(Erza's POV)
Location: Luno City, Yuuta's Apartment — Morning
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The mortal left in a hurry.
Something about being late for his "academy."
Humans had academies? Hmph. They dare call such flimsy buildings an academy?
In my world, the word carried weight—where blood was spilled over knowledge and power. Here? It was a place where he wore cheap clothing and carried a plastic box full of paper.
Utterly ridiculous.
"Elena," I said, glancing down at my daughter.
She was curiously examining the television again, poking the screen with her little fingers. Her tiny eyebrows furrowed. "It has people inside."
I said nothing.
This world was more advanced than I expected. No mana cores, no spell-infused walls. But they had… technology. Cold, lifeless machines doing the work of alchemists. Lights without flame. Doors that opened without magic. Carts that moved without beasts.
Disgusting. Yet efficient.
I wandered into the mortal's room. Small. Humble.
It smelled like him—lazy, warm, faintly of iron and ink.
Then I saw it.
A photo. Framed. Propped up on a shelf.
Him—Yuuta—smiling like a fool. Eyes closed. That same idiotic grin he made when he didn't know what to say.
And next to him…
A girl.
Black hair like his. Amber eyes. She was leaning close. Too close. Her hand was on his shoulder.
I narrowed my eyes.
Who is she?
And more importantly…
Why is she touching what belongs to me?
My blood boiled.
Does he dare? Does he dare betray me, after everything? After giving me a daughter, after binding his soul to mine?
I clenched the frame so hard the glass cracked.
"Elena," I said calmly, turning around.
"Yes, Mama?" she chirped, skipping toward me.
"We are going to Papa's academy."
She blinked. "Really? But why?"
"I forgot to say something," I said coldly.
She tilted her head. "Okay~"
I opened the door and took a breath. His scent still lingered. Weak, but traceable. My magic may be sealed in this world, but my instincts remain sharp.
Elena held my hand as we walked down the oddly constructed stairwell. Metal rails. Cold stone steps. How inefficient.
"Interesting structure," I muttered.
"Mama, this world is funny," Elena giggled, swinging her arm.
"Funny," I repeated. "That's one word for it."
Outside, the noise assaulted me. Beeping. Screaming. Wheels screeching on stone. Humans moved in metal beasts and followed colored lights like trained dogs.
But I had his scent. I would follow it.
Or at least... I tried.
The trail led into an alley, over a fence, through a hole in a crumbling wall, past a bakery that smelled like burnt sugar, then onto a rooftop?!
"What in Zareth's name is this mortal doing?" I hissed.
Elena giggled. "Papa goes this way every day Mama?"
"He is insane."
We jumped rooftops. Climbed strange ladders. At one point, I had to crawl under some rusted gate while Elena laughed behind me.
"That's it. I've had enough."
I slammed my foot down, shattering the concrete under me. Dust swirled. Birds fled. A passing human screamed from a distance and dropped their phone.
I didn't care.
This ridiculous mortal had the audacity to lecture me this morning about not taking shortcuts—because, according to him, "rules exist for a reason" and "it's about the process."
And now?
Now he was practically doing parkour through a junkyard just to shave two minutes off his commute.
"YOU CALLED ME OUT FOR USING MAGIC TO COOK A CHICKEN!" I shouted into the sky. "But YOU can climb through holes in walls and jump fences?! HYPOCRITE!"
I turned to the next tree blocking our path and punched straight through it. The trunk split in half, toppling with a satisfying crack. Birds shot out like confetti from a broken pinata.
"That'll teach him to carve his own trails," I muttered, steam literally rising from my fists.
Elena, ever cheerful, skipped behind me like this was some kind of magical field trip. "Mama, you're so strong. Boom, boom!"
"Yes, my child. And your father is so stupid."
Another old car stood in the path.
It looked harmless. Rusted. Forgotten.
I stared at it for three seconds.
Then—
CRUNCH.
With one kick, the metal folded like dough, compressing into a flat sheet as thin as butter. Not even warm butter. Room temperature.
"Try driving that, mortal," I snarled.
A broken wall stood behind it.
Gone. I waved a single hand. The magic sealed inside me stirred, barely leaking through the cracks in my soul, and the wall exploded into harmless dust particles that danced in the sunlight.
"Don't use magic to make food," I mocked, imitating his voice. "We don't use shortcuts in the kitchen."
I picked up a trash can and flung it into a billboard featuring a smiling chef holding roasted chicken.
"Taste the Love," the sign read.
It now read nothing.
"You idiot mortal," I growled, striding forward with fire in my eyes, "once I get my hands on you… I swear by the Primal Dragon, I'll teach you a proper lesson in respect."
Elena cheered behind me, arms in the air. "Let's goooo!"
To be continued…