Please Let Me Join Your Familia

In the glow of the setting sun.

Syr watched the scene before her in surprise, the broom in her hand pausing unconsciously.

What on earth was going on?

Thor had such an unpleasant run-in with the Loki Familia just last night; how was it that today she saw him being carried on the back of the Loki Familia's Sword Princess, Ais?

What happened to him? Was he injured?

She immediately dropped the broom and stepped forward to meet them, her gray eyes filled with undisguised concern, locking onto Thor's slightly weary face. "Thor, what happened to you?"

Thor raised his head and looked at the concerned Syr. Even though his exhaustion had not yet fully faded, it did not affect his spirit in the slightest, and his voice was unexpectedly steady—someone who didn't know better might have thought Thor was faking it.

"It is nothing, merely an overexertion of power in the Dungeon, leaving my body a bit weak for the moment."

So it was just overusing his power...

Syr's taut nerves instantly relaxed, and she let out a long sigh of relief.

As long as he wasn't injured, that was all that mattered.

But immediately after, a sour sensation quietly crept into her heart—

Wasn't it a bit too intimate to be carried back by another woman like this?

And the person in question was from the Loki Familia, no less!

She watched Thor, who was still resting listlessly on Ais's back, a complex tide of emotions churning within her.

Suppressing that jealousy, she turned her gaze toward Thor, a sweet, professional smile returning to her face as she made a suggestion.

"Then, would you like to dine at the shop, Thor? We have a special set meal for fatigue recovery; perhaps it could help you recover a bit faster."

"A set meal for fatigue recovery?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Lefiya and Ais asked in unison.

As regulars at the Hostess of Fertility, they had never heard of the shop offering such a specialty.

Syr's smile deepened, as if she hadn't heard the others' skepticism at all.

Her focus remained solely on Thor, her body leaning forward slightly with a playfulness and an indescribable charm unique to a young girl: "This is a set meal I've introduced specifically for you, Thor~"

The eagerness and focus in those eyes were enough to make any ordinary man's heart race and his face flush red.

But that could never include Thor.

He simply looked back at Syr calmly.

Knowing who Syr was and what she was thinking, how could he not know her intent?

In his long life, he had encountered no shortage of beings who wished to get close to him.

However, the sensitive Lefiya instantly caught onto Syr's unusual enthusiasm and hints. Her gaze darted between Syr and Thor in astonishment, her mouth opening, though she ultimately said nothing.

So, Syr actually likes...

Ais tilted her head slightly, her golden eyes fixed on Thor upon her back, wondering what she was thinking.

Stare~

Bell secretly sighed.

It was just as his grandfather said; one could encounter wonderful meetings in Orario.

Thor's gaze swept over the four people with their varying expressions, then he looked up at the restaurant, which was far less noisy than the previous night, and finally nodded.

"Very well, I shall have dinner here tonight. As it happens, I still have matters regarding your subsequent training to discuss with the two of you."

Syr smiled happily, her eyes curving into crescents, and she immediately returned to her usual efficient, hospitable self: "Understood! Please, follow me!"

With light steps, she led the five of them through the slightly empty dining hall, heading straight for the table in the corner from the night before.

As everyone took their seats, Syr sat down next to Thor with practiced naturalness.

For a waitress to be so "attached" to one table of guests might have seemed rude to others.

But the proprietress, Mia, merely glanced at them once before continuing to wipe glasses at the bar, ignoring the scene entirely—clearly, she had long since tacitly approved of Syr's "privilege."

While setting the table for everyone, Syr couldn't help but look curiously at the strange combination of Thor, Ais, and Lefiya, eventually asking the question on her mind.

"Thor, how did you end up with Ais and Lefiya?"

Her gaze lingered on Ais for a moment longer; she had specifically intervened the night before, so how had they met again during the day without her noticing?

Lefiya helped explain: "We are currently receiving special training and guidance from Lord Thor!"

"Ah, so that's it!" Syr realized, her confusion instantly dispelled.

She had been wondering how someone like the Sword Princess of the Loki Familia could be so close to Thor, even carrying him back herself.

But, was it really just a simple guidance relationship?

Thor picked up the chilled drink Syr had provided at the perfect moment and took a large gulp; the coolness gave his spirit a slight lift.

He set the cup down, turned his gaze to Ais sitting opposite him, and got straight to the point: "Ais, the formal training begins tomorrow." He paused, adding in a flat but unquestionable tone, "For the seven days following tomorrow, you will stay at my home at night."

"Huh?!"

"Eh?! Why?!"

As soon as Thor finished speaking, two surprised female voices rang out almost simultaneously.

