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  • Chapter 134: SIDE – Arlyn & Anne, Part 1

    — THIS CHAPTER TAKES PLACE ON THE NIGHT VAN LEFT THE CAPITAL — THE NIGHT HE FREED LALYN AND BELIAL

    [VAN!]

    Arlyn’s voice rang out as Van stepped silently under the cold night sky. He was on the cobblestone street just outside Lalyn’s house, having left undetected.

    He stopped, sensing the dragon’s presence.

    […I felt it. Magus’s presence lifted from Lalyn.]

    “…That so? How fortunate,” Van muttered.

    He didn’t turn around. Arlyn opened her beak slightly, but no words followed.

    “You don’t have to say anything, Arlyn,” Van said. “We’re equal now, right?”

    [You… You wish that were the case, Van Hellix.]

    [After all those years… That was the least you could do to make amends.]

    Silence lingered between them.

    [She… She will need someone to lean on.]

    “Oh?” Van turned slightly, expression unreadable. “Surely you don’t mean me?”

    Arlyn looked down. Quiet.

    “Well,” Van continued, “she has you. Her daughter. Marcy. Amoria. Those twins…”

    He paused.

    “…Let’s just leave it at that, Arlyn. There’s nothing else to say. I released her because I coul—”

    He stopped. Marcy’s image flashed in his mind. How he’d left her under the spell.

    “…Anyway,” he finished quietly, “I freed her. Let that be enough.”

    He turned to leave.

    [Is this… really all you amounted to, VAN HELLIX!?]

    [You leave her now, knowing she’ll lose her mind, and that’s everything you can do for her!?]

    Van stopped again.

    “…Yeah,” he said.

    “I’m just… too exhausted to do more, Arlyn.”

    He looked down, voice trailing into the darkness.

    “I just want to be done with it. Sorry.”

    And then he vanished into the shadows.

    — TWO YEARS AFTER VAN’S DEPARTURE —

    The sun hung low over the Magic Academy campus. Anne walked hand in hand with a guy Lizzy had introduced her to. She had been dating him for a few weeks now.

    “Let’s go grab something to eat, Anne?” he asked with a casual smile.

    ‘AGAIN…?’ She thought, exasperated.

    In her mind, Lizzy’s voice chimed in.

    ‘Now remember! Boys like it when you’re nice to them! Just smile along when he tries to be considerate!’

    ‘Haah…’ Anne sighed internally. ‘The moment he found out I like to eat, it’s been nothing but restaurants. It’s like he’s not even a person… Can’t I just say something?’

    But then Lizzy’s advice returned like clockwork:

    ‘Most guys don’t like it when you try to course-correct them! They’ll get hurt! If you don’t like him, just bear with it, or break up and find someone better!’

    ‘I don’t even know why I keep listening to her. She’s never held a relationship longer than two months…’

    Anne stopped walking.

    “Listen, dude,” she said. “Can you take me somewhere else? It’s been nothing but restaurants lately. And then back to my dorm to bang. It’s getting old.”

    “H-huh?” he blinked. “Well, you chow down like a hog, haha.”

    She flinched.

    “And you never complain when we… y’know, do that. So what—do you really hate it? Or are you just looking for something to complain about?”

    She violently rolled her eyes.

    He grinned, looking at hear heavy chest, not noting her expression, “Man, Anne, you’re so cute when you—”

    “Yeah. We’re done.” Anne yanked her hand violently from his grip. “Fuck off.”

    “W-What…?” he stammered. “Don’t be like that! I was joking! You’re not seriously hurt by that, are you?”

    “Sorry,” she spat. “I’m not your personal sex slave you can buy access to with food. Try that shit on someone else.”

    “C-Come on, you’re not that!”

    His voice rose, drawing glances from passing students.

    “A couple’s fight…?” someone murmured.

    “Yeah, and the sun’s not yellow,” Anne snapped. “You think just because I smiled, it meant I liked you calling me a pig ‘jokingly’? Or that I enjoy being dragged to a restaurant every time, like a pet you toss snacks to before getting laid?”

    He flinched.

    “Any time I suggested something different, you acted like it was a test. Like proving you’re a ‘man’ meant ignoring what I wanted.”

    Her voice rose.

    “Well, congrats. You’re the limpest dick of a man I’ve ever met!”

    A few onlookers gasped.

    “Limp, huh?” he barked back, suddenly emboldened. “That’s not what you were moaning when we fucked in your dorm—”

    CRACK.

    Anne’s fist landed clean against his jaw, sending him crashing onto the pavement.

    “FUCKER…” she growled, fists trembling.

    The crowd murmured in every direction.

    “Huuuh… she’s a slut and a psycho?”

    “Ungrateful too. ‘You’re paying for me!? Pay more!’” someone mocked.

    “Like she has the right to complain. She’s nothing but pampered.”

    “Well, it’s Anne. What did you expect—cock-hungry bitch.”

    Anne flinched. Her lips pressed tight, fists shaking as their whispers grew crueler.

    “I’ve known her since we were kids. Always been like this—ugly, loud, fake…”

    “If she died tomorrow, no one would care. Just deluded trash pretending she’s better than us.”

    Her teeth clenched. Her vision blurred with rage.

    “YOU FUCKERS!!!” she screamed. “FUCK ALL OF YOU!! SAY THAT TO MY FACE!!!“

    Gasps and laughter followed.

    “Oh no, she’s gonna punch us next…”

    “See? Total bitch.”

    Anne turned and stormed off, fists clenched, heart pounding.

    In a quiet corner near the shadows, someone had been watching.

    When Van and Anne went to the Royal Capital pool two years ago, he’d seen the same thing—the whispers, the judgment, the cruelty. He’d marked their faces back then.

    And now, he marked them again.

    The same people. Without fail.

    Anne fled to a shadowy space between the buildings. Alone. Sniffling. Fighting the tears that demanded release.

    ‘Just ignore them, Anne…‘ Lizzy’s voice echoed in her mind.

    “FUCK YOU!!” she sobbed, violently. “I CAN’T IGNORE THEM!! I… I CAN’T… DO THIS ANYMORE!!!”

    Her voice cracked as she fell to her knees, choking back sobs.

    ‘I need… you here.’

    Van’s image appeared in her mind.

    And then, a voice called from behind. Low. Familiar. Like an answer from fate.

    “Heya.”

    Firm. Playful. Real.

    Anne gasped. Her tear-filled eyes widened, locked onto the cold ground ahead of her. She wasn’t sure if what she heard was real—or who that voice even belonged to.

    She didn’t really know why she had missed him so much. They hadn’t known each other for long at all. She’d had people in her life longer—boyfriends, even Lizzy.

    But ever since they met, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. And with him…

    “Sorry for being late,” the voice added.

    …she felt safe.

    She turned around and threw herself at the figure in the dark, burying her face in his chest, shaking and sobbing.

    “Y-You bastard…” she cried. “Leaving… like that… A-Ahhh…”

    His hand came to rest gently on her head.

    “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Guess I’m a little late for our promised date, huh?”

    His other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her in.

    She didn’t respond—only cried harder, drenching his shirt with tears and snot, fists clutching tightly at the fabric.

    Van didn’t let go.

    “And,” he gently pushed her back to look into her teary eyes, “you deserve…”

    ‘An explanation…’ The thought crossed his mind.

    But then he remembered Alicia’s words….

    “No! Don’t tell her that,” Alicia warned.

    “Why not?”

    “It’ll ruin her,” she said sharply.

    “Ruin her…?” Van tilted his head at Alicia.

    She then began detailing:

    “In her head, you’re probably some dreamy stud on a white horse since you showed up and vanished before she ever saw your bad spots. If you tell her: ‘Duhh… I’m actually old enough to be your dad. I’m Van Hellix. Duhh, you’ve been in love with your father’s friend, duhhh. I’m married to the Demon Lord, and you had 0 in a 0 in a 0 in a 0 in a 0000000000!!! chance at anything romantic with me’—she’ll be grossed out. Bewildered. Sure, she’ll feel trusted… but she won’t feel seen or respected. I was under the impression Varlog drilled this into your skull already.”

    Alicia folded her arms, punctuating the statement with a long sigh.

    “I don’t talk like that, duhh,” Van said, deadpan.

    “But you understand, don’t you?” Alicia looked at him directly.

    A pause lingered.

    “Yeah. I get it. Especially since I’m just here to keep a promise… not start a life.”

    He leaned in closer to her. “Someone already beat her to the punch there.”

    Alicia blushed, smiling as she slipped an arm around his waist, pulling him close.

    “Damn straight. Now go make this girl happy—like I know you can.”

    ————– BACK TO THE PRESENT ————–

    “…Deserve to eat some good food!” Van said with a smile.

    “Ah…” Anne blinked, unsure what to say. She’d heard that line so many times that—

    “I’m kidding,” he added, still smiling.

    “YOU… FUCKING BASTARD…!” she growled, punching his chest—though she couldn’t stop herself from smiling.

    From the shadows, Alicia watched with a grin.

    ‘Good boy.’

    She then turned toward the campus, where students roamed about.

    ‘Now then… let’s finish this quickly. Don’t want to overburden Varlog with taking care of Bella for too long…’

    She stepped into the light, shifting her form into that of one of the academy’s magic instructors.

    —- MEANWHILE, AT ARNOLT’S WORKSHOP —-

    “There, there… who’s a cute little dollllll~ Yes, you are…”

    “WAAAAAAHHHH…!!” Bella burst into tears in Varlog’s arms as he tried to coo her.

    ‘Hmm… She’s been like this for 40 minutes… My dear Bella… my dearest granddaughter, aren’t you a noisy one…’

    “HEY!!!” A shout rang from across the workshop.

    “OLD MAN! STILL CAN’T CALM HER DOWN!?”

    Belial appeared from behind the counter, smith’s gear on, dropping his tools as he walked over.

    “Ahh… I’m not sure what my little devil is crying about. I’ve tried everything…!” Varlog said softly, clearly worried.

    Belial leaned in, looking down at Bella.

    “She take a shit?”

    “Already changed her.” 

    “Hungry?”

    “Fed!”

    Belial squinted at her. “Hmmm… She’s like her unc, then. You wanna look at some swords!?”

    He grinned, childlike.

    “OH, DO NOT BE RIDICULOUS, BELIAL! Why would a baby want to—”

    “Wahahaha… ahahahaha…” Bella suddenly giggled, waving her arms toward Belial.

    ‘Huh…!’ Varlog thought, intrigued.

    “You DO, don’t ya! WAIT HERE, I’ll get some swords!” Belial turned to rush off and Bella immediately started wailing again.

    “O-OH! SON! COME BACK! FORGET THE SWORD!” Varlog shouted, hurrying over to him.

    “What? If ya want her to stop cryin’, you want a sword—”

    Without waiting, Varlog shoved Bella into Belial’s arms.

    “HEY, OLD MAN, WHAT THE FU… FRING are you doing!?” Belial scrambled to support her properly.

    But Bella instantly stopped crying, her tiny face lighting up with laughter as she stared at him.

    “Ah…?” Belial looked down, confused.

    Varlog chuckled.

    “Hmhmhm… It seems little Bella likes you.”

    Belial flinched.

    “N… No… T-take her off me… She shouldn’t…”

    He trembled under her gaze, sweat beading down his face.

    Varlog gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

    “That curse has long since lifted. You’ve seen proof of that, time and again, with our people. Please, my boy. Let yourself be loved again.”

    Belial’s eyes flicked between Varlog and Bella.

    “…But… I’m a piece of shit. No one likes me for who I am. You know that. It was NEVER that…”

    “Van does, doesn’t he?” Varlog cut in softly. “A human.”

    Belial’s breath caught. His shivering stopped.

    He looked down at the niece in his arms—eyes wide, curious, unafraid.

    “…Sorry, lil’ Bell,” he sighed. “Yer uncle’s not that pathetic all the time. Now… let’s look at some swords—”

    “Nope.” Varlog smiled, blocking his path with a single hand.

    “Hrnnn…” Belial growled under his breath as Varlog easily held him back.

    Meanwhile, across the shop, Arnolt, the dwarf from Van’s old party that took down Kota, the fire mage, watched the scene unfold.

    ‘…I didn’t make a mistake hiring a demon, right…’ He squinted at the three of them, then looked away with a gruff snort.

    ‘Well… talent’s rare these days. Guess I’ll let it slide again…’

    ‘Good to see that half-demon runt smiling again… Not that I care.’ (He does)

  • Chapter 101: Rep Hit, Part 1

    Shun opened the door to the clubroom, the Disciplinary Committee’s clubroom.

    He came looking for Hiyori, hoping to ask what was going on with her. But he had another reason, too. Something more personal.

    He wanted to speak to Shiyon directly.

    Seeing his nerves, Miyuki Hanazawa decided to accompany him.

    “Oh, Shun-chun~ ❤ How are you doing? Shouldn’t you be in class?” Shiyon called out, lounging lazily in his chair.

    The room was empty—he was alone.

    ‘Haah… there’s no one else here…‘ Shun sighed in quiet relief.

    “And Hanazawa-chun?” Shiyon added with a smirk. “You need something too?”

    “Nah, I’m good. Just his bodyguard,” she replied with a shrug, leaning casually on Shun’s shoulder.

    “Ahh… I see. How cute~ <3” Shiyon purred. “Then, tell me… Why would Shun-chun need a bodyguard?”

    He tilted his head with a smile, though his tone turned sharp.

    “Are you planning to topple me, Shun-chun?”

    “N-No! Shiyon-san!” Shun blurted. “I… I came to tell you something.”

    “Oh? I see…” Shiyon muttered as he turned in his chair, his expression briefly shadowed. “What a shame,” he whispered under his breath—then stood up, smiling vibrantly again.

