A Frightening Encounter

Room 2. Himeno and Gerald

" Hymeno , you... don't like me?" Gerald scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

— That's not it. I just wanted to team up with someone else. — he replied . Shy Hymen .

"With whom, exactly? " Gerald asked .

— With Satoru Fujimoto replied .​ Hymen .

"So you like him? " Gerald asked .

"I like it, " Himeno blushed and said .

"Why don't you confess? " Gerald asked .

" Speaking like this isn't easy! First, we need to get along, build a bond... " Himeno blushed and stammered in response.

"And why don't you try? " Gerald asked .

"Because he seems to like someone else, " she replied . Hymen .

"One of the two that came with him? " Gerald asked .

Yes. The one with black hair, Yui Koharu replied .​ Hymen .

Gerald nodded.

"I understand, " said Gerald.

"Shall we go to sleep? " he asked . Hymen .

"Let's go, " Gerald agreed.

Room 1. Yuuki and Max

"You're strong with Physical Strengthening, Max, but you need to fight without relying on it, like Mr. Aioze said," Yuuki said .

"Why are you telling me this? " Max asked .

"Because we're going to face Alisiya . If each of us doesn't know how to fight for ourselves, it's over, " he replied . Yuuki .

Max stared at the ceiling.

"I agree. And I think the key to beating Alisiya is Fujimoto , " said Max.

"Are you talking about that power he showed against Aioze ? " he asked . Yuuki .

"Yes, " Max replied .

"Have you seen this before? " Yuuki asked curiously.

"No. First time, " Max replied .

"That's strange... but if I think about it too much, I'll go to sleep with a headache. Good night, " said Max.

— Good evening. — he said Yuuki .

Room 3. Shana and Lysandra

"I'll ask again: who was your informant in Omeron ?" Shana narrowed her eyes.

"I can't expose my informants, " Lysandra smiled and said .

Shana grabbed her by the neck.

"You're going to talk! " Shana shouted.

"Your fuse is short... queen of demons, " Lysandra said with a smile.

Shana's eyes widened and she let go.

"How do you know...? " Shana asked, startled.

"My informant told me, " he replied . Lysandra .

(I don't know who her source is... but I'll keep an eye on it.) — she thought . Shana .

Room 4. Me

(How do I talk to him after all this?) — Koharu looked away, blushing.

"You know that what happened doesn't change my goal of defeating Elfherinsei , and I expect the same from you... although I bet you don't even feel guilty ," I said.

Koharu remained silent. She lay down and fell asleep.

" Sometimes I wonder if I wanted all of this to be a dream... And how did I activate that power yesterday?"

The following morning.

"The coffee is very good," I said, with my mouth full.

"Idiot, don't talk with your mouth full," Yuuki scolded .

"But you can't deny that Himeno cooks deliciously," Gerald commented.

"That's great," Shana agreed.

Aioze smiled.

"One day I want to get to know your universe, " he said . Aioze .

"When this is over, we'll take you," I promised.

Yuuki blinked.

"I'll be his guide! I'll present him with decent content," said Yuuki .

" Are you saying I wouldn't present something decent?" I retorted .

"I didn't say anything about you. If the shoe fits... " said Yuuki .

"You're addicted to kendo , " I said.

Aioze burst out laughing, and the entire hall looked puzzled.

— Hahaha ! Don't worry, I'm just happy to see you all getting along. — he said Happy Aioze .

— Phew — Yuuki and I said in unison.

"By the way, Yuuki , shall we practice after breakfast?" Max asked .

— Let's go. And I'm not going to go easy on you. — he agreed . Yuuki .

Okay… I'm going too! — Shana blushed and stepped forward.

— Great. This way you can train regeneration from a distance. — he said. Yuuki .

(I'm not going to leave Max alone with another girl.) — she thought. Shana .

When the group dispersed, I heard dishes clattering. Himeno was washing the dishes. I approached. She blushed slightly.

— Himeno , are you alright? — I asked.

" Everything's fine . Do you need anything? " Himeno replied.

"I want to help. I used to wash the dishes at home, " I said.

She smiled.

