Chapter 3

A Valuable Truth: Suppose Admitting Weakness Is What Makes Us Strong

Their third day in the Ascorbic Domain.

It was the morning after their disastrous training. The sun was already well above the horizon, but Anzu was still curled up in bed, showing no signs of rising.

“……I don’t wanna get up.”

Like a kid on marathon day or a first-year office worker on Monday, she seemed to be rejecting the very concept of morning. It didn’t seem like Selen’s special love soup (mostly poison) was really having any lingering effects, though.

She’d stayed up half the night worrying about how to train Lloyd Belladonna, a boy already so alarmingly powerful that it could scare the poison right out of you. Eventually, her solution had been to sulk-nap.

Riho, Selen, and Marie were all peering worriedly through the gap in the sliding doors.

“She’s still in bed?”

“She’s clearly awake. She just doesn’t wanna get up.”

“I wish we could let her sleep…”

They glanced over their shoulders at Lloyd.

“I wonder what kind of training we’ll do today? I’ve got to make up for my failures yesterday!”

He was super motivated! The girls all wanted to protect that smile.

“She has got to get up and train him, or he’ll end up with less confidence than he arrived with.”

“Yes. Selen, this might be bit of an extreme measure, but—it’s your turn.”

“Coming right up! Vritra, do your thing.”

“Anzu loathes me enough already, but…very well!”

The belt Vritra was possessing shot out from Selen’s waist and, like every mother, yanked the covers off Anzu. If he was going to commit to the act, he should have asked, “Are you going to sleep all day?!”

This certainly startled Anzu. “Augh! Cold— Aaaaaah! Wormy worm! It’s too early for all that!”

“I am sorry, but my mistress demanded it! I’ll issue an apology in writing on the morrow.”

While she was still reeling from the shock of it, he got her tightly bound.

“Don’t! I’m in my nightgown!”

There was certainly a fair amount of thigh and cleavage on display.

“That is an inappropriate view. Allow her to change,” Riho said.

The ruler of the land was allowed to change into something more modest if only because Lloyd might see. So much for majesty.

“Er, really? That’s a permissible range, surely?” Marie asked. Clearly, she wound up showing off that much daily! Her own sense of shame had long since been lost to time.

“……M’lady Selen.”

“Vritra, bind Marie. Tight.”

“No, wait! I didn’t do anything!”

Phyllo took one look at this. “…Master, let’s go.”

“Oh, is Lady Anzu up? I’m coming!”

And thus, the second day of training began.

Like the day before, they all changed into training gear and lined up. The main difference was how dead Anzu’s eyes were.

“What do I teach you? Is there anything Lloyd can’t do that I can? That would give him some confidence? And be harmless?”

She placed extra emphasis on that last word. Two landmarks had already been destroyed beyond repair in the blink of an eye. The cause was Lloyd, who was gazing back at her, trapped between expectation and anxiety. This just made her extra flustered, and she blurted out the first thing she thought of.

“Right, Lloyd! Can you go get some fruit from that forest? We call them Mastema Fruit.”

“Over there?”

“Yep, it’s pretty far! Mastema Fruit ward off evil, and we’ll need them for our activity. I totally forgot! Can you fetch a few? Might be hard to track down, but good luck!”

“Got it! I’ll be right back!” Lloyd bowed and was gone.

“Lady Anzu, did you think of a way to train with fruit?” Marie asked.

For a moment, Anzu’s smile was brilliant.

“……Working on it,” she finally said, the smile crumbling.

Oh, that was concerning.

She was clearly just buying herself some time. She clutched her head and took a knee.

“Come on! You’re in charge! You can’t be…”

“……Wait…someone’s coming.” Phyllo looked up toward the waterfall.

“Mwa-ha-ha! One of you is very perceptive!”

With his back to the sun, reeking of sweat, a man stood atop the waterfall, gazing down at them.

“You’re…the chief of the Tiger clan, Nexamic!”

“Yes! The owner of the hamstrings beloved by all! King of Cute! Tigerrrrrr! Nexaaaaa! Miiiiic! My best feature—once again, for the cheap seats—is my hamstrings! You can call me Hamstring Nexamic!”

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

The girls were in vehement rejection mode, like he’d accidentally wandered into their clique’s— No, better not. Painful memories.

