"That is enough."
After forcing the boy back with a wooden sword again, the blonde Sword Princess halted her movents.
"We will stop here for today... you look tired, Drake."
"Do I?"
Drake wiped sweat from his face and replied out of habit.
He had relied on combat instinct and muscle mory to endure Ais's training.
He had defeated two Monster Rex-level bosses back-to-back, draining his stamina.
If not for the scheduled training session with Ais today, he would have collapsed into bed long ago.
"You look like my Familia mbers after returning from an Expedition."
Ais put her weapon away and sat on a row of wooden crates.
"Your body will break down if you push too hard."
This phrase shared the sa profound logic as 'People die when they are killed.'
"Use the rest of the ti to rest."
Seeing Ais had no intention of continuing the training, Drake walked over and sat next to her, relaxing his body.
He had experienced many things over the past few days.
In retrospect, the Molten Festival felt like a distant mory.
For Ais, it was an experience from just a week ago.
"..."
Drake felt a small tug on his shoulder while resting his eyes.
He opened them to find the Sword Princess staring at him with golden eyes, hesitating to speak.
"Is there a problem, Miss Ais?"
"...Lap pillow, do you need one?"
"?"
"A lap pillow, like this."
Finding it hard to explain, Ais applied a little force, pulling Drake down to rest his head on her lap.
"Get up if you mind."
"Why would I mind..."
Feeling the softness behind his head and looking up at Ais's flawless face, Drake narrowed his eyes, feeling akin to ascending to heaven.
"Why did you think of a lap pillow?"
"Loki said a beautiful girl's lap pillow relieves fatigue."
"...That sounds like sothing she would say."
"Riveria locked Loki in a dark room afterward and let her out days later."
"Why? Even for Loki... the cri does not warrant that."
"I do not know."
The Sword Princess shook her head. Her smooth hair swayed in front of Drake's eyes like a golden waterfall.
"I think she was angry because Loki did not ask her for a lap pillow."
"Ah... I see."
Riveria cared a lot about her age.
Rumor had it that when Ais called her an "old hag" in her childhood... Riveria tied her up and threw her into the water under the guise of swimming training.
The thought prompted Drake to ask a question.
"By the way, can you swim, Ais?"
"..."
The Sword Princess fell into a rare silence at the question.
She turned her face away and whispered.
"As long as I take care not to fall into the water, there is no problem."
In other words, she was a complete landlubber who could not swim.
He did not expect Ais to have stubborn monts.
Perhaps because he pointed out her weakness, Ais ended the lap pillow service without rcy.
"You are improving at a rapid pace."
Before parting, Ais spoke with a serious tone.
"In terms of pure skill, you have reached my level from when I was around Lv. 4."
"Hmm... if I rember right, you are about to reach Lv. 6?"
"Before ranking up, Lv. 5 remains Lv. 5."
Ais shook her head.
"For future training, I will need full concentration to spar against you."
Drake felt joy receiving such an evaluation and earning the Sword Princess's recognition.
His constant boss battles had yielded results.
But...
"Miss Ais, you held back your strength while fighting ."
She had only ntioned his skills matching a Lv. 4.
The strength gap between a Lv. 5 Sword Princess and a Lv. 2 Drake remained massive.
"I save my full strength for monsters."
Ais pressed her hand against the sword at her waist, her tone firm.
"I would bla myself if I hurt you."
That was a pity.
Drake wanted to experience the Sword Princess's full power.
He wondered how many moves he could survive against Ais in that state.
"Right." Ais rembered sothing. "You have the strength to protect yourself, and you are a blacksmith who forges Magic Swords."
"If you want, you can join our next Expedition."
"The captain would welco a talent like you."
"Expedition..."
A vanguard exploration into the deepest parts of the Dungeon.
Drake felt surprise upon hearing the word.
"The Loki Familia returned from an Expedition a few days ago. Are you setting out again?"
"No... it is not ti for that yet."
Ais shook her head.
"The thought occurred to , so I asked for your opinion."
"My opinion... I will go if I have free ti when it happens." ... Drake's answer made Ais lift her eyebrows, radiating a happy mood.
"Good."
"I look forward... to adventuring with you in the Dungeon."
Ais's final words stirred his heart.
The exhausted Drake could not think about it, falling asleep the mont he returned to his shop.
...
"Whew... I slept for almost a full day."
Looking at the scenery covered in night, Drake felt glad he rembered to return to Terraria to take advantage of the ti difference.
Less than twelve hours had passed in the DanMachi and Black Bullet worlds.
Otherwise, he would have woken up to countless backlogged tasks.
"Mmm... Master?"
A small head poked out from Drake's blanket.
"Lili? Why are you in my bed?"
Drake rubbed his eyes, noticing a petite body climbing on top of him.
"Master looked terrible yesterday. Lili was worried."
The Pallum girl pressed her hands against Drake's chest. Her voice sounded lazy and charming.
"Good morning, Master... your weapon looks energetic. Does Lili need to help?"
"Do as you please."
Drake put his arms behind his head, enjoying Lili's maintenance service.
Defeating the Eater of Worlds and the Hive Mind back-to-back was an unexpected surprise.
With the Eater of Worlds defeated, the Terraria world now had a daily chance to trigger a "teorite Crash" event.
teorite was a mineable ore used to craft weapons and armor.
