One moment, I had been in the middle of a battle—fighting for something more. Then suddenly, I found myself standing before a massive cherry blossom tree. A figure was bound to it, their form barely visible through the falling petals.
I hesitated, unsure of where I was or how I had gotten here. My heart pounded in my chest for reasons I couldn't explain. Maybe whoever was tied to the tree could tell me where we were.
As I took a step forward, a voice called out.
"Hello, who's that?"
A stunning woman appeared before me, dressed in a black kimono with lace straps that seemed to defy physics. She had curves in all the right places, and her presence felt almost ethereal. Compared to her, my own figure felt inadequate—just like when I stood next to Shea or, more recently, Tio.
"Are you going to say something, or just stare?" she teased playfully. "Also, your attacks were very chilly. And I've never had the pleasure of being flipped onto my head before."
"Umm…" I finally found my voice. "I'm Selena Yamagishi. And I have no idea where we are. One moment we were fighting, and the next, I was here."
I glanced around, finally taking in my surroundings. An uncountable number of tombstones stretched as far as the eye could see. Then, a realization hit me.
"Why are your eyes spinning…?" Tio muttered.
"That would be my ability," I answered. "I think it allowed me to enter here."
"Here? Where exactly?" Tio—who had been watching from the sidelines—looked just as confused.
"Your soul. Or maybe your inner world? I'm not entirely sure what it's called, but we're… inside you," I explained.
Tio's gaze shifted, and she suddenly noticed two very familiar tombstones among the countless others. A tear slipped down her cheek.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to come here. We were in the middle of a battle, and I let my emotions take over. I just… banished them."
"You already said that," I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
I looked away, my heart still racing. I told myself it was just the aftermath of the fight. But seeing her like this—it must be difficult to carry such burdens.
"It's not hard," Tio murmured. "I just don't want to forget the people I've lost."
"So, you're a Dragonman?" I asked, even though I already knew who she was. Unless something had changed…
"Yes, I'm Tio Klarus." She wiggled her hand, where black chains held her in place. "Would you mind helping me?"
I exhaled and imagined a black blade in my hand. It appeared at my beck and call. With a swift motion, I sliced through the chains. The moment I did, a wave of dizziness hit me.
And just like that—I was back.
I found myself standing atop a massive black dragon, its piercing eyes glaring at me. I wobbled slightly but quickly regained my balance. I wouldn't show weakness—not in front of Hajime or the others.
The dragon had stopped resisting the ice prison I had trapped her in. Instead, she remained still, waiting to see what I would do next.
"That was… anticlimactic," Will muttered, still upset over Tio's earlier actions. I knew he held a grudge against her for killing his friends.
"Hey, Selena, what gives?" Hajime asked, clearly confused. "What kind of epic battle was that? We almost died, and now it's just… over?"
I glanced at the dragon—at Tio—but she didn't seem interested in talking. I knew she would join Hajime's group. Rather than letting her make the choice, I decided to take that choice away from her. "She is a dragon-man." Blow any chance for her to hide it
"Wait, what?!" Will seemed stunned.
Once the ice was released the dragon started shining and shrinking all at the same time to show the gorgeous woman and that damn ribbon, like how does it even stand up there. Selena was so confused by the world logic. I mean sure have fallen to the hips for god sake.
"Dragonman, vampire, and bunny girl? What am I, collecting all kinds of girls?" Hajime muttered, exasperated.
"There's a guide for that, you know," I said, laughing.
"Guide for what?" Shea asked, immediately intrigued.
"Well, somehow, Hajime's dad seemed to know this would happen," I smirked.
"Wait, what?!" Hajime paled. "He did?! There's actually a guide to picking up girls in this world?!"
"Is it step-by-step instructions on how to become OP?" Atsushi asked, now deeply invested in the conversation.
"Huh?" Hajime looked incredibly uncomfortable. "Stop bringing that up!"
"I mean, it's true!" I laughed.
Before Hajime could argue, Tio cleared her throat. "We may have a problem."
Everyone turned toward her.
"The person who controlled me has been gathering an army—ten thousand strong."
Will's face went pale. "What we've faced so far was just the opening act?"
Tio nodded grimly. "I'm afraid so."
Yue suddenly went quiet, her eyes unfocused. Then, she spoke.
"Tio… I think you're missing a zero."
Iko's expression darkened. "What do you see?"
"It's an army. Well over sixty thousand strong," Yue said, her voice grim. "And…" She hesitated.
"What is it?" Yue asked, clearly concerned.
"It's those near-unkillable husks. I can see thousands of them."
"The army will be easy," I muttered, "but those things are going to be a nightmare."
Aiko looked confused. "I'm sorry, what are you talking about? Why are you more worried about these husks than the monster army?"
"We've fought them before," I answered. "And strong isn't the right word. Nearly unkillable is a better description."