“Don’t stop yourselves! Tiger Jump!”

Oblivious to their clique, Nexamic kept on coming! Harassment personified. Contact HR!

“Tiger…Tiger… Right, Tiger Stop!” he shouted, sounding like someone helping a truck back up. But it wasn’t a truck; it was a half-naked forty-something. Nightmare fuel.

He came to a Tiger Stop far too close to them— Well, if he’d been another girl, it wouldn’t have been too close, but it was definitely close enough to make Selen looked disgusted.

“Yes! I was waiting for those tears! They come with the bulging and the cute ham—!”

“Yes, you said that before! Do you not say anything else?”

“Mwa-ha-ha! Merciless!”

Mask. Cape. Undies. Around forty years old. Tiger Nexamic, in the flesh.

He looked so wild, it even distracted Anzu from her conundrum.

“Ugh, Nexamic,” she spat, on her feet again. “Just…to be absolutely clear… Are you here to fight?”

“Mwa-ha-ha! How distrustful! I merely came to train your guests!”

Having mistakenly decided that Allan was depressed over the idea of hurting his friends, Nexamic had come to deliver a sales pitch…that he thought would get the contingent from Azami on his side. The sales pitch was more of a pit, and he was preparing to get himself booted off the stage.

“Oh…?” Anzu frowned.

He launched into his prepared speech. “Yes! I wanted everyone to know the greatness of the Tiger clan! Surely, you won’t refuse? You are the Sword God! You’d rather cut off your nose than admit to a lack of confidence in your training!”

“Nah, I’d say do your worst!”

“Mwa-ha-ha! I knew you’d say no— Wait, was that a yes?”

“I have no confidence in my training! Take over for me!”

“Er… Did you just…cut off your nose?”

Nexamic had been all ready to taunt her for refusing and was left blinking by her acceptance. To her, he was her saving grace. Just as she was drawing a total blank on how to train Lloyd…

“Why couldn’t you have shown up earlier?! Would have saved me the headache.”

“I…don’t get what’s going on here, but if you accept, great!”

“Yeah, go ahead! Do…whatever you’re up to.”

“Mwa-ha-ha! To ensure our victory in the Sacred Mountain Rite, we’re going to eliminate, recruit, or badly injure all your ringers! I mean, that’s a thing we’re absolutely not doing!”

“You…clearly are…”

The surprisingly honest forty-something struck a pose, pretending not to hear.

“So? Specifically, what are you going to do, chief of the Tiger clan?”

Nexamic planted a fat kiss on his bicep, then grinned. “Mwa-ha-ha! Thought I’d keep it simple! Simple! Is! Tiger!”

“I thought I asked you for specifics.”

Rather than do that, he kissed his bicep again and then pointed dramatically. “Combat!” he growled, his voice suddenly shudder-inducingly low.

Anzu failed to hide her look of surprise. “You really are here to crush the Kyounin clan… What the hell got into you and Renge?”

“Love for all things Ascorbic! You’re unfit to rule. That justified my ungentlemanly behavior.”

“You’ve really got it in for me, huh? Not that I was courting your favor.”

“I’m glad you’re on board. Ringers from Azami! Prepare to taste the charm and power of the Tiger clan! If you wish to join us, state your name now!” He crouched low like a wrestler.

“You’re alone? I figured you’d have a pack in tow,” Selen said.

“I’m here to bring the pain to a bunch of fledgling girls and a boy, none of whom should ever be involved— Hngg? Don’t see the boy… Whatever! It’s dirty work, but I can handle the task alone.”

“Can you?” Riho snarled. “You’ve got a big mouth, at least.”

“Riho, don’t underestimate him. I’ll step in if I have to, but hey, if he’s up for training Lloyd…”

“Mwa-ha-ha! Not happening! Not an option!”

Before Anzu could even finish, Nexamic took a huge swing. There was no skill behind it; it was totally telegraphed, not even aimed at the girls—just straight at the ground.

“Whoa!”

“Eep!”

“…Uh!”

The ground rocked so hard, none of them could move—and Nexamic lunged forward.

“The Tiger clan prides itself on power and surprise! Take this! Tiger—!”

But “surprise” was the forte of the Azami cadets.

