"I'm engraving your Falna, not beating you."
"Don't say things that could give people the wrong idea."
"Now take it off."
"Ugh..."
Hanabishi Warabi shrank back at his sharp tone.
She could only close her eyes, looking resigned to her fate like someone heading to the execution grounds.
Swish-
She pulled her nightgown down in one swift motion.
Her petite body was exposed.
Though she was an adult with a childlike appearance.
She really didn't have much... in the way of curves.
Her smooth back looked exactly like that of a child who had yet to develop, her shoulder blades jutting out slightly and making her look especially fragile.
Haimo wasted no words.
He straddled her, gathering blood at his fingertip.
He placed his hand on her back.
A drop of blood fell.
Hum-
Light shone.
The intricate patterns looked especially striking on Hanabishi Warabi's tiny back.
A moment later.
The rubbing was complete.
Haimo scanned the skill descriptions on it, raising an eyebrow slightly.
[Name]: Hanabishi Warabi [Race]: Human [Level]: Lv.1 [Abilities]: Strength: I0/Endurance: I0/Dexterity: I0/Agility: I0/Magic: I0 [Development Abilities]: None [Magic]: None [Skills]: "Fangs of Cooperation," "Pathfinding Instinct" Skills: "Fangs of Cooperation" When performing coordinated attacks with a tamed beast, both parties receive bonuses to [Strength] and [Agility]. Attacks against the same target receive an additional damage bonus. "Pathfinding Instinct" Borrow the senses of a beast. Grants extraordinary intuition regarding traps and hostility. Greatly improves perception checks against enemies concealed in the shadows. Greatly improves pathfinding ability.
"Not bad."
Haimo gave his brief assessment and handed the parchment to Hanabishi Warabi.
"..."
Hanabishi Warabi held the parchment in both hands.
Her gaze swept over those two entries again and again.
Once.
Twice.
Her eyes, still somewhat apprehensive at first, gradually lit up as she read further.
Then-
Hanabishi Warabi whipped her head around.
She looked at the black bear, which was still on the floor, playing dead with both paws over its eyes.
"Heh..."
Hanabishi Warabi's lips spread into a grin.
She let out a chilling laugh.
The next second.
"Hiyah!"
And then.
The petite girl sprang off the bed.
She traced an arc through the air.
Then-
Thud!
She crashed down heavily.
She landed squarely on the black bear's soft, thick belly.
She even used the momentum of her fall to drive her knee hard into it.
"Awooo-!!!"
The black bear's mouth flew open as it let out a shrill scream of pain.
Its paws flung away from its eyes, which nearly bulged out of their sockets.
"Hmph!"
"What are you howling for?!"
Hanabishi Warabi stood on the bear's belly with her hands on her hips, looking down at it.
"This is what traitors get!"
"Let's see if you dare sell me out again!"
"Awoo..."
Fierce Man didn't dare resist and could only whimper pitifully.
At that point.
Watching the antics of this ridiculous pair.
Clap! Clap!
Haimo clapped his hands, putting an end to Hanabishi Warabi's assault and drawing everyone's attention back to him.
"All right."
"Now that everyone's received their Falna, let's call it a night."
"You may have your Falna, but this is only the beginning."
"First thing tomorrow morning, I'll take you to the Guild to officially register as adventurers."
"That's when things will really begin."
"So for now."
"Go to sleep."
"Get plenty of rest. Tomorrow won't be this easy."
"Yes!"
The girls answered in unison.
Even Hanabishi Warabi, still thrilled about the amazing skills she'd just received, obediently hopped off the bear's belly.
Haimo nodded gently at the sight.
"Good night, everyone."
"Good night, Lord Haimo!"
Creak-
Click.
Haimo left the room and closed the door behind him.
It shut out the girls' excited chatter.
However.
The moment the door closed.
A voice rang out.
"Finished?"
Haimo turned his head.
A figure was leaning against the wall.
Short crimson hair, an eyepatch over one eye.
It was Hephaestus.
"I thought you'd need a little longer."
"But from the looks of it."
"Now that you've finished your business here, isn't it time you honored our agreement?"
"After all, I've been waiting here ages for that something worthy of showing off you mentioned."
"You're not going to stand me up now, are you?"
Chapter 24: A Weapon Forged by the God the Other Gods Called the War Calamity
"Don't worry."
"Follow me."
"I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
The corners of Haimo's mouth rose into a confident smile.
He tilted his head at Hephaestus, signaling for her to follow.
Hephaestus raised an eyebrow at his gesture.
"I hope you're not all talk."
Though she had no idea what he was up to.
As Haimo turned and headed toward one end of the corridor.
Hephaestus followed him with long strides.
As it turned out.