The next morning, the inn was quiet—still wrapped in that soft stillness that comes just before the world wakes up.
Selena sat at the edge of the bed, quietly tightening the straps on her boots. She glanced over once more to see Tio still asleep, her silver hair spilling over the pillow, one arm loosely hugging the blanket where Selena had been just minutes ago. She looked peaceful.
Selena smiled softly, stood, and slipped out the door with careful steps.
She had intended to get in a short workout before they left for the day—but just as she stepped into the hallway, she spotted someone small at the far end.
Myu.
She was sitting on the floor, rubbing at her eyes with the back of her sleeve. Her shoulders trembled slightly, her cheeks still damp.
Selena crouched beside her, voice gentle.
"Hey, Myu. Are you homesick?"
Myu sniffled. "Y-Yeah… I'm happy I'm with Daddy but… I miss Mommy…" Her lip trembled again. "I didn't get to say goodbye…"
Selena's heart tugged. Without hesitation, she scooped the girl up into her arms and held her close.
"Aww… don't worry," she whispered. "We're all here for you. We'll get you home soon—I promise."
Myu leaned into her shoulder, arms clinging around her neck. "Okay…"
Selena pulled back slightly, brushing some hair from Myu's face. "Hey, do you wanna come with me for a short walk? We've got about an hour before we leave."
Myu blinked up at her… then nodded with a little "Mm-hmm."
As they descended the stairs together, Myu perched in Selena's arms, her mood already a little brighter. But just as they reached the ground floor, Selena paused. A door along the hallway creaked open—and Yue's head poked out.
Their eyes met.
There was no exchange of words—just a quiet moment.
Then Yue gave a small nod and gently closed the door again.
The morning outside was misty and cool, the fog curling low across the cobbled street. The scent of brine hung faint in the air.
"This place feels like it's near the ocean," Myu said suddenly, waving her hand through the mist like she was feeling its texture. "I can smell the water…"
"You've got a good nose," Selena smiled. "I bet you were a great swimmer back home."
"Uh ha! I was the best!" Myu beamed, puffing out her chest. "None of the other kids could keep up with me!"
Selena grinned. "Let me guess… they stopped playing with you because you always won?"
Myu nodded slowly, her smile shrinking just a little.
Selena pressed her forehead to Myu's and giggled softly. "It's okay. They didn't know what they were missing. Not getting to know you better? That's their loss."
Myu's cheeks flushed. "Thanks, Sister Selena."
They walked for a little while longer. The streets were mostly empty, save for the occasional merchant setting up shop. Birds chirped softly in the fog-covered rooftops, and the quiet made everything feel just a little more peaceful.
Selena glanced down at her again. Myu was walking now, her hands spread wide like she was feeling the wind with her fingers.
She was trying so hard to be brave.
"Hey, Myu?"
"Yeah?"
Selena scratched her cheek, not entirely sure why she said it—just following a feeling.
"When we have some free time… do you want me to show you how to throw a punch?"
Myu blinked at her. "…Really?!"
"I mean," Selena laughed, "I had zero idea what I was doing just now, but it was the first thing that popped into my head. So… yeah."
"YAA! I wanna be just like all of you! Bam! Kick! Punch bad guys in the face!"
Selena snorted. "One day, maybe. For now, let's start small—like learning how to defend yourself."
"Yaaa~ thank you, Sister Selena!"
They wandered the streets for a little while longer, letting the mist curl around their footsteps.
And when they finally returned to the inn, the rest of the party was already gathered outside—waiting for them, fully armed and ready.
Hajime stood with his arms crossed as we returned, but the way he looked at Selena… it was like she'd stolen something.
Yue stood at his side, her usual calm expression betrayed by the faintest trace of amusement tugging at her lips. Shea gave an enthusiastic wave the moment she spotted Myu, and Tio—dressed, composed, and far too smug—offered Selena a small, knowing smile.
Selena set Myu down, and she immediately ran forward, launching herself into Hajime's arms.
"Hi, Daddy! Sister Selena and I went for a walk—it was so fun!"
Hajime caught her with ease, one arm wrapping around her small back. "Is that so? Did you enjoy yourself?"
"Yeah! The morning air here smells like the ocean with all the fog!"
Hajime's stern face softened just slightly. "Don't worry. Daddy's going to get you home."
"I know you can do anything, Daddy!" Myu beamed, practically glowing.
While they were lost in their own little world, Guildmaster Ilwa and Secretary Dou approached our group.
"So," Ilwa said, "you're leaving now?"
Hajime turned to face them. "Yeah. It's time we move on."
Ilwa handed him a sealed envelope.
"What's this?" Hajime asked.
"A letter of introduction," Ilwa explained. "I need you to deliver it to the guildmaster in Horaud. It explains your deeds here—and my recommendation for a gold rank promotion."
"Hm," Hajime shrugged. "I don't see why we can't stop there on the way."
Selena wanted to say something—anything—about what she needed them to do to prep for the war, but couldn't, especially around the others in the group. Yue seemed to notice Selena's hesitation and caught her eye. She gave Yue a sheepish smile. Tio, observant as ever, silently watched their exchange. Selena hadn't yet had the time—or the courage—to tell her their full story.
Hajime summoned the Humvee with a flick of his wrist, and we all piled in. Selena moved toward the driver's seat on instinct, but Hajime cut her off and climbed in first.
"Called it," he muttered.
"Control freak," Selena whispered back under her breath.
As they closed the doors, Ilwa stepped up one last time.
"Have a safe trip," he said.
"Daddy, what's that?" Myu asked, pointing at the console curiously.
