After the weapon was completely finished, Su Lun packed it away carefully. With a heart full of both anticipation and a trace of nervousness, he returned to the Court of Stars.
He found Ryuu at the training ground. The Elven girl wasn't wearing her adventurer's light armor, but rather a simple outfit suited for movement. Holding a wooden practice sword, she was focused entirely on repeating basic slashes and thrusts. Her movements were exceptionally powerful, possessing that unique Elven blend of grace and strength, her blonde hair fluttering slightly with every motion.
When Su Lun's silhouette appeared at the edge of the field, Ryuu's movements faltered. The three-day deadline was up; she understood his purpose immediately. She slowly lowered the practice sword and turned toward him, her lips unconsciously tightening as she bit down on them.
"...It's finished, then?" Her voice was even softer than usual, as if she were afraid of disturbing something.
"Yeah, it's finished." Su Lun smiled naturally, his gaze resting tenderly on her face.
He could clearly see Ryuu's porcelain cheeks flushing crimson at a speed visible to the naked eye. The blush rapidly spread to the tips of her ears and even down her neck. Overwhelmed by a wave of dizzying bashfulness, she instinctively reached up to cover herself or pull down a hat brim—though she wasn't wearing a hat.
"Um... I, I should probably mask my face..." she muttered, her eyes darting around.
"That won't do." Su Lun took a few steps closer, his tone serious. "This weapon was crafted specifically for you. You need to feel it and adapt to it yourself. If you're wearing a mask, I won't be able to see it shining in your hands, nor will I see your beautiful form while you wield it."
This blunt praise sent steam practically billowing from the top of the Elf's head. Gathering a massive amount of courage, she finally looked up, her blue eyes meeting Su Lun's. She gave a small, quiet nod.
The two walked out of the training ground together, leaving the courtyard of the Court of Stars. In the distance, Captain Alise was leaning against a window frame, taking in the entire scene. She arched an eyebrow, a subtle and playful smile touching her lips.
"My, my... that guy... did he really manage to whisk away our stiff-laced Miss Elf? I thought Kaguya was joking before." She rubbed her chin with interest.
"Should we follow them?" The Pallum, Lyra, leaned in from nowhere, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I'm super curious about what they're up to!"
Gojouno Kaguya appeared silently as well, a smile playing on her lips. "Speaking of which, it's only been three months, right? Incredible progress. Who knew our 'Fail-Elf' was so easy to woo?"
"Hey, Kaguya, don't tease Ryuu like that," Alise laughed, though her own eyes flickered with curiosity. "But... honestly, I'm curious too. Come on, let's follow them quietly. Don't get caught."
The three women reached a consensus and trailed them in secret.
Up ahead, Su Lun and Ryuu walked side by side. At first, they maintained a polite distance. But before long, their strides synchronized and they slowly drifted closer. It started with their pinkies brushing as if by accident, and then Su Lun's fingers gently hooked into Ryuu's.
The Elven girl's body stiffened for a moment, but she didn't pull away. Then, warm palms overlapped until their fingers were tightly interlocked. Neither spoke; they simply walked in silence through the streets of Orario. The sunlight bathed them, stretching their shadows until they merged into one. The air seemed filled with that unique, slightly awkward, yet incredibly sincere atmosphere of young love.
This quiet sweetness lasted until they arrived at the gates of Vulcan's Red House.
"Yo, you're here?" Goddess Hephaestus was already waiting at the entrance. She spotted their joined hands immediately, and her face lit up with blatant excitement and mischief. "Oh ho! And you said she wasn't your little girlfriend? You're holding hands quite tightly there!"
Hearing this, Ryuu felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She froze instantly, her face exploding in a deep red. A tsunami of shame threatened to drown her.
I want to hide... no, I'm so happy I don't know what to do... Ah, what do I do!
Su Lun could feel the small hand in his palm trembling and heating up. He squeezed her hand tighter, offering silent support, before nodding calmly to Hephaestus. "Lady Goddess, we've come for the weapon."
