The red "Holy Shroud" formed Tiona and Tione's different bandeaus and briefs, plus a sash wrapped around the waist. Right there in the room, the sisters changed out of their clothes.
They stretched lightly and moved around a bit to feel the new outfits.
"No discomfort at all."
"The fabric feels great—honestly better than what we used before. It clings to the skin without feeling sticky, snug yet breathable."
Tione tugged at her bandeau; the shoulder strap could be stretched out and then snapped back to its original length. As clothing, it really was ideal.
"As equipment, though, defense is what matters."
Her eyes fell on a curved blade hanging on the wall. Tione walked over, picked it up, and thrust it toward her own chest. She felt a force press into her, but no stab of pain. Looking closely, she saw the blade's tip blocked outside by the bandeau. Surprise lit up her face.
"Such amazing defense. My scimitar counts as a first-grade weapon, and this material still kept the tip out."
"Tione, stay put. I'll try Urga."
Tiona moved fast. If a needle-keen point was one thing, could Urga's destructive power be stopped too? She gripped the double-headed blade as tall as half again her height, twisted at the waist, and swept one head across Tione's midriff.
Tione didn't dodge. She stood there and let the sweep come. The instant the edge struck the sash at her waist, she clearly felt a huge impact launch her through the air. Pain flared across her abdomen. Spinning midair to bleed off the force, she planted both feet on the wall, then dropped into a steady crouch on the floor. Tione glanced down at her waist.
The sash had completely stopped Urga's edge—there wasn't even a scratch left on the cloth.
"It can fully block an attack from a first-grade weapon while damping the force. It still stings a bit, but well within what I can handle."
Having witnessed the Holy Shroud's defensive performance, Tione wore only delight. Such a light, thin fabric with performance like this—truly beyond imagination. If blocking a blade tip was surprising, then stopping Urga's sweep outright was downright shocking.
After all, even proper first-grade armor didn't always stop a sweep from Urga. Forged from super-hard ore, sharpness was one thing—but Urga's weight was another. In Tiona's hands, that heavy, keen weapon could fell even a floor-30 Rock Giant in a single blow. Yet a single gauzy layer of fabric had stopped it. "Shocking" was the only word.
"Absorbing impact and reducing received damage—that's the most intuitive function of the Holy Shroud. Besides the bandeau, briefs, and the waist sash, there are also the forearm wraps. Tione has barefoot leggings, while Tiona's wearing two shin wraps. Beyond defense, their biggest role is offense."
"As for the forearm wraps: shift how you bind them and they turn into boxing gloves. The Holy Shroud absorbs impact and reduces the damage you take. If you use them for striking, you can punch hard surfaces without injuring yourselves."
Every piece had a purpose. Tsunayoshi explained the different ways the Holy Shroud on Tiona and Tione could be used. Outstanding as armor, it also served well as a makeshift weapon.
"Perfect for when you lose your weapon and need a temporary substitute. It won't cut like a first-grade blade, but used as gauntlets it's just too convenient. The only thing we need to know is how long the outfit lasts. If we mess that up and I end up naked with Tiona in mid-fight, that'd be a disaster."
Tione's tone carried a teasing lilt. Everyone knew a Lv.4 adventurer wouldn't get killed easily even without armor. If they lost the Holy Shroud, she and Tiona would mostly just be embarrassed.
"It won't happen."
The image flashed through Tsunayoshi's mind as he blurted it out. He could never bring himself to expose two girls in front of everyone like that.
"I mean during the dungeon expedition: after a set interval, I'll reconstruct a fresh set of Holy Shroud gear for you. We can store the swapped-out pieces temporarily to monitor their exact dissipation time."
"That's great. We can test it and make sure we're always wearing your gear."
Tiona's eyes lit up. It was a reliable way to keep the outfits on at all times. The only pity was that Tsunayoshi couldn't make creations permanent yet—that would make things even easier.
"Tione, you—huh?"
Turning to ask her sister's opinion, Tiona noticed Tione staring blankly a moment. What's wrong? Curious, she nudged her.
"…It's nothing."
Sensing her sister's questioning gaze, Tione shook her head as if nothing had happened. She'd only been joking earlier. In truth, she believed Tsunayoshi would handle the problem well. She just hadn't expected such a direct reaction. Tione wasn't stupid; she could tell that answer hadn't been thought through—it came straight from instinct.
So, Tsunayoshi really doesn't want me and Tiona exposed in front of everyone. That much was obvious from that reflex. For the Amazon-hearted Tione, the thought stirred other thoughts—ones she quickly pressed down.
Maybe he's just well-mannered; nothing more. Calming herself, she let her smile return.
"Then Tsunayoshi, I'll leave our safety in your hands."
"Oh. No problem. Leave it to me."
(End of Chapter)
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