“We’re finally alohen.” Hinata said as the helicopter flew towards its destination.

  “I’m here, dad too…” Yu-mi muttered, but I uood what Hinata meant, as Minister Kang was flying in another helicopter, along with the Greek siblings, so other than Park Do-yun and his daughter, it was all my allies, so I was able to rex ahe high tension of the battles fade away finally. Of course, the stant trig of adherence away from me is a different type of pressure.

  “Yes, though not for long, we’ll be at our destination soon.” Hinata tinued. “You’ll have to work hard then, and I know it’s been tough. Sorry Akio.” She apologised, and I waved it off.

  “It’s fine. I’m w now to rex ter.” I joked, and she apologised again.

  “Sorry, Akio.” Her brown eyes were moist with tears, and there was a cat her voice. “Sorry. I’m sorry.”

  “Oh e on, Hinata. There’s o be that sad…” Shiro sighed, before looking me in the eyes. Her bck eyes held a little remorse, but her expression was still calm. “If you’re apologising, I should too. But we all agreed it was for the best, and a nice surprise.”

  “I know. I know.” Hinata repeated, clearly upset. “But I think we were wrong, no, n…” She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “Akio, I told you about Adamant, but…” She began to expin, and as she did so I could feel my expression ging. That’s… more than I expected, but I shouldn’t be surprised. Not with Hinata, Shiro and Shaeu involved.

  “…I’m sorry.” Hinata finished, apologising for yet aime, bowing her head. “I… only wao get you what you deserve, what we need, and to share some happiness with some others who I felt should have it.”

  “So let me get this straight.” I met her eyes, after looking at Shiro, whed and gnced aside guiltily. “If I was to say to anyone wearing that uniform that I was ied ihey’d have to… submit?” I didn’t want to say the actual words, as I was actually a bit angry. Is that how they see me? I’m hurt…

  “It’s like a sex cult…” Yu-mi said, stunned, chewing on the ends of her curled hair in thought.

  “Yes, but… you wouldn’t do that, Akio.” Hinata insisted. “Like I expined, it’s mostly just to build a sense of unity and loyalty that ’t be broken. And in exge for their loyalty, we’ll make sure to support them though any disaster that might befall them, and eheir successful futures. But… there are some I wanted you to sider…”

  “Who?” I asked, and Hinata cmmed up, face flushed.

  “You know…” Yu-mi said, after gng at her father, who looked troubled. “…I think it get it. Not this crazy private army, that’s way outside of anything I could have imagined before today, but… you’re not that kind of guy, are you Akio-nim?” she addressed me surprisingly respectfully. On seeing my surprise at that, she tio twirl her hair. “What? Surprised? Maybe it’s a bit formal for friends, since you said we’d start out as new friends, but… you rescued my cousin, and did more than that too, I’ll wager. I’d feel a bit straalking to you like I would a guy at uy, and you’re not my brother so that’s out. But that doesn’t matter. Miss Hinata…” she said, since we were speaking in English, as it was a on nguage we all uood. “…Akio-nim isn’t the sort of man who would indiscriminately prey on women. It seems a bit ughable to say that when he’s admitted to eleven girlfriends, as brazen as be, but… if he was, then he would have leapt at the ce to take me as his twelfth, or at least pushed me down and had his way with me if he wasn’t keen on marriage. There’s no ce he wouldn’t be ied ihat way. I’m pretty cute.”

  There’s no way I ahat. But I’m surprised she’s stig up for me, we’ve barely talked at all. “Look, I uood why you felt we , and even that you all wao surprise me with this as a present, but… it’s not what I want. I already…”

  “You already worry you’re not able to be a proper boyfriend and husband to us.” Shiro sighed. “I think you worry too much. Right now, everyone’s having fun, growing stronger, w toward their dreams. I mean, at first I was going to turn you down because I felt that I deserved you all to myself, and I had some pride, even me. But…” Her smile was warm and amused. “…maybe Shaeu is a bad influene, Hinata too, but I started thinking that in a way it was showing our superiority, that all these women wanted you, but that you wanted me.”

  Arisu-san, who had been watg silently, a disapproving frown on her face, spoke up then. “She was right then.”

  “She?” I asked, and Arisu-san shook her head, seemingly frustrated.

