“Muu~!” Univa lets out a groan of anger while stomping her feet.

Xero was blushing while having beside him Ashley hugged his arm while Meldie walked beside him with a large bag to carry food.

“Stop pouting already.” Ashley said.

“This was supposed to be just me and Xero!” Univa said.

Ashley snorted, “You were never alone from the get go since I and your dragon are right here.” Ashley said.

Her clothing were her common swordswoman dress, Meldie was wearing a one piece dress while Univa was wearing a casual fluttery shirt and skirt and her hair was made up and she looked ready to date.

“I-I just need to buy food ingredients…” Meldie said blushing greatly while fidgeting.

Univa was extremely furious, “You two are obstructions.” She out right said.

“Grahh~!” a growl came from the Blue white creature that didn’t remove itself from hugging Xero.

“YOU AS WELL!” She said pointing at the little creature.

“Grah!” It shouted at her.

This creature, that was formed of flames starting from a small blue pointed stone at the end of the ‘tail’ was formed of flames and had a round face like a wooden mask with large eyes, two small nose holes and a large grinning mouth for the head while flames gush out as ‘hair’. The body was held together by two ‘ribs’. It also had two hands that were separate from the body and formed by a similar stone at its wrist and its hands are formed by flames except the fingers that were similar to head.

This creature was none other than the Sentient Holy Sword Devil Flame. Previously, when it had been truly formed, it was simply a sentient wisp of flame that was violent towards Ashley but after being tempered along with Ashley for dozens of times its body had already been prepared and the breakthrough refined its soul. In fact, if the Flame had not evolved Ashley wouldn’t as well.

After she appeared yesterday, shocking them all, Night was called since he knew some about it but he couldn’t help out here since he never met a young Sword Devil.

That said, one thing that was noticed was that the flame hated Ashley but was almost madly in love with Xero and was almost always attached to him. It was like a newborn towards its father or parent, though Ashley wasn’t considered the mother.

“Grah! Grah!” She shouted.

“Hmph, a baby doesn’t have the right to be around Xero.” She said.

“GRAH! GRAH!” the little flame spirit shouted.

“Alright alright, stop you both. You go back to sleep.” Ashley said and pointed at the spirit.

“Grah!” it shouted.

“Don’t get cheeky with me.” Ashley pointed at her and suddenly the little spirit bit her finger. “Ouch!” She said and pulled but the little flame had a hard bite and was stuck to her finger while Ashley waved her hand around until the flame spirit finally released and flew right at Xero’s face and hugged him like a cat on her favorite owner.

“Damn little!” Ashley cursed as her finger was burned white, an effect the Holy Sword Devil Fire has on her. It was truly a power that has many downsides if not for the fact that towards devils it would be the most destructive force.

The only difference, from what Xero and the others know, is that this little spirit wasn’t as violent towards Ashley as she ‘should’ since she only burns Ashley if she insults or does something that it doesn’t like, one thing is being used by Ashley which is why all attacks would burn her if the spirit wanted.

The white finger returns to a light blue as before but she glared at the little spirit that looked at her and from its mouth a small tongue of flame extended before she rubbed Xero’s cheek with her head.

Xero sighed, “Alright Ignia, it’s hard to walk with you blocking half my face.” He said to the little Flame Spirit, having named her Ignia mainly because Ashley was female so as a result, her flame ‘should’ be the same but he was prepared for it to be male, as unnerving as that sounded.

The little flame, turning smaller, made Xero feel bad and with one finger, caressed the head, “Go rest for now.” He said.

“Grah!” She happily said and turned, glaring at Ashley, before turning into a ball of flame that separated into two before jumping into the two flames on Ashley’s horns.

“Good, one of the obstacles are gone.” Ashley opening said only for the two flames to suddenly burst and cover her head making her yelp and ‘try to slap it off’ only to burn her hand as well as slap herself.

“Gagagagaga!” The laugh echoed from the flame as it lowered, showing Ashley with a white skin face, releasing smoke.

“THIS LITTLE! ARG!” She shouted wanting to grab the two flames on her horns and snuff them.

Meldie looked the other way while covering her mouth while trembling, something that wasn’t missed by Ashley making her glare. “What is so funny half pint?” She asked coldly.

“N-n-nothing!” She flinched and looked at Ashley with a poker face but there was some sweat on her face.

“We should go.” Xero said trying to push them on because they were in the middle of the streets and there were people looking at them, especially women who giggled, and some men who did catcalls towards him and shouted jokes.