“Vritra! Bind him!”

Few things were as surprising as moving belts.

Nexamic’s brief moment of grim intensity was instantly banished. His shock was so great, it sent snot spraying.

“Wh-whaaaat?! T-Tiger Stop!” He hit the brakes and tried to turn, but the cursed belt was hot on his heels.

“Not happening, you full-body compliance violation! I demand an apology in writing so that we may handle this matter internally!”

“Why is a belt talking?! And why is it speaking like it’s my boss?!”

“I know! Even if belts could talk, they wouldn’t talk like that!” Anzu nodded sympathetically.

His Tiger Stop had left him helplessly belt-bound, and Nexamic soon found Riho and Phyllo on either side of him.

“Guess we should just punch him.”

“No, wait! That mechanical arm looks ungodly hard!”

“Yeah. I mean, it’s mithril.”

“Who makes an arm out of something that expensive?!”

Surprise round two.

“…I think…this calls for breaking some bones.” Phyllo cracked her knuckles, not mincing her words.

“No, stop! Tiger Sto—”

She didn’t even let him say “Tiger Stop.” Bound immobile, Nexamic was helpless to evade the rain of dual iron fists.

Pow! Bam! Biff! A dust cloud went up, and the sounds of bones and metal crunching echoed through the air. Without exaggerating, it was a flat-out execution.

“All of Azami scares me now,” Anzu muttered.

After that manga-esque all-out attack, Vritra let out a yelp of surprise.

“Mistress! And friends!”

“What’s wrong, Vritra? Huh?”

Riho and Phyllo stopped punching long enough for the dust to clear—and found Nexamic grinning indomitably, surrounded by an odd-colored aura.

“……?!”

“Seriously?!”

Neither could believe their eyes. After all those punches, he didn’t have a scratch or a bruise on him.

“Seriously, fledglings! Mwa-ha-ha!”

Vritra’s binds weakened momentarily, and with a shout, Nexamic freed himself.

“You sure caught me off guard! I never thought a belt could move. You must be the famous Belt Princess! The sheer shock value caused some shrinkage—to my life span!”

Posing, Nexamic offered up words of praise, aura glittering all over him.

“What’s the trick here?” Riho asked.

“Mwa-ha-ha! You wish me to explain?! You guessed it! This is the miracle of my hamstrings—!”

“It’s a secret art,” Anzu interrupted.

“No!” Nexamic bellowed. “You’re ruining the mystique!”

She ignored him. “That’s Tiger Nexamic’s secret art, Rock Hawk. It makes him super resilient; takes a very powerful attack to get past it.”

She made a face, like she’d had some painful experiences with it.

“It thwarted you, too? Even with your skills?” Marie asked, shocked.

“I hear that tremor in your voice, Anzu! In the many matches of the Sacred Mountain Rite, you have never once done me significant harm! Not with my steellike super-hard body!”

“No way!” Riho exclaimed. “Is that true, Lady Anzu?”

“Infuriatingly, yes.”

“Mwa-ha-ha!” Nexamic bellowed triumphantly. “But while it’s active, I can’t move! I win every match in a time-out!”

Not many people could laugh that loud while revealing a fatal flaw. Everyone gave him a look of pity.

“That makes it sort of useless—why are you so pleased with yourself?”

“Because I’m just that cute, witch lady! If it is not a battle but a test of endurance, the victory flag belongs to the tiger! Tigers’ bodies are rock-hard!”

“They’re actually more known for being lithe…”

They’re cats, so…fairly flexible creatures.

Nexamic ignored this. Back to full overbearing confidence, he puffed his barrel chest up with pride.

“My pecs are pumped full of man-energy! Anzu cannot harm me, so neither will any of you! Especially you, poker face! Phyllo, was it?”

“……Me?” She looked surprised to be called out.

“Your fists falter! They’re lost! That gives them no power!”

“……!” A hint of a cloud passed over her face. This had been bothering her, too.

“Mwa-ha-ha! Did I touch a nerve? Well? Care to become a pupil of the Tiger clan?! If you and your friends join, I shall harm you no more! This training will be unnecessary!”

“……No thanks.”

“Oh? Then let’s train some more! Tigeeeeeer! Jump! Lovely Hip Attack!”

