Danmachi: A Mage's Journey

Although they were made of ice, Akira made the inside of their limbs movable.

The dragon opened its mouth and sprayed a mist at the swordsman. The man squatted slightly, then jumped into the air under Akira's control to avoid the mist.

At the same time, Astraea narrated the battle to add some fun to the performance.

After flipping and turning a few times in the air, the Man stabbed the Dragon with a sword but it blocked it with its arm.

With a "ding" sound, the sword bounced off and fell to the side.

Then, the dragon bit the man's shoulder. To make it more realistic, Akira let the ice on his shoulder melt and water flow out.

"Oh no, it looks like the swordsman won't be able to defeat the monster. Everyone should cheer for him." Astraea said with a smile, pretending to be surprised.

"Come on!!!"×N

As if he really heard the children's cheers, the swordsman stood up and gave them a thumbs up.

Then he raised his hand and aimed at the falling ice sword. With a "swoosh", the sword flew into his hand.

Then, a faint blue light bloomed from his body, and his ordinary body instantly became covered with an armor and a cloak.

The transformation made many children exclaim.

The sword in the man's hand was surrounded by a gust of wind, and he slashed at the dragon's body, cutting it in half.

Then, amid the cheers of the children, he raised the sword in his hand, which slowly turned into ice crystals and disappeared.

Seeing this, Maria began to lead the children to applaud.

Before leaving with Astraea, Akira wanted to do one more thing.

"Maria-san, could you please come over here for a moment?" Akira waved to Maria and led her to a more secluded corner.

Maria asked with a friendly smile, "What's wrong, Akira? Is there anything you need my help with?"

Akira took out a bag of Valis from his backpack and handed it to Maria, whispering, "This is the Valis I want to donate this time, please accept it."

Although Akira was able to provide more funding, he was worried that too generous a gift would bring unnecessary trouble to the orphanage, so he deliberately kept the amount to 500,000 Valis.

When Maria took the bag, which was obviously heavier than the last time, she immediately realized that it contained a considerable fortune.

"I know you will definitely not agree with my refusal. But I want to ask why you want to help us." Maria said silently.

Hearing this, Akira said happily, "Just like Maria-san, I just do what I can. At least I am able to do something good, which makes me feel genuinely happy."

After hearing Akira's reason, Maria stood on her tiptoe and patted his head as if he were her own child.

"Thank you, Akira."

'Just this thank you is enough.' Akira thought.

When it was Astraea and Maria's turn to chat before leaving, Akira quietly stepped outside the church.

Without drawing attention, he set up several protective magic circles at the gate and surrounding areas—silent barriers meant to guard the children while he was away.

The time to depart soon arrived. Everyone in the orphanage gathered by the entrance, waving with bright smiles and teary eyes as they saw the two off.

"Brother Akira, you better come back and play with us again!" A little girl shouted, clinging tightly to her ragged but well-loved doll.

"Stay safe out there, Brother Akira!" A boy called, his voice filled with genuine worry and admiration.

Akira turned as he walked backward, waving at them with all the energy he could muster.

"No problem! I promise!"

Though they had only spent half a day together, Akira had managed to win over the hearts of the children completely.

Watching their reactions, Astraea couldn't help but notice—Akira had a natural ability to bond with children. That warmth of his… it made him instantly likable.

They walked away from the dilapidated Daedalus Street, passing through a dim alley. As they stepped out of the shadows, the narrow path opened up, and a bright expanse of blue sky filled their view.

From the ruins of the slums to the vibrancy of East Street, the shift in scenery was almost disorienting.

The air buzzed with energy—voices chatting, merchants shouting, and the sound of laughter mingling in a lively chorus. A sharp contrast to the heavy silence of where they had just been.

Walking side by side with Akira, Astraea stood out. Her serene beauty, paired with her divine presence, drew countless stares from pedestrians—some filled with admiration, others with awe.

She reached over and gently took his arm, her lips curved in a soft smile as she asked, "So, Akira, what do you plan to do next?"

"Then… will Astraea-sama go on a date with me?" Akira replied with a grin.

Standing at nearly the same height as Astraea, he only needed to tilt his head slightly to meet her gaze—eyes as clear and gentle as still water, framed by softly lifted lashes.

And then there were her lips—delicate, slightly parted—and just beneath that, if one's eyes dared to wander lower, the gentle slope of her chest that her garb didn't bother hiding much.

"A date? If other gods see us acting so intimately, they'll gossip non-stop." Astraea muttered.

Her cheeks puffed ever so slightly as she poked his arm with her smooth, fair finger.

"Didn't you say you hated being the center of attention?"

Akira gently patted her hand and sighed. "If you hadn't insisted on not letting me act like a transferred member, I wouldn't have become so conspicuous. At this point, I might as well lean into it."

"Besides, gods being affectionate with their children isn't that rare. I don't get why it bothers you."

Astraea added with a smirk and an air of teasing nonchalance, "Hmph. Even among gods, few act as close to their children as we do. Except for the weird ones… and you know who I mean."

"Let's not drift into those kinds of conversations, Astraea-sama," Akira said quickly, pointing at a charming little café just ahead.

His eyes lit up like a child spotting a rare treasure. "Let's go try that place! I haven't had coffee in this world yet."

Before she could protest, Akira slipped his arm free and took her hand, pulling her gently toward the café like an eager boy dragging his date to a favorite spot.

Feeling his fingers wrap around hers, Astraea gave an exaggerated sigh, but there was no hiding the soft smile that spread on her lips.

"Alright, alright. There's no need to rush—I'm not going to vanish. Take it slow."

But despite her words, her grip on his hand only tightened. The warmth that radiated from Akira's palm brought a flutter to her chest. It was a warmth that made her heart feel light.

"Akira." She called gently.

Hearing his name, Akira slowed his pace and turned to her, puzzled. "Hmm? What is it, Astraea-sama?"

Astraea took a few steps closer, her eyes filled with an emotion difficult to define—something deep, tender.

She leaned in, her lips brushing the edge of his ear as she whispered softly, "On this date… you don't need to call me with an honorific. Just call me by name."

At that moment, their connection subtly shifted. This was no longer the casual outing of a god and her child.

No—this was unmistakably a lover's stroll beneath a sunlit sky, hearts drawn close by something far deeper.