18: Revenge (Part 1)

Time flew by like a fleeting shadow, especially during training—two years passed in the blink of an eye.

Under Haruki's guidance, the three girls made remarkable progress. Gin, in particular, stood out. Her talent was exceptional—Haruki believed it was on par with the Elite Seven. The only reason she hadn't been recognized earlier was because Gozuki simply lacked the ability to see it.

Over the course of three years, the girls trained in Rokushiki every single day. When Haruki had first demonstrated the Six Styles to them, the sight of him splitting rocks with a flick of his fingers, leaping dozens of meters in a single step, and even walking through the air had left them stunned—and deeply inspired.

Now, Nina and Kurome could already use the Six Styles proficiently, putting them far ahead of others their age. But Gin had fully mastered them, something that had truly shocked Haruki. Just reaching the level of Nina and Kurome was already impressive, considering that Rokushiki surpassed human limits and wasn't something just anyone could learn. Gin's raw talent was undoubtedly worthy of praise.

Still, it wasn't just talent that pushed Gin forward—her deep hatred also drove her relentless effort, allowing her to surpass the others.

In these three years, Haruki didn't only teach them Rokushiki. He also trained them in various weapons. As girls, they couldn't rely on close-quarters combat alone, no matter how powerful the Six Styles were. Haruki let each of them choose their own weapons. Nina and Kurome chose long swords. To Haruki's surprise, Gin chose a long spear—an old-fashioned cold weapon. Though Haruki wasn't a specialist in any particular weapon, his extensive battle experience meant his techniques were far from elegant, but highly practical. After three years of his unreserved teaching, the girls had become just as skilled with weapons as they were with the Six Styles.

Now, Nina and Kurome were both thirteen, and Gin was fourteen.

Nina had started to develop. Her shoulder-length blonde hair remained, and her big eyes were still the same, but the baby fat on her face had given way to a beautiful, oval shape. Her chest had begun to show some growth as well.

Kurome hadn't changed much aside from growing a bit taller. Despite being the group's biggest eater, her chest still showed no signs of development, remaining completely flat—a fact that often led her to complain to Haruki.

The biggest change among the three was Gin. She was now the tallest, standing around 165 cm, and still growing. She had a slim, sharp face and large, light-blue eyes. Her silver hair, like Haruki's, reached her waist. Her developed chest stretched her loose training uniform tightly, making her quite eye-catching. Gin had a naturally cold demeanor and wasn't particularly warm even to Nina or Kurome—Haruki was the only one she showed any real connection to. In the future, she would no doubt grow into a strikingly aloof beauty.

"Gin, Nina, Kurome, come here for a moment."

Haruki called out, interrupting their training.

"Gin, I remember you told me that your goal in training was revenge. Three years have passed, and you've become very strong. But your enemy is a regional governor—killing him could cause serious trouble. That's why I'll be going with you this time. Don't worry. As long as I'm there, no one will say a word. Kurome, Nina, you're coming too. Even though you're both strong, you haven't seen real bloodshed yet."

Haruki had long known that while Gin's drive for revenge helped her improve, it wasn't a healthy thing to live for. Revenge shouldn't be someone's only reason to exist—especially for a girl who deserved her own life. So Haruki decided to help her get it over with sooner rather than later. And since the three girls had never truly experienced killing, he would use this opportunity to let them face real combat. That kind of experience was critical in a life-or-death battle.

When Gin heard that Haruki would personally take her to get revenge, her eyes turned red with emotion. He had always cared for her like an older brother, never scolding her too harshly, even when she made mistakes. Now, hearing that he was willing to shoulder the risk of killing a governor for her, she was so moved she nearly cried. In her heart, she knew that even with Haruki's high status, taking the fall for such a crime wouldn't be easy.

She silently vowed that once her revenge was complete, she would never leave Haruki's side again. She would spend the rest of her life repaying his kindness.

"Congratulations, Gin. You can finally get your revenge."

Nina and Kurome were just as happy. After three years together, the three had become like sisters. They were genuinely glad to see Gin get this chance. They didn't doubt Haruki's words—his strength over the past three years had made them believe he was capable of anything. And in truth, there were very few things in this world that Haruki couldn't do.

...

(40 Chapters Ahead)

p@treon com / PinkSnake