The people around them all took a step back, watching Gwen with the longsword in hand, each wearing a different expression.
Jeremiah spat his tobacco into the sea beside him with a puff, then broke into a grin.
Feeling the weapon hum in her hand, Gwen felt as though her entire body had grown lighter. The surging emotions in her heart made her hands tremble slightly.
She craved battle.
Gwen raised her eyes and looked around. Wherever her gaze fell, people instinctively backed away.
At last, she looked toward Nini some distance away. Nini had not noticed those details at all. She was hunched over her notebook, writing furiously, clearly working on a report.
When she finally sensed that something was off and looked up, she found her companions had all retreated far away, while Gwen was walking toward her with her longsword in hand.
The tip of Nini's tail twitched.
"Lady Nini, that day when I led the Resistance Army against Dragonfang's forces, I was nearly unable to hold on when you arrived with reinforcements. I still remember the sight of you charging into the enemy ranks in heavy armor."
Nini's eyes widened as she pointed a finger at herself in surprise.
"Me?"
Gwen raised the tip of her sword.
"I'm deeply grateful to you, Lady Nini, but I cannot deceive my own heart. Can you hear it pounding? It craves battle. Every night since that day, I have imagined fighting you. Your towering body, your immense strength—I crave them."
"W-Wait, my dream isn't about fighting! I'm just a little tall, but... shouldn't you go find Ash for this kind of thing?!"
Nini hurriedly put away her notebook. "My dream is to be a reporter! Can't you compete with me in writing—eek!"
A silver flash swept past. Nini instinctively