  “Young Suzanne-san. She said I did not uand White here, and she was right. Though hearing her in her own words…” She shook her head again, troubled. “…I think that path is one you choose to walk if you wish it. You are an adult, White, and I uand that Akio-san fought tirelessly to win you, even against Red and the tracts of a God. You…” she fixed Hinata with a cold gre. “…I am not one who is a strao the nobility of Japan, though I have only had fleeting tact, but such cepts as arranged marriage, es and a wife living to further the is of her husband and house are ingrained into you. This is a foolish extension of that.”

  Yes, Arisu-san is extremely ed with faithfulness after she was betrayed by her fiancé, I uand her ahough as she tinued, I was surprised by how accurately she read our worries, showing her keen intelligend uanding of others’ emotions, as befitted a top actress. “As for Shaeu, I have no wish to uand her inhuman thought processes. A culture where the bonds of marriage, or their rough equivalent, know no bounds of gender or number, I hardly criticise her for doing as she is predisposed to do. No, looking at you all, you have made your choices. But there is one who did not, yes?”

  “That’s not true.” Shiro began, but Hinata nodded, and it was the source of her upset.

  “Eri. When you accepted Eri, she was the only one, and had no reason to think there would be any others. For all of us, even Kana, who is an ordinary girl like Eri, we uood you were too big to tie down, that your destiny would carry others along with you, but… only Eri was different.”

  That’s true, but also not. Eri… Eri’s a kind girl, and she accepted Shaeu, and even Hinata and the others. But… I t help but worry. After all…

  “I don’t think Eri- is as weak as you imagine.” Haru said, having also been listening quietly, though she was stantly cheg her phone, no doubt receiving important updates. “She admitted that it was her insecurities and jealousy that she wasn’t good enough for you that kept her so jealously possessive. Besides, she was ag out a normal pn for her life. Fall in love, marry, have children, together. And why wouldn’t she? Back then there was none of this.” Haru gestured to those of us in the helicopter. “But if you ask her, all she really wants is you. I think it’s sweet.”

  “Yes, but she’s right.” Hinata tinued. “We said we put Adamant into py without sulting her because we knew she wouldn’t refuse it because it was for you, Akio, and we didn’t want to bother her… but I ’t lie anymore. Shiro, we just didn’t want the hassle, did ere disrespectful, and selfish.”

  “This isn’t like you, Hinata.” Shiro sighed. “Look, I like Eri. She was kind to me and weled me when I first arrived, and we had simir circumstances. But when it es to you, she’s… well, she get a bit crazy. And she’s by far the most jealous of us all. Yet despite that, she opened her arms to us. I ’t hate her. But…”

  “I know.” I bit my lip. “Hinata, I wanted you to pursue your dreams without having to give anything up. That goes for you too, Shiro. And of course that applies to Eri as well. But… when her dream is inpatible with those of others, when she wants me all to herself, to live an ordinary life… when two dreams csh, there has to be somebody who sacrifices. I wahat to be me, but…” I love Eri, I always have. And maybe I could have ended with just Eri, Shaeu and Shiro… but then, Hyath and Tsukiko have suffered a lot too. Daiyu as well, Asha too. No… it would never have worked. I’m too weak. I have all this strength, I defeat fragments of evil Gods, quer Chosen who use divine powers to it evil, deal with the rid powerful… but I ’t turn my ba those women who I’ve e to care about when they are hurting. But with each hand I hold out, Eri…

  “Hey, dad, am I an idiot? Are we stupid?” Yu-mi said suddenly, surprising me. As he looked at her, puzzled, she sighed. “You know, Akio-nim, has this Eri girl ever told you she’s unhappy, or reproached you?”

  “No, but I know she wants more of me, more of me than I give…” I began, as Shiro rolled her eyes beside me. Yu-mi sighed again, frowning.

  “Of course she does. That’s being in love, right? The girls here all want more of you, don’t they? Miss Shiro, Miss Hinata, and Miss Haru, wasn’t it?”

  At her words, everyone froze. Haru blinked for a moment, befhing a little nervously. “I fear you’ve made a mistake. I’m not one of Akio-kun’s women, I’m merely his Vassal. I… I’m not something anyone would want to touch.”

  Oh shit. I wasn’t the only ohat suddenly froze as Yu-mi unknowingly stepped on a huge ndmine. As she looked on, puzzled by the ge in atmosphere, I spoke up quickly. “Sorry, Haru… Haru’s had a very bad experien the past. So… she’s not ready to move o. It’s not something easy to just set aside. But…” I bent down, looking into Haru’s eyes early. “Please, Haru. I’ve told you, to us, you’re not tainted, or broken, or lesser. You’re Suzuki Haru, my friend, and a daughter of a father who loves you. You’ve got your friends baot that you have much time to socialise with them nowadays, so I’m sorry about that… and you have new friends too.” Around us there were nods. “So… I know my words won’t reach you, but you find love when you’re ready. After all… the bastard that hurt you will never wake up again. One day soon he’ll be gone, a memory. A distant memory.”

