"Howl?"
Raiden Mei wasn't surprised that Miss Himeko brought up Howl—only that she mentioned it right from the start.
"Yes, Howl. But please don't misunderstand—I'm not here to reclaim it," Himeko said with a gentle tone. "Sirin has already explained everything to us. The Almighty Thunder was ultimately slain by you, Miss Raiden, and you are its most compatible wielder."
Mei nodded calmly. "What is it you wish to say, Miss Himeko?"
"Are you interested in joining us?"
Himeko got straight to the point. The topic should've come up the day the Almighty Thunder was slain, but they had all been too shaken by the other news Sirin brought back.
And according to Sirin, Raiden Mei hadn't wanted to join the Sentinels at the time. She had even been reluctant to interact with them at all.
So they decided to postpone the matter of Howl—first investigating the so-called Honkai Sirin mentioned, then waiting for another chance to speak with Mei.
They hadn't expected Sirin's latest mission to take her to Nagazora first—or for Raiden Mei to willingly participate. And now…
Himeko couldn't help glancing at the white-haired girl sitting beside Mei. If she wasn't mistaken, this was the same girl who had supposedly slain the Whale of Transfiguration with a single punch.
A power beyond human comprehension.
Utterly unbelievable.
Still, since the girl came from another world—one far more advanced than theirs—it wasn't entirely shocking that her physical capabilities exceeded human limits.
As for the stars beyond their skies, humanity here had never yet reached them. Just as their technology was about to advance into space, the Kami appeared.
And the long struggle began.
Even now, Izumo was still fighting those Kami—and the path ahead only grew more difficult.
More and more Kami were awakening.
"Join…" Mei repeated softly. She didn't immediately refuse, but she didn't accept either.
"I believe Sirin and Sakura have already explained the Sentinels' purpose to you," Himeko continued with a smile. "I also imagine you have many questions. So—ask freely. I'll give you satisfactory answers."
"I already understand the duties involved," Mei said evenly. "But I value freedom. If I join the Sentinels, will you interfere with my choices—or my freedom?"
"Of course not. To be honest, every Sentinel joined voluntarily. We only offer guidance, not orders. If you don't wish to accept a task, we won't force you."
Those who joined were all driven by a noble spirit of self-sacrifice. They didn't need persuasion. Knowing the terror of the Kami, they understood that only by completely eradicating the Twelve Kami could Izumo endure.
Only then could they reach the end of this struggle.
After hearing Himeko's words, both Mei and Kiana instinctively glanced at Sirin—who was resting her chin on her hand, looking bored.
Noticing their stares, Sirin straightened uncomfortably. "...What are you looking at me for?"
Himeko's calm, mature smile faltered for a second, but she quickly composed herself. "Sirin's the same way," she said. "She complains constantly—but she's never once refused a mission."
Indeed, Sirin's grumbling was only ever on the surface.
Every task assigned to her was carefully chosen. Everyone understood her temperament—no one would deliberately give her meaningless work.
"So, aside from when the Twelve Kami must be slain, I'll be free to act as I wish?" Mei asked.
"In theory, yes."
That answer was… interesting. In theory meant that, in practice, it wasn't always the case.
"I understand."
Mei caught the unspoken implication easily.
In theory, she could choose whether to comply—but behind every refusal lay countless lives at risk.
Just like the Whale of Transfiguration. If Sirin had refused to intervene—if she had chosen not to act—then without the overwhelming power of the Edict Edge, how many lives would've been lost before the creature was finally brought down, kept from reaching Sapphire City?
The answer was obvious.
Refusal wasn't truly an option.
That was also why Miss Himeko's answer had been deliberately ambiguous. They didn't force anyone to accept a mission—but who could truly turn their back and watch the sacrifices pile up?
Moral pressure?
No. It was the responsibility that came with wielding the blade.
"I'll think about it," Mei said at last.
Relying on the Sentinels meant gaining the strength to slay more Kami—but she wanted to see how Himeko and Kiana would discuss things before deciding.
