Chapter 14 — Blessings of the Goddesses
At that moment, a group of mahjong girls had surrounded Amae Koromo, asking with wide, curious eyes, “Koromo, what kind of reward did you get?”
Koromo paused for a moment, her expression puzzled as she replied, “The reward I received was an increase of two levels to my supernatural ability, and… my supernatural ability has apparently manifested physically.”
“Koromo doesn’t really understand what that means. I think… I need to try it out first.”
The entire group immediately followed her out of the room and into the courtyard.
Amae Koromo activated her ability—and everyone clearly saw it.
Behind her tiny body, a massive full moon appeared, shining brilliantly across the sky.
The surroundings warped as though the area had transformed into a shimmering ocean under moonlight.
In the distance, a huge boulder turned into an illusionary “moon reflected on the sea.”
Then—from the luminous moon behind Koromo—two enormous black hands descended from the heavens, piercing through the sea-like illusion and reaching toward the “moon on the water.”
The massive hands gripped the boulder tightly—
—CRACK!
The stone shattered instantly like fragile glass.
A moment later, the illusion vanished, and the courtyard returned to normal—except the enormous boulder was now reduced to a pile of dust on the ground.
Ryuumonbuchi Touka stared in disbelief.
“Koromo… is that what they mean by your supernatural ability manifesting physically?”
Amae Koromo placed her hands on her waist and puffed out her chest proudly.
“Correct! That is Koromo’s power! Well? Isn’t it amazing?”
“Sugoi!!”
Everyone around her reacted with stunned admiration.
Meanwhile, from the ceiling rafters, Shigure Kōsaka slowly descended, speaking softly behind Fūrinji Miu.
“Miu, what reward did you receive?”
Fūrinji Miu nearly jumped out of her skin.
“Shigure-sensei! Don’t appear out of nowhere like that! I almost died from shock!”
“Reward? What reward are you talking about?”
“Hm? So you know about the rewards? That means… you also have a Diary?”
Shigure slipped her hand into the opening of her kimono and pulled out her own copy of the Diary.
Seeing it, Miu relaxed, smiling in relief.
“So Shigure-sensei has one too! Thank goodness!”
Shigure tilted her head gently.
“Miu-chan, you still haven’t told me what reward you obtained.”
Miu’s expression brightened with confidence.
“Sensei, would you like to test it yourself?”
Shigure unsheathed her kusarigama and nodded.
“Very well. It seems you’re satisfied with your reward.”
“I’d like to see what made you so confident.”
Miu grinned.
“Then… please be prepared, Shigure-sensei.”
The moment she finished speaking, she flicked her wrist—
a spark burst from her fingertips, forming a blade of fire slicing through the air.
Shigure’s eyes widened slightly before her figure vanished, reappearing behind Miu without making a sound.
Moments later, an intense battle erupted across the courtyard.
The explosive impacts and bursts of energy echoed loudly, drawing the attention of all the Ryozanpaku masters.
Sakaki Shio stroked his chin.
“Miu-chan can fight evenly with Shigure? That’s unbelievable.”
Ma Kensei nodded.
“It is surprising. Didn’t you notice? Miu’s strikes now contain flames.”
Apachai Hopachai swung the small braids atop his head excitedly.
“Apachai, Apachai! Miu-chan became stronger!”
Meanwhile, Fūrinji Hayato folded his arms, watching his granddaughter seriously.
Among everyone there, he understood Miu’s talent and potential the best.
Though gifted, she had not reached a level capable of shocking the world—that was why they planned to train Shirahama Kenichi.
But now?
Her power had skyrocketed so suddenly and dramatically that Hayato couldn’t help feeling stunned—and suspicious.
At the same time, at the airport, Mine Fujiko took a deep breath, her brows lifting in fascination.
“How interesting. So this is the kind of reward granted.”
Elsewhere in Shinjuku, Rui Kisugi walked down the street with a faint smile forming on her lips.
“What a delightful reward.”
“It seems… perfectly suited for me.”
The other women who possessed copies of the Diary couldn’t help wondering:
What exactly were the rewards everyone else received?
The Diary answered immediately—
new lines appeared in every copy simultaneously.
— — —
【Mōri Ran: Received double physical strength and double martial arts ability. In addition, the physical enhancement applies to her entire body, including a doubled lifespan.】
【Fūrinji Miu: Received doubled physical strength and the supernatural ability “Crimson Flame,” Level 5.】
【Amae Koromo: Received the supernatural ability “Sea Bottom Moon” in fully manifested form, Level 5.】
【Mine Fujiko: Received the supernatural ability “Gale Step” (Level 5), allowing her to move at five times the speed and granting five minutes of invisibility.】
【Rui Kisugi: Received the supernatural ability “Empress Eye” (Level 5), enabling her to foresee events five minutes into the future and freeze time around enemies depending on their power level.】
【Koizumi Akako: Received three “Golden Cores of Fifth Transcendence.” Each core extends life by ten years, preserves youth, and increases magical power by one tier.】
— — —
As the list unfolded, every woman reading it subconsciously drew a sharp breath.
The more detailed the abilities became, the more astonished they felt.
They couldn’t help being overwhelmed with envy—and imagining what it would feel like to obtain power like that.
At first, Mōri Ran’s reward of “double physical strength” had seemed the simplest.
But once they read the additional note—that the enhancement included a doubled lifespan—
Everyone froze.
If Ran was originally meant to live for a hundred years…
now she could live two hundred?
And the other rewards were equally astonishing—
every supernatural ability granted was already at Level 5!
From a distance, Misaka Mikoto watched with widening eyes.
She remembered how weak she had been when she first awakened her power…
and how long, difficult, and painful the path had been until she finally reached Level 5: the Railgun.
In Academy City, with millions of residents, there were only seven Level 5 espers.
That alone proved the extreme rarity of such strength.
But now?
Just a reward—
a single reward—
and someone obtained a Level 5 ability instantly.
And it seemed this was only the beginning.
So far, no one received anything below Level 5.
Could there be…
Level 6?
Or even Level 7 someday?
The mere thought made Misaka Mikoto tremble.
Meanwhile, Rui Kisugi’s “Empress Eye” was even more terrifying.
A time-based ocular ability?
Predicting the future five minutes ahead…
Freezing time around enemies…
With a power like that—
who in the world could possibly defeat her?
— — —
Which name sounds better for a country in a novel?
1. Land of K, 2. K-Nation, 3. Country K
Let me know your choice in the comments.