The Absolute Godspeed of Infinite Worlds

Only a black bandeau wrapped around her astonishingly ample chest, exposing large swathes of brown skin. Beads of sweat trickled down her smooth complexion, highlighting her bold and unrestrained nature.

"...The little girl was right after all."

Lefiya glanced down at her own chest, then at the other woman's, and immediately slumped in defeat.

She wasn't exactly small by any means—in fact, considering her age, she could even be considered well-endowed. But disparities become apparent through comparison, and comparisons inevitably lead to suffering.

"Hmm?"

The brown-skinned beauty with typical Far Eastern features tilted her head, her long black hair tied into a ponytail. She still couldn't grasp what the young girl was so hung up about.

"Mind telling me where that rising star of your familia is right now?"

She slung an arm over Lefiya's shoulder and asked with curiosity.

In terms of height, she towered over Lefiya by nearly a head, making it impossible for the elf to break free.

"What do you want with him, Ms. Tsubaki?"

Lefiya's gaze instantly sharpened.

"Hey now, no need to be so wary! I just couldn't find him in his tent, that's all. Not like I'm planning to eat him or anything."

The woman called Tsubaki laughed heartily, patting Lefiya's back with complete nonchalance. "Or what, you don't want me finding him? Feeling jealous?"

Totally understandable.

With that guy's looks, he must be stealing hearts left and right every day. No doubt there are plenty of beauties in Loki Familia secretly pining for him. It's only natural not to want other women getting close.

"That's not it at all!"

"Whoa, that denial was intense!"

Tsubaki blinked in surprise.

She gave Lefiya a once-over, her expression gradually turning suspicious.

You're protesting a bit too hard there—makes it seem even more questionable.

"Ha ha, relax! I'm not looking to bang him or anything. Got other business to discuss!"

But Tsubaki had no intention of teasing the young girl further and instead offered a reassuring smile.

"B-Bang...! Ms. Tsubaki, please refrain from such vulgar language in front of an elf!"

Lefiya's cheeks burned crimson as she shouted in protest.

For a pure-hearted elven maiden, such provocative talk was far too premature.

"That counts as vulgar to you?"

Tsubaki muttered under her breath.

Elves really were no fun.

Their pride and purity bordered on obsession, making them utterly incompatible with a half-dwarf like her.

Dwarves were famously bold and carefree by nature—polar opposites of elves. Put an elf and a dwarf in the same party, and they'd be at each other's throats daily. Riveria and Gareth were perfect examples.

"He's probably training with Ms. Ais right now. Just look for somewhere secluded!"

Lefiya turned her head away, temporarily refusing to engage further.

"Got it!"

With the information she needed, Tsubaki promptly took her leave.

...

The rocky plateau spanned several hundred meters in diameter, even hosting a small grove of trees.

Within the grove.

Ais continued her empty swings, her beloved sword gleaming silver as it carved arcs of light through the air.

"I can't do it..."

The girl furrowed her brows, dissatisfaction plain on her face.

Her golden locks drooped along with her head, radiating dejection.

"If you could master it that easily, my pride would take a serious hit."

Eiji rolled his eyes.

"So didn't I already say it? This level of swordsmanship is still too early for you. Even I just mastered it recently—how could you possibly learn it all at once?"

"...Is there really no way at all?"

Ais looked at him with pleading eyes. "This swordsmanship is incredibly strong. I really want to learn it."

"Then take your time. Spend a few decades on it."

Eiji's expression remained completely unmoved.

"...I don't have that much time."

Ais lowered her head, a trace of urgency flickering across her face.

"But some things in this world can only be obtained through patient tempering. If you want to grind an iron rod into a needle, there's no other way but to invest the time."

Eiji didn't budge an inch.

He knew Ais had a wish she wanted to fulfill—that was the reason she had been striving for years. But he would never relent on this matter.

Unorthodox methods weren't nonexistent.

If he just adjusted Ais's settings to make the electrical signal transmission between her muscles faster than his own, she could instantly experience the realm of Twin Wings Style.

But abrupt evolution would throw her body into chaos, causing her strength to decline rather than improve. Even Eiji couldn't escape this consequence, let alone Ais.

Should he let Ais experience a life-or-death crisis like he did to master Twin Wings Style?

Impossible.

The reason Eiji could learn it after just one near-death experience was because he was already close to that realm to begin with.

But Ais was different.

She was still far below Eiji's previous level—how could she possibly master Twin Wings Style after just one brush with death?

The likely outcome would just be her dying pointlessly.

Learning Twin Wings Style absolutely couldn't be rushed.

Ais fell silent.

Her face showed undisguised disappointment.

She could tell—the swordsmanship Eiji displayed was extraordinarily powerful, completely different from ordinary techniques. Mastering it would undoubtedly multiply her strength several times over.

Strangely enough, when she expressed her desire to learn it, he readily agreed to teach her, far more generously than she expected.

Yet she simply couldn't grasp this swordsmanship no matter what.

Having a method to grow stronger right before her eyes but being utterly unable to reach it filled her with intense frustration.

Still, she understood this was her own limitation, so she could only suppress that irritation deep inside.

"Oh, got it, got it!"

As silence lingered between them, a cheerful voice suddenly cut in.

Looking toward the sound, they saw Miss Tsubaki approaching from a distance.

"Hey there, Supernova! Mind if we discuss something?"

Miss Tsubaki strode up to them with her ample assets bouncing, flashing Eiji a brilliant smile.

"Could you lend me that sword of yours for research? Name your price!"

"Research?"

"Yep! You know I'm a blacksmith, right? When I see an amazing weapon, of course I want to study it!"

Tsubaki grinned, showing a row of white teeth.

Tsubaki Cromwell—captain of the Hephaestus Familia, a Level 5 adventurer with the alias "One-Eyed Blacksmith."

Incidentally, she was a mixed-blood dwarf born from the union of a human from the Far Eastern island nation and a dwarf. As a first-class adventurer, she was also Orario's greatest blacksmith.

Though from Eiji's perspective, she certainly wasn't "dwarf" in any sense of the word.

In every possible way.

"Let me ask this first—how exactly do you plan to research it?"

Eiji narrowed his eyes, his expression turning wary.

"Of course it's quenching and the like—I'm a blacksmith, after all!"

Miss Tsubaki scratched her head and answered honestly.

"Not a chance!"

Eiji immediately shut her down.

"So firm? No need for that! We can negotiate the payment!"

Miss Tsubaki instantly pouted, staring intently at Eiji.

"Do you want money? Or equipment? Or, if possible, we could even have a quick fling!"

***

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