*Galactic Divine Sect.*

Birdel felt frustrated with her progress in training and decided to step out of the training hall for a break.

And just then…

“Leader! The head of the Martial Alliance has secretly arrived!”  
“What should we do?”  
“Shall we prepare the combat unit?”

“...”

The Martial Alliance leader? Who is that again? Is there still someone left that I need to kill?

Ah…

After a moment, she managed to recall who it was.

She headed toward the main sect building, where the reception hall was located.

Descending from the high training grounds on the snowy mountain, she was greeted by a different sight than before.

*Whoosh—creak—*

Martial artists of the sect flew around on flat metal boards. In the training grounds below, others were fiercely sparring with laser swords, while some practiced shooting drills on the other side.

*Pew—pew—*  
*Pew—pew—*

“Hm…”

Is this okay?  
I don’t know.

She had only offered a little support from the Administrator to the sect.

“It should be fine.”

After all, this is what the Administrator had allowed.

The Galactic Divine Sect was flourishing. Perhaps it was fair to call it a future mechanized infantry unit…?  
Martial artists were certainly suitable candidates for rigorous training.

In truth, she didn’t know what she was doing. She had come to realize that she had no talent for managing a faction.

She was only able to operate things smoothly due to the Administrator's support. Most of the sect’s management had already been entrusted to the deputy leader.

*“Introducing myself as Jegal Hyun, here to serve under the great leader of the Galactic Divine Sect!”*

Ah… this guy was also someone Namgung Jin recommended.

She had been contemplating abandoning the whole faction expansion project, feeling doubtful about its purpose, when Namgung Jin suggested using this guy as a workhorse.

He had apparently been wrongfully accused and exiled from his family…

Jegal Hyun seemed to instinctively know exactly what she wanted, taking on all the tedious tasks and expanding the sect on her behalf.

She didn’t particularly care about his loyalty, but he didn’t seem like someone who would betray her, so she kept him around.

Well… if he ever does betray me, I’ll handle it then.

Arriving in the reception room, Namgung Jin, dressed in dazzling metal armor, stood up abruptly. The armor seemed to emit a faint halo, perhaps a part of its features.

Even though he’d tried to keep it toned down.

“You’ve arrived! Greetings to the mighty deputy administrator, Namgung Jin!”  
“…”

Accustomed to Namgung Jin's exaggerated greetings, Birdel nodded briefly and took a seat on the sofa.

“Hm. What’s the matter?”  
“Ha ha! I came to greet my sister and provide a report.”

Knowing that Birdel disliked formalities and appreciated directness, Namgung Jin quickly got to the point.

“It seems that the authorities have started to grow suspicious again.”  
“Didn’t you say you’d handle that?”  
“Of course. Naturally.”

The rapid expansion of the Galactic Divine Sect had raised concerns within the authorities.

But this had been anticipated, and Namgung Jin had been redirecting their attention elsewhere by staging an apparent conflict between the righteous sects and the Galactic Divine Sect.

However, there seemed to be a limit to that strategy.

“Why not just wipe them all out?”

Birdel’s matter-of-fact suggestion made Namgung Jin flinch.

“T-that!”

This is the kind of person who would actually do it if she decided to…

Namgung Jin didn’t have any lofty ideals about protecting justice or enforcing chivalry.

But… that’s a bit much.

He wasn’t challenging her; he just felt that if other solutions existed, it was human decency to try them first.

“Ha ha… but they could all be valuable talents who might join the sect in the future, don’t you think? Let me handle this; I won’t trouble you with it.”  
“...”  
“I only came to report, so please trust me!”  
“...Alright.”

Only then did Namgung Jin feel relieved.

Ah, today he managed to protect the martial world.

Of course, being sharp as ever, Namgung Jin hid this feeling and simply made a firm farewell.

“I’ll be back with any updates!”  
“No need…”

Namgung Jin tried hard not to show even a hint of carelessness in front of her.

He was starting to realize that, to her, he wasn’t quite one of her “people” yet.

He might be slightly more valuable than a stone on the roadside.

Even though he sometimes sought her advice on martial arts, that was all.

“Then I’ll see you again, Sister!”

One day, she would surely open her heart!

Though, of course, he couldn’t deny that his own survival meant more to him than the martial world.

---

“Why, Sister?”  
“...It’s nothing.”

After sending Namgung Jin away, Birdel returned to the training hall.

*[What’s happening?]*  
*[Where am I?!]*  
*[Aaaah! My essence… it’s being drained!!]*

Despite the persistent whining in her ears, Birdel kept silent and continued walking.