"Yes, you can. It's good to have support, " Himeno said.

From the hall, I saw Lysandra sitting next to Koharu , who was staring into space.

"You seem sad. What's wrong?" she asked.

— I… wanted to get stronger. — he said . Koharu .

Lysandra smiled.

"I can help you with that. Shall we go? " he said . Lysandra .

— Seriously? — he asked. Koharu .

— Seriously. Come with me. — Lysandra replied with a smile.

Training on Rocky Terre. Yuuki , Max, and Shana

"Strength training for Max and concentration training for Shana . Max and I will fight; Shana will focus on healing from a distance, " he explained . Yuuki .

"My healing isn't that good by a long shot..." Shana said .

"That's what you think. Aioze wants you to practice, " he said . Yuuki .

Max gave her a light punch in the abdomen.

"The Shana I know doesn't give up easily! " said Max.

(As the queen of demons, I can't give up.) — Shana took a deep breath. — Alright. I'll do my best. — she said . Shana .

That's it. Come on, Max! — he said . Yuuki .

The two clashed. Yuuki 's blade severed Max's arm. He gritted his teeth, activated Strengthen, and charged forward.

(Focus… healing in motion.) — Shana reached out her hands, but their speed made it difficult.

Fujimoto 's idea of just racing?" Max teased.

"Don't compare me to Fujimoto !" Yuuki vanished in a blur.

Max turned around. "Did he run away?"

(She's fast.) — Shana lost sight of her.

Yuuki appeared behind Max and knocked him down with a well-aimed elbow strike.

"How did you knock me down like that?" Max gasped.

"Because I was exhausted. Can you heal us now?" Yuuki smiled at Shana .

"Exhausted?" Max asked, surprised.

"I used Light Speed and Object Enhancement together. It works, but it drains a lot of energy. And energy waste... it kills," he explained . Yuuki .

Shana said . "Let's take a breath and try again."

"I'm not going to miss the next one!" Max growled.

"Me neither," Yuuki winked.

Florianci Forest . Lysandra and Koharu

"It's enormous..." Koharu looked at the treetops.

" Florianci , my informant is here. He can strengthen you," he said . Lysandra .

— Over there. — he said Lysandra .

Koharu 's smile faded. Her hands trembled.

—Hiroshi…? - he said Koharu was surprised and scared.

"Who would have thought we'd see each other again?" he said, with his usual disdain.

— Lysandra , what does this mean?! — she shouted. Koharu confused.

"Calm down. He won't do anything you don't want. In fact... we're dating," she revealed . Lysandra .

— Dating ?! — she shouted Koharu .

— That's right. — he confirmed . Lysandra .

"You... you were enslaved by him?!" Koharu asked.

"You yell too much," grumbled Hiroshi.

Lysandra assured .

"Then explain how he enslaved Hymen and almost enslaved me!" she shouted . Koharu irritated.

"We made a bet. If he lost along with the slaves, he wouldn't use the word 'ENSLAVE' anymore," she said . Lysandra .

"So you knew everything?!" he asked . Koharu screaming.

"I knew it. But I promise: he won't do anything you don't want. And he can make you much stronger," she said . Lysandra .

Koharu bit her lip.

—And what would the “training” entail?—she asked coldly.

Hiroshi crossed his arms.

"I'll help on one condition," Hiroshi said .

"Which one?" he asked . Koharu .

"You... have sex with me now," Hiroshi replied .

Koharu glared at him.

"You worm, is this some kind of joke?!" he shouted . Koharu .

"No. And if you don't want to, I won't force you," Hiroshi said .

(Looks like Lysandra tamed this trash…) — Koharu thought , staring at the mage.

" Lysandra , is this the only way?" Koharu asked.

"This is the one I have to make you very powerful... quickly," she replied . Lysandra .

Koharu closed her eyes.

"Give me three minutes to think," he said . Koharu .

"Okay," said Hiroshi.

Three minutes. Silence among the trees.

Koharu opened her eyes.

"I accept," he said . Koharu .

— I knew you would make the “right” choice — Lysandra placed her hands on her shoulders.