"Extreme?"
"Kami-sama..."
"Is Tsukiyo's aptitude too poor?"
Hearing Heimdall's meaningful evaluation, Tsukiyo, who had been lying on the bed, twitched her spirited ears slightly.
Although her expression couldn't be seen,
However, Inaba Tsukiyo's body clearly stiffened for an instant.
After all,
this body of hers,
since childhood, had been a broken vessel sentenced to death by doctors.
Blind in both eyes, weak and sickly.
Aside from swordsmanship, she possessed nothing.
If even this sole talent in swordsmanship were denied by the gods, then she would truly lose her reason for existing.
"No, Tsukiyo."
"You've misunderstood."
Heimdall shook his head, reaching out to gently press his hand on the girl's shoulder, which was still trembling slightly.
"On the contrary."
"One could even say..."
"Your talent is frighteningly strong."
Having said that,
Heimdall rose from the bedside.
Casually pulling up the fallen nightgown to cover the girl's snow-white yet somewhat frail back.
Inaba Tsukiyo hurriedly put it back on properly, fumbling to tighten the collar. The blush on her cheeks hadn't faded, but her sightless crimson eyes turned towards Heimdall's direction, her face filled with disbelief.
"Extremity is not a derogatory term."
"In life-and-death struggles,"
"what often determines victory is not your shortest board, but your longest blade."
"As long as your blade is fast enough, fast enough to sever your enemy's throat before they can strike your weak point,"
"then that weak point ceases to be a weakness and becomes a forbidden zone your enemy can never reach."
"For instance, your skill 'Magatsu-ko' grants you perception and preemptive abilities far beyond the ordinary."
"This means you've already won half the battle before it even begins."
"And 'Fleeting Beauty'..."
"...gives you the potential for a momentary burst of power that surpasses your level's limits."
"This means,"
"even though you're currently a fragile Lv.1,"
"if given an opportunity,"
"even a fleeting opening,"
"you could potentially behead an enemy several levels above you."
"This potential for overcoming superior strength,"
"is precisely the shortest shortcut to achieving great feats."
In Orario,
challenging those above your level is the most efficient way to obtain great feats.
Inaba Tsukiyo's trait of a single, decisive kill seems almost tailor-made for harvesting such achievements.
It's like playing a game.
While others are still whittling down health bars with basic attacks,
she directly unleashes her ultimate move for an instant kill.
Although she only has one shot,
as long as that one shot hits,
it's a god-slaying strike.
"The so-called 'One-Sword Asura' probably refers to someone like you."
"So,"
"have more confidence."
"Don't underestimate yourself."
"You are the sharpest, most extreme sword."
"Born to sever fate itself."
"Since your body is frail, then simply ensure your enemies cannot touch you."
"This is the Asura's path of the one-hit kill."
After speaking,
Heimdall reached out and gently ruffled Inaba Tsukiyo's silvery-white long hair.
"Mmm..."
"I... Is that so..."
Feeling the warmth from Heimdall's fingers stroking her head and hearing those words filled with affirmation,
Inaba Tsukiyo let out a whimper like a small kitten.
Her previously tense body immediately softened.
Her cheeks flushed an even deeper red.
Like a boiled shrimp.
It wasn't just because of Heimdall's praise that struck her soul.
It was also the warmth transmitted from her head.
That head-patting gesture, being treated like a child,
was an experience Inaba Tsukiyo, forced to mature early, had never had before.
She didn't dislike it.
In fact...
she was a bit greedy for it.
"Y... Yes! Kami-sama!"
"Tsukiyo understands."
Inaba Tsukiyo's voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum. She lowered her head slightly and, like a pampered kitten, gently nuzzled against Heimdall's palm.
Then,
she flusteredly retreated to the corner of the bed like a startled rabbit, her face red.
After all,
although she was happy to be praised,
having her bare back stared at for so long was, for this sheltered young lady, simply too stimulating.
...
Meanwhile,
with Inaba Tsukiyo's precedent setting the standard,
the atmosphere in the room became subtly tense once again.
After all,
for warriors,
what could be more thrilling than witnessing a quantified future brimming with infinite possibilities?
