AN: Happy New Year, everyone!!
I hope you guys had a blast on your holidays.
And may 2026 be a good year for all of us.
As promised, here is this week's update.
I will also upload tomorrow to compensate for the chapter that should have been updated on Wednesday.
Anyway, please enjoy!
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Seiryuu City, DesuMachi Planet…
After their small reunion, embarrassed by her slightly childish display in front of everyone, Sora buried her face deep into Hachiman's shoulder. She tried and failed to hide her fluster; Her ears and neck were completely bright red, visible to everyone to see.
And yet despite that, she made no effort to pull away from him. If anything, she held to him even more, much to the amusement of Mei, Patricia, and Ruan Mei. Hachiman, for his part, simply patted Sora's head as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
Noticing the looks they were getting, he raised an eyebrow, slightly unnerved.
"W-what? Is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing," Mei replied, shaking her head with a fond smile. "It's just… You being you."
"That's right, isn't it?" Ruan Mei added, nodding sagely. "Hachiman simply has a habit of spoiling those who successfully worm into his heart."
Patricia said nothing, offering only a gentle smile.
Hachiman's cheek twitched as both Mei and Ruan Mei commented so casually about him. From his shoulder, he could even feel Sora giggle softly, clearly enjoying herself. Realizing there was no way to argue—or deny it—he grumbled something under his breath.
That was enough to make everyone laugh.
Liza, Pochi, and Tama watched from the side with soft smiles, tails swaying gently. Even Zena and Auna, standing beside the Earl, couldn't help but feel a little cozy—and a little envious—watching the scene unfold.
Zena clasped her hands together unconsciously, eyes sparkling. If I were there… she imagined herself sitting just a little closer, laughing along with them—maybe even being pulled into one of those warm, casual embraces. Her face heated up at the thought. That looks… really nice.
Auna, meanwhile, drifted into her own delus—ahem—imagination. In her mind, it was just her and Yukel after a long day, sitting side by side in comfortable silence, exchanging tired smiles instead of words. Her lips curved into a small, shy smile.
'Kyaaa—! J-just what am I thinking?!' she panicked internally, shaking her head ever so slightly. But… someday… maybe.
As the two of them drifted in their own thoughts, they failed to notice the expressions forming on the faces of the Earl, Viscount Velton, Iona, and the Garleon priest—each of them silently processing the scene in their own way.
Back on Hachiman's side, once the atmosphere had settled, he finally gathered the resolve to ask the question that had been circling his mind since earlier. Turning to Ruan Mei, he found her tilting her head slightly, curiosity clear on her face.
"I've been meaning to ask this since earlier, but… just how did you end up here, Ruan Mei?" he asked.
"Hmm…" Ruan Mei hummed softly as she straightened her posture, crossing her arms with a raised eyebrow. "If I say I wanted to see you, would you believe me?"
The words hit harder than expected.
Hachiman froze. Mei blinked, staring at Ruan Mei in disbelief. Even Sora raised her tear-stained face from Hachiman's shoulder, eyes wide with shock. Nearby, Patricia smiled wryly with the unmistakable 'Ah, it's starting' expression appearing on her face.
Their corner fell into complete silence. A storm silently brewed around them.
Mei's eyes narrowed, turning pink within the briefest moment.
Hachiman could only facepalm, already regretting everything as he stared at Ruan Mei's utterly innocent expression, one he knew all too well was both completely genuine… and absolutely dangerous.
"Haaa… you geniuses truly possess the universe's most amazing talents… and its greatest flaws as well," Hachiman muttered, rubbing his temple.
"Hmm?" Ruan Mei tilted her head, brows knitting together in mild confusion.
"I believe you, alright. I truly do," he continued dryly, brows twitching before he let out a tired sigh. "But could you at least finish the context of what you actually mean?!"
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "You wanted to see me because of Kagura, right? And at the same time, check on us after the mess we just went through."
