"Those who have nothing will gain nothing. Those who are meant to have will gain much."

  — Konro Sagamiya, Fire Force

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  "If Saeko hadn't been strohan that Stray Priest, Freed," Roy mused, "and without the others' help, he would have escaped, even if defeat was iable."

  Even so, the i proved how powerful those ons were. Rika had often sidered that such a fighting style would be perfect for her.

  She was already a skilled sharpshooter, and her swordsmanship, learned from Saeko, was fairly det. If she could master the bined use of guns and swords in bat, her strength would dramatically increase.

  To her surprise, Roy had gifted her these neons without her even asking.

  Overjoyed, Rika jumped up and gave Roy a quick pe the cheek. "Thank you, Roy! I absolutely love them!"

  "I'm gd you like them," Roy replied with a warm smile.

  Rika had been struggling to find her pce. When it came to swordsmanship, she couldn't surpass Saeko or Roy. In magic, she was less profit than Alid Saya.

  Shizuka and Asia were the experts in healing. Only Yuriko was weaker, but even Yuriko, despite her current limitations, had greater ialent.

  That's why Roy had formuted a pn when he entered Freed.

  "gratutions, Rika!" Shizuka excimed, pulling Rika into a warm embrace.

  "Rika-ry them out!" Alice, her eyes shining with curiosity, urged Rika to test the neons.

  Rika, eager to do just that, looked to Roy for approval.

  "Let's head to the training room, then," Roy agreed.

  Everyone eagerly made their way to the training room.

  "Rika, pay close attention. Here's how you use these ons..."

  Ihe training room, Roy demonstrated the proper way to wield the gun and sword.

  Rika eled her magito the sword hilt, and with a sharp *shing*, a bck bde extended outwards. With a casual swing, she sliced a massive training boulder ly in two, as effortlessly as cutting through tofu.

  "Wow, it's incredibly sharp!" Rika excimed, her eyes wide with amazement.

  "Hehe, this energy sword is far superior to that Stray Priest's," Roy expined, his arms crossed with a touch of pride. He had acquired these ons with his sister's assistahey were far more powerful than Freed's.

  "Really? I love it even more now!" Rika decred, examining the energy sword with admiration. This Darkness-aligned bde wouldn't be outmatched by Freed's Light Sword.

  The pistol was equally impressive. eling her magito it would gee Darkness bullets.

  The irls watched with envy, longing for such powerful ons of their own.

  Notig their envious expressions, Roy felt a pang of sympathy. It wasn't that he didn't want to provide them with ons, but they were all still novice magic users, and such powerful tools would be beyond their trol.

  "Don't worry, everyone," Roy reassured them. "You'll all receive your own gifts eventually! But for now, I have something important to discuss."

  Ba the feren, Roy addressed everyone.

  The girls settled down, their attention focused on Roy.

  "I'm pnning to take Saeko with me on a journey," Roy announced. "Rika, I'll leave things here in your capable hands."

  The girls were surprised by this sudden annou.

  "Is it something important?" Shizuka asked, evident in her voice.

  "Yes, it's very important," Roy firmed. "But don't worry, we might be back within a day."

  Saya, her analytical mind at work, had a suspi. Adjusting her gsses, she asked, "Roy, are you going to another world? Like when you went to the world of *Highschool of the Dead*?"

  Roy was momentarily taken aback. "Eh? How did you know?" He hadn't expected Saya to deduce his iions so accurately.

  Since Saya had already figured it out, Roy decided to be upfront. "You're right, Saya. I'm taking Saeko to another world to seek opportuo bee stronger. You all stay here and tinue your training."

  "If all goes well, we might be ba the blink of an eye!" After all, his previous trip to the world of *Highschool of the Dead* had only taken a few seds in this world. He hoped this trip would be simir.

  *It's all because of this useless system, without even a system spirit to guide me,* Roy grumbled internally.

  "I want to go too!" Rika excimed, eager to put her neons to use. She expertly twirled the pistol in her hand with a fident grin.

  "Me too, me too!" Shizuka chimed in, her hand raised high. "As Roy-'s maid, I must apany him on his travels!"

  "As the strategist," Saya decred, puffing out her chest, "my analytical skills are indispensable in an unfamiliar world!"

  Alice, Yuriko, and Asia, though they didn't speak, looked at Roy with pleading eyes.

  Only Saeko remained quiet, a serene smile grag her lips as she observed the se.

  Roy, faced with this enthusiastic response, chuckled. "e on, everyohis isn't a vacation. I 't take all of you with me. Besides, the pce we're going to is quite dangerous."

  His words brought a hush over the room. They knew he was right; they were simply not strong enough yet.

  "Don't worry," Roy said, his voice softening. "Focus on yic training, and you'll bee strooo."

  After reassuring the girls, Roy wasted no time. He activated the system's world-travel fun.

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