The gazes of the girls began to sweep back and forth among themselves.
Their eyes were full of unconcealed sparks.
"Since everyone is being polite,"
"then little Satori won't hold back~"
"Little Satori wants to be the second one."
As she spoke, Tamaba Satori began walking towards the bedside where Heimdall was.
However,
before she could take a single step,
*Whoosh—*
a gust of wind swept fiercely past her face.
A tall figure leaped over her, blocking the space between her and Heimdall like a wall.
It was Kirukiru Amou.
"Huh?"
Tamaba Satori stopped, tilting her head, the fake smile on her face stiffening for a moment.
"Amaha-san, cutting in line isn't a good habit, you know?"
"Cutting in line?"
"This isn't about first come, first served."
"If you don't even have that level of resolve, how can you talk about pursuing power?"
Having said that,
Kirukiru Amou directly turned around to face Heimdall, who was sitting by the bed.
Without a single word of preamble,
and without any mental preparation like Inaba Tsukiyo had done,
*Rustle—*
Kirukiru Amou raised her hand and gripped her own collar with extreme decisiveness.
She gave a forceful tug.
Accompanied by the sound of fabric rubbing,
the oversized nightgown was ripped off by her in one motion and casually tossed onto a nearby chair.
"Eek—!"
"Wha-what are you doing?!"
"Y-you... you're utterly shameless!"
This scene
directly caused Kikakujuo Mary to shriek in shock, hurriedly covering her eyes.
Rin's mouth hung agape, her entire body petrified on the spot.
Even Inaba Tsukiyo, curled up in the corner of the bed, couldn't help but secretly raise her head.
Although she couldn't see, her keen perception made her aware of what was happening.
"Really now..."
"Little Satori even raised her hand."
Seeing this, Tamaba Satori puffed out her cheeks and could only step back.
Currently,
what was revealed before Heimdall was a body that could be called perfect.
Because if Inaba Tsukiyo was delicate and fragile porcelain,
then Kirukiru Amou was fine steel that had been tempered through a thousand fires.
— — Ivory white.
The lines of every inch of muscle were smooth and tight, containing astonishing explosive power, presenting a wild beauty.
These were the lines one could possess after developing the body to its extreme through long-term cultivation of ancient martial arts.
It was just like a famous sword polished until its cold gleam was piercing.
Even just standing there, she exuded an imposing sharpness.
This was the Incarnation Blade.
It forged the originally fragile human skin
through day after day of nearly self-abusive tempering, forcibly into a weapon harder than steel.
...However.
Compared to the astonished gazes around them,
Heimdall looked at the girl who was completely exposed with a bit of helplessness.
Although the scenery was indeed unique, this manner was a bit too wild.
"I say..."
"Although I know you're eager."
"But could you pay a little attention to the impression you're making?"
Heimdall pointed towards Hanazake Warabi, who was huddled in the corner, covering her face while hugging the Black Bear.
"There are children here, you know."
"Don't teach the kids badly."
"Huh?!"
Hearing this, Hanazake Warabi, who had been peeking through her fingers, instantly bristled and suddenly jumped out from behind the bear's belly.
"Who, who is a child?!"
"I've been an adult for ages, okay!"
"I have a motorcycle license! I have a motorcycle license!"
Hanazake Warabi was furious, trying to defend her height, which was hard to describe.
However,
no one paid attention to her protest.
Kirukiru Amou didn't even spare her a glance.
She just slightly tilted her chin.
"Trivial matters like that don't matter."
"We will all be your Familia sooner or later anyway."
"Since we have already decided to dedicate our bodies and minds to you, the God."
"Then this level of openness is just a matter of time."
Having said that,
Kirukiru Amou showed no hesitation, placed her hands on the edge of the bed, and skillfully rolled onto it, then lay down on her stomach.
Her ink-black long, straight hair flowed down with her movement,
spreading out on the white bedsheet.
She then rested her chin on her arms, turned her head, and smiled at Heimdall.
"Come, God."
"Let me see..."
"Just how astonishing this body, forged by me to climb to the summit, can make you."
This was a lion.
No soothing or encouragement was needed.
Just give it a direction, and it would pounce forward without hesitation.
...