"…"
"… …"
"… … …"
"…Please stop looking at me like that," I muttered, unable to meet Shizu's eyes any longer. The weight of her silence was somehow heavier than her fire magic ever could be.
Shuna sat between us, pouring tea like a saint trying to keep a ceasefire. The scent of leaves and honey hung in the air—but even that couldn't sweeten the tension.
"Akuma-sama," Shuna smiled softly, her voice as gentle as always. She handed me a warm cup of tea, which I accepted like it was a carefully. Her kindness always had this soothing effect—like a bandage over a still-bleeding wound.
I opened my mouth to thank her, even considered complimenting the blend—until I felt it again.
Shizu's stare.
Flat. Unyielding. Unamused.
I glanced back at her over the rim of my cup. A mistake.
Her expression hadn't changed since I'd woken up from my two-week nap—equal parts worry and fury, the kind that said: I care about you, but I will end you if you do that again.
"…I said I'm sorry," I finally relented, setting my tea down and rubbing the back of my neck like a guilty schoolboy. "It… mostly worked out, didn't it?"
Shizu's lips twitched, and for a moment I thought I saw fire flicker behind her eyes. "Worked out?"
I shrank a little under her gaze. A little. Just a smidge. "You're alive. I'm alive. They're happy. A solid win ratio, all things considered—"
"You passed out for two weeks, Akuma."
"You passed out too!" I pointed out quickly.
"Because you drained my magicules naming ogres like it was a party game!" she snapped. "Even with Ifrit and Veldora's help you—"
"Okay, okay, valid points," I mumbled before she could go full Japanese wife fury. With a huff, I dissolved into shadows and reformed into a small bat, flapping over to perch on Shuna's shoulder. She giggled softly and cupped her hand under me like I was some rare pet.
"I still say things turned out well," I said with a smug little squeak. "All's well that ends well."
Shizu narrowed her eyes, arms crossed. "That's exactly the kind of reckless thinking that's going to get you killed one day."
I blinked at her, upside down, wings tucked around me like a tiny cloak. "Maybe. But until then, I'll keep rolling the dice if it means you lot get to have a better life."
She exhaled slowly and looked away, though I caught the tension easing slightly from her shoulders.
"…Idiot," she muttered under her breath, but there was no real heat in it.
From my perch, I grinned. "It really is cute when you worry about me."
Shizu reached for her tea without sparing me a glance. "Keep talking and I'll turn your wings into paper fans."
"Love you too."
Shuna giggled again as she offered Shizu her tea. "You two really are strange."
"Only one of us is," Shizu replied flatly, taking the cup.
And as we sat there—tea in hand, silence finally settling in—there was a rustle at the hut's entrance.
Benimaru stepped in, ducking slightly through the low doorway. His armor was polished, his posture disciplined, and his eyes lit up when they landed on me, still lazily perched on Shuna's shoulder in bat form.
"Akuma-sama," he said with a polite bow. "I'm glad to see you're awake."
I leaned back a little on Shuna's shoulder and offered him a sharp little smirk. "And I'm glad to see my nap wasn't wasted. You're looking strong… even for an Oni."
The corner of his mouth twitched upward. "I'd like to think I've made good use of the time. We've all been training hard."
"Training, huh? Or maybe I just inspired you with how glorious I looked collapsed on the floor," I mused, flapping lazily into the air and shifting back into my regular form. "Passed out in style, as always."
"You looked like a corpse," Shizu said flatly, sipping her tea.
"I slept like a corpse," I corrected.
Benimaru chuckled, shaking his head. "We were starting to wonder if we'd have to build a shrine in your honor."
"I wouldn't be opposed. Just make sure I get a dramatic statue with good lighting."
"I'll get Kurobe to carve it." He grinned.
Before I could quip back, the flap of the tent opened again and Souei stepped in, silent as a shadow, followed closely by Hakuro—who nodded with respect.
"You're looking well, Akuma-sama," Hakuro said.
"Thanks to two weeks being surrounded by caring beauties no doubt!" I chuckled nervously, glancing briefly at Shizu who still looked mildly displeased.
"Oh good, everyone's here!" came a cheerful voice behind them, followed by a loud thunk as someone bumped their head on the doorframe.
Beside Shion was another ogre—taller than most, though lean and lithe rather than broad, with the gait of a seasoned ranger. A longbow rested comfortably across his back, his sharp amber eyes quietly scanning the room even as he gave me a small, relaxed nod. There was no awe in his expression, just… familiarity. The kind that said I see you as a leader, sure—but you're still just a guy to me.
"...Wait," I narrowed my eyes and pointed at him, brow furrowed. "What did I name you again?"
The man chuckled, a soft sound that felt more amused than mocking. "Akuma-sama, you should take better care of yourself. Your memory's awful for someone so young." He gave a casual nod. "The name's Mzcore."
Ah. Right.
That name... Mzcore. I hadn't thought about it when I spat it out during the naming. I was barely conscious—half delirious from the drain, clinging to scraps of memory I'd buried long ago.But now that I heard it again, the memory surfaced.That was the name of someone from my old world… an online friend I'd spent countless hours gaming with back when the worst thing in life was a power outage.Funny how even now, that part of me leaks through.
I exhaled lightly through my nose, suppressing the flicker of nostalgia before it clung too deep, and nodded. "Good name."
Shion blinked. "Huh? What's it mean?"
"Nothing," I said, waving the question off. "Don't worry about it. Just happy I didn't call someone 'Bowguy' or something worse."
The room chuckled, even Shizu cracking a faint smile—though her eyes were still firmly set on me.
"Next time," she muttered, voice low and tight, "think. Just because things ended well doesn't mean you aren't an idiot for being reckless."
I sighed, sliding back into a cushion beside the brazier, my body relaxed but my mind less so. "But it did end well," I said with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes, exasperated but tired. "Reckless moron."
"Your reckless moron," I muttered under my breath.
She heard me. I knew she did, because instead of snapping back, she simply handed me another cup of tea—wordlessly, like she was too exhausted to argue.
"Drink," she said flatly.
I chuckled but took the tea obediently. A brief peace settled… until Shizu sighed again, this time deeper, heavier.
"Can we please move on to more serious topics?" she said, setting her cup down gently. "Like the Orc Lord."
The atmosphere shifted.
Souei stepped forward, arms crossed as his sharp voice cut in. "The orcs we fought were too organized. They moved in near-perfect sync. That wasn't just a Majin's doing"
Hakuro nodded grimly. "The one called Footman may have been the leading hand, but something else is steering the blade. No mere Orc General has that level of coordination."
"Then it's safe to assume the Orc Lord is real," I said, swirling the last of my tea before setting the cup down beside the fire. "And probably the one pulling all the strings."
Benimaru looked thoughtful. "If they have someone like Footman on their side, they may have other allies too. Strong ones."
"We need to prepare," Shizu added. "Carefully. No more reckless plans."
I stood, stretching, then cracked my neck. "Of course. Strategy first, recklessness second."
Shizu raised a brow. "That's not how that works."
"It is now."
And with that, I shifted back into my normal form—tail flicking once behind me—and grinned as I looked back at the gathered group.
"Then let's go ahead and train!"