The sunlight filtered lazily through the half-open curtains, casting golden stripes across the polished wooden floor of the room. The gentle morning light touched Seth's face, warming his skin as the last echoes of a dream faded into the fog of his mind.
He woke slowly, unhurried... as if his body already knew there was no one beside him.
The bed was still warm, but the empty space next to him said everything.
Connie was gone.
Seth lay there for long seconds, eyes open, fixed on the ceiling. There was something in his expression that was neither sadness nor anger... just that kind of silence that carries more thoughts than words.
Beside him, a feline presence stretched out. Bastet, in her small and lazy form, rolled lightly across the covers, curling up against his hip.
With slow, almost automatic movements, Seth ran a hand over her head.
"She's already gone, huh..." he murmured, his fingers gliding between the soft ears of the shadowy panther.
Bastet let out a low purr, thick with sarcasm and sleepiness. "You sound disappointed."
"That's not it," he replied, not looking at her. "It's just... weird. The room feels too quiet."
"Then talk quieter. Maybe silence will like you too," she teased, cracking one eye open out of pure obligation.
Seth let out a soft sigh, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're a demon."
"I'm a superior being. Full of grace, sarcasm, and flexibility. Accept it."He kept stroking her head, his thoughts drifting.
Connie had left. High-risk mission. United States. And even though she was strong... something deep inside him felt uneasy.
Maybe it was the way she said, "Come back stronger..."
Maybe it was the way she kissed him.
Or maybe... it was the way she looked at him.
As if she knew something big was coming.
Seth finally sat up in bed, his hair a mess, his golden eyes not sleepy — just alert. He stretched his arms, yawning, while Bastet grumbled and dragged herself to a corner of the bed like a living pillow.
"So... are you telling me you're not doing anything today?" she asked. "Or are you just gonna mope, train, kill monsters, and strike dramatic poses like always?"
Seth got up, grabbing his shirt and slipping it on slowly. "I think today... we've got work to do."
He was already getting ready to leave when a soft knock echoed through the wooden door of the room. He narrowed his eyes, frowning slightly — he wasn't expecting visitors this early.
Before he could respond, the door opened quietly, revealing a familiar figure and... an oddly calm presence.
Kaguya.
In her immaculate uniform, hair perfectly tied back, and eyes sharp as a sheathed blade, she entered as if the room were a natural extension of her domain.
"What are you doing here?" Seth asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the dresser. "I thought you went with Connie."
Kaguya looked at him with that same neutral gaze that always seemed to know more than it let on.
"Negative," she replied with surgical calm. "I was given direct orders to accompany you."
Seth raised an eyebrow, visibly uncomfortable with the idea.
"That's not necessary. I can handle myself."
She tilted her head slightly, as if evaluating his statement. Then, with the precision of a mentally prepared checklist, she fired off:
"You have no money.""No clothes.""No sense of responsibility.""No intel.""No portals.""No equipment.""And no transportation."
Seth blinked. "Damn... you could've saved a few of those for later."
"I prefer to be efficient," she said, her tone unchanged. "Your progress is promising, but you're still a disorganized civilian with a random system that throws you into battles and dungeons without covering the basics. I am the basics."
He scratched the back of his neck, half irritated, half resigned. "You do know I don't like people tailing me, right?"
"Then walk faster," Kaguya retorted, raising an eyebrow ever so slightly.
Bastet let out a mocking purr, still sprawled across the bed. 'I already like her.'
Seth sighed. "So you're the full package now? Portal guide, chauffeur, and babysitter?"
Kaguya didn't smile, but her eyes gleamed with a hint of restrained sarcasm. "I'm here to make sure you don't get yourself killed while my lady is away. Especially not by falling for idiotic scams in sketchy markets."
"Fair." He grabbed his things with a bit more urgency now. Kaguya's presence was a constant reminder that the world out there was more than ready to swallow the weak whole.
And yet, there was something comforting about having her around.
Not that he'd ever say that out loud.
"So... shall we hunt?"
"Let's make a plan first. You'll need more than luck this time," Kaguya said, leading the way…
And with that, the two left the room, Bastet trailing behind them like a shadow — yellow-eyed, lazy, and utterly regal in her stride.
[Two hours later...]
The sun filtered through heavy clouds, casting the city in hues of silver and gold as Seth walked a few steps behind Kaguya through the bustling streets. The sounds of merchants, the chime of magical bells, and the distant hum of arcane artifacts formed an unmistakable urban symphony.
"Where… exactly are we going?" Seth asked, his eyes scanning the surroundings. He wore simple borrowed clothes, and his expression was a mix of curiosity and mild impatience.
Kaguya answered without looking back, her voice as firm as ever:
"Currently, you don't even have proper equipment." She turned a corner with military precision. "We're getting you at least one decent weapon and light armor. Your magical conductivity was confirmed by my mistress, so using basic steel would only get in the way. We need to prioritize firepower and mobility."
Seth simply nodded, his golden eyes gleaming slightly. Magical conductivity… The Storm Queen flickered in his memory like a distant promise.
