After confronting [Taurus] in an attempt to stop him from making Chen a soldier once again, he gave me the conditions on my upcoming [soldier challenge]. In our next fight, if I win against him, he’ll leave Chen alone but if I lose, Chen will become a soldier again and also, I can never again participate in the [Soldier Challenge] and become a soldier.

Today, just after high noon, Honoka and I decided to go to a [weapon specialist]. We need to learn what her [ability] is before challenging [Taurus].

“But I wonder if my [ability] is related to that incident," Honoka muttered while walking beside me.

The incident where she became a level 70 [beast weapon] all of a sudden while fighting [Taurus], huh.

“I think it is. That is why learning about your true [ability] might be the key to our victory,” I answered.

"So Raiki, do you know where we can find a [weapon specialist]?" Honoka asked.

"Yeah. I asked some residents and they said that I can find it around here."

"Is that...it?" she asked after pointing to a pure white building. There's a signage with writings [weapon clinic] on top of its door.

"So this is the place," I whispered.

We then entered after knocking thrice and saw that the place is no different from an ordinary house. There’s a sofa, tables, furniture, small lamps and other household materials.

“Is this...really a clinic?” I reacted while looking around the house.

“Maybe we should wait outside. It feels like we’re intruding someone else’s home without permission,” Honoka said in an anxious expression.

“Is this your first time in a [weapon clinic]?” a girl suddenly said after appearing.

“Y-yes,” Honoka replied nervously.

It is a girl around mid twenties, wearing yellow long sleeves and black straight skirt. She has the charm of a mature woman that can make anyone entranced.

“Is this perhaps your house?” I asked.

“Yes. Anyway, have a seat. I’ll prepare you two a tea so wait here for a bit,” she said and went towards the kitchen.

Honoka and I decided to sit on the sofa and after a while, the girl served us a cup of tea. After we had a sip, she started the conversation.

“You see, almost all the people who go to a [weapon clinic] only wants consultation. That is why it became a tradition to make all the [weapon clinics] look like an ordinary house to make anyone at ease. Of course, there are cases where some go here after getting some strange curses and unusual [weapon form] deterioration so if that’s the case, we will go to the [treatment room] found at the back of this house.”

“I see,” Honoka replied.

“I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Marriah, a [weapon specialist]," she said with a smile.

"My name is Raiki," I followed with the same expression.

"I'm Honoka. Nice to meet you," Honoka followed in a somewhat slightly nervous look.

Is there a problem with your [weapon]?” Marriah asked to me.

I’m surprised that she knows that I’m the [wielder]. As expected to a [weapon specialist].

“The truth is I just want to know what her [ability] is,” I responded.

“Do you have any idea what is it?” Marriah questioned.

“No. But there’s a strange thing that happened to her when we battled [Taurus].”

“So what happened when you battled our Empire Lord?” she furthered ask.

“Her level suddenly increased,” I answered.

“I see. Anyway, to know your [ability], you should first transform into a [beast weapon]. After that, leave the rest to me,” she said to Honoka and made a smile.

“Raiki,” Honoka said with a serious expression.

“I got it. [Honoka],” I muttered and she transformed into a katana on my left hand.

Marriah stood up and stopped before me. She then knelt down the floor and stared at the katana that I'm holding with my left hand.

“Then, I’ll be examining your [weapon] now,” Marriah said as she looks up to me who is still sitting in the sofa. She then looked at [Honoka] and started touching the blade.

(!)

“Is something wrong?” I asked to Honoka.

(It's...nothing.)

“What a fine blade,” she said and glided her fingers from the top to the bottom of the blade's back.

(Uhhh!) Honoka reacted, like she moaned out of sudden pleasure.

“Honoka?” I asked, curious about that sudden reaction of hers.

(My voice...ahhh~. I can't...control it...)

Marriah's gentle touch slowly became a vigorous rub. She alternated her pace and even changed the direction of her fingers movements from time to time. Because of this, Honoka's moans became louder and clearer.

(If this continues...ahhhh~....I'll...lose my mind!)

"M-marriah! Honoka is...acting weird!" I said with widened eyes.

"Hmmmm~. How is she?" Mariah replied without stopping her hand.

"It's like...she's in ecstasy."

(That's not...ahhhhhhhh~)

"Don't worry. This will be over soon," she muttered and licked her lips.

"Is this really necessary?” I asked, confused.

"Yes. This is what I usually do to know the [weapon]'s [ability]," she replied with a strange gleam on her eyes without averting her gaze from [Honoka].

"I...see," I whispered and looked at [Honoka].

"Honoka, I recommend you to call your [wielder]. That way, you can stop producing those strange voices unintentionally," Marriah continued and rubbed the blade faster.

"Can you hear Honoka's voice too?" I asked, surprised.

"Of course not. I just know what she should be feeling right now."

(Ahhhh~...Brother!)

“Honoka?” I reacted, not expecting that call.

(Brother...brother...brother...brother!)

Why am I getting embarrassed at a time like this?

(Brother...ahhh~. Don't...let go of me...ahhh~!)

"Y-yeah," I replied and tightened my grip on the hilt.

"And for the finale," Marriah whispered and started licking the blade.

"M-Marriah?" I reacted with an extremely surprised expression.

(No~~~. That's...if this continues, I'll...I'll...)

“Honoka?” I called, now with a red face because of a somewhat obscene scene that is happening before me.

(Raiki...I'm...I'm...)

“Don't tell me...that...you're gonna...”

(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~~~~~~)

"!"

"It's done. Sorry for the wait," Marriah said after stopping and went back to her seat in front of us. She then brought out a white handkerchief and wiped her mouth like she just finished eating a meal.

Honoka then transformed back to normal in a lying position, making my legs as her head pillow.

"Honoka," I reacted with a worried face after seeing her unconscious.

"She's fine. Just a little tired because of the check-up," Marriah said with a smile.

"A-anyway, do you know her [ability] now?" I asked, trying my best to hide my embarrassment.

"It's the [ability] [Shadow of Flames]," Marriah answered with a serious smile.

"Shadow...of flames?" I asked, being clueless to the [ability].

Is it just me or I already heard that before?

“Simply put...it is both the strongest and the weakest [ability] of all [weapon] that uses [fire magic],” she explained with a smile. "The level of your opponent's [beast weapon] will be the level of [Honoka]. If you're battling someone without a [beast weapon], it will just function as an ordinary weapon."

"So that is the reason why her level is zero when we battled Ciana and Aria," I muttered to myself.

"Do you have other questions?" Marriah asked.

"Can't she use any [special attacks] if she's not battling a fellow [beast weapon]?"

"That's right. That's the weakness of [Shadow of Flames]."

"Thank you, Marriah. That's all I want to know."

"I'm looking forward to your accomplishments from now on, Raiki," she muttered with a smile. “But by the way...”

“Hmmm?” I responded with a curious look on what she’ll gonna say.

She then stood up suddenly from sitting and slowly went before me. Afterwards, she drew in her face towards mine and whispered, “Do you also want to take my personal check-up?”

Then, my face went instantly red and immediately averted my gaze.

“I guess...I’ll pass for today,” I shyly replied.