"…Teacher…," Shuhelia muttered.
It sounds like she has had a teacher. Seeing her behavior being much more respectful than her words, I feel like my body tensed up.
"That's a wonderful pledge, Shuhelia."
Helme appeared to be deeply moved after having heard her oath. Helme was cladding her body in a new attire that focused on water as it'd befit a Water Spirit of Everlasting Darkness. The silver fittings that were added to the water raiment were also spreading their silvery color across the fabric. The pretty, liquid metal on the rayment's surface blended with gradations of blue and bluish-black. And seemingly having used the military uniforms of Hina-san and Sana-san as reference, her attire also included something akin to epaulets.
Is the image here a shoulder strap? It's equipped with something adorable, looking similar to a jellyfish.
Either way, her new outfit immediately came with the function of emitting vapor-like sheets of water spray from the very start.
The boots she wore on her long and slender legs were new as well.
As I was checking out Helme's new fas.h.i.+on style, everyone, who had been observing the mock battle outside the fence, gathered around us.
With Muu hugging her, Eva looked just like a mother.
"I want to show Tiny Bobby to Muu-chan."
Eva added "Tiny" to Adombrally's nickname Bobby. Muu reacted to that "Tiny" part, nodding many times over. 1
Meanwhile Rebecca fixed up Muu's hair which was a mess. Kisara smiled gently at that while walking up to me.
"…Thank you very much…," Shuhelia answered while looking up to Helme.
However, her expression…was clearly different from when she stared at me, albeit not not full of animosity. Well, she did lose the battle against Helme. I suppose she's still salty, or rather, has her pride hurt over having lost unsightly. But, I can understand where she's coming from.
Right now, she hasn't extended her strings, but Helme can make plant bulbs bloom at her fingertips, and those bulbs are special.
Back then she used her to capture Shuhelia, and paralyzed her captive's whole body while making her put on an ecstatic expression.
"And please forgive me for my earlier, rude words," Shuhelia apologized to me.
"There's nothing to forgive. Don't mind it. You were captured by the one you fought. It's only natural for your att.i.tude and words to be th.o.r.n.y."
"…Thank you kindly for your understanding," Shuhelia smiled sweetly.
Seeing that, Helme's expression became somewhat strict. Her eyes were fixated on Shuhelia as she slowly spoke up, "…Can you show proof that your earlier words were no lie?"
Shuhelia replied, "I will――," and added while looking my way, "Your Majesty, please allow me to perform the Ceremony of a Spirit World Knight."
‘Your Majesty' again, huh? Shuhelia's att.i.tude has completely changed after I talked honestly to her.
"Shuhelia, it's not like I'm forcing you to change your way of addressing me, but I'm no majesty. I won't mind even if you simply call me Shuuya."
"Calling a great man with a mighty bloodline by just his name is asking too much…"
"Are you talking about the matter with Light Demon Lucival?"
"Yes. I suspect that you possess a bloodline equal or beyond Vampire G.o.d Lugnad, who has twelve directly under him. That is why I refer to you as majesty…"
I see. But I don't care much about ranks. Oh well, I guess I'll simply need to gradually teach her that over time.
"Okay, then feel free to call me as you want for starters. However, I am who I am. That's why I want you to understand that I dislike being addressed like that…got it?"
Shuhelia's eyebrows twitched upon my words where I inserted a small pause at the end. It seemed as though she interpreted it as having some sort of meaning in her own way.
"…Okay."
"So, that guy you're calling majesty is an ignorant man who doesn't even know what a Ceremony of Spirit World Knight is about, you see? Then again, your exchange with Adombrally should have already told you that I don't know much about the Spirit World in the first place, right?"
"Ah, now that you mention it…," Shuhelia muttered while staring at the ring with Adombrally in it.
"…The ceremony is…umm…I would like you to clear out the people first, if possible," Shuhelia timidly requests while letting her eyes wander across everyone.
"Me too?"
"Yes."
Helme too? Is the ceremony embarra.s.sing or something?
"Alright, everyone, I'm sorry but I'll surround us with my chains."
"Nn, roger."
"So Spirit World Knights have ceremonies, huh?"
"Aaahh," Ciel pointed a finger at me as if trying to tell me something, but Rebecca grabbed her hand. Muu, who was still being hugged by Eva, curiously looked at Ciel and tried to touch the b.u.t.terflies fluttering around Ciel's shoulder.
