The front door creaked open with a low groan.

Ren stepped inside first, his shoes scuffing against the welcome mat. Kyouka followed close behind, her palm still hovering protectively near her brother's back. The hallway lights cast a pale glow over them, highlighting the cuts on Ren's jacket and the faint bruise blooming along Kyouka's arm.

In the living room, Hiyori sat on the sofa, back straight, hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her eyes—normally stubborn—were sharp now, fixed on the door as if she'd been waiting for hours.

"Mother," she murmured without looking away. "They're here."

The moment Ren's foot crossed the threshold, Misa jumped to her feet. Her chair scraped loudly against the floor.

"Ren! Kyouka!" she cried, rushing forward. Her arms wrapped around them both before either could speak.

Ren let out a soft, surprised sound. "Mother…?"

"I was so worried!" Misa's voice trembled but she squeezed them tighter. "You're both okay—thank goodness you're okay."

Behind them, Amanda stepped through the door. The click of her boots was heavier, steadier. Three—no, four—heavily armoured police officers followed in a neat line, their visors hiding their faces. The smell of polished steel clung to them like a storm.

Amanda exhaled. "They're safe," she said, her voice carrying a faint rasp. "Healthy, too. Lucky, considering the situation at the academy."

Kyouka pulled back slightly from Misa's embrace, blinking at her brother's lifesaver. "Amanda…"

But Misa's grip only tightened. She buried her face against Ren's shoulder for a second, then looked up, eyes glistening. "Amanda," she said softly, "what you did for our family tonight—I won't forget it. Ever."

She held Amanda's gaze deliberately, as if trying to send a silent message, urging her not to reveal her healing abilities.

Amanda's brow furrowed. She caught the look, then gave the slightest nod. "I understand," she said simply.

Ren glanced between them, confused. "Understood what?"

"Nothing, Ren. I'm just glad she saved you." Misa murmured, patting his cheek. "Later."

Amanda adjusted the strap of her shoulder bag and spoke briskly. "I'll have a few officers stationed outside your house tonight. Extra security. Ren…" She turned to him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "First thing tomorrow morning, you need to file a complaint against that woman."

Ren hesitated. "The—uh—the one from the academy? One you call Faceless Woman?"

"Yes," Amanda said firmly. "It will help us build the case."

Then her gaze slid to Kyouka. "And you. Protect your brother."

Kyouka squared her shoulders and nodded. "I will."

"Good." Amanda gave a faint, tired smile. "I have to go. It's going to be a busy night."

She turned on her heel, fishing a cigarette from the pocket of her coat. The flick of her lighter echoed in the hallway.

"You're smoking again?" Misa shouted after her, still hugging Ren and Kyouka. "Quit it already, Amanda!"

Amanda raised a hand in a lazy wave, smoke curling upward as she stepped through the door. "I will try," she called over her shoulder.

The door shut with a solid thump. Only then did Misa finally release Ren and Kyouka, stepping back with a long sigh.

"You two must be exhausted," she said, her voice softening. "Go upstairs. Take a shower, both of you. I'll order some food. Let's talk about heavy stuff later."

Ren managed a tired smile. "Thanks, Mother."

Kyouka nodded. "We'll be quick."

They started toward the staircase, their footsteps heavy on the wooden floor. Halfway up, Hiyori's voice cut through the silence. Since she had not yet awakened, most of the male students and the other unawakened students had been given holidays, which spared them from facing this tragedy.

"Aether High is supposed to be a safe academy," she said sharply. "But lately it's been nothing but dangerous."

Ren paused on the stairs, glancing back. Hiyori's face was pale but steady.

"Wouldn't it be better to homeschool him?" she asked Misa. "At least until things settle down?"

Misa shook her head immediately. "That's not possible anymore," she said quietly. "Not now that he's awakened. Even if we don't send him to a school he will have to join a guild unless his power proves to be something that is not useful inside the dungeon."

Ren's hand tightened on the railing.

Kyouka touched his shoulder gently. "Keep going," she murmured. They disappeared up the stairs.

Downstairs, Hiyori frowned. "Then what's the plan? You can't just keep him there when it's so dangerous."

Misa crossed her arms, leaning against the edge of the sofa. The glow from her phone screen lit her face as she scrolled for a restaurant number. "My only option now," she said, "is to contact someone I know who can help."

"Someone you know?" Hiyori repeated. "Who?"

"My old guild leader." Misa's thumb hovered over the call button, eyes distant. "If anyone can help, it's her."

***

Steam curled out from the bathroom as Ren pushed the door open.

His damp hair clung to his forehead, and a thin trail of water slid down his neck to the collar of his T-shirt. The day had been insane from start to finish, but at least the shower had knocked some of the grit and blood off him.

Kyouka was waiting right outside, arms hanging at her sides.

