Jun was, as usual, training in the backyard of his cabin.
The morning in the middle of the forest was still shrouded in a thin mist. The cold air pricked lightly, yet the damp ground beneath Jun's feet felt familiar. He began with stretching—slow but controlled movements, opening his joints, drawing in deep breaths, then releasing them in a steady rhythm.
After that, he shifted to basic strengthening.
The Mount Hua horse stance—simple, straight, without ornamentation. Every swing of the wooden sword he held was neither excessive nor hurried. His movements were firm and efficient, as if each strike had a clear purpose. The sword moved in accordance with his breathing, merging with his body, with the earth, with the qi that flowed slowly yet steadily.
There were no complicated techniques.
No power released in excess.
Only the foundation.
And it was precisely there that its sharpness lay.
Meanwhile, inside the cabin, Akeno slowly woke up. She sat for a moment on the edge of the futon, rubbed her face, then looked around with a small smile—the place still felt unfamiliar, yet no longer distant.
Since Jun usually bathed in the river, Akeno chose a more practical method. She stood up and recited a simple cleansing spell. A gentle light enveloped her body, erasing the remnants of sweat and dust from the night.
There was no warmth like soaking in water, no comfort of hot baths—but it was clean, quick, and efficient.
"So practical…" she murmured softly, then smiled to herself.
After that, she put on simple clothes, rolled up her sleeves, and began preparing breakfast. The small cabin kitchen filled with warm aromas—toast, eggs, light soup, and hot tea whose steam rose gently.
She arranged everything neatly, as if this were a routine she had long practiced.
Even though it was only the first morning.
When everything was ready, Akeno carried the tray outside. She sat on the small porch, sipped her drink slowly, then shifted her gaze to the backyard.
Jun was still training.
Sweat had begun to flow at his temples, his breathing a little heavier, yet his movements remained steady. Every step and swing of the sword reflected long discipline—not a display of power, but self-control.
Akeno watched him in silence.
Not with her usual teasing gaze, but with a calmness she rarely showed. There was a strange sense of security that arose while watching him—someone standing alone in a harsh world, yet still choosing a simple life.
"Hmm…" Akeno murmured with a gentle smile. "A morning that's… not bad at all."
The morning wind blew softly, leaves swayed, and for a moment, the world felt far calmer than usual.
When Jun finished his training, he stopped and only then realized that someone had been waiting for him.
On a simple wooden table near the cabin, breakfast was neatly laid out. Thin steam still rose from the hot tea, and the aroma of food mixed with the freshness of the morning air.
Akeno stood not far away. In her hands was a clean towel.
As Jun approached, Akeno handed it to him without many words.
"How do you feel?" she asked gently.
Jun took the towel and wiped his face and hair, damp with sweat. His movements slowed for a moment, as if her words touched something deeper.
"I don't know…" he answered honestly. "Am I really worthy of happiness like this?"
Akeno looked at him, then shook her head lightly.
"You are," she said firmly yet warmly. "Don't say bad things about yourself."
Jun fell silent for a moment, then smiled faintly. He nodded slowly, as if accepting those words without needing to argue anymore.
He sat down, took a sip of his drink first, letting the warmth flow slowly and calm his body. A few seconds passed without a word. Jun simply regulated his breathing, enjoying a simple moment he rarely allowed himself—a quiet morning, clean forest air, and the presence of someone across from him with no hidden intent.
Only after that did he begin to eat breakfast.
His movements were relaxed, almost without the excessive vigilance he usually carried. In the middle of eating, Jun glanced at Akeno sitting across from him, resting her elbow on the wooden table while holding her cup.
"By the way," he said lightly, as if it were just casual talk, "what do you usually do during summer?"
Akeno seemed to think for a moment. Her fingers lightly tapped the edge of the cup, producing a small sound that matched the morning atmosphere.
"Summer, huh…" She smiled faintly. "Usually I follow Rias to her house."
Jun raised his eyebrow slightly.
"You mean, to the Underworld?"
"Yes…" Akeno replied with a gentle nod.
Jun chewed slowly, then continued, "Is it the same this year?"