"Oh no… we have to stop them…" Aiko looked panicked.
"That's right!" Will added. "Hajime, Yue, Shea, Selena-san… can you stop them?"
"Nope," Hajime said bluntly.
Silence.
"I'm only here to retrieve Will," he added.
Aiko looked desperate. "Isn't there anything you can do about the incoming army?"
Hajime sighed. "In a forested area like this? There's no way we could stop them all with just four people."
Aiko's face fell.
"Not that I like it," Hajime continued, "but our best move is to warn the people first. An army that size will take time to reach us."
Aiko clenched her fists. "You're right. We just have to prepare."
"I will help," Tio declared.
"No! She can't be trusted!" Will snapped. "She's a murderer!"
Tio didn't deny it.
I stepped forward. Will flinched as I pulled out my black blade.
"Then do it," I said.
The clearing fell into stunned silence.
"You want to be an adventurer? Then this is part of the job—killing dangerous monsters. But just know, taking a life changes you. Are you ready for that?"
I stepped aside.
Will looked between me, the blade, and Tio. After a long moment, he handed the sword back.
"I… I can't do it," he admitted.
I smiled. "That's nothing to be ashamed of."
Hajime turned towards Tio, "By the way, why were you attacking him anyways?" thumbing over his shoulder at Will.
"Oh well-" At that point, I tuned out the conversation, already knowing that Shimizu was the one to hypnotize her. As I was thinking of how I wanted to remove Daisuke, I noticed that everyone was staring at me.
"What?"
Tio coughed dramatically. "Would you mind carrying me? Someone did throw me out of the sky, beat me black and blue, and now expects me to walk down a mountain."
Atsushi, Noboru, and Akito immediately played rock-paper-scissors.
I tried to keep calm as I looked away from Tio, only to hear a sigh next to me.
"I'll carry her." Hajime moved and picked up Tio, not wanting to let any of the horny trio get their hands on her. It reminded him of some of the trash that stared at Yue and Shea, and he didn't like it.
I could feel Tio watching me. But for now—I ignored it.
We had a war to prepare for.
As we made our way down the mountain, I found myself unintentionally watching Hajime carry Tio.
She was definitely enjoying it.
Her arms were draped loosely around his shoulders, her fan resting against her lips as she occasionally let out little sighs of amusement. At one point, she even murmured, "Oh my, such strong arms… How fortunate I am to be carried by such a reliable man."
Hajime just grunted, completely ignoring her antics.
I, however, was not ignoring them.
I tried to look away, but my eyes kept drifting back.
Why was I even paying attention to this?
Tio must have noticed, because suddenly, she turned her gaze toward me, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Hm? Selena-san, you seem rather… focused."
I immediately looked away. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh? Is that so?" Tio chuckled. "I wonder… If it had been you carrying me, how would you have done it?"
I stumbled slightly.
Shea, who had been walking beside me, perked up, clearly interested now. "Ooh, good question! How would you have carried her, Selena?"
"I wouldn't have!" I snapped, my face heating up.
Tio raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you would have simply left me there?"
I sputtered. "That's—that's not what I meant!"
Tio's smirk widened. "Then tell me, how would you have held me?"
Shea leaned in, grinning. "Princess carry? Over-the-shoulder? Maybe you'd let her cling to your back~?"
I was dying.
"I—I would have figured something out," I muttered, refusing to engage any further.
Tio chuckled. "My, my… such a vague answer. How mysterious you are, Selena-san."
Shea pouted. "Aw, no fun. I wanted details."
I refused to look at either of them.
Hajime, meanwhile, just sighed. "You all are so noisy."
Tio simply chuckled again. "Perhaps… But it is rather fun teasing dear Selena-san."
I knew, at that moment, I wasn't going to hear the end of this.
XxXxXx
The car ride down the mountain should have been peaceful. Instead, it was torture.
For me, at least.
I was sitting against the window, trying very hard to not acknowledge the person sitting directly beside me. Tio Klarus, former enemy, now apparent ally, had been placed in the middle seat—between me and Shea.
Why Hajime made that seating arrangement, I had no idea.
…Actually, I did have an idea.
He definitely noticed something earlier.
Tio, of course, didn't seem to mind the arrangement at all. In fact, she looked rather pleased with herself, her fan resting against her lips as she occasionally stole glances in my direction.
I could feel it.
She was enjoying this.
Meanwhile, Shea was completely oblivious, leaning her head against the window, half-asleep.
I, on the other hand, was wide awake—mostly because Tio was way too close.
Not that I cared or anything.
Definitely not.
"…You've been avoiding my gaze, Selena-san," Tio finally said, voice dripping with amusement.
I stiffened. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh? I see. You must simply be shy then."
She shifted, leaning just a little closer, her shoulder brushing against mine.
I kept staring out the window, pretending not to notice.
