Lysandra's boyfriend.

The wind cut through the trees of the Florianci Forest , carrying the distant sound of water cascading from some stream. Koharu remained silent, her eyes tense, and with each step, the feeling of being led toward something inevitable grew stronger. Lysandra walked ahead, calm, and Hiroshi walked beside her with a cold smile.

When they stopped, Lysandra turned slightly and placed her hands on Koharu 's shoulders .

"This is where your training begins," he said, his voice too sweet for the weight of the words.

Koharu felt her heart race. Hiroshi's gaze betrayed no hidden motives.

"What exactly do you want me to do?" she asked, trying to keep her voice firm.

"Just... relax," Lysandra replied , gently nudging her toward him.

Koharu 's mind went blank. There was no physical resistance—only a strange emptiness, as if her body and spirit were separated. The leaf-covered ground stood as a silent witness while the "lesson" continued.

His hands explored insistently, and each approach seemed to tear away a fragment of her will.

Koharu closed her eyes—not for pleasure, but to endure. The muffled sound of breathing filled the dense air, a mixture of discomfort and shame.

When it finally all stopped, the silence weighed even more heavily than the actions.

Lysandra watched from afar, her gaze serene and analytical.

"Very well, Koharu . Now you know what it means to give in to power." His voice sounded like a sentence.

Koharu trembled, torn between anger and exhaustion.

"Was this... was this necessary?" he asked . Koharu .

"It was inevitable. You wanted strength, and strength comes at a price," Hiroshi replied , adjusting his clothes.

Without saying anything more, Lysandra led the two to a nearby clearing, where a hot spring bubbled among the moss-covered rocks.

"Here. Clean yourself. Bodily dirt is easy to remove, but the dirt of the soul... perhaps not so much," she said .

Koharu hesitated, but stepped into the hot water. Steam rose, partially obscuring their faces. Hiroshi remained silent, watching her. Lysandra sat on the edge, crossing her legs.

"You realized that, didn't you? This wasn't just 'training'," she asked .

Koharu looked up, serious.

"So it was a trap?" Koharu asked.

"It was a test. And you passed. Now you belong to something bigger." Lysandra leaned forward.

"I don't belong to anyone!" he retorted . Koharu , furious.

Lysandra laughed.

"Then why didn't you leave?" he asked . Lysandra with a smile.

The phrase hit Koharu hard. Part of her knew the answer: because, despite everything, she wanted power… and revenge.

After a few minutes, the steam seemed to drown out the voices. Lysandra approached and, with almost maternal gentleness, wiped Koharu 's back with a cloth .

"You can still choose what you'll do with it. Pain can turn into strength. Or into a chain," he murmured .

Koharu remained silent.

When they got out of the water, they got dressed and walked back. On the way, Lysandra explained the plan.

"Tomorrow, I'll try to convince Aioze to accept Hiroshi into the Mercenaries of Good guild," he said . Lysandra .

Koharu stopped.

"What? That's impossible. Nobody there would accept him," he said . Koharu .

"He knows Alisiya . He knows where she is and has a plan to capture her. And you, Koharu , will be the key." Lysandra smiled.

"Me?!" Koharu said, confused.

"Yes. Everyone knows you hate him. If even you accept him, others will too," she explained . Lysandra .

Koharu looked at the ground.

"You're blackmailing me," he said . Koharu irritated.

"Just showing the way . Paths always have a price," he replied . Lysandra , serene.

At the end of the trail, the silhouette of the guild appeared in the distance. The sun was already setting, tinging the sky red, a color that seemed to perfectly match what Koharu felt: guilt, anger, and something deeper… a silent fear of herself.

She glanced at Hiroshi, who was walking away contentedly.

During lunch at the Mercenaries of Good headquarters, Aioze stood up from the table and looked at everyone with a serious expression. The atmosphere, previously relaxed, fell silent.

"Gerald suggested we make a defense plan in case Alisiya tries to attack us here," the leader said, resting his hands on the table.

"So, do you already have something in mind?" he asked . Shana , curious.

"Not yet," Aioze replied calmly.

I was surprised by the response.

"Does he really want us to help with this?"

"Don't tell me you want our help to put the plan together?" I asked , confused.

"Idiot. Master Aioze wants a plan to attack Alisiya first," he retorted . Yuuki , crossing her arms.

"That's right. That's why I need to know what her strengths and weaknesses are, so we can attack them first," the leader confirmed , turning his gaze directly to me.