She wasn’t the one in a hurry—the voice was.

Only after returning to the leader’s training hall did Birdel speak.

“What are you?”  
*[Ugh…]*

The voice in the armor, taken aback by Birdel’s cold response, faltered.

Normally… wouldn’t someone be surprised or at least curious? Maybe not fearful, but they’d usually show some interest.

Birdel’s mechanical tone carried a chilling indifference.

*[I… I am a member of the Great Sephiroth.]*  
“...”  
*[But something seems to have gone wrong since merging with this armor, and I can’t remember much else.]*  
“…”  
*[It must be because of this armor. Isn’t there anything you could do?]*  
“Why ask me?”  
*[W-well…]*

She had no response.  
Her words dried up in the face of Birdel’s unexpectedly cold reaction.

*[I sense something familiar about you! I’m sure you can feel it too, right?]*  
“…”

*[It seems we’re not just strangers to each other!*]  
“Sounds useless.”  
*[What?!]*

So that’s how it is.  
This girl is that type of person?

The woman in the armor began to understand Birdel’s nature.

While she didn’t fully grasp her situation, it was clear she would need Birdel’s cooperation to escape it.

*[N-no! That’s not true at all!]*

It seemed that Birdel judged people based on their usefulness. The solution was clear.

*[I can interpret the engravings on that stone you’ve been staring at!*]

Proving her usefulness was the answer.

The woman had already figured out that Birdel couldn’t fully decipher the symbols on the stone.

“Hm…”

Indeed, her reaction was different this time.

The woman felt a surge of hope at Birdel’s interest.

But her hope was short-lived.

Without a word, Birdel began to swing her sword in training, eyes fixed on the stone.

The woman felt a sinking sense of failure.

*[Ugh!]*

She really seemed like someone who wouldn’t bleed even if pricked.  
The woman’s mind raced.

What should I do… what should I do… I can’t be stuck in this armor forever!  
I need to take drastic action.

She decided to start by providing useful information to earn Birdel’s trust.

*[These are symbols used by the Sephiroth clan, holy characters if you will. They can’t be deciphered just by looking at them!]*  
“…”

How about that? Isn’t it intriguing?  
But still, no reaction.

*[Ugh…]*

Desperate, the woman continued, finally prying open the conversation.

*[This… this is definitely left behind by someone from the clan. However… it seems they weren’t particularly skilled. Or… perhaps they developed a way to use it even without being part of the clan? It ultimately failed, though. Ha.*]

Suddenly—

Birdel reacted, and the woman smiled in triumph.

“Failed?”  
*[Yes. If someone outside the clan can’t read or learn from it, isn’t that a failure?]*

The woman’s voice held both pride and scorn.

“Hm…”  
*[It seems you’re interested in it too. So, what do you say?]*  
“About what?”  
*[Would you like to make a deal?]*  
“A deal?”  
*[Yes. Ha ha ha. We would both benefit from it.*]

“...”

*Swish—swish—*

Birdel resumed swinging her sword.

The woman was stunned.  
Back to square one.

*[Ah! I don’t know what’s happening, but I apologize!]*  
“…”

It was as if Birdel was possessed, shutting out all else as she focused on her sword.

*Swish—swish—*

The endless sound of metal cutting the air was enough to drive her mad.

And then—

*Beep—*

*[Forced ether synthesis progress: 0.03% -> 0.04%]*

*Beep—*

*[Aaaah! Stop it!!]*  
*[Aaaaah! Spare me!!]*

The core of her very existence was being extracted from the armor.

*[Stop this!!]*  
*[Aaaaaah! I’m begging you, please!!]*

The agony of having her essence ripped apart was indescribable.

At last, Birdel stopped, stabbing her sword into the ground.

“A deal, huh…?”

*[Huff, huff, huff…]*

“A deal only applies to an equal.”

*Swish—swish—*

Birdel was silent after that, but her intent was clear.

A deal?  
Are you even worthy of being a negotiating partner?  
Do you think you can get away with that half-hearted approach?

*!!*

The woman realized that Birdel wasn’t just indifferent.  
She was fully aware of her superior position.

Ah… ah…

The woman understood.  
Her opponent wasn’t someone to be deceived by mere words.  
This situation would require much more.

In the corner of her awareness, she saw a small blue flame flickering.

[...]

The woman realized that to obtain the "Fruit," she would need to sacrifice much more than anticipated.