"Come on Captain, you don't have to be so mean, I'm already broken hearted here" Clay complained

"You don't seem that sad to me" I replied

"Behind this handsome smile of mine is a heart that is wailing in pain"

"Since when have you been a romantic guy?"

"Chicks dig it, I think"

"You really are helpless, come here you fucktard. Why don't you go for Rivera? she's single you're single" I have to say it straight, hints just don't work on this guy

"Come on Cap, you know that's impossible, I mean we're childhood friends and let me tell you something, she's very sadistic but don't tell anybody, only we know her secret now"

"What makes you say that?"

"Because she's super mean when we're alone"

"...Clay, don't you think she's mean to you because she actually likes you?"

"Nah, Cap'n that's impossible and besides I'm not a masochist you know"

"*sigh* listen and listen well, sometimes it's easier to hate a person than to actually admit that you love that person" It was all I can say, I don't want to meddle any further than I already have

Clay was only standing there, thinking about the words I said

"Mira, Arachne, take me back to the house I'm actually in so much pain right now" I requested, I can still feel the sting from Helios' last attack

"Alright" Arachne immediately complied and supported me on my right shoulder as Mira moved to my left

"You guys should go enjoy yourselves for today, oh and Rivera, take Clay out for a spin, he needs it" it's all up to you now Clay

Mira, Arachne, and I rode a carriage and headed home while Talia, Valeria, and Mizu hanged out. Clay and Rivera? I sent them to a well known romantic spot here in Central city

We returned to the mansion, Youko was surprised and worried when I came back home with numerous bandages all over my body... dang it, I forgot to ask Rivera to heal me.

Mira and Arachne gently laid me down to bed, they left the room and I fell asleep

Deep down in my consciousness, I spoke with Raija

'Why did you warn me not to use the [Dragon transformation]?' I asked

'because there were too many eyes, didn't you see those high leveled humans?'

'Yeah, I saw them but why?'

'Those humans have lived for long and already knew about the truth behind the war that happened in thousand corpse mountain, if they were to see that you had the Dragon technique from the Dragon shrine then they will try to acquire it from you... one way or another'

'You have a point there' I really need to be careful when using my skills from now on

'Now that I've told you what you needed to hear, isn't it about time you leave this place and go to sleep?'

'Kicking me out in my own mind' I only grumbled before leaving

I went to sleep and woke up the next day, I got up from bead and took a bath before going to the dining room to eat

"Did you fully recover?" Mira asked as she checked my body

"Yeah, I'm fine, no need to worry" I waved my hand as I sat

We all had breakfast, Mira and Arachne told me stories of what happened yesterday. I decided to take the day off and went back to my room to get some shut-eye but

"Master Lyan" Youko knocked on my door

"What is it?" I asked

"Princess Mileena is here to visit"

"Please tell her to wait for me at the guest room"

"Apologies master Lyan but Princess Mileena came with me"

"Oh... let her in then"

The door opened and I saw Mileena enter before taking off her hood.

"Hey there Lyan" Princes Mileena greeted me first

"Sorry about the mess, I wasn't expecting any visitors" My room was a bit messy, my clothes piled up at the chair again

"No, don't worry about it, I'm actually much more relaxed like this" She giggled as she sat on the bed, I too sat up and leaned on the wall

"How so?"

"Well, if it's like this, I feel that you're not hiding anything from me"

"What?" She lost me there

"Mom usually said that a man's room will always reflect who they are and this room is a perfect example of it, you're lazy and messy" Mileena laughed as she went to the chair where my clothes piled up

"Is that so? I never really thought about it that way" Thinking back in my past life, I was a bit of an otaku. You can see a few anime posters on the wall when you entered my room

"It's my first time in a boy's room..." with those words, the atmosphere immediately turned awkward

"You heard about our deal right?" I struggled to start a conversation

"Yeah, seems like I'm free to marry someone" She smiled

"Yeah, that guy shouldn't pester you anymore"

"I have to thank you for that"

"Don't worry about it" I laughed

"Hey Lyan, what is this feeling? why do I feel so attracted to you" ...did my ability work on her? my ability is passive so I can't really control it

"I don't really know, you tell me" I was sweating

"I want to say this before I go back to the frontline and fight the demons at our borders..." Mileena sat beside me on the bed

