The Secret of the Seven Worlds

Meanwhile, I waited in the living room of her house, watching the wooden stairs that led to the second floor.

Absolute silence.

“She must be preparing the spell... or the poison.”

Minutes passed until the doorknob turned.

The door opened, and Cassandra slowly descended, now wearing a white silk nightgown, which shimmered in the dim candlelight.

The soft fabric outlined her body as she walked, and her long blonde hair fell loose, touching her bare shoulders.

"Can I take the bracelets and examine them?" he asked , his voice sweet and honeyed.

“She wants to distract me… but the murderous aura is still there.”

— Why are you... blushing? — I asked .

She tilted her head, the fabric of her nightgown sliding silently.

— It's just... being like this makes me a little... embarrassed. — she said with a slight smile.

“Lie. The expression doesn’t match the tone.”

— Cassandra — I said firmly.

—Can I ask you something before I give you the bracelet? — I asked her.

She smiled almost angelically.

— Of course. You can ask whatever you want. — she replied.

“ Are you... a thief?” I asked Cassandra.

The smile faded.

"What's it like?" she asked , not understanding.

"You're trying to kill me, aren't you? You're trying to poison me so you can keep the bracelet and sell it on the black market," I continued .

For a moment, her face was blank.

Then a low chuckle escaped.

— You really are an interesting fellow... — Cassandra said.

Suddenly, Cassandra rushed forward like a gust of wind and kicked me in the abdomen.

— Arghhh !!! — I screamed , falling to the ground.

“Absurd strength and speed… this woman is not just a craftswoman.”

“Why did you do that?!” I asked , coughing.

— Because you're an idiot! — she replied , irritated.

— I don't want to fight! We can still resolve this without fighting! — I said, trying to resolve it peacefully.

She laughed and leaned over me, her nightgown sliding down her body.

"You are the most foolish adventurer I have ever seen," she said.

She took the bracelets from my hands.

—Are you going to analyze them now? — I asked .

— Shut up. — she said coldly.

— Stay down, or I'll hit you again, — Cassandra said .

I stood still, muttering.

—But why on the floor? — I asked.

She sat on my back.

— AAAAAAAHHH!!! — I screamed .

—THAT HURT! — I screamed in pain.

— If you hold on tight, I'll spare you. Now shut up. — he replied .

He then activated Sahõkuri , placing his hands on the bracelets.

A golden glow emanated and then disappeared.

— What the hell is this? — he grumbled .

"The core isn't responding!" she said, not understanding why her assessment wasn't working.

“She doesn't understand how the item works.”

— You're using it wrong — I commented.

She looked at me, furious.

"Are you saying you understand my ability better than I do?" Cassandra asked angrily.

— No… — I tried to justify myself.

"Then shut up. Who are you, anyway?" she asked.

— Satoru Fujimoto.

—And who are you really? — he asked , with a lethal look.

— Answer, or I'll torture you. — Cassandra ordered .

—I am... an adventurer. — I muttered .

Suddenly, an absurd pain shot through my body.

My abdomen began to glow a deep purple.

— AAAAAHHHH!!! — I screamed in pain.

Cassandra's eyes widened.

—Are you pretending? — she asked.

But the pain was real.

The ground shook slightly, the air grew heavy.

She pulled away, startled.

— What is this...? — Cassandra asked, looking at the eye that was revealed inside my belly.

He ran upstairs and began rummaging through books and papers.

"Where is it?! Where is the damn book?!" she said desperately.

He found the ancient tome: “Gods and Guardians: Secrets of the Worlds.”

He turned the pages frantically.

“There are seven worlds.

Each one ruled by a god.

Each god chose mortal beings to be Guardians, charged with maintaining the balance between realities.”

She continued reading:

“ Kazen , god of the first world, chose four guardians—an elf , a demon, an angel, and a mystical beast.

Loki , god of the second world, chose a human.

Choke , god of the third, chose an olien .

Freya , from the fourth, three ryzan women .

The fifth god chose four hybrids.

Gaia, of the sixth, two humans and a Cirin .

And Shina , from the seventh, a humanoid girl .”

“No… it can be,” she whispered.

— This glow… is a fragment of the power of Loki , the god of the second world! — said Cassandra in surprise.

“ So… the power inside me… is that it?”

Cassandra closed the book and ran downstairs.

I was already sitting down, breathing heavily.

She looked nervous, but there was something different, the murderous aura was gone.

And the white nightgown swayed as she approached.

“Are you feeling better?” he asked , blushing.

— Yes. What was that book? — I asked.

She hesitated.

— I discovered something… very important. — she replied.

— What? — I asked.

She stared at me.

— You are the Guardian of the Second World, — Cassandra replied.

— What?! This is crazy! I'm too weak for this! — I said, not understanding the situation.

— No, — she said firmly.

