She blocked my attack… She knows how to fight. I knew she was a threat…

  Before I could get Ririna out of the mansion, Lythea, a mysterious succubus with dark blue hair, showed up. She took something from Armand’s body while sneaking around. And I can’t let her escape with whatever that is. It might hold some important information.

  When she first spoke up, her personality threw me off guard. She had zero self-confidence despite being a succubus, and I couldn’t decide if she was an enemy or not. I attacked to stop her from getting away, and she blocked with a strange javelin without breaking a sweat.

  “So- sorry! I didn’t mean to offend you… There’s no reason for us to fight… A- and personally… I- I don’t to harm you…” Her voice was shaky, but her grip was firm. Even with her thin weapon, she had no problem stopping my blade.

  “If you don’t want to fight, just hand over what you took from him. Whatever it is, it’s an important piece of information for me. I can’t let you steal it like that.” The moon shone from the high window behind me. We stood face to face with one shadow’s length between us.

  “I’m not stealing it… I’m only retrieving something he stole from someone else… I know it makes people feel bad to give an insignificant person like me anything.” She slumped. “But please don’t be mad! I- it’s not for me or anything… I’m returning it to its original owner.”

  “Even so, I can’t let you take it. If he had it, then I need to check it out. I might learn something very important from it.” Either about the VISS Driver or about the demons’ society. The one responsible for the portals is there, right? That’s what Miyuki said. It might help me get closer to the truth. “If you’re not gonna hand it over, we have no other option but to fight!” I closed the gap again and swung down at her.

  “Eeek!” She dodged. “Wa- wa- wait! Please wait!” She waved her hands in a hurry, but I attacked again. Another dodge. “You’re not gonna learn anything from this! Look!” She showed me a badge-sized mechanical device. “Even if I gave it back, you won’t get any use out of it! We don’t need to fight!” My attacks continued the whole time, but she kept speaking without missing a beat. Looking at the thing she’s shown me, she’s right. Maybe I wouldn’t get any use out of that. It looks nothing like the technology from my world. I wouldn’t know where to start. But… She’s pissing me off! Why can she dodge my attacks so easily? Is she messing with me?

  “I’ll decide if I can get any use out of it myself. Just hand it over!” I slammed my foot on the ground and switched from my basic slashes into a serious attack. Heart Piercer!

  “Uhuh! It’s because I’m worthless, isn’t it?” She cried as she moved her weapon. She hit my sword as it thrust forward and knocked it away from her. “You want me to die because I’m worthless… Of course… That’s only normal. It was my misunderstanding that ruined everything in the first place. How could I suggest anyone possibly be attracted to me? I’m such an idiot…” She jumped back, and the wings behind her waist flapped softly.

  “She’s flying?” Her nonsense never stops, does it? She was right when she said I’m attracted to her. She’s my type… I don’t know why she’s freaking out now, but… No! What am I even thinking about? This doesn’t matter right now! Focus on the battle!

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  “It’s my mistake! I’m so sorry! I’ll try not to hurt you too much, so please forgive me!” While flying at a low altitude, she threw her javelin in the direction of my legs. I was distracted, but I saw it in time to dodge. The javelin stabbed into the floor, but it was tied to the girl with a chain. With a movement of her arm, she pulled the javelin from the ground and threw it at me again.

  “I can do this…” She wasn’t easy to reach while she was up in the air, but this attack of hers was easy to dodge. After a couple more throws, I had gotten the hang of it. Now, how can I get close to her…? “…” The javelin then stabbed the floor right next to me. “Like this!” I waited for her throw and grabbed the chain before she could pull it back. If I can’t approach her, I’ll bring her to me!

  “Huh?” When my hand reached the chain, I didn’t feel anything. My hand phased through the chain, and I stood there dumbfounded. “What…?” At the same time, she unearthed the javelin, and it flew back to her hand. It doesn’t have a physical form? The chain is a skill?! “Gahh!” I misjudged the situation, and she landed a blow on my leg with her next throw. The wound was not serious. With my high HP and the thigh highs providing some defense, I can still move. Still, what a blunder.

  “Ahh! S- sorry…” Lythea pulled the javelin back. “At least now you won’t do anything else…” She flew in place and wobbled nervously. Huh… She thinks I can’t move, doesn’t she? Well, isn’t this a great opportunity for me… I faked limping and approached a piece of debris for support. Then I brought one leg on top and used it as a jumping pad. Agility Burst! Heart Piercer! Let’s see you react to this!

  “Wait…” Where’s the speed? Where’s that satisfying burst of speed that happens when I use my skills? I jumped, but… I’m not getting any closer to her… “Ouch!” I fell down face first and let out a funny noise. Why? Why didn’t my skills activate?

  “Uh- uhmm… Are you alright? Hehehehe…” The succubus awkwardly laughed while looking down at me. “Well… It was nice knowing you… Even if it was all a misunderstanding on my part… Maybe we’ll see each other again…” She flew closer to the window and turned around before leaving. “N- never mind! You wouldn’t want to see me again! Obviously… I- I’ll disappear right away! Sorry!!!” With a panicked voice, she flew out the window and vanished into the night sky.

  “Dammit…” I got up and sat on the floor while frustrated. “*Sigh…* What the hell am I doing?” Now that the excitement of battle was wearing off, I realized just how stupid I was. “She could have killed me if she wanted… She was just playing around, but if she was serious…”

  [MP: 3/1650]

  I knew it… My skills didn’t activate because I was out of MP. Why did I start a fight with her when I was already so low? I’ve gotten better, but it’s not like I’m invincible… I need to stay sharp.

  “I think I got too greedy…” It was that and the heat of battle. Even if Armand did have some kind of important information, it doesn’t matter. It’s not something worth losing my life over… It’s not even just my life… Ririna’s here too. I should have used everything I had to take her out of here. She’s what matters most here. I should have known better.

  I got up and went over to the altar where Ririna was sleeping.

  “I really am greedy…” I looked at Ririna’s face and bitterly smiled. Why isn’t being friends enough for me? Why do I want more than that? Hell, I’m so greedy that even Ririna’s not enough. I have my eyes on too many girls, don’t I?

  “*Sigh…*” I leaned over and reached for her legs and shoulders. I lifted her and headed for the exit. Armand’s dead… There’s nothing more to get out of him, so I moved on… Returning to the corridor made me smile. Sure, it was a horrible sight with bodies and blood all over the place, but it was worth it. The weight of Ririna on my arms, her warmth, her peaceful sleeping face… I don’t regret anything.

  This part of the city is relatively high. A lot of the city became visible as soon as we got outside. The fire around the explosion was gone, and the sky was much darker now.

  I wonder if Carol’s plan worked. Is Ririna going to be a wanted criminal when she wakes up? Will someone come to take her away? I won’t let them take her… I’ll take her back to our world if I have to, but… I’d rather not… At least for now, I think she’ll be happier here, in this world. If some problems do pop up, I’ll help her again. Just bring on another horde of monsters. If that’s all it takes to prove her innocence, I’ll kill as many hordes as I have to!

  “Ahahahaha!” A cold breeze interrupts my idle thoughts, making me even more aware of Ririna’s warmth. “…” Maybe I need to make a decision… Who do I love the most? Who should I focus my efforts on? If I keep acting without thinking, I’ll ruin everything, won’t I? Then again… Hesitating has screwed me over too many times…

  “But that’s how it is…” That recklessness will only take me so far… If I keep being greedy, I have no doubt that will one day be my undoing. No matter how much I want it, my ideal is just a na?ve pipe dream…