"Well," Hajime began, ever the over explainer, "you see, this is—"
Selena glanced back toward Ilwa as Hajime launched into some mechanical lecture. The guildmaster met her eyes.
"My master told me about your request," he said. "And I'll follow through. Thank you for the warning, Selena. I don't know what we would've done if you hadn't uncovered that horrible secret."
"You're welcome," she said quietly. "I hope next time we meet, the news will be better."
Ilwa nodded and stepped back. As the doors shut, Selena noticed the entire party looking at her.
"What?" she asked.
Yue tilted her head. "Are you going to tell us what that was about?"
Hajime was busy in the front with Myu climbing into his lap, but she knew he was listening. His knuckles twitched slightly on the wheel.
"I just recommended they prepare their troops," Selena said simply. "That's all."
Everyone seemed to take that at face value—except Hajime, who glanced at her through the rearview mirror, squinting ever so slightly.
Selena just winked.
He snorted faintly and turned his eyes back to the road.
They left the city behind, the path ahead wide and open. The mountains loomed in the far distance, and by noon, they stopped to eat beneath a shaded ridge.
As Shea and Yue prepared food, Myu ran up to Selena, eyes bright.
"Selena! Can we do it now?!"
Selena blinked. "Do… what?"
"You said you'd show me how to throw a punch!"
Selena laughed softly. "Right. Sure. I guess we've got time before the food's ready."
"Okay!" Myu planted her feet and took a deep breath. "I wanna punch like this—Haaah!" She thrust her little fist out, exhaling dramatically.
Selena knelt down beside her and gently corrected her stance. "That's a good start. But keep your feet grounded. Balance is key."
Tio wandered over, arms crossed, a bemused look on her face. "So you're teaching her how to fight now?"
Selena gave her a sideways glance. "It just… kind of came up this morning."
Tio raised a brow. "Uh-huh. Sure it did. All little girls wake up dying to throw down."
"Don't judge me," Selena muttered. "I'm improvising."
Tio chuckled, stepping closer. "Fufu~ I didn't say I disapproved. I just hope you're ready. She's going to be kicking butt one day."
Myu gave a little hop. "Yup! I wanna be just like all the Sisters! Bam! Bam! Bad guys beware!"
Everyone gave Myu a helpless smile.
"She's gonna be unstoppable."
"I'm going to need to make her armor if she's going to fight—and a proper gun," Hajime muttered, already slipping into dad mode. Selena couldn't help but find it amusing. It hadn't even been a full day since she'd adopted him, and he was already fully committed to the role. Maybe she really was the one in charge here.
As they ate, Shea approached Hajime eagerly.
"I want to ride the motorcycle!"
"Why? The car is comfortable," Hajime responded, a bit taken aback by Shea's fiery determination.
"Because I can't feel the wind in my hair!" Shea huffed, cheeks puffing cutely.
Selena smirked quietly, catching the subtle twitch of Hajime's finger. Maybe he was falling for Shea after all.
"Fine," Hajime sighed, standing up and summoning Selena's bike instead of his own.
"Wait! She asked to use yours, not mine! Why are you handing mine over?" Selena protested.
"She said she wanted a bike, not specifically whose," Hajime replied, barely containing his smirk. "Yours was the first one I thought of."
"That's ridiculous…"
Tio coughed softly, cutting off Selena's retort before it became inappropriate. "Ahem."
"Yes?" Hajime teased, clearly enjoying Tio's interruption.
Selena sighed deeply. "I give up."
Less than ten minutes after Shea began riding, a loud crash echoed through the forest.
"Oh, for the love of—" Selena groaned, watching as Shea managed to crash the bike into a cluster of trees. Hajime immediately began repairs, spending half an hour patching up the damage.
"Why did it have to be my bike?" Selena lamented.
"Don't complain. It would've needed repairs eventually," Hajime said, bringing out extra metal to reinforce the bike's exterior. "Besides, Shea only damaged the outside panels. The magic circle is untouched. It'll go faster if you help."
They spent the next twenty-five minutes repairing the bike together. Selena made a few mistakes under Hajime's careful supervision, making her sigh in frustration.
"Looks like I'll have to make more bullets soon. I've been messing up too much," she muttered."Don't you have auto-skill, Hajime? Can't you help me out?"
"So? You've clearly gotten lazy about your transmutation practice. It takes effort to maintain skills," Hajime shot back.
Selena nodded begrudgingly. "Good point, but can't you do it anyways?"
"Nope."
"Fine, I'll make bullets later," Selena conceded.
Tio waved her fan, smiling playfully. "Oh, Selena, ignoring your wife already?"
"Liar. You're clearly enjoying this," Selena grumbled.
Hajime chuckled, nudging Selena playfully. "Admit it, you want her."
"Oh? You want her, go ahead and take her." Selena retorted, flushing.
"Oh no, she's giving me away! Whatever shall I do?" Tio teased, shaking her hips seductively. Shea quickly covered Myu's eyes, while Yue covered her ears protectively.
"If you teach Myu anything inappropriate, I'll smite you," Yue threatened, eyes narrowed at Tio.
"I promise I'll try my best," Tio said innocently.
Hajime chuckled, gently pushing Selena toward Tio. "Go handle your wife. I'm basically done repairing the bike now."
"She's not my wife." Selena huffs, before pulling Tio along as they return to the parked car. Hajime warned Shea to be careful this time since he wouldn't fix another crash.
"Hey! I heard that!" Selena called back.
"Good! I wanted you to!"
"Fufu, your friendship truly feels familiar," Tio commented warmly.
"Yeah, he's a handful, but he cares in his own way," Selena admitted.
