Chapter 219: A Strange Seaside Experiment

Half an hour later, on a private beach somewhere in Hakodate City.

Looking at the two story detached villa before them, along with the golden beach stretching out in every direction, with no other houses in sight besides this single villa, Yuuki Asuna and Kato Megumi could not help exclaiming once again,

"Just how rich is your family...?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Not especially rich. At the very least, not as rich as the Shinomiya Group."

Hearing Iwanaga Kotoko say that, Yuuki Asuna truly did not know how to respond.

Not as rich as the Shinomiya Group. Was that not perfectly normal?

After all, in terms of sheer financial power, that was the number one family business in Japan. The fact that Iwanaga Kotoko’s first instinct was to compare herself to the Shinomiya Group was already proof enough of how wealthy her family was.

"It’s mainly because my parents are very indulgent toward me. As long as my request is reasonable, they’ll fulfill it. For example..."

Iwanaga Kotoko ran over and hugged Asagiri’s arm, smiling sweetly.

"My first seaside date with my dearest boyfriend. That’s a perfectly reasonable request."

Yuuki Asuna hesitated for a moment before asking,

"This villa... it wasn’t bought just now, was it?"

"Of course not."

Hearing that answer, before Yuuki Asuna and Kato Megumi could even finish sighing in relief, they heard her add with a smile,

"Still, my family owns properties in pretty much every city in Japan. Hakodate is by the sea and doesn’t have as many people as Yokohama, so it counts as a resort city. If I remember right, there should be more than one villa here. Maybe three or four? I can’t remember clearly. But that isn’t important."

Iwanaga Kotoko immediately reached out and grabbed Asagiri’s jacket. Asagiri was so startled by her sudden movement that he blurted out,

"Hey, little girl, what are you doing? Megumi and Asuna are still right here. You’re way too thirsty."

"Take it off, take it off. Hurry up and take it off. I want to see you in your swim trunks."

"I don’t mind, but..."

Asagiri gently caught hold of Iwanaga Kotoko’s fair wrist and replied with a light smile,

"This is the first time I’ll be seeing you girls in swimsuits, and it’s also the first time you’ll be seeing me in one. Don’t you think the most perfect first impression should happen under a bright, sunny sky? It’s already dark now. If we do it tonight, won’t that leave some regret in our first impression?"

Iwanaga Kotoko listened with an unusually serious expression. Then she nodded.

"Hmm, that does make sense. Alright then. We’ll wait until tomorrow."

Watching that scene, Yuuki Asuna could not help smiling as she said softly,

"We haven’t had dinner yet, so everyone must be hungry, right? Are there ingredients in the villa? I’ll go make something..."

"Wait a moment."

Asagiri cut her off and said with a smile,

"There’s something I need your help with. Ever since I got Blood Burst last time, I still haven’t tested it once, so I have no idea how much it actually boosts my physical abilities. I need you to help me experiment..."

"What!?"

Iwanaga Kotoko’s face instantly filled with shock. Then her cheeks flushed, and she turned her head away as she muttered,

"It’s fine if it’s experimenting with you... but if all four of us do it together... that’s way too embarrassing..."

Yuuki Asuna looked speechless. She reached out and lightly tapped Iwanaga Kotoko on the head in exasperation.

"What exactly are you imagining? Any normal person would understand that Asagiri means sparring so he can test the effects of his new skill, right? Can you stop having all these weird, perverted thoughts? Asagiri, say something..."

Halfway through speaking, Yuuki Asuna turned to Asagiri, clearly expecting him to support her. What she did not expect, however, was to see an enlightened look appear on his face, as though he had just suddenly understood something.

"That’s right. Why didn’t I think of that? Testing skill effects doesn’t necessarily have to be done in combat. That kind of thing could work too."

Yuuki Asuna sighed helplessly first, then blushed and hurriedly said,

"You’re only realizing that now? Also, let’s make one thing clear, I can’t... I can’t help you test it like that..."

Iwanaga Kotoko also frowned and began thinking out loud,

"My physical ability is a bit too low. Even normal Asagiri is already difficult enough to deal with. If he uses Blood Burst on top of Human Asura’s enhancement... I’m afraid I’d actually be in mortal danger..."

"Huh?"

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Kato Megumi, who had been quietly looking at her phone until now, raised her head. Faced with the stares of Iwanaga Kotoko, Yuuki Asuna, and Asagiri, she wore a blank, absentminded expression.

"Me? You want me to go?"

...

Naturally, the final outcome was not Kato Megumi stepping in alone. Instead, she and Yuuki Asuna teamed up and sparred with Asagiri so he could test the effects of Blood Burst.

As for Iwanaga Kotoko, she sat off to the side on a beach chair, watching the match while acting as referee.

"One, two, three..."

