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Hagun Academy sprawled across an immense area, nestled deep within the mountains. Beyond the numerous lecture halls and dormitories, vast forests stretched far and wide. Scattered within the dense greenery were several open-air training grounds, designed for students to hone their skills away from prying eyes.
After finishing his morning workout, Ryoji made his way to one such training ground.
"Little Junior Brother, have you changed yet?" Saikyou Nene leaned lazily against a stone pillar with a high-spec camera in hand, her expression brimming with mischief.
"...If you don't give me something decent to wear, I'm leaving!"
Hiding behind a nearby wall, Ryoji rummaged through a handful of paper bags, his face darkening as if he had just witnessed something horrific.
A fundoshi. Thongs. Leather straps...
"What the hell is all this?!"
"Alright, alright, try this one!"
Another bag sailed through the air and landed in his hands.
Ryoji cautiously opened it, and his expression soured even further.
Inside was a black, lace-trimmed maid outfit, complete with matching stockings, garters, a headband, and even a long-haired wig.
''FUUUCK!!!''
"A goddamn maid outfit?!"
"You wore something like that when you were a kid."
"That was NOT me!"
"Photo~"
"Cough... My friend says the past is the past, and he won't pursue it. But he absolutely refuses to wear this."
"Tch, fine, fine. Here, your actual clothes."
Another bag was tossed his way.
Ryoji hesitantly peeked inside and exhaled in relief. This time, it contained a normal set of clothing.
"You done yet?"
"Here, quit stalling."
Muttering under his breath, Ryoji stepped out from behind the wall.
He discarded his Hagun Academy uniform and slipped into the new outfit—a sleek black tank top beneath a fitted white blazer. The open neckline revealed his collarbones and a hint of his shoulder, while the sleeves stopped just below his elbows, adding a relaxed but stylish touch.
His lower half was clad in slim-fit, sky-blue jeans, perfectly accentuating his long legs and giving off a casual yet fashionable vibe.
"Eh, it's alright, I guess."
Saikyou Nene wiped away the drool at the corner of her mouth, crossing her legs as she feigned nonchalance.
''Click click click!''
Her camera clicked nonstop, her fingers moving so swiftly they left afterimages.
"It's a bit tight."
"You don't like tight? Maybe you prefer something loose instead?"
"If you put it that way, of course, I'll choose tight."
"Then it's settled."
That logic checked out, so Ryoji didn't press the issue.
"If you had normal clothes all along, why did you give me that... other stuff first?"
"What if?"
"Then I'd be dreaming of going back to the dorm."
After a prolonged exchange of playful teasing, the pint-sized powerhouse finally retrieved her Device— a battle fan— casually flicking it in Ryoji's direction.
In an instant, the gravitational force around him tripled, pinning him down as if an invisible weight had slammed onto his shoulders. It was like sinking into a swamp, his muscles straining under the pressure.
"Still holding up? Want me to crank it up a notch?"
Ryoji tested his footing. It was difficult, but he could still move.
"Perfect. If you can't move at all, it wouldn't be training."
Clearly pleased, Saikyou Nene shook her head at his suggestion before tossing the fan to him.
"Take this. As long as Beniiro Ageha stays near you, the gravity effect will persist. Just don't wander too far."
The Device's gravity manipulation was field-based. As long as the user remained within its range and fueled it with enough magic, the effect could last indefinitely.
"Hold up."
Ryoji called out, stopping the departing Saikyou Nene. His facial muscles twitched, forcing a stiff smile.
"Training alone only gets me so far. If First Senior Sister is free, how about sparring with me? Put a little more pressure on me."
"Oh? Are you serious, Little Junior Brother?"
The legal loli paused, her sleeve shifting ever so slightly as she pulled out a second Beniiro Ageha fan. Raising it to her face, she left only her sharp, knowing eyes visible.
"You 'do' realize that when I fight, I don't hold back? I could very well kill you."
A subtle yet unmistakable killing intent seeped from her small frame, her once-playful gaze now carrying a lethal edge.
—The infamous 'Yaksha Princess' was not one to be taken lightly.
Once her battle instincts were triggered, she abandoned all restraint. Her bloodlust was real, and in the heat of combat, she fought without hesitation, her strikes carrying lethal intent.
Her history was proof enough— during the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival over a decade ago, she had defied the League's restrictions and unleashed her forbidden 'Hadou Tensei'.
"...Yeah, never mind." Ryoji shuddered and immediately withdrew his request.
His hasty retreat was so quick that Saikyou Nene almost burst out laughing.
"Heh. Alright then. You must have something on your mind. Why don't you tell me about it? Entertain me for once."
Rolling her eyes, she leaned forward, a playful smirk returning to her lips.
"You're chasing strength, but surely you understand the importance of steady progress. This is the first time you've asked me to spar. What's eating at you?"
It was a familiar question.
Barely an hour ago, he had asked Kurogane Ikki the same thing.
"I was thinking… how do you help a frail swordsman cross a mountain range full of razor-sharp blades?" Ryoji didn't hesitate to voice his thoughts.
"Simple. You break all the blades." Saikyou Nene answered without a second thought.
"But that's my approach. If 'you' can't break them, then make your body harder—like a blade. No, even if you can't reach that level, just make it tough enough to endure for a while, no matter the cost."
'Temporary hardness?'
Ryoji fell silent, deep in contemplation.
His ability was 'Absolute Divine Speed'— it made him faster than anyone, regardless of whether they were organic or inorganic. But it only granted him 'speed', not 'durability'.
'—Wait. Inorganic? Hardness?'
His gaze fell on the iron fan in his hand, and a thought suddenly clicked.
How exactly do we measure hardness and softness?
How do we determine which metals are harder than others?
"Looks like you've had a breakthrough."
Saikyou Nene watched him intently, her smirk deepening as she observed his intense focus.
Without another word, she turned and silently left, leaving Ryoji behind—his eyes glimmering with newfound clarity.
(End of Chapter)