His ears were red as he heard some of them so he could only wish for them to move quicker to the food market to help Meldie first, but she didn’t leave after that, so he took all three to a diner, that was quite expensive since they bring goods from outside into the dungeon and make many sweet goods that women and girls like. Ashley prefered hard liquor though.

Although Univa wasn’t completely satisfied, she was, at least, able to push Ashley to the side and, after much inner conflict, asked him to walk holding hands. She wasn’t brazen like Ashley who hugged him while stuffing her boobs on him.

Like that, the three spend the day on a date that was very normal.

***

At the same time that Xero was enjoying the town, Zip was at an extremely constricting place after waking up on the same day as Xero but just later than him.

In a room with some of the greatest powers of each nation, institute or religious order, he was at the center of it because of his power to do breakthroughs.

Of course, unlike what he expected, Morgan Lurian, the king of his own nation, was standing in for him while the Domina Firm was putting pressure on the other nobles to not pass their bounds.

“What!?” The nobles roared after something the King said. “You expect us to pay 100 gold each tempering, 500 gold each forging and 5,000 gold for breakthroughs!” the noble shouted.

“No, I expect anyone below level 30 to pay that. It was clearly stated that he cannot make a breakthrough for anyone above his own rank. In other words, he cannot make anyone break through who is level 40 or above. Only after he grows above that. I clearly said that. The price of breakthroughs will go up each level because it is another powerhouse for a nation.” The king said.

“And what about your people!?” the noble shouted.

Morgan grinned, “I already have my own personal contract with Sir Null, as for ‘what’ the contract is, it has nothing to do with you all.” He laughed proudly.

The nobles ground their teeth when they heard the shamelessness but they obviously knew that Zip was someone from the Lurian empire. With such a man, no one could doubt that the village they live in now will become a centerpiece of the nation as long as he existed. The power of the nation will also surely rise.

“You are taking advantage of a resource that could help everyone!” Another king said.

“Of fucking course I am!” Morgan roared, “He is one of my citizens and Knights! Not only that but I already have my own contract with him so why the hell would I not take advantage of my own men!?” He said snorting. “If any of you had something similar, you would have hidden him away and made him work non stop so you could have tons of powerful subordinates, and at the end it would probably even been a burden to him and his family.” Morgan said.

“Aren’t you doing the exact same thing to him!?” Another noble asked.

“Of course not, if all of you read the contract, besides just paying the price, Sir Null can also reject, either momentarily or completely. This being a job contract but of course, just because you pay doesn’t mean he has to accept. The same can be said for myself and the nation. If he does not want to temper any specific noble, that person will never feel the forge hammer.” Morgan said.

The words cause the nobles to burn in rage but when they saw Morgan wave for a maid over before writing some names, another maid came and as for the contract.

“What is this!?” the nobles shouted.

“It seems none of you seem to want to agree to the terms so I will remove you all from the contract. Just so you know, any nation that does not sign will have to pay triple. What is more, we are prepared to set up a high level protection spell around the city he lives in if any one of you do not sign because I do not even hold a hint of trust that those who do not sign won’t do something to him. As such, you can leave but this will cost three times more and we will have every person coming for a breakthrough be tested by special identifiers in the city before they even get to his.” Morgan said.

They all paled to his words and looked at Morgan resentfully for pulling their arms so hard that they couldn’t even contest it. Of course, because of this, a large number of the nobles sat down and after a minute, everyone was sitting again but not giving up this resource.

“Good, now, since the deal for those with familiars is complete, now for the deal regarding soldiers.” Morgan said.

The kings nodded solemnly.

Zip stood up, “In regards to common Knights and guards, besides the actual training, I can only temper them in groups. The mana potency is higher than their body can handle as such they need to be tempered in groups. The weaker they are, the higher the number of people per group.” Zip explained and sat down.

“As you all heard, it’s many times simpler, common recruits either knight or guard is 1 gold coin, 5 gold for anyone above level 10, 20 gold for anyone above level 15.” Morgan said.

The Kings nodded, the prices actually being much more reasonable compared to the 100 gold per tempering for those with familiars.

“I must warn your highnesses, a common person without a familiar can’t be constantly tempering. Their body is more fragile and don’t have a familiar supporting their growth. Those below level 10 can do this only once a week, if they are supported by healing treatments, above level 10 can do this every two or three days, above level 15 is once a day or two.” Zip said.

The nobles didn’t say much towards this as it was also within reason. Those with familiars were obviously much more powerful, have higher healing factors so the time period common people can do this brutal power raising task as many times.

“From the looks, there are no real problems in this section.” Morgan said.