Tio let out a hum. "How fascinating… I have faced many warriors, many mighty foes in my lifetime. Yet none have intrigued me quite like you."
I swallowed. "I—I don't know what you mean."
Tio let out a low chuckle, her breath warm against my ear. "Oh, but I think you do."
I felt my entire face heat up.
I heard someone snicker.
My eyes darted to Shea, who was absolutely awake now—barely holding in her laughter as she watched the scene unfold.
Traitor.
Tio didn't seem to care that we had an audience. She simply tilted her head, peering at me with that ever-present, amused smirk.
"I must say, Selena-san, it is quite rare for me to be rescued by a beautiful warrior." Tio strokes my arm before continuing, "And for that same warrior to be so cute? My, my… I may just be smitten."
I nearly choked. And I started glare at Hajime who had a smirk on his face.
Shea outright burst into laughter.
"Is this really a Dragon-man?" Yue whispered to herself in disbelief.
"I—" My words completely failed me.
Tio tapped her fan against her lips, as if deep in thought. "Tell me, how would you have carried me down the mountain?"
I turned bright red. "Wh—what kind of question is that?!"
"A normal one" Tio said with a straight face. "I must say, you are rather adorable when you're flustered."
Shea was wheezing now.
I absolutely refused to look at her.
Instead, I pressed myself against the car door, staring very intently at the passing scenery, willing this ride to end as quickly as possible.
Tio, of course, wasn't done.
She leaned in even closer, lowering her voice to a teasing whisper.
"Tell me, Selena-san… are you always this shy, or am I simply an exception?"
I was going to die in this car.
Hajime definitely did this on purpose.
Some time later, as we were nearing the village, Hajime suddenly narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharpening with suspicion.
"Tch," he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Sensing something was off, Aiko also narrowed her eyes, straining to see whatever had caught Hajime's attention. I, too, focused my mana into my eyes, sharpening my vision until I could make out what he had seen—four knights on horseback, galloping toward us with urgency. Their armor gleamed under the light, and the way they rode, weapons ready, sent a chill down my spine.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief. If nothing else, this meant I could shift the unwanted attention off myself and onto someone else. At least for now.
"Yeah, and they're getting ready to attack us…" Hajime muttered, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.
Aiko gasped. "We have to stop them!" she insisted, her voice laced with concern.
Hajime, unfazed, merely shrugged. "Yeah, sure." With that, he reached out and pulled the window open, allowing Aiko to stick her upper body out.
"Alex-san, it's me! Don't attack!!!" Aiko shouted, frantically waving both arms in an attempt to grab the knights' attention.
The knights, who had already formed a battle stance and were preparing to unleash their magic, hesitated. One of them, a man with sharp features and a commanding presence, seemed to react before any of the others. He raised a hand, signaling for them to hold fire. Somehow, without any words exchanged, he seemed to understand—like he had some kind of sixth sense about the situation.
I frowned. "Is it just me, or is that kind of creepy?"
The knight named Alex, rather than answering, spread his arms slightly as if preparing to catch Aiko should she decide to jump out.
Yuka, who had been watching with an unimpressed expression, casually twirled a knife between her fingers. "That's why we have to protect our teacher," she mused.
"Oh my, it looks like Miss Aiko-san is quite popular," another member of our group teased.
Meanwhile, we passed by the group of knights, who, despite their earlier aggression, now looked utterly confused. They had clearly expected something different—perhaps to capture Aiko, or maybe just to confront us more aggressively.
Aiko, still half out of the window, turned to glare at Hajime. "Nagumo, why didn't you stop?!"
Hajime sighed, keeping his gaze forward. "If we stop now, we'll have to explain what we saw—once right now, and then again when we get back to the city. That's precious time we don't have. The people of Ur need us."
"Yeah," I chimed in, rolling my eyes. "And watching those creepy knights nearly get run over wasn't exactly the highlight of my day." My voice dripped with sarcasm.
Noboru, grinning, added, "You saw the way they stared at Yuka. She made them back down real fast when they tried to hit on Aiko."
"I know, right? And they hit on every other woman they come across whenever they get the chance," Nana chimed in, shaking her head.
Before long, the conversation had drifted into playful teasing, reminiscing about the countless times knights had tried to flirt with Aiko. It was almost ridiculous how often it happened—everywhere they went, there seemed to be a new knight, soldier, or nobleman hoping to charm her.
Aiko, growing increasingly flustered, waved her hands in protest. "T-That's enough! Quit talking about times when I wasn't being very… teacherly!" Her cheeks burned bright red as she desperately tried to change the subject.
During the commotion, I noticed Tio. She wasn't laughing with the others. Instead, she was watching me—closely. She had been listening to the conversation, but unlike the others, she wasn't just amused by the stories. At some point, she had leaned in, resting against me ever so slightly.
She smirked. "That was a great diversion," she murmured, her voice low enough that only I could hear. "Got them to leave you alone, hmm?"
