The palace had never felt so heavy. Guards patrolled every hall, torches burned through the night, and yet the unease clung like a second skin.
Kazuto lay on the bed in his chamber, arms crossed, staring at the ceiling. Ayame sat sharpening her sword, Nyala sprawled across his stomach like a lazy cat, and Liora floated a glowing orb in circles.
The system pinged again:
[Warning: Waifu Kidnapping Probability = 90%.]
Kazuto groaned. "Seriously?! It went UP?! What, is the system betting against me now?!"
Ayame glared. "Then stop whining and take this seriously!"Nyala purred, licking her paw. "Mmm~ maybe I want to get kidnapped. It'd be fun to see you chase me."Kazuto choked. "DON'T EVEN JOKE ABOUT THAT!!"Liora exhaled slowly. "We're all on edge. Stay focused."
The Attack
The windows shattered. Smoke bombs rolled across the floor.
Kazuto leapt up, coughing. "AGAIN?!! Do they have Amazon Prime for assassins?!"
Masked assassins swarmed in. But this time, they weren't here to kill.
Ayame's blade flashed, cutting two down instantly.Nyala hissed, claws slicing through smoke.Liora raised a barrier, light pushing back the shadows.
But then—the golden-masked figure appeared at the doorway. Cloaked in black velvet, aura like ice, voice smooth.
"Step aside. Tonight, one of them leaves with me."
Kazuto's rage flared. "Over my dead body, golden discount Phantom!!"
The figure raised a hand, and shadowy chains erupted from the floor. They bypassed Liora's barrier like it was paper, striking with terrifying precision.
One chain wrapped around Ayame's waist, yanking her off her feet.
"—Wha?!" she gasped, slashing, but the chains pulsed with anti-magic seals, tightening until she dropped her sword.
"AYAME!!" Kazuto roared, lunging forward.
Desperate Struggle
He swung his stick, shattering chains one after another. Nyala and Liora fought like demons at his side.
"Get her free, idiot!!" Liora snapped."I'M TRYING!!" Kazuto screamed, his aura bursting pink.
[Lewd Harmony Burst Lv.4 Engaged.]
But the masked noble sneered. "You burn brighter when desperate. Good. Then despair harder."
With a flick, the chains dragged Ayame across the floor. She kicked and screamed, eyes blazing. "KAZUTO!! DON'T YOU DARE LET THEM TAKE ME!!"
Kazuto's power surged—his stick glowing like a star.
[New Evolution Detected: Lewd Harmony Burst Lv.5 – Bond Breaker Form.][Effect: Power increases infinitely when a waifu bond is under threat.]
He screamed, charging, aura exploding in waves that cracked the marble. His strike met the noble's chains—blinding light filled the hall.
For one heartbeat, he thought he'd won.
But the golden-masked noble whispered a curse, and a rift of shadow opened behind him. The chains pulled Ayame through.
"NOOO!!" Kazuto howled, diving, fingers brushing hers—
The rift snapped shut. Silence.
Aftermath
Kazuto collapsed to his knees, stick clattering. His hand trembled where Ayame's had slipped away.
Nyala stared, ears flat. "…They took her."Liora's lips tightened. "They won. This time."
Kazuto's system pinged coldly:
[Warning: Waifu Bond Severed: Ayame Missing.][Quest Updated: Rescue the Stolen Waifu.]
His vision blurred. Rage and despair twisted inside him. For once, he wasn't cracking jokes.
"I swore I'd protect them," he muttered. His fists clenched, nails digging into skin. "And I let her—"
Nyala crouched, gripping his face between her hands. "Look at me. She's not gone. You'll chase her. You'll fight for her. You'll bring her back. That's what makes you our pervert."
Liora nodded grimly. "They've declared war. Now we answer."
Kazuto rose, aura flickering dangerously. "Golden Mask… nobles… assassins… I don't care who it is."
His stick ignited with light.
"I'M COMING FOR HER!!"
Cliffhanger
Far away, in a hidden fortress, Ayame was dragged in chains into a shadowed hall.
The golden-masked noble leaned close to her ear."Don't worry, swordswoman. You won't be here long. Soon… you'll beg to betray him."
Ayame spat in his face. "Like hell I will."
The noble laughed softly. "Oh, I'll enjoy breaking that fire."