Several months slipped away amidst the clashing of blades and the brilliance of the Holy Light.
When the first snow of the season arrived in Olivius City, the rigorous, almost cruel training finally came to a temporary halt.
Winter in Olivius City had a flavor all its own.
In the Upper District, the magnificent mansions were covered by a thin layer of white snow, as if draped in a holy silver veil.
The streets were swept clean by magic, leaving behind almost no trace of mud. The carriages of the nobles rolled smoothly along the cobblestone paths, their wheels emitting a faint *crunch* as they pressed into the light snow.
Every house glowed with a warm, orange light from the windows, where the presence of a Magic Heater kept the bitter cold at bay, making the interiors as warm as spring.
Here, the snowflakes were more like ornaments, adding a sense of fairy-tale tranquility and elegance to the luxurious district.
In contrast, the Lower City presented an entirely different scene.
Snow fell upon crowded rooftops, only to be quickly melted by the heat rising from the chimneys, dripping steadily down the roof tiles.
On the streets, the snow was trampled into a muddy slush by the constant flow of pedestrians, yet the area was filled with life and vitality.
Thanks to the popularization of fire magic and its relatively low mana consumption, even the most ordinary families could kindle a small flame in their fireplaces that would not go out for a long time, or use simple heaters to fend off the winter chill.
The air was thick with the aroma of roasted potatoes and hot porridge, and vendors set up stalls along the streets, shouting to sell steaming-hot food.
Children wrapped in cotton coats chased one another through the alleys, leaving behind strings of footprints of varying depths.
Winter here lacked the elegance of the Upper District, but it was filled with the warm, grounded atmosphere of everyday life. Even the poor in the Slums would, at the very least, not freeze to death on the streets.
It was during this early winter that Cedric temporarily left Olivius City due to urgent matters within the Church.
This sudden change allowed Helos and Julius, who had been in a constant state of tension, to finally enjoy a long-awaited vacation.
Thus, taking Gavi with them, the two returned to the duke’s mansion after a long absence.
“Phew — nothing beats the comfort of home!”
Helos threw herself onto the Hammock outside the workshop, letting out a satisfied sigh. “It’s just a shame I can’t sleep in the Hammock at night anymore…”
She looked up at the gray sky, feeling the rare warmth of the winter sun. She felt as though every pore in her body was opening up in relaxation.
Julius sat nearby, meticulously wiping his longsword. After several months of tempering, his temperament had become more composed.
The greenness of youth had faded slightly from his features, replaced by the steadfastness of a knight.
Gavi stood silently behind Helos like a shadow. She wore a well-fitted maid outfit, her pale gold hair swaying gently in the breeze. Her half-painted face looked soft and serene under the sunlight.
“Hey, dummy Julius.”
Helos spoke lazily, her voice tinged with teasing. “Say, with our current level, if we went to challenge Werner, how many moves do you think we could last?”
Julius’s hand paused for a moment as he wiped the blade. He looked up, a glimmer of thought flashing in his black eyes.
“How many moves?”
He repeated the question, and then his lips curled into a confident arc. “Our goal is not as simple as ‘lasting a few moves’.”
“Oh?”
Helos raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. “So you think we can win?”
“Winning might be hard to say.” Julius shook his head, but his gaze was exceptionally firm. “But to earn his recognition — I think we already have the qualification for that.”
Several months of special training had long since transformed them. He was no longer the Squire who only knew basic swordsmanship and rudimentary magic, and Helos was no longer the delicate young lady who couldn’t even hold a sword steady.
“That’s true.” Helos nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with eagerness. “Then how about… we go find him and try right now?”
“Now?” Julius was stunned for a moment. “Aren’t we going to wait for the teacher to return?”
“If we wait for him to get back, our vacation will be over!” Helos argued righteously. “Besides, when it comes to a challenge, you have to strike while the iron is hot!”
Just as the two were enthusiastically discussing their grand plan to challenge Werner, a familiar yet unexpected voice suddenly drifted from the path in the courtyard.
“Oh my, it sounds like I’ve overheard quite the scandalous plan.”
Both of them froze at the same time and looked toward the source of the voice. They saw a tall figure walking slowly toward them.
The newcomer wore practical leather armor, and her ash-silver hair was tied into a neat, high ponytail. Her green eyes shone exceptionally bright in the sunlight.
Her face bore a trace of exhaustion from travel, but her lips held a bright, familiar smile.
“M-Milda?!”
Helos’s eyes widened in surprise, and she practically bounced out of the Hammock. “What are you doing here?!”
Julius also showed an expression of surprise.
“Why wouldn’t I be here?” Milda looked at her with amusement and spread her hands.
“I’m here to deliver a shipment. I forgot to tell you, ever since I helped you forge those golem parts, that girl Mira has been talking nonsense everywhere while she shops.”
