Tsubaki headed straight back into the great treehouse and made for the dining hall.
Plenty of adventurers were already there, busying themselves with breakfast. None of them were amateurs—every motion was practiced to the point of artistry. Seeing she wouldn't have to wait long to eat, Tsubaki took a seat near the edge of the room.
"Tss—"
As she sat, the dull ache in her waist flared again. She rubbed her side, and yesterday night's delight flickered through her mind—like an older sister finally tying down a troublemaking little brother and "devouring" him whole. The corner of her mouth curled before she smoothed her expression. Best not to let too many people catch on.
It was her private business, after all.
She lifted her left hand and looked at the ring on her middle finger. With a thought, golden flame kindled along the band. A warm surge coursed through her, as if the fire were nourishing her body from within. The soreness in her side began to ebb at once.
Barely three minutes, and more than half the ache had vanished.
"This power is too handy."
Only after feeling it firsthand could she grasp how useful this near-magical force was. The Sun was a reinforcing, mending flame—perfectly suited to her needs. As a dwarf–human hybrid she excelled in raw strength; the Sun's power only stacked the deck further in favor of her muscles.
"Still, I'm not a pure adventurer. I need to find ways to use this in forging."
A legendary craftswoman by trade, Tsubaki's mind naturally steered toward the anvil. Fire and the forge were made for each other. Her first thought was Lady Hephaestus—fire god and smith god in one—whose command of flame was a gift to any artisan.
While she mused, more and more gazes gathered on her. To be precise, on the ring—and the flame burning on it. Curiosity sparked in pair after pair of eyes, and a few bold girls even drifted closer.
"Tsubaki-taichō, is your ring—and that flame—the same type as Captain Alise's and Vice-Captain Kaguya's?"
"You're all pretty curious about this power, huh?"
Her question drew a chorus of eager nods. Many had assumed Captain Finn would announce something at dinner last night. But by this morning, they realized… he never had. Only when they saw Tsubaki light her ring did the "oh right!" spread around the hall.
"Didn't Finn say he had a surprise for you?"
"But Captain didn't say anything last night!"
"You lot finished a full day's push yesterday," Tsubaki said dryly. "If he'd told you then, half of you would've been too excited to sleep. My guess is he meant it as a morning pep-talk. Which is why I'm not telling you."
"Eeh—!"
Disappointment rippled through the room. Still, hearing it framed as a motivator set minds racing over what the "surprise" could be.
As more adventurers filed in and word passed along, eyes grew wider—especially those flicking toward Tsubaki. But everyone was really waiting on Finn. They wanted to hear it from him.
The wait felt long—until Finn entered with the frontliners.
"Hm?"
The instant Finn and Gareth stepped into the hall, they felt dozens of stares latch onto them. What now? Finn's brow ticked—until he spotted Tsubaki in the crowd, her left hand raised, golden flame dancing on a ring.
Ah. So that's how the cat got out.
"Tsubaki told you a bit too soon," Finn admitted, chuckling. "I'd hoped to spring it this morning. Since you're all keen, we'll go over it before breakfast."
A hum of anticipation rolled through the hall. Nobody was about to miss a word.
Finn raised his right hand. Three rings of the same make gleamed on his fingers—and at once, blue, crimson, and gold flames blossomed across them.
"Different rings ignite different colors of flame," he said. "Different colors confer different abilities. This power isn't magic—but it's close. And without the hassle of magic. You all saw how Alise and Kaguya fought the Goliath yesterday."
Every sentence hit like a thunderclap. Not magic, yet like magic—and without the hassle. The hassle being incantations. If this flame required no chant… wasn't that basically chantless magic by another road?
Eyes went marvel-wide. This truly was a surprise—and one that mattered to everyone here.
"As for the source," Finn added, "I think most of you have guessed."
The hall drew a collective breath. He didn't need to say it.
Sawada Tsunayoshi.
"Once fully mastered," Finn continued, "this power will be engraved into your Status as a Skill—becoming part of your own strength. You understand what that means, don't you?"
Another shock rippled through them. If, after training, the flame became a Skill imprinted on one's Falna… then it wasn't just borrowed might. It would be yours.
A force like magic that needed no chant—and it could be made your own. Breaths quickened up and down the benches.
"Captain, are there any limits to who can receive it?" someone asked at last. Everyone knew there had to be a line somewhere.
"Only one," Finn said. "We won't distribute it to low-level adventurers. The floor is Level 4. Tsuna intends this as a helping hand for those who are already striving—like Tiona, Tione, and Bete."
"—!?"
Murmurs burst into excited chatter.
"Alright," Finn clapped once, smiling. "Questions after you eat. Fuel up—we move for the Deep Floors soon."
(End of Chapter)
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