    “Then, I hope it’s something important,” he said, voice playful but edged. “Otherwise… I might have to punish you for skipping class coming here.”

    “Uh… Shiyon-san,” Shun stepped forward, gathering his courage. “I’ve decided to stay in the Culture Club. I won’t ask you to train me… or anything like that anymore.”

    “…Huh.” Shiyon tilted his head, unblinking.

    “That so?” Shiyon asked, sounding almost bored.

    “Yes,” Shun said. “I realize what you were trying to tell me. And I’ve made up my mind. No matter what happens… I’m going to stick with what I chose. Even if it’s not through you, I’ll find another way to get stronger.”

    He looked up, fist clenched.

    For a brief moment, as Shiyon stared at him, something flickered behind his eyes… a distant image of Yuuno, years ago. His gaze softened.

    “…I see,” Shiyon finally said. “In that case, I’ll forgive you for skipping class. Just this once.”

    “Y-Yeah… Uh… also, Hiyori…” Shun hesitated. “Is she really… happy here?”

    He glanced down. “Sato-kun won’t admit it, but he’s… pretty broken up about her leaving the Culture Club. She’s not being forced, right?”

    Shiyon blinked, then stared at him blankly.

    “What kind of question is that?” he said flatly. “Hiyoricchi’s one of the few people I actually acknowledge for her strength. No one forces her to do anything.”

    Shun felt a chill.

    ‘Why… does he look so empty?‘ he thought, remembering Shiyon’s blood-covered expression at the resort.

    ‘He looks… just like back then.‘

    “If that’s all,” Shiyon said, sighing as he turned back to his chair, “you can go. Tell Shizume-kun I said hello.”

    ‘He said kun this time…’ Shun thought.

    “R-Right. Thanks.”

    Shun bowed briefly, and he and Miyuki turned to leave.

    As they stepped out, Miyuki gave Shiyon one last glance.

    He was still smiling. Still cheerful.

    But something behind his eyes…

    ‘He sounds like himself,‘ she thought.’But he looks… different.‘

    ‘Is it just my imagination…?‘

    ————- MEANWHILE… Another situation was brewing…. ——–

    “Damn. It really makes me happy, ya know?” Sendo said as they both walked toward the gym. Kenichi looked down, his heart thumping in his ears.

    “I… I’m really happy ya’ wanna try Kendo again.” Sendo murmured as he scratched his head.

    Kenichi gasped lightly as he looked down, a subtle frown on his face.

    “Ah… that so?” Kenichi murmured softly, trailing a few steps behind.

    “Hey, that’s Kenichi walking with Sendo,” one of the students whispered as they passed.

    “So they finally worked it out, huh?”

    Murmurs echoed around them. After all, Kenichi had exploded a while back over his childhood friend dating Sendo and even quit the Kendo club because of it.

    Some students found the sight refreshing. They saw Kenichi walking beside Sendo, assumed he had matured, and smiled. Nothing seemed out of place, so they simply looked away and moved on with their day.

    But seeing that earnest light in Sendo’s face… it pinched Kenichi’s heart. Especially knowing the real reason he asked to “train” with him. He thought, maybe this was a mistake…

    … However when there’s something genuine… Where there’s depth and vulnerability…

    “Hah,” a student suddenly called out, “I guess he no longer minds being a cuck!”

    “…!!”

    …There’s always someone ready to tear it down for their own vanity.

    “Hey, Kenichi! If ya can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right? Maybe he’ll let you sit on the chair while they do it!”

    They laughed.

    “Gotta be it,” one of them added. “No one walks with the guy who cucked him unless they’re hoping to be part of it somehow!”

    Purpose doesn’t matter. Complexity doesn’t matter. The least emotionally invested are always the first to shout. They mock, dissect, and tear things down; not to understand, but to feel superior to those who actually create, who risk something real, who try to grow.

    Maybe Kenichi would’ve changed. If the ones who cared had ever spoken as loudly as the ones who didn’t.

    “Don’t listen to those fucks—HEY! Kenichi ain’t a CUCK, YOU FUCKERS!” Sendo barked, startling the crowd.

    But by then, it was too late. The damage was already done. The blow had already landed right where Kenichi was most vulnerable.

    He couldn’t unhear what they said. Couldn’t unsee their mocking expressions. Couldn’t forget how it made him feel.

    Kenichi clenched his teeth again, his hatred and resolve reinforcing within him.

    ‘No… What am I even feeling guilty for?’

    ‘They’re right.’ He thought, his fist tightening.

    ‘He fucking deserves this…!!’

    “Sorry, sorry…” the students muttered sheepishly as Kenichi and Sendo kept walking.

    Sendo placed a hand on his shoulder.

    “It’s aight. Don’t listen to—”

    Kenichi brushed it off subtly, but firmly.

    “…Let’s just get to the gym, please?” he said quietly, eyes fixed straight ahead.

    Sendo sighed, watching Kenichi walk on.

    “…”

    After a moment, he followed.

    ‘I’m so close… I’ll bring Sendo down. He shouts and struts around like he owns the school. Like he owns Hina… No. I won’t let him keep doing whatever the hell he wants…’ Kenichi thought, gaze lowered.

    ‘I just have to do what Yuuno said… Alright.’

    ‘Fuck… it still hurts…’ he winced, clutching his arm. ‘Where he hit…’

    EARLIER….

    “Stay still. You don’t want me to hit somewhere really painful, right?” Yuuno said calmly, his tone soft but cold, gripping the shinai in his hand.

    ‘That look…’ Kenichi stared at him. ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d think he actually hates me…’

    “I know we need to do this, but it just hurts… I can’t help it—” Kenichi tried to reason, but Yuuno cut him off.

    “What did I just fucking tell you?” His eyes sharpened. “I guess you don’t mind your girl getting railed by Sendo, huh?” he spat, his lip curling as he lowered the shinai.

    “I guess your resolve isn’t all that, then. I was wrong about you. Let’s stop here—”

    “I… I do!!” Kenichi shouted. “I-I want him to stop! P-please… keep going!”

    “…”

    Yuuno gave a faint smirk.

    “Then…” he raised the shinai again.

    “HOLD STILL.”

    ————— PRESENT ———–

    “ALRIGHT!” Kenichi shouted, facing Sendo alone in the gym. He raised his shinai toward him, voice trembling with fire.

    “I’m ready, Sendo-kun! Give me everything…!! I… Look at my Kendo!“

    Sendo grinned wide, eyes shining with excitement as he raised his own shinai.

    MEANWHILE

    “Huh?” Hina murmured as she spotted Yuuno. “Yuuno… senpai…?”

    She stood with her friends, who immediately began whispering among themselves, starstruck.

    “Woah, he’s so tall… and pretty.“

    “Oh my god, he’s hitting on youuuuu!“

    “A love triangleeeee,” they teased with giggles and flushed faces.

    “H-Hina, right?” Yuuno said, looking at her casually.

    “A-Ah… is there something you need?” she asked, still a little stunned.

    “Oh. Nothing alarming,” he said, calm and cool. “It really shouldn’t bother you, but… Sendo-kun is your boyfriend, right?”

    She nodded, her expression tensing slightly.

    “Is something wrong?” she asked.

    “Oh—no, no. Nothing. It’s just…” He rubbed the back of his neck, flashing a sheepish smile. “I think he’s being a little too hard on Kenichi in the gym. I happened to walk by and saw them. Not alarming or anything. It’s Sendo, after all. He wouldn’t hurt a mosquito. That’s all.”

    With that, he turned and walked off.

    ‘Alright… good. Now she’s bound to go there.‘ he thought with a smirk, catching her glancing back toward her friends who were already whispering and giggling about checking it out.

    Before long, they were heading toward the gym.

    BACK IN THE GYM

    “Saying dees things…!!” Sendo shouted. “IF YOU SHOUT LIKE DAT, I’MMA GET EXCITED!! DON’T BLAME ME IF SOMETHING HAPPENS!!”

    His hands gripped the shinai tight, feet shifting forward.

    ‘He… he likes Kendo again…!‘ Sendo thought, a rush of emotion rising inside him.

    ‘I’m… so happy…!!‘

    But in Kenichi’s mind, a very different memory played back, with Yuuno’s voice echoing in his head.

    “If you say that to that moron,” Yuuno had said, leaning against the wall with a half-smirk, “he’ll spring right at you. All you have to do is get hit. And fall.”

    “Let me, and the bruises you’ve taken from ‘Sendo’, do the rest.”

    ‘Yeah… just like he said.‘ Kenichi thought, steadying his breath.

    Sendo came sprinting at him, broadcasting exactly where he was going to strike. Kenichi knew it. Being in the same club with Sendo, he could tell… Sendo was holding back.

    But Kenichi had already made up his mind.

    He raised his shinai, ready to block. Then, just as their weapons were about to clash, he loosened his grip.

    Sendo’s strike landed squarely on his shoulder.

    “Ah, sorr—” Sendo began, but Kenichi flung himself backward, letting out a sharp cry of pain.

    Sendo blinked, head tilted. He knew that hit wasn’t strong.

    “Dude, what’re ya doin’?”

    “AAAHK!” Kenichi screamed, hitting the ground hard. “IT HURTS…! SENDO-KUN, NO MORE…!”

    “Ahh!?” Sendo growled, stepping forward. “I didn’t even hit ya that hard!”

    “SENDO… PLEASE… STOP!! STOP!!!”

    “Hey, are ya joking with me—”

    “SENDO-KUN, STOP!“

    A voice cut through the gym like a blade.

    Sendo’s eyes darted to the entrance. That voice… he knew it. Hina. She stood there, eyes wide, flanked by her friends.

    Sendo’s mouth opened. He didn’t understand what was happening, it all went down too fast. But then it clicked.

    If he didn’t say something fast, she’d think he actually hurt Kenichi.

    “I-I just hit him once!” he called as Hina rushed to Kenichi’s side. “He just collapsed! I didn’t—he—!”

    Hina flinched as she peeled Kenichi’s collar aside, revealing mottled blue marks blooming across his skin.

    “Once…?” she growled.

    ‘What…!? This is way too much for a practice run!‘ she thought.

    “SENDO-KUN, HOW COULD YOU!?” she shouted, reeling back toward him.

    “Hina! What’s up!?” her friends ran in, only to freeze at the sight of Kenichi’s bruised body. Then they turned to Sendo, his lips parted, stunned. His face pale.

    “I… I didn’t hit him there!” he shouted. “I didn’t! I just struck his shoulder! Kenichi, tell her!”

    Kenichi flinched, biting his lip hard.

    ‘You serious, Sendo-kun…? You really can’t see what’s happening here? Oh…‘ his thoughts pounded behind his smirk.

    ‘You’ve had everyone sucking up to you for so long… just like Yuuno said. You need to be humbled. You took her from me…‘

    “It’s… okay, Hina,” Kenichi said hoarsely. “Sendo… I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt me like this. I asked for the match, after all…”

    “H-Huh…?” Sendo’s eyes narrowed, finally registering it.

    He’s lying.

    “YOU BASTARD!” he snapped, making everyone flinch.

    From the shadows, a figure smirked.

    “I FUCKIN’ HIT YOU JUST ONCE!! YOU LYIN’ PIECE OF SHIT!! YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF OR SOMETHING!? SO SHE’D WANNA FUCK YOU OR WHAT!? GET UP!!! GET UP SO I CAN BEAT YOU FOR REAL!!”

    Even though Kenichi had doubts… even though he knew this would ruin Sendo’s reputation—he couldn’t help but grin. Sendo’s breakdown played out exactly as planned.

    ‘Serves you right…‘

    “Please… Sendo…” Kenichi wheezed, sitting upright. “I’ve already accepted… that you’re dating her… That she’ll never be mine. I just… wanted to be in the Kendo club again.”

    Hina stared between them, torn.

    “Hina,” Kenichi added softly. “He probably just really loves Kendo. I’m sure it wasn’t on purpose…”

    Hina’s gaze softened as she looked at him, bruised and trembling.

    “HINA!!” Sendo exploded. “I DIDN’T FUCKIN’ DO ANYTHING TO THAT LYIN’ PIECE OF SHIT!!” His shinai trembled in his grip.

    “…Sendo-kun,” Hina said gently. “I get that you love Kendo. But Kenichi-kun isn’t the type to fake something like this. You… go overboard with everything Kendo-related.”

    “You probably didn’t even notice or—”

    “I NOTICED EVERYTHING!!” he screamed. The girls shrank back. Hina and Kenichi flinched as if standing in front of a beast.

    “I DIDN’T FUCKIN’ HIT HIM THAT HARD!! OR THAT MANY TIMES!!” he shouted.

    “So this is ‘not hard’ to you?” Hina snapped, pointing at Kenichi’s injuries. “This much is ‘not many!?’”

    Sendo froze.

    “Hina… it’s fine,” Kenichi whispered. “He just… really loves Kendo… So it’s really hard for him to hold back at times…”

    Sendo clenched his teeth, rage flooding his veins.

    “YOU LYING PIECE OF SHIT!!!” he screamed and lunged forward, grabbing Kenichi by the shirt and began pummeling him.

    “AHHK—!” Kenichi recoiled, shielding himself, but Sendo was relentless.

    “I FUCKIN’—” hit

    “DIDN’T—” hit

    “SENDO-KUN, STOP!!!” Hina screamed, trying to pull him off.

    “HIT“—hit

    “YOU!!” Another blow cracked his nose, blood spraying.

    “Sendo’s beating him!!” one friend shouted.

    “CALL A TEACHER!!“

    Sendo looked up, wild-eyed.

    “YOU CALL NO ONE!!! I DIDN’T DO SHIT!!” he roared.

    The room went silent. Frozen by Sendo’s roar.

    And then, in the stillness, he saw their faces.

    They were all staring at him. Terrified.

    His lips parted. The rage drained from his expression. He looked down.

