(Ryuta POV)
The events at the Demon King's castle clung to me like a shadow. But unlike my first trauma in my old world, I didn't let it trap me in my room—at least not outwardly.
For days, I kept my distance from others, using detection magic to avoid contact whenever I went between the mansion and my dorm room or lab. Immature? Maybe. But until I had a leash on the darkness I'd unleashed, it felt necessary.
Especially with Nanahoshi.
I still didn't know why I snapped at her. A simple question—should she call me by my old name—had triggered something ugly. She's the closest thing I have to a friend, yet even she wasn't safe from the storm in my head.
To distract myself, I explored the mansion further. In the basement, beside the Teleportation Circle room, I found one of the Maniacal Dragon King's unfinished projects: a four-armed, four-legged mannequin with a Magic Stone stored in its chest and Magic Circles carved all over using the stacking method the masked man wrote about.
The craftsmanship was impressive. The details on the face… less so.
Next to it, on a pedestal, was something far more valuable: Chaos's notebook.
If the mannequin was the body, the notebook was the soul.
It contained complex diagrams and theories. But the strangest part? I could read it—fluently. The language wasn't from any current language I was familiar with. Maybe Dragon God tongue? I wasn't sure.
Chaos was on a good path to completing his dream: a fully autonomous golem. But his writings showed uncertainty. A roadblock in his research, perhaps.
No clue where he'd gone—just the mannequin, still operating, mistaken for a ghost attacking anyone who trespasses on this property for what may have been years, decades even.
The thought crossed my mind: maybe I could finish what he started. Create something loyal. Something unafraid of me. Machines that couldn't be hurt by the monster I feared I was becoming.
I'd have to be careful. I've seen enough movies to know how that ends. I'll know if it was a mistake once some time-travelling robot comes and tries to kill me.
***
I kept pretending that retreating and resurfacing was enough. But deep down, I knew I couldn't avoid the world forever. Not if I wanted to heal—literally and figuratively.
The masked man's notebook mentioned an instruction to improve my Healing Magic. Not the incantations for higher spells, but precise mana control. Guiding the body to mend itself.
I had to try. My right eye was still blind from the incident in the Demon King's castle.
In the quiet of the mansion, morning light spilling through cracked windows, I placed my palm over my eye and focused. Mana flowed gently, threading through damaged tissue, tracing the nerves.
When I opened my eye, the world looked sharper and dimmer at once. The scar was still there. I tried to erase it, but the body had accepted it. It wasn't a wound anymore. It was part of me. Maybe that was fitting.
The basement had more than just the mannequin.
There was a longsword of black metal and purple crystal—one edge jagged, the other smooth and refined. Veins pulsed on the blade like the ones on my left arm. It was designed for "Toxic Magic," a corrosive force said to bypass even Touki or Barrier Magic mentioned in the notebook.
As useful as it sounded, I rarely used weapons other than gloves with Magic enhancements on them. I barely use any of the Magic Tool weapons I've created.
Also, I never heard of such a type of Magic, not even from Orsted.
So, until I figured out how to use it, I stored the sword away in my pocket dimension—for now.
Next to it was a robe: grey leather, fur-lined, with multiple buckles. It adjusted to fit, regulated temperature, and resisted attack magic—practical and tough—something not necessarily needed for the average Magician. Unless you're me, who knows how to throw hands.
Fashion's always been something I lacked. I only own two outfits—one torn, the other one starting to get a little too tight. The robe came at a good time, and it does fit the frigged climate of the Northern Territories.
So today, for the first time in days, I was heading out.
I chose something simple to wear under the robe: a plain black sweatshirt. Clean, unremarkable, affordable. I still needed to check my balance at the Magician Guild anyway, so until then, no big spending.
Not that it changed the fact that, the moment I stepped outside, people kept throwing glances my way. The scar across my face wasn't exactly easy to miss. Whispers followed me down the street, like I'd grown a second head or sprouted demon horns.
By the time I reached the university gates, even the guard on duty froze when he saw me.
Right. The scar. Should've expected that, given my reputation as a strong individual.
I kept my head down, hands stuffed into my pockets, and made my way toward the lab. The notebook mentioned a special method to suppress mana from getting sent out from the body, and I knew the masked man wrote that in there, figuring I would be interested in that for Orsted's issue with his curse.
But of course, staying under anyone's radar didn't last long.
"Hey, Boss! There you are!"
That unmistakable voice, loud and excited, carried across the lawn. I turned just in time to see Linia and Pursena making a beeline toward me.
They got a good look at me and winced.
"Mewoah, Boss… what the hell happened to your face?!" Linia blurted, ears twitching in surprise.
Pursena squinted. "Yikes, that's one nasty scar... Don't tell me someone actually tagged you? For real?"
No way in hell was I telling them what really happened—not about the Demon King, and especially not about how I lost control and traumatized someone.
So I shrugged. "Nah. Just had an experimental familiar summoning go rogue. Stupid thing grazed me before I put it down."
They absolutely didn't buy it—but to my relief, they didn't press.
Linia grinned, showing sharp teeth, and grabbed my arm.
"Well, whatever. You're back, and that's what matters, mew!"
Pursena took my other arm. "Mhm! And you're coming with us, no whining."
"Huh? What're you—"
"It's a surprise!" Linia purred mischievously.
Something tells me that whatever surprise they are planning isn't good. Then again, I might just need something to get me out of my moody state.
Left behind one of the school buildings by those two, I stood alone, wind brushing the hair over my scar. The surface of the scar itched, and I had to withstand the urge to scratch it.
Over half an hour later, I picked up signals from my detection—lots of them. I think I recognize some of them.