"Auu?" Hearing her name, Kagura let out a small, puzzled sound.
"Ehh?" Mei and Sora spoke at the same time, blinking in sync as they turned toward him.
"To put it simply," Hachiman went on with a wry smile, "Ruan Mei most likely heard about Kagura's situation from Madam Herta. Her curiosity got the better of her, so she dropped whatever project she was currently working on and went straight to Noah and the others, requesting to see us."
He paused, letting out another sigh before lifting his gaze to meet Ruan Mei's. "But with us getting tangled in the demon's scheme, the crew panicking, and everyone arguing over who to send as backup… You volunteered to come here instead."
Ruan Mei maintained her usual calm, aloof expression—but she didn't deny a single word.
"So for the love of Akivili—and with Noah's unhealthy fondness for chaos and pranks—that idiot agreed to your request," Hachiman continued with a tired sigh. "You were the perfect backup candidate. Not just because of your expertise, but because you could safely land on this world. Despite your immense power, your lack of direct combat capability means the world doesn't perceive you as a threat… so it simply lets you do as you please."
He leaned back in his seat as he went on. "With your medical knowledge—and your ability to analyze almost any biological condition with a single touch—you could check on us immediately and make sure we were truly fine."
His half-lidded eyes land on Ruan Mei. "That's why the first thing you did when you met us was hug us. Not just out of concern… but to examine our condition at the same time."
'I swear Noah must be a Pathstrider of Elation, not Trailblaze, with how elaborate his schemes are,' Hachiman complained internally.
As he finished, Mei and Sora's eyes widened.
Now that it had been pointed out, it actually made sense. Ruan Mei's first action upon meeting them had always been physical contact. Especially with Sora, earlier, when she came out of the dungeon and reunited with Patricia and Ruan Mei, both of the older women had immediately checked on her.
Ruan Mei had even held her for a while during their reunion. And when she finally let go… Sora had felt strangely refreshed, as if the fatigue she had melted away.
"…Now that I think about it," Sora muttered, tilting her head. "I actually feel fine now. The tingling sensation from when I got hit by Demon-san's lightning is gone."
She looked up at Ruan Mei, eyes shining with realization. "Did you… Heal me, too, Ruan Mei-nee?"
Ruan Mei allowed herself a small smile. "Yes. Although whatever attack hit you didn't damage anything vital inside you, some of the tissues on your skin were affected by a corrosive substance, something that slowly eats away at living cells. And there was also another type that tried to turn parts of your cells into stone."
She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Your body resisted it far better than expected. They aren't viruses… not quite. I still can't properly classify them." She shook her head lightly. "Either way, those details aren't important."
"What is important," she continued calmly, "is that your stronger biology healed faster than those effects could spread. However, it consumed far too much of your energy, so I simply removed the remnants and let your body rest and heal naturally."
"I see. Thank you, Ruan Mei-nee!" Sora smiled brightly, bowing her head slightly.
"You're very welcome, Sora," Ruan Mei replied with a gentle smile.
But Sora had forgotten one important thing: there is an ever-worrying mother of their group.
Mei turned to her, shock, worry, and guilt all flashing across her face at once. Beside her, Hachiman grimaced, his hand clenching tightly.
"Sora-chan… you got hurt fighting the demon?!" Mei asked, her voice trembling.
"Ahh… well, yeah, I did." Sora laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. "I got careless during the fight. Kinda let that whole 'I'm invincible' feeling get to me, so… I got hit."
Mei bit her lip and looked down, hugging the confused Kagura sitting on her lap a little tighter. Hachiman, meanwhile, closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath to calm himself.
"…Is Sora truly alright now, Ruan Mei?" he asked after a moment.
"Don't worry," Ruan Mei answered confidently. "I made sure all the harmful effects were completely removed. I can clearly state that Sora is as healthy as she was before being affected."