Cape fluttering, Nexamic bounded into the air, butt dropping directly toward Phyllo.

Boooom!

“Eeeeeeeek!” Marie shrieked.

The impact was like a falling boulder.

Phyllo barely managed to dodge. “……What the?!”

Butts were usually among the softest parts of a person, but Nexamic had cratered the ground, leaving him grinning with his legs spread in an M-shape.

“Not too shabby!” Selen shouted. “I guess you aren’t an Ascorbic chief for nothing. Perhaps we’d better wait for Sir Lloyd to return.”

“Yeah, no reason to play his game. And it’ll be good training for Lloyd.”

“I’d better step in. Letting him hurt our guests would damage the Kyounin name. I’d have loved to have him train Lloyd, but…”

Riho and Selen stepped back, and Anzu put her hand on her hilt—

“Waiiiiiiiit!!!!!” Phyllo yelled.

No one had ever heard a voice that loud rip its way out of her.

“?! Phyllo?”

“……If I let Master or Lady Anzu handle this one…I feel like I’ll never change.”

“Okay,” Riho said, well aware of Phyllo’s current struggles. She scratched her head. “But if you’re in trouble, we will step in. That’s what friends do.”

“……Thanks.”

They were clearly on the same wavelength, but Selen was looking from one to the other, baffled. “What are you two talking about?”

“It’s a girl’s little secret.” Riho winked.

“You’d better explain later,” Selen growled.

Neither seemed the least bit concerned, and Nexamic disapproved.

“Hngg… Even Anzu can’t defeat me, so why are you so sure of yourselves? !”

Before he could finish grumbling, Phyllo broke into a run. A body jab, then a leg sweep into a high kick. She landed a flowing combo. Each blow so powerful, the impact made the air shake around them.

But Nexamic was still grinning.

“Splendid force! Your power alone beats not only Anzu, but yours truly! I’m sorry I called you a fledging!”

“……Is it not working?”

“No! How sad! Your step and your turn are not quite in sync! The hesitation in your heart is making your actions lag!”

“……Argh!” Phyllo’s impassive face showed a rare glimpse of frustration.

Her rain of blows continued.

Soaking them square in the face, Nexamic continued his pompous lecture. “The power you unleash is astonishing! But your emotions are out of step with it. You’ve lost sight of why you’ve honed yourself! Power alone holds no appeal!”

“……Dammit!” Losing her temper, Phyllo’s fists grew even faster.

Her flurry continued for several minutes—but in time, even Phyllo ran out of breath and began to slow down.

“Super! Hard! Secret Rock Hawk body! I can soak this all day.”

“……!”

Nexamic’s smack talk was rattling Phyllo, and she took a swing that was a bit too wide. He didn’t let that opening pass. He dropped his Rock Hawk and punched back.

It was like she’d been working out with a sandbag, and it suddenly retaliated.

Phyllo lost her balance, staggering.

“Hngg!” Nexamic took advantage of this, too, tackling her bodily. “And just as we clash together! Super! Haaaaaaaaaaard!”

At the moment of impact, Rock Hawk hardened his body, turning him into a lethal weapon. The sound was decidedly unpleasant.

“Yo, Phyllo!”

“Phyllo!”

“Phyllo?”

“Was that bone…?”

Her friends started to run in, but she stopped them and spat blood on the ground.

“……I’m fine. Still in this.”

“It doesn’t make sense.” Nexamic was clearly puzzled. “You must have trained considerably to obtain such power.”

He stroked his beard.

“And yet… And yet…I have no clue what you trained for! No matter how many blows I receive, I sense no purpose. But how could you train so much without one? …Did you lose it recently?”

“……Arrrrgh!”

Phyllo’s flying kick. Nexamic soaked it…without Rock Hawk.

“So I was right? You’re even sloppier now!”

“……Gah!”

“Hngg!”

Phyllo was already performing a body jab, but Nexamic read that perfectly and hit her with a counter. His fist buried itself in her face. She bounced off the ground once and then twice.

Nexamic shook his head, looking sad. “All that strength, gone to waste. Let’s call that curtains, shall we?”

Phyllo didn’t move.

“Uh, Phyllo? Hey!” Riho called—but she was past hearing.

