AN: Sorry for the late update!
I was busy fixing my setup as I changed my laptop.
And just as last week, I won't be able to update on Wednesday since it's New Year's Eve, so I'll either update on Thursday or Friday.
That's all! Then, without further ado, here is the last update for 2025. See you all in 2026!
Advance Happy New Year!
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Western Block near the Labyrinth Entrance, Seiryuu City, DesuMachi Planet…
Two figures came out from the shadow near the former plaza at the western block of Seiryuu City, startling a few nearby civilians and soldiers guarding the blockade towards the entrance of the Labyrinth. It was Hachiman and Mei.
A bit earlier, right after Hachiman dove into his shadow to reach Mei's position, he resurfaced into a scene of pure destruction. The air is still tingling with the electrifying heat from her attack. Half the forest around her had been split open by a single slash from her as the red lightning still burst wildly around the half‑transformed Herrscher Mei.
'Just like they said… the Revenge of the Hunt really does not know the meaning of mercy,' he thought, swallowing as he took in the damage caused by her.
She stood rigidly, gripping her katana so tightly her knuckles whitened. Frustration and guilt were visible in her expression. There is anger at herself as well for letting their guard slip, and fear for Sora, who they left behind inside the labyrinth.
Hachiman's chest tightened at the sight. He walked toward her as quickly as his steps would allow, wanting nothing more than to reach her before she spiraled deeper into her emotions.
But sensing movement behind her, Mei spun around and swung on reflex. Hachiman caught the blade between his fingers just in time.
When she realized who it was, her eyes widened, and the raging storm inside her slowly left. Before she could apologize, Hachiman simply stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.
Mei stiffened, surprised by his sudden actions, before slowly melting into the embrace. Her breath hitched, and the red lightning around her faded completely. Then she hugged him back, tightly.
Bit by bit, she returned to her normal form. The electrified air returned to normal. A small sob escaped her, muffled by his shoulder. And Hachiman simply let her cry. Let her release her emotions. His hand never stopped patting her back, offering his presence to comfort her.
Only when she stopped crying did Hachiman gently brush a strand of hair from her face.
"Let's go back," he whispered to her, wiping her tears.
Mei simply let him care for her. Her trust in him gave him that much openness. Once she felt she was fine, she gave a small nod, holding onto him for a minute longer before letting him guide them both into the shadows once more. Wrapped in warmth, they slipped back toward Seiryuu City.
So now, back in the present, the entire western block was filled with soldiers and knights from the Earldom working tirelessly to control the situation. Emergency tents can be seen across the area, clerics and healers from multiple temples running through the wounded as frantic voices filled the air.
"It seems everyone is busy, huh?" Hachiman murmured, taking in the hustle and buzz around them.
Mei nodded beside him. "It looks like the entire force of the Earldom came here to get everything under control."
Their sudden appearance from the shadows, of course, didn't go unnoticed.
"W‑who are you people?!" a startled soldier shouted, weapon shaking as he pointed it toward them. "H‑how did you come out of the shadow?!"
Another soldier joined him, his voice shaken, but he remained firm. "Raise your hands and come with us! Don't do anything stupid!"
Hachiman slowly lifted his hands in a placating gesture. "Please, we're not enemies. We're here to check on our companion, who was stuck inside the Labyrinth."
Mei followed his lead, raising her hands silently. Although she wanted to hurry and go to Sora's side as soon as possible, right now, the last thing she wanted was to escalate the tension.
The two soldiers exchanged a nervous glance. They clearly sensed Hachiman and Mei weren't lying, but watching them come out from the shadows had left their nerves on edge.
"I'm sorry, but we can't decide on what to do, so please wait for a bit as we call our superior," one of the soldiers said, his voice sounding troubled.
Mei opened her mouth to respond, clearly prepared to explain things herself, but Hachiman gently placed a hand on her shoulder. When she looked at him, he gave a small shake of his head, silently saying Not now.
"We understand," he replied calmly. "We'll wait."
The soldier let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "T‑thank you for your understanding." He turned toward his comrade only for a familiar voice to cut in through the crowd.
"Hachiman-san? Mei-san?"
