As Sieg looked on in stunned silence at the sudden proposal, Kuro continued speaking while erasing her makeshift blackboard.
"I can’t do this every day, of course, but unlike Anima, your fundamentals are solid, Sieg. I think you'll grow by leaps and bounds just by having me guide your general direction a few times a month."
The expression on Sieg's face as she listened was one of absolute gravity. I got the distinct impression that she had already decided to accept the offer then and there. However, she remained silent, hanging on Kuro's every word as if waiting for her to finish before giving an answer.
"…Besides that, it might be a good idea for you to come over to my place to train whenever your schedule allows."
"To your residence, Chrome-sama?"
"Yes. My Noin is a Technique Type and a close-range fighter, just like you, so I think the two of you would provide some healthy stimulation for each other. Plus, the girl who currently mentors Noin is there, too. If you’re interested, I’ll put in a word for you. You could learn quite a bit from her. She’s very caring and an excellent teacher, so I think she’d be perfect for you."
"…Is this someone I know?" I interjected.
Apparently, Noin had someone like a master or a teacher. I didn't recall ever hearing about such a person. Noin was on the younger side within Kuro’s Family, but her actual combat prowess was incredibly high; the list of people capable of instructing her had to be short.
Ein or Zwei seemed like the most likely candidates, but neither quite fit the image of a 'teacher' in my mind, so I decided to ask.
"No, you probably haven't met her yet, Kaito. She was out the last time you visited my home… Her name is Funf."
"Funf!? You mean the Count-class High-ranking Demon known as the Giant Soldier of the Castle Gate and the Master of Wrought Iron…?" Sieg gasped.
"You're well-informed, Sieg. Yes, that's the one. I'll let her know you might be coming, so feel free to visit if you're interested. She’s a kind, approachable girl, so there’s no need to be nervous."
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
"So, what do you say, Sieg? Would you like to study under me?"
"Yes! I would be honored! Please, I look forward to your guidance!"
Sieg agreed without a moment's hesitation. This had clearly been weighing on her mind, and seeing the catalyst for a solution finally appear made me as happy as if it were my own success.
That being said, I wondered what kind of person Funf was. Based on Kuro’s description, she sounded gentle and nurturing, but…
Almost the instant the thought of meeting her crossed my mind, another idea took root. Come to think of it, during Shiro's trial, I had received help from a staggering number of people. Many of them had joined the fight despite the risks, even though they didn't know me personally.
I had sent my thanks through Kuro and Alice, but I really wanted to thank them in person if possible. I had previously abandoned the idea because there were simply too many individuals to track down, but listening to this conversation made me reconsider. Perhaps visiting every single person was impossible, but surely I could manage to meet the Executives.
I wasn't entirely sure of the hierarchy within Kuro’s Family, but the numbers for the other factions were clear. I was already acquainted with all five of the War King's subordinates. For the Dragon King, there were the Four Great Magic Dragons; excluding Fafnir, that left three more. The World King had the Seven Princesses. I hadn't met any of them yet, but there were definitely seven.
The Phantasm King had the Ten Demons. I already knew Pandora and Catastro, so there were eight left to meet.
Counting my existing acquaintances, that made twenty-six people, plus the key members of Kuro’s Family. That was a manageable number to visit and offer my gratitude.
Of course, being Executives meant they were likely busy, and getting an appointment might be difficult… but I decided I would consult with the Six Kings about it later.
As I was lost in thought, Kuro lightly clapped her hands together with a bright smile.
"Now then, we can figure out the specifics of the schedule later. Kaito is back with us now, so let’s get back to playing in the ocean!"
"You're right. It’s a rare opportunity; it would be a waste not to enjoy it to the fullest."
I was grateful to Kuro for steering the conversation back to the fun. I naturally shifted my focus to the beach, nodding along after Sieg.
"Since we’re at the sea, we should play something you can only do here! Hehe, actually, I’ve done some thorough research into Otherworld sea games beforehand, so let's try one of those!"
"By Otherworld, you mean from your home world, Kaito? I'm looking forward to that," Sieg said excitedly.
"……"
While Kuro was in high spirits and Sieg was eager to try something new, I couldn't help but feel a mounting sense of dread.
Kuro was incredibly curious and often gathered information about Earth, but her sources were often questionable, leading to frequent and bizarre misunderstandings.
Rumor had it that she was the one behind that 'Super Exciting Battle Sport' from before. I could only pray that we weren't about to witness the birth of a new 'Super-Dimensional Sport.'