"It seems so. All of you, let us separate from His Excellency and Shuhelia." Helme dispersed water in the vicinity, creating a rainbow.
Seeing that rainbow, Muu's attention s.h.i.+fted towards Helme. She pulled away from Eva's chest, and hopping on her live leg and using her wooden spear as a cane, she swiftly headed over to Helme.
"Nn, lost to Spirit-sama."
"The Spirit World Knight is going to be all alone with Shuuya-sama…"
"Kisara-san, it'll be fine."
"But…"
Even after hearing Rebecca's calming words, Kisara still tries to talk back. It looks like she still doesn't trust Shuhelia.
Kisara looked my way, her eyes being filled with the question whether I'll be alright. I answered her worries by smiling at her with the idea of showing my feelings that it was clear what would happen if Shuhelia fought me on my face.
After whispering a confirmation, Kisara answered with a smile of her own.
And thus everyone distanced themselves from Shuhelia and me. They apparently watched what would happen while leaning against the fence. Ciel was next to Rebecca and Eva.
Therefore I deployed my around us. In an instant, I erected a circular, fortress-like chain hut.
"…You can even use such a technique…"
"I possess a special weapon that allows me to shoot out of my arms and have them take shape as I imagine it. But, don't misunderstand, okay? There's a reason why I didn't use the in my battle against you."
"…Yes. I have already been able to reach a state where I could tell your unfiltered feelings through the earlier battle."
Shuhelia looked as if she heard a reasoning teeming with logic and pa.s.sion. Using her dual-wielding skills as Spirit World Knight, she got defeated by my spearmans.h.i.+p. The battle itself lasted a few moments, but…just as I learned to respect her skill in dual-wielding, she must have also felt the same towards my spearmans.h.i.+p.
"So my feelings got through, huh? It's just as you say. I'm a spearmaster. I have my pride in using the Wind Spear Style whenever a battle is mostly about close combat."
I did the Ra Kelada greeting towards Shuhelia. Yep, the teachings of Master Achilles are unfathomable.
"…I also have my pride in my two blades. You have my deepest grat.i.tude."
I think it was her way of evaluating whether I'm worthy to be served, though.
"…Anyway, I doubt anyone can see us here.
"Alright. Then…please give me a moment…"
Shuhelia lowered her eyes, looking embarra.s.sed. With a casual gesture, she made her blond hair sway, exposing her nape. A spiral-shaped tattoo was visible there.
With a grunt, Shuhelia unfastened the clasps of her damaged magic armor, and then disa.s.sembled the armor by turning the screws of the respective armor parts. She also unlocked the high-cla.s.s leather belt, which linked her waist with metal fittings at her chest, and took it off. Then she placed it on the ground, right next to her magic swords in their pretty scabbards.
Next she also took off the chain-mail-type inner armor which had a deep cut at the abdomen. And once she exposed her entire upper body alongside her moderately big b.r.e.a.s.t.s, she showed me her wrists.
My eyes were drawn to her bouncy t.i.ts and her smooth, beautiful body, but…the moth tattoo covering her skin from the nipples down her entire chest was quite conspicuous. It had a crooked design as if a stake had been driven into her heart.
"The Magic Dimensional Cord, which tied my hair together in the back, was a precious item that linked the magic symbols continuing from the wrists to my heart. And the detestable moth magic symbol on my chest…is a trace showing that I used to be a Spirit World Knight."
Detestable? …A moth magic symbol, huh? Mysty, Eva, and Rotalz also have such a symbol. Schmihazar's throat and Kisara when fused with her witch spear also had such symbols.
As I was pondering about that, Shuhelia continued, "And this is….ugh!", with a pained expression. At once, white smoke rose from the moth symbol.
What appeared from her chest as if clad in that smoke were two, transparent swords with a pommel. The swords kept coming out of her chest, but then stopped halfway.
"Swords? Out of your chest?"
"The name of those two swords is "
"…I can tell that the swords are even more special than the moth symbol on your chest…"
"Yes."
More than half of the swords' blades were still inside her chest. Still, for two transparent swords to come out of her tattooed chest like living creatures…that's a surprise. Is the magic moth symbol on her chest similar to the thing Schmihazar called Frea? Frea had sealed Kisara and Rotalz, and also locked up Holy Sword Saraten. Does that mean Hoffman, who set Schmihazar on me, is her ally?
