"No, it's just the beginning."
Lynn's calm voice echoed.
"Huh?"
Asuna was stunned, not understanding what Lynn meant.
Hearing that, Hitagi narrowed her eyes and explained, "What appeared just now was only the shadow of the Heavy Stone Crab."
Asuna suddenly understood. "So, that means the Heavy Stone Crab might come back and cause trouble?"
Thinking about it, a chill ran down Asuna's spine.
Just the shadow alone had made her feel how small and powerless a human truly was.
If the real body appeared…
She shivered.
"Cause trouble?"
Hitagi glanced at Lynn and muttered, "Why do I get the feeling it's not the crab causing trouble?"
Lynn grinned. "Didn't expect you to understand me so well after such a short time."
"No," Hitagi shook her head, "Like I said, you don't bother hiding your thoughts at all…"
"So, you want to go?"
Lynn chuckled. "Of course."
The Heavy Stone Crab had glared at him with so much resentment…
Naturally, there was no way Lynn would just let it go.
Suddenly.
Master, Master~
A voice echoed in Lynn's mind.
He raised his brow. "Stella?"
Yup!
Stella's sweet voice answered, followed by another voice.
Master.
Luna's voice joined in.
That Heavy Stone Crab… seems to be of some use to me.
Lynn looked surprised.
Luna continued, The moment it appeared, my star map reacted.
Lynn stroked his chin, narrowing his eyes. "I see."
That made it even more worth hunting the crab down.
—
Meanwhile, under Lynn's purification, Hitagi felt her body growing heavier and heavier.
Her weight had finally returned.
Two years…
It had been two whole years since she last felt the physical sense of being alive.
Her emotions surged, and a smile unconsciously formed on her lips.
But with that weight came unbearable pain and memories.
And…
Her mother.
"Ugh…"
Hitagi groaned, her brows furrowing as the smile faded, replaced by pain.
She pressed her temples, clenching her teeth. Cold sweat ran down her face, but she could only grit through it.
She had mentally prepared herself to reclaim her weight.
However…
The sheer tide of negative emotions still nearly overwhelmed her.
Her body swayed, her steps became unsteady.
Then suddenly.
A large, warm hand rested gently on her head.
"And your soul too."
Lynn's voice rang out softly.
A gentle, calming power flowed from his hand into Hitagi's body, soothing the turmoil in her heart.
Hitagi blinked in surprise, then looked up at Lynn, her eyes dazed.
Subconsciously, she leaned into his chest, buried her face, and mumbled.
"…Dad."
Asuna: "?"
Lynn: "?"
The corners of Lynn's mouth twitched, his eyes showing brief surprise.
He had met many people, recruited many girls into his peerage… but this was a first.
He and Asuna exchanged glances, both reading the same complicated thoughts in the other's eyes.
But Hitagi was completely unaware, clinging tighter to Lynn, still muttering the word, "Dad…"
After a while.
The storm of painful memories settled down.
Hitagi slowly regained clarity.
Then she froze.
She…
What had she just done?
Clung to Lynn's chest and even called him… Dad?
Ugh…
Stay calm! Just stay calm!!
But…
She couldn't calm down at all!!
And…
Lynn smelled really nice. Like a father.
Hitagi's eyes looked dazed.
Also…
That feeling…
Was really comforting.
Even the painful memories seemed a little lighter.
Hmm…
So that's it…
As she leaned against Lynn, a new understanding seemed to dawn on her.
Hitagi slowly lifted her head, the corners of her lips curving upward. "Dad."
Lynn: "?"
He replied in a complicated tone, "Shouldn't you be awake by now?"
Hitagi stepped back from his embrace, tucking her hair behind her ear. Her eyes carried a playful glint. "Don't you like it?"
Lynn narrowed his eyes. "Can't say I dislike it."
He was used to being addressed that way, but this was a unique experience.
Hearing that, Hitagi's smile deepened. She clasped her hands behind her back, took a few steps back, then turned around with a blush on her cheeks.
She hadn't expected herself to act so boldly.
But…
That moment really did feel good.
The weight in her heart had lifted again.
She gently touched her chest.
Her heart was racing.
Was it…
Because she had found hope?
Also…
Now that the curse of the Heavy Stone Crab was gone, her entire body felt much lighter.
To the side, Asuna's eyelid twitched.
She really shouldn't be here right now.
—
On the other end, Lynn narrowed his eyes.
