Ultimately.
For creatures that worship power, language is the most hollow.
Just like lions meeting on the wilderness, what decides their status is never who roars louder or whose mane is smoother.
But whose claws and teeth are sharper, capable of tearing open the other's throat.
Therefore, as a martial arts fanatic, Kirukiru Amou not only knew this well but was also a fanatical follower of this creed.
"A wise choice."
"I have received your desire."
"Although you are currently just an unpolished stone."
"As long as you follow me, even the gods in the heavens will one day marvel at your sharpness."
"Now, stand up."
After Heimdall finished speaking, he looked toward the glass window.
His gaze passed through layers of school buildings and landed on a quiet direction deep within the academy.
There.
An extremely weak but exceptionally sharp presence was investigating the movement here.
Meanwhile.
Upon hearing this, Kirukiru Amou didn't act coy and stood up very briskly, casually wiping a trace of blood from the corner of her mouth.
"Next."
"Come with me to meet the others."
Heimdall didn't waste any more words, turned around, and left.
Kirukiru Amou was stunned for a moment, then followed with two steps, her tone carrying undisguised arrogance.
"The others?"
"In this academy..."
"Is there anyone else worthy of your attention?"
This wasn't arrogance.
But a statement based on facts.
After all.
In this academy she had ruled for so long.
The so-called five swords of the world had all become her defeated opponents.
To this.
"Whether they are qualified is not for you to judge."
"But for me."
Heimdall's indifferent voice drifted over.
Kirukiru Amou immediately had no more doubts and followed submissively.
After all.
This was the judgment of that god who was stronger than her.
...
...
The corridors of Aichi Coexistence Private Academy were spacious and bright.
But at this moment, the corridor that should have been full of noise was unusually deathly silent.
Although that divine might, which felt like the sky was falling, had been retracted.
The lingering fear still kept the ordinary students hiding in their classrooms, not daring to show their heads.
Now, in the corridor.
There were only two figures walking one after the other.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the silence, sounding exceptionally clear.
"They're here."
Heimdall suddenly stopped.
He cast his gaze toward the corner at the end of the corridor.
There.
Two figures were blocking the inevitable path.
One person on the left.
With short black hair, set off by a black school uniform with a red collar.
What was eye-catching.
Was the white Hannya mask covering the upper half of the girl's face.
Ferocious, distorted, and exuding an ominous aura, it completely hid the girl's face, revealing only a pair of bottomless eyes and tightly pursed lips.
Besides that.
The girl's right thumb was resting on the handguard of the Katana at her waist.
The blade revealed an inch of cold gleam.
It was precisely the starting stance for a draw-and-slash attack at any moment.
In contrast,
the young girl standing half a body length behind her to the right had an aura that was clearly much weaker.
She had short pink hair and was tightly clutching a black telescopic baton in her hand.
Although she also wore the uniform indicating armed privileges,
and had a badge symbolizing her status pinned to her chest,
those somewhat evasive eyes and slightly trembling legs fully exposed her inner unease.
—Onigawara Rin.
One of the core members of the five swords of the world who dominated Aichi Coexistence Private Academy through armed force.
And her follower.
The second-in-command of the five swords.
—Mozunono.
With just a single glance, Heimdall recognized the identities of the two girls blocking the way ahead.
...
"Halt!"
"A man I've never seen before."
"How did you sneak into this academy?"
"And..."
Onigawara Rin's gaze moved past Heimdall and landed on Kirukiru Amou behind him.
Through the eyeholes of the mask, her pupils could be seen shrinking violently.
"Kirukiru Amou..."
"You're actually following behind this man?"
"This doesn't seem like your style at all."
Seeing this scene, Onigawara Rin even felt it was somewhat absurd.
That Empress, who was so arrogant she looked down on everyone but herself and had defeated the five swords of the entire school one by one, was now actually following closely half a step behind this man.
Onigawara Rin had never seen such a posture from Kirukiru Amou, not even when facing the Academy Director.
"Does what I do have anything to do with you?"
"Also, move aside."
"I don't have time to play house with you children right now."
Hearing this, a flash of ferocity instantly crossed Kirukiru Amou's narrow eyes.
She had just found a new goal named 'God.'
She was currently in a state of fanatical excitement.
Now, facing questioning from a former defeated opponent,
Kirukiru Amou's only reaction was displeasure and a desire to crush her.
After all, while she was as docile as a cat in front of Heimdall, it didn't mean she lacked claws and fangs in front of others.
Because of this,
that tyrannical aura Kirukiru Amou had managed to suppress with great difficulty suddenly showed signs of spiraling out of control.
"Playing house?"
"Such a massive anomaly just occurred, and the entire academy has entered a state of maximum alert."
"As one of the five swords, I have a responsibility to eliminate all uncertain factors."
"Kirukiru Amou, even you cannot ignore the school rules at a time like this."
Onigawara Rin was clearly stung by the phrase, and her voice rose.
The fingers resting on the sword guard also tightened slightly.
"Furthermore..."
"The aura on this man is very dangerous."
"I must investigate his identity thoroughly."
Having said that,
Onigawara Rin's gaze locked onto Heimdall with intensity.
This sharp intuition made Heimdall look at her with a bit more respect.
After all, when animals face a natural predator, they often have two reactions: flee, or fight to the death.
Onigawara Rin had clearly chosen the latter.
"You want to investigate?"
Kirukiru Amou let out a sneer, about to step forward to give this ignorant fool a lesson.
However,
a hand moved horizontally in front of Kirukiru Amou.
Heimdall stopped Kirukiru Amou.
After all,
since this trip was to recruit for his Familia, meeting her by chance meant he might as well try to recruit her.
After all, Onigawara Rin's talent in swordsmanship wasn't bad; it just met the standard.
But,
Onigawara Rin's heart as a swordsman was in turmoil.
Based on the information Heimdall recalled from his past life's memories,
the reason she wore an oni mask was that her mother loathed her appearance, which resembled the father who had eloped with a lover; thus, she had been forced to wear the mask by her mother since childhood, a habit she hadn't changed even after moving to the school dorms.
This was not a good thing.
Because it was related to the ancient school of swordsmanship Onigawara Rin studied—Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryu.
This ancient school of swordsmanship emphasized spiritual training to temper the heart and courage.
Its manual, 'Ju-aku-hi' (The Ten Evils), explicitly prohibited ten character flaws such as arrogance, greed, and fear.
The cultivation process required achieving personal perfection through internal refinement, believing that progress in swordsmanship must be accompanied by the elevation of moral character.
Practitioners of the Edo period needed to realize the state of 'Ken Zen Ichinyo' (The Sword and Zen are One) during wooden sword practice, combining technical training with Zen meditation.
However,
at this moment, Onigawara Rin was clearly acting contrary to the ancient school of swordsmanship she studied.
She had closed herself off behind a mask, attempting to use external ferocity to gain a false sense of security.
This was, in itself, a form of escape.
But the sword will not smile upon those who escape.