Just as my thoughts were about to derail, Shuhelia spoke up with a blank look, "…You're right, they're special. My is the divine protection of Twin Blade Demonoid Sol. And just as it's a spiritual symbol exposing a part of my abilities, it's also a part of my soul. It's not like it's intended to cover that, but my former lord, Demonic Moth King Zebal's magic symbol has been placed on my chest."
Does that mean Shuhelia is baring a part of her soul right now? Also, it's my first time to hear about this Sol guy. He wasn't on the Picture Scroll of Sebdola's G.o.ds, so he might be a powerless G.o.d. Or he might be one of the G.o.ds who lost their divinity. Either way, it's very fitting for a Spirit World Knight to have two swords dwell in her soul.
"Moreover, it's proof of me having been accepted as Spirit World Knight by the G.o.ds of the Spirit World."
Hoh, I see.
"If is a divine protection of Demonoid Sol, does that mean you got divine protection and blessing from other Spirit World G.o.ds as proof of them accepting you as Spirit World Knight?"
Upon my question, Shuhelia answered, "I don't have any direct divine protections or blessings from other powerful G.o.ds. But, it's said that you won't be approved as Spirit World Knight by the other Spirit World G.o.ds if you haven't acquired divine protection from some sort of being possessing divinity in Sebdola."
So, if it's someone who hasn't obtained divine protection from a G.o.d, the other G.o.ds won't approve of that person as a knight, huh?
Her well-shaped eyes, nose, and mouth gave one the impression of her being cold and unfeeling, but…her beauty was still quite attractive. I'm sure she must have been popular on the surface and in Sebdola.
"…Does everyone calling themselves Spirit World Knight possess a ?"
"The is my exclusive proof. It should differ for every Spirit World Knight, suiting their individualities."
Individuality, huh? Countless combat occupations also exist. Is that one of the essential conditions on top of acquiring the combat occupation called Spirit World Knight?
If that's the case…does a being similar to Skill G.o.d Reford exist in the Spirit World too? Or does the divine domain have nothing to do with Sebdola?
Without asking her about that, I answered, "I see. Shuhelia, you are twin blades. So does that mean the other Spirit World Knights have all kinds of individual states such as using spears, fists, swords, and so on?"
"Yes. I heard that there are many things going beyond normal imagination."
Hoh? That sounds very interesting. That's individuality, right?
While looking at the two magic swords on the ground and then on the swords embedded in her chest, "Okay, I got it. So, is there any connection between the swords on the ground and ?"
Shuhelia nodded after hearing my question, and then spoke up while staring at the swords on the ground, "Of course, there is one. Because I obtained Sol's divine protection."
"So it's natural because he's a Twin Blade Demonoid? Anyway, do the two magic swords have a name?"
"The left one is Sol, the right, thick and curved one is Wilmark. Sol & Wilmark. Names of demon king-cla.s.s demons who used to be active in Zamalia."
"…So they're connected to the famous legend in Zamalia, huh?"
"Yes."
It might be a coincidence, but Yui uses Azelos and Versage, and there's also Oswald and Himika which are used by Reeve, the third-ranked Divine Sword King.
"…I've heard a bit about magic swords related to Zamalia's legend. They've been spread all over the world quite a bit, it seems."
"Yes. I think even replicas, which are much stronger than the real ones and at the same level as the Spirit World Eight General ones, are being circulated…"
Stronger than the real ones makes it hard to call them replicas, though. And I also recall having heard that Spirit World Eight General thing somewhere. I think it's different from the Seven Demonic Generals, who are running Dark G.o.d Rivograph's labyrinth, or the Spirit World Eight Wiseman who made the magic sword I gave to Ajul.
Either way, time to ask about the ceremony.
"Getting back on topic, is the necessary for the ceremony?"
"Yes…please pull out and pour your mana into my ."
"Pouring my mana into it, huh…? Don't tell me…"
"Indeed. Please stab my chest…with after having filled it with plenty of your mellow, sweet, and thick mana…" Shuhelia explained while looking pained, "…The disgusting magic symbol of Zebal is powerful despite having lost its force, but if it's with Your Majesty's mana…it should be possible to erase the symbol."