  “I know.” Haru managed a slight ugh, though I could see her hands trembling lightly with my excellent vision. “Sometimes I fet myself. It’s not easy, remembering. But… it still seems too far away, finally being free. I’ve put aside my fear, and I have moved on a lot, but… I have different fears now.”

  “I’m sorry.” Yu-mi said, starting to uand. “I didn’t know. But…” she paused, perhaps remembering her decration to me when she offered herself on behalf of her cousin. “…sure, we make a lot out of ing to the bed a virgin here in the East. And yeah, it’s an issue of pride, but… a lot of guys don’t mind. Do you, Akio-nim?”

  I shrugged. “It’s hardly a dealbreaker to me. It’s love that matters. But even if it was, Haru’s case would be special. And any man who held it against her isn’t worth her anyway, and he and I will most definitely have words. So I know it’s futile to say this, because it takes time to heal, but believe in yourself and your worth, Haru, and one day you’ll be truly happy again.”

  “Is he always like that?” Yu-mi asked Hinata. “I really believe he means it.”

  “He does. That’s why we love him, but also why I feel so guilty now. Eri… we did her wrong, and we did Aki too. But we just wao help, and more… to surprise and make him happy.”

  “A surprise is telling me we’ve secured a deal with a new backer, or you’ve found some Etherites.” I sighed. “This was a bit much. But… I know you meant well, and we do he manpower. But I won’t be preying on the members of Adamant. I’m already stretched thin as it is. ologise to Eri together, and we make it up to her…”

  “You never did answer me.” Yu-mi broke in boldly again. “Has Miss Eri pined, or shown she feels slighted or sorry?”

  “Of course she does.” I insisted. “I brought in girl after girl, even ones she didn’t want, like Kana, and…”

  “Oh I just ’t bear this anymore.” My sis said grumpily, having been listening quietly enough I overlooked that she was there. “Hey, you. You’re kind of cute. So, I was told that my bro turned you down, which did surprise me a bit, so what’s going on with you?”

  It ark Do-yun who spoke up then, a little sorrowfully. “She is my daughter, Park Yu-mi. I offered her hand in marriage and a signifit dowry in exge for the safety of my nephew Yu-jun, but she was rejected, my precious daughter was not good enough. Looking around, I see why. Everyone around is special. My daughter easure up to that with looks and charm alohe world is not fair.”

  “I don’t know why you feel bad, dad.” Yu-mi sighed. “You felt terrible about askio sacrifice myself, and now I don’t have to. We should be happy. Yes, we should be.”

  “I see.” My sis frowhinking. “So getting sed thoughts? I’m a little surprised, actually, no, I’m not I guess…”

  “I… well, he asked me if I wa, and of course I said no. Marrying a man I’ve never eve wasn’t something I wanted.” Yu-mi admitted. “But then he rescued my cousin anyway, and all over a hotel.” She looked at Hinata then, a trace of admiration in her eyes. “I suppose you’d say I’m in a simir position to you. After all, the Chaebols of Korea are simir to the nobility of Japan, though we are far less pressured, I hear. But sometimes marriage is decided for us. But I don’t think I could do all that you do, Miss Hinata, anising a military cult for your fiancé, or taking oiations with powerful old men like my father. You’re quite something. And you really love him, right?”

  “Of course. At first sight I knew I did. I’m never wrong!” Hinata puffed out her chest proudly. “As for it being merely a hotel, it’s more than that. It’s one of the major symbols of the nobility. To lose it brings shame to us all and makes us look weak, vulnerable, when we o be strong, now more than ever. But…” she smiled impishly. “Akio turned you down, but we’ll still take the stake in your pany. Poor Yu-mi-unni, all out of money. You’ll have to live a more frugal life, or marry a rich man.” she said wickedly.

  “That’s mean. That was my dowry.” Yu-mi ughed. “I… oh, never mind. Anyway, yes, we’re just friends nht Akio-nim?”

  “Yes, so drop the strange Korean honorifics please. Just Akio is fine. I’m a half, so I don’t stand on ceremony. And it’s no refle on you, Yu-mi. I don’t know you, and it’s just like we’ve been saying, it would hurt the others to add more women.”