Tio's weight against me wasn't heavy, but the presence of her body so close sent a wave of unease through me. Not because I disliked it—but because I wasn't sure how to react.
Since no one else was paying attention to us, my internal struggle went unnoticed. My nerves were already frayed from the situation, and this new turn of events wasn't helping in the slightest.
Tio didn't move away. If anything, she seemed to enjoy the tension she was causing.
And just like that, the conversation in the homer continued as if nothing had changed—except, for me, everything had.
XxXxXx
We reached the outskirts of the city of Ur, excluding our party, everyone jumped out of the car—even Will—as they made a mad dash toward where the town's leaders would be.
"And there he goes, Haji." I drawled.
Sigh. "I can see that, Selena. I guess we should go get him back." He huffed in annoyance, it was easily seen that he just wanted to get going now.
"Are you sure about just leaving?" Shea looked at the town, seeming like she wanted to say something. She turned to me, trying to enlist my help.
Seeing that she wanted to help, I did what I did best. "Let's go get Will back and go."
Shea looked devastated, clearly hoping for something else from me.
"Yeah." Hajime nodded as he led our group forward.
Shea glanced at me, as if I had betrayed her expectations. I winked back at her, reassuring her with a grin she knew all too well. Shea smiled slightly, unsure of how I planned to change Hajime's mind, but relieved that I hadn't given up.
Yue noticed the wink I gave Shea. I didn't think she was against helping the city, but she was probably wondering how I intended to go about it.
"Planning something sneaky again?"
I had forgotten about Tio—or more like, I had hoped she would just follow Hajime.
"Don't you want to see how this plays out?" I asked.
"Fufu, you seem to already have something in mind." Tio opened her fan and looked at me with her golden eyes. "What secret will you tell me, I wonder?"
"You first," I replied in a fake, cheerful tone.
"Mmm, but you already saw one of mine without my permission." Her tone was neutral.
That shut down any smart remarks I had. "My job class was Shinobi—a one-of-a-kind class that no one else in this world could obtain."
"Mmm, I see," Tio mused. "I didn't sense any mana when we fought."
We whispered as we walked through the city and made our way to the town hall.
As we stepped into the room, Aiko turned to Nagumo.
"Will you please help these people? Without your help, that army will raze this city to the ground—killing hundreds as they march through…" A mix of emotions crossed her face as she pleaded with Hajime.
Aiko noticed me enter the hall.
"Selena, please…"
I turned to Hajime.
"That's unexpected," Hajime said. "I thought you prioritized the safety of your students, and now you want two of them to go out there and fight an army of sixty thousand? And for what? A bunch of strangers? You're starting to sound just like those priests from the Holy Church who dragged us into this world."
In the background, I noticed a few people in white robes, clearly not liking how Hajime was demonizing the Holy Church.
"I do always put my students first," Aiko replied. "That said, I don't want to cast aside the people of this world. I know my words might not reach you since I wasn't there for you when the two of you needed me most. Nagumo, I don't want your life to be an empty one. And it will be—if you forget how to care about people."
She turned to me.
"Selena, I don't know what else is haunting you. But if you want to, surely your voice would reach Hajime if you asked him to help."
Aiko turned to me, her eyes filled with urgency and determination.
"Selena… please."
I hesitated, but she stepped forward, her voice carrying a rare firmness I wasn't used to hearing from her.
"I know you don't trust me. I know I failed you and Hajime when you needed me most. I wasn't there to protect you, to guide you, to stop what happened to you both. I can't take that back, no matter how much I wish I could. And I know that right now, you see this as just another demand from someone who doesn't understand what you've been through."
She clenched her fists, her gaze unwavering.
"But I refuse to turn my back on these people. Just because they're strangers doesn't mean their lives are worth less than ours. These people have families, dreams, and lives they want to protect—just like you, just like Hajime. Are you telling me that the girl who fought so hard to survive, who refused to give up, who found strength even in the darkest of times, would stand by and do nothing while innocent people are slaughtered?"
I felt something tighten in my chest, but she wasn't done.
"You act like you don't care, like none of this matters to you, but I know that's not true. I see it in the way you look at Shea, at Hajime. You still care. You're just afraid to admit it because you think caring will make you weak, that it will only lead to more pain. But shutting people out, refusing to let yourself feel—that's what will truly make your life empty."
Her voice wavered for just a moment, but she pushed forward.
"I won't beg. I won't force you. But if there's still a part of you that believes in doing the right thing, that believes in protecting people who can't protect themselves, then say something. Because if there's anyone who can reach Hajime, it's you.
The room was silent after Aiko's words. No one dared to speak.
Hajime stood there, his expression unreadable, arms crossed as if weighing her plea. His crimson eyes flickered with something deeper. "I need to ask you something, Aiko-sensei. No matter what happens after this, no matter what I do, will you still be my teacher?"
