Part 1
Night had fallen over the great forest of Mythara, wrapping the camp in a cool breeze and the constant whisper of leaves rustling in the wind.
Yuna and Thalindra listened with interest to Rina's stories, while Haruto, seated near the fire, focused on preparing dinner.
His concentration was almost ceremonial, as if working those pots and pans were a sacred art.
The aroma in the air soon lured Yuna closer, her playful smile shining as she watched him stir the contents with precise care.
"Just look at you… how much you've grown, my dear student," she teased. "Feels like just yesterday you didn't even know how to light a campfire."
Haruto chuckled softly, not stopping his motions.
"I've always known how to cook. What I didn't know was how to make fire the… primitive way. Like you guys."
Yuna raised an eyebrow.
"Primitive, huh?"
"Well…" Haruto spun the spoon casually. "In my world, we have devices that create fire at the press of a button. It's like magic—but without mana."
Thalindra, who had been silently listening, stepped closer with her arms crossed.
"Devices that cast magic without magic? Sounds delusional… but interesting. I'd love to see your world one day."
Haruto smiled, a trace of melancholy softening his features.
"From that perspective, yeah… the technology in my world is amazing. We can travel vast distances in hours, cross oceans, even dive deep into them…"
He paused, then looked up at the starry sky.
"And we've also… been to the moon."
Yuna and Thalindra stared at him—first in disbelief. Then, wordlessly, they followed his gaze toward the moon glowing high above the treetops.
"Travel… to the moon?" Yuna repeated softly, trying to process it.
"Yeah. Our world has already been there."
But if you ask me… this world is way more exciting.
Thalindra narrowed her eyes.
"More than that? Really?"
"This place has magic. Adventure. Amazing races. Cursed swords, legendary beasts…" he listed with a nostalgic grin.
"Everything I used to dream about when I read manga."
"Maybe… one of those authors traveled to a world like this too. And brought it back—as a story."
For a moment, silence claimed the camp.
Even the wind dared not interrupt.
Yuna lowered her gaze, watching him with quiet affection.
Haruto no longer spoke of this world like a foreigner.
Without realizing it… he already saw it as home.
"Sniff sniff…"
Rina sniffed the air. Her golden eyes widened instantly, her body tensing like a coiled spring.
"Something's coming from that direction," she said, pointing toward the underbrush. "Smells like death."
The forest's hush shattered with the crunch of leaves.
The shadows between the trees shifted—like something crawling just out of sight…
And then—
"Ta-dah~!"
Bursting from the bushes came Simmone, arms raised like a circus magician unveiling her final trick.
Her face, as always, was completely devoid of emotion.
The group nearly had a collective heart attack.
"Simmone! Don't do that! We thought you were another assassin!" Yuna exclaimed, lowering her bow with a deep sigh.
Haruto stared at her, still processing the scene… but something didn't add up.
He slowly turned his head.
Rina was still in combat stance.
Muscles tense. Tail bristling.
Her eyes fixed—past Simmone.
The danger wasn't over.
"Rina…" Haruto murmured. "What do you see?"
The velociraptress bared her teeth slightly. Her instincts were on high alert.
"The smell of death is still there… behind the shorty," she whispered seriously.
Haruto snapped his head toward Thalindra.
"No, not that shorty," Rina clarified, as if it were painfully obvious. "The one with silver hair."
Haruto blinked.
Then turned toward Simmone.
"…Simmone?"
The girl didn't even flinch.
"How rude. I'm not short—I'm still growing…"
Haruto put a hand to his forehead.
"Simmone, now's not the time for jokes. Did you bring someone with you?"
The tiny Brit turned her head slowly, as if just now remembering.
"Oh… right. She's a bothersome stalker who keeps following me around. Though… I probably shouldn't have said that. Forget it."
Haruto opened his mouth to press the issue, but a new voice interrupted from the shadows of the forest.
"How cold! And here I came with the purest intentions!"
From the gloom emerged an elegant figure, walking with exaggerated grace.
She held a black parasol between her fingers, and her dark gown fluttered in the breeze—as if the whole entrance had been rehearsed.
A crimson eye shimmered under the moonlight.
"My dearest companions!" she declared, her smile flamboyant and outrageously theatrical.
"At last, we are reunited!"
Silence.
So complete that a lone tumbleweed rolled between them, drawing more attention than the newcomer.
"Ahem…" the girl cleared her throat.
She placed a hand on her chest and struck a dramatic pose.
"You shall have the honor of my grand presence! I am the daughter of darkness, the almighty Elizabeth Tepes!"
Nothing.
Not a reaction. Not a word.
Haruto and Yuna exchanged sideways glances.
Thalindra raised a single brow.
Even Kizuna, who normally overacted just for sport, floated in silence… observing.
Eliza, with her eye patch and overly gothic fantasy outfit, looked more like a kid playing villain than an actual threat.
Finally, it was Kizuna who broke the silence.
"Look, Haruto-kyun! A chuunibyou, Kizu~!"
"Shhh! Don't say it out loud, Kizuna!" Haruto tried to cover her mouth, in vain.
"Can't you see? She's Simmone's little friend!"
"Who said she's my friend?" Simmone cut in, dry as ever.
"She's been following me since we got back from Durkheim."
The group turned to her.
"I'd say she's a stalker vampire."
Eliza took a step back as if they'd stabbed her with a stake—right through the ego.
"W-What a cruel way to refer to me!" she exclaimed, clutching her chest with wounded dramatic flair.
Simmone blinked.
"I'm just stating the truth."
"This is vampiric discrimination!" Eliza wailed, spinning dramatically like a soap opera actress. "I will not allow my legacy to be tarnished this way!"
Haruto put a hand to his face and sighed.
"This is getting out of hand…"
Even so, deep down…
He couldn't help but smile at the spectacle.
Now that I think about it… they kind of complement each other. And even if Simmone won't admit it, she already treats Eliza like part of the group.
Before he could follow that thought any further, Simmone turned to Rina and pointed without changing her expression.
"Setting aside the stalker vampire… who's the giraffe? And why is she so tall?"
Haruto blinked, caught between surprise and confusion.
Thalindra didn't hesitate even half a second, speaking with the solemnity of someone announcing the forging of a legendary blade.
"Her name is Rina. And she's a hopeless fool."
"Don't say that," Yuna interjected firmly.
"She's Rina. A new member. Half-human. Velociraptor."
Simmone watches her from head to toe.
Her face was as expressive as a rock.
Rina, on the other hand, stepped forward with a smile brighter than any light spell.
"You be Haruto's friend?"
"More than a friend…" Simmone replied without hesitation, "I'd say I'm like his little sister."
"Yay!" Rina gave a small hop of joy, her tail wagging like a broken metronome. "Rina wants to be your friend too!"
Simmone stared at her in silence for a few seconds.
Then turned to Haruto.
"Now I get it."
Dramatic pause.
"She really is a hopeless fool."
Meanwhile, Eliza—who had maintained her dignified pose and carefully curated smile until now—watched the whole exchange with rising frustration.
No one was looking at her.
No one was reacting.
No one was marveling at her entrance, her lineage, her parasol, or her theatrical monologue.
Not even a sarcastic comment.
Not one.
She crossed her arms, puffed out her cheeks, and tightened her lips.
What kind of group is this…?
How is it possible… that they're ignoring me?
How… how did I end up here?
A tiny twitch appeared at the corner of her left eyebrow.
"…This is unacceptable."
Her thoughts were crystal clear:
I'm going to make them notice me.
Whether they like it or not.