The Recorder of Type-Moon History

Freya noticed Neil's pitiful gaze and chuckled lightly. Stroking the little bird's head, she smiled and gestured toward Kevin.

"Go," she said.

Neil, relieved, wasted no time flying out of Freya's hand. She quickly landed atop Kevin's head and, in a fit of pent-up frustration, pecked his head several times with her tiny beak.

"Ouch! Neil, stop! I'm sorry, okay?!" Kevin cried, shielding his head with his hands. In an attempt to deflect her anger, he quickly changed the subject. "By the way, Neil, how come you don't seem affected by Lady Freya's charm?"

It was a casual question, but Neil paused, tilting her tiny head before replying nonchalantly, "Oh, that's because Lady Freya gave me a blessing the day before yesterday."

"...Huh?" Kevin stopped in his tracks, blinking in confusion. "A blessing?"

"Yeah," Neil replied as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "She protected me."

"Protected you... from what?"

"From charm," Neil said, her tone implying it should've been self-evident.

Kevin froze for a moment, then grabbed Neil off his head and held her up in front of him, staring incredulously. "Wait...how many blessings have you received in total?"

Neil tapped her tiny beak with a wing, pretending to think. "Hmm, let me count. One, two, three... Oh! I think this is my fifth."

"Fifth?!" Kevin's jaw dropped. "I only have two! How do you have five?!"

"That's because..." Slude's voice interrupted as she approached with a Valkyrie at her side. She smirked as she continued, "...Neil is the easiest way to keep tabs on you."

Kevin turned to her, still holding Neil, his expression a mix of betrayal and disbelief. "What?!"

"You're... well, special," Slude said with a raised brow. "Because of your unique nature, most spells can't track you. So they've resorted to monitoring Neil instead."

Kevin's eye twitched, glancing back at the bird in his hands. "You're a spy?"

Neil looked equally indignant. "I didn't ask for the blessings! They just kept giving them to me! What was I supposed to do? Say no?"

Kevin groaned and gently set Neil back on his head. "Great. My bird lives a better life than I do."

The Valkyrie beside Slude chuckled. "Well, technically, she is better protected. You should be grateful. Neil's blessings ensure she can enter and leave places you can't, and that benefits you too."

"Yeah, sure," Kevin muttered, rolling his eyes. He gently poked Neil's side with a finger. "Little Miss Favorite."

Neil slapped his hand away with a wing, glaring at him. "Not my fault I'm more popular than you."

As they approached the palace, Kevin sighed, his earlier annoyance fading into determination. He stopped joking, picked up a training spear from the armory, and joined the warriors in the training arena.

The palace warriors had initially been cold to Kevin. To them, he was just a mortal, albeit a favored one. However, over time, Kevin had earned their respect the only way warriors knew how—by proving himself in combat.

Meanwhile, Neil flew from Kevin's head to perch on Slude's shoulder. She glanced back at Kevin, now sparring in the arena, and asked, "Where's Lady Freya? Why isn't she here?"

"She has other matters to attend to today," the Valkyrie answered.

Neil squinted. "You're telling me Lady Freya let Kevin off the hook that easily?"

"Not exactly," Slude said, crossing her arms. "Freya is... playing the long game. She knows overly aggressive behavior would only push Kevin further away."

"So she's playing hard to get?"

"More or less," the Valkyrie replied with a shrug. "Besides, Lady Freya isn't in a rush. She has time to spare."

"But what is Freya doing today?" Neil asked, her curiosity piqued.

The Valkyrie exchanged a glance with Slude before smirking. "Oh, she's busy rallying supporters to pester Lord Loki. Something about revenge for a prank he pulled ages ago."

Neil blinked in disbelief. "And Kevin doesn't know about this?"

"Not a clue," Slude said with a faint smile. "And we're not going to tell him. Let him focus on his training."

Neil turned her attention back to Kevin, watching as he sparred fiercely with another warrior.

"Don't you think you've been a bit hard on him lately?" the Valkyrie beside Slude asked, her voice tinged with concern. "He's been through a lot. Shouldn't he rest for a while?"

"Of course we think so," Slude replied with a sigh, her gaze fixed on Kevin. "But Kevin doesn't."

"What do you mean?"

Slude gestured toward Kevin, who had just defeated his opponent and immediately challenged the next warrior in line.

"Look at him. Ever since the incident with Shaki, Kevin's been training non-stop. He's pushing himself harder than ever."

"Because of what happened?" the Valkyrie asked, puzzled.

Slude nodded. "Yes. Even though the entire Nine Realms is singing his praises, Kevin isn't satisfied. That event... it stimulated something in him."

"Stimulated?"

Slude's expression softened, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Kevin doesn't just want to be famous or strong. He wants to be strong enough to make a real difference, to control his own fate. He sees his current achievements as just... not enough."

The Valkyrie fell silent, watching Kevin intently. "I see."

Neil, perched quietly on Slude's shoulder, couldn't help but glance at Kevin with a newfound understanding.

As Kevin faced off against yet another warrior, his determination was clear. The title of Man of Miracles was not enough for him. He wanted more—something that went far beyond mere recognition.

Even as sweat poured down his face and his muscles strained under the relentless pace, Kevin fought with the fire of someone chasing an elusive goal.

Watching him, Slude whispered softly, almost to herself, "He's driven... but I just hope he doesn't burn himself out."

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