Ren Isana's forging speed was getting faster and faster, let alone for a weapon like a dagger. After forging Megumi Kato's weapon, it was time to move on to the others.
Ren didn't name Megumi Kato's dagger something like the Azoth Sword. After all, it merely looked similar, and that name was simply too cursed.
Whoever gifts it gets stabbed by it. To avoid Megumi Kato stabbing him with it in the future, it was best to stay as far away from that cursed name as possible. Regardless, upon receiving her new weapon, Megumi Kato was pleasantly surprised.
However, this weapon looked more like a short sword, didn't it? Megumi Kato swung the short sword in her hand and nodded in satisfaction.
"Thank you!" Expressing her gratitude, Megumi Kato happily walked away with her new weapon. Next, Ren continued to forge weapons for the other classmates one after another.
Furthermore, he was forging several blades simultaneously. With his initial experience, his forging speed had increased significantly.
For the entire day, Ren stayed within the Familia's headquarters forging weapons. In just one day, he managed to forge weapons for more than twenty classmates.
Once the final weapon was completed, Ren finally spoke up. "Let's call it a day for now. Time to head back and rest."
After such a busy day, even Ren was exhausted. However, one more day of hard work tomorrow should be enough to finish forging weapons for everyone.
"Thank you for your hard work." Hearing his words, Asuna stepped forward and handed him a clean towel. Everyone had seen just how incredibly busy Ren had been today.
Ren took the towel from Asuna, wiped the sweat off his face, and said, "You all should go back and rest too. I'll continue with the rest tomorrow."
Hearing his words, the group nodded in agreement. No one had any objections. After all, they couldn't exactly ask him to pull an all-nighter forging weapons, right? They weren't in that much of a rush.
After bidding the group goodnight, Ren returned to his own room alone. He took a comfortable, relaxing shower, then laid down on his bed and began to recover.
This was entirely due to Ren's terrifying recovery capabilities. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to forge more than half the weapons in a single day; it would have normally taken at least four or five days to complete.
However, thanks to the Goliath's innate trait, Ren's comprehensive recovery abilities were now absolutely explosive. This was what gave him the stamina to forge weapons for half the people in just one short day.
It was worth noting that, apart from meal times at noon, Ren had basically never stopped. If it were an ordinary person enduring such insane consumption, they would have collapsed long ago.
The night passed without a word. When the second day arrived, Ren woke up early and started his work. He busied himself as if nothing had happened; after a single night's sleep, all of yesterday's exhaustion had completely vanished.
Furthermore, Ren discovered that his strength had increased slightly. Does this mean that yesterday's blacksmithing also counted as training? This was simply too awesome.
"Ren Isana, aren't you tired?" This abnormality was quickly noticed by Yukino Yukinoshita. Seeing him acting completely fine left her somewhat shocked.
"Not at all. A night of [Meditation] and everything is fully recovered. Let's hurry up and get everyone's weapons forged today." After saying that, Ren resumed his busy work.
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at him with a strange expression. To be honest, she was genuinely curious about this guy's exact status parameters right now.
Not only were his upper limits for Magic Power and True Qi terrifyingly high, but even his recovery speed was absurdly strong. She highly suspected whether Ren was even human.
But on second thought, she dismissed the idea. If Ren wasn't human, he would have been exposed long ago. After all, the school's annual medical checkups were no joke.
Let's just assume he's a special case, Yukino thought to herself, deciding not to dwell on the issue any further. She continued to help Ren out.
She started assisting him by processing the remaining materials. They couldn't help with the actual forging, so they could only share his burden by handling these preparatory tasks.
While Ren was earnestly hammering away at the anvil, several figures appeared outside the Hestia Familia's headquarters. The visitors were none other than Ais, Riveria, and Lefiya.
This time, Ais had come to officially request an apprenticeship, accompanied by the vice-captain, Riveria. Riveria was here to execute the plan Finn Deimne had previously proposed.
When the three of them arrived at the Hestia Familia, they were slightly taken aback. The Familia's estate was enveloped by a massive Magic Circle, and there didn't seem to be anyone standing guard.
The three exchanged glances before stepping inside. The moment they entered, Ren and the others immediately sensed them. However, there was no need for Ren to deal with it personally.
Someone quickly stepped out to check. Sora happened to be nearby, and she was the first to run over and see who had arrived. However, when she saw Ais and Lefiya, she froze in surprise for a moment.
"Lefiya?" Sora looked at the visitors in astonishment. She truly hadn't expected Ais and Lefiya to show up, along with an unfamiliar elf who was presumably also from the Loki Familia.
"Excuse the intrusion, Miss Sora. We are looking for Mr. Ren Isana. Is he present?" Lefiya also remembered Sora's name. After all, she had been the one asking the most questions back then.