Linia and Pursena returned with a whole group of girls. A mix of various races—some dressed casually, some in flashy attire. Some curious, some clearly nervous.
'This couldn't be... They couldn't have...'
I kept wrestling with the thought that those two weren't possibly doing what I think, right? They couldn't be that dumb, right? Right?
There was a bit of an awkward silence while the girls were standing in front of me.
I stared at Linia. She grinned. Then I stared at Pursena. She grinned even wider.
Well, my only regret was to have had hopes of their intelligence to begin with.
I sighed. "Why?"
"You've been all pent up and moody, mew," Linia said, tail flicking.
"You've got the look of a broke, thirsty mutt right now, Boss," Pursena added.
Hurtful. I'm not broke (I think). I'm just a man halfway through dying of thirst.
Linia gestured to the girls. "We figured—if you've got money problems, that can only mean one thing, mew~"
"You need to relax," Pursena added.
"That's why we got some female admirers of yours, mew~" Linia said, spreading her arms like a showcat on stage.
While she may say admirers, ten is a bit too much. I also recognize some noble daughters in the mix. Obviously, most of them, noble descend or not, the chances of them being here just for my money are 95%.
"Okay, stop," I raised a hand.
The girls shifted uncomfortably.
"…This is a misunderstanding."
I turned to the girls and bowed.
"Thank you for coming. But you can all go now. I had no say in this, nor did I have such intentions to begin with."
Not that I wouldn't try. Linia and Pursena must've known my taste, because a handful of them had some decent assets.
They talk to each other about their current opportunity, now being in the dump, but eventually, they leave.
Great. The critter princesses gathered only those who were after my wealth.
But before those two could leave, I grabbed their tails.
"…Stay."
They froze in fear. I dragged them closer and made them kneel.
"I get what you were trying to do," I said. "And I appreciate the effort. But dragging random people into this without asking me first is stupid."
"We're sorry, Boss," Linia whimpered, ears flat and tail tucked.
Pursena added, "We just wanted to help, honest. Didn't think it'd bite back this hard."
"Then don't ever do that again."
They nodded, and I let go for now.
"I'm not broke," I muttered. "That's not the problem I'm having."
They looked confused.
"I don't know what led you two to believe I had money problems, but you interpreted my behavior wrong."
They fell quiet, still confused.
"Do you two even understand what damage this will cause to me?"
""... No?"" they echoed in sync, clearly oblivious.
"Thanks to your efforts, it's only a matter of time before the rumors spread—that I commanded you to assemble a personal harem, only to spurn it because the women you offered weren't worthy in my eyes."
"Wait-meow!" Linia mewled, finally realizing how bad it looked. "We can totally fix this!"
"HELL. NO!" I said as I glared at her with crossed arms. "If you two are so eager to satisfy my lust, then how come you didn't offer yourselves to me?"
Immediately after I said that, they retreated a few steps and lowered themselves even further as if I was about to do what I just suggested.
"W-W-W-We kn-know about y-your exploits, B-B-B-B-Boss?" Linia stuttered to say.
""W-We heard... stuff, okay?! Like how your stamina's insane and nearly broke a girl's pelvis more than once," Pursena added.
Oh god... did the brothel owner fail to keep that incident secret? And how the hell did these two find out in the first place?
"You want to help?" I said, turning and heading the other direction. "Just be around as if it were any other day. Be normal, like without causing me even more problems. That's all."
Seemingly calmed by those words, they kept their distance. Quiet. I appreciated that.
We neared the dorm. I slowed down and asked them an important question.
"…Did anything happen while I was gone?"
Pursena glanced at Linia.
"Yeah, actually," Linia said. "City council's been in emergency meetings the past two days. Even the Principal and Vice Principal have gone."
I stopped walking, intending to listen to this some more.
"Some bigwigs showed up. Guild reps, merchants, and even the knight captain. They've increased city security at the borders. No statements. Just rumors of something imminent."
Emergency meetings. Extra security. Total silence.
It had to be the Red Dragons. I took down five in Rosenburg. Even if the bodies vanished, the aftermath didn't.
If the higher-ups decide to investigate, I might get pulled in again.
***
The dusk had picked up by the time I reached the laboratory wing.
The council's sudden mobilization… it couldn't be coincidence. The Red Dragons I saw back in Rosenburg were no isolated event. If they were migrating—or worse, gathering—it meant something was brewing far bigger than I first assumed. Orsted's words came back to me, the gravity in his voice when he mentioned the dragons breaking pattern.
Should I do something?
Should I move now, before it's too late?
But even as that thought dug into my mind, I could feel hesitation crawl up my spine. Acting too soon, without understanding the full picture, might make things worse. I needed information—movement reports, numbers, origin points. If I rushed into this headfirst like last time… Like with Atofe…
No. Not again.
I turned the final corner and found myself standing before the door to my lab.
Except… there was something off.
A small note fluttered gently in the breeze, tacked to the door.
I frowned, stepping closer. There was something written on it in smooth, deliberate strokes—not the local language, but something far more familiar.
Japanese.
My heart stuttered.
I pulled the note off the door and read it.
---
Come meet me at my room once you feel better. I'll be waiting.
—Nanahoshi
---
My fingers tightened around the note.
I stood there for a moment, the hallway silent, the weight of the day pressing down on me. Then I tucked the note into my coat, exhaled, and turned toward the dorms.
Maybe it was time to stop running.
I at least owe her an apology for my behavior. Just like I should have done with my last friend in my previous world.
I reached the dorm just as the stars began to pierce through the twilight sky. My steps were slow, but steady—no more dodging, no more excuses.
///