Her usual sharp expression was gone; instead her eyes looked distant, guilty.

She didn't even seem to notice him at first.

Ren blinked. "Kyouka? What's wrong?"

She started, then looked up at him. "Ren…" Her voice cracked. "I'm… useless."

He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I'm useless as your sister." Her fingers dug into the fabric of her towel. "When you were in danger today, I wasn't even by your side. What kind of sister can't protect her own brother?"

Ren sighed softly. He could still smell the sweat in Kyouka's body.

He stepped closer until he was standing right in front of her.

"Kyouka," he said quietly, "listen to me."

She bit her lip and looked away.

"We're born alone and we die alone," Ren continued. "We can't always depend on someone else for our entire lives. It's not your duty to protect me."

Her eyes snapped back to him. "But—"

He smiled faintly, a tired but gentle smile. "I mean it. You've done more than enough. You're my sister, not my bodyguard."

Kyouka's throat worked as if she wanted to argue. "I should be there. If I try harder, I can—"

"You can't," Ren interrupted softly. "No matter how much effort you put in, you can't be with me every second. And if you try, you'll only limit me. At some point you'd even become a burden, and I don't want that for you."

Her mouth opened again, but nothing came out. The truth of his words cut deeper than she expected. She lowered her gaze.

Ren reached out and brushed his knuckles against her cheek.

The touch made her startle. "Ren—"

"You've always done your best," he said. "That's enough. Stop hurting yourself over what you can't control."

For a long moment, only the soft hiss of the bathroom vent filled the hall. Then Kyouka exhaled shakily and gave a small nod.

"…I understand," she whispered. "It still hurts, but I understand."

Ren gave her another faint smile, then turned to go. "Good. Go get a good shower."

He took a step past her—then paused. "By the way…"

He looked back, eyes glinting with mischief.

"All through this conversation, your towel's been slipping lower and lower."

Kyouka blinked, confused. "Huh?"

Ren's grin widened. "Thanks for the nice view. It was… refreshing. I really love your pussy."

Her eyes went wide. "Wha—!"

She glanced down; the towel she had worn around her hips after her shower had indeed slid halfway to the floor. She fumbled to catch it, cheeks flaming red.

One thing that was different in this world compared to Ren's original world was that women wore towels only to cover their hips, since they weren't embarrassed to show their chests, while men were the ones who hid their chests.

"Why didn't you say something earlier?" she demanded, clutching the towel back into place.

Ren chuckled, already walking away. "Well I was enjoying the view."

Kyouka bent down to secure the towel properly, muttering under her breath, still blushing furiously. She wanted to yell at him, but she couldn't. Not after what he'd just said.

Ren raised a hand in a casual wave. "Good night, Kyouka."

She stared at his back, conflicted, and whispered softly, "Good night, Ren…"

Ren's room was at the far end of the hall. As he walked, his thoughts drifted.

What a crazy day.

The memory of the "faceless woman" rose unbidden: a shape wrapped in shadows, a voice dripping devotion like venom. She had declared her love for him even though he had never seen her in his life. Every time he thought about her, a horrible chill ran down his spine.

He rubbed the back of his neck. I have to get stronger. Way faster than I planned.

If she was really chasing him, then at some point… at some point he might have to kill her. The thought made his stomach twist. Right now, he couldn't even imagine it. But he couldn't ignore the possibility either.

Ren stopped in front of his door. He exhaled slowly and reached for the knob.

"I need more powerful women," he muttered, "I need to figure out something. No more delays."

He turned the knob and pushed the door open.

The room was dark.

A cold wind slid across his damp skin, making him shiver.

Ren frowned. "Window's open?"

The curtains swayed in the night breeze. Outside, distant streetlamps threw pale orange light onto the floor. He sighed.

"Misa must've forgotten to check my room with everything going on," he muttered.

He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him, and walked toward the window. The floor creaked faintly under his bare feet.

As he reached for the frame, the headlights of a passing car swept across the street outside, casting a brief beam of light through the open window. His shadow stretched long across the floor.

And in that same fleeting light—just behind him—stood a woman.

She was tall, her golden hair cascading down her back like threads. She wore a high-slit cheongsam patterned with dark crimson blossoms. Yet something about her posture was wrong—too still, too precise, like a doll.

Ren froze. A sudden prickle of cold danced up his spine.

He started to turn—

A pale hand slid over his mouth.

"Mmmph—!"

Her grip was like iron, yet her skin felt cool, almost delicate. She leaned close, her lips brushing his ear, though she said nothing. The scent of jasmine and steel filled his nose.

The curtains fluttered wildly as another gust of wind blew in.

Ren's heart pounded. He tried to twist free, but she was already pulling him backwards—into the shadows, into darkness deeper than the room itself.

The last thing he saw was the window closing on its own before he heard the words. "Guess who it is, darling?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.