    Kenichi was crumpled beneath his fist.

    “N… Nah… I… I didn’t hit him…” he mumbled, stumbling back as his face turned pale. He released Kenichi and took a step away.

    Hina quietly moved to Kenichi’s side, checking his bruises, trembling as she did. The others stood frozen, eyes fixed on Sendo like he was a monster.

    “Nah… I ain’t… I didn’t hurt him… D-Don’t look at me like dat…” he whispered.

    But they kept looking. Not speaking. Not moving.

    Just watching.

    ‘Why… why are they… scared? I didn’t… Why’d he lie? I…‘ His heart thundered in his ears.

    Sendo had stared down threats bigger than him without blinking. He’d fought, bled, and stood his ground even when his life was on the line.

    But now, surrounded by a few students, and the girl he liked staring at him like he was a monster… he felt powerless.

    Like this was a fight he could never win. Like no matter what he said, how hard he swung and fought… no one would ever take his side.

    And in that moment of uncertainty…

    Sendo turned and ran from the gym.

  • ?̸̧̧̛̛̛̛͎̲̻̱̯̣̋̍̑̊͒̽͗̒̍͐̾̅̓̇̒̈́̈́̌̌̅̇̊́̈̃͋̚͘̕͠͝

    “Junji Ito, the world’s greatest horror creator besides Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft, once said,” Yuuto looked out the window, deep in thought.

    “The things that scare me the most are the ones I can’t understand.”

    Yuuto looked away from the window, walking over to his bed, lying down and looking up at the ceiling.

    “He had a story once where there were balloons roaming around in the shape of your face, with a noose hanging beneath them. Each person on earth had a balloon like that. They weren’t just ordinary balloons. Each balloon would eventually find their ‘human’… and hang them. If you were to pop this balloon prematurely, you’d die. Once that balloon catches you, though, it hangs you… and you die anyway.” He took a deep sigh.

    “Naturally, as I’m not scared of anything, it didn’t really mean much to me. But I thought… why did it scare him? The reason is simple…”

    “Because you can’t reason with a balloon that wants to kill you in the shape of your face. You can’t find logic in that situation. Like you can’t find logic in a ghost appearing from the shadows that would put you in an eternal nightmare—or just lurk at the edge of your vision, watching you scream in terror. And then, it gradually gets closer until that ghost is all you can see… forever. Even if you gouge your eye out. You can’t reason with something like that. There’s no pattern. Nothing to be explained.” He inhaled deeply.

    “Same with NTR,” he thought as he closed his eyes.

    “Do you think you hate it because you hate cheating in general? That you cheer for the villain’s defeat because going after taken women is morally bankrupt? Wrong. In a realistic scenario (or one that tries to be), if you dig into a couple’s relationship deep enough, you’ll find emotional negligence, ambivalence, lack of reciprocation—hundreds of reasons leading up to it. There’s usually a good reason a woman or a man enjoys someone else’s company.”

    “No. You don’t hate NTR because of the act itself, or even cheer for its destruction because you value loyalty… Maybe you do, but it’s not the core of it.”

    “Not really…”

    “You hate it because of the same reason Junji Ito finds something scary…”

    “A lack of reason.”

    A beat. Yuuto opened his eyes, and stared at the void outside his room.

    “There’s absolutely nothing that makes sense about a loving and caring mother abandoning her child for cock, letting him get bullied and beaten just for another go with his bully.”

    He murmured as he looked into the abyss outside the window sharply.

    “There’s nothing that makes sense about a childhood friend who would rather watch you gurgle blood just so she could gargle your bully’s seed.”

    “Nothing.”

    “There’s no logic in it.”

    “And that… is why we hate it. And cheer when it’s obliterated and ‘handled’.”

    “And that is why…” He looked down at himself, at his hands. “My story’s losing strength. Why this original world feels duller than the rest. Why I’m losing strength. Because this story tries to make sense.”

    “You’ve seen me in other worlds. And most of the comments—the engagement, the celebrations, the cheers… the attention… the spotlight and fame… they all came when I tackled things that didn’t make sense. Things that stirred you deeply, the same way an illogical horror stirs Junji Ito.”

    “But here? In a world where everything has a reason…”

    “…I’m just some mentally ill guy.”

    He sighed.

    “Whether it’s a supernatural drug or emotional manipulation, you’ll find the reasoning behind every action.”

    “Anti-NTR Man… doesn’t exist in a world that makes sense.”

    “That being said…”

    His gaze darkened, his fist clenched.

    “… if the characters were made a beat shallower… if, like the balloons, there was something that couldn’t be reasoned with—some dark, unexplainable concept… if depth and logic were stripped just enough to elevate me and the emotional high I’m meant to give you…”

    “It’d be a different story, wouldn’t it?”

    He breathed in, and faced the silence.

    “So, dear readers…”

    “Am I wrong?”

  • Chapter 12: Ranger Danger

    Kiril sat with her knees curled up, arms wrapped tightly around them as she stared down. Light from outside cast soft glows across the fabric of the tent.

    Yuuto sat beside her, chewing on a packed sandwich, casually drinking all her water.

    “Thanks,” he said after finishing, flopping down on the tent floor; limbs sprawled like he didn’t have a care in the world.

    “…What now?” she asked, eyes drifting toward him.

    “Now we wait until tomorrow,” Yuuto replied, gaze fixed on the tent’s ceiling. “I still need to decide if I’ll explain why I joined this trip or keep hiding. Either way, I plan to leave here as a registered hunter.”

    “I see…” she murmured, looking away.

    Questions circled in her head like gnats.

    ‘How did you even get here? What about everything Uncle Wren told you? Did that mean nothing? Why would you hide being a hunter from me…?’

    But curiosity quickly gave way to fear. Hojin’s sneering face surfaced in her mind. She bit her lip, pressing it tight.

    “What about that мудак…? He might still say something. You know… to everyone.”

    Yuuto turned toward her.

    “So?” he said plainly. “What if he does?”

    “…!” Her breath caught.

    “If you want…” Yuuto sat up, eyes locking with hers. “I can make an announcement before he does.”

    “…What?” she blinked, thrown off.

    “Something like… hmm. ‘Hey, Kiril’s flat.’” His face was completely serious.

    “…дурачок!” she snapped, cheeks burning. “I told you, it’s bandages! My chest isn’t that small! It’s at least—!”

    “It’s not that,” Yuuto said, suddenly steady. “You’re scared we won’t be friends if he outs you, right? And tells everyone you’re a girl.”

    “…!” Her breath hitched. She lowered her gaze.

    “How… do you know that…?” her voice trembled.

    “I heard it via a bug I planted on Hojin,” Yuuto deadpanned.

    “…Be serious,” she muttered, frowning.

    ‘I am,’ He thought smugly.

    “Naturally—I ‘asked’ that big oaf what the rush was about.” He looked at her. “You held off on telling me because of that? Because you were worried we’d drift apart?”

    She looked away, unsure how to answer. Haruno was never this blunt. Never this bold.

    It almost felt like a stranger was sitting beside her.

    “…Just…” she bit her lip. “Who are you? You’re not… Haruno, are you?”

    Yuuto flinched subtly.

    “Haruno wouldn’t defy his uncle. Wouldn’t talk like this. So what changed?”

    Silence fell between them, with crickets filling the stillness.

    He stared at her as she struggled to maintain her gaze at him.

    He gave it a moment.

    ‘Hmph. If I were Haruno and had proper character development… I’d probably say something like this.’

    “I realized who matters and who doesn’t. That’s all,” he said finally.

    “…!” Her eyes widened.

    “I won’t stop hanging out with you. Or act scared anymore.” He spoke evenly. His gaze was clear, certain.

    “That way, you won’t have to worry about it getting out, right?”

    “….” The moment hung. Kiril took that moment to form yet another question that gnawed at her.

    “Why… why did you act scared, Haruno?” she asked softly. “You’re so strong… why would you let someone like him push you around?”

    ‘Bad writing.’ Yuuto thought, before answering aloud:

    “Out of respect for Uncle Wren,” he muttered. “He told me not to tell anyone, after all. It wasn’t that I feared Hojin.”

    He looked down, frowning.

    ‘Yeah… you could’ve crushed anyone who tried to step on you. But the reason you didn’t…’ Yuuto thought, the words forming as he spoke.

    ‘Was probably this…’

    “I was scared to hurt that shitty uncle’s feelings.” His voice darkened as Kiril’s breath hitched at his remark.

    “An uncle who only likes me when I suffer in silence. A manipulative piece of shit who thrives on me needing him…”

    His fists trembled.

    “Haruno…?” Kiril whispered, watching him shake.

    “Someone who stomps on the broken so he can feel tall,” Yuuto growled. “A bastard who calls it love…!!”

    He clenched harder.

    “…Unforgivable..!!!”

    “Haruno..!” Kiril called out again, louder this time.

    Yuuto blinked, exhaled. Her concerned expression reeled him back in. He let out a breath, voice quieter now.

    “…Anyway. It’s not that I acted scared. I was scared. Just not of Hojin.”

    He looked up at her. Steadier now.

    “And I realize Uncle Wren’s not worth it. Not when this is happening to you.”

    ‘That’s right. Haruno got a “bad feeling” about the trip and wanted to go. But he stayed behind… because Uncle Wren told him to. And that choice got Kiril killed.’

    “Either way,” Yuuto added, voice dry again, “when should we tell everyone you’re a girl?”

    Kiril remained silent. Her gaze fell. But after a tight breath, she looked up at him—calmer now. Resolved.

    “No. Don’t tell anyone,” she whispered.

    A blush rose to her cheeks.

    Yuuto watched her. Eyes narrowing—just slightly.

    “So it’s just our secret now,” she added, the blush deepening.

    Yuuto blinked.

    “Ours and Hojin’s, you mean,” he deadpanned. “He did get close enough to see you naked. Wonder if he thinks you’re flat.”

    “MUDAK!” she shouted, lunging at him in a burst of indignation.

    She landed on top of him, straddling him, hands on his shoulders—breathing hard, flushed, alive.

    “I… If… you… I mean…” she stammered, eyes darting away. “I… can confirm it for you…”

    “Kiril.” Yuuto cut her off.

    His voice was firm.

    He looked up at her, his expression flat at her bandage-covered chest.

    “Get off.”

    A beat.

    “I’m not even sure if I see you that way.”

    Kiril’s lips parted. A sob rose in her throat, but she stayed where she was, breathing through the ache.

    “…Yeah. You’re Haruno, alright…” she whispered bitterly as she clutched the fabric on his shoulders. “She’s still in your head, isn’t she? That… Misaki.”

    “Nah.” Yuuto shook his head. “She’s just an attention whore. I don’t care about her anymore.”

    He was calm. Cold. Certain.

    ‘That’s not someone I want to be with.’

    Kiril searched his face, looking for something, anything, to tell her he was joking.

    But there wasn’t even a flicker of hesitation.

    She let out a quiet breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. It grazed Yuuto’s cheek.

    “Then… w-why… don’t you… want me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

    “Am I not… to your liking, after all?”

    Yuuto looked at her.

    “It’s just…” he exhaled.

    ‘I’m not Haruno.’ He thought of saying it. But didn’t.

    Instead, after a long beat, he answered plainly…

    “I have a mommy fetish.”

    Kiril blinked.

    Yuuto continued, completely deadpan:

    “For me to like a woman, she has to be at least twice my size, and twice my muscle—but not like… bulging. She still needs to look feminine. Big curves. You don’t fall into that category.”

    Her lips parted.

    “…What the…”

    She stammered, unable to finish the sentence. Yuuto gently moved her hands off his shoulders and slid out from beneath her.

    “I’m going to sleep,” he said, shifting to the far side of the tent. He lay down, back turned, and closed his eyes.

    Kiril stared at him.

    She had made up her mind.

    She was going to throw herself onto him. She thought she’d found him—the Haruno she dreamed of. One who hated Misaki. Who defied Hojin. Even Uncle Wren.

    All for her.

    But this… this was too much.

    Her chest tightened. A wave of dread and nausea rose in her throat.

    ‘Of course…’

    Her eyes widened. She began inching backward on instinct; his last remarks snapping her out of the haze. The gratitude she’d felt twisted into unease as she finally connected the dots. This wasn’t the Haruno she knew.

    ‘Haruno would never say something like that. Or… anything he just said.’

    Her heart thumped in her ears.

    ‘This isn’t Haruno…!!!’

    “Uhm… Uh… T-that was your fetish?” she asked, her voice shaky. “I see. Wh-what a bastard… trying to be funny, haha…”

    She forced a smile.

    Yuuto didn’t respond.

    ‘Fuck… FUCK… What did this fucker do to Haruno!?’

    Her breath turned erratic. She tried to keep it quiet.

    She looked toward the tent flap.

    She needed to get out. Now.

    “….”

    But what if he’s dangerous? If he really took care of Hojin, he’s strong. She has to get to the hunters immediately.

    “G-Good night, Haruno… I’m just… going to get some air by the fire, okay?” Kiril murmured as she crawled out of the tent.

    Yuuto stayed lying there, sighing softly in annoyance.

    ‘I bet she would’ve killed herself after Hojin blackmailed her. Guess I stopped that. So now I’ll just lurk around this gate until we leave… and that’s it. Guess I’m cutting her off too.’

    Yuuto sighed again, rolling onto his side.

    ‘Sorry, cuck,’ he thought dryly. ‘I’m sure you dreamed of it; me claiming your precious childhood friend, living out everything you missed. But that’s not my style.’

    ‘I’m—’

    TITLE CARD.

    ‘…—R Man.’

    Yuuto closed his eyes and smiled.

    ‘My sole purpose here is to survive, thrive… and after that…’

    An image flashed in his mind.

