"Eh? C-can I?"
Sumika gaped.
"Of course it's fine."
"But"
Rei Ao glanced at her curled-up posture:
"You're probably in no shape to be moving around much right now."
"!!!"
Sumika's face went bright red. Her body truly was limp and sore fromall that attention, especially in certain tender places.
"I'll fix you up."
He said, sliding a hand toward her.
"!!!"
Her cheeks reddened further.
Meanwhile,
Marcille kept looking around, left and right.
"There's nobody?"
She slumped in despair.
"So it was all a fantasy"
She opened the group, fired off a vexed message:
Marcille: "That whole cross-world trade idea is nonsense!"
Sui: "Huh, what's happening?"
Yatogami Tohka: "Rei Ao-kun wouldn't scam you."
Marcille: "But I clearly chose the trade, and no one's shown up!"
Frieren: "No one? @Rei Ao, haven't you gone yet?"
Rei Ao: "I was a bit delayed, bringing someone along and making preparations. But nowwe're here."
"???"
Marcille didn't have time to react before, in the center of the room, space began to distort. A swirling black rift appeared out of nowhere.
"What the?!"
She recoiled, grabbing her wand off the table, aiming it at the vortex. From inside it, a tall figure stepped fortha slender young man. Marcille's first impression was that for a human, he was even more handsome than an elf. Behind him emerged a bespectacled girl, looking around curiously. Before Marcille could speak, the young man greeted her with a smile:
"Marcille-san, a pleasure to meet you. I'm Rei Ao, the one with whom you made that trade."
~~~
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Chapter 628: Easily Killing Labyrinth Monsters! (Bonus Chapter)
A hush filled the room, the air tense with the presence of that little box of protection. Rei Ao decided to break the awkward silence first.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Rei Ao, the one you made the deal with. This is Fujimiya Sumika, my girlfriend."
At hearing Rei Ao so openly declare her as his girlfriend, Sumika felt a surge of warmth and joy. It meant she wouldn't need to hide their relationship from anyone.
"I'm Marcille."
Marcille gripped her staff, nodding warily.
"Soyou're Rei Ao?"
Rei Ao inclined his head slightly. He took in the meager wooden bedroom, which lacked any girlish decorunderstandable for this world's setting. His gaze paused at a portrait on the wall depicting Marcille alongside a short-haired girl with light auburn hair.
"First, let's clarify the trade details."
"You plan to give up everything to bring Falin back, correct?"
Now that she realized the arrivals were real, living people, hope sparked within Marcille. She nodded resolutely:
"Yes! I'll pay any price."
"All right, then we'll head to the labyrinth."
Rei Ao could easily seize the world's essence right here, since crossing worlds was part of his ability, but he'd already told Sumika he'd show her around the labyrinth for funlike a tourist trip.
"Yes! Let's go at once!"
Marcille, unable to wait another second, made for the door but was stopped by Rei Ao's hand on her arm.
"Huh?"
She turned, puzzled.
"What are you doing?"
"You're a bit too hasty, Marcille-san,"
Rei Ao said, pointing to her collar.
"I think you should maybe get dressed before heading to the labyrinth."
""
Marcille looked down. Her neckline had gaped open, revealing more than she intended. Realizing Rei Ao was male, she squeaked in alarm:
"Waaaah!!!"
A little later, outside:
Sumika gazed around at the moonlit structures, murmuring,
"This place is so completely different from our world."
She then glanced at Rei Ao.
"By the way, is Marcille-san truly an elf?"
"She's a half-elf, child of a human and an elf, so calling her an elf isn't entirely wrong."
"Oh, wow, that's amazingespecially those pointy ears"
As they chatted, the door creaked open. Garbed in a blue mage's robe, Marcille emerged, face burning, tiptoeing over.
"Um, II'm ready now!"
Rei Ao nodded:
"All right, let's get going."
No sooner had they entered the labyrinth than
Bzzt!!!
A shrill screech echoed, and a giant bat-like creature burst from the stone wall, its razor-sharp claws lunging straight for Marcille's throat!
"Eek! Careful!"
Sumika cried out, blanching at the monster.
Marcille instinctively raised her staff, but her incantation never formed because
Rei Ao cast a glance at the creature.
"Begone."
No spells. No gestures. Instantly, in midair, the beast froze and was crushed by an invisible force into a cloud of bloody mist, dissolving into nothing.
Marcille gaped.
"Howhow did you do that?"
She was certain Rei Ao had used no magic.
"Well, this is a cross-world deal," he said with a faint smile.
