Orion turned around with a puzzled expression.

"Selling products on Triazils?"

In front of him were five women dressed in servant clothing fighting each other.

"Yes. I thought that it would be better to ask you first."

Reon asked him with a light heart. He knew that Orion would at least take the time to consider his proposal.

"What did you invent this time? If you're asking me, it means it's a finished product, right?"

His father pondered before shrugging.

"Stella said it was great, but it certainly needs more tweaking. With a fire crystal, I've managed to create a pipe system that slowly transfers heat to the surrounding air."

"She said that it would be perfect for the inhabitants of Turric who live in cold temperatures."

Glancing toward the maids training under him, his eyes appeared lost.

"That actually doesn't sound that bad. Even though I can tolerate cold weather, the same cannot be said for everyone else."

"Once it's done, you should talk to May. She most likely knows someone in that city who can buy your product."

With a smile, Reon nodded.

"I'll be sure to check with her when the time arrives. I'm glad I could find you."

"Same, dad. If you need anything, come see me anytime."

As Reon was leaving, Orion suddenly looked in his direction.

"Dad."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't give you that void crystal."

"That's fine. We have enough work on our shoulders right now. You shouldn't feel guilty about it."

He turned his back to his son and walked away while lightly waving his hand.

"When you'll feel confident about expanding your power outside your bounds, come and see us. We'll be glad to help you."

His father's angelic wings, made of pure plasma, stretched behind his back.

"See you later."

Reon pushed on his legs and, with a speed rivaling Orion's Abyssal Sovereign boost, returned home in just a few seconds.

"..."

For an instant, Orion's blood boiled.

'I want to train with them... What should I do to make that happen?'

His foot began to tap rapidly on the ground as he pondered, causing the group of maids to stop in their tracks, a bead of sweat dropping from their cheeks.

"Alright."

Orion rolled his right shoulder before cracking his knuckles.

"Eek!"

Martha jumped back at this sight, knowing what was going to happen.

Resigning themselves, Alisa, Zara, and Noelle sighed while staring at Marie, whom they hoped would help them.

"Master!"

Marie suddenly stepped in front of everyone, her feet scratching the dirt in the process.

"You want to be first?"

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Orion warped behind her, striking his elbow on her nape.

"Yes!"

She disappeared before his attack registered, only to appear next to him.

"Haha~"

Orion laughed as Marie pulled her double swords from her boots.

"Good."

His face turned serious as his wings appeared from under his clothes.

Though he wasn't entirely serious. If he were, she would have lost the instant she pulled those swords.

"Marie, you need to find a way to bring those weapons out without the need to do the action itself."

"Like this."

The swords in her hands vanished and appeared in his hands.

"What?!"

Stabbing both blades into the ground, he leaned forward and rushed her.

He grabbed her right arm and pulled her toward him for a punch.

"Kh!"

Marie vanished in a cloud of particles before his fist met her. Immediately after, Orion disappeared and swiped her feet off the ground the moment she reappeared.

"..."

Using this opportunity, she extended one hand toward the ground to maintain her body and threw a kick to his side.

"Too shallow."

Her foot phased through his body before being grabbed by his left hand.

"That's the power you are expected to bring out."

Orion dragged her leg upward, threatening her skirt to top over her face and revealing her undergarments.

But before this could happen, he pulled her entire weight in the air and violently dropped her toward the ground.

The rest of the maids closed their eyes as the ruthlessness of their new master showed its colors.

"..."

But right before Marie's body touched the ground, she disappeared. The acceleration at which she was about to crash on the ground remained, causing a blast of air to spread in every direction.

Extending his arms in front of his chest, he closed one eye and smiled as Marie dropped. Catching her, he felt satisfied.

"You're improving. That's great."

Placing her feet on the ground, she bowed lightly before taking a few steps back.

"Thank you, Master."

Cold sweat poured down the rest of the maids’ necks.

'No luck...'

A miserable moment happened for them, who weren't at the level at which their leader was.

~

"You want me to help with your training?"

Eight women were bowing their heads in front of Karteira.

"Hmm~"

Sitting on a tree stump not far from the Arachnea Forest, she touched the eyepatch on her face.

Tapping on it lightly, she thought about their request.

"That feels slightly nostalgic. I haven't trained anyone in the past year."

"In fact, I was the one being trained most of the time."

With a hearty laugh, she placed her lifted hand on her thigh.

"Sure. I bet Orion told you to come and see me. If he trusts me enough to instruct others with this element, I won't complain."

Karteira lightly tapped on her thighs while the maids straightened.

"Your names are..."

One by one, they answered her question.

"I'm Eden. In order are Grace, Angie, Sonia, Helen, Helena, Niya, and Marisa."