Inside the workshop, the long blade lay quietly on a dark velvet cloth atop the central workbench. Su Lun let go of Ryuu's hand. Feeling the sudden loss of warmth, Ryuu felt a momentary sense of emptiness. Su Lun stepped forward, picked up the work with both hands, and turned to face her.
"Ryuu." His voice was steady, yet it carried an unmistakable sincerity. "I hope that this blade, which I designed and helped forge myself, can accompany you and protect you." He held the blade out to her.
Ryuu's breath hitched. Her gaze was entirely captured by the weapon. A restrained cyan luster flowed along its length; the lines were slender and smooth, and while it looked incredibly light, it radiated an aura of indestructibility. The hilt was wrapped in a dark wood that looked warm to the touch. She recognized it instantly—the unique grain and texture of a branch from an Elven Holy Tree. After specialized treatment, it looked like fine jade.
What shook her soul even more were the intricate and elegant patterns carved into the hilt and the base of the blade near the guard. Those lines... they were all too familiar. They were the decorative styles common in her home Elven village, carrying meanings of nature and blessing. Though she had long since left her home and cut off contact, these patterns, etched into her blood and memory, instantly triggered deep-seated nostalgia and warm memories.
A powerful surge of emotion hit the bridge of her nose, and her eyes grew hot. It would be too embarrassing to cry here... She blinked hard, forcing the tears back.
Su Lun's voice continued, carrying a hint of a craftsman's pride and a touch of nervous awkwardness. "This blade uses technology from the same source as Pale Justice. It's no exaggeration to say it represents the pinnacle of my current forging and enchanting abilities. If you're willing to use it, I can craft even more magical weapons and gear suited specifically for you in the future..."
By the end, he was getting a bit embarrassed himself, and the tips of his ears turned pink. This was less of a simple gift and more of a subtle yet firm promise and confession.
Ryuu's mind was a total blank. Like a wound-up doll, she mechanically reached out and took the blade. It felt even lighter than she had imagined. The hilt fit her palm perfectly, as if it had always belonged there. A faint warm current, resonating with her mana, flowed from the point of contact.
"...Does it have a name?" she heard herself ask in a dry voice.
"Of course it does," Su Lun said, exhaling in relief and flashing a relaxed smile. "But I think the name should be given by you. After all, you're the one who will be using it and fighting beside it from now on."
"Given by... me?" The blush on Ryuu's face faded slightly. She looked down, studying the blade carefully, her fingertips brushing the patterns from her homeland, feeling the heart and power within.
Ryuu was silent for a moment. Then she looked up, her jade eyes reflecting both the blade's light and Su Lun's silhouette. With a mix of shyness, solemnity, and a sense of throwing caution to the wind, she spoke softly:
"If that's the case... I want to call it—Song of Su Lun."
The scene fell into a sudden, dead silence.
Alise, Lyra, and Kaguya—who were peeking from a corner—as well as Hephaestus and Captain Tsubaki, who had also leaned in, all felt a giant question mark pop up in their minds.
Song of Su Lun?!
Sister, that's such a 'fastball' of a name it's practically a branding!
Ryuu herself realized the implications of the name a second too late. Wouldn't that be the same as publicly declaring, "This blade and I are inextricably linked to Su Lun"? It was more direct than a direct response to a confession!
Realizing this, an intense wave of shame washed over her again. She let out a soft "Ugh," her body swaying backward. She was on the verge of fainting from sheer embarrassment. She wanted to flee the scene of her "social death" immediately!
"Careful!" Su Lun was quick. He stepped forward, his arm securely catching her slender waist, pulling her into a half-embrace. Feeling the Elf's slight trembling and her scorching body temperature, he felt both amused and protective.
Su Lun teased her softly. "Oh dear, why is our 'Fail-Elf' having another 'flat-land trip'? You can't be this easily embarrassed."
"I-I'm not a failure... even if... even if you say that... if it's you calling me that, I can..." Ryuu buried her face in his shoulder, her voice muffled and growing smaller. The last few words were as quiet as a mosquito's buzz; even with Su Lun's adventurer hearing, they were hard to catch. But given that she looked like she wanted to curl into a ball with steam rising from her head, she was clearly at her limit.