    Voluptuous. Roughly 2.3 meters tall. A curved, abundant body. Flowing purple hair. Luscious lips. A beauty mark just beneath her right breast; those half-lidded eyes with a knowing smile – a motherly presence…

    Ava Lavender.

    His mouth watered at the thought.

    ‘Fuck you, you disgusting author piece of shit,’ Yuuto sneered internally. ‘Creating her… and leaving her hanging for that Haruno simp’s obsession with some useless whore…’

    ‘Maybe you’re an angel after all. Maybe you created her for me.’

    He chuckled lowly, biting his lip to stop himself from drooling.

    “Ava Lavender… I’m coming for you,” he whispered against the darkness, grinning like a madman.

    The tent rustled faintly as he shifted, still smiling.

    ———-

    Kiril stepped out into the night, hugging herself as the cold air wrapped around her.

    ‘I know it. I feel it deep inside. This is the right call…’

    She broke into a hurried stride toward the nearest guard post, her breath sharp in the chill.

    “There’s—!” she began, her voice catching as the stationed hunter turned toward her. She shivered, face pale, struggling to catch her breath.

    ‘This guy… That’s not Haruno. I’m sure of it.’

    “There’s a stranger in my tent!” she shouted. “He’s pretending to be someone I know!”

    The hunter’s expression shifted instantly—his eyes narrowing, posture tensing.

    ‘An infiltrator? Someone bypassed our perimeter? No… a shapeshifter?’

    ‘I haven’t heard of monsters like that in the dungeon!’

    “Show me the way, kid!” he barked. “If this is a false alarm, you’ll be severely punished!”

    “Hurry!!” she snapped, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the tent.

    In that moment, as her heart pounded, Kiril could only hope…

    That Yuuto wouldn’t deny it.

    That he wouldn’t try to twist his way out of this.

    And that she was right about this, despite being so sure of herself.

    BIG THANKS to my Patreon supporters:

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  • Chapter 11: Thank You, Yuuto Sakurai

    Yuuto came across a hill. It was night-time and freezing outside… but he still wasn’t deterred.

    “Found ’em,” he thought, eyes narrowing as he scanned the camp below. A haven of green forest nestled in the heart of a cold, unforgiving snow biome. Tents dotted the clearing, each one softly lit, glowing with a warmth that reached him even from this distance. Hunters surrounding the area, scouting for any trouble or monsters that roamed the area.

    ‘Knew it was the right call to go toward the dungeon boss area. Now… for the main act.’

    His gaze landed on the students’ tent area.

    ‘Time to secure my future and take down an NTR bully right here and now…’

    Meanwhile, inside one of the tents… Hojin was prepping for a very different kind of battle.A… ‘booty-call.’

    He had even lit candles. Several minutes went by as he prepared himself.

    ‘My first time with a tomboy… ohh, and she’s Russian. What kind of silky smooth skin will she have under those clothes? When she drops that rough act and gets all shy and feminine…’ He nearly drooled.

    ‘Fucking bastard, that Haruno. Hiding a chick like that? Hmph, well—too bad. Too bad I’mma taste her first. Might even give you a review of the goods later if I feel nice…’

    A rustle. Someone entered the tent.

    She looked down, bashfully, oversized hoodie drooping past her wrists. The clothes didn’t fit—several sizes too large.

    ‘Oh shit… she’s here… Fuck, where’d she get those clothes…?’

    Without thinking, he moved—pulled her down.

    “K-kya~~~~” she squeaked, exaggerated; turning away and burying her face behind her arms.

    ‘Holy shit… who knew she could make that kinda sound? Haruno… I oughta record this just to shove it in your face. Might even make her scream my name…’

    ‘Maybe I’ll fuck her with that hoodie on… oh fuck, that’d be hot.’

    He leaned in, smirking.

    “Heh… hiding your face, huh? What’s the matter? Act of defiance?” He chuckled.

    “Don’t tell me, you’re still thinking about that limp-dicked loser. He’d never go down on you like this, and you know it.”

    “B-… Baka… Yamete~…” came the soft, shaky whisper.

    ‘The… fuck…? She sounds like a real girl… her voice is so damn high-pitched, too… I remember it much lower… I guess that’s the real her… And I get to see it first. Sucks to be you, wimp.’ He thought of Haruno.

    “You can hide all you want, but I see right through you,” Hojin whispered, smirking. “You’re totally into this, huh?”

    “As a reward, I’ll let you keep the hoodie on… let you live in your little delusion.”

    He reached down, fingers working up from the bottom of her shirt, revealing pale, taut stomach—

    ‘Daaaaamn… she’s… muscular as fuck… I’m into girls li—’

    He paused. The two-pack became four. The four… six. The six… eight.

    He gulped.

    ‘She’s… haha… really muscular… and… what… WHAT THE FUCK!? She looks like she could BENCH PRESS ME!?’

    He touched the abs.

    ‘IT’S LIKE A FUCKING MEAT GRINDER!!! EVEN TO ME; A B-RANKED HUNTER.’

    Panic hit.

    ‘No—no, that’s not what I saw when she changed—’

    He looked up.

    A wicked grin was staring back at him.

    It was Yuuto.

    “KYAA~ DAME~ DAME, HOJIN-SENPAI~ IKUU~ IKU~!” Yuuto cooed, laughing right into his horrified face.

    That’s when Hojin’s expression dropped.

    And a roar tore from his throat.

    “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!!!”

    “Shhh~” Yuuto gently cupped the back of Hojin’s head and pressed a palm to his mouth, muffling the scream.

    “Hojin-kyun-paaai… To cry out like this… Did my body really get you that worked up~?” Yuuto whispered with venomous sweetness.

    ‘THE FUCK IS THAT WIMP DOING HERE!?’

    “HHHMMMMPH!!!” Hojin thrashed and grunted, muffled under Yuuto’s hand.

    ‘What… What the fuck…? I… can’t move!?’

    ‘Shit… I knew he was a Hunter… but… what kind of strength is this!? I can’t… I CAN’T DO SHIT!? ME!? A B-RANKED TANK!?’

    His eyes widened, locked onto Yuuto’s.

    Eyes glowing with a sadistic gleam.

    ‘Just… just how much was he holding back all this time!?’ Hojin thought, heart pounding in his ears.

    “You see, I couldn’t care less about you or your slut girlfriend,” Yuuto muttered.

    ‘S-Slut!? He… He’s talking about Misaki!? HIM!? THAT WIMP WHO’S ALWAYS OBSSESSED WITH HER!?’

    “And I won’t lie. I’m not that angry. I figured an NTR-bully like you would go straight for Kiril the second you found out she was a girl…” Yuuto whispered.

    ‘He… he knew that too!? No— that’s not Haruno… That’s not that wimp… WHO IS THIS FUCKER!?’

    Hojin was paralyzed by instinct. Like a rabbit staring into the eyes of a lion. He knew.

    If he moved… he’d be devoured.

    “…But Kiril…” Yuuto’s grip on his jaw tightened—until a small crack echoed through the tent. Hojin whimpered beneath it.

    “…is someone I care about,” Yuuto growled, a vein popping on his forehead.

    For a moment, Hojin saw it—behind the fury, was Haruno.

    “AND IF ONLY YOU DIDN’T EXIST…”

    “MY LIFE WOULD’VE BEEN FUCKING PERFECT—YOU NTR SCUMBAG PIECE OF SHIT!” Yuuto’s grip wrenched tighter, jawbones cracking audibly, his hand trembling from pure rage.

    “IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU THAT MY LIFE FELL APART… I KILLED MYSELF IN THE END…” His voice broke—between a growl and a scream.

    “Mmm…mgh…” Hojin could barely whimper. Blood trickled down from the corners of Yuuto’s grip as his eyes rolled back a bit from the pain; his teeth cracking and breaking under the strain.

    One more push…

    And I’d kill him. I’d FINALLY fucking kill him…!!!

    ‘And if you do?’ Yuuto asked himself, his hand freezing.

    ‘Then what? You’d be a murderer. A criminal. Your life would still be ruined.’

    ‘Get your life in order first. Revenge can come later… Besides—’ he glanced down at the limp, unconscious mess slumped against him.

    ‘I think he got the message.’

    He eased his grip, fingers slowly releasing Hojin’s bloodied jaw.

    ‘Since I transmigrated into his body… it makes sense I inherited his rage too. Combine that with memories of Haruno’s future… Yeah. I’m pissed. More than usual.’

    He exhaled sharply, shoving the unconscious Hojin off him.

    ‘But keep it together.’

    Yuuto looked to the exit of the tent, getting up after a sigh.

    ‘Cyka… Cyka… Cyka… Cyka…!’ Kiril pressed her lips into a thin line as she walked through the camp, heading toward Hojin’s tent. Her mind scrambled, searching for a way out of this.

    But there was no way out. The only path now… was to quietly obey.

    And as her legs moved on their own, her mind went somewhere else—back to where it all began.

    ===================================

    “I’m Haruno. What’s your name?”

    “Leave me. What do you care? I’m Russian. You know what I went through.”

    I wanted to stay isolated. I’d already learned it was the only surefire way to survive. If I just kept to myself, no one could hurt me. I asked to be sent to Japan because it was safe. People here minded their own business. I thought I’d finally found a sanctuary…

    …And then you showed up.

    “What you went through? I don’t know about that… but wanna play?” you asked. Even at our age, everyone already avoided me.

    But you—you wanted to play. Only you.

    “Why…?”

    “Well… I saw you were alone, and… No one wanted to play with me either. My friend’s on vacation.”

    Even if your reason was pathetic… even if it made no sense… in that moment, when I looked at you, I thought:

    We’re the same, aren’t we?

    Our loneliness could be shared. Even if just for a little while.

    And then you came back. You introduced me to Misaki. And we all became friends.

    I felt… at home. And it terrified me. Because my first home was destroyed. I didn’t want to replace it. I was afraid I’d forget where I came from.

    But then I started hating something else—this feeling I’d get in my chest… whenever you looked at Misaki.

    You always looked at her in that special way. Because she was a girl, wasn’t she? And I wasn’t.

    I wanted you to look at me like that. Like I mattered just as much.

    So at some point… I wanted to tell you my secret.

    But then I saw how you’d freeze up whenever someone hit on Misaki. You didn’t say anything. You didn’t do anything. But your fists… they’d tremble.

    I knew that if I revealed myself… you’d be scared of being around me too.

    And I didn’t want you to feel that way.

    I know what it’s like to be afraid.

    So I stayed silent.

    She let out a soft chuckle.

    And then… just a day ago in class… when you called her a slut, and let me curse at her, for the first time—I thought…

    Maybe there’s a chance.

    She clutched her chest, biting her lip.

    But Hojin is right, isn’t he?

    You’re still Haruno.

    You’d still be scared.

    You can’t protect me.

    And that’s fine…

    She let out a sob.

    That’s fine.

    Even if I do whatever I have to do tonight with Hojin…

    …I’ll still come back to you. And we’ll keep going.

    Because… as much as I hate that you can’t — and probably never will — look at me the way you look at Misaki…

    You did it, Haruno.

    You made me feel at home.

    It’s almost like… I never left, whenever I was with you.

    =================================

    She swallowed hard, lips trembling. She knew her feelings for Haruno were real. So then… why did it feel like she was leaving him behind?

    Just like when my mother died… Just let it happen. Move on. Survive.

    Her eyes dulled. She numbed herself, bracing for it. Her mind—against her will—imagined her body beneath his.

    And her heart twisted.

    What if I like it…?

    What if Haruno becomes an afterthought…? What if… I lose my home again..?

    She was scared of that. More than anything. That, and—

    BUMP

    She collided with someone.

    “A-ah… s-sorry…” she mumbled, lowering her gaze and trying to step past—until a hand gently pulled her into an embrace.

    “It’s alright,” he whispered into her ear, one hand brushing through her hair as the other wrapped around her from behind, his chin resting lightly atop her head.

    She gasped. That voice. That height. That body.

    “Ha… runo…” she murmured, shivering as her eyes widened in disbelief. His warmth melted through her like a thaw.

    “Wh… what… are you doing here—”

    “He won’t bother you again,” Yuuto cut her off gently, his voice low and steady. Another gasp escaped her lips. Her knees weakened. The dead glaze in her eyes began to glisten again.

    “God help him if he tries.”

    “Am… Am I…” Tears began to drip from her eyes.

    ‘Is this… is this a dream…? Haruno is… here… saying these things… ah—’Her breath caught, trembling as she pressed herself against his chest.

    “T-That’s… s-so… g-…gay…” she muttered, voice quiet and shaky as she sank deeper into his arms.

    “Guess I’m switching teams, then.” Yuuto replied, calm and warm, pulling her even closer.

    “Haah… you… дурачок…” she breathed, her legs giving out.

    She collapsed onto her knees, and Yuuto lowered with her, holding her close as she clutched at his chest, arms wrapping tightly around him—like she never wanted to let go again.

    “I’m… a… girl… Haruno…” she finally let out.

    “…You sure about that?” Yuuto asked casually. “It’s just…”

    He pulled her closer, holding her tight.

    “…You feel way too flat for that.”

    “…Cyka blyat,” she spat — but didn’t pull away. “I’m wearing bandages…”

    “…I see,” Yuuto chuckled softly.

    His gaze drifted past her shoulder — and there he saw him.

    A faint figure, smiling warmly in the dark. Ethereal.

    Haruno.

    Yuuto met his gaze.

    ‘…Yeah,’ he nodded. ‘Don’t mention it.’

    The spirit glittered, then slowly faded into nothing.

  • Chapter 10: Aftermath

    “Haruno…?” an elderly voice echoed as he opened the front door to the house.

    “Harunoooooooooo?” he called again, stepping inside.

    He looked around the house meticulously, checking each room with methodical care before climbing the stairs to Haruno’s room. He knocked once, then slowly opened the door. Empty.

