The faint hum of rain tapping against the glass pulled Ado from the darkness.
Her body felt heavy—too heavy. Memories of crimson skies and collapsing realms still clawed at the edges of her mind.
Her eyes opened slowly.
A soft ceiling greeted her. Pale light filtered through sheer curtains. A familiar scent—lavender and mint—hung in the air. She turned her head and realized where she was.
"This hotel again?"
Ado sat up, her head pounding.
She barely had time to gather her thoughts before a fluffy ball of fur launched itself onto her chest.
"Meow!"
Ado blinked slowly, staring at the fluffy ball with enormous blue eyes.
"What the hell is this?"
"Meow!" The fluffy ball chirped, pawing at her cheek and then—lick.
A wet, warm tongue slid across Ado's face.
"Hey! Stop that!" She grabbed the tiny creature, trying to push it away, but its clingy claws held onto her tightly—meowing louder again while licking her face with its tail wagging.
"You m–motherfu##**—"
"It seems like Tippsy likes you."
Ado turned her head. Chino stood there, holding a mug of steaming coffee.
Ado frowned. "What happened to your actual body?"
Chino's smile dimmed but didn't vanish. "The real me brought you back here to rest. I'm only a clone, remember?"
Ado stared at her for a long second with a deadpan expression. "Your clone has better skincare routines than most real people."
Chino blinked before letting out a soft giggle. "Is that so? You're cute too—especially when you're asleep."
Ado crossed her arms with a lazy expression on her face.
"Yeah yeah, whatever."
"Looks like you're still upset about the Crimson Calamity thing," Chino muttered.
"I definitely am! And how can you casually tell me something like that in chapter 9!? It's still too damn early!" Ado glared at Chino as if she owed her money.
Tippsy meowed loudly, jumping between them as if to interrupt the tension.
Chino giggled and scratched the cat's chin.
"I created Tippsy," she said, smiling.
"She's part of my core magic. Consider her my... familiar. She'll keep you company when I'm gone."
"Seriously? A cat? Couldn't you do something cooler or cuter?" Ado said.
"What could be cooler and cuter than Tippsy?"
"Meow!"
"Hmm... L-like a cute female Neko! Yes, a girl with cat ears! How can you leave me with this cat?!" Ado's expression turned solemn.
"You want a Neko? For what reason, dear?" Chino asked.
"F-for wholesome p-purposes!" Ado said with a righteous expression on her face, without any shame.
Chino:…..
Tippsy:…..Meow!
Ado:…..
---
A few minutes later, Ado stepped out of the apartment with Chino walking beside her.
Tippsy was perched proudly on Ado's shoulder like a fuzzy guardian.
"Where did you park the car again?" Ado asked.
"It's still in the academy," Chino answered with a weird expression.
"Eh? Why? Didn't you drive it back here?" Ado asked suspiciously, clearly not planning on walking.
"No. Because you took the car keys with you when you left to meet up with my real body. I had to walk back here." An expressionless smile grew on Chino's face.
"Oh... sorry? But I'm so cute, so you're definitely not mad," Ado said, putting on a cute expression.
Before Chino could respond, a sleek black limousine glided to a stop in front of them. The tinted windows slid down just enough for a flash of crimson eyes to appear.
The door opened.
A leg stepped out—long, smooth, and draped in black silk.
A woman with long purple hair, lips painted wine-red, her scent intoxicating. Her gaze was languid but sharp, and her smile could make angels sin.
"Chino," she purred. "It's been centuries."
Chino's eyes narrowed. "Lust."
Ado froze for half a second before swallowing hard as she stared at the enormous, soft mountain peaks on that woman's chest.
BIG!! TOO BIG!!
How could Ado not recognize one of the Ten Wardens? The embodiment of desire and manipulation. And once, long ago, one of her partners.
The woman's gaze slid past Chino and lingered briefly on Ado. "Oh my... you have company. Cute."
Ado frowned. "Not for sale," she said, still staring at her chest without any shame whatsoever.
Chino's lips twitched, trying not to laugh.
The woman's grin widened. "Bold. I like that." She leaned against the car, crossing her arms. "By the way, have you found our Warden of Pride?"
The air tensed. Chino's voice was cold. "And what if I did?"
The woman smirked. "Then I'd offer her a drink... or perhaps something better. I heard the Warden of Pride is a girl this time again."
Ado raised a brow. "Define 'better.'"
"Me," Lust said simply, smirking like a cat who already had her prey.
Chino sighed and rubbed her temple. "I never signed up for this."
"I have a question. What should I address you as?" Ado asked.
"Alice. You can call me Alice—or Big Sister Alice."
"You're certainly big," Ado muttered subconsciously.
Alice:….
Chino:….
Alice gestured to her car. "Come. We can discuss this somewhere more comfortable."
---
The limousine glided through the city like a shadow, its tinted windows reflecting neon lights and distant sirens.
Inside, the atmosphere was far too calm and warm—considering that three world threats sat together.
Ado leaned against the window, watching the rain trace paths down the glass. Tippsy purred quietly on her lap, tail flicking lazily.
Across from her, Alice's eyes gleamed in the dim light. The Warden of Sin—also known as the One True Desire—had the kind of smile that made the air itself want to kneel.
"All right, so tell me—what do you truly want?" Chino asked, sitting tightly close to Ado, just in case she needed protection.
Alice stared at her cute, protective behavior with interest. "That girl is quite important to you, hm?"
Ado glanced from her window reflection, clearly still moody about last chapter's unnecessary reveal of her darkest secrets.
"There's an S-Class monster hiding here in Japan," Alice said.
Chino:!!!!
Tippsy:!!!
Ado: ??? zzzz
....
Alice warden of Lust