Ais struggled to breathe as cold sweat flowed down her forehead. She couldn't even think properly due to the immense fear battering her mind right now. However, strangely enough, even though she could feel her knees weakening, she was just frozen on the spot as she stared at Kisuke's gleaming cold eyes.
The former smiling face was nowhere to be found and Ais thought that she was in front of an entirely different person, but with the same face. She couldn't understand why he was doing this nor could she understand how so much killing intent can manifest from someone to the point of immobilizing someone like her.
Seeing her panicking, Kisuke asked again, "What are you going to do?"
Thanks to this question, Ais' mind was able to get back to the real issue, 'What am I going to do?' She then finally recalled the terrible strength of the man who defeated the strengthened Balor and the fact that she couldn't even react when there was already a blade on her neck. She realized, 'E-everyone... Everyone is in danger!'
'B-because of me prying into his secrets... Everyone will...' And with tears threatening to fall from her eyes, Ais pleaded, "P-please... Please don't hurt everyone!"
While maintaining his cold exterior, Kisuke was already feeling a little guilty, 'If Yoruichi were to see us like this, I would surely get a smack in the head. However, thanks to this, I was able to accurately gauge her current state of mind. In hindsight, Aria-san helped me... Though I still wonder, I thought that she wouldn't be able to do anything in her current state. I guess I don't know that much about Spirits.'
For the third time, Kisuke asked, "As I said, what are you going to do after knowing this?"
"I...I d-don't know..." Ais replied with a fearful expression.
In response, however, Kisuke released a bit of his Reiatsu-Ki pressure on Ais which made her heart jump and pupils dilate, "!!!?"
'I-I have to say something...!' After a few tortuous seconds which felt as if they were hours, Ais muttered, "I-I will not tell anyone about this!"
Even she knew that this was not the answer that Kisuke was looking for, but she had to at least say something after being asked three times. This would also give her precious time to think of a better answer when he asked again.
However, contrary to her expectations, the pressure and killing intent that she was feeling suddenly disappeared. The next thing she knew, Kisuke was already sheathing the transformed blade back to the cane, "...Eh?"
Kisuke looked at her and gave her a big smile, "What? You already gave me an answer."
"B-but..." Before she could finish her words, however, Ais' knees gave out and her butt fell onto the chair as she struggled to get air to breathe. It was only now that she realized that she was covered in a cold sweat and her attire was pretty much soaked from it.
Kisuke only quietly sipped his tea as he waited for Ais to calm down. A few minutes had elapsed and Ais was able to gather her bearings. She then looked towards Kisuke and asked, "...Why?"
Kisuke stared at her eyes and she jumped in her seat slightly. Fear in her eyes was still apparent but Kisuke pretended to not to notice it, "What do you mean by that?"
After hesitating for a few seconds, Ais continued, "...By not telling anything about what I discovered today... Just that?"
Kisuke set down his cup of tea on the table, "Are you saying that you won't abide by what you said?" Ever so slightly, Kisuke released his bloodlust on Ais again.
"O-of course not!" Ais hurriedly shook her head, "I promise I won't tell anyone about this!"
"Then it's fine~."
"B-but why...? Why did you let me off with just that? I know it's my fault for trying to pry too deeply into your secrets... But why?"
"Because you already understand what could happen if it were to come out." Kisuke stared down on her, "You do, right?"
Ais hurriedly nodded her head.
"As for why I'm hiding my strength, I have my reasons, but I don't have any obligation to reveal that to you, in case you're wondering and wanted to ask."
Ais only stayed silent as she looked down.
"Now that we're done and you already got the answer that you want, let's leave it like this today." Kisuke was about to clean up the table, however, Ais suddenly asked, "Can you tell me what's your real level? It should be at least Level 7 or 8... Or maybe even Level 9? Like those in the legends?"
Ais already suspected that Kisuke was hiding his Level the day she lost to him. And the same with the girls of the Loki Familia, everyone, including Riveria, thought that everyone from the Hestia Familia were hiding their level. However, they didn't want to ask as it was their Familia's private affair.
"What are you talking about? I'm just a Level 2~." Ais hurriedly looked up in shock and saw Kisuke's grinning face, "I never lied about my Level~."
"...B-but t-that's impossible!"
"Why not? Want me to show my back to you?"
Ais immediately shook her head. She was still afraid of Kisuke so she didn't want to request anything unnecessary and chose to believe him, "B-but how?"
"How? Did you think that the only way to get stronger is to receive Falna from a Deity?"
Ais obediently nodded her head.
"That's what most people believe. But think about this, how did the people of the past survive the waves of monsters before even the Gods descended to this world? Since the Gods hadn't descended, how were the people going to receive a Falna to defend themselves?"
Ais' eyes widened as she hadn't thought of this before, just like any other normal Adventurer. Due to how convenient and widespread the Falna of today was and the fact that all you have to do is to keep fighting to get stronger, almost everyone already forgot that the people defended themselves without it in the past.
"Thanks to the Spirits?" Ais guessed. She hadn't noticed it, but her fear of Kisuke was slowly fading away. More than fear, Ais felt like trusting him more.
"There's that, but just how many Spirits would you need to protect everyone with the monsters running rampant throughout the whole world? Of course, those people also had to do something to protect themselves."
"If it's not Falna or any blessing, then how?"
"Potential," Kisuke answered simply. His inner teacher's personality was slowly coming out.
"Potential?"
"Yep, potential." Kisuke nodded, "People back then had to find out what they were good at and they had to try to figure out, how they could help to defend themselves and those important to them."
"In an attempt to copy the Spirit's abilities, people learned magic through countless trial and error. While most of them failed, those who succeeded established the basis for magic usage."
"In an attempt to match the monsters' strength, people also had to train their bodies to the limit. While most of them also failed, thanks to those who succeeded first, it became easier for future generations to know whether or not you have what it takes to strengthen your body to the limit."
"But even with people like them, they were still on the losing side of the war, so leaders who could lead everyone to victory came out one by one. They might be weak in magic or not as strong as those in the frontlines, however, they had the capacity to see the bigger picture and direct a path to victory for everyone."
"Of course, not everyone could use magic, get a stronger body, nor could they become leaders. But that doesn't mean they didn't do anything to help out. It were from these people that craftsmen, doctors, and the likes were born, supporting everyone who was battling."
"It was this group of people that helped those who could fight to use their full might. It was also thanks to them that the life of the people became easier."
"And why do you think that was possible? It was because of their potential. It was the people's potential that led them to such great heights. Through hard work and unimaginable trials, these people polished themselves like a gem, bringing out their potential."
"...I see... That makes sense!" Ais muttered with shining eyes.
"Of course, I haven't been in this period of time nor was I able to read records about this. All of this is just my speculations after piecing together small pieces of information. So don't take my words that seriously." Kisuke only told Ais all about this because of his strange habit of wanting to teach what he knows to others, whether it was for good or bad intentions.
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Editors:
28th00: That was some mean bulli time right there, time to make up for it.
Alexander: I agree, give her some headpats.
Ja A