All four of them turned.
"Iona-san!" Mei called out in surprise.
"K‑Knight Iona!" the two guards yelped, saluting so fast they almost hit each other.
Iona didn't even notice the guards. Her wide-open eyes were solely locked on Hachiman and Mei in a mix of stunned relief and disbelief, softening her usually flat expression.
"Knight Iona, ma'am…?" one guard whispered, unsure if they should speak.
She blinked, snapping out of her trance before exhaling. "Sorry. Please allow the two of them to pass."
The guards looked at each other, then quickly stepped aside.
"Y‑yes, ma'am! Right away!" one of them said, still a bit pale from nerves.
After thanking the soldiers, Hachiman and Mei followed Iona towards the busy plaza.
"First of all, I'm glad both of you are safe," Iona said as they walked through the path where soldiers, knights, and healers moved at a fast pace. Her voice was softer now that they were away from the chaos.
Hachiman and Mei glanced at each other with slight confusion; both were wondering why she looked relieved upon seeing both of them.
"Thank you for your concern," Mei replied politely.
Iona nodded, the tension on her shoulders relaxed even just for little.
"There sure are a lot of people here today," Hachiman murmured, eyes moving across the busy path as Knights ran back and forth, clerics hurried between tents, and the onlooking civilians outside the barricade whispered anxiously.
"With the emergence of a labyrinth, the Earl has summoned the entire army of the fief to control the area," Iona explained. "And just half an hour before I met you two… the survivors had already come out from the labyrinth."
Both Hachiman and Mei froze mid‑step, eyes widening.
"They… came out already?" Mei whispered.
Iona gave a small nod. "Yes. Auna‑sama and Zena have already filled us in on what happened inside."
Both of them winced at the same time. All of their plans are thrown into shambles. The Greater Demon upped them, and their identities have been revealed.
"...We tried so hard not to stand out," Hachiman muttered with regret.
Mei sighed softly. "So much for keeping a low profile…"
"Please don't worry," Iona added quickly. "Auna‑sama and Zena took your opinions into account. They only reported to the Earl, the knight commanders, and the high officials of the temples. They also advised the civilians not to speak about anything without both of your permission."
Hachiman let out a relieved sigh, tension easing from his shoulders. "We're grateful for that," he said with a small, appreciative smile.
"Excuse me, Iona-san… you mentioned everyone who survived the labyrinth came out? Does that mean…?" Mei asked, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and fear.
"Yes. The mastermind, the Greater Demon, has been killed." Iona nodded firmly.
Both Mei and Hachiman's jaws opened wide, shock clear on their faces.
Seeing their expressions, Iona let out a small, wry smile. "It seems the 'Universe's Best Sister' is much more terrifying than she looks."
"...Sora-chan?" Mei whispered.
Iona nodded again. Even Hachiman looked stunned—an expression so rare it almost startled Mei more than the news itself.
"We were actually preparing a search team for you two," Iona continued. "But Sora-san insisted it wasn't needed. She said both of you were already on your way back. That's why I was assigned near the blockade."
"That… explains a lot," Hachiman sighed with a crooked smile.
"At the moment, Sora-san and the others who accompanied you in the labyrinth are with the Earl." Iona pointed toward the large tent ahead. "Your companions are waiting there as well."
'Ugh… here we go again… the worst part of every isekai: meeting nobles.' Hachiman grimaced internally. 'Haa… fine. Let's get this over with.'
Upon reaching the tent, Iona nodded to the guards at the entrance, allowing the three of them inside.
Inside, Hachiman and Mei spotted Zena, Auna, and Viscount Velton speaking to a middle‑aged man with a goatee—one Hachiman immediately judged as absolutely not suiting him.
Beside them stood the Garleon Priest and several clerics wearing robes marked with different temple insignias.
'Must be those clerics serving the other temples, ' Hachiman thought
At one corner, Sora was happily playing with Kagura and the three beastkin girls, while Patricia stood nearby acting as both guardian and referee. But surprisingly, someone else was with them.
A graceful young young-looking woman with turquoise eyes and fair skin sat among the children. Her long brown hair, streaked with turquoise, was loosely tied with a golden DNA-shaped hairpin. With a pearl earring in her ear, she matched the pearl necklace resting elegantly against her collarbone.