"Looking for Ren?" Sora glanced at Ais. Don't tell me she's here to fight him again? At that thought, Sora couldn't help but mutter to herself.
Nevertheless, she decided to inform Ren first. She raised her hand, gathering her Magic Power, and directly sought out Ren's mana signature before speaking. "Class Rep, that person named Ais is here to see you again."
Watching Sora's actions, a flash of surprise crossed Riveria's eyes. Can she communicate with others simply by gathering Magic Power in her hand? No... she's communicating through the Magic Circle on the ground.
"Ais? Then bring her in!" After hearing Sora's report, Ren reached out with his senses and discovered that Riveria had tagged along as well. This left him feeling rather perplexed.
However, visitors were guests; he couldn't just chase them away, right? Ren told Sora to lead them over and then went back to hammering the metal.
Hearing Ren's instruction, Sora promptly replied, "Alright, got it." She then turned to the guests. "Please follow me. Our Class Rep is busy right now, so I'll take you to him."
With that said, Sora turned around and led the trio toward Ren's location. As they neared his workshop, the rhythmic clinking of iron being hammered filled the air.
Hearing the sound, the three of them were taken aback. They also noticed quite a few people bustling in and out, busy with tasks, which caught them off guard.
"This is...?" Riveria looked at the scene in astonishment. They're forging equipment? The Hestia Familia possesses such craftsmanship?
While they were pondering this, Ren walked out from the workshop. He was holding a Red Potion and casually drinking it like a beverage. He looked at the trio with an inquiring gaze.
"Master!" When Ais saw Ren, her eyes immediately lit up, and she called out "Master" without hesitation. Ren, who was mid-drink, was left somewhat speechless.
"Don't go calling me that, I haven't agreed to anything yet!" Ren looked at her with a helpless expression. She had mentioned wanting to become his apprentice before, but he hadn't expected her to actually be serious about it.
Moreover, Riveria had even accompanied her. Did no one in the Loki Familia object? Ren couldn't help but feel curious as he shifted his gaze toward Riveria.
Riveria had been observing Ren the entire time. She had to admit, he was incredibly handsome. Furthermore, anyone capable of defeating Ais possessed potential that went without saying.
"Hello. I am Riveria, the vice-captain of the Loki Familia. I apologize for the trouble this child has caused you," Riveria stepped forward to introduce herself, offering an apology on Ais's behalf.
Ren waved his hand dismissively at Riveria's words. He didn't mind the intrusion. What he was truly curious about was why the Loki Familia hadn't stopped Ais.
"I'm quite curious. Ais wants to take me as her master—did your Familia really not try to stop this?" Ren voiced his doubts.
Faced with Ren's question, the corners of Riveria's mouth curled up into a slight smile as she explained. "We wouldn't stop her. If this is what Ais wishes to do, we naturally support her."
"Even though your two patron deities are on bad terms?" Ren raised an eyebrow, looking at Riveria in surprise. Did Loki really not object?
Logically speaking, Loki should have been the very first person to violently oppose this. When Riveria heard Ren's question, she immediately realized he was a sharp individual.
She nodded and said with a smile, "This is, after all, a matter between us children. It doesn't involve the patron deities, does it? Besides, I don't believe the relationship between the two goddesses is quite as terrible as it seems."
Hearing Riveria phrase it like that, Ren roughly grasped their true intentions. The apprenticeship request was genuine, but their desire to establish friendly relations with Ren's group was equally genuine.
Furthermore, Loki had probably consented to this, but her pride wouldn't allow her to show face. As a compromise, she had simply sent Riveria and Ais over with the underlying goal of building ties with the Hestia Familia.
The bickering between gods had little to do with their children. If one Familia allied with another, what did that have to do with the deities? But what exactly do we possess that makes them want to go this far?
After a moment of thought, Ren formulated a guess. Is it because of our original world? He had pretty much figured out their angle.
"Can I become your apprentice?" Right at that moment, Ais spoke up again, bringing the topic back to her request. Her eyes shone with anticipation.
Hearing Ais's plea, Ren remained silent for a moment before replying, "As for me, I'll pass. However, I can introduce you to another teacher."
Ren rejected her straight out. Teaching Ais himself was out of the question; he didn't have that kind of free time when he was still learning things himself.
But since he understood what the Loki Familia was aiming for, Ren figured he could just drag the school teachers into this mess. Surely, they wouldn't mind taking on another student.
A heavy disappointment flashed across Ais's eyes at Ren's words. She had been rejected. But standing beside her, Riveria's eyes lit up brightly.
Introduce her to another teacher? Could it be... She recalled the two women she had seen earlier. Is it one of them?
If it was one of them, it might actually be even more fitting.
