Save Himeno

Room 1

— Hey, old man. — he said Alisiya .

"Yes, little girl?" Sebastian raised his eyebrows.

"I wanted to apologize for what I did to you," he replied . Alisiya .

Sebastian's smile seemed genuine.

"Don't worry about it," Sebastian said .

— Okay. — he said Alisiya .

Room 2

"You're very strong, Kairo ," said Cassandra.

"But is that enough to help everyone? Even Fujimoto has become stronger than we imagined," he said . Kairo .

"Even if it isn't [a chance], I'd be happy to die helping," Cassandra said with a smile.

"Stop talking about death," he said . Kairo is worried.

" Okay ," said Cassandra.

Kairo hesitantly reached into his pocket. I could almost hear his heart beating from here.

"I wanted to... give you this," he said, taking out two small boxes.

Cassandra opened hers; a ring gleamed. Kairo knelt, blushing.

— Dolberg Cassandra, this ring… may I put it on your finger? — he said Kairo .

First her eyes widened… then she laughed.

"You silly thing, I loved it. I just didn't expect to see you do that. Can you do it again?" Cassandra said , laughing.

" I-I can ." He breathed.

— Dolberg Cassandra, this ring… may I put it on your finger? — he said Kairo again.

"I accept," Cassandra replied with a smile.

Kairo put the ring on. Cassandra kissed his hand, and then knelt down with the other little box.

— Karasch "Kairo , this ring... may I put it on your finger?" Cassandra asked .

"Yes," he replied . Kairo .

She put the ring on. The two of them just looked at each other for a few seconds.

"I think... we can finally have our 'first.' Life stole that from us, but today it's going to be with the one we love," Cassandra whispered .

Kairo nodded.

he said . Kairo .

The lamplight flickered. The rest… remained between the two of them.

"It was so good," Cassandra said minutes later, nestled against his chest.

"Yes. And... if you want to die on a battlefield, let me die with you," he said . Kairo .

She chuckled softly.

" For someone who didn't want to talk about death... But okay, I accept," Cassandra replied , laughing.

They kissed for a long time.

The following morning.

— Sis, you and Kairo look radiant. What did you do yesterday? — Melissa rested her chin on her hand.

Cassandra raised her hand with the ring.

" Kairo , was that you?" Melissa grinned broadly.

— I went… — Kairo was embarrassed.

"So Kairo knows how to be romantic," she said . Shana .

"We're about to face a difficult battle, and you're happy over a ring," he grumbled . Alisiya .

"How old are you, Alisiya ?" Shana tilted her head and asked mischievously.

- Twenty. Why? — Alisiya said.

"Twenty years old and you still haven't figured out what happened yesterday?" he said . Shana .

"What do you mean?" Alisiya asked.

"They certainly celebrated," Shana shrugged.

"My personal life doesn't matter," Alisiya blushed and said.

I held back a laugh.

Omeron 's café table is a stage..."

Everyone had finished eating. As she stood up, Alisiya walked past Shana , and Shana , mischievously, gave her a light tap on the hip.

— You idiot. — Alisiya blushed.

— Just returning that "squeeze" from Seseferin . — Shana smiled.

"I'll let it pass this time," he sighed . Alisiya .

"Your Majesty, Hiroshi's slaves were seen in the Giolal forest ," Sebastian hurried in and said.

— Let's go now. — he ordered. Grinn .

Giolal Forest .

I knelt down and peeked. A small group was advancing between the trees.

"It can't be... The girl in the middle is Himeno ," I said very quietly.

"Wait. It's the same one that was scratching itself," he said . Alisiya , narrowing her eyes.

"I'm going to use the Hidden Observatory," I murmured , concentrating.

— Analyze Hymen and the item. Leave the others for later. — he interrupted. Alisiya .

"Okay," I said.

The status window lit up in my vision.

Name: Nakajima Himeno .

Class: Heroine

Nv : 53

ATK: 113 | DEF: 132 | INT: 177 | HP: 114 | SPEED: 235

MAG ATK: 329 | MAG DEF: 376

Skills:

— SUPPORT POWER: Increases the powers of anyone within a 3m radius by up to 12% when activated.

— SUPPORT TECHNIQUE: Doubles the effect of an ally's ability for up to 30 seconds.

— SACRIFICE: a suicidal technique; binds the target with a black ribbon. When used, the user dies and the opponent also dies, after being consumed.

"This is terrible... One of the skills involves sacrifice." I swallowed hard.

Everyone became tense.

"And the item?" he hurried. Alisiya .

"Going to see," I replied.

Hugg Florence Artifact — No. 1: Increases the user's EXP by 100,000 per hour while active.