Calling her former lord disgusting, eh?
"Is there possibly a risk for you, Shuhelia?"
Shuhelia maintains her meek look.
"…Yes. But, I've resolved myself from the very start, so…please thrust into my chest with all your might as if trying to break me, and overwrite the symbol…" Support us on Patreon & read more than 40 chapters ahead!
I didn't quite know what she experienced on the surface and in the Spirit World that would induce her earlier tears. It didn't seem to stem from her having pledged her allegiance to Zebal and served him.
She must have gone through some terrible experiences as well. Is this where you could say, 「It takes a thief to catch a thief」?
But, if we go through with this ceremony, won't I selfishly wedge myself into the framework of Spirit World Knights who are approved as such by the G.o.ds of the Spirit World?
"I got it. However…"
I'm different from Shuhelia who has resolved herself for the risks. I dislike leaving things while not coming clean…
In short, I should tell her about my light attribute and blood mana first.
"…Before I pour my mana into you, you should know that I possess the light attribute and also blood mana as a vampire. Will you be alright with me inserting such a mana into your ?"
"Yes, I will. I'm of a race possessing darkness that is cla.s.sified as demonoid called Hars.h.i.+k, but light isn't my weakpoint. However, I cannot tell how things will work out with blood mana."
Figures. Light isn't necessarily the weak point of any darkness-based race. I mean, the Burning Knights have evolved into special beings after absorbing my mana.
In that case, only my blood mana counts as a risky factor. Though I don't think that it'll have any side effects.
"There exist all kinds of races among demons, or rather, in the Spirit World, huh?"
"Races with profound darkness such as shadow wolves, shadow moths, evil spirits, undead, evil ghosts, devilish freaks are fundamentally different."
Come to think of it, when I formed the contract with the Burning Knights, they told me a lot about the various races of the Spirit World.
Well, even if I consider all of this now, it won't lead to a solution. It's generally said that the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so I guess I'll give it a go!
"…Okay. I'll also shoulder the risk of blood mana. Very well, here comes my mana then."
I fixed my eyes on . The swords were different in shape from the magic sword Sol and Wilmark on the ground. Their blades were closer in appearance to straight swords. The hilts of the two swords were different, too.
I grabbed those hilts with my hands, and pulled the blades out of Shuhelia's chest in one go.
"――Ahnn!" Shuhelia moaned seductively with tears rolling out of her golden eyes.
Maybe, those are very sensitive…let's wrap this up quickly.
While thinking so, I drove my mana into . In the next instant, transparent, sea-anemone-like tentacles appeared from the two hilts. Those tentacles attached themselves to my hands with squelching sounds.
The tentacles and the hilts inside my palms sucked my mana. At the same time, the , which used to be transparent, shone brightly. At first it was a pure white light. Then it got blended with black and crimson colors. Then it shone blue. And lastly, its change stopped at a grayish silver color.
At that moment, my eyes met with Shuhelia's who had been staring at .
"…Please," she appealed to me with a pa.s.sionate gaze.
Just as she desired, I thrust the pair of , which was now permeated with my mana, into her chest with its conspicuous moth-shaped magic symbol.
The two swords partially slid into Shuhelia's chest. She looked at me as if she experienced an intoxicating pleasure. At the same time, the skin around the stab changed into a crimson color.
"Aahhnnnn, aa――"
Shuhelia chaotically shook her head while panting heavily. Her moderate b.r.e.a.s.t.s swayed, too. And once the transparent pair of completely settled inside her chest, Shuhelia looked at me with faintly bloodshot eyes, seemingly still affected by the reverberations.
I could sense a distinct s.e.xual desire dwell deep in her eyes. Shuhelia made me feel her womanhood, but then she suddenly bent her body back as if to push out her chest.
Her body twitched repeatedly.
And then Zebal's magic symbol was reduced as if being torn away and vanished from her chest. In exchange, a new magic symbol appeared from within her skin while wriggling. Even the slender, chainlike symbols that had continued from her chest to her wrists…changed their design into looking like tree branches.
In the end, the shape of the new magic symbol on her chest settled into being that of a small tree. The tree's trunk looked like a wand, but is this a Crest Tree of the Lucival? Its appearance is identical, though as a mini-version of it, I'd say.