    “Not here, huh…” he exhaled deeply, brushing his fingers through his graying hair. “Where is that boy?”

    He pulled out his phone and dialed.

    [THIS NUMBER IS UNAVAILABLE. PLEASE TRY AGAIN LATER…]

    ‘Out of service, are you? There aren’t many places you could go to pull that off… and no calls from him yesterday or today…’

    His lips thinned as he closed the door gently behind him. He walked down the stairs and called Haruno’s teachers. None had seen him since yesterday.

    ‘If I’m not mistaken, yesterday, today, and tomorrow… that’s the Rank Evaluation Exam. The one where LHS students enter the Gate…’

    He wandered toward the bathroom, unzipping his pants.

    ‘I hope you didn’t do anything foolish, Harun—’

    Then he froze.

    Looking down into the toilet.

    A photo. His photo. Stuck to the bottom of the bowl.

    ‘…’

    For a long second, he just stared.

    Then, quietly, he smiled.

    He reached down and plucked the soggy image out with two fingers, then flushed the toilet.

    “Well,” he muttered as he examined the ruined picture, “I guess he’s just confused…”

    But there was a twitch in his cheek.

    “…Still, as the caring uncle I am… I have to steer him right.”

    His voice softened, but his gaze sharpened.

    “Though to disrespect me that much… I see, Haruno. Fine. If that’s how you really feel…”

    He rinsed the photo under the faucet, gently straightening it out like a precious artifact.

    “Then stay out. Go to anyone. Try them. You’ll see…”

    A pause. A smile.

    “No one understands you like I do.”

    He stared at the photo.

    “And when you come crawling back on all fours…”

    His eyes gleamed.

    “…I’ll welcome you. Because we’re family.”

    Knock knock.

    A soft, hesitant knock at the door.

    His head tilted.

    “…Ah? Who might that be?”

    He walked to the door and opened it.

    “Ah—!” His face lit up. “Misaki! What a pleasant surprise. Haven’t seen you in a while!”

    “H-hello, Mister Wren,” she said, bowing politely, her voice small. “I-is… Haruno home…?”

    “I’m afraid I haven’t seen him. Would you like to—”

    “T-then…” she interrupted, swallowing hard, eyes shifting nervously.

    “…Is something wrong?” he asked, gentle as ever. “Why aren’t you at the trip to the gate?”

    “There’s something I need to tell you,” she said.

    “Something he did to me…” Her hands trembled. “I… I didn’t go to the gate, because I wanted to report it to the police. But… I wanted to come to you first our of respect.”

    ‘Haruno. I’m not sure what came over you… Maybe you’ve gotten confused a little.’ She bit her lips.

    Her voice cracked.

    “…He…”

    ‘But I’m going to make sure… You don’t pull that shit with me again. I… I OWN you…!’ She clenched her teeth, recalling the heat she felt, the way her heartbeat skyrocketed when he pinned her to the wall.

    A shadow passed over her face.

    “…raped me.”

    ====================================

    “Haaaah…” Yuuto exhaled, a white puff of breath rising in the cold air.

    He lay atop the still-warm corpse of a bear monster, surrounded by a grotesque sea of fur, fangs, and blood-soaked snow. Over a hundred bodies stretched into the treeline, steaming as they cooled in the winter forest.

    Not a single scratch marked him.

    His clothes, however, were another story—torn at the sleeves, shredded at the hem, soaked with blood that wasn’t his.

    He looked up at the sky for a moment, eyes half-lidded, before turning his head toward the imaginary camera.

    ‘You’re probably wondering why this massacre was offscreen. Let me explain.’His voice was dry. Almost bored.

    ‘Remember how I pretty much one-shotted their boss monster? Yeah… that bastard did, what, 5 HP with his strongest hit?’A pause.

    ‘So the lesser ones? They couldn’t even injure me. The worst they did was tear my clothes.’He glanced down at his uniform, gave it a tug. A whole sleeve slipped off like paper.

    ‘All I had to do was swing. Hit. Next. If they blocked, I just swung harder. My light jog’s airplane-speed now, so… yeah. Not really a challenge.’

    He exhaled, brushing a blood-splattered thread off his collar.

    ‘At first it was kind of exciting. Killing bears, hurling myself at them, bouncing off trees. I even tackled a rock once.’

    He paused.

    ‘Honestly, the rocks here are less sturdy than the bears.’

    ‘But after the 70th kill… it just got boring. It still looked cool, sure. But when you can’t get hurt, when there’s no real tension, even dodging starts to feel pointless.’

    He opened his item menu with a flick of his finger.

    Still 0 coins.

    No coins. No loot. No skill-up.

    ‘Figures… Haruno only ever got those from fighting monsters and killing enemies at his level range. And items—’

    He turned his eyes to the treeline, distant and quiet.

    ‘Those only drop from boss monsters.’

    He let out a deep sigh, then pushed himself up into a standing position.

    ‘Welp, guess it’s time to head out. I saw what I needed here regarding my powers—and got a nice light workout.’

    He dusted himself off casually.

    ‘Thankfully, the author of the manwha got lazy with how dungeons work, so finding the next one’s gonna be easy.’

    With that, he walked forward, slipping through the last line of trees and stepping into the open plains.

    ‘Just follow the glowing purple orb in the sky.’

    His eyes narrowed slightly.

    ‘Boss monster’s beneath it. Probably where the school trip is heading, too.’

    =================

    “He… really did kill six!” The schools echoed with gasps as students watched Murasaki emerge from the exam arena; the bodies of all 6 bear monsters lay charred and burnt.

    “Got a nice workout… whew.” Murasaki wiped his brow, glancing at Aya.

    ‘It’s really me,’ he thought. ‘The main character of this world.’ He imagined himself atop the world, Aya beside him in minimal clothing, feeding him like a loyal servant.

    He grinned to himself—a little too long, a little too wide. Aya shuddered. Something about that smile made her skin crawl.

    Meanwhile, Kiril sat in a world of her own. Her eyes rested on Hojin, lying unconscious on the bleachers.

    A part of her hoped he wouldn’t wake up.

    Because he was right.

    Haruno, while attentive, was needy—and spineless. It wasn’t until Hojin said it out loud that she admitted it to herself:

    ‘Would a life with Haruno even go anywhere?’ Maybe, just maybe, she could’ve accepted his flaws…

    ‘If only he didn’t like that girl who strings him along like a toy… That CYKA, Misaki!’

    And then there was that other thing—what Hojin said about him being a hunter.

    ‘It was just cheering. I was just cheering for Hojin once. It wasn’t even loud enough for anyone to hear, so…’

    She clutched her chest.

    ‘Why do I feel like shit…?’

    Her cheeks flushed as she realized—she was the only one sitting next to Hojin’s unconscious body.

    She glanced around.

    “Kiril’s really considerate, huh…?”

    “It’s no secret Hojin hates Haruno. Wonder why he’s watching over him?”

    “Well, end of the day, it’s Hojin. We’re here because of him.”

    “Then why don’t you go sit?”

    “Come on, that’d be weird.”

    ‘It makes it seem like I care about him…!!’

    ‘No—I’m only here to hear if he’ll spill my secret…’

    ‘If he does… then he’s right. Me and Haruno… we’ll drift apart.’

    Her hands curled into fists.

    She frowned.

    “In a forever platonic relationship…” Hojin’s voice echoed in her head, and she bit her lip again.

    ‘I don’t care about this pig. Hojin’s just a bully. He’s just a bully…’

    “Good… girl…” Hojin’s voice startled her as he stirred awake.

    “I saw… you cheered.”

    “….”

    “So that means you’re keeping my secret, then?” Kiril’s voice dropped into a whisper.

    “Oh, yeah…” Hojin exhaled like a man waking from a long nap. “But we do need to talk about where we go from here, right? I wouldn’t want to… misspeak on accident.” He smirked.

    ‘That мудак… the first thing he thinks about when he wakes up is blackmailing me!?’

    “I DID WHAT YOU ASKED…!” Kiril whispered sharply.

    “Hey, hey… I’m just being considerate here…”

    He rubbed the back of his head lazily. “I banged my head pretty hard when I fell. We might need to go into an…”

    He swallowed.

    “…In-depth conversation in my tent later tonight.” The way he whispered it made Kiril’s skin crawl.

    Just then, Sakuya’s gaze wandered to Kiril’s flustered expression—catching a glimpse of Hojin’s wicked smile.

    She sighed.

    She remembered that moment earlier—Hojin walking away from where Kiril was changing—and Sakuya’s own casual lie: “No one saw me.”

    ‘I don’t have time for this shit…’ She turned away, though unable to hold her click of a tongue as she recalled Kiril’s expression.

    ‘… Whatever. When she sees what we’re gonna do to those monsters… I know that’ll cheer her up.’ She told herself.

    Then—

    Kiril laughed.

    “Man… You think this is some porn manga?!” She let the words slide through clenched teeth.

    “In your dreams. I’m done—”

    A student passed by just then. Hojin leaned in, tone casual, almost playful:

    “Hey, did ya know Kiril’s a girl?”

    Kiril’s face went pale.

    “Huh..? What are you saying, Hojin-san?” The student scratched his head, confused—but Kiril could already feel his eyes trying to piece it together.

    “Hahaha, look at you. So naive. A joke, a joke…” Hojin laughed it off as Kiril froze in place, her eyes down, breath catching.

    “That bastard just used his mother’s perfume instead of aftershave this morning…”

    “Ah, haha. That’s funny…” The student gave a half-laugh and walked off.

    Hojin sighed dramatically.

    “Haaah… What’s wrong? Don’t appreciate those kinds of jokes? Is it maybe because you don’t have parents?”

    Kiril didn’t respond. She just sat there, trembling.

    “I see…” His voice dropped lower again.

    “That’s important. You see now why we have to talk these things through…? In depth-ly?”

    “….”

    Kiril pressed her lips together, trembling. A soft sniff escaped her.

    The audio was clear.

    Crystal clear.

    On the other end, not a single soundwave slipped through.

    [Daaamn… You know, now that you say it, it kinda sounds cute. If you don’t mind me saying…]

    Yuuto exhaled as he turned off the phone.

    ‘Be honest now,’ he thought, gaze narrowing.

    ‘Did you really think I wouldn’t use an eavesdropping device?’

    ‘That I’d walk in completely blind into a dungeon—in a world that, from start to finish, is hellbent on torturing the main character?’

    He leaned back slightly.

    ‘Back when I first reincarnated, literally the first thing I bought was a bug. Then I just had to figure out who to plant it on.’

    A faint smirk tugged at his lips.

    ‘Knew placing it on NTRBully #42 was the right call.’

    He sighed.

    ‘Make no mistake, though. Whether or not he’s responsible for what happened to Kiril in the manwha, how she died… Kiril doesn’t deserve this.’

    His mind replayed their exchange in the classroom.

    ‘I’mma baseball your ass,’ he decided, Hojin’s face forming clearly in his mind’s eye.

  • Chapter 9: Best Shot

    ‘Haaah… That felt good,’ Kiril thought as she walked out of her tent. It was morning.

    ‘…!’ She narrowed her eyes at Hojin, who stood there casually, leaning against another tent.

    “…What do you want, Hojin?” she let out reluctantly, looking away.

    “Oh, don’t be like that. I thought I’d be here just in case you didn’t wake up early enough…” He then straightened himself as he walked toward her.

    “…Miss Kiril.”

    ‘..!!!’ Her eyes widened as her breath hitched. She froze as he walked past her.

    “How… Do…!?”

    “Never mind that,” he chuckled. “But I bet you wouldn’t want Haruno to know, huh?”

    She swallowed before she chuckled nervously. “Pheh. How do you know he doesn’t already know?”

    “Hm… I guess you’re right,” he let out. “…After all, you’re butt buddies, ain’t ya?”

    “…Maybe I should tell it to Misaki, then,” he said. “I bet she will realllllllllly be pissed at Haruno. All this time, he was fooling around with a girl. And not just Misaki…”

    He smiled widely.

    “But everyone. That way, the peace you and Haruno had together… Suddenly, you’ll be flocked by guys, wouldn’t you?”

    Kiril looked down, pursing her lips.

    “…! Holy shit, so that’s why you didn’t tell him, huh?” Hojin looked at her, smiling wickedly as he noticed her hesitation.

    “You knew he’d be too much of a bitch to keep anyone off your back, so you kept pretending to be a guy to be close to him without anyone bothering you, huh?” Hojin let out.

    ‘…’ Kiril’s mind scrambled, trying to find words to say. A way to refute him. But in the end, she knew he was right. Pretending to be a guy made her feel safe even in Japan…

    ‘…Because it let me spend time with Haruno without worrying about a thing… I knew he wouldn’t feel pressured if I were a guy…’

    “It’s a shame that he’s such a wimp… Even when he’s a hunter,” Hojin spat.

    ‘…?!’ Kiril looked up at him, her face twisting in confusion.

    ‘A hunter…?’

    “Ohhh…” Hojin noticed her reaction. “So he kept that from you, huh?”

    “What a bastard, he is. The one person who’s close to him, and he keeps something like this to himself.”

    ‘A hunter…? Wha… This… There’s no way. Not him..!’

    ‘Hojin is just a мудак filled with shit! He’s just saying that!’

    “Well, I’ll let you off… but,” Hojin turned to walk away as he saw Kiril standing frozen, confused.

    “I would appreciate a little cheering from you when I do the evaluation exam. Might even change my mind regarding telling others about your secret. You know…”

    He laughed again.

    “So that you can keep your fragile and… forever platonic relationship with that guy as he forever jerks off about Misaki.”

    Kiril pursed her lips as Hojin laughed once more before walking off.

    “Bastard…!!” Kiril swore under her breath.

    “BASTARD…!” She clenched her teeth.

