The Recorder of Type-Moon History

"Exciting?" Freya's Valkyrie tilted her head, confused.

Neil, perched on Slude's shoulder, replied matter-of-factly, "To put it simply, he feels like he's done nothing. Even though he almost killed the mountain giant Shaki with the magic sword Vlaglak, Kevin still thinks he's too weak."

"Huh?" The Valkyrie blinked, still puzzled. "Say that again? I don't understand."

"He just wants to get stronger," Slude clarified. "After watching the battle between Shaki, Skadi, Fenrir, Tyr, and the other Valkyries, he got... stimulated."

The Valkyrie's expression grew increasingly incredulous. "Wait. Wasn't Kevin the one who orchestrated the whole plan? Didn't he kill Shaki with Vlaglak?"

"Yes," Slude and Neil said in unison.

"And he still got... stimulated?"

"That's right," they replied again, nodding simultaneously.

The Valkyrie opened her mouth to respond, then hesitated. Her face turned red as she visibly restrained herself from uttering an unladylike word. After a moment, she sighed, "Well... I suppose it's not a bad thing."

She paused, glancing at Kevin sparring furiously with another warrior on the training field. "Still, he's acting like the kid in class who gets a 99% on the exam and cries because it's not a perfect score. Ambition is admirable, but seriously..."

Slude chuckled softly. "That's just how Kevin is."

As the sparring session ended and Kevin wiped the sweat from his brow, Slude leaned closer to Neil.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Neil asked softly, sensing Slude's introspection.

Slude gazed at Kevin, who stood on the battlefield with an unwavering determination. Her fingers lightly brushed the red string on her wrist—the mark of their contract. A gentle smile spread across her face.

"Yes," she said, her voice steady. "I think I have."

The Valkyrie beside her blinked. "You've found your answer? So you understand now why your elder sister gave up her identity as a Valkyrie and went to the human world?"

Slude nodded. "I understand. And... I want to talk to her."

The Valkyrie's eyes widened in surprise. "But your sister is no longer—"

"It doesn't matter," Slude interrupted, her tone resolute. "If Kevin agrees to go with me, then the gods will surely allow me to see her."

The Valkyrie stared at Slude, shocked by the sudden change in her demeanor. She had always thought of Slude as just another Valkyrie, a loyal warrior of Valhalla. But now... she seemed different.

Her gaze shifted to Kevin. As he prepared for another sparring match, his unwavering determination to improve sparked something unfamiliar in the Valkyrie's chest—a faint, unbidden emotion she couldn't quite name.

By the time Kevin left Freya's palace, the sun was already beginning to dip toward the horizon. He had half-expected Freya to make a dramatic appearance and attempt to charm him again, but she never showed.

Although curious, Kevin wasn't about to question his good fortune. Grabbing Slude's hand, he led her away quickly, eager to escape before Freya changed her mind.

Their next destination was the Eternal Garden, home to Idun, the goddess of youth. Under the shade of a massive tree, they found Idun and Skadi.

Skadi was practicing her powers, conjuring miniature blizzards in her hands. The surrounding area had already transformed into a snowy landscape.

Kevin noticed Shaki's absence and assumed the mountain giant was spending time with Fenrir, likely guarding the wolf as promised.

"Kevin, you're here!" Skadi's face lit up as soon as she saw him. She dropped what she was doing and ran over to greet him, her snowy dress billowing in the breeze. Her long purple hair, tied in a ponytail, gave her a lively air.

Seeing her cheerful expression, Kevin couldn't help but smile. The fatigue he'd carried from Freya's palace seemed to melt away.

"Are you settling in well?" he asked.

Skadi nodded eagerly. "Yes, I'm very happy here. Sister Idun has been taking great care of me and Father."

"What's this? The great wolf tamer and giant-slayer himself, worried about Skadi?" Idun teased as she approached. Her pigtails bounced as she grinned at Kevin.

The comment made Skadi blush. "Sister Idun!" she huffed, shooting her an annoyed look.

Kevin groaned. "Don't tell me that rumor reached you too."

Idun laughed. "Reached me? Kevin, every god in Asgard has heard it by now!"

Kevin buried his face in his hands. "This is never going away, is it?"

"Not a chance." Idun winked.

Desperate to change the subject, Kevin turned to the snowy field Skadi had been creating. "What were you two doing just now?"

"Just practicing her powers," Idun explained. "Since she spent so long suppressing them in that castle, Skadi's still learning to control her abilities fully. It's important for her growth."

Kevin nodded thoughtfully, recalling the snowstorm Skadi had conjured during the battle with Shaki. Her potential was immense, but her lack of experience was evident.

As he pondered, a sudden idea struck him. He turned to Skadi, his eyes gleaming.

"Skadi," he said, "do you want to learn runes?"

"Runes?" Skadi blinked in surprise.

"Yeah," Kevin said. "And while we're at it, I could teach you some combat techniques too. Close-quarters combat, maybe..."

Skadi's eyes narrowed slightly. "You mean spearmanship, don't you?"

Kevin grinned sheepishly. "Something like that."

Slude and Neil exchanged puzzled glances, but Kevin seemed determined.

"Runes can help you enhance your control over your powers," Kevin explained. "And spearmanship will give you the skills to protect yourself in close combat. Trust me, it's worth learning."

Skadi hesitated for a moment, then smiled brightly. "Okay. Teach me!"

Kevin's grin widened. "Great. Let's get started."

As Kevin began explaining the basics of runes, Idun watched from the sidelines, her arms crossed and a knowing smile on her lips.

"You really are something, aren't you, Kevin?" she murmured to herself.

In the days that followed, Kevin and Skadi trained tirelessly together. Kevin taught her the intricacies of runes and the fundamentals of spearmanship, while Skadi worked to refine her control over her icy powers.

For the first time in a long while, Kevin felt a renewed sense of purpose. It wasn't just about becoming stronger—it was about helping someone else grow.

And as they trained beneath the sprawling tree in the Eternal Garden, a quiet bond began to form between the two. Neither of them said it aloud, but both understood: this was the start of something special.

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