Finally, they headed out. Hajime, Yue, and Myu rode in the front while Selena and Tio sat in the back. As the group leaves the forest and enters the valley, Shea quickly mastered controlling the bike with mana, popping wheelies with ecstatic shouts.
"Yahoo!"
"Daddy, I wanna do that too!" Myu cheered eagerly.
"Absolutely not. You're never riding with Shea," Hajime said firmly.
"But I wanna ride too!"
"Tell you what, you can ride with me when I'm driving," Selena offered gently.
"Over my dead body you are!" Hajime roars, OverProtective Dad Mode engaging.
"Myu, Daddy is just worried about your safety," Yue explained kindly.
"Aww, boo," Myu pouted.
"Maybe we could add a sidecar," Hajime mused aloud.
"Hajime, you have enough responsibilities. Don't add anything else to your plate. We barely get enough sleep as it is," Selena scolded gently.
As they approached the city gates, Hajime became thoughtful. "How are you feeling, by the way? We're finally back."
"I'm not entirely sure yet," Selena admitted.
They dismounted, and Hajime quickly stored the vehicles in his ring. The guards approached cautiously until Hajime showed his gold guild card.
"I'm here to see your guild master on behalf of Fuhran's guild master. May we enter now?"
"Yes, sorry for getting in your way," the guards said quickly, stepping aside.
As they walked by, the guards' eyes wandered, prompting Hajime to glare, his intimidating aura sending them shrinking back in fear.
Selena chuckled. "Their stares can't do anything to us, you know."
"It's annoying. You would think being Gold-Ranked would have given us more respect," Hajime grumbled.
Shea hurriedly caught up, eyes sparkling mischievously. "Oh, Hajime, I only have eyes for you!"
Hajime just huffed in annoyance.
The city hadn't changed.
The same cracked stone beneath their feet. The same sharp mountain winds weaving through alleyways. The same scent of baked bread, steel, and dust lingering in the air.
But for Hajime and Selena, everything was different.
They walked side by side, leading the group—just existing together. Their pace matched without effort. Their silence, far from awkward, felt almost sacred. Between them stretched a bond forged through survival. Not romantic. Not spoken. Just there.
Behind them, the others trailed with subdued curiosity.
Yue, walking slightly apart, kept her gaze fixed on Hajime, her usual unreadable expression softening at the corners. She noticed that the two of them seemed to be more subdued, as if lost in memories.
Shea bounced between Myu and Tio, but even she kept her usual bubbly volume dialed low, respecting the strange quietude the city seemed to awaken in their group's core.
Tio watched with a peculiar serenity, her teasing absent for once. Her sharp eyes flicked between Hajime and Selena with understanding, the kind that came from seeing battle-hardened hearts try—impossibly—to settle.
Myu, perched high on Hajime's shoulder, hugged his head gently, small hands clutching at his collar. She peeked down now and then, eyes curious, noticing the things children often do: how neither Hajime nor Selena smiled quite right.
As they crossed through the main plaza, the Adventurers' Guild came into view—weathered, familiar, still standing proud against the golden light of sunset.
Hajime stopped near the fountain at its center.
Selena paused beside him, arms folded, as she glanced over the stone lip. The water glinted just the same as it had the night before they'd descended into the abyss.
"You remember this spot?" Hajime asked, his voice quiet.
Selena's lips quirked. "You mean the night you looked like you were going to puke from nerves?"
Hajime let out a breath—something between a sigh and a scoff. "I was about to walk into a dungeon I knew nothing about with people I didn't trust. Of course I was nervous."
"You still went."
"So did you."
She looked away.
Hajime turned slightly, to gaze at Selena.
She met his gaze, then turned away, as if in guilt.
From behind, Yue and Tio exchanged a glance. Even Shea had fallen silent, twirling a strand of hair around her finger absently.
The air grew heavier, the past threading through the present like a ghost.
Then, a small voice:
"Sister Selena?" Myu looked at Selena while on Hajime's shoulder, her little face scrunched in concern. "Are you sad right now?"
Selena blinked, caught off guard. Hajime looked up, curious.
"Everyone's smiling," Myu said softly, "but your smile's kinda different. It looks… tired. Right, Daddy?"
Hajime chuckled awkwardly.
Selena reached up and gently tucked a blue strand of Myu's hair behind her ear. "You're sharp, kid."
Myu puffed out her cheeks proudly. "I'm five now. That's almost big!"
Hajime smirked, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement.
Selena stood, her eyes meeting Yue's—who had quietly stepped closer. Yue gave her a small, silent nod. Permission. Or maybe a gentle reminder that she didn't always have to carry it alone.
Selena let out a slow breath. "I'm not sad. Just remembering. This place… it wasn't kind to your dad or me. But we made it out. Together."
Myu tilted her head, brows furrowed. "Then what are you and daddy doing?"
Selena paused, and then laughed. "Well Hajime is trying to go home. As for myself… well, I will let you know when I know."
Did both of you ever wish that you could do things over?" Tio asked, being one of the newest to join the party.
"Hell no." the two other-worlders responded immediately.
"Oh, and why is that?"
Their reason why was obvious from their expressions, but Tio still asked anyway. Hajime held Yue's hand with his own, while Selena had a contented look on her face. Hajime replied without ever taking his eyes off Yue.
"Obviously… so I could meet Yue again."
Selena didn't say anything, her face turned scarlet and she quietly gripped Tio's hand. Seeing her reaction, Tio couldn't help but to chuckle in amusement.
"Hey did you guys know," Selena said slowly, "I think that the hero party is being catfished."