Aiko did not hesitate. "Of course, I will always be your teacher."
"Even if I choose not to do something you ask?"
"That right provided you listen carefully to what I had to say before you arrived at your distinction."
Hajime turns to look at his party Yue seems ready to go along with any thing he picks, Shea wants to save the village and Selena was the same, always expecting him to do the right thing. He ignored Tio since he was irrelevant to this moment. For some reason he thought he heard panting.
He headed for the door.
"Nagumo?" Aiko looked worried.
"I guess we have to get this place ready. But you sure probably send the women and kids somewhere else."
With that we left to get the area near the mountain pass cleared since that would be the battlefield. Surprisingly enough Tio spend time with all of the others and was hanging around with Hajime a lot, much to his annoyance. Eventually we called it a day and returned to our inn. I took a shower and was heading for my room just wanting to pass out.
No smug dragons. No teasing bunny girls. No knowing looks from Hajime.
Just peace.
I let out a deep breath as I closed the door behind me, rolling my shoulders. The exhaustion of the day weighed down on me, and all I wanted was to throw myself onto the bed and—
I froze.
Because there, sprawled across my bed like she owned it, was Tio Klarus.
Wearing nothing but a very thin silk robe.
And she was smirking.
"…What. Are. You. Doing. Here." I spoke in clipped sentences, trying not to react to the stimuli.
Tio stretched, her full curves pressing very noticeably against the fabric of her robe. The barely-there fabric clung to her body in a way that was definitely unfair.
"I was told to find suitable accommodations," she said, voice laced with amusement. "And I thought—who better to stay with than dear Selena-san?"
I clenched my fists. Breathe. Do not react. Do not give her the satisfaction.
"…There are plenty of other rooms."
Tio propped herself up on one elbow, her golden eyes practically glowing in the dim light. "Oh, but I wanted to stay here."
I turned around, massaging my temples. "Of course you did."
I moved to grab a spare blanket, already resigning myself to sleeping on the floor, but before I could even reach down—
A hand caught my wrist.
I stiffened.
Tio's grip was gentle, but her fingers traced along my skin in a way that sent an unwanted shiver down my spine.
"Are you certain you wouldn't rather share?" she murmured.
I refused to look at her. "I'm fine here."
She tugged slightly, just enough to throw me off balance. I barely managed to steady myself, but in the process, I turned—
And nearly collided with her.
Tio was close. Too close.
Her golden eyes searched mine, amusement dancing in them. "You truly are adorable when you're flustered, Selena-san."
"I am not flustered," I gritted out.
She tilted her head, as if considering something. Then, with deliberate slowness, she reached up—
And traced a single finger down the side of my very warm face.
I jerked back. "T-Tio!"
She laughed softly, utterly unbothered. "Oh? Did I do something to startle you?"
I hated how smug she sounded.
I spun away, pulling the blanket over myself as I threw myself onto the floor. "I'm sleeping. Goodnight."
Tio let out a dramatic sigh. "Such a cold rejection. Truly, you wound me, Selena-san."
I ignored her.
A long silence stretched between us.
Then—
"You know…" Tio's voice was softer this time, almost… sultry. "The bed is big enough for both of us."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"…Not happening."
A soft chuckle. "What a shame."
Even without looking, I knew she was still watching me.
And for some reason…
Even though I knew she was just messing with me…
My heart wouldn't stop racing.
XxXxXx
Selena groaned as she shifted, her entire body aching from sleeping on the hard ground.
'Great. Just great.'
Not exactly the best way to start the day.
She rubbed her stiff shoulder, blinking blearily at the dimly lit room. Her eyes landed on the bed—on Tio, who was still lounging comfortably beneath the sheets.
Conflicted. That was the only way to describe how Selena felt.
On one hand, Tio had been surprisingly reliable. She helped keep the party grounded, cooling tensions when things got out of hand.
But on the other hand…
Selena had made a promise to herself. She wasn't just some background character, following the script of someone else's story. She would do what she wanted, live on her terms.
It was just—
'When I look at Tio, I become a complete mess…'
Before she could spiral further down that train of thought, the sheets rustled.
She looked up.
Tio's golden eyes were on her, half-lidded with drowsiness.
"…Morning," the dragon woman murmured. She glanced at the dim light filtering through the window and yawned. "It's early."
Selena hesitated. "Yeah. My body's used to a morning routine."
Without thinking much about it, she stood and began changing. She swapped her oversized sleep shirt for comfortable running pants and the hoodie Yue had made for her. It was a habit—one she never paid much mind to.
She only realized her mistake when she caught the weight of Tio's stare.
That unwavering, sharp gaze.
"…What?" Selena frowned as she finished adjusting her sleeves.
Tio's eyes trailed over her, her expression unreadable.
