"I'm sorry, but I must pass on any weapons meant for two-handed use after all. They simply don't pair well with the Giga Scissors."
"Well, I thought as much. They're good weapons, I'm sure, but they just aren't for you."
It was an expected outcome. Since Marcos used a massive shield like the Giga Scissors, everyone understood that trying to wield a second weapon alongside it was a tall order.
While the group agreed his judgment was sound, Elena began rummaging through her collection again, her second proposal having been rejected.
"Mmm...! Then just wait a second! Um, I’m pretty sure that one was right around here...!"
"...Hey, Marcos. Are you okay?"
"...What about?"
"I can't quite put my finger on it, but you look a bit pale. You aren't acting like yourself."
While waiting for Elena to produce the next item, Yugo spoke up, unable to ignore Marcos’s demeanor.
He couldn't translate the feeling into words, but there was an uncharacteristic air about his friend. When Yugo voiced his concern, Marcos remained silent and averted his eyes.
Something was definitely wrong. Yugo felt his unease swell at the lack of a response and prepared to press him further, but Elena chose that exact moment to present the third weapon.
"Ta-da! How about this? It’s a Tessen crafted from a variety of monster materials, not just Poruru's!"
Elena pulled out a folding fan that was nearly two sizes larger than a standard one.
Upon closer inspection, the ribs—normally made of wood—were forged from metal and various other monster materials. When Fee took it from her, he nearly buckled under the surprising weight of the iron fan.
"Whoa! This is actually really heavy!"
"Heh, looks interesting! Alright, let’s give it a whirl!"
"...Hmm, that’s strange. Why do I feel like there’s something off about the way my brother is talking...?"
Yugo was worried about Marcos, but he didn't want to ruin the mood of the group.
He decided to act a bit more boisterous than usual, hoping that behaving like an idiot would bait Marcos into retorting with his usual bite.
While Yugo performed a series of strikes against the training dummy Poruru had prepared, his companions shared their impressions.
"So weapons like that exist too. How fascinating."
"It is quite beautiful to behold, much like the Twin Swords from before, I daresay!"
"It feels more like a Hidden Weapon to me. Though it might be a bit too large for that..."
Those observations came from Setsuna, Sakura, and Raiha, respectively. As the three girls were well-acquainted with the culture of folding fans, they seemed to appreciate the aesthetic design that doubled as camouflage.
On the other hand, Melt and Anhel were more interested in its mechanical utility.
"This is great! You can use it like a baton while it’s closed, then snap it open to catch an enemy’s attack with the ribs!"
"The structural integrity is solid, too. And you can trigger the mechanism just by infusing it with Magic Power? That’s incredibly convenient...!"
Melt and Anhel were impressed by the Tessen's versatility—it was manageable and easy to swing when folded, yet capable of guarding against attacks and catching an opponent off guard when deployed.
As the Children Group nodded in agreement with their analysis, Yugo finished his Mock Performance and glanced over to see how Marcos was taking it.
"..."
Marcos hadn't moved an inch. He stood there with a grim expression, looking as stiff as a statue.
He had clearly been watching Yugo swing the fan, however, as his gaze remained fixed on his friend.
"H-Hey, Marcos? Are you sure you're alright? You really are acting weird, man."
"No... I am fine. But forgive me. I think I shall go get some fresh air."
"Ah...!"
Snapped out of his trance by Yugo’s comment, Marcos shook his head and spoke.
As Elena watched his retreating back leave the Workshop, she looked visibly crestfallen.
"...Did Marcos not like my choice? Did he think it looked weak?"
"No, it’s not that! He’s just in a weird headspace right now! It’s not like the weapon you picked was bad, Elena—"
"It isn't that he thought your choice was weak. It's just that he likely didn't see it as a good fit for his style."
"Lord Ryuga! Read the room a little...!!"
Yugo tried his best to console the dejected girl, but Ryuga cut straight through the conversation.
Despite his younger sister’s frantic interjection, he ignored her and continued to give Elena his blunt assessment.
"That Tessen is a fine weapon, but it lacks reach. And while it has power, it’s only impressive by the standards of a Hidden Weapon. It’s slightly out of alignment with what Marcos actually needs."
"Ugh..."
"Ryuga-dono, I believe you should choose your words more carefully, I daresay. Elena-dono worked very hard to select these for us..."
"...No. What Ryuga is saying is true. I don't think I was properly considering what Marcos really needed."
Elena sighed, deflated by Ryuga’s harsh but accurate logic.
However, Anhel noticed a spark of renewed determination in the girl’s eyes. She flashed a small smile and stepped forward.
"...I'll help you look next time. Let’s come up with something that’ll blow that guy's mind when he gets back."
"Yeah, exactly! If we put our heads together, I’m sure we can find the perfect weapon for him!"
"Everyone...! Thank you...!!"
"Kani, kanii...!!"
Elena offered her heartfelt thanks to Anhel and the others for their support.
While the Girls Group began to bustle with excitement over the next plan, Ryuga started walking toward the Workshop exit.
"H-Hey. Where are you going, Ryuga? And don't you dare give me that 'don't ask' line!"
"Haha, don't worry. I’m just going to get some fresh air myself."
Ryuga gave a small laugh and raised a hand in a wave as he slipped out of the Workshop.
Yugo watched him go, tilting his head in confusion at the strange behavior of his friends.