"Enough!"
"These are Lady Hephaestus's orders."
Tsubaki turned and barked at her subordinates to stand down.
Then she looked back at the girls, who were already itching to get started.
"All right, don't be shy."
"When you choose a weapon, you've got to go with what catches your eye."
"But..."
Tsubaki's gaze settled on Onigawara Rin.
"You there, the little girl in the mask."
"You haven't taken your eyes off that sword since you got here, have you?"
Onigawara Rin stiffened.
Her gaze had indeed been glued to a crystal display case in the very center of the showroom.
Inside it lay a sword.
It was the very [Famous Sword: Black Crow] she had seen while passing by last night.
"You've got a good eye."
Tsubaki walked over, opened the case, and took out the katana worth several million Valis.
"Catch!"
"Huh?!"
Onigawara Rin scrambled to catch the sword tossed her way.
Its weight settled heavily into her hands.
She drew it from its sheath.
"Shing-"
A clear ring sounded from the blade.
Cloud patterns rippled along its jet-black surface, which radiated a biting chill.
"So this is... what this sword feels like..."
Onigawara Rin's hands trembled slightly.
Not from fear.
But from excitement.
"This sword was forged from Obsidian Steel found only in the middle floors. It's extremely hard, and it gives slashing attacks an extra boost."
Tsubaki folded her arms and explained with practiced ease.
"It's a good sword for a swordswoman who favors raw power."
"This is the one!"
Onigawara Rin snapped the sword back into its sheath, her gaze utterly resolute.
"As for you..."
Tsubaki turned to Tsukuyo Inaba beside her.
The girl stood quietly with her eyes closed.
"Are you blind?"
Tsubaki's question was blunt.
Even a little offensive.
Still.
There was no malice in her voice, only a straightforward question.
Tsukuyo Inaba nodded.
"Then don't use something that heavy."
Tsubaki turned and took a sheathed longsword from another rack.
It was slightly slimmer and longer than an ordinary katana, with a pure white sheath.
"This one's called White Heron."
"It's light, fast, and barely makes a sound cutting through the air when you swing it."
"For someone who fights by hearing, it won't interfere with your judgment."
Tsukuyo Inaba accepted the sword.
Her fingers gently brushed over its hilt.
"Thank you."
The girl's voice was soft, but her fingers gripped the sword tightly.
Then.
"What about me? What about me?"
Kikakujō Mary had long since run out of patience and squeezed to the front, pointing at herself.
"You, huh..."
"What kind of weapon do you want?"
"A rapier!"
"A rapier? That's an unusual choice."
Tsubaki rubbed her chin and pointed in one direction.
"The rapiers are over there, on the third rack."
"There's one called Rose Thorn. It has a bleeding effect, and getting stabbed with it really hurts."
"Getting stabbed with it really hurts?!"
Kikakujō Mary's eyes lit up.
"I want that one!"
It was practically tailor-made to complement her "Noble Judgment" skill!
With that.
The selection continued under Tsubaki's guidance.
"You there, the little girl with green hair."
"What do you want?"
"Hmm~ Little Satori wants a weapon that can catch people off guard and turn a losing fight around!"
"In that case..."
Tsubaki pointed at a row of swords on a rack in the corner.
"The stock over there suits people who like playing dirty."
At that, Nemumeno Satori's eyes immediately curved into crescents.
She skipped over, trailing her fingertips along the rows of blades, before finally stopping at an utterly unremarkable katana with a dull gray blade.
"That sword's called [Gray Snake]."
Tsubaki glanced over and casually explained.
"The blade has a matte finish, so it barely reflects any light in the dark."
"And there are extremely fine channels worked into its edge."
"If you were to coat it with something..."
Tsubaki left the sentence unfinished and merely shrugged.
"Oh my~ How thoughtful~"
Nemumeno Satori snatched up the sword and toyed with it fondly, an innocent smile spreading across her face.
Meanwhile.
Sasamori Aya paid no attention to the dazzling array of weapons.
She headed straight for the armor section.
Though she had [Incarnate Blade], a skill that treated her own flesh as a weapon.
That didn't mean she enjoyed running naked into a beating.
"I want that set."
Sasamori Aya pointed to a suit of light armor hanging on a mannequin.
It was protective gear woven from black leather and metal plates, keeping the joints flexible while providing ample protection for vital areas.
"You've got a good eye."
Tsubaki walked over and patted the armor.
"This is woven from the hide of a middle-floor [Shadow Leopard] and refined steel wire. Light and resistant to wear."
"With this on, even rolling around on the ground won't scrape your skin."
Sasamori Aya deftly took down the armor and put it on.
She moved her arms and legs to test it.
"A perfect fit."
Chapter 26: Tsubaki's Suggestion, the One-Eyed Master Leads the Way!
Sasamori Aya's lips curled into a smile.
With this extra layer.
She wouldn't have to worry about her clothes getting torn.
As long as she protected her vital spots.
All that remained was pure, unadulterated combat.
"Um..."
At the same time.
A timid voice suddenly cut in.
"Um... I'd like to!"
Holding her chosen katana against her chest, Hanabishi Warabi tugged at the hem of Tsubaki's clothes with her other hand and pointed at the large black bear behind her, who was still scratching his head.
"I'd like a set of equipment for my Fierce Man too!"
Tsubaki looked down at the little girl who barely reached her waist, then at the enormous black bear with his honest, good-natured face. Feeling a headache coming on, she couldn't help scratching her unruly red hair.
"Listen, little girl..."
"This is an armory, not a pet shop."
"Who makes armor for bears just for the heck of it?"
"And custom work for something that size costs a fortune."