—Your skills prove otherwise, — Cassandra stated .

He placed his hand on my abdomen, the skin still hot from the pain, and a magical panel appeared.

Future Skills: CANCEL, WISH, SEISHI.

— Don't you have Fukkaseina ? — she asked .

— Was it supposed to be? — I asked.

— Yes. That means this power was inherited by a brother or sister you don't know. — she replied.

—But… I don’t have any brothers! — I exclaimed .

"Maybe your mother was hiding something," Cassandra murmured .

“It could have been from another marriage,” Cassandra continued.

I remained silent. My head was spinning.

She took a deep breath.

"Let's analyze the bracelet now. Aim for that blue dot inside the white part," she said.

Cassandra concentrated energy there. The object glowed, and a metallic voice echoed in the air:

“Elven race item detected. Do you wish to keep it open for maintenance or close it?”

We both turned pale.

— An… elven item?! — we said together.

She looked at me.

"Why would your friend have something like that?" Cassandra asked me.

—That's what I want to find out, — I replied .

“I can't say Shana is the Demon Queen.”

"Then let's go to the Adventurers' House," Cassandra suggested .

— I want to hear this story in person, — she said.

— Deal. — I agreed.

She went to her room, put the book away, and put some of her belongings on a small wooden cart.

She changed her clothes.

— Okay. We can go. — said Cassandra.

“Let’s go,” I replied , looking at the moonlight outside.

“If all this is true… the gods, the guardians, Loki … then destiny was never ours alone.”

And we set off together, under the silver glow of the night.

We arrived at the Adventurers' House late at night.

The windows were dark, and only a lantern flickered in the doorway.

I knocked twice on the door.

After a few seconds, Ros appeared, her eyes half closed and a cloth over her shoulder.

"Kid... what are you doing here with that pile of bags?" Ros asked.

Cassandra fixed her blonde hair and answered without hesitation:

—I came to live here, of course. What else would it be ? — Cassandra replied.

Ros raised her eyebrows.

— It can't be serious... and just to let you know, we don't have any more rooms available. — Ros said.

"Okay. She can stay in one of the girls' rooms in my group," I replied , trying to ease the tension.

Ros snorted, but she had no choice.

—Okay ... but if something goes wrong, you're responsible, you hear? — he said . Ros .

— I heard. — I replied.

We climbed the stairs in silence. The wood creaked with every step.

“Why did Ros seem so suspicious of you?” I asked curiously.

Cassandra scratched her head and laughed awkwardly.

"It's a long story. Let's just say... there's a beautiful girl and a handsome boy causing trouble in several cities," Cassandra replied.

— And the beautiful girl would be you, right? — I joked .

— Exactly. — he replied , winking.

— The boy is Kairo . — said Cassandra.

I sighed.

“Of course... she really is a trouble magnet.”

We stopped in front of Koharu's room door. I knocked lightly.

The door opened, revealing Koharu, and behind her, Shana and Max.

My heart raced.

— Ah... you're all here... — I murmured, embarrassed.

Shana crossed her arms.

—We already know everything, — said Shana.

I turned to Koharu.

"What did you do...?" I asked Koharu.

She lowered her head.

— I'm sorry... — Koharu apologized.

Max intervened:

"Come in now. And... did you bring Shana's bracelets?" Max asked.

— Yes. — I handed over the items.

Shana put the bracelets back on and took a deep breath of relief.

— There... we're safe now. — Shana said .

—What do you mean, “safe”? — I asked .

Shana looked around and motioned to close the door.

—En train and sit down. I'll explain. — Shana said.

The three girls got into one bed, and Max and I got into the other.

Cassandra sat beside me, watching everything carefully.

Shana began to explain.

He spoke of the elven bracelets, the gift of the Queen of the Elves , and how they served to hide her presence from angels, demons, and mystical beasts.

I was stunned.

— So... you got this from the elves to hide from these three races? — I asked.

— Yes — Shana replied.

Suddenly, I noticed Cassandra's eyes shining, a genuine, almost awed, glow.

— Cassandra... what is it? — I asked .

She smiled.

"I never imagined meeting the current Demon Queen like this, face to face," Cassandra replied happily.

Shana raised her eyebrows.

—And why does that make you happy? — Shana asked.

—Because I was always told that the heirs of the four races were cruel monsters—Cassandra replied.

"Especially the demons and mystical beasts. But... looking at you, I see they were wrong," Cassandra continued .

Max watched her, intrigued.

"You look more happy than surprised," Max said.

Cassandra nodded.

— Because I always believed there would be heirs with pure hearts. And I was right, — said Cassandra.

Shana was silent for a few seconds... and then, discreet tears streamed down her face.

— You said it all... only by getting to know someone do we understand who they really are. — Shana said happily.

There was a moment of calm.

Then Cassandra took a book from inside her suitcase.