"I see." Hachiman nodded. "Thank you, Ruan Mei. It seems I owe you again."
She chuckled softly and dismissively waved her hand. "Oh, don't worry about it. Think of it as the continuation of our partnership, my assistant. Just like last time, when I asked you to deal with my 'little trouble' at the space station."
Hachiman's cheeks twitched as his brows furrowed. "...Yeah. A very propagative 'little trouble,' indeed," he replied dryly before letting out a sigh, which earned a soft laugh from her.
"Well… I don't really understand what the two of you are talking about," Sora said, tilting her head, "but just like Ruan Mei-nee said, I'm totally fine now! So you don't have to worry too much, Hachi-nii… Mei-nee."
Hachiman sighed again before nodding. "I know. Since Ruan Mei said so, I'm convinced you're fine." His gaze softened. "But worrying about you is a completely different matter."
Mei, meanwhile, puffed her cheeks and pouted, whether it was because of Sora's condition or the slightly too close relationship between Hachiman and Ruan Mei, only she knew.
"Aaah?" Kagura patted her mother's hand, clearly confused about the weird actions of her mother.
Ruan Mei chuckled elegantly. "Well, just as Hachiman said, I did come here to see this little bundle of curiosity." Her eyes softened. "After hearing from Herta about a natural-born Herrscher like Elysia, I couldn't stop myself from wanting to see her for myself. And from what I learn so far about her, it far exceeds what I expect."
She turned her attention to baby Kagura, who was looking back at her with wide, round eyes full of innocent curiosity. Even someone as usually apathetic as Ruan Mei can't help but feel warmth within her chest under her stare. She reached out and gently took Kagura's tiny hand, letting the baby hold her fingers around one of her own.
Kagura let out a bright, happy laugh, clearly delighted by the simple contact.
'Even with all my knowledge… all my years of research,' Ruan Mei reflected, 'I still can't truly grasp the meaning of life… or love. But watching this child, watching her together with them, I feel like I finally understand a small part of it.'
"We can talk more about that later," she said calmly, still watching Kagura with softened eyes. "For now, I believe there are people who have been patiently waiting for quite some time for the chance to speak with you."
Understanding what she meant, Hachiman nodded. He cast a glance toward Mei, who returned it with a small, reassuring smile, before standing and making his way toward the Earl and the others who were waiting for them.
'Alright… time to face the music', he thought.
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"Sorry to keep you waiting, Earl Seiryuu… and everyone," Hachiman greeted as he approached the Earl and the others.
"Please don't worry about it, Hero-dono. We understand your concern for your companions," the Earl replied warmly as he stepped forward, extending his hand. "Ah—where are my manners? I am Roswald Seiryuu, Earl of the Seiryuu Earldom. On behalf of my people, thank you for saving my city from the demons' schemes."
"E-eh… well, I was just doing my duty, that's all," Hachiman replied as he accepted the handshake, scratching his cheek slightly. "So please don't make such a big deal out of it."
He cleared his throat lightly. "That said, let me properly introduce myself. I'm Hikigaya Hachiman—a traveler by profession." He paused, then added with a shrug, "With a side job as a professional busybody who can't help sticking his nose into trouble."
The reaction was immediate.
Auna, Zena, the Garleon priest, and the temple attendants all visibly stumbled at his words. Even the Earl, Iona, and the knight commander stared at him in open disbelief.
"H-Hachiman-sama!" Auna cried out in exasperation. "As a person of your stature, please don't describe your title of Hero as being a busybody!"
Hachiman merely shrugged, completely unfazed. "Well… It's not wrong."
"Ugh…" Auna slumped in defeat, while the temple clerics looked as though they wanted to protest—only to swallow their words due to their difference in status.
"Hachiman-san really is the same as ever," Zena added with a troubled smile. "Still so casual, even after revealing your true identity. I did mention before that to us, a Hero is a very special existence and yet…" She sighed softly. "No wonder Mei-san always looks so tired whenever you speak."