She wore a stylish short qipao in deep green, brown, and white with gold highlights, paired with elbow-length gloves and a silver bangle. A decorative flower rested at her hip, and a dark green leg ring shaped like a double helix wrapped around her right leg. Black heels with gold patterns completed her refined look.
When both Mei and Hachiman saw the woman, they couldn't believe it. She wasn't someone they could mistake for someone else. She was a colleague, a friend, and a fellow genius of Herta.
"Y-you… how are you here…?" Hachiman blurted out.
Hearing his voice, the young woman looked up and turned gracefully toward them. "Oh? You two finally came back. That didn't take as long as I expected," she said as she stood and walked toward them with a gentle smile.
Upon reaching them, the young woman didn't hesitate; she immediately wrapped Hachiman in a tight, warm hug before feeling a bit ticklish.
"Hmm… nothing seems out of the ordinary. You look as healthy as ever," she said, giving him a quick inspection before releasing him and immediately pulling Mei into the same embrace.
Mei lightly flinched from the sudden contact but returned the gesture after a second. "I-It has been a while, Ruan Mei-san… I hope you've been well."
Ruan Mei stepped back with a gentle smile. "Yes, I'm doing quite well, Mei. Thank you for asking. Unlike a certain someone whose first words upon seeing me were, 'Why are you here?'"
Mei let out a helpless laugh. "Ahahaha… that's just how he is. We just need to get used to it."
"Sadly, that seems to be the case." Ruan Mei sighed dramatically.
"...Are both of you really discussing that right beside me?" Hachiman muttered, eyebrows twitching.
Ruan Mei giggled, as Mei tried not to, before giving Mei a more attentive look. "Hmm, you seem to be fine. No injuries, inside or out. Though… it looks like your core's energy is noticeably lower. Did you release a large-scale attack?"
"Ahh! Hachi-nii! Mei-nee! Welcome back!" But before they could answer her back, Sora called out cheerfully from behind them. "Ah—W-wait, Kagura-chan! Stay still!"
"WAAAAH!!" Kagura immediately wriggled free from Sora's hold, her tiny arms reaching desperately toward her parents.
"Welcome back, Lord Hachiman, Lady Mei. Patricia is relieved to see you both unharmed." Patricia let out a deep, relieved exhale before bowing gracefully.
"Go on now, you two," Ruan Mei said, stepping aside with a knowing smile. "Kagura-chan missed you dearly. Comfort the little one first, we can talk after."
"Thanks, Ruan Mei." Hachiman smiled back before stepping forward to take their crying daughter into his arms.
Mei followed closely, hugging Kagura tightly against her chest. "We're back, Kagura-chan… I miss you too so much!"
And just like that, after a day and a half apart, the little family of three was finally reunited.
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"Earl-sama, I'm back, and I've brought back our guests, just as Sora-san said," Iona reported as she arrived at their side.
"Umu. Good work, Knight Iona," the Earl replied with a firm nod. His eyes then went toward the small family being reunited unfolding nearby, the young parents embracing their daughter, as their companions gave them space.
Seeing both Hachiman and Mei come back, Zena and Auna felt a strong urge rush toward them, but they held themselves back. They exchanged glances, both equally relieved and impatient, yet choosing to let the family have their moment.
The Earl exhaled softly. "It seems they've returned safely… that alone is fortunate."
One of the temple clerics watching the scene at the side, curiosity clear in his eyes. "So they are the Hero and his partner who led the survivors through the Labyrinth? The ones Auna-sama had spoken of?"
A knight commander, Heinz added, "I did meet them briefly when they saved Zena, but… to think he is actually a hero… life sure is full of surprises."
Another priest murmured, "If they truly have the power to slay a Greater Demon… then perhaps the gods truly sent them here."
The Earl lifted a hand, signaling them to hold their thoughts. "We will speak with them properly in a moment. Let them settle in first. They have endured more than enough for one day."
The murmurs died down, though their eyes never left the reunited group watching with a mix of awe, curiosity, and gratitude.