They all bowed lightly to show their manners.

"You don't have to be that stiff. In here, there's neither Olivia nor Orion. In fact, you probably won't have time to be courteous."

Standing up, she smiled wildly.

"I am equal, and sometimes worse than Orion, when it comes to training. But we'll start slowly."

Her expression relaxed.

"As I've said, I used to train fairies in the past. I know how to instruct people. Although I don't know every single trait of the light element, I can teach you what I know."

"For anything else, Orion will remain your best teacher."

They nodded.

As a response to their dedication, she took the matter seriously.

"Alright."

Taking the air of her husband, she smiled.

"Does any of you understand what light magic does?"

They shook their heads from left to right.

"I might understand it slightly."

The only one who had a shallow grasp of it was Eden, who lifted her hand lightly.

"I see. Have you tried learning alone?"

"Yes."

A smile appeared on Karteira's face alongside a dismissive shake of the head.

"That's actually going to force you into a corner. I know because I was there."

"Oh!"

Feeling as if all their worries would disappear thanks to Karteira, they looked at each other with smiles.

"Let me tell you how I perceive this element, and then we'll go on bringing your potential out in a blast."

Her body moved with such lightness that it kept their gazes locked on her.

Moving her body around them, not a single movement was wasted.

They since long had watched what this family was capable of, but it was the first time they were so close to the 'Warrior of Light'.

This nickname was given by the maids through the past year's event, and everyone possessed one except Olivia.

Karteira's light steps suddenly turned into heavy and dangerous motions. She pierced the ground with her tail and lifted herself off the ground.

"I have currently two studies to give you as beginners."

Her tail arched under her, stabilizing her entire body a meter above the ground.

"The first one is finding the balance in healing your body constantly. Never let this power be inactive, even in your sleep."

"It builds your tolerance to exhaustion up tremendously and helps develop a sense of magic. What better than numerous immortal maids supporting the others who cannot heal?"

The image popped in their heads, creating expectations that showed on their faces.

"But that's something you need to think about. There will most definitely be those more efficient in healing than others."

"You are numerous. Don't focus on what you cannot do, and instead switch to what's better for you."

Karteira lifted her right fist and looked at it. After nodding, she fell to the side and punched the ground.

*Crack*

A long fissure formed between Eden and Marisa, but none of them moved out of the way.

"In ordinary circumstances, this would be impossible for you."

An imaginary picture of the maids appeared in her mind, which also seemed to correspond to what they had in mind.

Angie, the weakest of their group, was a shy and introverted girl. She had no power behind her punches and was most likely going to suffer the most through this training.

She was the perfect example.

"If you were to punch the ground, forgetting the amount of strength I put into it..."

They imagined Angie punching the ground with everything she had.

"Not only would the result be beyond lackluster, but you would break your hand in the process."

Helen and Helena felt a need to hug poor Angie, who looked confused this whole time.

"Here comes light magic."

A white aura covered her hand, then her entire arm, before covering her entire body.

"If you strengthen your base, isolate the shockwave from damaging your muscles and skin, and focus on healing the damage the instant it is caused, you won't feel even a thing."

Punching through the air a few times, each fist broke the air resistance and pushed it at an incredible speed forward.

"The problem with the brain is that it actually places restrictions. It is a good thing in everyday life for normal people, but for us, it is detrimental to our growth."

Niya lifted her hand.

"Why is that?"

Karteira winked and smiled.

"I like answering those questions."

Straightening, she clenched her right hand into a fist.

"There is an inhibitor in your brain that forces you to pull your punches. It is the fear of hurting yourself."

"It's the same as being unable to strangle yourself."

A light sense of fear and danger crept into their hearts, learning that.

"I can see it on those faces. That made you afraid."

"I'll clarify it. It doesn't mean you will throw your life in danger without the fear of death over your shoulder. All we are removing is the self-damaging factor."

"You won't be pulling any punches anymore, but you will greatly injure yourself in the process. That is the only drawback."

"That's why learning to heal yourself or others is a must before doing that."

"Still, those who will follow my footsteps..."

"Will obtain the power to fight off the strongest of enemies and survive what would be a fatal wound."

Crossing her arms, Karteira began her boot camp.

"Now... Run."

"And don't forget to use that light magic to heal yourself."

Forcing the maids to improve on their resilience—grueling but fulfilling training was forced upon them.

As the ones who requested it, no complaints ever escaped their mouths, except the occasional grunts of pain and exhaustion.

...

Inside the main house.

"What did you say?!"

Amelia glared at Tetra with her fist slammed on the table.

"..."

The two stared at each other, with seemingly no signs of anyone backing down.