Iwanaga Kotoko’s raised right hand dropped sharply, and with an eager, excited look, she shouted,

"Start!"

The instant Iwanaga Kotoko shouted, Yuuki Asuna had already drawn Gleaming Light and rushed straight at Asagiri. At the same time, Kato Megumi took out her newly acquired Bloodstained Nightingale Bow, clearly intending to use this chance to properly practice her new stealth archer combat style.

What happened next, however, was completely beyond their expectations.

"Thump, thump, thump..."

The veins in Asagiri’s neck began to bulge violently, and the sound of his heartbeat became so loud it was almost like a roar.

The next second, Yuuki Asuna saw only a blur flash before her eyes. By the time Asagiri’s figure became clear again, he was already less than two meters away from her.

"So fast!"

Yuuki Asuna’s pupils constricted sharply in shock. She wanted to thrust Gleaming Light forward, but the difference in speed between them was simply too great. Asagiri’s movement was even faster than the thoughts forming in her mind.

"Bang!"

Yuuki Asuna’s body was sent flying backward more than ten meters, crashing heavily into the soft sand. Even at full speed, with the astonishing defensive boost granted by the passive effect of Class Flash Blade, she still felt as though her whole body were coming apart, as if she had just slammed into a fully loaded truck.

In the distance, Kato Megumi had not expected that outcome either. She had originally been worrying about how to make sure any arrow she fired would not accidentally hit Yuuki Asuna once the close quarters fight began.

Well, now there was no longer any chance of that happening.

The material of the Bloodstained Nightingale Bow resembled some kind of blackened ebony. Dark red patterns were engraved across the bow’s frame, giving it a strange yet gorgeous air. The arrows that came with it were also made of the same dark ebony.

Kato Megumi drew a black arrow, aimed at Asagiri more than ten meters away, and loosed it without hesitation.

The black arrow seemed to carry some special power, flying without the slightest sound as it shot silently toward Asagiri’s chest.

Thud.

Kato Megumi had assumed Asagiri would dodge, but to her surprise, he casually caught the arrow in one hand, then tossed it aside.

"Alright, let’s stop the spar here."

Asagiri spoke with a smile as he walked over to Yuuki Asuna, who had just pushed herself back up. Concern filled his gaze.

"You’re not hurt, are you?"

"Don’t worry."

Yuuki Asuna brushed the sand from her clothes. Seeing the worry in Asagiri’s eyes, she responded with a gentle smile meant to reassure him.

"I’m not that fragile. Don’t underestimate me."

"Mm, that’s good."

Asagiri nodded with a smile before saying thoughtfully,

"Still, the effect of Blood Burst is even stronger than I imagined. If Human Asura’s enhancement is a ten, then Blood Burst is probably an eight, maybe even a nine."

Yuuki Asuna nodded, clearly still affected by what had just happened.

"Your burst speed just now was absurdly fast. My eyes and reaction speed couldn’t keep up at all. And on top of that, your strength and defense were enhanced too. You should be able to instantly kill most opponents with ease."

"Now we just have to wait for the five minute enhancement state to end and see how bad the so called weakened state is."

...

Five minutes later.

"Haa..."

Feeling as though all strength had suddenly been drained from his body, to the point that even breathing required effort, Asagiri could not help frowning. Yuuki Asuna noticed his expression change and immediately helped him sit down on a beach chair. Then she knelt in front of him, her delicate face filled with concern.

"Are you okay? Does it feel really bad?"

Asagiri gently patted her hand and reassured her with a smile.

"Mm, I’m fine. Standing and walking are no problem. Running would probably take some effort, though. As expected, that kind of explosive enhancement comes with a weakened state that really can’t be ignored. Now we just have to see how long it takes to recover."

Yuuki Asuna tucked her flaxen hair behind her ear and nodded obediently.

"Then I’ll go make dinner first. I’ll call you when it’s ready."

"Okay."

After Yuuki Asuna left, Asagiri lay back on the beach chair, feeling the cool evening breeze wash over him as he let out a long sigh.

"Now that I’m alone, it’s finally quiet and peaceful..."

The moment he said that, something cool pressed lightly against his cheek. Turning his head, he saw Kato Megumi standing there in casual shorts and a tank top, holding an ice cold can of Coca Cola beaded with condensation. The cool sensation had been the can pressed gently to his face.

At that moment, Kato Megumi wore that slightly displeased, mildly annoyed cute expression again as she complained softly,

"I’m still here."

"Sorry. This time I really didn’t notice you."

Asagiri raised a hand to take the Coca Cola from her, but she pulled it back, popped the tab open, then knelt beside him and held the can to his lips. A faint smile rested on her face.

"No need to get up. I’ll feed you."

.....

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I Became a Demon Sword and Traveled the Anime Worlds