Everyone froze.
"…What?" Shea asked.
Myu blinked. "What's catfished?"
Selena didn't miss a beat. "It's when you expect to meet someone brave and strong, and instead you get emotionally unstable and wildly overconfident."
Hajime turned to her, utterly blank-faced. "Are you sure you don't mean hoodwinked? Cause if anyone is catfishing, it would have to be Amanogawa."
"I think you're right. Just thinking of Amanogawa makes me mad."
And just like that, both of them cracked—not loud,—but genuine, subdued laughter, echoing beneath the gilded sky. The kind that came not from humor, but from the relief of being understood.
The others just blinked, lost but smiling anyway.
Yue huffed, not wanting to be left out of the conversation. "You two," she murmured, "are exhausting."
"But very entertaining," Tio added with a soft chuckle.
Selena rolled her eyes. "Welcome to being old and jaded."
"Speak for yourself," Hajime muttered.
As they made their way through the city, they began attracting more and more attention from the people around them.
"Why is it only me?!" Shea whined loudly.
"What do you mean?" Tio asked, genuinely confused.
"I mean—you've got Selena now, you're all elegant and mysterious! Hajime has Yue, and Myu has her brand-new daddy! What about me? What am I—some kind of comedic bunny girl sidekick?!"
Shea huffed dramatically, arms crossed and ears twitching in frustration.
"If you say so," Selena said, giggling. Honestly, Shea had been taking all the recent chaos like a champ.
"I don't know what you want from me," Hajime said flatly, not even glancing at her.
"See?! That right there! I'm offering myself up on a silver platter, and when is it going to be my turn?! I want to sleep with you too, damn it!"
A few pedestrians turned with shocked expressions, staring at the beastkin girl making a scene in the middle of the street.
Selena picked up the pace, catching sight of the guild hall just ahead.
"Myu, don't be like your sister Shea," Hajime said with a firm tone.
"Why not? I always sleep with you, Daddy!" Myu said innocently, beaming.
More people turned, and this time the looks Hajime got were less amused and more judgmental. After all, he clearly wasn't Myu's biological father—and the implication didn't sit well with most bystanders.
"Shea, stop being a bad influence on Myu," Yue whispered, just loud enough for only them to hear.
"Okay…" Shea muttered, ears drooping slightly.
And with that, they stepped through the doors into the guild hall.
The heavy metal doors groaned open, sunlight streaking across the stone floor as Hajime stepped inside.
Heads turned instantly to look at the newcomers.
A young man in a dark, armored coat walked in with a cold expression… followed by a dazzling group of women—each beautiful, confident, and clearly dangerous. Although his look was ruined with the little girl held in his arm. Selena strode beside him with a quiet grace, the hilt of her weapon peeking from beneath her long coat. Yue walked on his other side, eyes half-lidded, aloof. Behind them came Shea, bouncing along with a wide grin, and Tio with a dignified stride, her presence regal and intense.
The atmosphere in the guild room was strangely strained, and their full focus was on their group.
People were everywhere, many adventurers were seated at the bar on the left. A few of them were already drinking some alcohol. Some of the other adventurers were on the second floor, all of them were fairly strong, probably from an unspoken rule that the higher-ranked adventurers are the only ones that can use the second floor.
One rough-looking group near the bar—the kind that liked to test new meat—whispered among themselves, grinning.
"Too many pretty faces with one guy."
"Must be compensating for something."
"He's just asking for a lesson."
Hajime didn't even look their way. But the moment they made to rise from their seats—
—he let it out.
A low, crushing wave of pure presence. Not killing intent exactly, but something colder. He didn't even speak. Just a glance. A narrowing of the eyes.
And suddenly, just as quick, the oppressive presence vanished.
The adventurers froze, sweat breaking on their brows. One of them muttered a curse and sat back down fast. The others followed suit, pretending they'd never moved at all.
The room stayed quiet, but the air was thick now. Heavy enough that a knight's sword might've cut it.
They reached the front desk, where a young receptionist was just finishing up paperwork. She looked up—and nearly dropped her pen.
A stunning brunette, probably in her early twenties. Soft brown hair tied into a neat ponytail, eyes wide with curiosity as they locked onto Hajime.
"W-Welcome to the Horaud Guild Branch," she said, then blinked as she took in the entire group. "Are you… registering?"
Hajime didn't answer. He simply pulled out a folded letter sealed with the guild emblem—then dropped his status plate on the counter.
The girl picked it up. Her eyes scanned the name, then caught the emblem on the plate.
"W-Wait… this is a Gold Rank license!"
Her voice rose a little too loud. The hall, already quiet, went dead silent.
Everyone turned again.
She clutched the letter and card to her chest with wide eyes. "P-Please excuse me! I need to speak to the branch manager!"
She practically sprinted into the back, heels clicking across the floor.
Selena crossed her arms beside Hajime, leaning slightly toward him with a smirk. "Making an impression, as always."
He didn't respond, just kept his eyes forward.
Adventurers who had been watching with curiosity were now whispering in alarm.
"Hey… don't those two at the front remind you of someone we were told about?"
"Yeah… I think they're that new party. What was the name again?"
Another man snapped his fingers. "Duo Smashers!"
A ripple of tension spread through the guild. Adventurers who had been watching with interest now tried to make themselves as small as possible, avoiding eye contact and subtly backing away. It was clear they'd heard stories—of Hajime and Yue's deeds from somewhere else—and none of those tales ended well for the ones who picked a fight.
Selena glanced at Hajime, her lips curling into a grin. "Man, Hajime… You're already feared by half the adventurers here."