"It's not your routine that caught my attention," she mused. "You have a lot of scars. Most are faded, but I can still see them."
Selena stiffened.
Tio's gaze lingered on the one near her eye. "That one, in particular… Something got very close, didn't it?"
Selena turned away, grabbing her boots. "That would take a lot more time than I'm willing to give you right now."
A slow chuckle.
"We can talk over breakfast, if you like."
Her voice was lower this time, softer—like a whisper meant to linger.
Selena didn't look at her. She couldn't.
Tio stretched out lazily on the bed, her golden eyes glinting with something unreadable. "I'll be ready." She winked.
'Nope. Not dealing with this.'
Selena bolted for the door, letting it swing shut behind her.
As she ran into the cool morning air, her thoughts swirled, but she pushed them aside. She needed to clear her mind, to let herself be drawn into the rhythm of her workout instead of the chaos Tio left in her wake.
The sun slowly crept over the horizon.
People were already on the move, some leaving by carriage, others walking in groups. Selena received a few odd stares—her modern-style clothes stood out among the more traditional attire of this world.
She ignored them.
For now, she just ran.
Because once the day started, there would be no time for distractions.
Not with an army arriving before nightfall.
And certainly not with Tio making her question things she wasn't ready to face.
By the time Selena made it back to the inn, she still hadn't seen Hajime.
'Guess he's resting up today.'
It made sense—he had a lot of transmuting to do before nightfall, and he has been draining her mana to supplement his work, leaving both of them exhausted. Not that she minded. It would recover in time, and at least he got the heavy work done early.
As she stepped inside, she was greeted by a familiar voice.
"Ah, I see someone had a great workout."
She turned to see Vose grinning at her, wiping down the counter.
"Lucky for you, I already prepared the baths," he continued. "You should go clean up. Breakfast will be ready soon."
Selena blinked.
"…Thanks."
She scratched the back of her head, feeling a little awkward. She still wasn't used to people being nice just for the sake of it.
With nothing else to do, she headed to her room to grab a change of clothes. Tio was nowhere in sight—not that she should be disappointed, but for some reason, she was.
She shook the thought away, quickly gathering what she needed and heading for the bath.
By the time she stepped out, feeling refreshed, she was greeted immediately.
"Hello, Mistress."
Selena's brain short-circuited.
"…Umm."
Tio smiled brightly. "Fufu, that's no way to keep me waiting. Let's go eat. And while we do—" she grabbed Selena's hand, tugging her forward before she could resist "—you can tell me more about yourself."
Just like that, Selena was pulled into Tio's pace.
By the time they reached the dining area, the smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling sausage filled the air.
Vose was already waiting for them, setting down two plates of eggs, sausage, and warm bread.
"Mmm, smells great," Selena muttered.
Vose chuckled. "Let me know if you need anything else. Freshly made lemon tea as well."
"Thank you," Selena said, taking her seat.
Tio sat beside her—closer than necessary.
Selena had just picked up her fork when—
"Would you like me to feed you?"
She nearly choked on air.
Tio's golden eyes gleamed with amusement, clearly enjoying her reaction.
Selena scowled. "Absolutely not."
"Fufu, no need to be shy."
"I'm not—" Selena cut herself off, exhaling sharply. She refused to play into Tio's games.
Instead, she took a bite of her food, hoping to steer the conversation away from whatever this was.
Tio, however, wasn't going to let her off so easily.
"So, Selena…" The dragon woman propped her chin on one hand. "You're rather off compared to the others."
Selena paused mid-bite. "Off?"
"Mmm." Tio gestured slightly with her cup. "You don't act like a teen. Even when you're around your classmates, your tone is… different. Not exactly cold, but detached enough that no one seems to notice. You don't speak like them. And you certainly don't carry yourself like a girl their age."
Selena felt her grip tighten slightly on her fork. Tio's gaze flickered toward her hand, catching the small reaction. But instead of pressing further, she shifted gears.
"What kind of food did you like in your world?" she asked casually, taking a sip of her tea.
Selena hesitated. "…Tacos." She wasn't sure where Tio was going with this.
Tio hummed in acknowledgment. "And what did you do for fun?"
Selena frowned slightly, stirring her tea. "I don't really know."
Tio tilted her head. "No hobbies?"
"I read."
"Oh?" A flicker of curiosity lit Tio's golden eyes. "What sort of books?"
Selena's fingers tensed around her cup. It wasn't that she minded answering. It was just—no one had really asked before. Not like this.
"…A bit of everything," she admitted, glancing down at her tea. After a moment, she exhaled and continued, "I remember one about The Boy Who Lived."
Tio raised an eyebrow. "And what was that about?"
Selena hesitated for a second, then, slowly, she started speaking.
"It's about a boy who grew up with his aunt's family—people who never really liked him, never treated him well. His life was rough. They made him feel like he didn't belong, like he was nothing. But then, on his birthday, he learned the truth—he was a wizard."