—--
"By the way, you really outdid yourself this time, Sora," Hachiman said, giving her a look that was half‑teasing, half‑serious.
"Hmm? Me? How?" Sora tilted her head, brows raised as if she genuinely couldn't think of a single reason.
"Ah! That's right, Sora‑chan!" Mei said, tightening her hold on Kagura, who was happily settled on her lap. "We heard from Iona‑san that you fought that Demon alone! What you did was reckless, you know!"
"Ahh?" Kagura mimicked Sora's confused tilt, blinking at her mother.
Sora rubbed the back of her head, laughing nervously. "Ahahaha… W‑well, I kinda had to? Otherwise, we would've been stuck in the Labyrinth forever, and I refuse that option."
Her words earned a raised brow from Hachiman and a stunned look from Mei.
"And besides, I didn't fight alone! Wan‑chan and Champ were with me!" Sora puffed her cheeks in a pout.
Mei's cheek twitched. "Even so… what if you got hurt? What if something happened to you? What if—what if—!"
"Alright, Mei. That's enough." Hachiman cut in gently.
"H‑Hachiman?" Mei blinked at him, startled.
"Let's not scold Sora for something that's already over," he said calmly. Then he exhaled. "Besides… she wouldn't have needed to fight 'Wagahai‑kun' at all if we had handled things properly and hadn't let our arrogance blind us just because we were too confident in our strength."
Mei winced at his words. She bit her lip, guilt settling heavily on her expression.
"Ehh? W‑wait, Hachi‑nii, I—!" Sora tried to interject, but she stopped when Hachiman simply raised his hand toward her.
"No, Sora." His tone was soft but heavy. "This is mine and Mei's mistake. We underestimated this world and its people by far too much." He let out a slow, frustrated sigh. "We've gotten so used to our strength… to the idea that nothing here could stop us if we truly wanted to. Because of that, I forgot something important: those who are weaker aren't always powerless. They have their own ways… their own courage… to stand against those stronger than them."
Hachiman leaned back, guilt tightening in his chest. "I treated the entire event like child's play. In my head, I could've ended everything in minutes if I actually tried. So I let myself relax… thinking nothing could actually endanger us."
He reached out and gently rubbed Kagura's cheeks, earning a delighted squeal from the baby. His voice softened, but the remorse didn't fade. "And because of that… we got separated from Kagura for more than a day. Patricia‑san had to carry the guilt of leaving you alone. A lot of people died in the labyrinth. And in the end, it was you who carried the responsibility of fixing the mess we left."
"Lord Hachiman…" Patricia tried to say something, to deny his words, but stopped the moment she saw his guilty expression.
Mei looked down in sadness, fully understanding what Hachiman was saying and feeling. Because deep inside, she had thought the same thing. After their first battle in this world, where she easily defeated three Greater Demons and even fought Akon Kagura to a draw, she, too, had grown comfortable. Then came the Gamer System, one more 'cheat' added on top of everything. Together, it all made them feel unstoppable.
Like Hachiman, she had unconsciously lowered her guard and treated everything like play.
"Hachi‑nii…" Sora whispered, voice small and trembling.
"That is why," Hachiman continued gently, "instead of scolding Sora, I think we should thank and praise her." He offered Sora a soft smile. "So, Sora… for what you did today—thank you."
He reached out and patted her head gently. "You saved a lot of lives today. You became someone's hero."
Sora opened her mouth, then closed it again—twice. Words completely failed her; her expression was a perfect picture of someone who doesn't know what to say and is overwhelmed.
"You did what Mei and I failed to do," Hachiman added, smiling wryly. "Sorry for making you clean up our mess. And… thank you for being you."
With no words to offer, Sora did what she always saw Hachiman do—she expressed herself through action. She stood, jumped at him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug, tears spilling as all sorts of emotion, fear, relief, and happiness finally burst out.
Moved by the sight, Mei joined them, hugging both Sora and Hachiman while carrying little Kagura. The baby blinked once, then giggled softly, reaching toward Sora's hair.
For now, the demon trouble was done. And after a very long, exhausting day, they could finally relax, heal, and simply exist as a family.
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