Even Hestia couldn't understand Loki's sudden change of heart. Knowing Loki's personality, this kind of moral posturing just didn't suit her. No matter how righteous her words were, hearing a goddess of mischief deliver the lines of a god of justice… it just didn't feel right.
Loki, however, paid no mind to Hestia's suspicious stare. She instead turned to her with a smile that was far too enthusiastic. "So, any thoughts on a title? I'm sure everyone will agree with whatever you choose!" As she spoke, Loki shot a sharp look at the other gods—clearly a threat. It was obvious she planned to protect Su Mo. Though none of the gods understood why she was suddenly being so cooperative, it was just a name. There was no need to offend her over something so trivial.
"As long as it sounds nice…" Hestia muttered a little shyly. Truth be told, she hadn't thought about it in advance.
"How about 'Wind Strider'?" Loki offered the suggestion, recalling that Su Mo had shown impressive mastery over wind magic—he could even fly using it. It was a fitting title for a rookie, maybe even flattering.
"Sounds kinda girly," Hestia frowned.
"Then 'Wind Spirit'?" Another quick idea from Loki—thankfully without adding any flowery suffixes.
"Still doesn't sound masculine." Hestia shook her head again. A vein bulged on Loki's forehead. This shorty was seriously hard to please. After a pause, Loki offered one more suggestion.
"Then what about 'Gale Blade'? 'The Gale Blade'—how's that sound?"
A title that combined mastery over wind and swordsmanship. Loki had thought up dozens of similar titles for Ais, so she had a lot to pull from. Most of the good ones had already been rejected by Hestia. This was the last decent one she had. If Hestia didn't approve, then even she wouldn't know what else to suggest. Luckily, her worry was misplaced.
The moment Hestia heard the title "Gale Blade," her mind conjured an image—an elite swordsman who could dance through armies without a single scratch, elegant, stylish, cool, and darting in and out effortlessly.
Most importantly—unharmed.
She didn't want Su Mo to get hurt. No matter how powerful he was, as his family, she didn't want him to be in danger. So, she immediately nodded.
"Yeah, I want that one!" And just like that, under Loki's guidance, the title "Gale Blade" was officially accepted. After the concluded, Hestia, ready to leave happily, was suddenly called back by Loki.
"Hey shorty, hold up a second."
"What now, Loki?" Hestia, in such a good mood, didn't even feel like bickering.
"Look, I don't know what made your broken brain decide to help me out…"
"If you want my thanks, fine. But don't go asking for something outrageous."
"I'll even pretend I never heard that nonsense about choosing awful names earlier, okay?"
"...#%&@!" Another vein popped on Loki's forehead.
But this time...
It was her turn to hold back. She had to endure—no arguments right now. After all, Ais-chan had gone on a date with that man today. If she didn't handle things carefully, her precious cabbage might be stolen. Swallowing her anger, she composed herself and asked Hestia,
"Hey... about your Su Mo—what exactly is his deal?"
"Hmm?" Immediately, Hestia's expression turned wary.
"My child is perfectly fine! There's absolutely nothing wrong with him!" Hestia shook her head immediately, making it clear that she had no intention of revealing anything.
"As I thought..." Loki narrowed her eyes knowingly. That little goddess Hestia was clearly hiding something. No doubt, she also knew about Su Mo's true strength. Leaning in closer, Loki lowered her voice and whispered into Hestia's ear, "I know what your Su Mo is really capable of—he's stronger than Level 7, isn't he?" The moment she said that, Hestia's expression froze.
"W-What are you talking about? I don't understand." The goddess, not particularly skilled at lying, quickly turned her head that side. But that very reaction only confirmed Loki's suspicion. Still, understanding Hestia's need for secrecy, Loki smiled and reassured her, "Relax, I won't tell anyone."
"Just the other day, my dear Ais had a run-in with..." In a bid to earn Hestia's trust, Loki spilled everything she knew.
"So, you're telling me that Su Mo's been sneaking out every day lately just to go on dates with girls?!"
Hearing Loki's revelation, Hestia was stunned. She felt as though a heavy weight had landed on her head...
Galloping horses thundered across her mind. The sound of a vast prairie being trampled.
