After the battle, Rei and Orchid decided to remain on Amalthea Island to assist in rescuing townspeople caught up in the conflict.
Using the healing power of Gabriel that resided within him, Rei was able to tend to the wounded, restoring their health and vitality. Meanwhile, Orchid utilized her thread ability to lift and clear the scattered ruins of buildings, aiding in the cleanup efforts.
Lecia, on the other hand, managed to rescue Monika, who had been imprisoned during the chaos.
After explaining the situation to Monika and what had transpired during her captivity, Monika merely nodded, her expression contemplative as though deep in thought. However, she eventually spoke, suggesting that for now, their priority should be helping the others.
Several days passed following the incident.
Thanks to Rei's abilities, the number of casualties was drastically reduced. No matter how severe the injuries, with Gabriel's power, Rei was able to heal them. However, for those who had already lost their lives, there was nothing he could do.
Despite this, the townspeople assured Rei not to dwell on it. Both he and Orchid had done more than enough by saving countless lives and aiding in the recovery efforts.
With the injured cared for and the debris cleared, the townspeople began rebuilding their town, starting the long process of restoring what had been lost.
However, the situation remained unstable, as many Enforcer members had lost their lives during the battle. With fewer personnel available, the town was left vulnerable to monster attacks.
In response, Rei and Orchid volunteered to guard the town until the Enforcer members stationed outside Amalthea Island could return.
At first, Lecia objected to their proposal. They had already done so much to help, and asking for more made her feel guilty. However, Monika interrupted her, stating that they were severely understaffed and had no choice but to accept Rei and Orchid's assistance.
Thus, Rei and Orchid began patrolling the town daily, searching for any lurking monsters. Occasionally, they ventured outside the town to deal with swarms of beasts threatening the area.
---
One morning, Rei was walking through the Fourth Hall, the headquarters of the Crew of Enforcers. It was still very early, just before dawn, as he made his way to the training grounds to practice his Butterfly Dance style.
As he approached, the sound of something being swung repeatedly reached his ears. This surprised him—someone was already training this early in the morning.
Curious, Rei decided to greet whoever was there. But upon arriving at the training grounds, he was surprised yet again to find that the person training was Lecia.
Her body was drenched in sweat, her rapier trembling in her hands as she continued her drills. It was clear she had been training for quite some time already.
"Good morning, Lecia. You're really diligent to be training this early," Rei greeted her as he stepped into the training grounds.
She wore a white, off-shoulder blouse with ruffled sleeves and a scalloped hem that revealed her midriff. Her high-waisted dark red shorts were secured with a wide belt featuring a decorative buckle. Thigh-high black stockings adorned with intricate gold designs accentuated her legs.
Her outfit seemed quite impractical for training, adding to Rei's surprise.
"Rei… you're here? What time is it?" Lecia asked, startled by his sudden appearance.
"It's 5 in the morning. Why are you surprised? Did you think you'd have a chance to escape?" he replied with a teasing smile, stepping closer.
Since moving into the Fourth Hall, Rei had made a habit of training here every morning, ensuring he didn't disturb others. However, he had always sensed that someone else had been using the grounds before him.
Now, seeing Lecia here, it was clear that she was the one training before his arrival.
Thinking back, Rei realized that during his previous training sessions, he had often felt someone watching him. Now, it made sense—it must have been Lecia observing him all along.
"Ehh, what do you mean by running away?" Lecia asked, her voice flustered as she avoided making eye contact with him.
Rei smirked, stepping closer until he stood directly in front of her. "Also, I've often felt someone staring at me during my training. Was that you, Lecia?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" she exclaimed, quickly turning around as if to flee the scene.
Her embarrassment was written all over her face. She hadn't expected him to figure out that she'd been secretly watching him train. But, thinking about it now, it was obvious—someone as perceptive as Rei would have noticed something like that.
Just as she was about to dash off, Rei grabbed her wrist, preventing her escape. He gently pulled her back to steady her, ensuring she didn't stumble from her abrupt stop.
"Don't be like that. I'm not mad or anything," he reassured her with a calm voice. "I'm just curious. Why were you watching me train?"
Lecia stayed silent, her face glowing red—so much so that even her ears were tinted with embarrassment. She refused to meet his eyes, but after a few moments, she sighed and finally admitted the truth.