Hajime shrugged, tone dry. "Not my fault they let a dick lead them around."
Selena laughed. "Yeah… they got what was coming to them."
"Daddy's amazing!" Myu chimed in, clinging to Hajime's coat. Her eyes sparkled with awe as she looked up at him, completely oblivious to the growing tension in the hall. She seemed unfazed by all the stares, focused only on keeping up with the conversation.
And at that moment—
Endou burst through the side doors in a flurry of ash, sweat, and panic.
His cloak was torn, armor scorched and dented. His face was drawn with exhaustion and desperation, but worse than that was the fear—the kind that had been festering, long past rational thought.
"I need help—please—someone—anyone—they're still down there!" he gasped out, staggering forward. "The labyrinth—it's not right—it's changing—twisting—they're trapped!"
The guild fell silent again.
Hajime turned, one hand still resting protectively against Myu's back as he furrowed his brow. Selena moved a step forward, a flicker of realization creeping into her eyes.
Endou's wild gaze darted across the hall—over grizzled mercenaries, bored archers, stunned receptionists—and then landed on her.
He froze.
"...Selena?"
His knees gave, buckling beneath him as he half-collapsed against the front counter.
"You're—you're really here?!" Endou rasped. "I thought I was imagining it. I thought I was losing it—Selena, please—we need help! Kouki, Shizuku, the others—we're stuck! The monsters—they're worse than anything we've faced. The cats, the ones with the tentacles—they're hunting us!"
Selena knelt beside him, voice even. "Slow down. How many are left?"
Endou's voice cracked. "Everyone… but we're not going to last. Floor 94's different. Like it's alive. I only got out because Ryutarou bought me time. Shizuku ordered me to run. I didn't want to—but—I couldn't—I just couldn't—"
His hands trembled violently, clutching at hers like a lifeline.
Then, he finally looked past her—and saw the pale-haired man standing just behind her.
The pressure from Hajime had long since dissipated, his stance more relaxed, hand still gently cradling Myu to shield her from the spectacle.
Endou blinked.
"…Who's that?"
Selena glanced back, deadpan. "Really?"
Endou squinted. "Is he with you? Wait—is he a mercenary? One of those dungeon mercs from the upper ranks?"
Hajime exhaled slowly, his tone dry as stone. "Still gotta make loud noises to be noticed, huh… Endou?"
That stopped Endou cold.
His jaw opened, then shut again. A beat passed as recognition slowly began to settle on his face.
Selena exhaled slowly, then tilted her head toward Hajime with a smirk. "You know… brooding guy, scary aura, crazy gadgets, trauma package deal. That's Batman."
Hajime gave her a flat look. "You did not just say that."
She shrugged. "You're lucky you don't wear a cape."
Endou blinked rapidly. "…He's what now?"
From behind, Tio perked up. "Bat… man? Is this a title or a species?"
Shea, ears twitching, leaned in excitedly. "Wait, does that mean he turns into a bat? Is this like a new evolution of his monster powers?"
Selena waved a hand. "No, no. He's just a guy. No powers. Dresses like a bat. Beats up criminals at night using trauma and tech."
Myu gasped softly from Hajime's shoulder. "He sounds really cool! Does he have a bunny friend?"
"No bunny," Selena replied with mock solemnity. "Just lifelong emotional repression."
Tio placed a thoughtful finger to her lip. "A dark hero who strikes fear into evil men… Yes. That does sound like Hajime. I can see it clearly now."
Hajime groaned. "This is spiraling out of control."
"You fit the archetype," Selena teased. "We're just pointing it out."
"I don't dress like a bat. I have a gun. And grenades."
"You can have both," Yue chimed in, a smirk growing. "We should make you a signal light!"
"I vote for a hammer silhouette," Tio said.
"A bunny!" Myu clapped. "A scary bunny!"
"Shall we continue this conversation inside one of our private rooms? It seems that boy over there has something for me as well."
A Grizzled old man well into his sixties stepped out of the hallway. There was a large scar running down his left eye.
Judging from the fact that the receptionist was with him, Hajime and Selena guessed that he must be this guild's branch chief. Looking around, they remembered the strained atmosphere when they first entered, then looked back at Endou. He was practically sobbing now.
Selena decided to have mercy on Endou as she helped steady him. "You don't recognize him because he's changed. But you're not the only one who crawled out of that hole."
Hajime turned away, eyes hard. "We're not here for a reunion."
The mood snapped back to grim focus.
Selena turned to the others. "Let's get going."
Myu, now peeking over Hajime's shoulder, clung to him tightly. "Are they really your friends?"
"No," Hajime said, voice low. "They're the ones we left behind."
Endou looked up, barely holding himself together. "You're really going back…?"
Hajime looks back at Endou, "We'll hear you out first."
With a nod towards the Branch chief, they headed off to the back, bracing themselves for whatever Endou has for them.
As they stepped into the Guildmaster's meeting room, the door shut quietly behind them. The space was tidy, reinforced, and lined with maps of the region and old weapons mounted on the walls.
The soft creak of the leather couch accompanied the quiet rustle of movement as Shea, Hajime, and Yue settled onto the three-seater in the center of the room. Hajime sat in the middle, his black coat slightly rumpled from the journey, one arm draped loosely over the backrest behind Yue, who sat poised and serene beside him, her golden eyes scanning the room. On his other side, Shea leaned in just a bit too close, her usual exuberance tempered by the tension in the air. She fiddled with the hem of her skirt, clearly trying to behave, but the twitch in her rabbit ears betrayed her restlessness.
