The afternoon sun bathed the castle of the Kingdom of Altes in a soft golden light. Inside, the druid Grandpa Kesba was busy tending to Cu Chulainn, who lay unconscious on a bed, covered in blood.
Although his injuries looked severe, Kesba assured everyone that Cu Chulainn would recover within two or three days. Hearing this, Kevin finally breathed a sigh of relief. Still, as he stared at the broken magic spear in his hands, he couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.
"Master, if this thing is a one-time use, you should've said so earlier," Kevin muttered under his breath before carefully storing the remnants of the spear.
The spear, crafted by Scathach's rune clone, had been formidable. However, Kevin had pushed it to its limits during the fight.
The Piercing Death Spear, one of the weapon's ultimate moves, possessed immense destructive power. Although Kevin had held back, using only a fraction of its true strength, the damage was still devastating.
The attack didn't even directly hit Cu Chulainn, merely grazing him, yet the shockwave alone had caused severe injuries. Not to mention, the arena itself now bore a massive hole, a lasting testament to the move's sheer power.
"If nothing else, this will definitely be added to the myths," Kevin muttered, half-jokingly. The idea of future generations portraying him as a towering warrior with three heads and six arms made him laugh bitterly.
As Kevin stood contemplating his thoughts, Kesba ushered him and Connor out of the room, citing the need for peace and quiet to treat Cu Chulainn. Meanwhile, King Conchieber had already gone to deal with the aftermath of the spectacle.
In the castle's stone corridors, Connor let out a low whistle as he walked alongside Kevin.
"That was some attack you pulled off back there!" Connor exclaimed, admiration evident in his tone.
Instinctively, he reached out to ruffle Kevin's hair, only to stop mid-motion when Kevin shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel.
"I let you do that when I was a kid, but you're still trying this now?" Kevin grumbled.
Chuckling, Connor lowered his hand and instead gave Kevin a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Fine, fine, but don't go pulling that trick on me if we ever spar. I like my life too much."
Kevin rolled his eyes. "Don't worry. I'm not going to fight you."
"That's a shame," Connor said with a playful sigh. After a brief pause, his tone softened. "By the way... those five years you were gone, were they tough?"
Kevin paused, his expression unreadable. For a moment, he said nothing, the memories of five years of grueling training flashing in his mind. Then, he let out a long sigh and smiled faintly.
"It was hell," Kevin admitted, his voice carrying a mix of weariness and pride. "But it was worth it. I finally got to beat that idiot and vent my frustration."
Connor laughed heartily at Kevin's candid answer.
In the time Kevin had spent training under Scathach, Connor had continued to watch over Cu Chulainn. Though Cu Chulainn was undeniably talented, Connor knew the toll Kevin's struggles had taken on him. And now, seeing Kevin standing tall and confident, Connor couldn't help but feel proud.
"You've grown a lot," Connor said, his tone warm. "But tell me, do you still plan on joining the trials for the Knights of the Red Branch?"
"Of course!" Kevin replied without hesitation. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he tilted his head and added, "By the way, is it true Cu Chulainn is in... heat?"
Connor blinked, momentarily stunned by the question. "In heat?"
"You know," Kevin clarified, his tone deadpan, "he wants to marry someone."
"Oh!" Connor chuckled as realization dawned. "Yes, the princess of Lask—Emer. Cu Chulainn's been smitten with her since a banquet two years ago. Love at first sight, apparently."
"So it's a princess, huh?" Kevin mused. "I was wondering why he didn't just knock her out and take her home."
Connor burst into laughter. "And what about you, Kevin? Is there someone you've got your eye on?"
"Absolutely not!" Kevin replied a little too quickly. The image of Scathach's face popped into his mind, and he shuddered.
Why her?! Why am I thinking about that BBA?!
Kevin internally cursed himself, blaming the five long years he had spent with her as the only woman around.
Connor, oblivious to Kevin's internal struggle, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You're not interested in women, then?"
Kevin frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well," Connor began, his tone teasing, "you're at that age, but you've never touched a woman, have you?"
Kevin said nothing, choosing instead to glare at Connor. As someone from the modern world, Kevin found it hard to adjust to the brutal simplicity of this era's courting methods.
Connor took Kevin's silence as an answer. "You know," he added with a grin, "if you don't hurry up, someone might snatch you away."
Kevin raised an eyebrow, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Connor said, his voice full of mischief, "there are plenty of people who'd want to knock you out and take you home. Men and women alike."
Kevin froze as Connor's words sank in.
Given the customs of this land—and Kevin's performance in the Colosseum—Connor wasn't wrong. There were undoubtedly more than a few people eyeing Kevin with less-than-innocent intentions.
The thought made Kevin's expression darken, a few black lines forming on his forehead.
That night, Kevin cooked a feast for everyone, showcasing the "god-tier" cooking skills he had honed over the years. Connor and the others ate their fill, their laughter filling the room as they discussed Kevin's next steps.
As the evening wore on, Kevin decided to stay at the castle rather than return home. The idea of fending off nighttime "visitors" from overly enthusiastic admirers was too exhausting to entertain.
Around ten o'clock, as Kevin lay in bed contemplating the day's events, a soft tapping came from his window.
"Long time no see," Kevin said with a smile as he opened the window to find Ruger's beautiful bird perched there.
The bird tilted its head, its bright eyes sparkling as it dropped a divine fruit and a red spear at Kevin's feet.
"Lady Scathach asked me to bring you a message," the bird said in a melodic voice.
Kevin picked up the spear, examining its craftsmanship with curiosity.
"She said not to use it recklessly," the bird continued. "This inferior spear is only good for about three uses."
Kevin sighed, setting the spear aside. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"
"And," the bird added, its tone almost sympathetic, "Lady Scathach said not to eat or give away the divine fruit unless absolutely necessary. She's waiting for you to meet her in the true sense."
The implication was clear. Scathach expected Kevin to use the fruit sparingly to heal himself during his trials. If he ran out, she wouldn't be swooping in to save him.
Kevin let out a long, weary sigh, staring at the fruit and spear in his hands.
"I really am loved," he muttered sarcastically, tears of frustration welling up in his eyes.
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