“I’ve a question.” Suddenly a king, wearing a white robe with luxurious adornments.

“What?” Morgan asked.

“I have been wondering why the Holy Light church is not present?” the man asked.

This was a representative of the Radiance Empire.

Morgan shrugged. “Isn’t it their choice? Oh wait, not even their students are allowed in this city so it's not like they can even participate. That said, I doubt they would even if they could come. Their incredible prejudice towards Demon familiar owners is quite well known so I doubt they would even consider once my invitation.” Morgan said.

The face of the noble said, growing cold. Morgan snorted when he saw that. He was faithful to the Light and Dark Fire Gods. They are the patron gods of smiths who are the ‘creators’ of Dwarves along with the gods of Earth as story says that their body was made of earth and metal and their blood made from fire.

He does not care for the Holy Light Church who see themselves above all life.

To the side Everson Crost, Univa’s father, stood with his eyes closed, without a contract due to the fact that him, the Domina Firm and the Lurian Empire each having a unique contract made because of the connection through marriage into the Null family. Unlike the other nobles, the Tempering was free, forging was 10 gold each person while breakthrough was 500 gold or material of equal value, accepting high quality common metals or magic metals. Obviously, this was a huge benefit that Zip didn’t mind giving since two were heavy weights and the other was his own nation's king. Raising the armies strength increase the security of the land.

“So, that concludes what we have proposed. Those who wish to sign, this is a special oath paper, as the kings and nobles of each respective nation, you represent everyone. This oath is to the God of Fire, that I obtained at a heavy price from the church of the Fire God. This oath will affect all citizens from your nations. Anyone attempting to hurt Zip Null or his family, in any method be it blackmail, kidnapping or killing him for the reason of his ability to forge people, that person and all in league with him or her will be burned by Heavenly Fire.” Morgan said serious.

Everyone had a grim expression because this will cut all methods to obtain the power by themselves. One by one they lift their pens and begin to sign, the paper burning and two seals of contract appearing between Morgan and the other person. This happened until there was a pile of seals that soon merged into a single one due to it being the same contract. It was stored by Morgan who stood. “I hope you all have a good day.” Morgan said.

“One question.” Francis said suddenly. “Young man, I remember you had a limit of times per day you could do that, correct?” Francis asked.

Zip nodded, and Cinder was summoned out.

“My limit has expanded greatly. I can breakthrough three person in one day but only for the level 30 bottleneck. I can do tempering 100 times a day and forging 25 a day.” She said.

“Why do you have a limit as a Blacksmithing Devil!?” one of the nobles asked.

“Devils are affected by Demon Corruption Particles as well. Even more so as familiars since our master suffers along to us. As I grow stronger my resistance to it will go up as I have my body reforged more times and my body and bones are forged with Devil Alloy that resists Demon Corruption Particles. Until then, I need a specific amount of time to filter the particles out of my body and breaking bottlenecks is a huge strain on my body as well.” She said.

They nod understanding the principle of what she spoke of.

The nobles and Kings soon left while Morgan was in a happy mood since he could look down on so many nations kings that had once looked down on him. “Come on men! Let’s go have some good ale!” He laughed dragging the three to his manor to drink with them, making Zip uncomfortable by the ‘closeness’ the king had towards even him.

***

Standing in front of a large swirling gate within the Holy Institute, Silvia, whose hair and body had been expertly washed in a hot bath, with her hair glittering, free of the grease it had from it being poorly cared for before but her eyes were dull, lacking in the will to live. She completely lacked the glowing beauty she once had but she had a solemn beauty but it caused others to want to avoid her as if she was a remote being.

She wore a simple white robe, far different from the women around her who wore light pink robes and dresses that clung to their bodies.

Around this very group of women and men was a powerful aura coming from their body, the permeated the heart of all who felt it filling them with the desire for the type of love they most wished for.

It did not make someone lustful, unlike most people believed. The aura of the Eros church priestesses and priests caused the heart to reveal their biggest desire, the type of love they most wished for. Only a person like Silvia who was lost did not feel it because she did not have any love from a young age.

As they waited, the beautiful voluptuous woman that had saved Silvia.

“Hail her great Bishop Divada!” The women and men of the Eros Church announced together.

“With the permission of the Everlight Academy and authorization of the academy and the Eros Church, you children shall be allowed into the Snake Pit Dungeon.” She said and turned before nodding to the elder woman sitting in front of the swirling portal.

The woman replied with a nod and began altering the destination of the portal that swirled before opening. Everyone followed after her, including Silvia who had two young priestesses beside her talking but were acting as escorts.