Syr and Lefiya stared at Thor with wide eyes.

Syr's face was written with disbelief.

Wait! Coaching is one thing, but is it really necessary to move into his home?!

Lefiya was equally shocked.

Living together?! With Miss Ais?! This, how can this be! Loki would go crazy if she found out, right?!

The two were surprised for entirely different reasons.

Syr's mind instantly flashed with countless ambiguous possibilities, while Lefiya was completely gripped by the crisis that her idol might be "snatched away."

Ais herself merely tilted her head slightly, her golden eyes watching Thor calmly, as if waiting for a reasonable explanation, showing no obvious emotional fluctuations like her companions.

Thor ignored their exaggerated reactions and explained calmly, "You saw it during the day; the Wind-Riding Sword Art I am teaching you is the essence of an entire school, and its surface cannot be mastered in a short time. Every second must be fought for over these seven days."

"Having you move in is to make full use of the nighttime. I can attempt a brand-new method of instruction, allowing you to conduct 'training' simulations even in your sleep. Only in this way is it possible for you to initially step over the threshold of the Wind-Riding Sword Art in seven days."

Ais had no objections.

To her, as long as she could become stronger and master that marvelous sword art as fluid as the wind, it did not matter where she lived or what form of price she had to pay.

Thor's arrangement seemed reasonable and efficient to her.

However, even she hesitated slightly when she suddenly thought of the situation within her Familia.

Thinking of Loki's near-terrified reaction to Thor last night, and the chaotic situation this morning where Bete was beaten into a serious injury, Ais realized that things might not be that simple.

Would Loki agree?

What would that eccentric and protective main god's reaction be when she learned that Ais was going to spend the night at Thor's residence, and even for the sake of learning the other party's incomprehensible "techniques"?

Discouragement? Obstruction? Or... an even more exaggerated reaction?

This hesitation lasted for only a fleeting moment.

Because the next instant, the ghostly footwork Thor used when demonstrating the Wind-Riding Sword Art, and that exquisite artistic conception of drawing air currents and borrowing force to strike back, reappeared with absolute clarity in her mind.

It was a brand-new path completely different from her past combat style, containing possibilities that made her heart yearn.

The anxiety of a three-year bottleneck and the extreme thirst for power instantly overwhelmed all possible obstacles and troubles.

No matter what, she had to learn it!

A simple syllable escaped her lips, carrying unquestionable firmness: "Okay."

"Huh?!"

This "okay" seemed to ignite a powder keg. Lefiya sprang up from her seat, the legs of her chair scraping against the floor with a harsh sound.

Her beautiful eyes were wide round, as if she had heard some earth-shattering declaration.

Miss Ais... is going to move into Thor's home... to spend the night?!

Lefiya felt her brain "buzz," blood seemed to rush to her cheeks, and her heart beat so fast it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat.

Although it was for training, they were a lone man and woman... and that was without Loki potentially knowing anything about it! What if... what if...

What if Miss Ais discovered that Thor was more trustworthy than Loki and decided to convert to Thor's Familia!

Thinking of her own main god Loki's unreliable nature, and then thinking of Thor's instruction today.

Lefiya felt a gap that made her feel somewhat desperate.

No! Absolutely not!

The sense of mission to protect Miss Ais, along with a little bit of indescribable panic at the thought of potentially being left behind, instantly overwhelmed all restraint.

Almost without thinking, she shouted urgently in a voice an octave higher than usual:

"Me! Please let me receive the dream training at night too!"

She gripped the edge of the table tightly, her eyes burning as she looked at Thor.

"Thor! I, I paid! Seven million Valis for seven days! Since it's part of the special training, the nighttime... the nighttime training should naturally be included, right?!"

Her voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling, both an urgent plea and a "reasoned argument" of someone who had gone all-in—

After all, she was a client who had paid almost all her savings! He couldn't treat one differently from the other, right?

Syr, sitting beside Thor, maintained a professional smile on the surface, but that smile had become somewhat subtly stiff.

Her gaze swept quickly between Thor, Ais, and the emotionally agitated Lefiya, her fingers gripping her drink cup tightening unconsciously.

One isn't enough, and now a second one wants to move in?

Lefiya proposed to come.

Thor, however, explained with some hesitation: "Lefiya, you don't necessarily have to accept the nighttime training."

"The Parallel Chanting I am teaching you relies on the subtlety of multitasking and magic tuning; what this requires is focused practice while awake, not simulation during sleep. Besides, that large-scale magic Requiem..."

He paused, his tone carrying a casual air of self-evidence.