  “Look, I’m partially at fault for all this.” My sis sighed, a long, mournful exhation. “I’m not mom, who is encing you to form a Rugby team of wives. Not that you have far to go.” she joked sourly. “But I pushed Eri to accept Shaeu, because I saw the love she had for you, as much as Eri’s. I didn’t want ao get hurt. But really, not even the Gods stop all hurts, right?”

  Shiro nodded, likely speaking for Tan, as my sis tinued. “Eri… she’s my dearest friend…” Ign the murmurs of “I’m hurt!” i from Shiro, she tinued. “But there’s a deep darkness inside her. It was hidden by her shyness for a long time, but it was always there. She’s a true YandEri…” she joked, one I’d not heard from her in a while, and she had to expin it to Yu-mi and her father. “Basically she’s a heavy woman, crazy with love. It’s not healthy, really, but luckily my bro grew up into a man who handle her. If they had married ba Nishimorioka and lived an ordinary life, and my bro cheated on her, she’d be mad, furious… but she’d take him back, because she loves him too much to do anything else, and that includes his bad parts too. We all have those.” My sis snorted. “I mean, you’re su annoya times, bro. You ran from us to Tokyo, yet now you’ve finally accepted you love and be loved, look at you…”

  “Is it me, or does that sounds very much like she loves him too?” Yu-mi tilted her head, puzzled, and as my sis flushed as red as a tomato, she de angrily.

  “I’m not in love with my bro, we’re siblings! I mean, sure, I love him, but I’m not in love, got it? Wow, damn you’re an odd one. Life without my bro was shitty, but… ugh, never mind. All I’m saying is, to Eri, what you do, good or bad, is just all you. And she’s not as sad as you think. In fact, she’s happy. Yeah, she wants more. Everyone wants more of you, but … she loves the role she was given, even if Shaeu never really meant it. She likes a lot of the girls you love, Aki, and she tells me she’s truly happy, and doing things she finds important. As for ying in girls she didn’t like… don’t mind that too much. Eri and Kana- aren’t enemies, just rivals… but… you won’t believe what I’m saying, or what Eri says either, will you? Damn, I know yuilt is yround state of being. Just like with the dog, despite you saving us. You think you should do better, be able to find a way… hell, let’s face it, you mao split yourself in two, which by my t means that it’s like you only have five and a half girlfriends now. Do that again and we get down to two and three quarters!” she joked.

  “It’s not that easy or that simple, and I ’t y way out of this.” I insisted. “Even when I spend time with two separate girls alone, I’m still not giving them all my full attention. I… fuck…” I cursed. “Really, is this about Eri, or about my own guilt? Hinata, Shiro… I’m not able to criticise you. It’s a situation where someone has to lose, but…”

  “This is tiresome.” Tan spoke suddenly. Yu-mi looked shocked as Shiro’s hair burst into fmes, a brilliant crimson. “Just as the princess made her own choices, so too does this Eri girl. You belittle her by sed-guessing her. Simply ask her to be ho and go from there. Besides… to be an Astral Emperor is to rule a world, and solve problems. If you dislike the thought you are causing her and others pain, be a man and find a solution.”

  “What if there is no solution?” I asked, and Tan snorted.

  “There is nothing without a solution, only a ck of knowledge, power or will. After all, this problem is not one of battle, or survival, but merely of feelings. One who challenges me so boldly for the fate of this world and our own selves is not so timid as to surreo apathy and fail to persevere, surely not.”

  “I have no idea what is going on, but… huh, ruling the world, really? Should you be telling us this?” Yu-mi asked, puzzled.

  “Why not?” Hinata grirying to recapture her usual drive. “After all, you’re already bound to us. Just because Akio turned down your proposal doesn’t mean you escape rasp. But don’t worry, we’re kind to our allies. But ruthless to our enemies. Should you be tempted to betray our trust for money, power or anything else, we will destroy you! As for ruling the world, yes, that about sums it up. You’ve surely heard talk from various sources that an apocalypse is ing. All true. And one person has to step up and take over to prevent that. And that will be Akio. Sorry Tan.” She wi Shiro.

  “I see. It’s a lot to take in, but…” Yu-mi looked at me then. “Yeah, I’m not that smart, am I? But I suppose I do have good taste in friends.” She giggled, looking less a woman and more a girl for a moment. “How about this? I think you need an outside perspective on this matter with Miss Eri. I think it’s really pying on your minds? I guess that’s why they say that men who cheat have it hard, having to keep both women happy. For you it’s a lot harder than that.”

  “And how will you do that?” I asked, and she just winked.