"If I had no ability, could I really take the contract?"
He gave Sumika a soft look:
"Not scared, I hope?"
Sumika, still clinging to his arm, sighed in relief.
"I was a bit startled, but with you here, I feel safe. That was so impressivewhat did you do?"
"Nothing special, just a flick of a finger."
To him, such small fry could be obliterated with a breath.
"Let's keep going."
Marcille finally snapped out of her daze.
As they delved deeper, the temperature climbed. Strange red glyphs glowed on the walls, just as Marcille remembered. Only now, instead of her former companions, she had these mysterious visitors from another world. Oddly enough, their exploration felt neither tense nor perilous. If anything, it was so relaxed it felt like sightseeing.
Every time a monster appearedbe it a savage Minotaur, a swarm of gargoyles, or even the rumored magic-devouring shadow beastsRei Ao simply glanced or waved a hand, and those horrors that had taken countless adventurers' lives disintegrated into dust.
The most mind-boggling moment came when they passed a lava pool. A colossal lava troll leapt from molten rock, roaring and lunging at them. Rei Ao merely shot it a look, and that beastcapable of leveling a small cityburst into flame, reduced to ashes in a heartbeat.
A lava troll! Yet it posed no threat to them.
Continuing unimpeded, the air grew hotter, a sulfuric tang filling the corridors. Sumika was wide-eyed and intrigued, yet Rei Ao's protection kept her comfortable. Marcille's pulse, however, pounded ever faster. She sensed the same menace she had when facing the Fire Dragon. Until finally, they reached a vast cavern.
At the cavern's entrance lay countless bones, rusted weapons, and armorgruesome evidence of defeated adventurers. Heat waves billowed from the cave, making breathing difficult.
"Thisthis is it"
Marcille's voice trembled.
"That Fire Dragon must be inside. Falinshe"
Rei Ao didn't respond. Leading Sumika, he strode straight in. Marcille inhaled sharply, then followed.
Inside was a huge lake of lava, with a small island of piled bones at its center. Coiled atop that mound was an enormous scarlet dragon. Its scales glowed like heated iron, its eyes two miniature suns, sparks escaping its nostrils.
Sensing intruders, the dragon reared its huge head.
"Roooaaaar!!!"
A deafening roar echoed through the cavern, nearly toppling Marcilleshe clung to Rei Ao for support. The dragon's thunderous cry reverberated like falling skies.
Marcille's legs went weak. Memories of her previous horror flooded back. This was the monster that devoured Falin in a single bite!
~~~
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Chapter 629: Fire Dragon? That's just a worm breathing Fire!
"That's a dragon!"
Even Fujimiya Sumika, who had seen all kinds of strange creatures along the way, was utterly astounded at the sight of the Fire Dragon.
"Rei Ao-kun, isn't this dangerous?"
From her perspective, dragons were unimaginably powerful.
"No danger at all. It's only a mixed-blood lesser dragon,"
Rei Ao answered calmly.
But Marcille, nearby, could not stay calm.
"A...a lesser dragon? That's a Fire Dragon! Are you sure we're safe?!"
"If you're uncertain, check what the others in the chat say,"
Rei Ao replied, tapping the interface.
He had turned on livestream mode, so several who were still awake in the chat saw the so-called Fire Dragon firsthand.
Tohru: "Fire dragon? A giant dragon? Pshhseriously?"
Tohru: "They're underestimating dragons if they think this is formidable! I could smash it to bits with a single fingertip!"
Akame: "It doesn't have as much menace as the 'dragon-type danger beasts' we have."
Frieren: "It seems not all dragons across worlds have apocalypse-level power like Tohru or the ones in Shizue's world."
Izawa Shizue: "Uh Velzard-senpai's group says that calling them dragons is an insult and a sacrilege."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "It's more like a big red flame-spewing worm than a true dragon, if I'm honestam I allowed to say that?"
Marcille: "Eh?!"
She gaped. Did everyone see a dragon in such a casual manner?
Just then, Rei Ao rubbed his chin and asked:
"Sumika, I can tell it's a female dragonwanna keep it as a pet?"
"A pet?!"
Sumika gasped, eyes wide.
"IIs that even possible?"
Riding a dragon or something that would be so cool! But she hesitated, not wanting to inconvenience Rei Ao.
He laughed.
"If you want it, there's no reason you can't have it. After all, you're my girlfriend."
"Rooooar!!!"