    ‘How did he know…? Miss Yama said no one saw me. Then when?!’ Her thoughts scrambled as the panic twisted in her gut.

    “…Cyka… it doesn’t matter.” She exhaled through gritted teeth.

    “I guess… I just need to cheer for him. That’s all it is. Just cheering. If I do that—I can go back to being with Haruno like before.”

    Then, like an unwanted whisper, Hojin’s voice echoed in her memory.

    “In a completely forever platonic way.”

    …She hated that.

    Biting her lip, she shut her eyes, then quietly began packing up her tent. With stiff hands and burning cheeks, she headed toward the group.

    The time came; the first part of the evaluation test was about to begin.

    Three schools assembled around the central arena. From one side arrived Avant-Garde, the most prestigious Hunter School in the region—an academy founded solely to raise professional hunters.

    Their contender was rumored to already be A-Rank.

    From the opposite end came Dismo-Phabia, another elite institution, fielding their own A-Rank representative.

    And then—In the middle of it all—stood LHS Public School.

    Ordinary. Underfunded. The only school without any gifted abilities. Their students gathered silently as their sole representative, Hojin, stood inside the arena with the other two, shoulder to shoulder.

    Around them, the students from the other schools—each led by certified Rankers—watched with veiled disgust.

    LHS didn’t belong here, and everyone knew it.

    “HEEEEY, LHS!” someone shouted.

    “How’s it feel being carried by esteemed Ranker Yama?“

    “Bet her back hurts!“

    Laughter erupted from the bleachers. LHS students shrank beneath it, their heads lowering in silent shame.

    Even Hojin couldn’t muster a response.

    He simply bit his lip, fists clenched at his sides, eyes locked straight ahead—waiting.

    Because deep down, they all knew the truth:

    The only reason any of them were alive was because of the hunters—the elite warriors—who chose to protect them inside the gate.

    The crowd kept laughing.

    In the center of it all, two contenders stood silent amidst the noise:

    Murasaki, from Avant-Garde.

    Aya, from Dismo-Phabia.

    Both watched their own schools mock LHS with smug disinterest.

    “Laughing at the powerless… seriously? Aren’t we past this phase?” Aya muttered, sighing as she rubbed her temple.

    “Let them, Aya,” Murasaki replied, exhaling through his nose. “It’s how weaklings entertain each other. They only feel strong when they’re stomping someone beneath them.”

    “…Whatever. I just wanna get this test over with,” she mumbled. “Once I’m registered, that’s when the real money starts rolling in.”

    Murasaki side-eyed her. “Is that really all you care about? Money? When you could be building a legacy… ruling at the top of your food chain?”

    Aya smiled dreamily.

    “Lobsters. For. Every. Meal…” she whispered, practically drooling.

    ‘Of course. What an airhead…’ Murasaki sighed internally, then turned his attention to Hojin.

    But something about the boy held his gaze.

    ‘Still… a B-Ranker from a normie school, huh?’ His brows furrowed.

    ‘Why is he still there? Is it pride? Loyalty to where he came from?’

    His expression darkened.

    ‘Or… is it just to make himself look better?’

    Hojin flinched. He could feel it—that look—burning into him.

    He locked eyes with Murasaki.

    “WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM?!” The sudden shout snapped the arena into silence.

    Gasps broke out among the students.

    “Holy shit… Hojin just yelled at an A-Ranker.”

    “That’s Murasaki. From Avant-Garde.”

    “Our Hojin… He’s fearless.”

    Hojin stormed forward, stomping across the arena toward Murasaki.

    The two stood face to face.

    “…Got a problem, LHS?” Murasaki’s tone was calm, hands still buried in his pockets.

    He was several heads shorter, but didn’t flinch—just looked up at Hojin with eyes that dared him to make a move.

    “I don’t care if you’re A-Rank,” Hojin growled. “Even if I’m B… There’ve been cases where lower ranks ascended higher ones.”

    He turned sharply, stomping back to his side of the arena.

    “You just wait.”

    “Hmph,” Murasaki muttered, watching him walk.

    “You’d be right—if I were a healer.”

    Suddenly, the air around Murasaki shifted. The pressure grew dense. Static buzzed in the silence.

    Lightning sparked around his body, dancing across his arms as his pupils sharpened.

    Hojin froze.

    Murasaki’s voice dropped to a low, cold threat.

    “But I’m not. I’m an offensive type. And you?” His lip curled slightly.

    “You’re a tank.”

    He took a step forward, lightning crackling louder now.

    “Do you really think a B-Rank tank can defend against an A-Rank assault?”

    Hojin instinctively braced himself.

    But before anything could escalate, Aya stepped in.

    She calmly placed a hand on Murasaki’s arm and sighed.

    “Dude. Chill.”

    Her voice was flat—like a teacher fed up with a loud kid in class.

    “I just wanna get through this test and go home,” she muttered. “Show off during the exam, alright?”

    Murasaki didn’t respond.

    Aya tilted her head slightly. “Oh, and what was it you said earlier?” she continued.

    “Weaklings entertain each other by stomping those beneath them, was it?”

    She gave him a look.

    “So… are you a weakling, then?”

    “…Tsche. Fuck off…” Murasaki muttered, looking away awkwardly.

    Hojin narrowed his eyes.

    ‘I… I didn’t even see her move.’

    She’d appeared beside Murasaki like a ghost.

    ‘That’s her ability, right? The rumored teleportation…’

    Lightning slowly faded from around Murasaki as he let out a long, frustrated sigh.

    “Just… don’t get cocky too.”

    Aya didn’t even glance back.

    “What, and risk hurting your fragile ego?” she replied, dry as ever. “I wouldn’t dare.”

    She strolled off.

    “Hmph.”

    Suddenly, a booming voice cut through the air.

    “ALRIGHT, KNOCK IT OFF!” a Ranker called as he stepped into the arena.

    “Now’s the time for your test.”

    He raised a hand, signaling behind him.

    The contenders turned—And saw Ranker Yama approaching, holding three B-Rank monsters on reinforced leashes:

    Two medium-sized bears and one massive, hulking variant—docile but visibly dangerous.

    “You’ll be facing these for your first trial,” the Ranker announced.

    “These are all B-Rank. Your goal is to subdue them. Don’t get too excited—this is just a qualifier. We’ll be measuring your time and efficiency.”

    He scanned the trio.

    “Who wants to go first?”

    Hojin’s eyes lit up. ‘Right up my alley…! I can do this.’

    “I’ll—” Murasaki began, raising a hand—

    But Hojin’s voice boomed before he could finish:

    “I’LL GO FIRST, PLEASE!!”

    The Ranker raised an eyebrow. “Hmm…”

    “Pheh…” Murasaki chuckled under his breath.

    But Hojin had already stepped forward, eyes locked on the monsters—eager, focused, burning to prove something.

    Behind him, LHS roared.

    “DO IT, HOJIN!!“

    “YOU’VE GOT THIS!!“

    “KICK THEIR ASS!!“

    ‘…I bet…’ Kiril thought as she watched from the sidelines.

    ‘Haruno could be here too, right…?’

    She looked down.

    ‘No… he’s just… too soft for that. Right?’

    Her eyes softened as her thoughts tangled.

    ‘There has to be a reason you keep it a secret, Haruno. Just like why I keep mine. There has to be. You’re not just anybody.’

    Her hand tightened into a fist. Her brows drew in.

    ‘No. I’ll believe in you. Fuck that Мудак Hojin.’

    And then, his voice came back to her—clear, cutting.

    [Flashback]

    “If you cheer for me… I might reconsider telling anyone about your secret,” Hojin had sneered.

    “After all, we both know Haruno would be too much of a bitch to defend you from anyone.”

    ——————————-

    Kiril bit her lip and shook her head hard, trying to shake him loose.

    But she couldn’t.

    His words clung to her.

    ‘Just… I’ll cheer him… But… I’ll do it for you, Haruno.’

    Then, just as Sakuya stepped forward to unleash the bear monsters, Hojin turned to glance behind him—and caught Kiril’s eyes.

    He smirked.

    [Flashback]

    “That way, you can keep your forever platonic relationship…”

    ——————————-

    ‘Cyka…’ Kiril clenched her teeth. ‘Bastard…!’

    The students burst into cheers.

    Kiril pressed her lips together.

    “G… Go… Hojin…” she called out, a flush of embarrassment on her face. Her voice drowned beneath the roar of the crowd.

    But Hojin heard.

    He saw her submission.

    ‘Heh…’ Hojin grinned to himself. ‘So obedient—’

    WHAM!

    A bear monster slammed into him, knocking the breath from his lungs.

    “WHAT THE—!?”

    Hojin staggered back, his boots dragging through the snow as the beast forced him across the ground.

    “Don’t get distracted,” Sakuya sighed.

    ‘Fool,’ Murasaki thought, just as another bear collided into Hojin’s side.

    “GAAAHCK!!”

    Hojin coughed, blood spattering.

    “These bears work in packs,” Sakuya continued.

    Hojin twisted his body mid-blow, slamming his fist into the bear’s snout. Blood burst from its nose as it pushed him back.

    But he wasn’t done.

    “SUMMON! IRON-MAIDEN SHIELD!”

    A glowing, spiked energy shield materialized in Hojin’s hand. He lowered it against the oncoming bear—its body slammed into the spikes, blood erupting violently.

    “…So pay attention to all of them,” Sakuya finished.

    Suddenly, the boss monster charged from behind—

    CRASH!

    “GHHHHAAAA!!!”

    Hojin screamed as he was launched off his feet.

    ‘FUCK—!!’

    He hit the ground hard.

    Only two monsters left.

    ‘NO. It’s just two… And if it gets bad—she’ll intervene.’ He glanced toward Sakuya.

    ‘I can do this…!!!’

    Hojin roared as he stood and sprinted toward them.

    Two minutes later.

    The battlefield was silent.

    The two remaining bears were down.

    “H… Hojin did it…!”

    “Even as a tank… he soloed three B-Rank monsters!”

    The LHS crowd exploded into cheers.

    Hojin stood still, chest heaving.

    ‘Damn it… just three and I’m… this tired…?’

    “Don’t worry,” Sakuya said calmly. “We expected this much. Most B-Rankers handle these with medium-tier items and armor.”

    “Hmph. What a polite way of saying he didn’t impress you, Miss Yama,” Murasaki said, walking past Hojin—who flinched.

    ‘Bastard…!!’

    Hojin’s teeth clenched.

    “Miss Yama,” Murasaki called with a light smile. “Please… I’d like six bears for my test.”

    The crowd murmured.

    “Six…!?”

    “Is he crazy!?”

    “He may be A-Rank, but still…!”

    “Fine,” Sakuya said. “But this will be treated as a standard test. If you fail, you’re disqualified.”

    “Fine by me,” Murasaki replied as he turned back toward his position in the arena

    “Thanks for warming them up for me…” he added with a smirk; giving Hojin a sideways glance.

    “Small fry.”

    “….!”

    Hojin charged forward.

    “DON’T GET COCKY!!”

    The instructor beside Sakuya tensed, ready to step in.

    “These damn kids…!” he muttered, preparing to separate them.

    Sakuya stopped him with a tired glance.

    “Let them,” she said. “It’s good for them to learn early on—the natural hierarchy.”

    Murasaki turned.

    “HOJIN, KICK HIS ASS!!” LHS students roared.

    Hojin summoned his Iron-Maiden Shield.

    Murasaki surged forward, lightning crackling around him as he leapt into the air.

    “I’ll admit, that shield of yours is impressive. I might not be able to break through it, but you’re just…”

    He spun in midair and kicked Hojin directly in the head.

    “…as predictable as a glory hole.” He chuckled.

    Hojin collapsed.

    Silence.

    LHS stared.

    Hojin—a B-Rank tank—was out cold.

    “Just… One hit!? But… He’s only one rank ahead of him…” They muttered, unable to believe what they saw.

    “Me asking for six is actually nerfing myself,” Murasaki declared.

    “Back home, I trained with up to eight B-Rank monsters. Alone—”

    “HOLY SHIT, NO ONE CARES! JUST START THE FUCKING TEST ALREADY AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SCENE!!” Aya screamed from her spot in the arena.

    “Tsche, fucking brat…” Murasaki clicked his tongue.

    ———————-

    ‘Alright…’ Yuuto stretched as he walked out of the cave. ‘The blizzard’s over. Now… to find the schools.’

    He stepped into the cold snow outside.

    ‘I’m not a particularly good tracker, even with stats like these,’ he thought, eyeing his status window and then the forest ahead.

    ‘So I’ve no clue where they went. Oh, Uncle Wren, where art thou, Uncle Wren—please, preach thy ways so that I could thine could fine thine way to thine’s clathroomth.’

    ‘Haaah… Badmouthing that narcissistic prick never ceases to raise my spirits.’

    ‘Anyway, before I leave this forest and go where I think they’ve gone… I need to check something.’

    Yuuto took a deep breath.

    “HHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” he screamed, his voice echoing through the forest.

    “BORRRRRRRRISSSSSSSSSSSS THE ANIMAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

    He looked to the side—hundreds of bears were closing in on his position.

    Their footsteps rumbled. Growls filled the forest.

    And at their front… was their leader. Roughly twice the size of the boss monster Hojin faced.

    ‘Alright…’ He stood, fighting the urge to summon his knives or use any skill.

    “GURAAAHH!!” the leader roared before sinking its teeth into Yuuto’s shoulder while tackling him. He flinched slightly, letting it bite; but his feet didn’t drag across the snow. He wasn’t pushed back in the slightest.

    HP: 20,000 / 20,000

    MANA: 5,000 / 5,000

    HP LOST!

    – 5 HP.

    REGENERATION [LV.4] – Heals 100 HP per second.

    “GURR..?” The bear monster growled in confusion.

