[39] Unexpected visitor IV

Ghislaine and Rudeus, who had been watching the entire fight with rapt attention, now focused their gaze on the dramatic final moment with deep admiration and respect. Ghislaine, who had previously acted as the referee, gave Zephyr a nod of understanding. Meanwhile, Rudeus, mesmerised by the brilliance of the duel, quickly noted every detail in his notebook.

Despite looking exhausted and breathless, Eris maintained a respectful smile towards Zephyr. "You were truly impressive," she said, her voice still full of enthusiasm. "Your techniques are extraordinary, and you are indeed a formidable opponent."

Zephyr, with a humble attitude and a genuine friendly smile, extended his hand to help Eris stand up. "Thank you, Eris. This fight was both challenging and enjoyable. I truly appreciate the opportunity."

Ghislaine, observing their interaction closely, decided to speak. "Eris, you did your best. This fight demonstrated just how great your abilities are."

With Zephyr's assistance, Eris managed to stand again, though the fatigue was clearly evident on her face. She thanked Ghislaine and Rudeus. Her spirit remained unshaken despite the visible signs of exhaustion. Zephyr, in turn, felt satisfied with the outcome of the sparring match and looked around with a sense of accomplishment.

Rudeus, visibly impressed, couldn't help but add, "You were absolutely brilliant in withstanding those attacks!"

However, Eris's reaction was anything but satisfied. Instead, she turned towards Zephyr and pointed at him with a firm gesture. "You! One day, I will defeat you. Look forward to my progress in the future!" she declared with fervour and determination.

Zephyr was taken aback by this sudden challenge, but he responded with a warm and gentle smile. "Of course, make sure you can beat me then," he replied with confidence.

As he spoke, Zephyr reached into the pocket of his hakama and pulled out a silver pocket watch that glinted under the sunlight. He quickly checked the time, realising he was already quite late due to some important tasks he needed to complete.

The sight of Zephyr holding the round object elicited varied reactions from those present. Eris and Ghislaine appeared puzzled and intrigued by the unusual item in Zephyr's hand. Meanwhile, Rudeus looked utterly astonished, almost unable to believe what he was seeing.

Rudeus pointed a trembling finger towards the pocket watch held by Zephyr, his voice quivering with disbelief. "Is that... a pocket watch!?"

Noticing Rudeus's astonished gaze, Zephyr smiled softly. "Ah, it seems this item isn't widely known here yet. It's a pocket watch, a device that tells the current time," he explained in an informative tone. "Oh, I must be going as I still have some matters to attend to. See you next time," he added hurriedly, grabbing his shopping bag and heading towards the Roa Fortress.

With swift steps, Zephyr left them amidst their confusion and awe. Ghislaine, Eris, and Rudeus remained there, each with their own thoughts and feelings, while Zephyr disappeared into the grand fortress.

---

Meanwhile, Ash Costatine continued his journey on horseback, travelling while spreading the teachings he carried through the Bible. Given the dominance of the human race on this continent, Ash chose to disguise himself as a human named Johannes to avoid unwanted attention.

Throughout his journey to unfamiliar territories, Ash found his travels relatively smooth. However, he faced some challenges, particularly concerning the spear. In this world, spears had a notorious reputation. Since the war against demons, where Laplace and his Supred followers were known for using cursed spears, this weapon had become highly avoided. Many people in this world were reluctant to use spears due to the bad legends associated with them.

As a result, very few blacksmiths were willing to forge spears. Even when Ash tried to purchase a spear at one place, he found that the available spears were outdated and poorly maintained, with very cheap prices.

For this reason, Ash decided to craft his own spear. With a substantial amount of funds and his connections, Ash obtained a rare material known as Adamanitne. This material was then melted and forged using special techniques. The spear was not only processed with holy energy but also designed with unique features. Its handle was slightly flexible, the tip had the ability to explode when necessary, and the spear even had the capability to return to its owner after use.

The spear was named Gungir.

Creating this spear required meticulous skill and high expertise. Without Ciel's guidance, Ash felt confident that he would never have been able to produce a weapon of such quality. Additionally, Zephyr's black katana and Aurelia's magic staff were also crafted using high-quality materials from this world, employing special forging techniques that only Ash knew thanks to Ciel.

Suddenly, a cold mechanical voice echoed in Ash's head as he rode through the grassy plains.

[Master, it seems you have been relying on me quite a lot lately.]

Ash responded with a mix of frustration and admiration. "Of course! Do you think I know how to run a company? Or how to forge weapons? You know, I graduated in advanced physics!"

He continued to ride his horse with enthusiasm, unable to suppress his gratitude for Ciel's assistance.

[Haah~]

"Hey, why do I hear you sighing? Ciel!" Ash commented, his voice curious and slightly anxious. "If you're feeling uncomfortable, just say so."

Despite Ash's attempts to engage in conversation, Ciel remained unresponsive throughout the day. The cold mechanical voice only appeared occasionally, making Ash feel that the AI system might be in a rest mode or exhausted, whether from overwork or simply being lazy.

Meanwhile, Ash's journey continued at a steady pace. The horse he rode moved steadily across the vast plains under the clear sky. Ciel's presence in his head added a touch of advanced technology, yet did not diminish the beauty and serenity of the surrounding nature.

---