The Fire Dragon let out a thunderous roar, spewing flames. Yet Rei Ao simply took Sumika by the hand and, to Marcille's astonishment, walked forward. The dragon flames dissipated before even touching them. They didn't stop until reaching the lava lake's edge. Rei Ao looked up at the huge dragon, his voice still unruffled:
"Kneel."
Of course, the beast did not comprehend human speech. Its jaws gaped, about to breathe scorching fire on them.
"No!"
Marcille squeezed her eyes shut, recalling the scene where Falin had been devoured. She braced for the worst. But the expected inferno never arrived. Opening her eyes, she saw Rei Ao still standing there.
Boom!
With a loud thud, the Fire Dragon's colossal body dropped to the ground, lowering its head before Rei Aoalmost as if bowing?!
"???"
Marcille was utterly confused by this abrupt change. She didn't know that Rei Ao's True Crimson Dragon God aura made the Fire Dragon surrender instantly.
"Sumika, hold out your hand and place it on its head."
he prompted the stunned Sumika.
"O-okay!"
Trusting Rei Ao absolutely, she reached out and laid her palm on the dragon's scaley head. The next moment, a filament of red energy emerged from Rei Ao's fingertips, wrapping around the dragon's body. The massive form shrank into a glowing red orb that merged into the back of Sumika's hand.
"Wh-what is?"
Sumika felt a wave of heat. On her hand appeared a small crimson dragon sigil, glowing briefly before fading away.
"I've made a servant pact for you. Now you can summon and command it however you like,"
Rei Ao explained.
"It's not that strong, but it'll be decent as transport and such."
"Th-thank you, Rei Ao-kun."
As the contract bearer, Sumika already understood its function. She gazed at Rei Ao with eyes brimming with affection. Being cared for so attentively warmed her heart.
Meanwhile, Marcille finally shook off her shock. A bolt of realization struck her.
"Wait a minute!"
She remembered why they cameto kill the Fire Dragon and retrieve Falin's corpse to resurrect her! Now the Fire Dragon had become someone's pet
"How can we resurrect Falin now?!"
"Hm?"
Rei Ao raised an eyebrow.
"We can resurrect her anytime. Like this."
He reached out and, with a simple pull, drew a translucent figure forth from the air.
"Falin!!!"
Marcille cried in alarm upon seeing ita soul with familiar features. Indeed, it was her friend Falin. Hearing her name, the soul opened its eyes.
"Marcille?"
She blinked, bewildered.
"Why are you here? Wasn't I eaten by a Fire Dragon?"
"Yes, you were,"
Rei Ao calmly interjected.
"So right now you're just a soul."
"Eh?"
Falin stared at him, confused.
"Uh, w-who are you?"
"I'm Rei Ao, here at Marcille's request to save you."
"Wait, wait, don't just stand around talking!"
Marcille cut in anxiously.
"That's Falin's soul to resurrect her, we still need her body. Make that dragon spit her out or something!"
She was practically flailing. Bringing Falin back was her utmost priority.
"Let me summon it!"
Sumika offered, but Rei Ao stopped her with a gesture.
"No need."
"Resurrecting someone is not that complicated for me. Location doesn't matter."
Looking at Falin, he asked:
"Ready?"
"Um, I guess?"
Without waiting, he put his palm on her head. A soft white glow expanded, enveloping her spectral form. The glow intensified, soon revealing a human skeleton that swiftly grew flesh, nerves, and skin. Within seconds, a fully-formed, naked human girl stood before Marcille.
"Falin!"
Falin's chest rose and fell as she took a breath, gradually opening her eyes in confusion.
"Whereis this? Marcille?"
"Falin!!"
Marcille could no longer hold back. She lunged forward, hugging her once-lost friend, tears dampening Falin's shoulder. Falin, still disoriented from the resurrection, looked around in a daze.
"W-wasn't that all a dream?"
"It's fine now, it's all over You're back."
Marcille said, choking back sobs.
"Amazing!"
Fujimiya Sumika had witnessed this miraculous revival with her own eyes; they practically shone like little stars. In this moment, Rei Ao seemed utterly godlike in her eyes.
Which meantshe, Fujimiya Sumika, was loved by a god? Her heart soared at the notion, filling her with bliss.
~~~
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Chapter 630: Dark Elf, Mad Mage, Dead, now to the Trade!
"Um Marcille, could you please lend me some clothes?"
Falin spoke up suddenly, glancing shyly at Rei Ao.
Marcille, only then realizing Falin had been stark naked since her resurrection, panicked. Hadn't she just been seen completely exposed?! Hastily, she draped her robe over Falin.
