Published: January 24, 2026
"Now that we've settled on a plan, I want to ask Shion and Oliver—how did you two become transcendants?"
At the question, Shion and Oliver exchanged a quick glance.
Shion spoke first.
"I forced my way through the principles of techniques using the Spirit's Eye in my right eye, tapping into an ice spirit. Man, back then, I had blood tears streaming from my eye, a splitting headache, and I ended up bedridden for months. How about you, Oliver?"
"Mine was similar. But since I also had mana convergence, it wasn't as painful. I think I was down for about a week."
"What? That's unfair!"
"What's unfair about it? Honestly, you shouldn't have broken through the principles of techniques when you couldn't originally. Using just the Spirit's Eye was reckless."
"I had no choice! If I didn't do something like that, I wouldn't catch up to Orun!"
Before I knew it, the two started bickering.
Seeing this familiar scene from their childhood, I couldn't help but smile.
"You two get along well."
Luna watched them with a warm smile.
"We're childhood friends, after all."
At that moment, Fuuka interrupted them.
"The conversation is getting off track."
At Fuuka's words, Shion and Oliver both shrugged their shoulders simultaneously, looking a bit embarrassed.
"...Yeah, well, this is a serious discussion now."
Shion scratched her cheek and looked away, and Oliver cleared his throat.
"That's enough about us."
Oliver raised his voice to cover it up and turned his gaze to Luna.
"Still, Luna is a supernatural ability user with spirit domination. Her control over spirits is far superior to just having the Spirit's Eye. It might even be easier for her."
"...Me?"
Luna blinked in surprise.
"Honestly, in terms of potential, you're probably above both of us."
I nodded in agreement with Oliver.
"If it's just about breaking through the principles of techniques, Luna's power should be a huge help."
"...I see."
Luna took a small breath and then looked up as if remembering something.
"By the way... Fuuka, you're a transcendent too, right?"
"Yeah."
Fuuka nodded briefly as if it were obvious.
"Um... how did you become a transcendent?"
Luna asked with a serious look.
Fuuka paused for a moment, seeming to think, then answered plainly.
"When I synced with my cursed sword, I just naturally became one."
"........."
Shion and Oliver both froze at the same time.
"I can handle demonic energy, so my way is probably an exception," Fuuka said matter-of-factly.
But the casual way she said it only made it feel heavier.
Then I suddenly realized something.
"...By the way, I've been meaning to ask—what exactly is demonic energy? I know it's different from mana or qi, but I don't quite understand the essence of that power."
At my question, Fuuka stared into space for a while as if thinking, then said, "I don't really understand it myself."
I let out a sigh.
"Well, Fuuka is more intuitive. If she doesn't understand, I guess it's unavoidable."
As I shrugged, Fuuka spoke again.
"So, even if I know, I have to let him talk."
With that, Fuuka produced her sword—White Sakura—from her storage magical tool at her waist.
Seeing that, Shion and Oliver frowned suspiciously.
"...Is that sword the one that knows all about it?"
"No way the sword talks, right...?"
Fuuka didn't answer and quietly drew her sword.
A faint light shimmered on the blade.
The once silver blade gradually took on a pale cherry blossom pink hue.
"—Sakuramochi, come out."
At her call, mist rose from the blade.
The mist swayed and gathered, forming a shape.
Soon, it became a pale cherry blossom pink fox, curled around its fluffy, round tail like a bud.
Its paws didn't touch the ground but floated lightly in the air.
Drifting as if freed from gravity, it looked like nothing more than an adorable fluff ball.
"Stop calling me that already!"
The fox shouted as soon as it appeared.
When it glared at Fuuka, a strange intensity mingled with its cuteness.
Fuuka tilted her head.
"You said you didn't like the name 'Cotton Candy,' so I changed it to 'Sakuramochi.'"
"Are you kidding me? Why are all my name options so fluffy?!"