Suddenly, Akeno leaned in closer toward Rian. Instinctively, Rian raised his right hand to cover his lips, convinced that Akeno was about to steal a kiss.
But he was wrong. It wasn't his lips she was after—it was his neck. Without warning, Akeno rose on her toes and bit gently into Rian's neck.
Yet the bite wasn't purely affectionate—there was a faint trace of magic seeping in along with it, sending a sharp, tingling sensation through his skin.
"Sss…" Rian hissed softly, startled as a subtle sting spread across his neck.
Akeno didn't stop. She stayed there, lips pressed against his skin, her bite lingering for several long seconds.
Meanwhile, her hands slid around him, embracing him quietly—as if marking him as hers.
Rian remained still, offering no resistance. This time… he let Akeno win. Just this once. He answered her gesture with a faint smile and wrapped his arms around her, returning the embrace with warmth.
Ding!
At that exact moment, a system notification panel suddenly appeared before Rian, causing his pupils to widen in surprise.
[System detected: Herald with serial number 90,000 has completed all main missions.]
[You may now return to the Infinity Room, or remain in this world.]
[If you choose to return to the Infinity Room, you will undergo evaluation and reward calculation.]
[If you choose to remain in this world, you may stay for one day.]
Rian furrowed his brows, his expression hardening. "Huh? Completed? Don't tell me… Akeno's bite wasn't just magical—it also planted a contract?"
A moment later, Akeno released her bite from his neck. The mark she left was still fresh, glistening slightly with saliva she had intentionally left behind.
And there, faint but unmistakable, a magic symbol began to form—a circular crest bearing the insignia of the Gremory family.
On Rian's end, another system panel flashed before his eyes. His pupils widened slightly, but he only exhaled softly before selecting the option: Stay in this world for one day.
The panel vanished.
Their embrace slowly loosened. Akeno took a small step back, her cheeks flushed, though a mischievous glint lingered in her eyes.
Gracefully, she lifted her right hand, brushing a finger against her lower lip before slowly licking it—almost savoring the lingering taste.
"Fufu~ You're so sweet, Rian," Akeno whispered in a soft, teasing tone. "Whether it's a kiss on the lips or a bite on the neck… in the end, both make the heart race, don't they?"
With a mesmerizing smile, she added in a lower, almost sultry whisper, "And that… is only for you. My exclusive contact. You can ask me to do a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g, anytime… personally."
Rian's hand rose to touch his own neck, still warm from her bite. He let out a quiet chuckle, light and amused, as if enjoying the lingering sensation.
He stepped closer, his movements calm and unhurried, before gently patting her head—like one would affectionately stroke a spoiled little princess.
"I'll save that 'ask me anything' contract for later, okay?" he said in his usual warm, slightly ambiguous tone. "For now, I should head home. Take care of yourself, Akeno."
Without waiting for a reply, Rian turned around and walked away. No glance back. No pause.
Behind him, Akeno stood still.
Rian's words had sounded casual, yet there was something strange about them… or perhaps too deep for her to fully grasp at that moment.
But knowing him, the more she tried to think about it, the more the meaning slipped away like mist.
In the end, Akeno only gave a faint smile before heading back up toward the shrine.
Yet deep in her heart, Rian's parting words lingered—soft, elusive, and somehow… unsettling.
***
The sky stretched above like a canvas drenched in black ink—deep, still, and silent.
Rian stood before the entrance to his apartment, exhaling softly after a long walk. He had just returned from wandering around the city, visiting several places for one simple reason.
Those small gifts he carried might not hold much monetary value, but each of them carried a quiet hope: that they would smile, even in his absence.
They weren't just ordinary presents. To Rian, they were a quiet remedy for his own sense of loss—small reminders that he still cared.
The reason was simple, yet deeply meaningful: the flow of time differed between worlds. One day in the Infinity Room equaled ten days in the outside world.
Rian didn't know when he would be able to return. With his ongoing tasks, it could be tomorrow… or a hundred days later.
For children like them, even a brief absence could feel like eternity.
