Maria looked at Inaba Tsukuyo, her expression complicated.
"Those people could all guess that... it definitely wasn't that simple."
"But now that I see you've returned safely, even if it's just for this short while... I feel relieved."
Inaba Tsukuyo silently took a sip of milk.
The warmth spread all the way to her stomach.
"It's fine, Teacher."
Inaba Tsukuyo said, setting down the cup in her hand and extending both hands to gently hold Maria's.
"No matter where we are,"
"We will take good care of ourselves."
"Yes..."
Saying this,
Maria also seemed to let go of her worries. She stood up, walked to a nearby cabinet, rummaged for a moment, and took out a delicately wrapped small wooden box.
"Since that Lord God is willing to protect you all... perhaps this is truly a kind of fortune."
"And it's rare for you to come back for a visit."
"Take this."
"What is this?"
Inaba Tsukuyo took the box, her fingers gently caressing the fine grain on the surface, looking a bit puzzled.
"Didn't you say you wanted a new set of tea ware before?"
"I was planning to give it to you on your birthday, but now... I don't even know when we'll meet next."
"Take it with you over there and use it."
"When you drink tea, you can also remember Teacher and remember this place."
"Mm."
Inaba Tsukuyo hugged the box tightly and nodded firmly.
"Tsukuyo will cherish it."
...
...
Meanwhile.
On the courtyard lawn downstairs from the dormitory building.
Compared to the tender warmth inside the dorm mistress's room, this place was exceptionally lively.
"Waaa—!!"
A chorus of unified gasps sounded.
Centered around Hanasaka Warabi, a circle of older female students wearing pajamas, slippers, and even face masks surrounded her.
"Big Sister, are there really giant ants in that other world?"
"Of course there are!"
Hanasaka Warabi was already fired up, jumping onto a nearby bench and beginning to gesticulate wildly.
"You all haven't seen them! The shell of those ants is as hard as iron, their two great mandibles snap and crack, thicker than my waist!"
"And there aren't just Killer Ants, there are also Hellhounds covered in fire!"
"Their teeth are longer than daggers!"
"One blast of fire, and the entire passage is filled with heat waves!"
"That monster lunged at me, its gaping maw right before my eyes!"
"I drew my sword, took a deep breath just like this, and *whoosh*!"
"I sliced the Hellhound directly into black ash!"
When Hanasaka Warabi reached the peak of her excitement, the sharp aura of someone who had truly seen blood and killed monsters faintly emanated from her.
The surrounding female students watched, each holding their breath, their eyes full of adoration.
"Not only that, but I am now a legitimate Lv.2 Adventurer who has broken the fastest leveling record in that world!"
With that declaration.
Hanasaka Warabi leaped down from the bench, her look of smugness even stronger.
"Lv.2? Fastest leveling record in the world?"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding female students looked bewildered; they had no concept of this level.
"Hmph, you wouldn't understand this."
Seeing their reaction, Hanasaka Warabi cleared her throat, shook a finger in front of her, adopting the posture of a seasoned veteran.
"Simply put, it's the Adventurer Rank."
"Lv.1 Adventurers are the average standard for most Adventurers in that world, there is a world of difference between them and Lv.2 Adventurers. A Lv.1 Adventurer is someone who must achieve a great feat—an achievement so magnificent that even the Gods would consider it great—to cross this rank."
"So, that means! The current me! Is an Adventurer capable of astonishing the Gods!"
"Soon, a God will grant me a Title!"
"And I can beat the old me ten times over—no, twenty times!"
"Watch this!"
Hanasaka Warabi smirked, revealing her signature small canine tooth, and casually picked up a cobblestone about the size of two fists from a nearby flower bed.
She clenched the stone in her palm.
"Hah!"
With a low shout.
The hand holding the stone suddenly exerted force.
"Crack—"
A crisp sound was heard.
That hard cobblestone, in Hanasaka Warabi's palm, which didn't look particularly thick, actually seemed to directly shatter!
The broken stones fell, scattering across the ground.
"Hiss—"
A synchronized gasp swept through the entire assembly.
Crushing a stone with bare hands?!
"Th-this... this is too exaggerated!"
"Big Sister, are... are your hands okay?"
Tanihara Kinu cautiously approached, grabbing Hanasaka Warabi's hand to examine it closely.
However.
