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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