When they finally reached the gates of the small city, ready to depart for the mission assigned by the guild, Biel felt a momentary relief. They had been through a lot lately, and though the path was still uncertain, at least they had a clear direction.
But then, without warning, a light descended from the sky. A radiant pillar formed just a few meters from where Biel and his group stood, causing everyone to step back, instinctively alert.
"What the hell!?" Easton exclaimed, shielding his eyes from the glare. "Are the gods attacking us!?" Xanthe shouted, drawing her staff. "Don't be dramatic, Xanthe," Sarah murmured, though she too looked ready for anything.
As the light began to dissipate, a silhouette emerged from the glow. Biel felt his heart stop for a second as he heard a familiar voice:
"I see you're having fun, dear Biel."
Biel’s eyes went wide as saucers; his body tensed instantly. He recognized that voice. It was impossible... but there she was. With a dry throat and trembling lips, he could barely whisper:
"It can't be... Are you...?"
The figure stepped forward, letting the light reveal her face. Her gaze was intense, her expression a mix of nostalgia and reproach.
"I see you still remember me, dear. I came for you because I care about you, but I see that I don't matter to you at all."
The impact of her words hit Biel with the force of a gale. His world seemed to teeter. This makes no sense... he thought. His mind raced back three years, to the last time he saw her. To their farewell... in that place.
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"Biel?" Sarah asked, stepping closer. "What's wrong? You look like... a ghost."
Xanthe crossed her arms, looking at the newcomer with curiosity. "Hey, I don't want to interrupt the drama, but... who is she? And why does Biel look like a fish out of water?"
Biel didn't answer. He could barely process what was happening. His breathing was irregular, his hands shook. Then, without warning, a tear rolled down his cheek.
"After three years..." he whispered, his voice a mix of emotion and confusion. "After all this time... you appear right here..."
Easton leaned toward Xanthe and whispered with a mocking grin, "You think she's an ex?" "Definitely an ex," Xanthe whispered back, nodding gravely.
"Can you two stop joking?" Sarah threw them a killing glare. "He’s having an existential crisis here."
Biel finally found his voice, though it was cracked. "How... how is it possible that you’re here?"
Yumi looked at him in silence. "Biel..." she whispered with a melancholic tone, taking a step toward him.
Biel, completely overwhelmed, did the only thing he could do in such a situation. He put his hands to his head and screamed:
"WHAT IS GOING ON?!"
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Biel took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind. After a few seconds, he looked up and decided to tell them the truth.
"Her name is Yumi Hanekawa," he said with a firm voice, but a faint, melancholic smile. "She is a dear friend I met three years ago during my first year of high school. She was a senior, and when she graduated, she left the country. I hadn't seen her since... until today."
The others exchanged surprised looks. Xanthe was the first to react. "Yumi Hanekawa? Is she a noble? Her name sounds... refined."
"No, she’s from my world, just like my sister and me. We arrived in this world in a... peculiar way."
"You mean there are other worlds besides this one?" Sarah asked, intrigued.
"Yes. I hadn't told you before because... only Acalia knew where I came from."
The group fell silent. Then, Easton exhaled in disbelief. "So, other worlds exist? This sounds like something out of a fairy tale."
Charlotte, who had been listening intently, chimed in with a nostalgic expression. "I was also transported here by an artifact... I thought I was the only one."
But before anyone could continue, Yumi dropped an even bigger bombshell.
"A god brought me here."
Biel froze. "A god? Did you say a god?"
"Yes. When I was at the antique shop, an old man told me he was a god of this world. He said he was in charge of guiding the heroes here. He called them 'The Sent.'"
A shiver ran down Biel’s spine. "Then... the old man from the shop... was a god?"
"It seems so," Yumi affirmed. "And when I went back to Kagerō, I found no one. A lady told me that you and your sister had disappeared—that you’d been gone for a month without a trace."
"A month?" Biel felt the ground crumble beneath his feet. "But here... almost a year has passed."
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The entire group was in shock. Time moved differently between worlds. Yumi continued her story, watching Biel intensely.
"After that, another gentleman suggested I go to the antique shop. He said that was the last place you were seen. So I went there, and the old man told me you were in another world. I didn't hesitate to follow you... and now here I am."