Kaguya came to a sudden stop in front of a discreet shop, nestled between two stone structures inscribed with floating runes. The storefront was dark wood and polished black metal, with a silver-engraved sign that radiated brutal elegance:
Ironhearth – Custom Magical Equipment
Enchanted flames flickered at the corners of the sign, and faint arcs of electricity danced across the letters as if the shop itself were alive — or agitated.
Kaguya pointed with a subtle, deliberate gesture.
"This is it."
Seth raised an eyebrow, eyeing the place more carefully. It was nothing like the generic system shops… There was personality here. Power. And the distinct feeling that everything inside could — and would — kill you if you touched the wrong shelf.
"Okay..." he murmured, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Now this speaks my language."
Kaguya glanced at him over her shoulder.
"Try not to provoke anyone inside. They forge weapons for S-Class heroes… and they don't like rookies with inflated egos."
Seth's smirk widened, golden eyes sparking.
"Then I think we'll get along just fine."
The sound of the door opening was accompanied by a soft magical crackle — a detection barrier registering the presence of mana. The moment Seth stepped across the threshold, he felt like he was being scanned from head to toe by invisible eyes.
The inside of the shop was even more impressive than the exterior. The walls were lined with weapons displayed on floating mounts — flaming swords, daggers enchanted with eternal poisons, crossbows that whispered in forgotten tongues. Armors floated within sealed showcases, some as light as feathers, others so menacing they seemed to whisper promises of destruction.
Crystals hovered in the air, projecting technical data on the items:"Shock Resistance: 73%""Lightning Channeling: High""Arcane Stabilization: Class A"
It was a sanctuary of power.
And at the center of the entrance, standing like a luxury doorman at a dragon's vault, was a man in a flawless black suit. Tall, arms crossed over a broad chest, eyes hidden behind a hexagonal magical visor.
Kaguya walked toward him with silent, confident steps, stopping just a few meters away. Seth noticed even she toned herself down — whether out of respect or caution, she held back that usual clinical coldness.
"We have an appointment with Valentina Wykes," Kaguya said with clarity and precision.
The man's expression didn't change, but the visor over his eyes flickered slightly, scanning them both. After a brief second, he gave a small nod.
"Confirmed." His voice was deep and perfectly modulated, like it came from a hidden sound system. "Ms. Wykes is expecting you in the private forge, lower level. Elevator to the left."
Kaguya gave a slight incline of her head in acknowledgment. Seth, on the other hand, gave the man a challenging glance with a faint smirk but said nothing.
As they moved toward the elevator, Seth stepped a bit closer to Kaguya.
"Valentina Wykes?" he asked in a low voice. "Should I know the name?"
Kaguya responded without looking at him, eyes fixed on the enchanted panel of the elevator.
"If you want to survive the next dungeons… you should."
The panel glowed a warm amber, and the ground beneath them began to descend smoothly with a deep, rhythmic hum — the sound of ancient magical machinery awakening. The shop above faded from view as the environment grew darker, hotter, more... alive.
"She's not just a blacksmith. She's an archmage of arcane metallurgy. Builds gear for elite hunters, war nobles… and a few monsters in human form."
Seth smiled — the kind of smile that appears when someone finds chaos wrapped in silver.
"I think I'm going to like her."
Kaguya glanced at him sideways, raising an eyebrow. "She also tends to turn insolent clients into charcoal. Literally."
"I think I'll try to like her."
The elevator came to a stop with a subtle metallic click.
The doors opened.
And the heat that rolled out wasn't just physical — it was the heat of raw power being forged.
The rhythmic sound of hammering echoed like a distant drum, but soon the strikes became faster and more intense. The heat from the forge was palpable, and Seth felt his skin begin to warm as the vibrations in the ground grew with each blow.
It was then that, from the back of the room, a clear and bold voice broke the rhythm of the hammering.
"When Connie asked me to forge something, I didn't expect it to be for a Rank-E! HAHAHAHA!"
The laugh was full of energy, as if the woman were having a great time.
Seth exchanged a glance with Kaguya, who seemed to have been expecting something eccentric. When he looked at her, she gave a brief nod, as if to say, "Get ready."
The heat in the room intensified as the figure of a woman emerged from the smoke and flames of the forge. She had short, messy hair tinged with a metallic golden hue, with strands that almost seemed to glow in the firelight. She wore a leather apron, stained with ash and rust, but her eyes shone with boundless enthusiasm. She wielded a forge hammer with an impressive ease, as if it were an extension of her own body.
With a wide smile and an energetic tone, she approached Kaguya and Seth.
"Ah, great to see you! I'm Valentina Wykes, and you must be... the famous Rank-E who's going to need a good piece to survive out there, right?" She looked directly at Seth, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I hope you have a good reason for being here, because if not, you'll need more than just gear." She chuckled, and with a quick motion, placed the hammer aside.
Seth remained silent for a moment, trying to size up the woman in front of him, but he quickly realized that the atmosphere around her was like a forge — hot, challenging, and, at the same time, welcoming.