※Piiing※ t.i.tle: One Who Appoints Spirit World Knights ※ acquired ※
※ t.i.tle: Demi-G.o.d-Slaying Spearmaster has been merged with t.i.tle: One Who Appoints Spirit World Knights and altered ※
※ t.i.tle: Demonic Alpha Male of the Supreme Spear ※ acquired ※
※Piiing※ ※ Permanent Skill acquired ※
※Piiing※ ※ Permanent Skill acquired ※
※ and have been combined ※
※Piiing※ ※ Permanent Skill acquired ※
※ Derivation Requirement for Extra Skill met ※
※ ※ ※ ※ have been combined ※
※ ※ Permanent Skill acquired ※
I got a new t.i.tle and my skills also fused. I won't understand without examining it closely. I can intuitively understand , the derivative skill of . It's a domination-type of power and seems to increase the strength of my bloodkin. It looks like there's more to it as well, but I'll postpone it for now.
It didn't have the unique sensation of my Spirit being devoured like Magic Halberd Baldok, but it expanded as much mana as back when I created the Burning Knights…
"…The ceremony is over with this. And far from being dangerous, my combat occupation seems to have evolved into instead of the usual Spirit World Knight. Allow me to express my grat.i.tude for having been allowed to become Your Majesty's exclusive Blood Twin Demonic Knight, and also my thanks to the G.o.ds of the Spirit World…"
I erased the wall surrounding us.
"Nn, Shuuya, made her a kin?"
"…Her upper body is naked? A small tree mark on her chest? Aaahh, !? I told you that I wanted to be first, didn't I!?" Rebecca misunderstood.
Covering her mouth with one hand and pointing the other hand at us, she was fl.u.s.tered.
"It's not . This is a part of a Spirit World Knight's ceremony. It's also related to the Lucival, but it's somewhat different from a bloodkin."
The instant I explained to everyone who had run up to me――
Ouuuch――
A violent pain a.s.sailed my nape. It's not――like my neck was cut.
When I touched the source of my pain with a finger, my neck was still there, just fine. But, my finger got wet from my own flowing blood.
Bleeding means…at the same time the ground swayed and I could hear the tolling of bells. No, I think the ground's swaying is a hallucination. Is it a mental pollution? Was my brain shaken?
The air is stagnant too. The smell of blood and water? Even the pain from my neck isn't as bad when compared to the ones from before…
I used up quite a bit of mana… And it's not a flaw, but…
"Shuuya-sama, the blood from your neck is extending towards the air…" Kisara pointed at my neck.
My blood apparently started to extend away from my body without my knowledge. When it comes to neck injuries, it'd point to the of Varmina.
Seeing that scarred mark, Water G.o.ddess-sama had insulted me as someone possessing a filthy stigma.
Suddenly I heard the sound of gla.s.s being shattered from who-knows-where. And my blood squirmed after having extended upwards. Did my blood change into a catalyst for something? It disappeared as soon as it permeated s.p.a.ce, and in the next moment, a spatial distortion was born diagonally above Shuhelia's and my location.
That distortion was severed downwards as if creating a parallelogram, and a silver lake was reflected on the other side of the tetragon. Blood dripped down from the cut in s.p.a.ce as if overflowing, as if creating a crooked blood picture frame in the sky.
I was also bothered by that blood, but for now I looked at the scenery reflected inside the square.
…This is the Spirit World, isn't it? Looks like Varmina got fed up with sticking to dreams and has come to meddle with me directly. Still, no matter how often I see it, this silver lake scenery sure looks pretty.
The mysterious huge tree combining violet and golden colors that floated above the lake…compound eyes with rainbow-colored light gleaming within existed in the middle of its huge trunk, and some cloudy liquid was emitted from within the tree. The floating tree had an overpowering presence, giving off the feel of a sky island.
Gorgeous agate branches were extending in all directions from its trunk. Coral leaves and black flowers were blossoming. Fruits similar to black pearls and three-sided magatama were hanging from those branches. On a closer look, you could also see countless corpses-like objects suspended from the tree…
"It's the domain of G.o.ddess of Nightmares Varmina. Did she use Your Excellency's rich mana and blood as a catalyst?"
"Probably. I guess it's connected to the power of that accompanied me during my growth. It might also be related to me having welcomed a Spirit World Knight in my ranks."