Perched comfortably in Hajime's lap, little Myu kicked her feet in the air with idle curiosity, her small hands holding onto the small container with popcorn in it. She was the only one without a hint of nervous energy, content to be where she felt safest, occasionally looking up at her "Papa" with bright, trusting eyes. Hajime's hand gently rested on her head, protective and steady, a rare softness in his usually guarded posture.
Behind the couch stood Tio and Selena. Tio leaned into Selena's side with casual intimacy, her arms crossed under her chest, golden eyes glittering with faint amusement. Her posture was relaxed, but the way her weight pressed into Selena's shoulder gave the sense of unspoken camaraderie—perhaps even comfort. Selena, in contrast, stood tall and still, her arms lightly folded. Her crimson hair fell like a curtain over one eye, the glint of watchfulness in her gaze sharp as ever. Though calm, she radiated a quiet intensity, her presence grounding the room like a drawn sword resting in its sheath.
Across the polished surface of the low coffee table sat another three-seater couch, noticeably empty save for one figure. Endou sat alone, hunched slightly forward, hands loosely clasped between his knees. His armor was scuffed, his sleeves rolled up to show the faint bruising on his arms. He looked out of place—not unwelcome, but clearly carrying the weight of someone who hadn't known rest in days. His eyes darted briefly to each person before falling back to the table, as if measuring whether he still belonged among them.
At the head of the table sat the Guildmaster, resting in a simple but well-worn wooden chair with a cushioned seat. It creaked slightly under his shifting weight, more functional than grand, clearly a chair chosen for long meetings over ostentation. The man himself wore no elaborate robes—just a thick tunic of forest green and a leather belt hung with tools and scroll tubes. His eyes, however, were sharp and discerning, flicking from Hajime to Endou to Selena, reading the room with the precision of someone who had weathered a dozen crises before breakfast.
"I'm the Branch Chief of this guild," he said with a firm, no-nonsense voice. "Name's Loa Bawavis. And you…?" His brow furrowed. "I know all the Gold Rank adventurers registered in this region. And I don't recognize any of you."
He looked genuinely puzzled, his eyes flicking between them.
Hajime blinked, confused. "Didn't the receptionist hand you the letter?"
Loa grunted. "Mmm. Let me check something."
He stepped toward the door and called out sharply. A few seconds later, the same receptionist peeked in with a sheepish expression and handed over the sealed letter.
Loa gave her a flat look before dismissing her and turning his attention to the document.
The group took seats around the room, waiting in silence as Loa skimmed the contents. A few minutes passed in an almost awkward silence—not tense, just still.
Then Loa looked up, eyes slightly wider than before.
"Well, thanks to Ilwa's letter, I understand the gist of your situation. I see you've been busy."
"Yeah, though most of it just sort of happened." Hajime spoke of their unbelievable feats as if they were no different than going on a walk for them. He shrugged his shoulders, and Loa smiled in amusement.
"According to this letter, Ilwa wants me to Endorse your party's promotion to gold rank, and to assist you in any way I can. I more or less understand what's going on, so that shouldn't be a problem. I've heard that you not only single-handedly annihilated an army of sixty thousand monsters, but that you completely destroyed Fuhren's underground crime ring in half a day. Frankly, I find it hard to believe you're actually capable of all of these things, but I can't imagine someone like Ilwa lying. If he told me you were the demon lord himself, I'd still believe him."
"Don't be ridiculous. The demon lord wouldn't even be a threat to us." Hajime waved his hand, dismissing it as if unimportant.
"Not even a threat, is it? You certainly have some confidence in yourself. In that case, I'd like you to prove your claims by taking on a certain request on behalf of the Horaud adventurer's guild."
"You want me to go rescue the hero party?"
Endou suddenly snapped back to reality when he heard the word "request." Turning his attention to his two friends that many thought dead until now.
"First of all, how did you both get so strong? And second, you did WHAT to a syndicate?"
Endou, seated near the edge of the room, glanced between Hajime and Selena, still visibly unsettled—especially by Hajime's current appearance.
Hajime glances over towards Selena, "You want to take this one?"
"A lot of things happened on our way out."
"Did you expect us to sit around and wait for you to catch up?" Hajime added, a bit of venom lacing his words.
Endou recoiled before looking down, whispering, "…Kinda? We made it to Floor 95…"
Hajime raised a brow. "You still had another hundred floors before you even reached us."
His tone was sharp, a little too blunt—but Selena could hear something more behind it. A flash of irritation, maybe a bit of pain. Something closer to the younger Hajime she remembered. A boy pushed too far for too long.
Yue tugged gently at Hajime's sleeve. Their eyes met, exchanging a silent message—one of grounding, of understanding. He exhaled through his nose and relaxed slightly.
Meanwhile, Endou looked around again, clearly overwhelmed.
He stared at Hajime—at the small girl perched comfortably on his lap, and at the four women surrounding him with casual familiarity.
"When… did Hajime become a harem protagonist…?"
Selena turned her head sharply and launched a kernel of popcorn—stolen from Myu's snack container—right into Endou's forehead.
"Shut up. It's not like that. And if you keep going, I'll show you what a lifeless Endou looks like. I've got more ammo."
She held up another piece of popcorn, daring him.
Endou flinched. "Jeez—it was a joke! …I think."
"But even if it's not a harem," he muttered, glancing at the group, "there's still… so many of them."
He coughed as Tio suddenly reached out and wrapped a hand around Selena's.
"I'm with her," Tio said with a sly smile, giving Endou a wink. "So… two less for your mental tally."
Endou's eyes widened. His brain seemed to freeze as the implications hit him.
