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“And you see~ Here’s the interesting part~ Looking back, Eris has a pretty extreme aptitude level as well~”
“The same SS level as Liselotte? It’s Miss Eris, that’s only natural. She’s our Hyrule Menace, after all…!”

Rafinha boasted excitedly.

“No, no~ It’s the opposite end of the spectrum.”
“““Opposite?”””

Rafinha, Leone, and Liselotte asked back in unison.

“Yep! Aptitude level F! Her odds of success were even lower than one in a million~…! Undergoing conversion at such odds was essentially a death sentence, that’s why we don’t do it nowadays~ It would be a waste of resources. If someone has no aptitude, it’s better to utilize them in other departments~ I don’t know how it was back then, but forcefully processing someone with such low aptitude couldn’t have been standard~ It was as if they were trying to eliminate Eris~”

First Professor Vilkin spoke with a cheerful grin. Perhaps Inglis wasn’t the best person to judge, but his tone seemed somewhat inappropriate.

“Miss Eris…”

Rafinha voiced her concern.

“…So, because my initial aptitude was low, I can’t be fixed?”

Eris questioned, undeterred. She then placed her hand on Rafinha’s shoulder.

“It’s okay. That was the only option I had at the time, and look, here I am with all of you. Those odds mean nothing to me. Don’t worry about it.”
“O-okay…”

Rafinha appeared reassured.

“I guess so~ At the end of the day, what matters is that you succeeded~ Perhaps your low aptitude is why the density of your body tissues is uneven~ It’s evident your transformation into a Hyrule Menace was forced~ It might explain why you’re less durable compared to a being of similar nature~”
“…! I see, so I was the one at a disadvantage in that fight…”

Eris, who seemed unwavering before, now appeared slightly regretful, possibly recalling the incident where she was injured during the marriage proposal/battle with Duke of War Jeldegrīva.

“Well, since it’s just some uneven tissues, the repair should be relatively straightforward~”
“How long would it take?”
“About a month, I’d say~?”

That seemed like a lengthy period, but it was a realistic timeframe. The question now was whether to wait for Eris’ treatment to conclude or to return to Charalia and pick her up later. However, Professor Vilkin’s eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement.

“But, oh, but…! If you’re interested, how about extending that to a year or two and trying a new feature…?!”
“New feature…?!”
“Yep…! Sure, you were forcibly made into a Hyrule Menace~ And you’re somewhat patchy inside~ And you’re basically a relic from an experimental past, but~ Perhaps we can utilize those inconsistencies within you~ You know, turn a disadvantage into an advantage~? Finding a Hyrule Menace in your condition is rare, you know~”
“…I can’t quite tell if you’re complimenting me or making light of my situation.”

Eris sighed.

“I am complimenting you~ This could lead to you becoming something unprecedented among Hyrule Menaces~ My curiosity as a researcher is piqued by your case~ What do you think~?”

A year or two was considerably longer, but not necessarily unfeasible. However, it would mean Inglis and the others would need to head back to the Knight Academy. Ultimately, the decision rested with Eris.

Inglis personally did not view utilizing Eris, Ripple, or any other Hyrule Menaces for weaponization as leveraging her own strength but rather as relying on external aid. She preferred not to pursue this new feature.

If anything, Inglis aimed to enhance her personal abilities beyond what could be achieved with the aid of weaponized Hyrule Menaces. Setting higher aspirations wasn’t a negative, though.

“…what do you think?”

Eris directed the question towards Inglis.

“…will that make Miss Eris stronger too when she’s in human form?”
“That’s what you’re concerned about…?”
“The stronger you are, the more challenging the training we’ll have, so yes, it is important…! What do you say, Professor?”
“Hmm, I’m not entirely sure…? There’s a possibility that both of her forms might become stronger, but I wouldn’t count on it~ The new feature is primarily meant to enhance her when weaponized, after all~”
“If that’s the case, then I believe your perspective is the most crucial, Miss Eris.”
“…being stronger as a weapon implies you becoming stronger as well, does it not? Ultimately, you’re the only one who would wield us.”
“Well, I do acknowledge that I am likely the best suited for that role, but…”

The primary risk of employing a Hyrule Menace was its potential to drain the user’s life force, leading to their demise. Inglis, on the other hand, was exempt from this danger. For a Holy Knight, Hyrule Menaces represented the supreme sacrifice—defeating a formidable Prisma at the cost of their own life.

For Inglis, however, Hyrule Menaces simply became the most formidable tools at her disposal, with no adverse effects. Nonetheless, since Hyrule Menaces were sentient and typically resembled girls not much older than herself, Inglis felt as though she was receiving assistance from others. Engaging in combat with a Hyrule Menace didn’t feel like a one-on-one battle but rather a two-on-one scenario.

Should the need arise, and she had no alternative, she would resort to combat alongside a Hyrule Menace. However, if possible, she preferred to avoid it. This stance conflicted with Inglis’ dedication to refining her martial arts on her own terms. After all, a battle was truly equitable only when conducted one-on-one.