My whole afternoon passes and the enlightenment of my expedition yields an unfavorable result.

It seems my smile has taken a bad turn. It’s either a smile that looks down on people, a sinister grin that makes people shiver and a smug that anger people.

It’s a little troubling. I didn’t know forcing myself to smile will scare people. Now that I think about it, I can smile normally around people I know well.

If that is the case…ain’t this convenient for me then?

With this, I can scare the shit out of people who will aim for Asagao with just one glance. I won’t allow any other people to get closer to her. I can allow something to the degree of a friend but beyond that, I’ll blow up.

Ahahaha…

Ahahahahahaha!

“Higanbana…why the smug face?!”

“Oh my, mother, how long have you been watching?”

“We’re in the middle of breakfast, of course, I’d notice it!”

“The dish was just splendid as always.”

“And that’s not the kind of face you make when you compliment someone or something!”

Though, the food is really good that I am already eating my fourth serving.

I’ve noticed that recently, my appetite has somewhat grown bigger. I’ve been eating food with no abandon and yet, it feels like I’m not gaining any muscles.

Hmm…

Tsk…

My clothes…feels so uncomfortable…

It’s getting tight and it feels restraining. My clothes feel like expanding all over the place and the sash becomes loose on certain parts.

“Higanbana, are you perhaps feeling discomfort? You’ve been squirming a lot lately.”

“I think my chest got bigger.”

“So blunt…and I was going to play with words a little with you…”

“I’m not dumb. Also, if you have already noticed it, say something.”

“It’s true that I am keeping track of your growth as well as your menstruation but…to see my daughter’s chest growing into B cup, I’m kind of intrigue of how you will deal with it.”

“So, yeah, I don’t want anymore sarashi. Get me a regular undergarment, kay?”

“Do you want something with floral design? An erotic one? I know you’d want something that’ll entice her, right?”

“…G-Get me a separate set.”

“Yes!~”

My mother is definitely having fun teasing me.

Well, whatever.

Today, I’m going to do some research for any weapons that may be suitable for me. I should decide before I start another routine of training or I’ll fall behind Asagao.

“I’m done.”

“I can’t believe you ate seven servings.”

“Wasn’t it six?”

“It was seven serving, my daughter.”

“Hmm…I really should start building up some muscle.”

“Don’t! That’s a bad idea.”

“Why are you so opposed to that? Anyway, I’ll be heading out immediately. I need to find something.”

“Something?”

“Yeah, that’s why mother, do your job for today too. At the castle.”

“Am I not in any position to oppose that order?”

“It’s a choice, mother. Well, thanks for the meal.”

“Yeah, take care.”

I left immediately after my mother’s parting words. I headed towards the gates of our manor and left for good. Since I’m already wearing my today’s attire, I didn’t have the time to pick out other clothes to change into but that’s okay.

I carried my bag purse over one of my arms while holding an umbrella in my other hand. I thought of just using my Soul Weapon but that’s just attracting unnecessary attention.

Having Asagao and her dimensional storage is really convenient…

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Brooding over the fact that I cannot access the convenience of Asagao won’t get me anywhere.

With that out of my mind, let’s start this.

……..

Hey…

Hey!!

Can you hear me?

WAKE UP!

Hwahhh?! Huh?! EH?! What the hell?! Are you calling out to me?!

Yeah, I’m calling out to you.

Do you have any problem with that?

It’s convenient that you are inside of me, someone who seems to have vast knowledge. I’d like to know a lot of things from your perspective and I’ll be relying on you from now on.

Make yourself useful.

Ehehehe!~

So you have already accepted that we are now inseparable? I’m really gleeful of it since you are the one who first to called out to me!!~

But, why me though?

If you need to ask someone, there are a lot of people out there who can be of help. My knowledge about this world is subpar compared to those who have lived long enough here.

Because you are there.

It’s one call away from hearing your voice.

Also, it seems like even though you tried sounding so cheery, I bet you’ve been alone for so long so I’m taking that into consideration.

You are craving for an interaction, right?

……You.

Are you trying to hit on me?! I’m already married!

You are more troublesome than I thought.

Why?! It’s your fault!

I’m really shaken right now because of what you said! What are you, some novel protagonist?! If I have a physical body, I would have fallen in the floor while trembling in happiness.

Maybe I’m going to wet myself a little but that’s it!

Right, you are troublesome.

Well, I’m glad you’re on board.

Once more, I am Higanbana, a simple fox girl.

Yeah, I’m Asteria, a foreign goddess, simple as that.

If you say that you need my assistance, I’ll be here!

Anyway, what do you need from me?

I’d like your opinion about a suitable weapon. As much as possible, something that would counter Asagao’s choice of weapon, a short sword.

Ahhh! This one is easy!

