Chapter 28: Until Exhausted

"What should I do, Rei Ao-sama?" asked Ayame, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

"You stay here," Rei Ao replied calmly.

"Yes, understood."

Time passed, and inside the room, the faces of Rei Miyamoto, Saya Takagi, and Shizuka Marikawa flushed red with embarrassment.

Saya, clearly frustrated, scratched her head and shouted, "Can someone please explain what's going on in there?!"

Rei Ao's voice echoed from the room, "Stop yelling!"

Annoyed by the disturbance, he added, "If you're so curious, why don't you see for yourselves?"

He granted the three of them access to the sub-group of the chat, and the room fell into silence—not from the absence of noise, but because they were too shocked to speak.

...

Two hours later.

"They... finally came out," Shizuka whispered.

"I know!" Saya snapped back, her face flushed with frustration. Two whole hours. Did they even understand what they had just endured for two hours? The things that man had said during that time, the way he'd openly discussed different *techniques*—it was beyond shameless.

By now, they had thoroughly understood everything through the chat system: the concept of trading. Everything was a trade.

Rei sat quietly, her gaze fixed on her skirt. Her thoughts were swirling as she muttered to herself, "Can we trade too?"

"Huh?" Saya responded in confusion.

"You really think that doing... *that* will make you as strong as Saeko? How is that even possible?!"

Saya couldn't believe it. The idea that strength could be gained just through physical acts like that seemed absurd to her. She still wanted to believe in the science behind everything, even if there were strange and unexplained phenomena like this chat group.

An hour later.

"Good, you've made great progress," Rei Ao's voice rang out, drawing their attention.

The three peeked out the window and saw Rei Ao standing outside with two women. One of them, a new face, wielded a bow made entirely of ice. Without needing any arrows, she conjured icy projectiles that shot out and exploded upon impact, freezing several zombies in the process.

Saeko, on the other hand, wielded her katana with a new, lethal precision. With one swing, a visible arc of energy sliced through several zombies at once.

"What... is that?" Saya whispered, rubbing her eyes in disbelief.

With Rei Ao's help, Ayame and Saeko had both grown stronger.

[Name]: Ayame

[Level]: 7

[Abilities]: "Rei Ao's Blessing," "Ice Arrow Technique"

Ayame had reached level 7 by battling the zombies, and Saeko, now wielding new powers, had received Rei Ao's blessing as well.

[Name]: Saeko Busujima

[Level]: 5

[Abilities]: "Sword Aura," "Busujima Swordsmanship," "Rei Ao's Blessing"

The "Blade of Energy" allowed Saeko to unleash devastating shockwaves with her sword.

Feeling the new power surging through her body, Saeko murmured, "I'm so strong..."

It was incredible to her. All of this strength came simply from trading her body in a world filled with zombies.

But Rei Ao frowned slightly as he addressed her, "Saeko, it seems like you've been holding back your true nature."

Ayame, standing nearby, looked at Saeko curiously. This woman, who had been so bold in her actions when they were together with Rei Ao, was suppressing something?

Saeko's body trembled, as if Rei Ao had seen right through her.

Yes, she was holding back—afraid of her own violent tendencies.

Back when Saeko was in middle school, she had been approached by a pervert while walking home. Carrying her wooden sword with her, she had let the man get close, only to severely injure him with a well-placed strike, breaking his bones. Though it was considered self-defense, Saeko had realized she enjoyed the violence.

And now, after killing the zombies, that same thrill resurfaced within her—the same excitement she felt when Rei Ao had taken control of her.

"Perhaps you have your reasons," Rei Ao said, his voice firm yet comforting. "But if your instinct to kill only manifests against your enemies, then what's wrong with embracing it?"

He walked up to Saeko, gently lifting her chin so that their eyes met.

"If you can't find enemies to fight, then become my blade. My enemies will be your enemies."

Saeko's eyes glistened with emotion. Her body, her mind—everything felt as though it had been reshaped by Rei Ao. She realized she was a blade, capable of losing control, but all she needed was someone to wield her.

And that person was Rei Ao.

"Please, Rei Ao-kun, let me become your blade," she whispered.

The chat system chimed with a new notification.

[Ding! Saeko Busujima has initiated a trade!]

[Trade Offer]: Until total exhaustion.

[Conditions]: Select your terms.

"Does becoming my blade really excite you that much? Then let's begin," Rei Ao grinned.

[Ding! Trade initiated!]

[Trade Partner]: Saeko Busujima

[Trade Offer]: Until total exhaustion.

[Terms]: "Blade of Energy," "Unlimited Physical Usage Rights."

[Time Limit]: Until the trade is fulfilled.

"Ayame, head inside," Rei Ao ordered.

"Y-Yes, my lord," Ayame replied, her face flushed, as she hurried back into the house.

~~~

I am exhausted... It's hard translating with one hand... 🤚🗿🤚

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