Feeling herself return to the room, Kefra was drenched in sweat.
Warmth filled her body once more. Exhaustion hit her, and she fell backward, landing on the floor with a thud.
She breathed heavily and wiped away the sweat sticking to her hairline through her damp fingers.
One hand supported her on the ground as she leaned against the edge of the sofa.
Panting, she tilted her head back and looked at the bright silver magic lamp overhead. She raised a hand to shield her eyes.
Having just returned to the mansion, her eyes had not yet adjusted from the darkness.
"I can't do it anymore. That's way too strong."
"This armor is completely unfair.", As Kefra spoke, she turned to look at Gwen.
Compared to her, Gwen was in much better condition.
Gwen removed the silver helmet and quietly placed it on the table.
Lowering her head, she looked at the armor on her body, satisfaction showing in her eyes.
Though she had sweated as well, she was nowhere near as exhausted as Kefra, who had collapsed directly onto the floor.
Kefra also looked at the Snow Mastiff Armor and pursed her lips.
This armor really was incredible.
They had sparred for a long time in the blizzard just now, and she could clearly feel one thing.
There were no weaknesses.
Wrapped completely in armor, Gwen was like a perfectly crafted combat machine.
Even in an extreme environment like a snowstorm, Gwen seemed completely unaffected by it.
In fact, she almost looked at home in it.
Whether it was speed or strength, both had improved by far more than just one or two levels compared to before.
But those weren't what gave Kefra the biggest headache.
What troubled her most was the ability to create countless types of weapons.
Fighting Gwen meant constantly staying alert for weapons appearing around her.
One moment she would be using a longsword, but just as Kefra got past the blade...
The other hand hidden within the snowstorm would suddenly swing out a spiked flail covered in sharp silver spikes.
That kind of attack reminded Kefra of her father, Angus.
Although Gwen's martial skill was certainly nowhere near Angus's level and hadn't reached mastery of all weapons...
As a knight, she could still use other weapons with ease.
'Could armor really provide that kind of effect?'
At that moment, a cold voice sounded nearby.
"The blessing of the ice element makes this armor stronger when it's in snow."
Viktor's sudden appearance startled Kefra.
Gwen also looked over.
Tilting her head up, Kefra asked Viktor in confusion, "Ah, Viktor."
"Where did you go just now?"
As Viktor walked over to Gwen, he replied, "I had some things to take care of."
After answering, he gently placed a hand on Gwen's shoulder armor.
Then his fingers lightly brushed across it.
A stream of blue magic flowed from his fingertips and wrapped around Gwen's armor.
The silver armor immediately began separating from her body, breaking apart before gradually disappearing into the air.
Feeling her body suddenly become lighter, Gwen lost her balance slightly and started falling backward.
Fortunately, Viktor had expected it. He immediately extended an arm and steadily pulled Gwen into his embrace, preventing her from falling.
Watching the two of them, Kefra rolled her eyes from where she sat on the floor.
'There they go again.'
She silently complained.
'Okay, okay, I get it. You two are deeply in love.'
'Can you not be a little more low-key?'
Unfortunately, neither of them could hear her thoughts.
Not only did Viktor show no restraint, he casually slid his large hand onto Gwen's thin inner clothing.
Feeling warmth and dampness through his fingers, he realized Gwen had also been soaked with sweat.
So Viktor lightly pinched his fingers together, and a white spell rose from his fingertips.
A warm feeling gently wrapped around Gwen's entire body.
The next moment, the sweat on her body vanished along with the white magic, leaving her fresh and dry.
After that, Viktor casually waved his hand through the air.
A soft piece of clothing drifted down from above and lightly covered Gwen's body.
Watching this scene, envy couldn't help but appear in Kefra's eyes.
She was sweating buckets over here and looked at Viktor expectantly.
Blinking her eyes, she spoke in a slightly spoiled tone, "Viktor, Viktor."
"Look at your big sister here. Don't I deserve one too..."
However, Viktor ignored Kefra's attempt at acting cute and continued speaking to Gwen instead, "Now that you're the armor's owner, as long as the thought reaches it, the armor will attach itself to your body..."
Seeing this, Kefra stopped talking and wisely shut her mouth, watching the two of them with interest.
She knew now wasn't the time to interrupt the engaged couple.
Viktor was teaching Gwen how to use the armor.
The room was quiet. Only the soft crackling of the fireplace and Viktor's deep voice echoed through the space.
Viktor explained everything carefully and patiently, while Gwen listened attentively, occasionally nodding obediently to show understanding.
Soon, Viktor stopped speaking.
Finally finding an opportunity, Kefra quickly asked, "How do you know so much?"
She was genuinely curious.
Just like before in that domain.
Viktor had identified the special properties of that snowy land with only a single sentence.
But logically speaking, Viktor shouldn't have used this armor before.
Hearing Kefra's curious question, Viktor slowly raised his head and glanced at her.
His gaze was calm, yet Kefra felt something strange about it.
Viktor looked at her as if he were looking at an idiot.