    “Oh, hahaha… man.” Yuuto chuckled, feeling his body loosen up.

    “If that attack had been any weaker, you’d be healing me, pup.”

    He smirked, locking eyes with the bear. His own eyes began to glow.

    The bear froze.

    “I had a theory, you see…” Yuuto said. “Even though the defense stat only climbed to 3… I figured 3 must be pretty high, after all…”

    Then, he summoned a knife and stabbed it through the throat.

    “AN S-RANK REPEATEDLY STABBED ME FOR FIVE HOURS TO RAISE IT THAT MUCH WITH A MAXED-OUT KNIFE SKILL…”

    ‘My god… this is… SO… fun…!’ Yuuto thought, watching the light leave the bear’s eyes as it slumped to the ground beneath him.

    “I’MMA BASEBALL YOUR—Erhm, I mean, knife you out! …Yeah. That sounds neat.”

    He grinned, stepping forward as the entire pack began charging.

  • Chapter 8: Fatigue

    “Haaah… That marks… the—”

    Yuuto barely had time to finish his thought before his stomach twisted. His body lurched, bile burning up his throat, and he vomited.

    His arms trembled as he braced against the frozen ground, gasping for air between ragged coughs. He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, blinking past the dizziness.

    “…Sixtieth time I’ve stabbed myself to near death…” His voice was hoarse, more breath than words.

    His vision blurred. His head pounded. Every limb felt like lead.

    His fingers twitched against the knife still clenched in his grip. He exhaled sharply through his nose.

    ‘Since my defense stat got higher, I had to stab deeper… had to do it more. And thanks to my regen—’

    His breath hitched.

    “Haaah…”

    His fingers curled into the bloodstained dirt as he brought up the status window before his eyes.

    Status Menu

    HP: 10,000/10,000 (HUNGER -1,000 | SLEEP DEPRIVATION -1,000 | MENTAL FATIGUE -8,000 TO MAX HP! GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST AND EAT SOMETHING TO RECOVER!)

    MANA: 5,000 / 5,000

    DEFENSE [LV.2] → [LV.3] – You are now moderately more durable; enemies will have a harder time injuring you! Lower-class negative effects cannot afflict you, and those that do have a significantly reduced effectiveness.

    REGENERATION [LV.4] – Heals 500 HP per second. [PASSIVE]

    ‘That fucking stat… Level 3 after five hours of continuous stabbings? Damn it…’

    His body swayed. The world tilted.

    He shook his head, forcing his mind to stay sharp.

    ‘Any more would be counterproductive…’

    Yuuto grimaced, rubbing his temple with bloodied fingers.

    ‘Mental fatigue? I have nothing like that… What the hell are you even on about…’

    His skin was pale as the snow outside. The massive pool of iced-over blood around him—mixed with bile and the stench of iron.

    He forced himself to glance at it.

    ‘All this… Roughly, what? Five liters of blood…’

    His vision swam again.

    His body swayed.

    He barely stopped himself from toppling over.

    “Haah…” He gave a weak, breathless chuckle.

    “Thank god I already threw up…”

    ‘I need to keep myself upright…’ He thought as he held his shoulders together, shivering violently, looking at another stat that was increased in that time:

    COLD IMMUNITY EQUILIBRIUM [LV.4] —> [LV.6] – Extreme resistance to cold damage—but cripplingly weak to heat.

    ‘Probably due to the blood I’ve lost, I wasn’t able to retain body heat properly… Add that to the cold environment…’ He couldn’t help but chuckle. 

    ‘Three birds with one stone… Well, if I don’t die, that is.’ Yuuto thought as he summoned his inventory.

    Nothing.

    ‘That dumbass had a dimensional-storage like ability and didn’t think to use it..? That sandwich I ate was perfectly preserved, so this inventory suspends it in time to boot, right?’

    ‘Tsk…. I didn’t want to use this, but I guess I don’t have much choice.’ He thought as he looked at the coin meter the inventory had.

    [100 Gold]

    “Open shop…”

    [Legendary Gear]

    (For the discerning warrior with an obscene amount of wealth.)

    🔹 [Eldritch Fangblade] – A cursed blade forged from the fang of an ancient abyssal beast. Increases Strength by 5000% when wielded but steadily corrodes the wielder’s sanity. Extended use may lead to permanent madness.

    🪙 Price: 110,000,000 Gold

    🔹 [God-Slayer Gauntlets] – Each strike ignores 90% of the enemy’s defense and adds 5000 stat points to strength. However, every attack permanently removes one random stat point, even on a miss.

    🪙 Price: 112,000,000 Gold

    🔹 [Divine Phoenix Core] – A one-time use artifact that instantly resurrects the wielder upon death, restoring them at half HP. Burns away 50% of total HP upon revival.

    🪙 Price: 40,000,000 Gold

    🔹 [The Everhungering Blade] – A cursed weapon that devours the life force of those it slays, granting +1 Strength per enemy within level range. However, it cannot be sheathed until it has claimed 100 lives. If more than 4 seconds pass between kills, the blade will seize control of the wielder’s mind.

    🪙 Price: 1,000,000 Gold [90% DISCOUNT!] [ONLY ONE LEFT!!!] [BUY NOW!!]

    🔹 [Timebreaker Dagger] – A dagger infused with temporal energy, allowing the user to freeze time for 0.5 seconds per strike landed. Effect only activates if the user has 90% HP or higher.

    🪙 Price: 999,999,999,999 Gold

    Yuuto’s eyes flicked between the absurd price tags.

    ‘Yeah… not touching those.‘

    ‘The Divine Phoenix Core is tempting. But if it clashed with my [FINAL STANCE] revival skill? Then it’d just be a waste of gold.’

    His gaze drifted to the Timebreaker Dagger.

    ‘First time Haruno looked at this, it was 100M Gold. Then the devs of this system must’ve realized just how broken it was and jacked the price up to 1 Trillion Gold—completely unbuyable, since the max gold cap is 100B.’

    His eyes drifted to the Everhungering Blade.

    ‘This one, though… Nobody wanted it. So they slashed the price to 1M, just to get rid of it. Makes sense. Who the hell would willingly buy a weapon that forces them to slaughter 100 people just to put it away? One guy eventually did, though…’

    Yuuto’s gaze darkened.

    ‘…But that’s a problem for later.’

    Then—his eyes locked onto something else.

    🔹 [Polpo’s Mechanicus] – A glove imbued with high-level telekinetic magic, allowing the user to grab and lift items from up to 10 meters away. Requires 500 Agility to wield.

    🪙 Price: 37,500,000 Gold

    Yuuto’s fingers hovered over the listing.

    ‘Haruno was a dumbass, but at least he recognized how busted this one was for him. He could summon blades and wield them remotely, extending his reach by 10 meters…’

    But Yuuto exhaled.

    ‘Whatever. Nice lookaround, but I’ve got bigger issues right now.’

    He scrolled down.

    Price: 8,999,999 Gold [High-End Consumables] (For those who like to live extravagantly.)

    [Elixir of Endless Night] – Grants complete immunity to all status effects for 24 hours.

    Price: 2,500,000 Gold

    [Tears of the Archangel] – Instantly restores all HP, MP, and removes all debuffs. Can revive the dead if used within 10 seconds of death.

    Price: 5,000,000 Gold

    Yuuto’s gaze sharpened. ‘This one… I always had a theory about it. A shame it was never utilized in the story.’

    Tears of the Archangel.

    Bleeding? Counts as a debuff. Sleep deprivation? A debuff. Hunger and fatigue? Also debuffs.

    ‘Meaning… if I had just one of these, I’d be at full power instantly.’

    Then, a darker thought crept in.

    ‘…Wouldn’t cancer also count as a debuff?’

    His fingers tightened around the screen.

    ‘So this thing could cure any disease… and it costs only 5,000,000 Gold? Wow. Even the price tags here prioritize slaughter over healing and self-care… Then again, the fact that they put self-care stuff at lower prices could mean they encourage that over the slaughter… Oh well.’ He scrolled further.

    [Forbidden Tome of Abyssal Knowledge] – Increases intelligence by 500 permanently, but curses the user with recurring nightmares of the abyss.

    Price: 4,250,000 Gold

    [Necessities & Common Goods] (For the struggling survivor with barely any cash.)

    ‘Finally…’

    [Dried Meat Rations] (3 Days’ Worth) – It’s salty!

    Price: 75 Gold

    [Purified Water Flask] (1L) – Drinkable, non-toxic. Tastes like water.

    Price: 50 Gold

    [Basic Healing Potion] – Restores 500 HP over 10 seconds. Tastes like cough syrup.

    Price: 120 Gold

    [Cheap Tent] – Protects against mild weather conditions.

    Price: 500 Gold

    [Firestarter Kit] – For when you don’t want to freeze to death. Single-use.

    Price: 200 Gold

    [Stale Bread] – Crunchy. Too crunchy. Possibly a weapon if thrown hard enough.

    Price: 25 Gold

    Yuuto eyed the menu. ‘Hm… I could spend my 100 gold on meat rations and stale bread, but then I’d have no water. And who’s to say the snow outside is even safe to drink?’

    ‘Nah.’ With a deep sigh, he made his choice.

    “Two stale breads and one purified water flask.”

    The system responded instantly. Three items appeared in his inventory.

    🔹 [x2 Stale Bread]🔹 [x1 Purified Water Flask (1L)]

    [GOLD: 0]

    ‘Broke and hungry… This is supposed to be a power fantasy…’ He sighed deeply.

    ‘Guess I really am living the protagonist experience.’

    Yuuto pulled out the flask of water and a stale bread. ‘I should eat slowly… especially after losing so much blood.’

    He took a bite. A sharp crunch filled the cave as his teeth sank into the hardened crust.

    ‘Not bad. The inside’s just as rough as the exterior… Crude, but filling.’

    He washed it down with a sip of water, letting the liquid soften the dry texture before taking another bite. Slowly, methodically, he ate until the bread was gone.

    [HUNGER STATUS LIFTED!][MENTAL FATIGUE x8 → x4]

    HP: 10,000/15,000 (SLEEP DEPRIVATION -1,000 | MENTAL FATIGUE -4,000 TO MAX HP! GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST!)

    Yuuto exhaled, feeling the sluggish return of his strength. ‘HP should start regenerating back to 15k in about ten seconds… I did good.’

    With a small sigh of relief, he leaned back against the cold rock, letting exhaustion finally settle in.

    ‘Now… To get a shuteye…’

  • Chapter 7: Secret

    Ahhh… what a bother.” Yuuto groaned, sprawled on the cold cave floor, watching the blizzard rage outside. “OF COURSE there’s a goddamn day-night cycle in the dungeon!”

    ‘Now what..? I came inside the cave because my cold immunity wasn’t a total immunity. It makes me more resilient to cold, but after a few hours, even I start to feel a little chilly… I need to eat something. And drink.’ He thought as he summoned his status window to view, while rubbing his body, letting out a warm breath.

    Status Menu.

    Shun Haruno

    Level: 50

    Rank: Lower S-Rank

    Strength: 150

    Agility: 100

    Vitality: 200

    Intelligence: 50

    Awareness: 100

    HP: 20,000 / 20,000

    MANA: 5,000 / 5,000

    SKILLSET:

    KNIFE DAGGER [LV.MAX] – Summon an ice-cold dagger, as sturdy as the strongest steel. [USAGE: 100 MP]

    BERSERK [LV.MAX] – Enter a state of rage at will. All stats are tripled, but at the cost of your health. [USAGE: 15,000 HP | COOLDOWN: 24 HOURS]

    KILLER INSTINCT [LV.MAX] – Emit a predator’s aura, striking fear into enemies nearby, paralyzing them for 10 seconds. [USAGE: 2,000 MP]

    COLD BREEZE [LV.9] – Become a ghost. Invisible to the naked eye, but a freezing wind gives away your presence. [55MP/s | COOLDOWN: 1 MINUTE UPON DEACTIVATION]

    COLD IMMUNITY EQUILIBRIUM [LV.4] – Extreme resistance to cold damage—but cripplingly weak to heat.

    IMMUNITY [LV.2] – Lethal poisons only have mild effects. Resistance improves with level.

    DEFENSE [LV.1] – The higher this skill gets, the more difficult it is to hurt you!

    REGENERATION [LV.1] – Heals 10 HP per second. [PASSIVE]

    FINAL STANCE [LV.1] – A fatal hit won’t kill you. Instead, all stats except HP double for 10 seconds. However, you must kill your opponent within that time—or die instantly. [COOLDOWN: 1 HOUR]

    IGLOO [LV.1] – Create a safe zone in the shape of an igloo. Higher levels increase its size—but also its mana cost. [USAGE: 8,000 MP]

    “Igloo. Again. Igloo… HARUNO, YOU DUMB MOTHER-CUCKER. Why didn’t you raise your MANA!?”

    His eyes flicked over his status window, frustration boiling over.

    ‘…Speaking of raising things…’ His gaze trailed to his Defense stat. ‘If I’m trapped here, I might as well work on this. I don’t know who I’ll have to fight, but I need to be READY.’

    “KNIFE DAGGER [LV.MAX]!”

    A glacial blade materialized in his palm.

    ‘If I were an emo, I’d know exactly how to do this… Guess I’ll just—!’

    With a sharp inhale, he forced the tip against his finger. A shallow slice. Blood welled up instantly, a single droplet splattering onto the frozen ground.

    ‘Shit… I barely even felt that. But damn, I’m bleeding already?’

    A small pool formed beneath him, freezing over within seconds.

    Then—

    HP: 20,000/20,000 → 19,900YOU ARE NOW [BLEEDING]![BLEEDING] [10 HP/s]Duration: 60 seconds

    Yuuto scoffed. ‘Bleeding like a bitch from such a small cut… Guess this knife really is that strong.’

    Then he noticed something.