Phyllo felt like she’d been plunged into water.

Her exhaustion and accumulated damage had the world feeling out of focus and in slow motion.

One step from slumber, Phyllo remembered Anzu’s words: “When you’re tired, you can ask yourself: What do you really feel?”

What do I really feel?

When they’d found their mother, when they’d learned who their father was, when the family was together again, she’d been happy, supposedly. So why had that made her like this? What had made her weak?

Asking herself these questions, Phyllo was desperately searching the feelings that rose up from within her.

If it was just losing track of my goals, I wouldn’t be this weak. When we saved Mom, I was happy…but there was a sadness with it. Why?

Searching deeper, she remembered something from her past.

As a child, Ubi—her mother—had given her a used book on an old style of martial arts. This had set her on her path in life.

Then Ubi vanished, and they’d made a living doing mercenary work.

She’d worked hard to keep a lid on her grief, trying not to make her sister worry.

Mena wanted Phyllo to attend school, so she’d agreed to work for Rol—then the headmaster of the Rokujou Sorcery Academy.

And they’d met Lloyd, who’d thoroughly defeated her. She’d become Lloyd’s student, hoping to polish her skills.

The whole time, her sister kept searching for their mother.

At this memory, Phyllo plucked an emotion from the depths.

Oh. Somewhere deep down, I’d given up hope of seeing Mom again. And I’m mad at myself for it.

Now that she thought about it, her quest for strength had been less about saving her mother and more…something else.

The book Mom left behind, the vow I swore to her, and the future I never managed to have. I thought she was dead, and so I was searching for a way to be happy, for her.

But the truth had been quite different.

Ubi had suffered but survived. Mena had never given up, going so far as to adopt a disguise to dig deeper into the underbelly of Rokujou…while also working for Phyllo’s future.

For a girl who never did anything but fight and break things.

Mena had pulled it off. Phyllo had only joined in the last part, along for the ride.

I just…made up my mind that Mom was dead. I’m an awful person. Why wouldn’t that make me weak?

She kept putting herself down.

This is the negative emotion, the realization I was pretending not to see.

But there was another feeling. A refusal to stay this weak. And it gave her a push.

Why? What does it matter if I’m weak? Why can’t I just give up on that like I did—?

Even as she asked herself…a voice from outside reached her ears.

“Oh, hey! I got the fruit! There were kind of a lot, so it was really hard to gather all of them! Gasp! Phyllo?! What’s wrong?!”

Master Lloyd.

As her mind waffled, his face came into view.

“I don’t know what I can do, but I know if I do nothing…I’ll regret it.”

Oh, I remember when he said that.

“I want to overcome my own weakness.”

But he’s so strong.

“I want to be like the heroes in novels. You might laugh at me for saying that.”

I wouldn’t.

Thinking about the boy who was incredibly strong but thought he was weak made Phyllo smile. He was so desperate to fix his failings, to conquer his weakness.

Right now, he mistakenly believed he was weak, but even if he knew his own strength, he would find a new target and keep moving toward it.

He would never stop. And she wanted to follow in his footsteps.

“If you know what to do, you just have to do your best.”

I want to be like Master Lloyd, to be someone who never gives up. No…

Not just like Lloyd. Like Mena, who never stopped hunting for their mother. Like their father and mother, who never stopped trying to restore their family.

Not just them, either. She wanted to stand proudly beside Riho and Selen.

With Lloyd in front, and them chasing after, always searching for what they didn’t have, never giving up on their dreams.

“That’s why I love him.”

“The finishing blow! Tigeeeeeeeeeer! Hip Attack!”

In the instant Phyllo made up her mind…Nexamic’s buttocks were coming right toward her.

“Yo, Phyllo!”

“We’ve gotta save her!”

Her friends tried to jump in… But Anzu stopped them.

“Wait—something’s up.”

An instant later, Phyllo was on her feet, staring right at the approaching backside.

“Phyllo, you’re up?! Dodge!” Marie shrieked.

Danger was swiftly approaching, yet Phyllo was grinning. Her smile was as indomitable as Nexamic’s.

“What an awful sight to wake up to,” she said, and her fist met his approaching behind.

Ka-clang! This did not sound at all like a fist hitting an ass.