"Ahahaha… well," Earl Seiryuu laughed good-naturedly, "I have heard that Heroes often possess… unique quirks. Let us simply count Hachiman-dono's words as one of them."
"Ehem! Moving on." Hachiman gave a small mock cough, steering the conversation back on track. "I'm sure everyone has plenty of questions, but before that… there's something I need to say."
He turned toward Iona and Zena, then bowed deeply. "Iona-san. Zena. I would like to apologize for deceiving the two of you when we first met. Mei and I wanted to keep a low profile as we continued our journey."
"P-please don't apologize, Hachiman-san!" Zena blurted out, flustered, her cheeks turning bright red. "I understand! You must have had your reasons for hiding your real identities, so… it's really fine!"
Iona nodded firmly. "Zena is right, Hachiman-san. We don't mind at all—especially after you saved our home from the demon attack. It would be ungrateful of us to hold something like that against you."
"Thank you…" Hachiman exhaled in relief. But his expression quickly grew more serious. "However, there is another reason I need to apologize—to everyone here."
That single sentence made everyone's brows rise across the tent. The priests and clerics exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what was coming next.
"Well… what could that be?" Earl Seiryuu asked on behalf of everyone.
Hachiman hesitated, biting his lip as he chose his words carefully. "How should I put this…" He looked up slowly. "There's a chance this demon attack has a connection to us. And because of that… Seiryuu City may have been dragged into it."
His words were met with a wave of raised eyebrows and murmurs of confusion.
"What do you mean by that, Hero-dono? Could you elaborate?" Earl Seiryuu asked, furrowing his brows.
Hachiman nodded and let out a tired sigh. "You see… do you remember the 'Star Fall' event a few days ago? The one that made everyone restless and anxious. The incident that shook the land itself."
"Of course," Earl Seiryuu replied solemnly. "It was an unprecedented, catastrophic event. Even from thousands of kilometers away, we could feel the earth trembling from the direction of Dragon's Valley."
"…The truth is," Hachiman said quietly, "we were the cause of that event."
"...Ha?!" Gasps of disbelief rippled through the tent.
"I was the one who answered the call from Akon Kagura, the Dragon God," Hachiman continued. "I am a Hero who received her blessing directly. The skill she granted me was Summoning."
He glanced around the room. "It allows me to call allies or forces to my side… even if they originate from an entirely different world."
Crossing his arms, he let out another weary sigh, "Originally, I was summoned by Akon Kagura as a helper against the demons' movements in Dragon's Valley. But on the very day of that event…" His eyes narrowed. "The demons launched a large-scale assault against the dragons—and against her."
"What?!"
"H-how is that possible?!"
"Is that truly what happened?!"
The priests and clerics lost their composure, voices overlapping as they questioned him. To their growing dread, Hachiman gave a slow, firm nod—confirming every word.
"The demons had a bold plan, to spread miasma across the entirety of Dragon's Valley," Hachiman narrated grimly. "They intended to corrupt everything living there. The dragons. The scale‑kins. Even the Dragon God herself. Turn them all into pawns driven mad by corruption… and they nearly succeeded."
He took a slow exhale before continuing. "The Six Greater Demons attacked together, backed by legions of demonic creatures. Worse still, many of the scale‑kins were twisted into undead puppets and forced to turn on their own kin."
Shock rippled through the tent. Some lost the strength in their legs and collapsed to the floor. Auna stumbled back in horror, only barely caught by Zena, who herself had gone deathly pale.
"S-so that's why… Hachiman-sama is so familiar with the nature of miasma…" Auna murmured, realization dawning.
Earl Seiryuu's expression paled as well, fear creeping into his eyes as the scale of the disaster sank in. The Dragon's Valley—the home of the dragons and the venerable Dragon God—had been on the brink of total corruption. Just imagining it sent a chill down his spine.