And it also seems connected to Helme currently not dwelling in my left eye.
I noticed the lake's surface while pondering about this. The midgets clad in white flames or alternatively black flames were competing against each other through a speed contest as if having a speed skating tournament. The surface was thriving with midgets wearing all sorts of Gigaku-men, Noh, and Hannya masks. Some of them were using instruments made out of ribs or singing weird Noh songs.
Others who didn't hold instruments were jumping around or doing handstands. Some were dancing happily while holding lanterns with bow-shaped handles and so on. Many of them were acting just like back when I saw this spectacle last time.
"Spirit World Sebdola…" Rebecca muttered while cladding her body in blue flames.
She also readied her katar, exuding the air of a trained magic warrior. Blue flame blades extended from the katar's blades.
I don't know whether it's a new technique, but…it looks like she's adopted some of Kisara's dagger arts.
Moreover, Rebecca created a blue flame curtain to protect Ciel, Muu, and the orcs. Helme went along with Rebecca's preparations and expanded a protective water membrane. She surrounded Muu and Ciel with a thick water wall instead of a water membrane.
With Rebecca and Helme pooling their barriers, they deployed a defensive, double-layered magic barrier that looked like it could even protect a castle.
Furthermore, Eva had her metals float around her.
All three of them embraced the wish to protect the childish Muu and Ciel, whose mind was broken.
"They injured your neck, milord?" Solobo asked with rage dyeing his voice.
"Don't worry about me. Prioritize protecting Muu and Ciel."
"As you command!"
Solobo drew his sword while rasping out a rough breathing and positioned himself in front of Muu, Guema, and Ciel. He raised his silver, gleaming tachi in front of his face with movements befitting a samurai, adopting a stance that would allow him to unleash his mana blades at any moment.
"Blood…because of the Spirit World Knight?" Quema placed a hand on the bone flute at her waist with an angry snarl while readying her spear.
"…gh."
Muu also extended threads from her prosthesis and held up her wooden spear. Her stance was that of my Wind Spear Style.
What a cute pupil I have. I must protect her at any cost…
But, the bleeding from the mark at my neck was the cause for this. It might be better for me to not make a move here.
"Muu, stay away from me," I ordered Muu with a powerful voice.
However, Muu shook her little head violently, and glared my way. As if declaring that she would protect everyone.
"Nn, Muu-chan, leave things over here to us."
Probably out of wariness, Eva caused the hue of the violet mana around her to take on a deeper and stronger color. She was moving around in her wheelchair while sitting, apparently because of her ESP, the pressure created by her was fierce…
"It seems like a hallucination, and then again not. Moreover, it has eroded, no, a.s.similated with a part of s.p.a.ce, I suppose. Anyway, it's terrifying mana and magic power…" Kisara a.n.a.lyzed the s.p.a.ce the G.o.ddess of Nightmares created with my blood while preparing her witch spear.
Then she looked in Rotalz's direction.
"What is that? For it to have transformed s.p.a.ce, albeit on a small scale…the Spirit World lies beyond, huh?"
While Rotalz's thick voice echoed from the sky, the spearhead of Kisara's witch spear shone crimson. At the same time, the filaments expanded in a fan shape from the hole at its handle, and moved so as to protect Kisara as if having their own wills.
"…Interfering with Sela without using a String of Demonic Dimension…a silver lake…" Shuhelia, who was still genuflecting on the ground, was late in responding.
She didn't know what to think about the movement of my blood as it surged out of the mark on my neck, and the scenery visible beyond the square window in s.p.a.ce. Despite having experienced all kinds of things as Spirit World Knight, she was surprised by the interference with Sela, huh?
But…Rollo hasn't come back yet. As I thought, things don't feel right if my partner isn't here. Good grief, where is she messing around anyway?
"…Hihi, you seem surprised, Spearmaster Shuuya, Shuuya's bloodkin, and Spirit World Knight who obtained a new lord." A clear voice, albeit carrying an echo.
This voice doubtlessly belonged to G.o.ddess of Nightmares Varmina.
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Translation Notes:
In reality, the author used "ピコ助" (Picosuke). The Pico part refers to the Italian piccolo for small, and the whole term is a mix word pointing to small transporters. But since this is yet another brain fart of this author, I simply used "Tiny."