Nexamic was sent flying, as if struck by a bat. A long drive to center field.

“Hngg!” He landed awkwardly, clutching his rear. “Your hesitation… It’s gone! How?”

Phyllo grinned back at him. “I admitted that I’ve got no tenacity and give up too soon!”

“She’s fast! Rock Hawk!”

Bam! This flurry was nothing like the last.

Nexamic had used his secret art but failed to stand his ground. He was pushed backward.

“You’ve got your all in it! You’re lifting my whole weight!”

“If I know what I have to do, I just gotta do…my best!” Phyllo roared.

Her volley of punches grew even stronger. His back was against the cliff, his retreat cut off—but Nexamic was still grinning.

“Now that’s a hard hit! Such a transformation! But not enough to harm this tiger’s body!”

“That’s no reason to give up! This is a declaration of intent!”

“What is it?”

“I want to proudly say that this is where I belong! I want to be with them! I don’t want to lose! I want to be friends! I want to make them feel safe! I want to grow! I want to laugh! I want to cry, too!”

Still, her fists flew, blows faster and more precise than anything she’d shown before.

A mark appeared on Nexamic’s cheek.

“Hngg?! But Rock Hawk is still active! Don’t tell me you’re…?!”

There was something around Phyllo’s fists: an aura, like Nexamic’s.

Anzu put a hand to her brow. “What the…? Is that a secret art?”

“Phyllo has one of those?”

“There’s definitely something around her fists, and it’s not magic,” Marie observed.

“The power of will, only obtained after years of Ascorbic training! Impossible!”

“I’ve found strength of will! To open my way! And with this power, I can stand by their sides!” Phyllo somehow got even faster and began carving Nexamic’s skin.

“She’s hacking into me?! With the force of her punches?! I can’t believe it!”

She ended in a kick, launching Nexamic away, and went into a stance a lot like Anzu’s sword-wielding pose.

“I can do it now. Even if it’s nowhere near as strong as Master’s!” Phyllo held her hand flat, moving like she was drawing a blade.

“Hnggg?! Crap! This is bad! Rock Hawk! Full power!” Nexamic’s aura grew even thicker.

Phyllo’s iai chop reached his skin.

Splat! A diagonal cut was carved into Nexamic’s chest. Rock Hawk just barely managed to keep the blow from being fatal, but it broke the skin and drew blood.

“Mwa-ha-ha! Well done! But cutting one or two layers of skin won’t stop the tiger charge from—”

“Behind you.”

“Whaaat—? Auuugh!”

Rummmble. The entire cliff behind him crumbled. Her flurry had cracked the rock, and that final chop had brought the whole thing down. Tiger Nexamic was buried beneath it.

“I’m not at Master’s level, but I can do this just fine.”

“—!”

They could hear Nexamic’s muffled voice saying something under the rubble.

“Forever! Tiger! I’m still here! You have yet to defeat my secret art! Rock Hawk!”

“But you can’t move unless you drop it.”

When he popped out, Phyllo’s hand was at his throat. She poked his soft, defenseless neck a few times.

“I win.”

Nexamic grimaced but congratulated her. “Well done, poker-face girl—no, Phyllo.”

“You were pretty tough yourself, Nexamic. Wanna go again?” She put her fists up, ready.

“Mwa-ha-ha! If I keep fighting you, my precious mask’ll get torn to shreds! I’m afraid I’m going to call this my loss.”

“Shame. It was just getting good.”

Both grinned, but then Nexamic’s smile faded, and he glared at Anzu.

“Obtaining an ally this skilled? You certainly have luck on your side, Anzu. But we’ll thwart your ambitions! We won’t allow you to sell out the Ascorbic Domain!”

Anzu looked completely baffled. “What? First I’ve heard of that.”

“Too late to play innocent! We’ll finish you off in the rite! Our alliance will emerge victorious!”

With one last cry of “Tiger Jump!” he was gone.

Anzu folded her arms, baffled by that final reveal.

“Uh, Anzu? What’s this about selling out your country?”

“I’m certainly getting along with Eve from Profen, but I’ve no intention of selling us out. I’d suspected as much…but it seems someone’s definitely feeding them a lie.”

She was not exactly containing her fury.

