Inaba Tsukuyo nodded gently.
"Amou is very strong."
"The speed at which she grows is astonishing."
"Although the way Amou becomes stronger is reckless and crude."
"I cannot agree with Amou's practice of using herself like a weapon."
"But..."
"Tsukuyo has to admit..."
"Regarding Amou's determination to burn herself out just to follow Kami-sama..."
"Tsukuyo lost to her."
"But Tsukuyo doesn't want to lose anymore."
As Inaba Tsukuyo spoke these words...
Heimdall could clearly notice the fingers gripping his sleeve tighten, digging deep into the fabric.
Especially today.
Inaba Tsukuyo, who was usually quiet and like a delicate, fragile porcelain doll, had finally spoken so much for once.
It seemed that as Kirukiru Amou officially underwent a level up to become the first Lv.2 Adventurer...
A flame named 'unwillingness' had ignited within Inaba Tsukuyo.
As a genius with extraordinary swordsmanship talent from her previous world...
—The pride of a genius.
Inaba Tsukuyo could accept being inferior to Kirukiru Amou in terms of strength.
After all...
In that regard, Kirukiru Amou was indeed a monster-level existence.
But what Inaba Tsukuyo could not accept was losing to Kirukiru Amou in terms of determination.
"So..."
"*Sigh*..."
Inaba Tsukuyo suddenly let go of Heimdall's sleeve.
Instead, she covered her chest with both hands; her heart was pounding violently from the excitement, and her breathing had become rapid.
"Tsukuyo knows very well in her heart."
"After the trials of these past two days, this weak and sickly body of mine has reached its limit."
"It's like a rusted scabbard."
"The sharper the sword inside, and the more overbearing the sword aura..."
"The more painful it is for the scabbard."
"With every swing of the sword..."
"Tsukuyo can feel her heart wailing and her body tearing apart."
"If this continues, no one else will need to lift a finger."
"Tsukuyo herself will fall in battle because her body cannot keep up with her consciousness."
"Therefore..."
"Tsukuyo wants to request Kami-sama to level Tsukuyo up!"
Inaba Tsukuyo turned around to face Heimdall, sat straight on her knees, crossed her hands in front of her forehead, pressed her forehead against her fingers, and bowed deeply, performing a standard Dogeza.
"If Tsukuyo cannot take this step."
"If there isn't a stronger body to carry all of this..."
"Tsukuyo will be unable to continue following you, unable to swing a sword for you."
"Whether as a swordsman..."
"Or as a member of your Familia."
"Tsukuyo doesn't want to be left behind."
"I don't want to watch the silhouettes of others gradually drift away."
"And Tsukuyo especially doesn't want..."
"To become a burden to Kami-sama."
"Because that feeling of just standing there, helplessly watching your figure move forward..."
"For Tsukuyo..."
"Is simply..."
"More painful than death..."
Silence.
A deathly silence.
Rin and the others all shut their mouths at this moment.
They were all startled by Inaba Tsukuyo's heart-wrenching words.
After all, they had always thought...
That this blind girl, who always kept her eyes closed and quietly drank tea, would be the most indifferent to worldly competition among them.
They never expected...
That beneath Inaba Tsukuyo's fragile appearance...
There was hidden such a burning, almost obsessive, Competitive spirit.
...
Heimdall looked at Inaba Tsukuyo, who was prostrate on the ground.
Facing that thin back, which looked as if it could be blown away by a gust of wind, he saw it was currently trembling slightly.
"Raise your head, Tsukuyo."
Heimdall quickly reached out and gently helped Inaba Tsukuyo up.
He saw...
Inaba Tsukuyo's cinnabar-colored pupils were still accurately directed toward his eyes, filled with determination.
"Since you have this resolve..."
"I expect you will surely climb higher in the future."
"As a god..."
"How could I refuse my own child's request?"
Heimdall helped Inaba Tsukuyo tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Moreover..."
"In my eyes, every one of you must become monsters capable of standing on your own."
"Since you have this determination."
"Then come."
"After all, I also really want to see what kind of brilliance the sword inside will radiate once this fragile scabbard of yours is shattered and reforged."
With that said.
Heimdall wasted no more words.
He directly picked up Inaba Tsukuyo and placed her face down back onto the tatami mat.
...
At this point.
A drop of divine blood.
Carrying the Falna and the authority to break mortal limits.
Slowly dripped down.
*Drip.*
It landed right in the center of Inaba Tsukuyo's smooth, jade-like back.
At that instant!
A brilliant red light flared up!
Those values.
At this moment.
Completely boiled, burned, and finally returned to nothingness.
This was the shattering of the 'Vessel'.
It was also the reforging of the 'Vessel'.
Inaba Tsukuyo was welcoming a new life.
And so.
As the ability values were fully refined.
The Development Ability manifested.
When everything was finished.
Inaba Tsukuyo's Rank Up ceremony was declared over.
Everyone could clearly feel that the heavy, lingering aura of decay that originally surrounded Inaba Tsukuyo had now completely vanished!
——
[Name]: Inaba Tsukuyo.
[Race]: Human.
[Level]: Lv.2.
[status]: Strength: I0, Endurance: I0, dexterity: I0, agility: I0, Magic: I0.
[Development Ability]: [Mind's Eye] I: Observe the world in the form of waves, perceiving without blind spots.
[Skills]: [Magatsu-ko], [Fleeting Beauty], [The Unlucky Sword Demon]
[Magic]: None.
Skills:
[Magatsu-ko]
Permanently lose [Vision] as a cost.
Gain the ultimate sublimation of [Hearing] and [Perception].
Significantly increases Perception of killing intent, presence, and action telegraphs.
In combat, there is a very high probability of seeing through enemy action flaws, granting a [Preemptive] effect.
In dark environments, all status values receive an additional bonus.
[Fleeting Beauty]
When drawing the sword, [agility] and [Strength] temporarily gain an explosive bonus, the magnitude of which is proportional to the charging time.
As a cost, the body falls into a brief state of rigidity after the explosion.
[The Unlucky Sword Demon]
[Endurance] growth rate is significantly reduced, making it extremely difficult to increase.
In exchange, the proficiency gain rate for [agility] and [dexterity] is doubled.
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