“As a result, it seems my reputation has spread through the Upper District. I’ve received quite a few orders from noble lords lately, including a commission from your duke’s mansion.”
As she spoke, her gaze drifted between Helos and Julius, a hint of hard-to-detect surprise flashing in her eyes.
Although she wasn’t very familiar with Julius, she had seen him a few times over the past few months and had a basic understanding of him.
“I haven’t seen you for a few months, but you two little rascals… feel like completely different people.” She marveled, walking a circle around them.
“Before, you just looked like two kids with a bit of cleverness. But now, this aura… tsk tsk. Especially you, Julius. I feel like before long, you’ll be worthy of the title ‘Saint Knight’.”
Julius felt a bit embarrassed by her scrutiny and scratched his head. “You flatter me.”
Milda’s gaze finally fell upon Gavi, who was standing quietly to the side. When she saw Gavi’s appearance clearly, even she, with all her experience, couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.
The golem before her was already worlds apart from the cold shell in her memory. The well-fitted maid outfit, the painted half-face, the pale gold hair…
If it weren’t for the metal mask and the unique texture of her skin, Milda would have almost thought this was a living person.
“Is… is that the golem?” Milda’s voice carried a hint of disbelief. “The change is too vast. Second young lady, what on earth did you do to her?”
“Heh heh, trade secret,” Helos said, wagging her finger proudly.
Just then, Lille’s voice came from nearby. She was carrying tea and snacks, walking toward them.
“Second young lady, Master Julius, Miss Milda, please have some tea.”
Seeing this, Gavi immediately took a step forward.
With movements that were smooth and natural, she took the tray from Lille’s hands, turned, and arranged the tea and snacks one by one on the stone table.
The entire process was as fluid as flowing water, without the slightest bit of clumsiness.
Milda watched, dumbfounded. “She… she can even do this?”
“More than that,” Julius added coolly from the side. “Her maid skills are probably more proficient than most of the maids in the mansion.”
“Not only that!” Helos’s tone became even more boastful. She gave Gavi a meaningful look. “Gavi, show Sister Milda the results of your training over the past few months.”
Gavi nodded and set down the teacup. She took the longsword that Julius handed over.
“This is…?”
Before Milda could react, Gavi moved. Her figure was as fast as lightning, and the longsword in her hand drew silver afterimages in the air.
Cleaving, hacking, stabbing, parrying — every movement was precise to the extreme, the sound of the blade piercing the air ringing out continuously.
Her footwork was even more unpredictable, flickering like a phantom one moment and standing as firm as a mountain the next. It was no longer mere Swordsmanship, but an art of combat.
Milda was completely stunned. As a blacksmith, her understanding of weapons and combat far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Moreover, she herself was not incapable of fighting. She could clearly see that every one of Gavi’s movements contained lethal power and skill.
“She… she’s actually a master?” Milda’s voice was full of shock.
“How about it? Impressive, right?” Helos’s face was written with pride, like a parent showing off their child.
Milda remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long breath. She walked several circles around Gavi, her gaze becoming fervent and focused, as if she were admiring a peerless work of art.
“Impressive… it’s more than just impressive.” She muttered to herself, her green eyes flashing with fanatical light. “This is simply a perfect shell born for combat.”
Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks and snapped her head toward Helos, a spark of unprecedented excitement erupting in her eyes.
“Second young lady!” Her voice trembled slightly with excitement. “Since Gavi is a golem, her body can be modified, right?”
“Modified?” Helos blinked.
“Yes!” Milda’s breathing became rapid.
“Since she’s a golem, relying on just a sword isn’t enough! Think about it, if her arms could turn into blades, if a Magic Array for quick-casting spells was engraved on her palms, or even if her legs were modified into thrusters for instant bursts of speed…”
The more she spoke, the more excited she became, as if she could already see a fully armed combat doll standing before her.
Milda didn’t seem to notice the expressions of Helos and Julius, whose mouths were slowly hanging open.
Helos subconsciously glanced at Gavi and suddenly noticed that Gavi had actually taken a quiet step back away from Milda.
When the golem realized her master was looking at her, she actually shook her head slightly, a hint of — er, fear appearing in her eyes?
Seeing Gavi’s rare reaction, Helos somehow found it a bit comical. However, she quickly stopped Milda’s long-winded speech, fearing she might scare Gavi away.
“Uh, Sister Milda, your proposal is certainly good, but I don’t have any plans for a full-scale modification of Gavi for the time being.”
“However,” Helos continued, “perhaps I could ask you to help forge two blades that can be installed on Gavi’s arms, ones that can be hidden — or swords would work too.”
“That way, she won’t have to carry weapons with her all the time, and they can be put to use in sudden combat.”