Su Lun let out a low laugh, gently patting her back. "Song of Su Lun... that name carries too much weight. I'm afraid I can't live up to the honor. How about... Song of Ryuu? Or Elven Song?"
"Elven... Elven Song..." Ryuu repeated softly in his arms, seemingly calming down a little.
"Yeah, how about Elven Song? This is a blade meant just for you," Su Lun suggested gently.
"...Alright. Let it... let it be Elven Song then." Ryuu nodded obediently, though her mind was still in a chaotic whirl. If... if I really marry him later, will my name become Ryuu Su Lun? Or Su Lun Ryuu? Ah! What am I thinking about!
"Alright, alright, you two!" Hephaestus finally couldn't take it anymore. She laughed, breaking the atmosphere filled with pink bubbles. "Stop with the lovey-dovey flirting in my workshop! It's so sweet I'm starting to get goosebumps! Hurry up, take the weapon, and get going!"
Su Lun and Ryuu finally separated, both their faces flushed with embarrassment. Su Lun thanked the Goddess and Captain Tsubaki solemnly. "I've truly inconvenienced you both. Thank you very much!"
"Hmph, as long as you know," Hephaestus waved them off. "I'm marking this down as a favor. Don't you dare try to back out next time I need help."
"I'm at your disposal. As long as it's within my power, I won't hesitate," Su Lun promised, patting his chest.
"Within your power? You certainly know how to leave yourself an out," the Goddess joked. "Go on, get out of here. You're an eyesore."
The two thanked them again and left the still-scorching Vulcan's Red House.
Only a few steps outside the workshop, they ran into Alise, Lyra, and Kaguya, who were waiting for them quite comfortably. Alise wore a blatant, mischievous grin, her gaze darting between the two of them. She got straight to the point: "So, should we officially congratulate the two of you on becoming a couple?"
Ryuu wanted to hide behind Su Lun again, but this time she forced herself to stand firm. She took a deep breath, and though her face was red, she nodded firmly.
"...Yes."
Su Lun was much more composed. He took Ryuu's hand. This seemed to give Ryuu some courage. Su Lun smiled as he answered.
"Yes, Captain. How should I put it... I really like Ryuu. Strictly speaking, everything about Miss Ryuu hits my preferences perfectly. I like her Elven ears, I like her beautiful blonde hair, I like her serious and dedicated personality, and I like her inner strength and power..."
He paused, looking at Ryuu beside him, who was once again nearing an "overload" from his words. His smile widened. "Well, in short, I love her."
"Ugh... d-don't say any more..." Ryuu finally couldn't take the non-stop fastballs. She pressed her burning cheek against Su Lun's back once more. Her voice carried a clear, embarrassed tremor. "Please..."
Su Lun smiled apologetically, but his eyes were tender. Beside them, Kaguya looked at Ryuu, who was currently playing the ostrich, and wore an extremely complex expression. She sighed, "Fail-Elf... to think such a day would come. It's a world-class wonder."
Then, she looked at Su Lun, her eyes turning sharp. "However, Su Lun—if you ever dare to bully our seemingly easy-to-bully Elf, I'll make sure you get a very deep understanding of my blade."
"I understand, Miss Kaguya," Su Lun replied seriously, dropping the joking tone. "I swear, I will use my power to protect everyone in the Familia, to protect Ryuu, and to protect the 'Justice' we all believe in and serve."
Hearing his solemn words, Kaguya scrutinized him for a moment before letting out a soft huff, her gaze softening. "Hmph, you..."
Alise continued to tease from the side, patting Ryuu on the shoulder. She could feel Ryuu's body was still stiff. "Congratulations, Ryuu! You're the first one in our Familia to officially leave the singles' club! You've set a great example!"
"Cap-Captain... please don't tease me anymore..." Ryuu's muffled voice came from behind Su Lun.
"I'm not teasing, I'm sincerely congratulating you!" Alise smiled brilliantly, then struck a longing pose, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Su Lun. "Man, I hope I can find a boyfriend like Su Lun later too! Strong, can make weapons, and knows how to say sweet things!"
"Captain!" This time, even Su Lun couldn't hold his ground.
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Danmachi: My Magic Style is Different from Yours (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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