Conquering The Novel

As Lia's mother stepped out, Ares took the opportunity to ask Lia about the progress of the sword and bow he had given her for repair. "By the way, Lia, how are my sword and bow coming along?" Ares asked, curious about their status.

Lia's eyes lit up, eager to share her progress with him. [Oh, your sword is all fixed and ready to go!] she exclaimed, a proud smile on her face. [I made sure to craft it based on your preferences, so I hope you'll be pleased with the result.]

"I have no doubt it'll be exceptional," Ares replied warmly, knowing Lia's skill firsthand.

[I can send you your sword right away if you'd like.] Lia offered.

"That would be great," Ares said with a smile.

Lia nodded and moved to get the sword. With a swift scan, she sent the sword to Ares, and soon he received a notification on his phone.

(Lia wanted to send you a package!

Accept Y/N?)

Ares pressed Accept, and in an instant, the sword materialized in front of him.

Looking at the sword, Ares felt pleased. It looked perfect, shining brightly, and he could sense its power. "It's perfect, Lia," Ares said sincerely. "As expected you're an amazing crafter."

Lia blushed at Ares' praise, feeling thankful for his support. "Thank you, Ares. Your encouragement kept me going when I doubted myself. Your satisfaction means a lot."

Ares smiled warmly.

"And what about my bow? Is it not repaired yet?" He inquired.

[...About your bow.] Lia's tone turned apologetic as she explained, [It's taking a bit longer. Your bow is truly exceptional, and I want to do justice to its craftsmanship. I'm searching for the perfect material for the bowstrings that will match its design and power. So...]

"That's okay. Take your time," Ares reassured her. "Quality is worth waiting for."

Lia's eyes twinkled with gratitude. [T-Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness.] She expressed sincerity.

Ares smiled reassuringly. "... As I said before, you don't need to be so formal, Lia. Just call me Ares, as you always have."

Lia's cheeks flushed slightly, appreciating his friendly approach. [Alright, Ares.] She responded with a small smile. [I'll keep you updated on the progress of your bow. I promise it'll exceed your expectations.]

After expressing their mutual appreciation and looking forward to the completion of the bow, Ares and Lia exchanged goodbyes.

"I'll be eagerly waiting for your updates, Lia," Ares went on to say.

[I won't keep you waiting for too long, Ares.] Lia replied with a determined smile. [Thank you again for entrusting me with your weapons.]

'...How many times has she thanked me now?' Ares chuckled inwardly, maintaining his composure.

"It's my pleasure." He replied graciously. "Take care, Lia, and don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything."

[I will, Your Highness— I mean, Ares.] Lia corrected herself with a playful wink.

"...."

Ares nodded, though, despite his appreciation for her craftsmanship, he felt a bit weary from Lia's lengthy conversations. Lia's introverted nature, combined with her tendency to ramble off-topic, likely inherited from her dwarf father, made extended conversations with her tiresome.

[...Bye, Ares.]

Tick—

Sigh~

With a sigh, Ares ended the call and leaned back in his seat, gripping his sword tightly as thoughts of the impending confrontation with Demon Lord Belphagor filled his mind once more.

***

As soon as Ares ended his call with Lia, Elaine suddenly appeared beside him with sparkling eyes, her gaze fixed on the newly arrived sword. "Wow, that looks magnificent! Can I see it?" she asked eagerly.

"...Of course," Ares replied, handing the sword over to Elaine.

Elaine examined the weapon with a keen eye, running her fingers along the blade and admiring the intricate craftsmanship. "This is ...truly a work of art," she remarked, impressed. "That Lia's skills are extraordinary."

"I agree. She's very talented," Ares said, watching Elaine's fascination with the sword. "I'm glad I asked her to fix it."

Elaine's eyes lit up with curiosity as she asked, "By the way, where did you find this sword? It seems like it has an interesting history."

Ares paused for a moment before responding, "...I found it in the dungeon of Demon Lord Pazuzu. It was hidden within a secret chamber."

Elaine's eyes widened in surprise. "A demon lord's dungeon?"

Ares nodded. "Yes, it was a dangerous place, but finding this sword made it worthwhile."

Elaine admired the sword's craftsmanship, noticing the strong aura surrounding it. "It seems to be somehow connected to you," she remarked.

"...Yeah, I've become its master now, so it can't be used by anyone else," Ares replied.

"Hmm," Elaine nodded, impressed.

'I must say, having a sword like this by his side gives me even more confidence in his abilities,' she thought to herself.

Tut— Tut— Tut— Tut

While they were engrossed in their thoughts, the chopper descended near the forest-like area surrounded by trees in the Zia woodland.

Rose tried a flawless landing, but her piloting abilities proved to be somewhat unusual. The chopper wobbled and swayed as it landed with a less-than-graceful thump, nearly missing branches and treetops.

Thud—

"Huff!" Rose sighed in relief. "We made it in one piece!"

"....."

Ares and Elaine exchanged looks, slightly amused by Rose's reckless piloting. Nonetheless, they were grateful for the safe arrival.

Elaine got out of the helicopter and stretched her body, taking in the serene surroundings of the forest. She turned to Rose, questioning her about her confidence in Belphagor's expected route.

"Are you a hundred percent sure he'll travel through this area?" Elaine asked.

Rose's expression turned serious as she responded, "While I've observed him traveling from this path numerous times before, I can't be entirely sure. However, based on my observations, this is his most likely route."

!?

Elaine raised an eyebrow skeptically. "...So, we could be waiting here for days, or even weeks, without any guarantee that he'll pass through?"

Rose shifted uncomfortably under Elaine's scrutinizing gaze, averting her eyes slightly.

Elaine sighed, realizing the uncertainties of their plan. "Well, if we're going to wait, might as well make ourselves comfortable and prepare for the long haul," she suggested.

However, as Ares surveyed the surroundings, he suddenly felt a faint presence nearby. He turned his attention toward the source and noticed Elaine doing the same.

!!

"...You sense it too?" Elaine asked, confirming Ares's suspicions.

Ares nodded. "Yes, there's someone else here," he replied, his senses sharpened.

Elaine's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Looks like we won't be waiting for long after all. Let's see who our unexpected guest is," she said with a huge grin.

As they stayed alert, keeping an eye out for the mysterious presence, the forest remained silent, save for the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional bird chirping in the distance.

To be continued...