Something in Selena's voice changed as she spoke. The usual quiet detachment in her tone softened, replaced by something more natural.
"He wasn't just anyone—he was special. He had a past he never knew about, a whole world that had been hidden from him. And when he stepped into that world, everything changed. He made friends for the first time, found a place where he was accepted. But it wasn't all easy. There were dangers, enemies, things trying to pull him down. And even though he was special, even though he had power, he still struggled. He still made mistakes."
She paused for a breath, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her cup.
Tio said nothing. She didn't interrupt, didn't press. She simply watched, listening with quiet intensity.
And Selena kept talking.
She talked about the boy's adventures, about the trials he faced, about the friendships that shaped him. The words spilled out more easily than she expected. It was strange—she hadn't spoken this much about something she enjoyed in… she couldn't even remember how long.
At some point, she vaguely registered movement nearby. But she didn't stop.
She didn't notice when Yuka and a few others had walked in, their conversation halting as they caught the sound of Selena's voice. They didn't interrupt. They just stood there, listening, expressions shifting from curiosity to quiet surprise.
None of them had seen her like this before—so unguarded, so caught up in something.
And the story she was telling… it wasn't one they knew.
For once, Selena wasn't simply existing among them. She was sharing something.
And none of them wanted to break the moment.
"Wow Selena what book is that?"
"Yea I don't remember book like that"
"Mmmm weird, you'd think I would know about it since I love to read."
Selena knew she fucked up and coughed "guys we need to get to work so go help the towns people." Before they could protest she already glared at them and they quickly rushed out.
Tio all the while was smiling.
XxXxXx
As the group worked on the wall and the pit, Hajime spent the entire day in the sky with Tio, setting up his bombs along the mountainside—just in case. With this downtime, Selena had a chance to cool off since Tio had been throwing her off all day.
After exhausting her mana to carve out the pit Hajime wanted, Selena sat alone, catching her breath. That was when Tio appeared out of nowhere and settled beside her, holding a bowl of steaming broth with chunks of potato mixed in.
Without a word, she scooped up a spoonful and held it near Selena's mouth. Selena hesitated, glancing around only to find Yue, Hajime, Shea, Aiko, and the rest of her classmates watching intently. As soon as she shot them a glare, they hurriedly averted their gazes.
Tio, however, remained unfazed, still holding the spoon close as if waiting for Selena to accept it.
"Don't do it! She's supposed to be with Hajime! But you've already made her fall for you! Look at her eyes—she wants to do it!" Selena repeated over and over in her head
Selena fought the urge to groan. This was ridiculous. She turned away, refusing to give Tio what she wanted.
Tio let out an exaggerated moan. "Ah, Selena, you're so cold! I can take any kind of love, you know?"
Murmurs rose around the duo, and when Selena glanced around, people were watching—some with amusement, others with knowing smirks. It looked like Selena was playing along with Tio's antics. Worse, when she met Tio's gaze, her golden eyes gleamed with a smug satisfaction.
She was doomed.
Without another second of hesitation, Selena activated Super Sonic Step and disappeared from her seat, vanishing before she could die of embarrassment.
If Tio wanted to play this game, then fine. Selena would make sure she wasn't anywhere near her.
Tio watched Selena flee and chuckled to herself. 'Fufu, so shy. Especially after last night...'
Hajime POV
I had been watching the exchange from a distance, and it left me unsettled. Not because I was jealous—Tio had made it very clear she wanted to be in Selena's life—but because teasing seemed to be her way of worming into Selena's heart. And oddly enough... Selena let her.
She wasn't the type to get caught up in things like this. At least, she hadn't been before.
At first, Selena had reacted to Tio with exasperation, annoyance—but she had never outright told her to stop. Was she... a masochist?
I let out a sigh, rubbing my temples as I watched Selena vanish from sight with Super Sonic Step. "She really ran for it," I muttered.
Beside me, Yue tilted her head slightly, her crimson eyes following the spot where Selena had been just moments ago. "She's different from before," she said softly. "Less distant."
I grunted in agreement. "It's not that she didn't react before," I said, crossing my arms. "She did. Just… most people would never notice it. She kept everything subtle, under control. But Tio?" I let out a tired exhale. "Tio forces her out into the open."
Shea, bouncing slightly on her heels, grinned. "Isn't it great, though? She looks like she's having fun."
Yue hummed. "Fun… or just flustered?"
Shea waved a hand dismissively. "Same thing when it comes to Tio! But still, don't you think it's nice? Selena's always been so cool and untouchable, but now she's… human."
I just shook my head. "It wasn't that she treated us like kids. It's more like… she always acted like she was ten years older than us." my gaze softened slightly. "Even when we first got here, she never felt like a normal classmate. Like she was just tolerating us, not really with us."