"Because of the invasion… and because the demons were so close to succeeding," Hachiman continued quietly, "Akon Kagura made the call. She sacrificed herself—and the valley—to stop the miasma from spreading any further."
He closed his eyes. "She rained meteors down upon the entire valley… killing everything already infected. The Greater Demons included."
A heavy silence followed.
"Even so," he added, voice steady despite the weight of his words, "there were survivors. Some dragons. Some scale‑kins. I was left behind as well. Together with people I trust, I summoned them to this world—to help me continue the journey to face the Demon Lord who is sure to revive."
His gaze hardened. "What we didn't expect… was that one of the Six Greater Demons we fought that day would unexpectedly revive and carry out this attack."
'Well… this is a VERY HEAVILY edited version of what really happened,but it should work, right? They'll believe it… right? Please tell me this will work!' Hachiman prayed internally.
Silence dominated the entire tent as the Earl and the others processed what Hachiman had just told them.
"According to the legends… it was the Dragon God who taught Parion-sama the art of Hero Summoning," one of the priests said quietly, breaking the stillness.
"...The Dragon God is the oldest deity of our world," another added, voice heavy. "Even older than the Seven Pillar Gods."
"If she had truly fallen to the miasma…" a third priest muttered grimly, "then our world would not have survived."
"Hero-dono," Earl Seiryuu spoke at last, taking several deep breaths before wiping the cold sweat from his temples. "Your account has answered most of the questions we intended to ask, but… we never imagined the scale of it to be this vast. I may need to inform His Majesty immediately."
Hachiman nodded. "Please do. It would be better for the entire nation to be prepared for what may come next. Especially with the Black Greater Demon being able to be revived, I fear the others may have…."
"...The remaining Greater Demons may also have a chance to revive," the Garleon priest finished grimly.
"I apologize," Earl Seiryuu said, straightening himself, "but I believe we must adjourn this meeting. I need to contact His Majesty as soon as possible."
"Please don't worry, Earl Seiryuu," the Garleon priest replied. "Those of us from the temples must also report this matter to our respective leaders."
"Do whatever you must," Hachiman said calmly. "For now, my group will return to our inn to rest before continuing our journey. Although the Black Greater Demon has been dealt with, I remain concerned about the movements of the others."
"Ah… if that is the case, then I would like to invite you and your companions to stay at Seiryuu Mansion," Earl Seiryuu said, his tone sincere.
"Thank you for the offer, Earl," Hachiman replied with a polite bow. "But after everything we've just been through, I'd prefer to rest in a more familiar environment. That said, I'm more than willing to meet with you again once things settle down."
"But I…" The Earl hesitated, studying Hachiman's expression, before letting out a resigned sigh. "Alright. I understand. I won't pursue the matter further."
"Thank you," Hachiman said with a small smile. "Then I bid you all a good day. Please rest well—we can speak again once everyone has had time to calm down."
With that, he turned and walked back toward Mei and the others. Seeing him return, Mei looked up expectantly.
"We're done talking. Let's go back to the inn," he said simply.
Agreeing with him, Mei and the rest stood from their seats and followed him out. As they made their way outside, Mei couldn't help but notice the pale, shaken expressions on Zena, Auna, and several others left behind.
"…Just what did you tell them," Mei whispered as she walked beside Hachiman, "to give them a fear that'll last a lifetime?"
Hachiman gave a small, amused smirk. "Nothing much. Just a romantic story about our daily lives."
Mei deadpanned at him, mouth opening to refute the claim—only to stop herself.
"…Actually," she admitted, "that sounds about right."
Hachiman snorted softly in amusement.
Mei, on the other hand, could only sigh in despair. 'Just what happened to my life… that a 'romantic story' about our daily routine can terrify people for life?'
'You joined the Trailblazers and became a Nameless,' her other self—the Herrscher of Thunder—replied calmly.
'Oh…' Mei died a little inside.
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