"I'm all ears"

"After this battle... is it okay if-"

"You know what? why don't you just tell me those words when you've returned" she was about to raise one hell of a death flag, I had to stop her

"Really?" She asked

"Yeah"

"Okay then, please wait or me" Mileena left the room

I could only lay back down on the bed and mull over what happened before falling asleep, I woke up in the afternoon and went outside to stretch, I asked Youko to get me some coffee as I sat by the garden

"Hey there Cap" Clay came out of nowhere

"Hey... what happened?" He had a black-eye and a bulging red cheek

"Rivera... she accepted my confession, we're officially going out" Clay had a very satisfied smile

"About damn time" I laughed

"Seriously Captain, if it weren't for you, I'd still be running away from my feelings... and for that tha-" he was about to say thanks but I stopped him

"How many times do I have to say this Clay, we don't have to thank each other, this is only normal. Now as punishment go and have with fun Rivera" I sent Clay away with a smile

Clay ran off with a smug smile on his face, now that I think about it I still have to get back at that Spig Stye. I've already researched the Academy archives and found out that the Knight Academy actually has a holy ground, If Clay is lucky, he might get a weapon consciousness. It's decided, tomorrow I'll be making a trip to Knight Academy along with Clay

Youko arrived with my coffee and I enjoyed my afternoon by sipping coffee and rubbing Rea clean as promised, I get to sleep with Mira tonight so I waited for her to finish taking a bath in her room before we moved on to mine. She stopped me in my advances and instead gave me a full body massage, it was heaven. I cuddled with her as thanks before going to sleep.

I called out to Clay early in the morning before we heading for Knight Academy, I have to say, their gates and walls are pretty imposing. Clay and I entered through the main gate without any problems and headed for the Principal's office, it was weird, no one stopped us but when I took a closer look, it seems the students were avoiding us, wonder why? We finally arrived in front of the Principal's office under the countless gazes of the students and teachers.

I opened the door and what the hell, that Spig Stye was having sex with someone. I steeled myself and entered the room, if I left and closed the door it would be my loss, It should be him feeling shame not me. Surely enough my presence caused them to stop and embarrassingly put on their clothes, the woman soon left and it was only the three of us in the room.

"Remember our little bet?" I asked

"...Yes"

"I only want something simple really, I need you to let my friend here enter the Forged Land" I demanded

"....Hmmm, alright but remember, I won't be held responsible if he gains nothing from his journey" Spig surprisingly coordinated

We followed him deep into the Knight Academy, he tapped on the wall before a hidden door appeared behind us. We walked downards and finally saw a small spatial rip

"I don't know where you got this info but you should also know his chances, correct?" Spig asked

"Yeah, don't worry, I've got full confidence on my friend here" I patted Clay

"Thanks for the pressure" Clay said with a crestfallen face

"Come on Clay, this is my gift to you" I laughed

"Alright boy, you're only allowed to stay on that land for five hours. After five hours, you'll be forced to out of that land" Spig explained

Clay pumped himself and ran inside the Forged land while screaming, I only went to a corner and sat there before closing my eyes. It was very awkward so Spig left before setting up guards on the entrance.

Five hours quickly passed and Clay soon came out of the portal with a large kite shield at hand

"Thanks Captain!" Clay smiled like a dog

"So what are its abilities?" I asked

"This!" He smiled as he slammed down the shield on the ground, a stone 15-foot golem appeared behind him

"This golem mimics my every move, he also gives bonus health and defense"

"That's great!" I'm honestly happy that he attained a weapon consciousness

"This all th-"

"You know the drill, punishment is: Go and kill 35 Trolls without using your shield" I hope he doesn't get too arrogant because of his shield

"Aw man" Clay sulked as he ran out

I walk outside and saw the Stye waiting for me, this is perfect

"Stye, as for the second favor. Go to this location, before going there, cover your eyes"

"Where is this?"

"You'll find out"

"FINE" Stye took out a fabric out of his pockets

I hired a carriage and we went to the location, I left him in the entrance after vigorously knocking on the door. Well then, good luck Stye, you are going to need it. The place where I left Stye was a place where...men come to penetrate other men... I hope they'll open up a new world for Stye.