Inside the display room of the Babylon Temple.
Tashigi watched with sparkling eyes as Sephiroth placed three famous swords on a rack.
Melise, the "Little Deer" serving as Court Minister, stood beside them.
"Of these three swords, leave Nidai Kitetsu alone for now... I'll put you in charge of the other two, and you can use them, too."
Sephiroth had once again entrusted the famous swords to Tashigi.
After all, neither he nor his subordinates included a single proper swordsman. No one else really had a use for them.
In their hands, these famous swords would be less effective than high-tech mithril blades.
"Amazing! They're absolutely amazing, Lord Sephi!"
Tashigi was as delighted as an overgrown nineteen-year-old child, wearing the expression of a bright, youthful college girl who had just gotten her favorite piece of globally exclusive merchandise.
"This is Ame no Habakiri, one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords, a famous sword said to be capable of 'cutting down even the heavens'!"
Tashigi drew the blade with extreme care, then marveled at it, pouring out a stream of technical commentary.
Beside her, Melise listened in utter bewilderment.
After all, Tashigi was unleashing a torrent of specialist knowledge like a seasoned fangirl.
Melise tilted her head slightly, making the little decorative bells tied to her antlers jingle twice.
Sephiroth, on the other hand, understood everything Tashigi was saying this time, thanks to having read Kozuki Sukiyaki's memories.
"Lord Sephi! To repay your kindness... I, Tashigi, will become a Great Swordsman and do everything I can to become your sword!"
Coming back to her senses, Tashigi felt a little embarrassed about having slipped into her own world. She immediately turned serious and pledged her loyalty to Sephiroth.
...In another world, it might have seemed a little insincere, or even awkward.
But