"So that's it... It 'supercharges' the growth," I explained quickly.

Shana narrowed her eyes. Alisiya did too.

Five slaves formed a circle. Hymen , standing outside, took out the artifact and threw it into the center of the circle.

— Grinn , Melissa, let's go! — she shouted. Alisiya .

The three leaped from behind the rock, but a flash of light rose to the sky from the artifact, and the five slaves in the circle were swept away, vanishing like arrows of light. The glow ceased.

Grinn took a half-step back.

"Was it you, Alisiya ?" Grinn asked.

— No. The worst is yet to come. — She clenched her teeth.

The air grew heavy. A buzzing sound vibrated above. Then, a woman descended from the sky, floating:

— Black and angelic wings… — someone whispered.

elf ears . And the body… covered in dark down that resembled a sacred beast," I finished , a chill running down my spine.

She flashed a smile that wasn't human.

"Me, thinking: Who... or what... is she?"

The silence before the scream.

And then, the world held its breath.

The mysterious woman landed gently on the ground.

The impact made the leaves vibrate and the air seemed to stand still.

We came out from behind the rocks, me, Koharu , Shana , Cassandra, Kairo and Max — and joined Alisiya , Grinn and Melissa.

"Who is that woman?" I asked , unable to look away.

Shana clenched her fists.

— Hugg Florence. — she replied. Shana .

"So that artifact... was the method to resurrect Florence?" I felt a chill.

Koharu looked at me , confused .

"But who is she, anyway?" Koharu asked.

The woman flashed a cold smile, her eyes gleaming green.

"I am... the creation of perfection," he replied , his voice echoing as if the very air were speaking along with him.

— Shana ! Summon the demons! Make them all fly! — she shouted . Alisiya .

"Okay!" she replied .

Shana transformed, her horns curving as a dark energy filled the air.

She snapped her fingers, and demons appeared, flapping their wings.

— Get up! Quickly! — he ordered .

We rode the demons, climbing above the treetops.

Florence raised her arm, and green chains appeared out of nowhere, binding Himeno .

— Hymen ! — I shouted .

Florence looked at her, curiously.

"It seems like this girl is being controlled... Hey, girl. What's your mission?" he murmured .

"Giving power to Florence. That's Lord Hiroshi's plan," he replied . Hymen , with empty eyes.

"So it was this Hiroshi guy who brought me back. Interesting." Florence smiled.

—Damn Hiroshi… — Koharu grumbled .

— Shana . Can we end this? — she called. Alisiya .

— Let's go. — she replied , with a glint in her eye.

"Hey! Alisiya , be careful not to hurt Himeno !" I shouted .

"You don't need to ask me that, brat," she replied coldly.

They both moved forward.

Florence raised her hands and unleashed angelic spears.

Alisiya counterattacked with a burst of energy; the impact exploded like thunder, creating clearings.

Shana summoned vortices of demonic energy, but they collided with an invisible epheric barrier .

"Damn it... Facing someone who's a mix of all races is hell," he growled . Alisiya .

Florence raised an eyebrow.

"Are you jealous, Karina's daughter?" Florence said mockingly.

Alisiya 's eyes blazed with anger.

"Never say that woman's name near me!!!" he shouted . Alisiya angrily.

She charged forward , striking the barrier with successive punches. Cracks began to form.

(Will she succeed?) — I thought , sweating.

Florence closed her eyes for a moment.

Hymen answered the call.

The supporting power shone through, the barrier was fully restored, and Florence's strength increased.

She bound Alisiya with the same green chains, dragging her inside the barrier .

Alisiya struggled, panting, while Florence created a spear of pure light.

"What are your last words?" Florence asked , raising her weapon.

Alisiya smiled ironically.

"Please... don't use the seed of invincibility," he said . Alisiya .

Florence stopped.

"The seed of... invincibility?" Florence asked, curious.

"A seed that keeps you at level one hundred for a minute," he replied . Alisiya .

The woman laughed, incredulous.

"Do you have it?" Florence asked .

Shana froze. Cassandra's eyes widened. Kairo gritted his teeth. Max snorted.

— Yes. It's… inside my breasts. Do you want it? I'll give it to you. — she said . Alisiya , with an almost tender smile.

She reached out her hand, holding a small, luminous seed.

— (It's over. It's the end of Omeron 's kingdom ...) — I thought.

Florence grabbed the seed and swallowed it without thinking.

— Hahahaha ! Thirty seconds! That's all I need to destroy you! — he laughed .

But soon his smile disappeared.

"What... is... happening to me?" Florence asked desperately.

The light around her began to dim.

Florence's body was trembling.

Alisiya broke the chains with a tug and crossed her arms.

