Kaguya stared at Judas, a clear battle intent burning in her eyes.
"...What's with that look?"
Judas caught it immediately and questioned her.
"It's nothing," Kaguya replied calmly.
"I just feel an itch... to have a sparring match with you."
"Oh? Are you sure? I should warn you... this time, it won't end like last time."
Judas said, matching her tone.
Kaguya scoffed softly, a faint grin tugging at her lips.
"You mean when you were ruthlessly humiliated by me?"
"Well... you've got me there. No excuses..."
Judas admitted, unfazed.
He paused, lifting his gaze until it met hers directly.
"...but that was before."
Judas' lips curved into a faint, confident smile as he straightened, the lazy air around him subtly shifting.
Kaguya felt it instantly.
"...Hoh?"
Her instincts screamed, the warrior's sense honed by countless battles sharpening all at once.
The Judas standing in front of her was still the same boy... but the space around him felt heavier, tighter, like a drawn blade that hadn't been unsheathed yet.
Alise noticed it too.
"Oi... oi..."
She leaned forward, squinting.
"That look on his face.... don't tell me you're actually serious?"
Lyra let out a low whistle.
"Yeah... the atmosphere had suddenly took a turn."
She said as as she slowly took a few steps back.
Kaguya's eyes gleamed brighter, excitement replacing her earlier teasing.
"Good. That just makes this more interesting."
She said, voice calm but eager.
She placed a hand on the hilt of her katana... not drawing it, but resting there, a clear statement of intent.
Judas narrowed his eyes and slowly took a battle stance.
A beat of silence followed.
Then...
"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT—!"
Alise threw herself between them, arms spread wide.
"No sparring! Not here! Not now!"
She barked, glaring at both of them.
"Do you have any idea how much paperwork Astraea-sama will dump on me if you two turn the main street into a battlefield?!"
"Besides, we just got back from an expedition. You're nowhere near a hundred percent, Kaguya. Don't act tough in front of your captain."
As if on cue, Astraea cleared her throat softly.
The mere sound was enough to extinguish the tension like water over flame.
Kaguya clicked her tongue quietly, relaxing her stance.
"...Another time, then."
She met Judas' gaze one last time, her smile sharp and sincere.
"I'll look forward to it."
Judas nodded.
"So will I."
As the moment passed, the surrounding members exhaled as if they'd been holding their breath.
"Jeez... that was scary."
"I really thought they were going to start swinging for a second there."
"As expected of the captain... defusing the situation that quickly."
The murmurs spread through the Astraea Familia as several members wiped the cold sweat from their brows.
"Oh, right..."
Judas spoke up casually.
"I almost forgot to ask... did you guys take out Udaeus on the 37th floor?"
Alise slowly turned toward him.
The look on her face said everything.
"Are you serious right now...?"
She let out a long sigh and rubbed her temple.
"You almost start a fight in the middle of the main street, and that's the first thing you ask?"
She muttered under her breath, shaking her head.
Still, she answered.
"No. We didn't."
"When we reached the 37th floor... and again when we climbed back up... it hadn't spawned."
She paused.
Then her brows slowly knit together.
"...Wait."
Her gaze snapped back to Judas, suspicion creeping into her expression.
Her eyes slid back to Judas, sharp and assessing.
"...Why do you ask?"
Judas hummed thoughtfully.
"Just curious."
He said with a nonchalant shrug.
"...You didn't happen to be thinking of fighting it alone, did you?"
Lyra squinted at him.
"Well... not really, but you are not far off either."
Juda said, choosing not to elaborate further.
"Oi. You're insane."
Alise jabbed a finger into his chest.
"Certified."
Lyra nodded solemnly.
Astraea watched the exchange with gentle eyes, a soft, melodic laugh escaping her lips.
"It seems you've all kept your spirits. I'm glad."
She said softly, her voice carrying an almost soothing warmth.
She stepped forward once more, placing herself at the center of her familia.
"Come. You must all be exhausted. Let us return home."
Astraea continued, her smile gentle yet resolute.
At those words, a collective sigh of relief swept through the Astraea Familia, shoulders loosening as if the last remnants of tension finally slipped away.
"Yes, please. I'm running purely on stubbornness at this point."
Lyra said at once, rubbing the back of her neck with a tired groan.
"A bath sounds like paradise right about now."
Kaguya added, nodding in firm agreement.
"Alright! Let's go, team!"
Alise declared, clapping her hands together as her usual high spirits snapped back into place.
"We march... back to the Stardust Garden!"
The familiar name seemed to energize everyone, a few of the lower members even straightening their backs as if responding to a rallying cry.
Alise took a step forward, then paused.
Her eyes slid sideways toward Judas.
"...You're coming with us, right?"
She asked, her voice casual... but just a little too quick, as if she were trying not to care.
Judas met her gaze, silent for a moment, before giving a small shake of his head.
"I'd love to."
He replied honestly,
"But I have some business to attend to."
Alise studied his face for a brief second, then nodded, understanding settling in without complaint.
"Then take care, Judas."
She said with a gentle voice, her smile unchanged.
Judas inclined his head slightly in response.
Watching their departing backs shrinking into the distance, Judas turned around and walked into another direction.
...
The rhythmic clang of hammers striking steel echoed through the air.
The moment Judas stepped into the district, a wave of heat washed over him, heavy and suffocating.
Furnaces roared on every side, their flames painting the area in shades of orange and red.
Wherever he looked, blacksmiths were hard at work... some hunched over anvils, sparks bursting with every strike, others displaying freshly forged weapons and armor to passing customers.
And yet, none of it held Judas' attention.
Without slowing his pace, he moved with clear purpose, heading straight for his destination.
The moment he pushed open the door and stepped inside, he spoke calmly.
"Miss Tsubaki, I'm here to pick up my stuff."
Judas had arrived at Tsubaki's shop.
From deeper within the workshop, the sound of a hammer striking steel came to a halt, replaced by the low hiss of steam.
A second later, heavy footsteps approached.
"Hmm?"
A familiar, laid-back voice answered from behind a curtain of hanging tools and half-finished blades.
"Oh? You're earlier than I expected."
The curtain was pushed aside, revealing Tsubaki Collbrande herself.
Her black hair was tied back messily, a few strands clinging to her sweat-dampened neck.
A leather apron hung over her broad frame, scorched and worn from countless hours at the forge.
She wiped her hands on a cloth, her right eye sweeping over Judas from head to toe.
---
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