good morning, Akira. Don't forget we've got our match later. I've been looking forward to kicking your butt." Kaguya said with a razor-sharp smile on her lips.
"Please show mercy..." Akira muttered, feeling defeated before the fight even began.
"Now, now."
Astraea chimed in, "Remember, neither of you should go overboard. Akira, are you heading into the dungeon today?"
Akira said, "Yes. At least for today, I must."
— — —
After breakfast, when Alise heard that Kaguya and Akira were going to spar, she gasped dramatically.
"Wait, does this mean we all get to fight Akira at some point? Alright! I want my turn next!"
"I think I'll pass."
Lyra said, shrugging, "By the time it's my turn, I probably won't be able to beat him anyway."
"Will they be using real weapons this time?" Ryuu asked curiously.
"Yep. Kaguya's bringing out Higanbana and Akira's wielding a spear."
Kaguya stood tall, her dark red sheathed Iai blade at her waist, hands ready.
Akira's gaze sharpened at the sight—something about that stance made his instincts scream. He had a feeling that if he rushed in recklessly, he'd be taken out instantly.
Although she and Ryuu often seemed to be at odds, their relationship was anything but hostile.
They trained together frequently, their sparring bringing out each other's best. If Kaguya's sword skill was a 10, Ryuu's was perhaps a modest 4 by comparison.
Maybe I should've picked a sword-type weapon... I used to think spears could increase a mage's damage output, but clearly that's not the case.
I feel like I'm becoming a magic lancer... maybe it's time to swap weapons. From now on, I'll focus on staffs and wands from the system's inventory."
Thoughts tumbled in Akira's head like a storm.
"Oi! You're spacing out in front of me. Are you looking down on me?" Kaguya charged, slashing at him mid-thought.
Akira said, "I'm not! I was just thinking about changing my weapon!"
Akira hastily blocked with his spear, but the blow sent him skidding backward.
"Seriously? You're thinking about weapon choices during a fight? Think about it after the battle, idiot!" Kaguya closed in without mercy.
I can't win against Kaguya in close combat. I'll ask for advice after this... but right now, I'll fight as a proper mage.
With that thought, Akira stopped resisting Kaguya's advance and teleported ten meters away.
He asked, "Kaguya-nee! I can't win in close quarters—mind if I use magic?"
"Up to you. Give it everything you've got." She answered without hesitation.
Akira's spear vanished and was replaced by a staff.
[Sharan's Practice Staff]
Type: Staff
Physical Attack: +139
Magic Attack: +170
Independent Attack Power: +77
Casting Speed: +1%
Only equipment from the system seemed to grant him real bonuses. One day, he planned to test if he could gift them to his familia.
"Whoa, where did that wand come from?" The others whispered.
"Careful, Kaguya!"
Akira pointed the staff forward. A flame shield surged forth, followed by five water spheres forming icy spikes, which he hurled in tandem with the shield.
"Yep, stronger and faster." Akira noted as his magic blasted forth.
Kaguya calmly sheathed her blade, took a breath, stepped forward in her wooden sandals, and in the blink of an eye—
"Flash!"
Her blade cut through the flame shield, igniting it on both sides. The ice cones shattered like fragile glass. Scorched earth and frost mixed on the battlefield as she advanced through the smoke.
"That's it? Is that your full power?"
"Don't underestimate me—I'm not done yet!"
Wind surged, whirling fiercely in front of his staff. Flames mixed into the spiraling gale. The ground trembled as gravel lifted, fire licking across the earth in black tongues. A cannonball-like mass of elemental power formed before him.
Akira gathered his magic in his left palm, holding the volatile storm together. He twisted his hand, reversing its rotation, and fired it forward with a screeching hiss.
The spinning mass cut through the air like a buzzsaw, carving a semi-circular path. Akira aimed slightly to Kaguya's left—he couldn't risk hurting her directly.
BOOM!
The explosion thundered. Flames erupted like a crashing wave. The shockwave blew back the spectators' hair, smoke rising as if from a battlefield.
When the dust cleared, only a crater remained, the ground scorched in a perfect arc.
"Crap... I think I overdid it."
Akira's eyes widened in regret.
"Am I gonna get scolded for that later?"
Before he could dwell on it, a sheathed sword tapped his head gently.
"You lost." Kaguya said flatly, though her eyes held a glimmer of awe at the spell's power.
"Ahaha... yeah. I lost." Akira admitted with a wry smile, rubbing his head.
(End of Chapter)
Read 40 Advanced Chapters on
patreon.com/astralicity