"…"
Saeko stared, dazed, a strand of violet hair sliding into her view, stained with blood.
"Sorry—my control still isn't precise enough," Ren said, shaking his head.
His [Orange • Mastery of All Arms] was unquestionable—but at Lv 1, his fine control was still lacking.
"You…"
Saeko came back to herself and took him in: simple, old-style long coat, long black hair; a face that could carry any superlative.
"Ren."
"Saeko."
They exchanged names.
"Then…"
A soft, warm smile bloomed on Saeko's cool, elegant, undeniably married-woman face.
She stepped in, stopping about a meter from him. "Mr. Ren, may I call you Ren-kun?"
Ren blinked.
It was intimate—but, remembering what he knew of Saeko's nature, not out of character.
"You may," he said with a smile and a nod.
"Thank you, Ren—"
Her words cut off; the smile froze. Violet eyes rolled white, her consciousness dropping away.
Ren opened his arms and caught her, letting her rest against his chest.
"Mind and body—both past their limits."
"Let's get you home first."
"And…"
Holding Saeko at the waist, he glanced at the massive zombie nearby.
That thing hadn't shown up in the original story.
"How badly has this plot gone off the rails?"
"Whatever."
"Collect a vial and go."
He had the feeling the scenario he knew had already warped beyond recognition. He filled another crystal vial, pocketed it, and prepared to head back with Saeko in his arms.
Only—
on the way out, something pulsed in his mind.
"Need to grant Saeko authorization?"
"If I carry a person from one world across to the other, the two worlds' time streams will sync?"
Rules of the Trait surfaced in his head.
Ren thought for a heartbeat, granted Saeko access, and took her across.
…
The manor.
"Father, may your martial fortune flourish," Kaguya said, hands folded at her abdomen, bowing slightly.
The words had barely left her lips when she found Father standing there—as if he'd never left.
"Father."
Kaguya peered at the sleeping Saeko in his arms, her voice low and wry. "This humble one finds it vexing. Without my peculiarity I'd never notice time's wavering; now that I can, it's… a headache."
Ren dipped his head with a smile. "That's about the size of it."
Some things are easier when you can't perceive them;
perception invites trouble.
"Then, Father—is she your spoil?" Kaguya looked Saeko over.
Beauty?
Figure?
Mm.
Acceptable. Barely worthy of a side consort, perhaps. At worst, a canary for a golden cage.
"Have someone see her to a room."
"Of course."
Kaguya didn't so much as move, yet ten moon rabbits appeared at her side.
"City Lord!"
"Your Highness!"
They bowed.
Ren gently handed Saeko over. "Bathe her and let her rest."
"Yes!"
They withdrew.
Ren drew out the crystal vials, thoughtful. "Kaguya, tell them to be careful with these. I suspect trouble—the world isn't matching what I know."
The emptied city.
Saeko's condition.
That gigantic zombie.
All of it pointed off-script.
"Understood," Kaguya said with a smile.
Small matters.
Ren didn't go back out immediately. He waited for Saeko to wake—he needed to hear what had happened.
Time passed quickly.
Beyond his daily cultivation, he read in the study.
Until—
after dinner, a moon rabbit arrived to report: "City Lord, the lady is awake."
"Good."
Ren marked his page, closed the book, and followed the rabbit to Saeko.
Luckily, the rabbits had rebuilt the manor.
Otherwise, a daughter was barely manageable; add this many rabbits—and Saeko—and there would've been nowhere to sleep.
Inside the room—
Saeko's eyes snapped open. Instinctively she reached for a sword—only to realize something was… different.
She sat up fast; the coverlet slipped—nothing on underneath.
She didn't care. She scanned the room: traditional décor, but the bed a modern king.
"Where am I?"
"Ren-kun?"
The man who had crashed into her heart came to mind, and things clicked.
Had he brought her home?
"Lady Saeko."
A moon rabbit stepped in and bowed.
Saeko's pupils pinpricked. Those—ears?
One glance told her there was no hint of a prop or headband.
Which meant those rabbit ears… were real.
(End of Chapter)
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