You see, the short sword is a famous European weapon that used for dual wielding. No, actually, it’s a weapon used together with a shield because it’s light and incredibly swift.

It’s obvious by now but a short sword’s weakness is it is short.

Therefore, it’s advisable for you to get something long and equally swift, something that could be immediately drawn.

A weapon called Katana.

Katana? I think I’ve heard of that before.

Yay!~

This is east meets west now!

Since Asagao is the west, you will be the east, a good and equal match-up, right? You are already playing the role of the east so all you need is a matching weapon.

Can I trust you on that?

I feel like you are just making things interesting for your own leisure.

Eh…

You asked for help and you’ll doubt me from the get-go?

I’m one of the pioneering gods in my own mythology back in the earth. Even if you say that this me right now is just a fragment scattered across multiple dimensions, I am still a bonafide goddess that retains my knowledge.

Also, what I’m saying right now is plausible since anything beyond heavier than that could just be hindrance.

What do you mean by that?

You should have noticed by now, your body lacks any strength right now due to your previous battle.

Marginal error in your movement is most likely at thirty percent erroneous. The rate at which you recover your stamina versus magical energy is an imbalance.

Even my leftover divine power needs time to replenish unless Divine Ascension is used on us again.

Even your core lacks forty percent stability and your total performance falls twenty-five percent at best. The status in which your body regenerates is slowed down by a factor of two so you be careful.

In totality, you are halfway away from your optimal operational performance.

To recover your full potential and peak performance, you need at least six hundred and ninety-two hours of rest.

That’s…an oddly detailed status.

A simple calculation is nothing.

In some battles, if you entrust your body or some of your movements to me, I can do some extremely complicated and calculated maneuvering.

Immediate geographical imprinting for tactical advantage, an optimal solution for a direct movement that involving either physical or magical attack, and even immediate movement which mortal mind cannot comprehend.

I shall impart these options to you.

Immediate movement?

Do you mean where my body moves faster unconsciously, faster than my brain to digest the information?

I do believe that I am correct, yes?

As expected!

My calculations can be a direct intervention for any error in your actions. Numbers channeling at limitless computation that exceeds mortal’s comprehension is legitly a child play for me.

Even how much strong a mortal can get, if they cannot compute or control their actions through these methods, they are bound to go out of control.

If they move at a speed that breaks the sound barrier but they cannot slice this numbers into a multitude of computation, it will impossible for them to land at their desired position.

…I am quite confused.

Then, how do you call Alstroemeria’s movements?

Oh, that child?

I believe that even with her outer appearance and moronical disposition, she can precisely do actions she desires with her own strength because her mind is able to keep up with her movements.

The question now that comes is that, her computation capabilities. Maybe she also has a godly intellect specific for deciphering a multitude of numbers and probability.

But if that’s the case, that’s a real nutcase.

Alstroemeria is someone we cannot comprehend anymore so let’s leave her be for now.

Getting back at the track, I’d be glad if I can get my hand on this katana you are talking about. So for now, the plan goes to fighting something from the City’s smith.

Yes!~

Can I sleep again?

Go ahead.

As for me, I heard that there are several smiths in the capital so I should check them one by one. While I’m on it, gather some wild gossips.

It seems because I’ve been talking inside my mind for quite a time, I just noticed that I’m already in front of the capital’s gate.

“Ah, Beast Queen! Welcome.”

“Yeah, good work for you guys. I need to look for something inside the city but for sake of knowledge, do you guys happened to know where is the best smiths are?”

“Oh, there are a lot of smiths renowned in the Beast Kin. There’s the group of the Ardents led by Muso from the Ox clan. There’s also Heralk from the Turtle clan from the Judicious group. There are few more but those two are known for their abilities with both forging weapons and armors.”

“Do they happened to be a smith that has created Katana?”

“Oh, now that’s something else…”

The guard pauses a little as he turned meek. He put on a troubled countenance as he finds the words suitable to utter.

“Beast Queen, if you are looking for an artisan of that kind of weapon, I recommend visiting old man Froil. He doesn’t live inside the capital but he is still well known.”

“Oh? Where can I find this man?”

“He lives in the bamboo thickets. You should be able to locate that place immediately if you east from the main road.”

“I see, thank you for the information.”

I turn around, indicating that I lost the purpose of entering the city. Before I can take another step, the guard called out to me.

“Beast Queen Higanbana, are you…getting a ceremonial weapon?”

“No, it’s for fighting.”

“I see…”

“What’s the matter?”

“You see, Beast Queen, the matter about the weapons he creates is that he never asked for any payment. The old man only makes a weapon for those who he deemed capable of wielding his creations but honestly, the nobles of our kingdom can only see his weapons as an elegant decoration.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you for telling me that.”

“It’s my pleasure!”

The next destination; the Bamboo Thickets.