She explained that during her battle with Gandharva, she had been completely helpless. Gandharva hadn't even taken her seriously; he hadn't needed to properly wield his sword against her. The experience had shattered her confidence as a captain. Worse, her failed plan to ambush Gandharva had resulted in the deaths of several of her comrades.
After being rescued by Rei and Orchid, Lecia had been struck by Rei's graceful yet powerful sword style. Watching him effortlessly defeat Gandharva with nothing but his katana—without relying on his Astral power or wings—had left a deep impression on her.
Since then, she had been observing him in secret: how he fought, how he trained, and even his daily routine.
"Huh," Rei muttered, his eyebrows raising slightly in surprise as he listened to her confession.
As Lecia finished explaining, she started to realize just how odd her behavior sounded. "Wait…" she murmured to herself, her expression shifting into one of self-awareness. "Doesn't this make me seem like… a stalker?"
"Pfft… hahahaha!" Rei couldn't hold back his laughter as he saw Lecia's bewildered expression.
Lecia, on the other hand, was flustered beyond words. Hearing his laughter—which felt like teasing—made her puff out her cheeks in frustration. "You! Stop laughing! I just didn't realize what I was doing!" she shouted, her face a deep shade of red as she started lightly punching him.
Rei continued laughing, trying to shield himself from her playful punches. "Alright, alright! I'm sorry! But you have to admit, it's kind of funny," he said, still smiling.
As the two were busy bickering and teasing each other, someone stood hidden behind the wall nearby, quietly listening to their voices.
It was Monika.
Curious about who else besides Rei would be training so early in the morning, she had come to investigate. When she discovered it was Lecia, she stopped to observe, a mix of emotions crossing her face.
Monika felt a pang of guilt as she watched Lecia. She knew how much pressure Lecia carried. As the daughter of the leader of the Enforcers, Lecia had grown up with people constantly comparing her to her father, expecting her to follow in his footsteps.
From a young age, Lecia had worked tirelessly to meet those expectations. She pushed herself to excel, aiming to make her father and others proud of her achievements. But as she grew older, the weight of those expectations only grew heavier, suffocating her.
Even Monika, despite her best intentions, had unintentionally added to that burden. She had made Lecia the Commander of the Fourth Hall, hoping it would help her grow as a leader. But instead, it had only amplified the pressure on Lecia to emulate her father's legacy.
Monika sighed, her gaze softening. Lecia was always so serious and on edge, trying to live up to everyone's expectations, including those of her subordinates.
But today was different. For the first time, Monika saw Lecia acting freely, her usual tension replaced with playful energy. Watching her laugh and interact with Rei, Monika couldn't help but smile.
"Heh," she murmured with a small chuckle. Turning around, she quietly walked away, leaving the two of them alone in the training ground.
Her expression was calm but resolute, her mind made up about something important.
---
A few moments passed after Rei's laughter subsided.
"I'm sorry for laughing at you, Lecia," he said softly, trying to comfort her.
Lecia, however, remained turned away, her body angled to avoid looking at him. Her arms were crossed in front of her chest, clearly signaling her annoyance.
"What can I do to make you forgive me?" Rei asked, his tone sincere.
At that, he noticed a subtle movement—her ears seemed to twitch slightly at his words. Sensing he was getting through to her, he pressed on.
"Just tell me, and I'll do what I can to help," he added.
"...Really?" Lecia finally responded, her voice hesitant.
"Yes, as long as it's not too much, I'll do my best," Rei reassured her.
Without missing a beat, Lecia spun around to face him, her expression now filled with determination. "Then... can you train me?"
"Train you?" Rei echoed, surprised.
"Yes! After seeing how you fight and train, I've realized I need to create my own sword style. I need something to help me fight opponents stronger than me," Lecia said, her gaze unwavering and serious.
Rei scratched the back of his head, unsure. "I'm not sure if I can really train you, Lecia. I'm still under someone's training myself."
"No, that's fine!" she insisted. "Even if it's just giving me advice, that's more than enough. Please, I want to get stronger too!"
With that, Lecia bowed deeply in front of him, her sincerity clear in her actions.
Her sudden gesture made Rei panic. "Lecia, you don't need to do that! Alright, fine. I'll help you. I don't know how much help I'll be, but I'll try."
Hearing his agreement, Lecia's face lit up with a pure, radiant smile, her happiness palpable.
"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed, her joy overflowing.