And of course, such things stirred their emotions. Because as he had long understood—those emotions were tightly bound to the power they possessed.
That was why Rian chose to leave behind a few memories — and a little hope.
Lately, however, Rian had begun to sense something strange. A faint magical vibration, subtle yet unsettling — almost undetectable to anyone else, except to his Six Eyes.
It wasn't ordinary magic.
It felt more like… a tear in the fabric of reality. Something that shouldn't exist here. Something that didn't belong.
Rian didn't want to dwell on it, but his intuition — the one that was rarely ever wrong — whispered that this was only the beginning.
Without another thought, Rian turned the doorknob, opened the door, and stepped inside his apartment.
After removing his shoes, he walked toward the living room, ready to organize the small gifts he had just bought.
But his steps stopped the moment he sensed a familiar presence.
Someone was already there — a small figure standing silently before the mirror.
Ophis.
The Dragon Goddess wore an oversized black shirt — clearly too big for her small frame. It hung loosely, draping down like a dress. And from the size alone, Rian could tell immediately: it was his.
He chuckled softly, finding the sight far more adorable than strange.
Ophis turned to face him, her usual expression unchanged — calm, blank, and utterly devoid of emotion.
Rian smiled warmly.
"Ophis-chan… why are you wearing my clothes, hmm? They're too big for you, you know. You look way too adorable like that," he said gently.
Ophis lowered her gaze slightly, as if pondering his question.
"…Warm," she murmured, her voice quiet and faint, almost like a whisper.
Her eyes remained steady, but her fingers briefly tightened around the hem of the shirt — a small motion, yet one Rian didn't miss.
"Your scent… I don't dislike it."
Rian took a slow step forward, closing the distance between them. When he was close enough, he bent down slightly until his eyes were level with the small Dragon Goddess before him.
Gently, his right hand reached out and touched Ophis's head. His fingers brushed softly through her hair, as if he were handling something fragile — something precious.
His gaze was warm, yet there was a rare seriousness behind his eyes. He looked deeply into Ophis's empty black ones and spoke quietly.
"Ophis-chan… I don't know whether you actually care about my existence… or if you've simply chosen not to."
For a moment, Rian smiled — not his usual teasing grin, but a faint, honest one.
"I'm not from this world. And… it's time for me to go."
His hand stilled, the gentle motion of his fingers coming to a stop.
"If you want to come with me… I'm sorry. I can't take you. And if you want us to meet often… that won't be possible either. You understand what I mean, don't you?"
Ophis said nothing. Completely silent for a long time. Her expression remained the same — cold and unreadable, without a trace of emotion.
And yet, within that stillness, there was something different. Something faint — like a ripple across calm water. A flicker of surprise hidden deep within her gaze. She hadn't expected to hear something like that.
"…Alright," Ophis finally replied, her voice still flat and calm. "We will meet again."
Rian smiled faintly — not a smug smile, but one that came from a heart that felt a little heavier than before.
"I guess… out of everyone this handsome man will miss," he said softly, "Ophis-chan is at the very top of the list."
His thoughts drifted, old memories flashing through his mind like light too quick to grasp.
"Maybe you were right," Rian murmured as he stepped a little closer. "You once said it was because I had touched Infinity… and now, it's Infinity that's touching me."
A gentle, knowing smile formed on his lips, his eyes reflecting a quiet understanding. "Now… I understand."
Then, without another word, Rian began preparing everything — the small gifts he had bought for his friends.
Rian didn't forget to leave a holographic message recording of himself, using a portable Alice device.
The small blue cube would later be placed right in front of the Occult Research Club's building door, while the gift boxes were neatly arranged in the main room — unlabeled, distinguished only by the color of each box.
Additional note:
I sometimes wonder — adding Ophis as one of the heroines in this fanfiction… that's fine, right? As long as Ophis doesn't suddenly turn into a guy. Hahaha…
Rian's a normal guy, even if his brain clearly isn't.
After all, as we know, Ophis is gender-fluid — meaning, Ophis doesn't have a fixed gender.