The front door's soft chime interrupted their conversation as Camearra stepped inside, her movements carrying the fluid grace of an ancient warrior even in civilian clothes.
"I'm home," she called softly, slipping off her shoes with practiced ease.
Only then did she notice the unfamiliar figure in the room—a stunning woman with fox ears and flowing crimson hair, standing just behind Daigo. Camearra's expression shifted like storm clouds gathering, her dark aura flickering dangerously at the edges.
Oh no. Daigo's internal alarm bells clanged frantically. The dark forces permeating the Nexus world had been affecting Camearra subtly but persistently, sharpening her temper and territorial instincts to razor edges.
"Camearra!" he said quickly, stepping forward with diplomatic urgency. "Let me introduce you—this is Tu Shanyan, a friend who came here with Gustave!"
The moment Camearra heard Gustave's name, her scanning gaze found the chef standing beside Jun. Her expression transformed instantly, storm clouds dissolving into warm sunshine.
"Oh, a new friend! How wonderful." Camearra's smile became genuinely welcoming as she approached Tu Shanyan. "Hello, I'm Camearra—and I'm Daigo's girlfriend."
The emphasis on 'girlfriend' carried the subtle weight of a territorial declaration wrapped in silk.
Merde, Gustave thought, watching the display with nervous appreciation. Camearra's possessiveness could level buildings. Thank the saints Daigo explained quickly—even the four of us together couldn't handle her in full protective mode, especially in this world.
"Hello, I'm Tu Shanyan," the fox spirit replied with careful diplomacy, extending her hand gracefully.
Tu Shanyan had felt that flash of dark power—an aura so crushing it made her own considerable abilities seem like candleflames before a bonfire. Discretion, as they said, was the better part of valor. Pride was worthless if it got you vaporized by a 30-million-year-old warrior of darkness.
"Sister Tu Shanyan is absolutely lovely!" Camearra clasped the offered hand warmly, her tone shifting to genuine admiration. "Such beauty and grace—your future husband will be incredibly fortunate."
"Sister?" Tu Shanyan's ears twitched slightly. The honorific felt... premature, given their unclear age dynamics.
"Sister Camearra is quite beautiful herself," Tu Shanyan countered smoothly, unwilling to concede the seniority battle entirely. "If I may ask—how old are you?"
Camearra's laughter tinkled like crystal bells, one hand covering her mouth in mock embarrassment. "Oh my, discussing a lady's age! But since Sister Tu Shanyan asked so sweetly... honestly, it's been so long I've lost exact count. Over thirty million years, give or take a few centuries."
Tu Shanyan's jaw nearly dislocated. "Thirty... thirty million?"
At that age, calling Camearra 'sister' was like calling the ocean a puddle. Even Tu Shanyan's most ancient ancestors—those few who'd achieved immortality—had lived only four or five millennia before transcending mortality. Thirty million years was geological time, the lifespan of mountains and continents.
"I suppose I have lived rather a long time," Camearra said with gentle amusement. "And Sister Tu Shanyan—how many years grace your existence?"
"Just... just over a thousand years," Tu Shanyan mumbled, her earlier confidence evaporating like morning mist.
"Over a thousand years," Camearra repeated thoughtfully. "Tell me, are you classified as a demon or a fairy in your realm's hierarchy?"
"Sister Camearra is remarkably knowledgeable," Tu Shanyan said, impressed despite her embarrassment. "I'm still far from immortal ascension—merely a six-tailed demon fox. 'Demon' remains the appropriate classification."
"Six-tailed demon fox..." Camearra's eyes grew distant, ancient memories stirring behind her gaze. "I once knew someone like that, though she had achieved nine tails. Beautiful creature, wise beyond her apparent years."
"You've encountered a nine-tailed fox?" Excitement crept into Tu Shanyan's voice. In her world, while seven and eight-tailed foxes occasionally achieved immortality, only one legendary nine-tailed ancestor existed in all of fox clan history.
"Yes, though that was over thirty million years ago." Camearra's expression grew melancholic. "Due to some unknown catastrophe, most supernatural beings in my world vanished overnight. The few survivors went into deep hiding, scattered like leaves before a cosmic storm."
The Tiga universe had once teemed with monsters and spirits—beings like Obike proved that much. When Camearra and Daigo returned to their world, she'd searched desperately for surviving friends but found only emptiness. The few monsters she encountered were newcomers, born long after her imprisonment. Thirty million years was a chasm that swallowed civilizations whole.
"How terrible," Tu Shanyan whispered, genuine sadness coloring her voice. Whether she mourned the loss of another world's nine-tailed fox or simply felt solidarity with vanished kindred spirits remained unclear.
"By the way," Camearra continued, gracefully shifting topics, "how did Sister Tu Shanyan and Gustave end up here so late at night?"
Tu Shanyan launched into their misadventure. She recounted everything with animated gestures and colorful commentary.
Daigo's expression grew increasingly knowing as the tale unfolded. So Gustave's casual claim about "coming to visit" had been complete fabrication.
Noticing Daigo's pointed look, Gustave laughed awkwardly, internal complaints directed at his fox-eared companion. You absolutely hopeless vixen! Didn't you hear Daigo and me establishing the cover story? Now I look like a complete liar!
If the earth could have opened beneath him, Gustave would have gladly burrowed into its depths. The secondhand embarrassment burned worse than his own lightning.
"Well!" Gustave declared with forced enthusiasm, "it's quite late, isn't it? Everyone must be exhausted after tonight's excitement. Jun, do you have enough guest rooms for everyone?"
Please let me escape this mortifying conversation, he prayed silently. His strength had two primary recovery methods—eating and sleeping—with rest being marginally more efficient than his usual culinary solutions.
"Of course!" Jun patted his chest confidently. "This building has guest rooms on both the second and third floors. We could accommodate twice as many visitors without problem."
"Excellent. Everyone should rest—it's been a long night for all of us."
Daigo nodded agreement enthusiastically. Though Jun had done the actual fighting, merely witnessing cosmic-level battles was exhausting in its own right.
As the group began dispersing toward bedrooms, Daigo paused with a sudden thought. "Camearra, did you find the mastermind tonight?"
"Unfortunately, no." Camearra shook her head with visible frustration. "Ever since you and Jun seriously injured Dark Faust, that poor girl Saida Riko has been recovering from her wounds. The puppet master hasn't contacted her, maintaining complete radio silence. Tonight yielded the same fruitless surveillance."
During their extended stay, Daigo and Camearra had identified Dark Faust as Komon's girlfriend, Saida Riko. Camearra's patient stalking had revealed nothing about her controller's identity or methods—a frustrating dead end in their investigation.
"I see. We'll continue the search tomorrow," Daigo said with resigned determination.
"Actually," Camearra interjected with sudden brightness, catching Tu Shanyan's arm as the fox spirit headed toward the stairs, "Sister Tu Shanyan, why don't you share my room tonight? We have so much more to discuss!"