Biel felt a lump in his throat. He wanted to say something, but before he could open his mouth, Yumi crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
"And I find you surrounded by so many girls..."
A glacial tension gripped the air. A dark, threatening aura seemed to emanate from Yumi while Biel broke into a cold sweat.
"T-this... it's not what it looks like..." he tried to justify, feeling his life was in danger.
"It's not what it looks like?" Yumi repeated with a sweet smile... far too sweet to be genuine.
"Exactly!" Biel held up his hands in surrender. "They are my companions, my friends. Nothing more!"
Xanthe and Sarah exchanged a knowing look before Sarah added mischievously, "Oh, yes. Just companions. Sure, sure."
Easton couldn't resist throwing more fuel on the fire. "Aren't you going to tell Yumi about the Tournament of Love you had recently?"
"WHO SAID THAT!?" Biel turned, alarmed, but the damage was done.
Yumi narrowed her eyes dangerously. "Tournament of love?" she repeated slowly.
"Nothing important! A misunderstanding! Just a trivial game!" Biel waved his hands, trying to calm her. But Yumi was already too close.
"Oh really? And who won?"
Biel felt his soul leave his body. As he tried to answer, Easton and Xanthe chuckled under their breath, enjoying his suffering. Acalia sighed and murmured to herself:
"And here I thought the hard part was fighting monsters..."
Biel could only think of one thing: He was completely doomed.
"Biel..." Yumi drawn out his name with a sweet tone, but Biel knew that tone only heralded a storm. "Who won the Tournament of Love?"
The young man swallowed hard, feeling that his fate was sealed. He looked around seeking help, but all he found were expectant gazes.
"Ehm... technically..." he began, trying to find the right words. "Well... it was an unimportant event, just a little game among friends..."
"But Acalia won," Easton interrupted with a wide grin. "Biel chose her."
The silence that followed was deafening. Yumi’s aura darkened even further. Her eyes emitted an intensity that made even Xanthe step back. Biel felt a chill run down his spine.
"Oh..." Yumi murmured, crossing her arms. "I see."
"W-Wait, Yumi! It’s not what you think!" Biel raised his hands, desperate. "It was all a misunderstanding! I just—!"
"Just what?" Yumi smiled, but Biel knew immediately it wasn't a smile of happiness. It was the smile of someone planning their revenge.
Before Biel could continue defending his life, Xanthe approached Yumi and patted her on the back. "Look on the bright side, Yumi. Now you can compete directly," she said playfully.
"Compete?" Yumi’s eyes sparkled with determination. "Oh, no, dear Xanthe. I don't compete. I reclaim what is mine."
Biel felt his soul leave his body for the second time that night.
"WHAT!?" Sarah, Charlotte, and Easton exclaimed in unison.
Acalia, who until then had remained silent, sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "This is getting out of control..." she murmured, though a small smile of amusement played on her face.
Biel, completely cornered, decided to do the only thing he could do at that moment.
"Look, a dragon!" he shouted, pointing at the sky.
The group looked up by reflex, and Biel seized the opportunity to bolt in the opposite direction.
"Get back here, you coward!" Yumi screamed, lunging after him with terrifying speed.
"How can she run so fast!?" Easton exclaimed, marvelling.
"It must be the power of accumulated resentment," Xanthe said, nodding gravely.
Acalia shook her head and began to walk slowly in the same direction. "We’d better catch up to him before Yumi decides to kick him into another world," she sighed.
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Biel ran with all his might, zigzagging through the trees while feeling Yumi’s presence drawing closer.
"Biel, stop and face your fate like a man!" Yumi shouted, her aura of fury intensifying.
"If I face it, my fate is death!" Biel shot back without stopping.
The rest of the group followed at a safe distance, laughing as they watched the chase. Just when Biel thought he might escape, his foot caught, and he tripped, tumbling across the ground until he landed flat on his back. Before he could stand, Yumi stood over him, crossing her arms and looking down with a mix of indignation and satisfaction.
"It seems luck is no longer on your side, Biel," she said, leaning over him.
Biel raised his hands in surrender. "Truly, Yumi, this is all a misunderstanding! I didn't mean to hide anything from you, nor—"
But Yumi interrupted him with a sigh, and to everyone's surprise, her expression shifted from fury to something softer. She remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice.
