Although Kasumigaoka Utaha wondered what riddle Kawashima Toya was playing at, she still reached out tentatively to draw the Demon Sword Murasame.
After spending these few days together, she had come to understand one thing.
Toya wouldn't harm her.
As the sharp, clear blade of Murasame emerged from its sheath inch by inch, Utaha's somewhat anxious heart gradually settled.
"What's this? It's just a sword."
With this mindset, Utaha drew Murasame completely and even swung it around deftly a few times.
A full ten seconds passed. Seeing Utaha still moving freely, Toya was slightly surprised. "You've been recognized by the Demon Sword Murasame."
"Recognized?"
"I didn't feel anything..." A trace of confusion crossed Utaha's beautiful face.
From drawing the sword until now, she hadn't felt anything special.
Toya said seriously, "This Demon Sword Murasame has quite a background."
"There was a fictional demon sword named Murasame in Japanese history, but this one is the real deal."
"Aside from the properties of the fictional sword, this one possesses an incurable cursed poison."
"Anyone poisoned must immediately sever the injured part to survive."
Pausing slightly, Toya's gaze turned profound. "However, this Murasame seems a bit strange."
He remembered that not long ago, Yuigahama Yui had tested Murasame and started feeling dizzy within seconds.
But when Yukinoshita Yukino tested it, she was recognized by the sword.
Now, with Kasumigaoka Utaha, she was also recognized.
"I seriously suspect Murasame's preference is black-haired beautiful girls."
"Akame was also a black-haired beauty."
It was the only possibility Toya could think of.
Otherwise, why would two black-haired beauties be recognized consecutively?
Yet the peach-haired Yui was rejected.
"That powerful?" Utaha looked at Murasame in surprise. "So, Kawashima, what do I do next?"
"Simple." Toya smiled meaningfully. "Pick up the sword and gently slash your neck."
"And the fastest method to increase your strength will be complete!"
"Slash my neck?" Utaha inexplicably felt a tremendous chill rush into her mind, causing her to shudder involuntarily.
"You just said Murasame's cursed poison is incurable."
"How could anyone survive that?"
Toya chuckled lightly. "Just take it as a bad joke."
"Let's go. Since you have free time these days, I'll teach you some basic combat techniques."
"And let you get familiar with the Teigu Murasame."
He had inadvertently revealed the method to become stronger using Murasame in hopes that Utaha would never have to use it.
But if one day she fell into a crisis where he couldn't provide timely support...
Murasame might allow her to escape danger.
While Toya took Utaha to an empty lot for practice...
Inside the drawer of Toya's desk, the blood-stained invitation made of human skin slowly revealed incomprehensible text.
Translated into human language, it read: Five days until the banquet begins.
----
Nighttime, Utaha's Apartment.
Toya sat helplessly to the side, instructing Utaha on how to massage her body. He said incredulously, "Are you really a high school student?"
"You sprained something from just a little training?"
"The doctor even suggested you rest for a month to recover?"
He was thoroughly convinced now.
During the afternoon training, he had specifically chosen exercises suitable for Utaha.
The result? Not long after the training began, Utaha got injured.
Ten minutes of training, two hours of queuing at the hospital.
And just like that, the afternoon was gone.
Utaha's pretty face flushed with embarrassment, but she feigned composure. "It must be because your training intensity was too high, Kawashima."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten hurt."
She would never admit that her lack of exercise had made her physical fitness far worse than her peers.
Toya nodded noncommittally. "If you want to train in the future, the exercises will have to be simpler."
"Just jog a few laps around your room. Maybe only that level won't injure you."
After this incident, Toya realized that it was impossible for Utaha to gain the power to protect herself.
With such weak physical fitness and no system to help her...
She should give up on delusions of gaining supernatural power and just be an ordinary person.
Perhaps in the future, if he found a method to strengthen the body, Utaha could become stronger little by little.
"Bastard! Even if my physical fitness is bad, it's not that bad!!"
Hearing Toya's mocking tone, Utaha's cheeks turned red with anger.
Anger makes people stronger, and for the current Utaha, this was equally true.
"Kawashima, I'm going to fight you!"