They crossed the portal and appear within a busy city. The students walked through and although she had no will to live, she still looked around, with only a hint of curiosity, this being the only dungeon she ever entered.

“We greet Archmagus Valmor, we thank you for allowing our church enter through your entrance.” Divada said to Valmor who was sitting on the portal archway.

Everyone turned and bowed, besides Silvia who didn’t care about respecting anyone or cared for that either.

Valmor took one look at them all and raised a brow, “We always welcome the Eros church. Your help with intelligence gathering from the monster as well as your healing is always much appreciated.” Valmor said.

Silvia snorted on the part about healing, believing it was only sexually.

“We do what we must, it is how our goddess taught us and as thus we must accomplish our duty. It is much different to the Harvest Church who have met the wrath of their own goddess as we speak.” She says.

“Oh? How so? Did someone bring her benevolence’s wrath upon the land?” Valmor asked with a clear worried tone.

Someone like the Harvest Goddess cannot be underestimated. She can bless the land but she can also kill it if she so choose bringing chaos to the land through plague and pests.

“I have heard that the trouble was resolved by a young woman with a harvest angel familiar. Through her familiar, the goddess sent two Dominions of her order who now run the Harvest Goddesses Order. They have also split the order into the Church of Earth Harvest and the Order of Spirit Harvest. The Dominions have revealed a large secret of the church that Archmagus can come later to speak with me about. It has quite a large amount of details.” She said.

“I shall do so, I thank you for the news. This has yet to reach the dungeon.” He replied.

“We shall settle in the along the outer wall on the east side.” Divada said.

Valmor nodded and closed his eyes once more.

Divada lead everyone, the presence of the Eros church was quickly picked up by the residents of the dungeon and some of the nobles came to give a small greeting.

The Eros church is a rare neutral church. She is regarded as both a Light and Dark god depending on how some people see them. This is mainly because of their ties with monsters and how their familiars can be used as instruments of mating with monsters. The moral of common man is regularly repulsed by bestiary. That said, their work extends far beyond simple sex and lust. As a neutral faction, they are also the best mediators between enemy or nations as their aura, if they wished, can possess a calming air as much as it can have one to induce lust. Their aura is one of their best weapons. Another is intelligence acquiring, this comes from the fact that they can speak to monsters and animals who do not normally have the ability to speak. This job is useful to explore dungeons and find materials.

They walked outside of the east side and instantly spread out to flatten the area and begin construction.

Divada walked over to Silvia and gently lifted the downcast face by lifting her chin, “You are as adorable as you once were.” She said.

“I do not want to be, I am neither a slut or whore like you to open my legs to men. If anyone comes to me for this, I will rip them to pieces.” She replied ruthlessly.

“You do not need to worry, these young maidens won’t allow that.” She gestured to the two behind her. “You should walk around the city, the air is many times fresher, there are many beautiful places that you can meditate at. Try to witness the world without the blindfold you know as ‘the Holy Church’. Try to look with ‘your’ eyes.” Divada said.

Silvia just blinked, her eyes cold and unloving, dead to the world and all things in it.

Silvia turned and walked through the gates once more while Divada sighed as she watched that innocent girl, ruined by the selfishness of another.

Silvia walked along the roads but she kept looking down, sometimes she looked around just a bit forward so that she would not hit anything or anyone. What is more, she felt incredibly uncomfortable whenever she passed by a man, be them guard, knight, noble, king or even just a student. If one bumped into her, her heart would instantly speed up and she would have the desire to run or get rid of the cause.

After several times that this happened she was walking when she heard a familiar voice and turned to see Xero, Univa and Meldie at a diner, with an outdoor patio so when she saw him, Xero sensed her look and looked her way.

“Silvia?!” He said in shock.

The girl, emotionless, stopped and after a moment of thought, walked over. “So you are here.” She said.

“This is my academies city so we are here.” Xero said.

An awkward silence filled the area making Xero even more uncomfortable because of how she was just standing there, with a solemn, dead, aura.

“Um… did… something happen? And who are they?” Xero asked seeing the unfamiliar pink robed maidens.

“They are escorts from the slut god’s church.” She said.

The girls frowned including Univa and Meldie but they also sensed something wrong with Silvia. They had met at the camp last year and had been present when she was hunting Ernest. The ‘her’ from then and her now couldn’t even be compared to each other, they were different people.

The maiden on the left took a step forward, “We are priestess of the Eros Church, we are her’s escorts… or more like, we are the people that are preventing her from killing herself and her child.” She replied.

“HUH!” The three said.

