"If you want to get stronger, your body is your capital."
"If you don't massage the fatigue out of your muscles, your training progress will be a fraction slower the next day."
"That fraction."
"Is the difference between winning and losing."
"Over time."
"You naturally get good at it."
A note of reminiscence crept into Sasamori Aya's voice.
There was no intention of complaining.
To grow stronger.
To pursue that pinnacle of being the "strongest."
Sasamori Aya truly could pay a price ordinary people could hardly imagine.
"Thanks for all your hard work."
At that, Haimo spoke softly.
There was no unnecessary sentimentality.
It was simply recognition of a seeker of the way.
Hearing those words.
Sasamori Aya's kneading fingers paused slightly.
Then.
"Hard work..."
Sasamori Aya murmured.
Then she lowered her head.
And grinned.
"That hardly counts as hard work."
"After all, what I intend to do is follow in God's footsteps."
"And someday..."
Sasamori Aya leaned down.
She pressed close to Haimo's ear, her tongue lightly licking across it.
"I'm going to devour God, too."
That was how she expressed her love for Haimo.
Grow stronger, surpass, conquer.
After hearing that, Haimo gave a helpless smile.
"Quite the ambition."
Always full of ambition.
And precisely because of that.
Sasamori Aya was one of a kind in his eyes.
With that.
Sasamori Aya's fingers applied force again, pressing a little harder.
Meanwhile.
Deep in the first-floor corridor.
The heavy bathroom door shut out most of the sounds from outside, but could not contain the heat within.
Inside the bath.
Steam filled the air.
Glistening droplets covered the stone walls, sliding down along their grain.
Splash-
Water surged.
Amid the drifting steam.
Hestia leaned against the edge of the bath.
Most of her face was submerged.
Her long