Earlier, through the breath of the phantom, he had locked onto the real location of the Heavy Crab.
So—
Buzz—
A black magic circle rose beneath his feet.
The sudden flare snapped Asuna and Hitagi out of their thoughts.
Hitagi steadied herself and asked, "What's this?"
"Teleportation magic."
Both Hitagi and Asuna's eyes widened slightly.
"Magic? Teleportation?"
Even Hitagi, who had witnessed many strange things, was surprised to see magic with her own eyes.
"So, we're going to find that Heavy Crab now?"
Realization flashed in Hitagi's eyes, then she asked, "Can I come too?"
She was curious.
About the Heavy Stone Crab that had stolen her weight.
Lynn nodded. "Sure."
Hearing that, Hitagi walked to his side and naturally took his arm.
Asuna's eyelids twitched.
"Isn't that identity shift a little too fast?"
Hitagi blinked. "I can't help it. I'm already a devil, and…"
"You're an accomplice~"
Accomplice?!
Asuna's expression froze.
Hitagi continued, "If you hadn't brought the devil here, I might still be all alone."
"So…"
She smiled warmly. "Thank you."
Asuna opened her mouth, then sighed helplessly. "That's not the kind of thanks I want…"
As Shuchiin's student council president, not only did she witness Lynn recruiting someone into his peerage…
She also became one of the accomplices.
Her conscience was in pain.
"Well then, see you next time…"
Hitagi waved toward Asuna.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, Asuna stepped forward and grabbed Lynn's other arm.
Hitagi: "?"
Asuna smiled. "Mind taking me with you?"
Lynn shrugged.
One's fine, two's no problem.
The next moment.
The black magic circle glowed brightly!
In an instant, Lynn and the two girls vanished.
—
Somewhere far from Shuchiin.
In a damp, pitch-black cave.
A black magic circle lit up.
Moments later, Lynn, Hitagi, and Asuna appeared.
Both girls looked slightly dazed.
"Is this… another location?"
They looked around in amazement.
Just one step and they'd been transported to a whole new place.
This was real teleportation magic!
They were visibly excited.
Roar—
Suddenly.
A deep roar echoed from the depths of the cave!
The sound reverberated, and the cave walls began to tremble. Stones and debris crumbled from the ceiling.
"What was that?!"
Asuna cried out.
Hitagi quickly calmed down. "The Heavy Stone Crab might've noticed us."
"This is its lair, after all."
As she spoke—
A heavy thudding sound echoed from deep inside.
It sounded like something massive was crawling.
Soon.
Two massive, bulb-like orbs appeared from the shadows, gently swaying in the air.
Gulp!
Asuna swallowed hard. "A-Are those its eyes?"
Lynn calmly answered, "You'll see."
With a snap of his fingers, radiant light burst outward like a tidal wave, instantly illuminating the entire cavern like it was daytime.
The moss-covered stone walls glowed with faint green light.
And—
"So big…"
Asuna's eyes widened.
The scale of the underground cave was astounding.
But what truly captured their attention…
Was the monstrous crab nearly filling the entire space.
Its shell shimmered with a dull glow, rough and ancient like eroded rock.
The edges of its carapace were jagged like saw teeth, each gleaming under the light like a dagger.
Its legs were like stone pillars, covered in hardened shell and jagged with spikes thicker than a human arm.
Hiss—
Just the sight of it made both Asuna and Hitagi tremble.
"This is… the real Heavy Stone Crab?"
Asuna's breath hitched. Her mouth went dry, her heart pounding wildly.
Roar!
Suddenly.
The Heavy Stone Crab let out a thunderous roar and charged at them on its eight massive legs!
The ground shook violently with each step!
Seeing this, Lynn stepped forward calmly. "Stay put."
"Huh?!"
Asuna panicked. "Wait! Are we really going to fight that monster?!"
"Yes. Or…"
She hesitated, voice trembling.
Should they just teleport back instead?
There's no way they could fight something like that, right?
But before she could say more.
Lynn's aura flared, and he vanished.
In the blink of an eye!
Lynn appeared above the Heavy Stone Crab.
"!"
Even the beast's eyes showed human-like shock.
The next second.
Buzz—
An overwhelming gravitational force surged toward Lynn!
He grinned. "How kind. You even gave me a buff?"
As his words fell—
Whoosh—
A flicker of flame wrapped around Lynn's foot.
And then—
He slammed down hard onto the top of the Heavy Stone Crab's head!
BOOM!!
(To be continued.)