Himeko saw through her thoughts immediately.
During their talk, Raiden Mei's eyes kept drifting toward the girl beside her. It wasn't hard to interpret.
To convince Raiden Mei, she would first have to convince that girl.
Himeko sighed inwardly. If only she had instructed Sakura to bring Raiden Mei and Narukami back together that day, perhaps there wouldn't be so many complications now.
"Miss Kiana," Himeko said, turning toward her. "You've heard our discussion. Would you be interested in joining us as well?"
"Sorry," Kiana shook her head. "I'm just a merchant. I have no intention of joining any organization."
That was also what she and Mei had agreed upon beforehand.
For her, it didn't matter either way.
Whether she joined or not, she would still do her part—for Mei, and for the friends she had made in this world—to help Izumo however she could.
"But I'm willing to cooperate with you—and provide some assistance," Kiana added.
"...Assistance?"
Sirin hadn't told them much about Kiana. She'd only mentioned her when asking for an ID to be made—saying she was a visitor from another world.
Himeko's understanding of her came mostly from reports—the same reports describing the girl who punched the Whale of Transfiguration to death, the one who had slain the Spider-Woman in Nagazora. Her strength had no equal.
"An external member, then?"
"Not exactly."
Kiana produced a small bottle of medical spray, setting it on the table before Himeko. "I can help the Sentinels establish a medical system beyond anything you can imagine."
"Medical?" Himeko repeated, confused.
Sirin cleared her throat. "I forgot to mention this before—it was Kiana who pulled me back from the brink of death."
"...You forgot to mention that?" Himeko blinked. They'd asked Sirin how she had escaped and why she had shown up in Nagazora, but Sirin had brushed it off as unimportant—so they hadn't pressed further.
Kiana suddenly drew a short blade and sliced her own palm. Crimson blood spurted from the deep wound.
Mei's eyes widened in alarm, glaring at her disapprovingly—she hadn't expected Kiana to pull something like that.
Kiana calmly sprayed the mist over her injured hand. The gash closed within seconds, the skin returning to normal.
Incredible recovery speed.
"It doesn't just heal surface wounds," Kiana continued. "As long as the person still has a breath of life left, the spray can pull them back from the edge of death. It doesn't repair tissue—it replenishes life force."
As long as there was even one breath remaining, this spray could save them.
Himeko immediately understood the implications—the magnitude of change this tiny object could bring.
"Then what's the cost?"
In battles against Kami, injuries were inevitable. If they had access to such a spray, they could recover far more quickly.
"I don't want money," Kiana said. "Only cursed blades."
"Cursed blades?" Himeko repeated.
"One spray can be used sixteen times per day. A single bottle lasts for one month. After that, it can still function—but the risk becomes uncontrollable, so I'll need to retrieve it."
"Lease only, not for sale. Minimum trade—ten low-grade cursed blades per bottle. However many you provide, that's how many sprays I'll give you."
Sixteen uses a day, lasting a month—and all for the price of ten low-level Oni blades. A bargain.
"Bulk orders get a discount. Rent ten, get one free."
"...I see." Himeko exhaled, eyeing Kiana carefully. "And the price for using the spray? What's the cost to the one being healed?"
"The cost?"
That question caught Kiana off guard. She thought for a moment, then glanced at Sirin. "Why would something I give you have an extra price to pay? There's no such thing. The spray I'm offering has nothing to do with the Kami's power."
"No cost?" Himeko asked again.
"Right, no additional cost," Kiana replied, then added, "But how much recovery a single spray provides—you'll have to test that yourselves."
"…If it really works as you claim, and if there's truly no cost, then I'll take as many as you can provide," Himeko said.
Kiana smiled. "You can have as many as you want—and I also have other cooperation projects, if Miss Himeko is interested in hearing them."
"Also medical-related?"
Kiana shook her head, raising her now fully healed wrist. "The spray alone is enough for your medical needs."