The Shadow Scales and Demonite Ore dropped by the Eater of Worlds could craft Shadow Armor.
This did not matter to Drake, who already possessed Shell Armor.
The crucial part was his ability to upgrade his mining tools, allowing him to mine Hellstone in the Underworld.
"My next exploration targets... should be the Underworld and the Sky."
Recalling the azure glow he saw when killing the Hive Mind, Drake pondered.
The blue light ant the Aerialite Ore on the Floating Islands had gained a charge and beca mineable.
Aerialite Ore stood as the final ore before Hardmode in Terraria's Calamity Mod.
Aside from crafting sky-thed equipnt, it served as a crafting material for many Calamity-exclusive items.
For example... the schematics Drake obtained from the Sunken Sea could now beco real equipnt!
"I can craft the Broken Bio Blade, Skyline Wings, Aestheticus..."
"Aerialite Bars can craft the Muramasa."
"I have the Blade of Grass I crafted before, the Light's Bane made from Demonite, the Volcano made from Hellstone Bars, plus the Muramasa..."
"I can craft the strongest pre-Hardmode lee weapon—the Night's Edge!"
High base damage, flashy and practical attack effects, a massive attack range, and a multi-weapon crafting tree...
His previous weapons were child's play.
The "Night's Edge" stood as one of the most iconic and powerful weapons in Terraria!
Not to ntion, he could use it to craft even stronger weapons later!
Thinking of this, Drake closed his eyes.
It was not because images of wielding the Zenith to slay gods appeared in his mind.
It was because Lili exerted herself.
A mont later, Drake pulled her limp, petite body into his arms.
"Good job. You worked hard."
"Hehe... Lili feels happy being able to help Master."
Releasing days of accumulated stress left Drake feeling refreshed.
Speaking of which, defeating the Eater of Worlds added new goods to the rchant's shop.
Upgraded versions of the minor potions beca available: Healing Potions and Mana Potions.
Their restoration amount doubled, and their prices increased to 10 silver coins and 2.5 silver coins, respectively...
Magic restored with ease in the Terraria world, keeping the price of Mana Potions low.
Such items remained popular in Orario, as different worlds had different conditions.
For professions, Drake unlocked a new NPC role—the Dryad!
The Dryad sold plant seeds, planter boxes, and similar goods.
She could cast the "Dryad's Blessing" buff on nearby allies.
Lacking a suitable contractor for the role, Drake planned to leave it empty for now.
He did not have a huge demand for the Dryad's goods anyway.
"According to the Dryad's lore... an elf would be the most suitable fit."
"Both are races with close ties to nature."
...
Leaving Terraria, Drake first went to the Adventurer's Guild shop.
Business flourished, requiring frequent restocks.
Lili pulled basic goods out of her own shop inventory.
Unique weapons and armor crafted from boss materials required Drake to handle them in person.
Thanks to his resounding title as the "Heroic Artisan," the shop earned a handso inco.
It ford a stark contrast with a certain Civil Security corporation whose deficit period equaled its establishnt ti.
"Ti to expand the storefront and stock so new products."
Looking at the crowded shop, Drake nodded in satisfaction, plans forming in his mind.
The matter carried no urgency. He had more pressing matters to attend to.
...
"Too slow! Civil Officers from other companies have departed!"
When Drake and Enju arrived at the office without haste, Kisara jumped around like an ant on a hot pan.
"President, this is not an elentary school spring trip. Does everyone need to leave at the sa ti?"
Drake showed no signs of panic.
The Gastrea in the Unexplored Area were endless. He saw no need to fight others for them.
"Ti is money!"
"Did you turn into a goblin?"
Drake picked up the paperwork Kisara prepared. Just as he turned to leave, a "wait" ca from behind him.
The President left her armchair and stepped forward to adjust Drake's collar.
"Make sure you return alive."
"Relax, I have no desire to die."
Drake looked down at Kisara, who revealed a rare hint of genuine emotion, and his heart stirred.
"I risk my life on this business trip... The President should offer so kind of reward."
"...What do you want?"
Kisara pondered his words. They made sense.
Even she did not underestimate the dangers of the Unexplored Area.
Drake was a newcor facing such a grueling task...
Even a black-hearted entrepreneur could not ignore that.
"Well..."
Drake chuckled, leaning in to whisper into Kisara's delicate ear.
The girl's ears turned crimson, followed by a glare full of sha and anger.
"No! I refuse—are you provoking with such a bizarre demand?!"
"Sigh..."
Seeing Kisara shake her head, Drake patted Enju's head in disappointnt.
"Enju, see that? Do not grow up to be a woman who breaks her promises."
Enju chid in with a serious tone.
"Mhm, I will never beco a busty, brainless woman who breaks her promises, brother!"
She knew how to slip personal attacks into her words at a young age. She had a bright future.
"Ugh... you two!"
Facing a joint attack from her subordinates, Kisara gritted her teeth.
"I changed my mind. If you rank first in total contribution during this operation, I will let you taste my Soma!"
"It's a deal!"
Drake agreed without hesitation.
If claiming first place ant he got to taste Kisara's Soma, he would show the other Civil Officers what a professional point farr looked like!
"I feel like I am turning into a pervert."
Riding in the vehicle Shiba Heavy Industries prepared for the operation, Drake looked out the window and sighed.
"I suppose this is the price of getting stronger."
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