— I want to show you what I discovered, — said Cassandra.

She revealed books stolen from a magical school, with notes and diagrams about ancient bloodlines and seals.

Shana leafed through them in surprise.

—So you suspect Fujimoto is the hero of world two?

—I suspect more than that, — Cassandra replied .

"I believe he has a brother or sister he doesn't know about," Cassandra said , shocking everyone.

Shana nodded seriously.

"I see. Since we're revealing secrets, I think it's only fair to tell you what I was investigating about Koharu," Shana said .

Max's eyes widened.

“Are you really going to tell that?” Max asked .

— Yes — Shana replied.

Koharu was confused.

"What? About me?" Koharu asked .

"During the fight against Max and Kupi... what do you remember?" Shana asked .

"Just Fujimoto throwing himself in front of me to protect me. I think I passed out right after," Koharu replied .

Shana sighed.

"The truth is, you defeated Kupi all by yourself. And with ease," Shana said .

"What?!" Koharu and I exclaimed at the same time.

At that moment, the little dragon Kupi appeared on Max's shoulder.

“It’s true,” he said, his voice calm.

"I've never faced a human with such strength," Kupi continued .

— T-THIS DRAGON TALKS?! — Koharu screamed.

“Of course I do,” he replied with a chuckle.

"We dragons speak any language," Kupi said smiling.

Cassandra crossed her legs, smiling.

“You really didn’t know that?” Cassandra asked.

Shana cleared her throat.

"Back to the point... the reason Kupi was defeated is because Koharu has a seal similar to mine, " Shana said .

Koharu widened her eyes.

"A seal… like that?" Koharu asked .

Shana nodded.

— Yui Koharu… it's not wrong to say that you are Angelic Koharu.

Absolute silence.

— What is it like? — I asked .

“ Angelic ?”

"Every member of the angelic clan carries this surname," Shana explained. "Koharu, you belong to the Angel Clan," Shana revealed .

Koharu stood still.

Cassandra and I exchanged surprised looks.

"Besides, you're from another world. The first world, to be exact," Shana continued .

This means she is the daughter of the queen and king of the Angelic Clan , or someone very close to them.

Koharu took a step back .

"So... my whole life was a lie?" Koharu asked .

I sighed.

— Welcome to the club... — I said.

Cassandra stood up.

—Then I think it's time to prove it all, — said Cassandra.

She looked at Shana and Koharu.

"Open your status menus. Tap the 'Status' name with one hand and hold it there. May I?" Cassandra ordered Koharu and Shana.

The two nodded. Cassandra approached and placed her hands over theirs, activating Sahōkuri .

An intense blue glow filled the room.

“You can now access hidden statuses.”

—Hidden statuses...? — they both murmured .

Cassandra turned to Max and Kupi.

"You too. Open the menus," Cassandra ordered .

They obeyed , and the same glow appeared.

“Why are you afraid?” Cassandra asked .

—See for yourselves, — said Cassandra.

Kupi was the first.

— My data is the same… — said Kupi.

"Are you sure? Look at the future abilities," Cassandra said.

He read it, surprised.

"I can see the names of the abilities I'm yet to awaken!" Kupi said in surprise.

We were all amazed.

Max checked his own menu.

— Amazing… I can see mine too! — Max said in surprise.

Shana took a deep breath and decided to do the same.

The panel in front of her showed:

Name: Demonic Shana

Race: 100% Demonic

Parents: Risina (F) and Tetaracsis (M)

Age: 20 years old

“It even shows the parents’ names…” Shana murmured.

“Max, does yours show it too?” Shana asked .

— No… Not mine. — he replied , confused.

"Idiot... Look at yours," she whispered, and turned to Koharu.

Koharu took a deep breath.

Her panel opened:

Name: Angelic Koharu

Race: 100% Angelic

Parents: Hamarina (F) and Loserio (M)

Age: 17 years old

Shana's eyes widened.

— Your mother is Hamarina ? — Shana asked in surprise.

— Yes… do you know her? — Koharu said .

— Of course. Hamarina is the Queen of the Angelic Clan . And Loserio ... — Shana replied.

—...is dead? — Koharu interrupted .

Shana nodded.

"He was killed in an ambush by demons and mystical beasts," Shana replied.

Koharu lowered her head sadly.

Cassandra crossed her arms.

"She's not the only one who discovered something unexpected... right, Fujimoto?" Cassandra asked with a wry smile on her face.

I looked at my dashboard and the air seemed to disappear from the room.

Name: Satoru Fujimoto

Race: 85% Human / 15% Succubus

Parents: Karina (F) and Sugimoto (M)

Age: 17 years old

Silence.

Shana, Koharu, and Max stared at me.

Cassandra broke the mood with a slight smile.

"It seems we're not the only ones full of secrets, Guardian of the Second World," Cassandra said .