"Pff—!"
Loki, who had been listening from the side, burst out laughing.
"It's a great idea, but forget three years ago—no one now can actually do it."
"True."
Finn, Riveria, and Gareth, still stunned by Tsunayoshi's earlier answer, finally came back to their senses.
If you can't beat them, banish them—solid plan. The problem was finding someone who could execute it.
"This sort of solution works wonders on any troublesome foe," Finn admitted. "But it requires someone with the right ability. As far as I know, no one like that exists."
His gaze slid to Sawada Tsunayoshi.
"I can," Tsunayoshi said simply.
He knew this was his chance to demonstrate value. In fact, he had real confidence in what his imagination could produce.
He raised a hand. A white-furred, standing, adorable rabbit popped into existence on his palm.
Building on his earlier summons—and the very first "Sky Lion"—Tsunayoshi had gained some experience. Make the monsters cuter, more agile, less conspicuous.
The little rabbit glanced at Finn's desk, clapped its tiny hands, and a semi-transparent white barrier bloomed to enclose a portion of the tabletop.
A heartbeat later, the white prism—and the space inside it—vanished. What remained on the desk was… a hole.
"!?"
Finn started, reaching out to touch the place where the desk had been "taken."
"The cut surface is smooth—like a clean slice from a very sharp tool," he murmured. "The removed area is small, the effect lasted roughly two seconds. It didn't sever the desk upon enclosure; it vanished with the enclosed space, and only then did the separation occur. There's a delay, so as an attack, it's… suboptimal."
Who said this was an attack? Tsunayoshi marveled at Finn's swift analysis, but offered a correction.
"It isn't an attack. It expels a bounded region of space into another dimension."
"As for duration, I didn't feed the creature detailed imagery. If I wanted to compress or extend the timing, I'd add more specific imagination."
"I see."
Finn nodded. Granting a monster an ability is one part—refining and fortifying that ability is another. Without precise imagining, the output remains bare-bones.
"So your power still needs extensive exploration and development before it shines in real combat. One more question—can these constructs be made permanent?"
Permanent… Tsunayoshi knew what Finn meant, but he hadn't tested it. He could only shake his head.
"I've had this power for less than half a day. I can't say whether monsters born from imagination can be fixed in place. I'll need more trials."
"Less than half a day…"
Only now did Finn realize Tsunayoshi had awakened this power mere hours ago—which meant it wasn't from the Blessing.
He looked to Loki.
"Loki, this isn't from a Blessing, is it?"
"Of course not. Everything he showed—Magic and Skills—are his own. He's a gifted one who awakened by himself. My Blessing only turned it into data."
A self-awakened prodigy. Finn blinked, then looked back to Tsunayoshi. Now Loki's earlier claims made sense.
Different stock entirely.
A power you wield before any Blessing is a different species of strength from one granted after. And this one was wildly overtuned.
"Beyond imagination," Finn said, a smile slowly breaking across his face.
"If I had to fight him, I'd have a massive headache. If he's on our side, though… that's reassuring."
"His case is special," Finn added, expression turning brisk. "We have to lock down information—especially inside the Familia. And watch Bete."
That drunken wolf running his mouth wasn't a once-in-a-lifetime event. The thought alone gave Finn a migraine.
"Gareth, talk to Bete. Make that idiot rein it in."
"I know. I'll 'talk' to him," Gareth rumbled, a feral grin spreading.
Doesn't sound very gentle, Tsunayoshi thought. The burly, bearded "dad about to discipline his unruly son" vibe was… unmistakable.
"Riveria," Finn continued, "given his ability, he needs intel: monster lore, magic theory, the lot. Please teach him."
For fit and for experience caring for juniors, Riveria was the obvious mentor.
"I don't mind," Riveria said. "But what about Ais?"
"Ais…"
Just saying the name made Finn's temples throb.
Ais was a prodigy—and strong already—but she dove into the Dungeon every day, tuning everyone out. Only Riveria could keep her in check.
If Riveria took Tsunayoshi as a student, Ais would be… unchecked. And left alone, she'd undoubtedly gift Finn a 'surprise.'
She needed supervision.
"I'll have Tiona and Tione shadow Ais," Finn decided.
"…Very well."
Riveria's lips quirked. Any Tione-related headaches were very much Finn's problem.
With arrangements set, Finn stood, rounded the desk, and held out his hand to the boy.
"Welcome to the Loki Familia."
(End of Chapter)
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