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After finishing his grueling training session with Arlan, Hiroshi returned to Herta's private room. Looking at the quiet, empty space, he realized Herta must still be engrossed in the development of the Simulated Universe. Since the project began, she rarely returned before the early hours of the morning.
I can take this time to familiarize myself with the Demon Blade Thousand Blades, Hiroshi thought. It's not like any ordinary sword I've seen Arlan use.
He reached into the system space and pulled out a sleek, dark scabbard. Holding the hilt firmly, he slowly drew the blade.
"Clang!"
As the steel sang, a faint purple glow erupted from the metal. The blade was about two meters long, deep purple, and carved with half of an eerie demon mask near the hilt. Most strikingly, the entire surface was covered in thousands of intricate cracks, as if it were a shattered mirror held together by sheer will. To a scrap dealer, it would look like junk; to Hiroshi, it was a masterpiece of conceptual weaponry.
With a single thought, the blade shattered. Thousands of purple fragments swirled around Hiroshi like a deadly swarm of hornets. With another thought, they snapped back into a solid edge. He realized that thanks to the system, he didn't need years of specialized training to control the weapon's unique properties.
With this and my teleportation, I won't just be an ordinary human anymore, he mused. But managing supplies in the Department of Applications feels like a waste of time now. I know the "End" is coming for this universe. The old me was helpless, but the new me has to protect the people I care about.
The sound of the doorknob turning broke his concentration. Hiroshi quickly banished the blade back into his system space just as Herta walked in, looking visibly exhausted.
"Madam Herta, you're back!" Hiroshi greeted her with a smile.
"Yeah. Go get the bathwater ready," Herta said, her tone lazy and drained. "And then... prepare for your 'punishment' for being out so late."
Hiroshi supported his lower back with a look of mock despair. "Alright..."
After preparing the bath, Hiroshi stood behind Herta as she reclined in the milky-white water. Only her fair shoulders and delicate collarbones were visible above the surface. As he carefully combed through her long hair, Herta suddenly spoke, her eyes still closed.
"What's with the bruises on your body?"
Hiroshi flustered. He had tried to hide the marks from Arlan's training, but nothing escaped Herta's notice. He decided to be honest. "Madam Herta... I don't want to be the head of the Department of Applications anymore. I want to join the Security Department."
Herta's eyes snapped open. "What!? Is your brain broken?"
She turned to look at him, her brow furrowed in genuine anger. "You want to give up a safe, high-ranking position to become a security officer whose life is in danger every day? With your constitution, you'd fall apart before the first week ended!"
"I've already started training with Captain Arlan! I can handle it!" Hiroshi insisted.
"This is absolute nonsense!" Herta scolded. "What if you got hurt? Your current position is perfect for you. Just do your duty!"
Hiroshi realized he needed to show her his progress. He stepped back and summoned the Demon Blade Thousand Blades, demonstrating its ability to fragment and reform in the air. Herta watched with slight surprise, assuming it was a Curio he had found within his department. However, as an Emanator of Erudition, she remained unimpressed by a mere melee weapon.
"Why?" she sighed. "Why risk your life in the Security Department? What is it for?"
"Because... I want to be strong enough to protect you one day."
Herta paused, then let out a small, soft chuckle. "Do you even know what you're saying? With my power, there are very few things in this universe that can threaten me."
"But—"
"Enough! No one can touch you while you're with me. Just do what you're supposed to do!"
Hiroshi bit his tongue. He had tried to explain the system before, but the words always seemed to be "muted" by some cosmic law whenever he spoke them. It was clear Herta wouldn't let him resign.
Sigh... it looks like I'll have to keep training with Arlan in secret, he thought. I'll become the shield she doesn't think she needs.
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