"I don't know much... she's never used her full potential yet. Besides, she has a power called Fukkaseina . I still don't know what it's capable of," I explained, recalling past battles.

"I understand," Aioze murmured , then glanced at Lysandra , who seemed uneasy, her hands trembling on the plate.

— Lysandra , why is your face so flushed? — he asked .

"I... would like to request an emergency meeting," she replied hesitantly.

They all exchanged surprised glances. Gerald raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?" the commander asked .

Lysandra confirmed , taking a deep breath.

"Very well. Fujimoto , I'm sorry, but I need to resolve this now." He nodded . Aioze stood up. He glanced at me.

"All right, sir," I replied.

Aioze , Yuuki , Gerald, and Lysandra left the cafeteria. As soon as the door closed, Himeno approached.

"These meetings are only between the leader and the three commanders. If Lysandra requested one now, it must be something serious," he explained.

"I understand..." I murmured, still curious.

In the meeting room

Aioze sat down at the head of the table and crossed his arms.

— Lysandra , what did you want to discuss? — Aioze asked.

"I... wanted to let you know that I have a boyfriend." The sorceress hesitated, her gaze lost for a moment, before speaking.

Yuuki's eyes widened.

"Are you kidding me? You called an emergency meeting for this?!" he said . Yuuki is annoyed.

"Calm down, Yuuki . She wouldn't say that for nothing. Would she, Lysandra ?" she said . Aioze , raising one hand.

"Yes. The reason is that my boyfriend and I have a plan to capture Alisiya ," she replied .

The shock was widespread.

"What?!" they exclaimed . Aioze , Yuuki , and Gerald arrived almost simultaneously.

"And why have you never spoken about this?" he asked . Aioze , frowning.

"Because he is hated by many people," she explained.

"Is he someone from a rival guild?" Gerald inquired .

Lysandra replied , looking away.

"So who is it?" he insisted . Aioze .

"It's... Takeshi Hiroshi." Lysandra hesitated, her voice breaking.

— What?! — he shouted Yuuki , banging on the table.

Aioze remained silent for a few seconds, until he remembered the name.

"Hiroshi... isn't he the one who tried to enslave you and Himeno , and fought against Fujimoto and the group?" he asked . Aioze .

Yuuki confirmed , furious.

Gerald stared at Lysandra in astonishment.

— Lysandra , why get involved with someone like that? — Gerald asked.

"Because I love him . I know he made a mistake, but I believe he deserves a second chance," she replied firmly.

Yuuki stood up abruptly and grabbed Lysandra 's collar .

"He blackmailed Koharu , enslaved Himeno , tried to kill our friends... and you're talking about love?!" she shouted . Yuuki is annoyed.

"I knew everything, but..." Lysandra tried to explain .

A crack echoed through the room. Yuuki had slapped her across the face.

"Lord Aioze !" Gerald shouted , alarmed.

" Yuuki , sit down," the leader ordered in a firm voice.

— But sir—! — he said Yuuki .

"I said, sit down," Aioze said firmly.

Yuuki took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and sat back down.

Aioze crossed his hands on the table.

— Lysandra , did you know what he was doing? — she asked. Aioze .

"I knew, but I asked him not to touch Himeno , out of respect for Yuuki ," the mage replied , her voice trembling.

"And did you try to stop him?" he asked. Aioze .

"Yes, I even made a bet with him," she replied . Lysandra .

"What's the bet?" the leader asked .

"He could only form a harem if he conquered the women without using the Enslave ability. If he lost, he could never use the ability on a woman again," he explained . Lysandra .

"So he lost the day he was defeated by Fujimoto ?" he concluded. Aioze .

he said . Lysandra .

Yuuki clenched her fists.

"Even so, I can't understand someone who falls in love with a monster," he said . Yuuki .

"Even so, I fell in love," Lysandra replied with a sad smile.

Aioze sighed.

"I understand... given the circumstances, I'm willing to hear the plan. But Hiroshi can only enter here if Fujimoto and the group approve," he said . Aioze .

"Could you let them know tomorrow?" he asked . Lysandra .

"Why not now?" he asked . Yuuki .

"Because otherwise they would bombard me with questions," he explained.

Aioze nodded.

"I agree. Yuuki , do you have anything to add?" she asked . Aioze .

"I have one condition. I want to tell Himeno tonight," she replied firmly.

"Condition accepted. Meeting adjourned," said the leader, standing up.