That fair palm was completely unharmed; not even a single red mark was left behind.
"Is this... the blessing of a Deity?"
Higashitsune Tsunemi and the others exclaimed in utter shock.
"Of course it is!"
Hanasaka Warabi dusted the stone powder off her hands, wearing a look of self-satisfied pride.
"In that other world, as long as you are willing to work hard, as long as you dare to fight and kill those monsters, you can become stronger!"
"This feeling..."
Hanasaka Warabi clenched her fist.
"It's absolutely amazing!"
Seeing her subordinates completely stunned, Hanasaka Warabi felt an intense satisfaction inside.
Indeed.
Failing to return home wealthy is like walking in brocade clothes at night!
...
Meanwhile.
Beneath the giant cherry tree on the other side of the dormitory building.
Compared to the liveliness in the courtyard, this area was much quieter.
"Is this... becoming stronger?"
Mozunono Nono's gaze was also somewhat vacant.
After all.
Just moments ago.
It wasn't just Hanasaka Warabi.
Rin had also casually snapped off a withered tree branch.
Then, with a light wave.
A falling petal was instantly split in two mid-air!
The cut was flat and smooth, as if sliced by the sharpest blade.
Yet, what Rin held in her hand was merely a fragile, withered branch!
"Is this... the ultimate technique of the Shindai Kage-ryu?"
Mozunono Nono murmured to herself, her eyes filled with shock.
"No."
Rin shook her head and casually tossed away the branch in her hand.
"This is just... the basics."
"Over there, under the guidance of that Deity..."
"I saw a broader world of Swordsmanship."
Rin looked up at the night sky, her eyes shimmering with light.
"I always thought that was the limit before."
"But now I know, I still have a long way to go."
"Nonone."
Rin lowered her head, looking at the junior who had always followed her.
"Right now, all I want is to become stronger."
"Strong enough to truly protect everyone, strong enough... to live up to the expectations of the Deity."
This kind of look.
Mozunono Nono had never seen on Rin before.
It was the look one gets after finding a true goal.
But this did not make Mozunono Nono feel that Rin had become a stranger.
Instead, Rin's image became more vivid in her heart.
"Sister Rin..."
Mozunono Nono tightly clenched her fist.
"I want to become strong too!"
"I want to become amazing like Sister Rin!"
"I want to go to that world too! I want to see that Deity too!"
"I want to be with Sister Rin!"
By the end, Mozunono Nono's voice carried a hint of crying, yet it was incredibly firm.
Looking at the girl whose eyes were red-rimmed but stubbornly held her head high.
Rin was momentarily stunned.
She hadn't expected Mozunono Nono to react so strongly.
But...
"You want to go to that world, huh..."
Rin scratched her head with a troubled expression.
"That... I can't decide that."
"After all, that is the Familia of a Deity; it's not something anyone can just go to."
Seeing the light in Mozunono Nono's eyes quickly dim,
Rin's heart softened. She reached out and gently ruffled Mozunono Nono's pink short hair, which felt as good as always.
"But then..."
"If you truly have that resolve..."
"Then become strong and show me!"
"You are still too weak right now."
"If I took you over there now, you would truly be swallowed whole by those monsters."
"Next time."
Rin paused, her gaze turning serious.
"When I return next time..."
"If you can show me your growth, if you truly become stronger..."
"I will help you ask the Deity."
"Ask him... if he's willing to take on one more little follower."
"Really?!"
Mozunono Nono looked up sharply, the light of hope instantly reigniting in her eyes.
"It's a promise!"
"If Sister Rin dares to lie to me, I... I won't talk to you for my entire life!"
"Okay, it's a promise."
Rin smiled and held out her pinky finger.
"Pinky swear."
...
...
Meanwhile.
In another corner of the Academy.
The Headmaster's Office on the top floor of the Administration Building.
"Please have some tea, Deity."
Fujibayashi Yoshino, dressed in a black business suit and exuding an aura of competence, respectfully placed a cup of freshly brewed black tea on the coffee table in front of Heimer.
Heimer picked up the teacup, gently blew on the steam, and took a sip.
The tea was rich in aroma and sweet on the finish.
"The taste is good."
"Thank you for the compliment, Deity."
"I arranged for people to bring this a few days ago."
Fujibayashi Yoshino bowed slightly, her perpetually poker face showing no significant emotional fluctuation.
"Then..."
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