Yue's eyes flicked toward Shea, her voice calm but sharp. "You were saying something similar last night… after sex."
Shea choked on air, her ears twitching wildly as she flailed. "H-Huh?! I-I have no idea what you're talking about!"
I sighed, already regretting this conversation. "Seriously?"
Yue didn't let up, her expression unreadable. "You were very talkative. And clingy."
Shea's face turned bright red. "A-Anyway! Back to Selena!" She pointed dramatically toward where Selena had vanished. "She's the real focus here, right? Right?! Let's talk about how much she's changed!"
Yue's lips twitched in amusement, but she didn't push further. Instead, she simply nodded. "It's rare to see her like this. It's… nice."
Shea exhaled in relief before quickly regaining her energy. "And Tio's clearly good for her! Even if they're both a little, well… you know."
I groaned. "Don't remind me."
Yue simply nodded again. "Even perverts deserve happiness."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I am not getting involved in that mess."
Shea beamed. "Oh, you totally will. Just wait~."
I grumbled under my breath, but deep down, I knew one thing—whether she liked it or not, Selena wasn't as alone as she used to be.
And maybe… that was a good thing.
Selena POV
It was later in the evening, and Hajime and I were standing on one of the make-shift ramparts that we made to protect the village. Aiko was with us, her face tight with worry as she gnawed at her nails, her usual warmth dampened by the weight of war.
"Have you still not found Yukitoshi Shimizu?" she asked, voice strained.
Hajime shook his head, arms crossed as he gazed into the distance. "Nope. My drones have been scouting two mountain peaks, but so far, nothing. I'll let you know if I find him. But chances are, whoever is leading this army might be him." He turned his sharp gaze toward her, tone firm. "You should prepare yourself for the possibility that one of your students is about to kill hundreds of people."
Aiko flinched, her breath hitching. "Don't say that, Nagumo. You don't know that for sure." Her voice wavered—she wasn't naïve, just desperately clinging to hope.
Hajime sighed, his expression softening just a fraction. "Look, I'll make sure to bring the kid leading this army to you. But you have to trust me—I won't kill him."
Aiko hesitated before nodding. "Fine… And I'm sorry. First, I told you not to fight, and now I'm asking you to fight a war for us."
"Don't worry about it, Tech," he said with a smirk. "I'm doing this for me."
Below us, our classmates stood near the wall we had built, whispering anxiously among themselves. Meanwhile, I was off to the side, pressing into the shadows, trying my best to pretend I didn't exist. The weight of their gazes, the thought of their judgment—it was suffocating.
But I wasn't lucky enough to go unnoticed.
"Tio," Hajime called out, looking toward a nearby tree. "If you're going to hide, at least do a better job of it."
Tio coughed before stepping forward, clearing her throat as though she had been caught mid-scheme. "A moment, please?"
Hajime raised an eyebrow, instantly wary. "Yeah?"
Tio met his gaze, her usual air of confidence tinged with something more serious. "After this is over… you'll be leaving, right?"
"Yeah."
"And you'll be traveling around, following your own goals?"
"Yes. Get to the point, Tio. I hate roundabout ways of asking things."
She inhaled deeply, her golden eyes gleaming with determination. "May I join you on your quest?"
Hajime tilted his head slightly before shifting his gaze to me. "I don't know. What do you think?" he asked, as if my opinion would make or break the decision.
I hesitated, my fingers curling slightly at my sides. It wasn't that I was against the idea—I'd already expected it—but I also knew that traveling with Tio would mean never-ending headaches. Still, I wasn't about to argue over something that had already been decided.
I shrugged. "You're in charge, so I'll go with whatever you say."
Hajime smirked. "And if I say no?"
"Then I'd say you're letting go of a valuable partner." My voice was calm, assured—at least, on the surface.
Tio nodded, as if sealing the deal herself. "Indeed. I will be of great assistance."
Hajime chuckled, giving in. "There you have it, Tio. You're in."
Tio placed a hand over her heart, smiling triumphantly. "I promise to look after her," she declared. "And give her long walks. We can even share a bed again."
I froze.
My brain short-circuited.
What?
What?!
No, absolutely not! That was a lie—an outright, insane, ridiculous lie!
The reaction was immediate.
Aiko's jaw dropped. "What did you do, Selena?!"
"Did she already—?" Yuka's face turned bright red, her gaze darting between us in horrified disbelief.
"Perverts," Yue muttered, her tone flat with disapproval.
I felt my soul leave my body.
Before I could so much as blink, Tio suddenly stepped in front of me, throwing her arms around me in a dramatic flourish.
"Do not worry, Mistress," she declared, voice carrying across the wall. "I shall shield you from their prying eyes!"
I was going to die. Right there. Just curl up and perish.
I had spent this whole time trying to remain unseen, making myself as small as possible, and yet—I had been dragged into the center of attention anyway.
No success.
None at all.