Then he passed out while still sitting upright, his back ridged as his eyes went glassy.
"I think you broke him," Yue said calmly.
Hajime sighed, rubbing his forehead. "And we didn't even try this time."
Without missing a beat, Selena lobbed another popcorn kernel at Endou's face. It struck him square in the forehead.
He jolted back to life with a sudden gasp, leaping to his feet. "I'M AWAKE! WHERE'S THE DANGER?!"
Selena leaned back in her chair, unimpressed. "Yeah. He's fine."
As Endou slowly regained consciousness, wobbling in place with a distant stare, Myu peeked down at him from her perch on Hajime's lap, cheeks puffed in mild concern.
Everyone was starting to settle again, the tension easing into quiet murmurs.
Myu tugged gently at Hajime's coat, her voice soft.
"Daddy?"
Hajime glanced down at her, his expression already gentling. "Yeah, Myu?"
Myu looked over at Endou, who was still visibly shaken, then back at her father with wide, innocent eyes.
"Why do you have to save everyone again? Wasn't it their job to protect people too?"
The room froze for a beat.
Endou's breath hitched.
He looked like he'd just been stabbed with a blunt butter knife—slow, quiet, and mortally accurate.
Selena blinked. Yue's lips parted slightly, almost in surprise. Tio gave a low hum. Even Shea looked away awkwardly.
Hajime exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"…It's complicated, Myu," he said quietly.
"But you always do the saving," she added, confused but thoughtful. "Even when you look sad. Is that what heroes are supposed to do? Even when no one else does it?"
Endou visibly flinched.
Selena didn't laugh this time. She looked down at her hand for a moment, then over at Endou, gaze not harsh—but not shielding the truth either.
"No," she said softly. "That's what good people do."
Myu tilted her head again. "So Daddy is Batman and the hero?"
Hajime gave a faint, tired chuckle. "Let's… not start that again."
But Endou didn't speak. He just sat there, staring at the floor, his shoulders slumped. That one innocent question had done more damage than anything Hajime had said earlier.
He didn't look angry.
He looked ashamed.
"…Sorry," he mumbled, barely audible.
Selena looked at him, tone low but not cruel. "Then do better."
"Endou, could you please tell us about what happened to you all?" Loa cut in, bringing everyone's attention back to the main topic of their meeting.
"Floor 95 was a trap," Endou began, his voice low, knuckles pale from gripping his knees so tightly. "As we walked through floor 95— we were ambushed again and again. Those panther-like beasts weren't attacking randomly. They were coordinated, smarter, faster. It felt like the floor itself wanted us dead."
He paused, the weight of the memory making his shoulders sag. "We got split in the first strike. Ryutarou took a serious hit. Kouki was the only thing holding them back—he had to use Divine Wrath just to thin their numbers. Those panther monsters… they weren't like before. Faster, capable of distorting light, vanishing entirely. And they had these tentacles, spikes covering the ends of them. It was pure chaos. We could barely keep track of each other, let alone the enemy. The confusion was deliberate, strategic even."
Endou's hands trembled slightly, but he pressed forward, determined to finish. "We started figuring out how to spot the real ones, using shadows, sound—Shizuku noticed it first. She took charge immediately, her voice sharp and clear amidst the chaos, calling targets and organizing our scattered formation. For a brief moment, it felt like we had a rhythm again, like we might survive this after all."
Then his voice dropped further, becoming almost a whisper, his expression haunted. "That's when the cats came."
The room stilled completely, each member of the group holding their breath, listening intently.
"Not panthers—these were smaller, black-furred, silent. Ghost-like. They moved through the mist like assassins, tearing the panther-beasts apart with surgical precision. It was unnerving how precise they were, how effortlessly they dispatched enemies we'd struggled against. And they didn't attack us. Didn't even glance our way. As if we weren't even worth noticing, like we were beneath their interest entirely."
Endou swallowed, gaze distant and pained. "They weren't natural. Definitely not wild. They moved with purpose, calculated and intentional."
Then came the revelation that chilled everyone to the bone.
"A demon woman appeared from the trees. Red-haired, calm, smiling like victory was already hers. Her presence alone felt oppressive, her eyes sharp and cunning. She commanded those creatures effortlessly, claiming she was merely there to observe. Said we'd impressed her—and then offered Kouki a deal."
"What?" Shea's eyes widened, disbelief coloring her expression. "those demons sure are busy"
Endou rolled his eyes slightly, shaking his head in exasperation. "Of course, he refused immediately, like a hero—sorry. But that made her angry. Very angry. Her smile disappeared, replaced by fury. That's when things went completely to hell."
He described the horrific chaos—the squid-like beasts emerging violently, the sudden blood frenzy overtaking the labyrinth. Monsters turned viciously upon each other, driven mad by bloodlust. The hero party found themselves desperately retreating, abandoning the fight entirely, racing upward through the floors in a frantic bid for survival. He recounted each injury vividly, the pain evident in his voice:
"Kaori collapsed from exhaustion after nonstop healing to keep us alive. Suzu got mauled terribly, throwing herself between Kaori and danger. Ryutarou and Jugo took heavy wounds protecting our retreat, bleeding badly and still fighting. Everyone was nearly drained of mana, their strength dwindling, their hope almost extinguished."
Selena's eyes narrowed, though she stayed silent, her arms crossing tighter. She hadn't expected anyone from that group to make it so far—and yet, against all odds, they had.
Endou exhaled deeply, shoulders trembling from the weight of his story.