"What do you mean 'dates'? They were just exploring together! Don't you dare tarnish Ais-chan's reputation like that!" Loki quickly corrected her with visible irritation. In a way, the two goddesses were remarkably similar in what they cared about most. And somehow, both had managed to completely miss the point.
...
...
While the two goddesses were busy arguing in the Tower of Babel over whose child was seducing whose, deep beneath the tower, in the lower levels of the dungeon— Su Mo and Ais were in the middle of clearing out monsters. Well, "clearing" might be an overstatement. In truth, Su Mo was just sitting off to the side, offering guidance while Ais did all the hard work.
"Ride the wind with care and never forget what lurks behind." Seated calmly nearby, Su Mo called out advice to the Sword Princess, who was immersed in battle.
"Yes, Sensei!" Ais, catching the sound of wind behind her, flipped her sword and decapitated the monster without hesitation. The floor they were currently on was filled with Level 6-class monsters. Even for someone as skilled as Ais, dealing with them was no easy task. However, under Su Mo's guidance, her wind-based magic was becoming more refined with every passing day. No longer just a tool for speed and evasion, she had now learned to wrap wind around her blade, dramatically increasing its cutting power.
"With every swing, this blade grows more fierce!" The slender sword, now cloaked in wind, struck with far more impact. And thanks to Su Mo's precise teaching, her mastery over [Ariel] was also advancing rapidly. Though she hadn't yet fully grasped the principles behind the [Air Pressure Blade], her control over other aspects of the spell had become quite adept.
Like a butterfly dancing within a storm, Ais weaved through the swarm of monsters. Every attempt to strike her stirred the air, creating ripples of wind—and she used those currents to evade with uncanny agility. She even learned to use the wind's momentum to accelerate her attacks. Her efficiency in combat had increased dramatically.
In just one week, she had gone from a freshly minted Level 6 adventurer to someone whose overall attributes had already reached B-class. If this pace kept up, there was a very real possibility she'd soon reach A-rank, maybe even S. To Ais, this kind of growth was like riding a rocket—once you experienced it, you never wanted to go back.
Unfortunately—
"Sensei, in three days... my Familia is going on an expedition." Having finished clearing the monsters, Ais looked visibly disappointed as she broke the news.
A week earlier, when Su Mo had first run into her and the others, the Loki Familia had been on a trial expedition—mostly clearing out a few boss-class monsters guarding paths. Now, however, the real expedition was about to begin. As a member of the Loki Familia, Ais had no choice but to obey orders. Especially now that she had leveled up and become one of the Familia's top fighters.
In a major expedition like this, minimizing casualties meant bringing out their best. Ais knew that her companions had already postponed the expedition once for her sake. She couldn't delay them again. As much as she wanted to keep getting stronger, she also had deep affection for the Familia that raised her. There was no way she could watch her comrades risk their lives while she stayed behind to train. That would go against everything she stood for. And so, she had no choice but to ask Su Mo for a temporary leave.
Su Mo, unsurprised, nodded in understanding. He had already discussed this expedition beforehand with Finn, the leader of the Loki Familia, when they first met.
So—
"No problem. If it's a Familia mission, then of course you have to go." It was a basic rule for all adventurers.
If Ais chose to ignore her duties and only focus on her own growth, it would inevitably lead to resentment among her fellow members—especially if anyone got injured in her absence. It would put her in a difficult position within the group.
Su Mo wasn't heartless enough to deny her such an obvious responsibility. He readily agreed to give her the time off. Besides, he had other things to attend to as well. Yet, instead of relief, Ais still looked uneasy.
She wore a troubled expression, her voice soft as she asked, "Then... Sensei won't replace me while I'm away, right?" She hadn't forgotten. Back when she first agreed to support Su Mo, he had made it clear—if she took too long during an expedition, he might consider finding someone else. And now, that exact situation had arrived.
"Hah." Seeing the look on her face, Su Mo couldn't help but chuckle.
"Don't worry. I'm not replacing anyone. We've teamed up for so long—we've got a bond, after all." That, of course, was a lie.
The real reason was much simpler: obedient and talented assistants like Ais were hard to come by. But Su Mo wasn't about to say that out loud. Hearing his answer, Ais finally let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness—Sensei hadn't abandoned her. In fact, he said they had a bond now... Did that mean he had acknowledged her? Tilting her head slightly, the Sword Princess looked a little shy—but unmistakably happy.