"I can help you refine and simplify it, adjusting it into a version of Spirit Summoning that is slightly weaker but better suited to the nature of your magic. This way, you can easily cast its weakened form by using the Spirit Summoning magic you are already proficient in."

"Refine... refine it into Spirit Summoning magic?! Is that even possible?"

Lefiya's azure eyes widened instantly.

Modifying the structure of magic, or even converting it across systems?

This was nothing short of the divine realm!

No!

The Thor before her seemed to have transcended the realm of gods to begin with.

At this point, there was nothing left to be surprised about.

Lefiya's brief internal shock passed, and she remembered her purpose.

She couldn't let them be alone together!

Nearby, Bell bit down on his straw, blowing bubbles into his drink; he was completely unable to integrate into the conversation, as if everything had nothing to do with him.

Yet, at this moment, Lefiya had long since ignored Bell's existence.

"Lord Thor! Please... please let me take part in the evening training as well!"

"I understand that Parallel Chanting requires practice while clear-headed, but being able to experience that state in advance, or even just observing Sword Princess's training process, is invaluable experience for me! Please let me make the most of every single second!"

Her reasoning seemed sound enough, concerning learning efficiency and maximizing value.

But the few people at the table could all sense that stubborn, clumsy determination of a little fan guarding her idol.

Watching Lefiya's "I won't give up until you agree" stance, Thor's gaze lingered for a moment on her face, which was practically written with "I am going to supervise you." He seemed to see through her little scheme, yet had no intention of pointing it out.

In the end, he just shrugged helplessly, his expression as if to say, "Suit yourself."

"Since that's the case," Thor's voice returned to a calm state, carrying the seriousness of someone about to begin work, "then you come along too."

He looked at Lefiya, his pupils devoid of jest, holding only the strictness of an instructor: "I will train you very strictly. Be prepared."

"Yes! Thank you very much, Lord Thor!" Lefiya straightened her back almost immediately, responding in a loud voice, the heavy stone that had been hanging in her heart finally dropping to the ground.

Great!

She clenched her fists secretly, feeling her palms damp with sweat.

At least... at least she could stay by Sword Princess's side.

This way, no matter what happened, she would be the first to know, and she could... do her best to protect the "Sword Princess" of the Loki Familia.

As for the "strictness" Lord Thor mentioned?

As long as she could achieve her goal, she would accept even the strictest training!

During dinner, Thor devoted his full attention to guiding Ais and Lefiya.

He clearly dissected the subtle nuances of combat, pointed out the weaknesses in their coordination, and even incorporated real-world cases from the Dungeon today to explain the power-generating techniques of the Wind-Riding Sword Art and the key nodes of Parallel Chanting in simple, accessible terms.

His words were concise yet precise, every syllable aimed at ensuring the two girls could clearly understand and absorb the lessons.

He fulfilled his duties as an instructor with all his might, striving to complete this "contract" perfectly.

However, sitting beside Thor, Syr felt as if her heart had sunk into the frozen depths of the earth.

She watched Thor's eyes, deep as the cosmos, which never wavered even once from start to finish. His focus was locked firmly onto Ais and Lefiya, as if they were the only points of light in this space worth watching.

That gaze was filled with a mentor's focus and expectations for his students—a pure, unadulterated light of cultivation.

The topics she had carefully prepared, her perfectly timed smiles, and even the occasional concern she showed were like pebbles thrown into the deep sea, failing to stir even a single ripple.

A profound sense of powerlessness gripped her heart.

The supreme being before her, who had created the Starry Heavens, seemed to have a vast heart and vision that could only ever contain those "children" who needed guidance and growth.

And she, in his eyes, was no different from any ordinary piece of furniture in this restaurant.

No matter how she tried, he remained as unreachable as the eternal stars, untainted by a single worldly thought.

This cold silence of being completely ignored felt heavier and more stinging than any direct rejection.

The smile on Syr's face remained sweet, but beneath that curve lay an unnoticed desolation and a trace of stubbornness that was hard to detect.

Finally, dinner ended, and the four of them prepared to leave.

Just as Thor was about to take that step, Syr's voice rang out, carrying a hint of effort to maintain a casual tone and an imperceptible tremor, clearly calling him back:

"Mr. Thor, please wait a moment."

Thor stopped in his tracks and finally turned to look at her.

But the "gaze" of his soul still did not linger on her for even a fraction of a second.

Syr met his eyes, her lips curving into the most perfect arc, as if she were merely bringing up a suggestion, yet deep in her eyes burned the light of a desperate gamble.

"Didn't you mention last night that you were hoping to recruit new members for your Familia?" Her voice was as soft as a feather brushing by, "If... if Mr. Thor doesn't mind, how about letting me join?"