"We barely made it to the boss chamber on Floor 93. It was empty—no respawn yet. A small miracle, really. But by then, we were in pieces. Everyone was exhausted, bleeding, half-broken. We were lucky to leave that woman to deal with the frenzied horde. Although I was the only one left with the strength to move undetected, so they asked me to go for help. Though I am pretty sure they just wanted me to escape. Honestly... I didn't think I'd find you."
He laughed, but it was hollow. Bitter.
Endou's hands trembled as he spoke, guilt etched across his face.
"We couldn't keep going. Most of the class was barely on their feet. Shizuku told me to run ahead, to find help. They were going to hide, wait, recover—hope the monsters wouldn't find them too fast. But I think..."
He looked away, voice cracking.
"I think they sent me because I was the only one they could afford to send. They probably thought that they wouldn't make it."
He rubbed his eyes roughly, sniffling.
"I made it halfway through the 80s when one of those feline monsters spotted me. I fought back—killed all but one. That one ran. Probably went to report I was still alive. I couldn't afford to stop. Rested maybe an hour per floor at best, hoping to stay ahead."
He held up his arm—bandaged, still bleeding beneath the wrap.
"I thought I'd lost them after Floor 75. But I was wrong. When I finally reached Captain Meld and the other knights... he knew. He knew I wouldn't make it unless someone shielded me."
Endou's voice broke as tears streamed down his face.
"They used themselves as shields so I could get away. They stayed behind to stall for me. I barely had time to destroy the spell circle that teleported me to the upper floors. I wouldn't be surprised if she had killed every knight protecting it. As soon as I got to the surface, I told one of the knights that we left there to quickly send a message to the capital. But even then, it would take too long and reinforcements would be too late."
His hands clenched into fists as he stared at the dirt, as if trying to hold himself together by sheer force of will.
"I trained so hard, all this time, to protect people. To save them. And when it mattered most... I only saved myself."
He looked up at Selena and Hajime, tears still glistening in his eyes.
"Please... Selena. Hajime. Help them."
"..." Hajime just stared at Endou, as if testing him.
Endou lifted his gaze to Hajime, sincerity burning in his eyes. "You know, Kaori... Shizuku... Ryutarou… we never gave up hope. Even when everyone else stopped believing."
Silence hung thickly, heavy and somber. Yet Selena remained silent, expression unreadable, even as a sharp, uncomfortable feeling twisted deep in her chest. She had always wanted canon to go through, but that seemed to have been thrown out the window for the heroes as well. But now she stood here, listening to Endou recount how Kaori, Shizuku, and Ryutarou had fought their way through hell, driven solely by the hope of finding them alive. Guilt started to gnaw at her.
No one else noticed the subtle shift in Selena.
No one, except Tio.
From the corner, the dragon woman observed Selena carefully, half-lidded eyes sharp with curiosity and understanding. Selena wasn't afraid—this wasn't fear. But for the first time, Tio saw her genuinely unsettled, wrestling silently with an internal storm.
Selena kept thinking about Shizuku. But the words seemed to evade her. And she knew that Hajime would descend into that darkness anyway—canon would drive him down there.
Across the room, Hajime silently observed her, noting her tense jaw, her crossed arms, the tension in her stance. He said nothing, yet he understood enough. Tio's quiet smile deepened subtly, fully aware of the invisible storm raging within Selena.
Finally, Hajime turned decisively to the Guild Master, breaking the heavy silence that filled the room.
"Chief Loa," Hajime began, voice steady, calm yet firm, commanding everyone's attention once more. "If possible, I'd like you to still make this a formal request from the guild."
The Guild Master nodded knowingly, a glint of understanding in his sharp eyes. "Right. You don't want people thinking you do things for free."
Hajime smirked slightly, a faint edge of amusement showing through his serious demeanor. "You catch on fast."
The Guild Master chuckled quietly. "You don't get to our position without understanding the game."
Endou looked up at Hajime, a cautious hope dawning in his eyes. "So you're coming then?"
Everyone's attention shifted fully to Hajime, anticipation hanging heavily in the air. He met their gazes with quiet determination. "Yeah. I've got promises to repay and some dumbasses to save."
"Thank you, Hajime," Endou said softly, visibly relieved as the tension finally eased from his weary frame.
From the side, Myu looked up at Hajime, clutching a handful of popcorn in her tiny fingers, eyes wide with innocent curiosity.
"Daddy, are you going to beat up the bad guys again?"
Hajime chuckled softly and rested his forehead on top of her.
"Yeah… I suppose I will," he said with a gentle smile. "But you won't be coming with me this time. You'll stay safe here with your big sisters—Selena and Tio—while I go handle things."
"But… wait, I need both of you to come help," Endou spoke up, finally finding his voice.
"Shut up, Endou," Hajime replied, his tone firm but focused. "Yue, Shea, and I will be enough for this rescue mission."
He turned back to Myu, gently brushing a lock of blue hair from her face. "Selena will keep you safe. I'll be back soon."
Then he looked up at both Selena and Tio with a serious expression. "I'm trusting you with my daughter."
Selena blinked, caught off guard. She wasn't used to Hajime's "dad mode" being pointed at her—and somehow, it made her feel both proud and awkward all at once.
"Yes, yes, we'll keep your daughter safe," she muttered, crossing her arms.
"Fufu~ Oh, Hajime, you have nothing to fear," Tio said, puffing out her chest proudly. "We shall guard little Myu with our lives."
"And no night activity," Hajime mouthed silently to Tio.
"We don't do it all the time!" Selena snapped, cheeks flushing.
Hajime smirked. "I know. Just reminding you."
With that, Hajime accepted the request, and accommodations were arranged for the group in the building next to the guild hall while they waited for his return.