After dinner, Kiana and the other two didn't stay long. They could all see the fatigue on Ming Yu's face, so they naturally wouldn't linger and disturb him. After telling Ming Yu to rest early, they quickly left.
After the three of them departed, Ming Yu did not rest immediately. Although his body was already exhausted from a day of high-intensity training, Abyss Flower remained a great weight on his mind, preventing him from relaxing.
Staring blankly at Jizo Mitama in his hand, Ming Yu fell into deep thought.
The ink-black blade seemed to absorb light, showing no reflection even under the bright lights. The red decoration near the hilt did nothing to add warmth to the longsword; instead, it further accentuated the Divine Key's chilling aura.
Every Divine Key has its own unique power and characteristics, determined by the Soulium and Herrscher Core within. While a user can influence a Divine Key's personality to some extent, they are powerless to change its 'abilities'.
As a newly completed Divine Key, Jizo Mitama was like a newborn baby, a blank slate in terms of personality. This meant it wouldn't have overly harsh usage conditions, but it also meant its characteristics were an unknown, requiring the user to explore them on their own.
If Ming Yu were given enough time, he could very well develop Jizo Mitama into the form he desired.
By then, with the assistance of the Key of Corruption, even if his body couldn't fully handle it, using the Zeroth Power of Abyss Flower would not be impossible.
But just as Ming Yu was currently facing, his time was too short!
"Just now, Big Bro Yu didn't tell the truth!"
A soft voice suddenly sounded beside Ming Yu, carrying a tone of conviction that truly startled him.
Lifting his head, he was met with the sight of Hiyokumaru's delicate, oval face, her blue eyes seemingly holding a hint of resentment.
Frowning slightly, Hiyokumaru gently bit her lower lip, then sighed again before saying softly, "The training with that Abyss Flower, it's not going well, is it? At least, it's not as easy as Big Bro Yu said."
Looking at Hiyokumaru's earnest face, Ming Yu rubbed his somewhat sore forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
"Ah, that is a bit troublesome, but I can handle it."
Although Hiyokumaru was someone he could trust, this matter couldn't be explained in just a few words, and besides, it had nothing to do with the little fox.
Ming Yu was already reluctant to involve them, so he had no intention of explaining it now.
"Is Big Bro Yu still like this, refusing to tell the truth?!" the girl pouted and said with dissatisfaction, clearly unwilling to let the matter drop.
Shaking his head helplessly, Ming Yu said in a heavier tone, "This has nothing to do with you!"
Although he knew Hiyokumaru meant well, he had no intention of accepting her kindness.
Firstly, he didn't want to involve the innocent. Kiana might have a slight connection, but Hiyokumaru was completely uninvolved. Secondly, he didn't think Hiyokumaru could be of any help. The little fox still relied on Jizo Mitama for her existence; what could he expect this gentle girl to do?
"Is that... all it is." Hearing the firmness in Ming Yu's words, Hiyokumaru's delicate body trembled, and her expression instantly dimmed.
But the next moment, Hiyokumaru suddenly raised her head, looked directly into Ming Yu's eyes, and said loudly, "Then, what does my business have to do with Big Bro Yu!?"
"Bringing me, a complete stranger, out of the Stigmata Space and giving me a new start. What does that mean to Big Bro Yu!?"
Looking at the sudden emotional outburst from Hiyokumaru, Ming Yu was somewhat astonished, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
This girl, who had always been gentle, even to the point of being somewhat weak, had suddenly flushed red and spoken her emotions aloud.
"Big Bro Yu is always like this, shouldering everything himself, but refusing to reveal even a little bit to me."
For Hiyokumaru, it wasn't Ming Yu's concealment that upset her. Everyone has their secrets, and she wouldn't force him to say what he didn't want to.
However, the current matter was clearly not something Ming Yu could solve alone. Although her own abilities might be small, Ming Yu didn't even consider discussing it with her, directly excluding her.
This was no longer about hiding a secret, but a blatant disregard!
"I know I'm not very strong, but I also want to... I want to do my part for Big Bro Yu."
The girl said stubbornly, her eyes growing misty, yet she continued to stare straight into Ming Yu's eyes, refusing to back down in the slightest.
Staring in surprise at the tenacious girl before him, Ming Yu felt as if he was seeing Hiyokumaru for the first time.
It was only then that Ming Yu noticed something he had previously overlooked.
To him, Hiyokumaru was no stranger. The little fox from Yae Village had been a character he was familiar with for a long time.
It was this continuation of emotion that led him to help her in the Stigmata Space, bring her to St. Freya High School, and give her a new life.
In his eyes, all of this was reasonable, a continuation of his feelings from another world, and there was no problem with it.
So he could help the little fox with all his heart, even giving without expecting anything in return.
But for Hiyokumaru, it was a completely different matter.
Like a god descending from the heavens, Ming Yu had appeared in the Stigmata Space and rescued her. He gave so much yet asked for nothing in return, not even accepting a bit of goodwill, completely failing to acknowledge her abilities.
This huge disparity, even knowing that Ming Yu had good intentions and was doing it for her own good, was ultimately not something one could accept with ease.
"This... is not a simple matter..."
Ming Yu's voice was a little quiet, whether from being intimidated by Hiyokumaru's presence or moved by her concern.
"It's okay, I realized that a long time ago. I might not be able to help much, but two heads are better than one."
"And, I hope Big Bro Yu can understand, you are not alone!"
The girl said seriously, her tone exceptionally solemn, her eyes filled with determination.
It wasn't until this moment that Ming Yu realized the girl before him was an independent individual, not just a pitiable little fox.
Because of his memories from another world, Ming Yu had always felt a sense of pity for characters like Hiyokumaru, lamenting their fates.
But in reality, this emotion was useless and superfluous. Neither Hiyokumaru nor the main trio would need, let alone accept, such pity.
Kiana had recently met her Great Aunt, the Principal, and with a backer, her script immediately changed from "The Little Match Girl" to "The Spoiled Young Lady's School Life," living a life that couldn't be more comfortable.
Even Mei, who had lost her father and become a Herrscher herself, was an incredibly strong-willed girl. She could adjust her own mentality just fine, not to mention having an energetic girl like Kiana with her, so she wouldn't need his unnecessary concern at all.
Even Hiyokumaru, who had been isolated from the world for tens of thousands of years, was actively learning everything about the modern world, trying to adapt more quickly, and would likewise not accept that kind of condescending pity.
Looking at the earnest expression of the girl beside him, Ming Yu smiled faintly, a weight suddenly lifting from his heart. He slowly began to speak, "In that case, you'd better prepare yourself. This is a very long story."
...