  “Since Miss Hinata and Miss Shiro say you like surprises, just leave it to me!” she giggled. “But you shouldn’t think this will be the only time your retionships get all strained and tangled. It’s only in stories that retionships like this will be smooth sailing. There’ll be hardships ahead…”

  “If you help us, then you simply call me Hinata.” Hinata was exasperated but relieved at the ge in atmosphere. “And I’m very sorry for derailing the subject, but… I o get it off my chest. I’ll help make it up to Eri in whatever way I . I’m very busy anyway, so she have my time for the foreseeable future, and…”

  I cut her off. I was an idiot when it came to how girls felt, but I learned, if slowly, and had a good memory now. “No. When Shaeu suggested the same, Eri got really pissed off. I think Yu-mi and my sis are right…”

  “Of course, I know you and Eri best, bro…” my sis said proudly, and she offered a hand for Yu-mi to high-five, which she did, a little embarrassed.

  “…yeah, Eri’s proud. She believes I want to spend time with her on her ows, which of course I do. Damn, maybe I do o find a way to multiply myself further… ugh, way too difficult. No, I’ll give Yu-mi a ce, she’s right. Maybe an outside perspective…”

  “But a friend’s one.” Yu-mi corrected. “I’m approag it that way too. I’m obviously not as smart as I thought I was, but I’m not a total idiot. I too learn. But… shouldn’t we talk about business now? Though this has been iing in its own way.” She looked at her father. “Look, I know you’re worried about Yu-jun, dad, but they said he’ll recover. Why wouldn’t we believe them? Right now I’ll believe anything, even that we’re sitting here with the future ruler of the world.”

  “That… worries me, a little.” He said slowly. “I have little love for the Japanese, less so for the nobility. I worry what will happen to Korea if a Japanese person was to gain such almighty power.”

  “Not much.” I promised. “Just like Japan, or Britain, or anywhere else, there’s a lot worth preserving, culturally. But there are also some things that aren’t desirable. If… when… I settle matters and protect the Earth, I’ll also remember those who aided us and stood with us. Like you two. I think that as I’m a half, I have a different perspective on matters, and… I’ve walked beside beings who aren’t even human, who have their own cultures and characters. Earth is a melting pot, and that’s good. But to remain so, we have to fight. Just like here at useon. Does that answer your question, Park-ssi?”

  “It does.” He nodded, gng at his daughter, who smiled back. “Please treat Yu-mi well. I will pay what I have promised.” Before I could ahat I always treated my friends right, he tinued. “I did some digging with the anti-Japanese fa within the Chaebols. I call it a fa, but it’s more a loose group of big businesses who follow the political and cultural zeitgeist. Hating Japan is onpce, I am afraid. I mean no offense. Sadly I am also teically a part of this. Though wheime es I will distance myself, of course, I never fet to honour a debt. There’s a lot of positive ese se as well, which has spiked up over the st few years, which I admit I found surprising, as I have little love for the ese either. inally, it seemed that the Tengokusentou was bought by an Ameri glomerate, the Ruby group. It’s mostly into financial services, teles and so forth. But there’s more to it…” he looked at Hinata then.

  “I … hesitate to say this.” He sighed. “I don’t think you have cause to believe me. But I swear on my daughter that it is true, or at least those I spoke to believe it to be true.”

  “For Yu-mi’s sake I will hear you out.” Hinata said, eyes narrowing. “It’s betrayal, right?”

  “How did you know?” he asked, surprised.

  “I didn’t. But it isn’t as though Kira-sama and Fujiwara-sama don’t have suspis. The Shiraishi house were misled, and Shiraishi Nozomi was to be eo a very unsuitable match, if you ask me, though she’s a kind girl, so accepted it easily.” She paused. “That’s over now. When she accepted a position in Adamant, Fujiwara-sama accepted the celtion. Apparently Fujiwara-sama already had some issues with him. The man, Mizuhara Minato, was quite angry. Not that I care. He’s from a branch family of a branch family of Mizuhara house, which is one of the Fifty-Eight. No, it’ll be Fifty-Seven again soon therayal, huh. Mizuhara house is long associated with mining and mineral wealth, but while Japan has many rich mountain veins, a lot of them ’t be exploited, due tious significe, so we import a lot. Especially from a…”

  “Exactly. The Ruby group has another name. Ruby Serpent.” Park-ssi sighed. “It is an undercover spy group, seemingly. And they report to the Party in a. And supposedly your Mizuhara house has been receiving rge imports of rare earth metals, amongst other key minerals, from a at a very favourable price…”

  “Bought for mere money. Such fools.” Hinata scoffed. She narrowed her eyes. “We may seem the same, since you paid for our services, but we act for nobler causes, and greater goals. Ruby Serpent. An ill-omened name.”