    His HP wasn’t dropping. It stayed locked at 19,900.

    ‘…Right.’ His eyes landed on Regeneration. 10 HP per second—the exact amount his Bleeding was draining.

    ‘Alright… If I’m bleeding, then—’ He grinned, pressing the blade against his skin again.

    Another 100 HP lost.

    [BLEEDING] → 20 HP/s

    This time, his health ticked downward in increments of 10—but the duration stayed the same.

    His smirk widened.

    ‘If I make another cut… a bigger cut… It’ll still only last a minute…’

    His eyes gleamed. He had the entire night to grind this stat. Even if he lost a ton of health, he’d be back to full in 30 to 50 minutes.

    Three seconds left on the Bleeding timer.

    He didn’t hesitate.

    STAB.

    The knife plunged deep into his stomach.

    -17,000 HP

    A strangled gasp tore from his throat as he ripped the blade out, crimson splattering onto the cold floor.

    ‘That oughta raise my stats…’

    Then he checked the status window.

    [BLEEDING: 20 HP/s → ….]

    His stomach dropped.

    → 1,000 HP/s.

    HP LEFT: 1,990BLEEDING: 2 SECONDS LEFT

    “…FUCK.”

    His health nosedived.

    1 second—1,000 HP lost.

    2 seconds—another 1,000 HP.

    He should have died.

    But Regeneration kicked in—recovering 20 HP against a -2,000 HP drain.

    The result?

    HP LEFT: 10.

    [BLEEDING STATUS LIFTED!]

    Yuuto collapsed onto the frozen ground, pale and gasping.

    ‘…Haaah…’

    His vision blurred, breath ragged.

    “Eat shit, Grim Reaper.”

    Darkness swallowed him.

    40 minutes later…

    Yuuto’s eyes cracked open. His fingers twitched against the icy ground as he pulled up his status.

    REGENERATION [LV.1] → [LV.3]! (10 → 100 HP/s!)

    DEFENSE [LV.1] → [LV.2]!It’s now slightly harder to injure you! Negative status effects have reduced durations, weakened potency, and a lower chance of affliction.

    ‘Heh… knew it was OP. Unlike most people, I have no problem admitting stabbing myself was a damn good idea.’ He chuckled.

    Health: 19,000/19,000 (HUNGER PENALTY -1,000 MAX HP)Your body is weakening due to prolonged hunger. HP max has temporarily dropped. Eat something to restore it.

    ‘Huh. So hunger actually lowers max HP? That’s a bitch. Wonder how low it’ll go before I start seeing my ribs.’

    His gaze narrowed.

    ‘But anyways… I did it. Damn. Stayed alive due to sheer, dumb luck. One second away from being Haruno 2.0 with how I almost offed myself.’

    With a deep sigh, he sat up.

    Then—a smirk.

    ‘Ah, right. there’s this skill…’ His eyes drifted to his status window.

    FINAL STANCE [LV.1] – A fatal hit won’t kill you. Instead, all stats except HP double for 10 seconds. However, you must kill your opponent within that time—or die instantly. [COOLDOWN: 1 HOUR]

    ‘I could test it now… but no opponent to kill means I’d just be signing my own death certificate. Not today.’

    “Alright…” He exhaled, summoning another knife.

    His eyes burned blue.

    Hunger. Madness. A predator’s focus.

    He raised the blade, the tip hovering over his stomach.

    ‘Time to do it again…!’

    STAB.

    Elsewhere…

    “Your secret’s safe with me. Just don’t wander off.”

    Sakuya muttered as she walked behind Kiril, who was now fully dressed again.

    “R… A… Thank you… Miss Yama.” Kiril nodded as she hesitated. “Uhm… Nobody saw me, right?”

    Sakuya exhaled. She thought of Hojin’s presence.

    ‘He definitely saw her.’

    But she had zero interest in dealing with high school drama.

    “No. No one but me. Don’t bother yourself with it.”

    They stepped back into camp.

    “I see… Thanks.”

    Kiril looked around.

    The warm glow of the campfire flickered across her face. Tents lined the ground, food stalls run by hunters filling the air with the scent of freshly grilled meat. Small hot springs dotted the area, steam curling into the icy night.

    “To think a safe haven like this exists amidst the blizzard… it’s really amazing…” Kiril muttered.

    “Yeah. How lovely.” Sakuya dismissed, barely glancing at the scenery. “Too bad you can’t live inside a dungeon, huh?”

    ‘Fucking kids. Treating this like a field trip. The higher-ups really took it too far this time.’

    Then—

    “No.”

    Kiril’s voice sharpened like a blade.

    Even Sakuya tensed.

    “I’d kill myself before living in a place like this.”

    “..!”

    “All dungeons deserve to wither away and be destroyed.” Kiril spat. “Cyka!” Her breath trembled, eyes burning with hatred. “Just because I find this place pretty, Miss Yama… doesn’t mean I love being here.”

    A pause.

    Then—

    “You’re Russian, right?” Sakuya let out.

    Kiril nodded.

    “…So why agree to come into a dungeon?”

    Kiril clenched her fists. “Because I want to see you slaughter these beasts.”

    Her voice quivered—not with fear, but something darker.

    “I want to see the light leave their eyes when you kill them… and understand the place they come from.”

    Sakuya exhaled. “…I see.”

    They reached camp.

    Kiril bowed. “Thank you for your concern, Miss Yama.”

    She turned, stepping into the camping area—

    “What’s your name?” Sakuya muttered.

    Kiril hesitated. Slowly, she turned back.

    “…Kiril.”

    Sakuya’s eyes narrowed. “Your real name.”

    Kiril hesitated longer this time.

    Then—

    “…Kiril.” She nodded solemnly. “Back in Russia, my parents gave me a boy’s name. Because of… the people. When everything collapsed.”

    Her fingers clutched at her sleeve.

    “If they knew I was a girl… Like my mom, they’d…”

    She trailed off. Her breath hitched.

    “From then on, I was legally a boy. I know I’m safe to be a girl here… but…”

    She swallowed hard.

    “It just makes me feel safer.”

    A silence settled between them.

    Sakuya finally nodded. “You don’t have to explain yourself.”

    “Thank you—”

    “You want to see a monster dying, right?” Sakuya interjected.

    Kiril flinched. “Y… Yes.”

    “How are you with carrying luggage? Roughly 35kg.”

    Kiril straightened up. “I’ll… I’ll manage!”

    Her eyes flashed with hope.

    Sakuya smirked slightly.

    “Two days from now. 6 AM. Stay by your tent.”

    She turned, walking away.

    “I’ll pick you up.”

    “..!!!”

    Kiril’s hands clenched with excitement.

    Sakuya barely looked back.

    “I’ll show you how we slay the boss monster.”

  • Chapter 6: Ear Licking

    “So, this is a dungeon, huh…?”

    Yuuto muttered as he stepped into the snowy wasteland, the cold wind biting at his face.

    “Alright. Let’s walk toward the group.”

    He sighed, hands stuffed into his pockets.

    ‘Convenient that this place is snow-themed.’

    With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a knife.

    ‘I can summon knives. Damn.’

    A chuckle escaped him as he tossed the blade into the air.

    ‘Run really fast, be a superhero. Ah, the weight of expectations, blah blah. What is my purpose? Do my powers have any meaning?’

    His smirk deepened.

    ‘Uncle wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen, uncle wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen, I neeed guiiidaaance. Pls, Gim the Dumbbold me some guidannnnnnnnce urghhhhhhhhhhhhh I need to be guided, I’m a lost lambbbbbbb arughlalealag…’

    Yuuto swirled his tongue, imagining a MILF licking his ear.

    He sighed.

    ‘Haaah… Even though this is a plains-type biome, I can’t see shit in this blizzard. Still got three days left. Might as well find some shelter, kill some mobs, loot their meat, make a cobblestone furnace, and craft some kimbap or kyombabapmpmba or whatever. Out of the 10,000 dishes I somehow know how to make since getting reincarnated. Culinary sensation, by the way.’

    He shrugged, wandering deeper into the storm.

    ‘Should’ve reallllllly brought some supplies with me.’

    Yuuto sighed, plopping down on a rock.

    ‘Oh well. Just find Kiril, save him, then I’m out. Living three days without food isn’t that critical… The real problem is getting lost in this place.’

    His fingers flicked in the air.

    “Status window.”

    A blue screen popped up before his eyes.

    ‘Igloo. If I had more mana, I’d use that skill right now. Such an OP skill… What a shame that dumbass barely uses it. Do you realize how much money you’d save? AT LEAST 10 TIMES 10,000 YEN. Also, your life.’

    He narrowed his eyes.

    ‘Oh, I know.’

    He called out loud:

    “Inventory.”

    A window flashed open.

    Yuuto grinned.

    ‘Haruno, you sly motherfucker. Thank god you had at least some brains.’

    Reaching into the digital storage, he pulled out a sandwich.

    Perfectly preserved.

    ‘Ham. Mayo. Lettuce. Tomato. What am I, American?’

    He took a bite, chewing slowly.

    ‘Oh, right. Wren’s from New York. Guess he got his taste from him. You’d expect a neatly packed bento or something. But nope. Just greasy sandwich energy. Not bad, though. Greasy food’s good for the cold.’

    Yuuto hummed, swallowing.

    His gaze drifted to the ice beneath him.

    ‘Bet I COULD melt that for water.’

    He exhaled, tapping his fingers against his knee.

    ‘Alright. For now, I’ll wait here. If this storm doesn’t clear in an hour…’

    A glance at his phone.

    [ No Reception ]

    His eyebrow twitched.

    ‘I’ll just take a guess and start walking in some direction.’

    And then—

    A roar.

    Yuuto’s head snapped up, sandwich halfway to his mouth.

    “…Oh.”

    Yuuto looked.

    There was a bear.

    A BIG brown bear, scar slashing across one eye, surrounded by dozens of other bears.

    “ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!”

    Its gaze bored into him.

    Yuuto smirked.

    ‘So, you want to fight, huh?’

    ‘Fine by me. I needed to get used to battling SOMETHING before taking on a hunter…’

    — A MOMENT LATER —

    “BUT IT WOULDN’T BE NOW!!! SHIT!!!”

    Yuuto’s teeth clenched as he bolted, the thunderous sound of dozens—no, HUNDREDS—of bears shaking the ground behind him.

    “THAT’S TOO MANY BEARS! THERE’S LIKE, 100 AT MINIMUM!!”

    His heart pounded.

    His feet slammed into the snow, wind whipping past his ears.

    ‘Luckily, they’re not as fast as me—’

    He skidded to a stop, panting, hands on his knees.

    ‘Damn it… I know I could probably take ’em. But the manhwa was never clear on how much damage each monster inflicted, or how Haruno’s stats affected damage intake.’

    He glanced down at himself.

    ‘I need to play it safe. I may be overpowered, sure…’

    He exhaled, his thoughts drifting. Haruno. Taking his own life.

    ‘Not inv—’

    TITLE CARD

    ‘HUH!?’ His head snapped up, his eyes scanning the area.

    ‘What was that!?’ He thought to himself while taking a few deep breaths, regaining his composure.

    ‘Ah… Damn it.’ He then realized.

    ‘I lost my sandwich.’

    ————————–

    Kiril pulled off his shirt, hidden away from the students setting up camp. From the bushes, Hojin watched.

    ‘Heh… Found that little bitch’s best friend. Taking his clothes off alone, huh?’ His fingers twitched.

    ‘No one’s watching… I’mma kill his ass.’ He shifted forward, body coiling—ready to strike.

    But then—Kiril’s shirt dropped.

    Hojin’s breath hitched. Plump. Too plump. His body… too slender. Smooth, pale skin.

    Hojin froze, his face burning. ‘…Huh!?’ A cold realization crashed into him.

    ‘FUCK—WRONG GUY!! THAT WASN’T HIS FRIEND…!! OR EVEN A GUY!!’ His legs moved on instinct, dragging him backward. He whipped around—stopped. His smirk returned.

    ‘No… That WAS definitely Kiril.’ He exhaled. ‘So… he had a little secret, huh?’ His smirk widened.

    But then—

    “HEY!” A sharp voice cut through the trees.

    Hojin’s body snapped to attention. ‘Shit!’ His eyes darted back. A figure. Sakuya.

    Her fish-like stare bore into him. “What are you doing here? Get back to the group.” Her tone was sharp, unbothered.

    Hojin swallowed. “Ah… S-sorry, Miss Yama… It’s just that… there’s someone out there alone. A student.”

    Sakuya’s fists tightened as she clicked her tongue. ‘These fucking students are really stupid, huh?’

    “Alright. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll take it from here. Go back. Now.” She stepped forward, passing Hojin without hesitation.

    He exhaled, a chuckle slipping through his lips. ‘Shit… I couldn’t even sense her.’ He turned back toward the camp, his smirk deepening.

    ‘Well… doesn’t even matter. Aren’t you glad, Kiril… or whatever your name is?’ His tongue ran over his lips. ‘I don’t plan to kill you anymore…’

    Kiril exhaled, staring down at her chest.

    ‘They got bigger again…’ Her fingers traced over the bandages, a dull ache throbbing beneath. ‘I’ll have to adjust them… What a pain…’

    She let out a breath. “Cyka…” Her shoulders sagged. ‘No wonder they hurt more than usual today. I was so worried…’

    Her eyes lowered. ‘I know I have to keep it a secret…’ A face flashed in her mind. Haruno. Her fingers tensed.

    ‘But I…’ Her breath shook. ‘I wanna tell him. I hate… keeping things from Haruno.’ She then grimaced.

    “If only that шлюха wasn’t the only thing on his mind…” She spat, recalling Misaki’s face and Haruno’s infatuation with her.

    ‘Though…’ She then smiled with a slight blush. ‘He laughed with me while I swore at her today…’