"Seriously? Did you really think I'd give you the highest-level seed? That's the seed that reduces the user to level one." She smiled disdainfully.

"What?!" Florence screamed in despair.

A beam of energy shot through the air.

The blow struck Florence in the abdomen, cutting her in half.

The creature let out a cry and disappeared into a black mist.

Shana and Alisiya landed soon after, the trans-demons returning to the ground.

Shana reversed the transformation, exhausted.

Alisiya wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and smiled.

"I told them they could leave it to me," he said . Alisiya smiling.

Shana crossed her arms.

"If she were truly our ally, she would be extremely useful," he said . Shana .

"Maybe someday," Alisiya replied sarcastically.

"And what about Hymen ?" I asked , looking for her.

"I cast a transmutation spell to make her fall safely," he said . Shana .

"Thank you," I replied .

I ran to where she was. Hymen lay unconscious.

I knelt beside him and lifted his shirt slightly, touching his skin with my hand.

"Cancel!" I shouted .

Hiroshi's seal shattered into fragments of light.

"Now we just have to wait for her to wake up."

eyes slowly opened.

"Hi, Hime ..." I said, relieved.

But before I could even breathe properly, black ribbons emerged from the ground, wrapping around both of us.

— Hymen ?! — I shouted .

— Fujimoto ! — I heard Shana in the background.

"Stop! If you get any closer, you could die!" Shana shouted.

"Cancel didn't work?!"

" Hymeno , are you the one controlling your body?" I asked .

Tears streamed down her face.

"What good is being free if I have no place in this world? I've always been despised for being strange... for liking different things. At least, as Hiroshi's slave, I was useful for something!" Himeno replied.

“I understand that pain… I was like that too. But Koharu saved me. She had no one.”

"Don't say that, Himeno ! You're not useless! You just haven't found the right people to show you that you can use your power for something good!" I yelled .

"Before she was enslaved… Yuuki asked me to run away with her. She wanted to be happy with me. But I tripped… and Hiroshi caught up with us. She had to choose: run… or come back for me and be captured too. She made the right choice…" Himeno said .

But I... wanted to go with her!!! — she started shouting.

— Then come with us! Come with us, Hymen ! — I pleaded .

— Give up. I've already given up on living. — he said . Hymen crying.

"Then stop trying to make me give up!!!" I yelled , grabbing her shoulders.

The tapes started to erase our legs.

I placed my hands on her face, channeling energy.

"It's impossible to get out of this technique," she cried.

— Himeno , trust me! Use your Support Skill to strengthen my Cancel! — I said firmly.

— Okay… — he whispered.

Her aura merged with mine. The strength doubled.

The tapes began to melt, and then exploded in light.

We both fell to the ground, breathing heavily… but alive.

"It worked! It was successful, Himeno !" I shouted , laughing.

She looked at me, visibly moved.

"Nobody... ever thanked me," he said . Hymen .

The others ran towards us.

"Don't scare me like that again!" she shouted . Koharu , crying.

"You're a magnet for trouble, you know? But... you're getting good at it," he said . Shana , laughing nervously.

Koharu bent down, noticing Himeno 's broken glasses .

"Were they for graduation or just for style?" Koharu asked.

"Grade... six and a half," Hymen replied.

"Wow," Koharu winked.

Shana placed her hands over Himeno 's eyes .

"There you go. Now there are only two degrees. Koharu , your turn." She smiled .

Koharu smiled.

"Put your hand here, on my abdomen," he said . Koharu .

Hymenus made the gesture.

Koharu used the Feelings skill, creating a new pair of glasses made of solid light.

"Here, Hymen . A gift," he said . Koharu .

She picked it up, crying.

— Thank you… thank you so much. — Himeno said gratefully.

We all fell silent, watching her smile for the first time.

"And I saw... maybe that's what saving people really meant."

Behind them, Alisiya watched from a distance, leaning against a tree.

(I wish I could... smile like that too.) — I thought I heard her whisper.

She approached, breaking the mood.

"Enough of this mushy stuff. I need to talk to this Hymena , " he said . Alisiya .

"Wait. She's still recovering, both physically and mentally," I pleaded .

Alisiya sighed.

"Have you all forgotten that I have the level one hundred seed?" he said . Alisiya .

Everyone became tense.

"Don't worry. I don't mind talking to Hiroshi's ally," he said . Hymen , calm down.

I was in shock.

— An ally?! What do you mean you're Hiroshi's ally?! — I looked at Alisiya .

She simply crossed her arms.

"My conversation is with her, not with you," Alisiya replied.

My blood boiled in my veins.

" Alisiya ... what the hell are you hiding?"