A blue flash appeared and Ashley jumped down and in her hand were some swords, obviously her minions that she had gone to pick up for some reason.

“Huh? Did something happen?” She asked.

“Demon, you have surpassed level 30.” Silvia said looking at her but no longer cared. She had no drive to really care for anything.

“This is that blind justice girl right? Why the hell do you look so soulless?” Ashley asked but suddenly felt a sharp pain in her horns as her flames joined and Ignia came out.

The next scene was very strange.

“Grah! Grah!” She exclaimed and flew in front of Silvia’s face and looked her in the eye with curiosity, like a child with a new toy.

She floated around her and exclaimed in some strange way before flying through her hair without burning and then hugged her face.

“What?” Ashley was confused. Towards no one had Ignia reacted like that besides Xero. What reason did she have for liking Silvia so much?

“What is this?” Silvia asked with mild curiosity for the little flame creature.

“It’s my flame, my Holy Sword Devil Flame. It's a pesky little thing that my race births, it's our greatest weapon but also our biggest pain in the ass because they don’t like us.” Ashley said.

In reply, the little flame spirit looked at her and stuck her tongue out.

“Holy?” Silvia said.

“To breath life into a devil fire you need holy mana. My race unconsciously produces holy mana that equally hurts ourselves. We prevent it from destroying ourselves by gathering it into our flame which eventually births a holy fire spirit. If you compared it to Holy Flame of the Fire God, it isn’t much weaker in grade as long as a Sword Devil becomes a God.” Ashley said.

If Silvia had heard this before she would have tried to kill it but now she only nodded.

“Miss, what did you mean by child?” Meldie asked the priestess.

“Silvia is pregnant. She was assaulted one time and became pregnant by her assailant. She is like she is today because she was thrown out from the Holy Light Church because those who took her also took her familiar and removed her blindfold in the middle of it causing her to align with the Goddess Eros.” She replied.

The girls gasped at the story and looked at Silvia with some pity. This was due to knowing how big her blind justice and faith towards it was. To be unjustly raped and then thrown out without reason was a harsh treatment that no one deserved.

“Grah! Grah!” Ignia suddenly exclaimed and suddenly began to spin around Silvia, leaving behind little sparks and making a very beautiful sight to see before stopping in front of her belly that was slightly swollen but without an experienced eye, would not know was the result of being pregnant.

She looked curiously before moving close and giving a little kiss just over the womb suddenly the area below her belly button shined and strange blue glowing tattoo formed before sinking under her skin. Then, slowly tiny bits of holy and fire mana was attracted to her.

Ignia floated up to Silvia’s head and kissed her above the bridge of her nose in the middle of her forehead and from a glowing circle, a tiara like glow formed around her head before similarly sinking into her skin and vanishing.

“Graaaaaahhhhh~!” Ignia stretches her little fire body while yawning before floating to Xero and hugging and kissing his cheek before floating back to Ashley’s flames to sleep.

Everyone was paralysed by what had happened.

“What?” Univa muttered.

“Wasn’t that a Spirit’s blessing!?” The maiden on the left exclaimed!

“What is a spirit’s blessing?” Xero asked.

Extremely agitated, the woman on the right, breathed heavily, “It’s one of nature's biggest blessing after the divine protection of a god. Only a person loved by a spirit but living through hardships will be given this blessing. It is given as a means to attract happiness and joy into the life of the blessed person. An evil person will never be given this blessing and a spirit can see the very depth of a person's soul and known whether a person should or not get the blessing.” The woman said.

The other was happy when she looked at Silvia, “That little spirit put two blessings, one for the baby and one for Silvia. She loves you both and wished to give happiness to you both.” She said.

Silvia just remained as she was but snorted after a while, “I want to return, I have had enough of walking.” She said solemnly.

“Ah! D-do you want us to go with you?” Xero asked getting up and taking a step closer and reaching his hand for her.

Feeling his hand she violently turned and slapped.

PAH!

“GET AWAY!” She said taking several steps back.

Xero held his hand out while his cheek was bright red.

“Hey! What is your problem!? He was only asking if you wanted us to go with you! You don’t need to slap him with full force!” Univa said, angry about what she did.

“J-just stay away.” She said in a desperate voice before turning and walking away quickly.

The two maiden apologized for her and quickly ran after her to catch up.

Xero just remained silent but felt his face burning, he held it for a while before healing it, “I think we should go home. I-I’m sorry but I don't feel like walking around anymore.” Xero said.

The girls had a reluctant expression but Xero’s still expression made them nod making them pay and go back home before he closed himself up in his room, confused about what happened.