During the previous incident when she had gone to pick up Loki, she had naturally caught a glimpse of Yor Forger and Natsuki Minamiya. If Ren genuinely intended to introduce one of those two powerhouses to Ais, this deal was an absolute steal no matter how she looked at it.
"Instructor Yor, could you come here for a second?" Ren called out. Not long after his voice echoed, a figure appeared by his side.
"Did you need something, Ren?" Yor had been nearby. Hearing Ren call her, she had immediately rushed over.
Seeing that it was indeed one of the women she suspected, Riveria was overjoyed. She also mentally noted the name. Yor, is it? I'll remember that.
"Instructor Yor, would you be interested in taking on a student? What do you think of her?" Ren pointed at Ais, presenting her to Yor.
Yor looked slightly confused at the proposal. Her, taking Ais as a student? It didn't seem appropriate, considering the girl wasn't from their world. Just as Yor was about to decline—
Natsuki Minamiya's voice suddenly echoed out. "I think it's a fine idea. Yor, just go ahead and teach her a bit. She is a rather capable student."
Natsuki Minamiya had been keeping an eye on Ren's situation. She had noticed the moment the Loki Familia members set foot inside the compound, so she was fully aware of their conversation.
What Ren could figure out, she could naturally deduce as well. And she wholeheartedly supported the idea. Letting the girl receive Yor's instruction worked out perfectly.
Hearing Natsuki Minamiya's endorsement, Yor immediately nodded in agreement. She rarely overthought things. If Natsuki-dear said it was okay, then she would accept the student.
"No problem at all. From now on, you can come and learn from me." After officially accepting Ais as her student, Yor smiled gently. Her acceptance filled Riveria with immense delight.
"Ais, quickly, greet your master! Yor is incredibly strong!" Prompted by Riveria's words, Ais snapped to attention and hurriedly bowed deeply to Yor.
"Master." Ais was highly respectful. Although she didn't fully grasp the underlying reasons for all of this, she knew Riveria would never lie to her. If Riveria said Yor was strong, then she had to be monstrously strong, right?
"You guys can chat, I'm going back to work." Seeing that the matter was settled, Ren decided not to interfere any further. Natsuki Minamiya would naturally take over the situation from here.
Ren currently had zero free time to babysit them. Having washed his hands of the affair, he turned around and walked back into his workshop to resume forging equipment.
Natsuki Minamiya then spoke up, "Let's go. We can head over there and have a chat. Yor, you can go spar with her a bit to get a feel for her strength."
Natsuki Minamiya addressed the first half of her sentence to Riveria, and then issued her instructions to Yor. Hearing this, Yor nodded cheerfully. "Okay, Natsuki-dear!"
Yor's form of address caused Natsuki Minamiya's face to darken. She said in severe annoyance, "I have told you many times, stop adding 'dear' to the end of people's names!"
She had known Yor for many years, and she had been repeating that exact phrase for just as many years. But no matter how much she scolded her, Yor never changed, stubbornly doing things her own way.
Faced with Natsuki Minamiya's scolding, Yor just giggled mischievously. She then gestured for Ais to follow her; she was going to take the girl to test her mettle. Meanwhile, Natsuki Minamiya led Riveria to the main hall where the group usually gathered.
Seeing the situation, Lefiya pondered for a moment before deciding to follow Ais. She was immensely curious to see exactly what kind of strength Ais's new master possessed.
She quickly caught up to Ais's side. Shortly after, Yor stopped walking and turned to face Ais. "Well then, Miss Ais, please come at me with everything you have. Attack me with the intent to kill, okay?"
As soon as Yor's words fell, Ais felt a bone-chilling cold wash over her. She stared at the teacher standing quietly before her, her pupils shrinking to pinpricks.
What an overwhelming aura! Ais was shocked to her core, but that shock quickly morphed into blazing excitement. Ren had introduced her to an incredibly, unbelievably powerful master!
With that realization, Ais cast aside all hesitation. With a solemn expression, she drew her rapier and called out, "Instructor Yor, I'm in your care. O wind!"
The moment the incantation left her lips, Ais began to channel her magic without a second thought. A pale green aura of Magic Power enveloped her entire body. In the next instant, she shot forward, charging directly at Yor.
Harboring the sheer intent to kill, Ais launched her full-force assault. She knew perfectly well that her opponent wasn't joking around. Therefore, Ais aimed straight for Yor's vitals.
Yor simply watched quietly as Ais barreled toward her. The exact moment Ais's weapon swung down, a dagger materialized in Yor's hand, effortlessly parrying the incoming strike.
"Your speed is quite good, but your strength is far too lacking," Yor's voice chimed. In the very next second, Ais felt a devastating impact strike her body. She was sent flying backward like a ragdoll, a mouthful of fresh blood spraying from her lips...