Lloyd came bounding over with the fruit. “Uh, Lady Anzu? I brought the Mastema Fruit, like you said.”

“The Mastema… Augh! Right! I did ask— Whaaat?!”

Lloyd had a huge pile of Mastema Fruit in his arms. And not just his arms—his hood was full of them, too.

“Um, is this not enough? I gathered all I could find…”

“Er, no…”

Mastema Fruit grew only in the Ascorbic Domain and were said to ward off evil, so it was rare you caught a glimpse of one at all.

“Lady Anzu, these are as rare as four-leaf clovers, right?” Marie asked. She was well aware of how absurd this quantity was.

“Yeah…and I was just trying to buy myself some time…” So why had this happened? Anzu put her chin in her hand. “Is it a sign?” she muttered.

“Um, Lady Anzu? My training?”

“Oh, uh…sorry, Lloyd. Something’s come up. I’ve gotta investigate. Thanks for the Mastema Fruit.”

“Er, r-really?” Lloyd visibly deflated.

“Stuff happened while you were gone,” Riho explained. “Let her have this one.”

“Stuff? Oh, you mean Phyllo and Tiger fighting?” Lloyd turned to Phyllo. Her clothes were all torn up, and she’d sustained some serious injuries…but she looked thoroughly pleased.

He’d never seen her look this happy.

“We were training,” Phyllo said.

“Oh! While I was gone? I’m so jealous!” Lloyd exclaimed.

“I think I’m stronger now.”

“Augh! I knew it! I could tell! Your whole vibe… It’s like you’re suddenly confident! I’d have loved to train with Tiger, too!”

“Would it help?”

“I’d rather he and Sir Lloyd had no contact at all,” Selen grumbled.

“True. I don’t want his butt anywhere near Lloyd.”

Nexamic’s attacks had been very close to harassment.

Thnk. Phyllo had moved over to Lloyd and tapped his chest with her fist.

“Master…no, Lloyd.”

“Er, yes?”

“—Thank you! I’m done losing!”

Lloyd had never once seen a smile that broad on her face.

He’d helped her recognize the part of herself she’d been denying, and she was grateful for it. She’d decided to try and catch up with him, both in skill and tenacity.

She wanted him—and Mena, and her family—to see that.

To show them all real love, not just admiration.

To demonstrate her newfound strength of will.

“Um, I’m a bit lost, but okay! That sounds great! I won’t lose, either!” Lloyd smiled back.

Then Phyllo turned to Anzu, bowing her head.

“Was someone cultivating these? Huh? What is it, Phyllo?”

“……I must formally refuse your invitation to join the Kyounin clan. My one and only master is Lloyd.”

A Mastema Fruit in one hand, Anzu grinned. “Found your path?”

“…Yes…and I realized why I was lost. Because of him. He may not have realized that, but…it was his advice that helped me grow. That’s why he’s my master.”

“Can’t argue with that. I’ll just have to take your rejection in stride! Heh-heh-heh.”

“……Ha-ha-ha.”

They laughed together. Then Phyllo turned and faced the girls.

“…I won’t lose to any of you, either.” Phyllo smirked. “You know what I mean.”

Selen frowned. “I have no clue where this confidence is coming from, but I suppose this makes you a worthy rival.”

“It’s all good.” Riho gave an approving nod. “I’m not in that race anyway.”

Phyllo looked at her, baffled. “…You’re my one real challenger.”

“How so?!”

“You’re girly? And you like donuts?”

“How am I girly? And don’t bring donuts into this!” Riho had turned bright red, which was…pretty girly.

This only poured fuel on Selen’s fire.

“Argh, I know it’s just Phyllo’s opinion, but I’m somehow less girly than Riho?! I’d better get started on a new love-potion right away! Not just a potion! A spell and a talisman and… I’ve got a lot of research ahead of me.”

“Mistress, that’s less girly than arcane…”

“They’re both my field! Then again, I don’t want to be more witchy than the actual witch…”

Whatever the flaws in her logic, Selen was certainly motivated.

The vibe around her had turned to comedy… But Anzu was looking grim.

“Someone’s cultivating Mastema Fruit? Does that have anything to do with replacing me as ruler? And where does the shrine come in?”

As she muttered, she turned her gaze upward to the distant peak of the Sacred Mountain.