"I can also provide large quantities of special close-combat weapons—ones immune to curse corrosion."
Before coming here, she and Mei had tested them on Kami. The Yamato NS katanas could absorb Kami energy without becoming cursed blades—their power simply imbued new attributes into the weapon.
Only one cursed-blade property could be added at a time, and the so-called Kami curse became nothing more than a life-draining debuff.
And that debuff could be nullified by the spray.
"…So once again, however many we need, you can provide?" Himeko asked.
"Exactly. As much as you need—if you can handle it."
Himeko narrowed her eyes cautiously. "And what does Miss Kiana want with so many cursed blades?"
"The Kami here are fascinating," Kiana said smoothly. "They're not the Antimatter Legion, not Denizens of Abundance, and they have nothing to do with the Swarm. I want to collect more cursed blades to study which Aeon their power truly originates from."
She had prepared that answer long in advance.
"So Miss Kiana is a scholar, then," Himeko said, jotting down notes.
"…Just a curious person, really. I wouldn't call myself a scholar."
Whatever Kiana's true motives were, Himeko couldn't know—but with both Sentinels vouching for her, she decided to trust her for now.
Standing up, Himeko said, "If you don't mind, Miss Kiana, we can run a quick field test of your product. If it performs as you claim, I'll place an order immediately."
"Of course!" Kiana stood as well, looking quite pleased. Supplying equipment meant major profit for her.
If she could close this deal—drain Izumo's entire weapon stockpile—she could easily make hundreds of millions. One step straight to the top.
"We happen to have a patient currently under treatment. I'll take you there," Himeko said briskly. True to her decisive nature, she led them out of the conference room and down to the underground research facility.
Not long after they left, someone entered the now-empty meeting room and quietly collected the small pool of blood Kiana had spilled when cutting her arm.
Kiana had no idea—and never would've guessed that anyone would think to study her blood.
The underground lab looked entirely different from the floors above. Everything was white and brightly lit—sterile, clinical, and spotless.
"This way."
"Sirin," Kiana asked, "the injured person Himeko mentioned—don't tell me it's Welt?"
Sirin hadn't left either, following along. But upon entering the lab, her expression grew oddly strained.
Who else would be treated in a research facility instead of a hospital room?
No one but Welt came to mind. And she really hadn't seen that guy for a while.
"Yes, Mr. Welt," Himeko confirmed without hesitation. "During the battle against the Almighty Thunder, he fell from high altitude and suffered total-body fractures. Thankfully, he was found in time, otherwise…"
Sirin didn't even know what kind of expression to wear. That man really was reckless—and lucky.
No wonder no one had mentioned him lately.
"How's the recovery?"
"Not just fractures," Himeko explained. "He suffered internal injuries and energy corrosion too. At least six months of rest, minimum."
"We're here."
Himeko stopped in front of a door, knocking twice before a voice inside answered, "Come in." Only then did she open it.
Kiana looked around curiously. The person who had spoken wasn't Welt, but a doctor in a white coat and mask.
Welt lay on the bed, still unconscious, wrapped nearly head to toe in bandages.
"Miss Himeko?"
The doctor clearly recognized both her and Sirin, though the number of visitors surprised him. "You're here to see Mr. Welt? He hasn't woken up yet."
Sirin stepped forward, looking down at the man on the bed. Despite herself, she couldn't feel the satisfaction she'd expected—only the memory of the moment he'd risked his life against the Almighty Thunder to give her a chance.
If only they'd had Howl then…
Next time—next time they fought the Kami, with three Edict Edges in hand, it wouldn't have to be so difficult.
Sirin turned to glance at Raiden Mei.
"We have a newly developed healing agent," Himeko said, "and we'd like your help evaluating it. If it's safe, we'll use it on Mr. Welt."
"Healing agent?" Mei asked.
"This," Kiana said, stepping forward and handing the doctor a small spray bottle. "HECO Healing Spray. Go ahead and test it."
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