  “So, what do we do?” I asked. “There’s no way we simply get it back. Could the Japanese gover seize it… no, there’d be iional outcry. Although…” That could work…

  “Yes, a multi-pronged approach. Pressure from both sides.” Hinata mused. “But we have to dismantle Mizuhara house, to prevent further internal strife. But we use them…” As Hinata started plotting, I checked my watch. We’ve been talking for twenty mihere’s still a little time…

  “It’s time for the fun stuff then.” Shiro rubbed her hands together. “Aki, you still haven’t checked out all yains, have you?”

  I shook my head. “No, not yet. Let me see…”

  My Eye bzed amber, and Yu-mi looked on, curious. “Again, should you be showing this… no, you’re right. Dad and me, we’re on your ship now. We’d have to be truly fools to betray you. Besides, I don’t want to.” She smiled in a teasing fashion. “I still have to sort out your retionship problems. You call me noona!”

  “If you … I will!” I promised. I don’t think it’s that easy. I do still feel guilt. I know Eri’s told me no end of times feeling guilty only serves my own sce, and actually hurts her, but… I was gettier, but… ugh, managing my love life is hard. Not that anyone should or would pity me!

  “I’ll hold you to that!” she giggled. “So now I’m curious. Dad and I don’t know much, other than a bit about the Korean Hunter Guilds…”

  “They were nothing special. Some were useful…” Shiro admitted, and I waved her to silehinking that was unfair. Besides, one of them has a talent I really o borrow…

  “Basically, it’s not like a game, at least on the surface. Some people call fmes, or summon strange beings, or move very fast, ee from any injury…” I began.

  “Or trol minds…” Park-ssi whispered and I nodded.

  “Yeah, or that. Nastiest trick of all. But I have a talent to see things as numbers, basically. So while it’s not a game, I sort of simute the rules, as it were. Which while it doesn’t offer much practical use in battle, it’s great for optimising.”

  “That’s not all, right? You don’t have to tell me too much, I’d be scared, but… you don’t beat mind trol like that.” Yu-mi said shrewdly.

  “Yes, so anyway…” I looked at Shiro and the others. “I finally reached a Skill past Rank ten, and gained a Css. Might as well check it out…”

  Prodigy Of The Lower Worlds is a Css obtained by those who have climbed the fourth horizon and reached a level of profi a Skill that exceeds what is normal, in worlds starved of resources and opportunities, a feat even the Multiverse reises. Even in the scattered, numberless worlds of the Near and Far Reaches, or the Pantheons, it requires talent and effort to reach such heights, though amongst beings as plentiful as grains of sand, there are always numerous geniuses, many others who have mastered such a climb. The Ranks of Skills will increase more easily, and prehension of information will increase. It will be easier to pass bottlenecks, breach walls and climb pinhough this again is dependant on effort and talent. Skills that affects learning and knowledge are further easier to increase. Intellect will increase greatly as the Css strengthens.

  Damn, that’s awesome. I could feel my Eye burning brilliantly, and it seemed tthen as soon as I uood the Css. Of course, my Eye is a Skill affeg knowledge, it even says so in the he feeling of having reached Rank 6 beyond the bottleneck didn’t seem so distant anymore, and I k was only a matter of time when I could reach it without Shiro’s buffs. Speaking of buffs… Rubbing my hands together, I looked at Shiro, a small smile on my face.

  “I k. You are a little ahat Hinata and I upset Eri.” Shiro sighed. “Oh well, if puttihrough the wringer will make you feel better, let it not be said that I, Shirohime, am not a woman who take it.” She smiled then. “Holy, Aki, don’t look at me like that. I’m joking, all right? But… you want to test out my Berserk Blessing, right? And you think that taking on the pain yourself will assuage yuilt. It won’t… but we o do it anyway. But before that… there’s more, isn’t there?”

  “Of course. It was very profitable.” I’m not going to talk about the Favours, even though I trust that Yu-mi and Park-ssi are tied to us now, some things shouldn’t be shared. But Skill and Css data will only make them feel awe, so… “Master of Many Crafts I’ve seen before, after all, Ixitt had that one… but for the others…” Might as well take a good look at my status. It’s been a while since I’ve fully analysed it, and a lot has ged since…

  ShipTeaser