Akeno hesitated briefly before answering. "Mm… most likely. Because there's an important event there."
Jun paused mid-chew.
"Important?" he said. "Does this involve the Aesir gods?"
Akeno's reaction was immediate. Her eyes widened slightly, and her body leaned forward.
"Jun," she said almost reflexively, "how could you know!?"
Jun shrugged lightly, his face remaining calm.
"That… I was just guessing."
"Impossible," Akeno replied quickly. "That's far too accurate to be just a guess."
Jun smiled faintly, then set his chopsticks down for a moment.
"Hm, how about this," he said slowly. "Khaos Brigade is a global-level threat, with Ophis as its central figure. That's no longer a problem of just one race or one world. It's natural that gods from other mythologies would get involved."
Akeno listened carefully.
"And the closest in terms of conflict and history," Jun continued, "would be the Norse."
"Why Norse?" Akeno asked.
Jun looked at the table for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts.
"I think Loki would accept an offer from Khaos Brigade," he finally said, "considering how obsessed he is with Ragnarok."
Akeno fell silent. Her face no longer showed surprise, but seriousness.
"Jun," she said softly, "have you ever visited Asgard to be able to reach a conclusion like that?"
Jun fell silent for several moments. He shrugged again, this time more slowly, as if the small gesture carried an unspoken weight.
"I don't know," he answered at last. "I'm just guessing too."
But his tone was not entirely convincing.
Akeno observed him closely. She knew many intelligent beings in the supernatural world—cunning old devils, scheming fallen angels, even gods who weighed the world like a chessboard—yet the way Jun structured his logic felt different. There was no arrogance, no urge to flaunt knowledge. It was as if he was simply… recalling something he was already meant to know.
As if he were accustomed to seeing the world from a much greater distance.
Behind the calm expression on his face, Jun's thoughts moved quickly.
'I know that because I obtained the information from the original manuscript,' he thought. 'In this summer event, Loki's rebellion will occur, precisely when Odin signs the peace treaty between Biblical mythology and Norse mythology.'
He still remembered every line written there—a historic moment. That treaty marked the active involvement of gods outside Biblical mythology, which until now had dominated the balance of the supernatural world.
That dominance, in Jun's view, was not without reason. The level of faith among Christians worldwide had reached billions. And for the gods, human faith was not merely prayer—it was the very source of their existence.
'Faith is their sustenance,' Jun continued inwardly. 'No wonder many gods and beings from other mythologies hate, or at least dislike, the Biblical entities. The flow of human belief narrows, leaning in one direction, leaving the others to slowly weaken.'
His thoughts then shifted.
'And at the same time,' he recalled, 'Rias plans to turn that event into a summer camp—joint training. Akeno is scheduled to train directly with her father… Barakiel.'
It was at that point that an idea slowly took shape.
Jun placed his cup down on the table, the sound clearly audible amid the morning silence.
"Well… that's also what worries me," he said quietly.
Akeno raised her gaze. "What do you mean?"
Jun looked at her seriously, without his usual relaxed smile.
"Akeno-san," he said, "do you intend to become strong?"
The question was simple, but its effect was immediate.
Akeno fell silent. Her gentle smile faded, replaced by an expression far deeper. Her memories dragged her back to the past—to a bloodstained night, to her mother's body collapsing, to the cold, helpless feeling that still haunted her to this day.
"Of course," she finally answered, her voice calm yet heavy with emotion. "I have never forgotten how my mother died protecting me… because I was weak."
Her hands clenched in her lap.
"My father's delay in saving us," she continued, "and my own helplessness at that time… not a single day passes without me cursing myself."
She lifted her face, her purple eyes sharp.
"That's why I accepted Rias's offer to become her queen. If not, I wouldn't be here now."
Jun listened without interrupting. There was no pity in his eyes—only acknowledgment.
"Hm… I see," he murmured.
He stood up slowly, stepping away from the table, gazing at the vast forest surrounding the cabin.
"In that case," he said with a faint smile, "I have a plan."
Akeno looked at him, slightly surprised. "A plan?"
Jun turned back to her, the look in his eyes different—sharper, more focused.