Then Viktor spoke flatly, "Because my family has one too."
"Uh... sorry."
General Tisnato had participated in countless Imperial wars and was no weaker than her father Angus.
Back then, Emperor Aubrey had even wanted to personally grant Tisnato the title of General.
After all, Tisnato had fought bravely through countless battles large and small.
Although Tisnato ultimately declined the title and only requested a territory.
Even so, the head of House Tisnato was still respected by countless people.
Everyone who met him would address him as General.
Unfortunately, heroes often died young.
Now that she thought about it, the Clavenna family also had an inherited suit of armor passed down from father to son.
Thinking about it that way, it didn't seem strange at all.
While Kefra was lost in thought, Viktor found himself thinking as well.
That said, he actually had no idea what the Hellfire Armor did.
Back in the game, that thing had only been a boss. Once defeated, it disappeared.
Still, if that armor had limitations similar to the Snow Mastiff Armor...
The class issue wouldn't be difficult. Viktor could easily train himself into a second class with a bit of effort.
But because using a mage was so convenient, he had never considered other classes.
The more important issue was bloodline.
After all, various clues pointed to the likelihood that he wasn't actually a biological member of the Clavenna family.
But there was no point thinking too much about it now.
Only trying it himself would reveal the truth.
Now that everything had been explained, Viktor said to the two of them,
"Then I'll be leaving."
"Liya is still waiting for me at home."
Kefra leaned back and casually waved a hand.
"Go on, go on."
"Don't keep her waiting too long."
Viktor nodded.
One hand swept through the air, creating ripples of blue magic in the calm space.
The magic moved like a lively fish, tracing an elegant arc from top to bottom.
Under its influence, a blue magic portal appeared out of nowhere.
The center of the portal looked like a layer of rippling water, sending waves across its surface.
Just as Viktor was about to step through, he suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to Kefra.
"Remember to talk more with Gwen."
Kefra didn't think much of it but answered anyway.
"Got it, got it."
In reality?
It wasn't like she hadn't tried. Ever since Gwen changed, she had tried talking to her every day.
But the current Gwen rarely paid attention to her.
After giving his final reminder, Viktor stepped into the portal.
The magic faded, and Viktor's figure disappeared with it.
Kefra watched him vanish, then slowly stood up from the floor and stretched lazily.
Her body felt sticky all over. She needed a bath.
After all, other people had a mage husband who could save them from bathing with a single spell.
She didn't.
She could only wash herself.
Just as she was about to leave, Gwen unexpectedly spoke first.
"Where are you going?"
Kefra answered casually, "To take a bath."
'Wait.'
'Did Gwen just start a conversation on her own?'
The realization hit Kefra a moment later.
Her eyes widened as she turned around and looked at Gwen in surprise.
Wrapped in her robe, Gwen spoke again.
"I want to go with you."
Kefra blinked, completely stunned.
As if she had never expected Gwen to initiate a conversation with her.
But Gwen wasn't finished.
"There's one more thing..."
"I want to become Knight Commander again."
Looking at Gwen, Kefra's voice trembled slightly, "Gwen, are... are you asking for my opinion?"
Gwen nodded.
Kefra took several steps backward until she leaned against the sofa armrest, staring blankly at the carpet.
After a long while, she took a deep breath.
Her gaze gradually softened.
Honestly, after seeing Gwen maintain that cold attitude for so long, Kefra had already given up hope.
Because of that, she had never imagined this day would come.
A day when Gwen would take the initiative to talk to her again.
And even ask for her opinion.
It felt as though the old Gwen had returned.
Her lips trembled slightly, and her eyes shook with surprise and joy.
After a long time, Kefra took another deep breath and calmed her excitement.
"Okay."
"I'll handle it for you tomorrow."
Because this was a request from family.
Of course she would do it.
———
Viktor stood outside the Delin estate and looked up at the snow dancing across the sky.
Watching the white mist from his breath rise into the cold air and quickly disappear.
The cold wind brushed across his face.
Vega, perched on his shoulder, shook its body and spoke lazily, "So you still chose this in the end."
"Sometimes I wonder whether family means something special to you."
Yawning, Vega continued, "Otherwise, when everything was going smoothly, why throw away all your previous efforts?"
With his hands in his pockets, Viktor walked while replying, "I was never afraid of that goddess."
Otherwise, he had countless ways to solve the problem beforehand.
He could even have dealt with Gwen early and avoided all the trouble that followed.
But...
Viktor stopped walking and turned to look at the warm orange glow coming from the Delin estate.
If Gwen's heart of justice was destined to bring about the goddess's descent...
"A Valkyrie with emotions sounds pretty interesting."
The crow lowered its body and raised its mysterious black eye, glancing at Viktor in confusion.
"I really don't understand where all this confidence of yours comes from."
"Confidence?"
The corners of Viktor's mouth lifted slightly.
Amid the snowy night, his smile looked especially intense.
A deep light that looked down on everything flashed within his obsidian eyes, as though even the cold wind around him had become insignificant before his carefree laughter.
"Because I already have no opponents."