"I’m not angry because you made new friends... or because you’re surrounded by girls. I’m angry because when I left, I never knew if we’d see each other again. And now that we do, it’s in a completely different world. I don't want you to disappear again."
Biel felt a lump in his throat. He hadn't expected those words. Slowly, he sat up to face her and looked at her seriously.
"Yumi... I’m sorry. I didn't want it to happen like this. I promised you we’d meet again. Two years passed and I could never forget you, but by a twist of fate, I ended up here. In the end, the promise was kept, and this time, I’ll do everything in my power so our lives never drift apart again."
Yumi blinked, surprised by the sincerity in his words. Her cheeks flushed slightly before she looked away. "You’d better, Biel..."
The rest of the group approached, smiling at the scene.
"How moving!" Easton exclaimed, clapping dramatically. "Does anyone else feel like this was taken straight out of a romance novel?" Xanthe asked with a mocking grin.
Biel stood up quickly and coughed to hide his embarrassment. "That’s enough! We still have a mission to complete," he said, trying to change the subject.
Acalia crossed her arms and watched him with a calm smile. "True, but now we have a new member on the team. Right, Yumi?"
The young woman looked at Biel for a moment before nodding with a small smile. "If Biel wants me to stay, then I’ll stay."
Biel sighed, but inside, he felt relieved. Despite how chaotic their reunion had been, knowing Yumi was with him again gave him strength. "Welcome to the team, Yumi," he said with a genuine smile.
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The group resumed their path, leaving the momentary chaos behind. But in Biel’s mind, the promise he made echoed loudly: I promise we’ll see each other again.
The afternoon sun shone high as they walked the trail toward the area where the dragons had been attacking travelers. The wind was strong, carrying the scent of earth and ash.
"Alright, the mission is to eliminate three dragons attacking travelers," Biel said with determination.
Easton smiled confidently and crossed his arms. "This will be easy. Friend, you have the power of a Demon King; what can a few simple dragons do against you?"
Biel shook his head with a smile. "Yes, but this time I’ll only use the abilities I was granted upon arriving in this world. I want to prove myself."
"Fine, if you say so," Easton shrugged.
Suddenly, in the distance, two massive silhouettes cut through the sky. Their wings beat with force, making the air vibrate with energy. Their roars resonated like thunder, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
"There they are!" Xanthe exclaimed, pointing at the two dragons circling the area.
Biel clenched his fists, his gaze steady. "Let's go. It’s time to fulfill the mission."
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The group advanced cautiously as the dragons descended in search of their next prey. Biel was the first to lunge into the attack, concentrating his strength in his right fist. He boosted himself with great speed, preparing to strike the first dragon in the flank.
But before his blow could connect, the dragon whipped its tail with superhuman speed, hitting him squarely in the chest. Biel was launched like a projectile, slamming violently into a rock formation and leaving a deep crater in the ground before falling unconscious.
"Biel!" Yumi screamed, her voice filled with worry.
The others felt a shiver. If Biel had been defeated with a single blow, this was not normal.
"Impossible!" Ylfur exclaimed, rushing toward his master. "How can it be this strong?"
Without hesitation, he lunged into the attack, but the dragon intercepted him with a swift spin and threw him several meters away, crashing him into the ground with violence. Easton frowned, a strange feeling creeping over him. "This makes no sense... Since when are dragons this strong?"
At that moment, Yumi, her analytical mind in gear, activated one of her divine abilities: "Scanner." Her eyes glowed with a blue radiance as she gathered information on the dragons. What she saw left her chilled.
"They are being controlled!" she shouted urgently.
"What?" Sarah asked, shocked.
"The dragon... It’s not just its own strength. It’s being manipulated by advanced magic," Yumi explained, sharing the data with the rest. "Someone is controlling them from the shadows."
The group tensed. A dragon was dangerous on its own, but a dragon with its power amplified by dark magic was a terrifying threat. Sarah whetted her teeth. "This is going to be a huge problem..."
Meanwhile, Biel lay unconscious, his thoughts plunged into darkness. But deep within his mind, a familiar voice resonated.
"You cannot fall here yet..." it was Monsfil’s voice. "Get up, Biel. The true battle is only beginning..."
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