The next morning.
Sunlight filtered through the inn room's lone window, casting mottled bands across the floor.
From a distance drifted hawkers' cries, the rumble of cart wheels over stone, and a few distinctive voices of demi-human races.
These Orario-only sounds seeped through the thin walls and announced the start of a new day.
Zyhark's consciousness was the first to wake.
In his arms, he felt warmth, weight, and a faint, cool fragrance lingering at his nose.
Her hair smelled crisp—like a forest after new snow under clear skies.
He looked down.
The black-haired girl still slept, her delicate face at peace.
Her warm breath rose and fell, brushing his chest again and again.
He had to admit— sleeping while holding this cool-tempered girl was far more comfortable than he'd imagined.
Last night, after Replenishing Mana and the "hatching-pain" that followed, Yukino was exhausted and finally fell asleep.
Zyhark simply used her as a hug pillow and kept that posture all night.
The effect of Replenishing Mana had been excellent.
After a "full combo," every one of Yukino's [parameters] jumped from zero straight to twenty.
Perhaps sensing his gaze—or perhaps thanks to her body clock—
Yukino's lashes trembled, and she slowly opened those cerulean eyes.
Her waking confusion lasted less than a second.
Once she realized whose arms she was in—and how intimately— her gaze went razor-clear, then filled with cold anger and flustered annoyance.
"Morning, Yukino."
Zyhark kept it light.
However— what came back was a stare cold enough to freeze air, followed by merciless poison-tongued barbs:
"To open my eyes and immediately see a face radiating 'trash-kami' vibes…"
"What an 'exquisite' way to start the day."
"Tell me, how long are you planning to maintain this nauseating embrace?"
"Or is this the so-called 'follow-up' to your Replenishing Mana?"
"How base, vulgar, and utterly unoriginal."
She spoke as she tried to pry free of his arms.
But his hold was tight; getting nowhere only deepened the frost on her face.
"Hey now, don't make it sound so mean."
Instead of loosening, Zyhark deliberately tightened his arm around her waist.
He rested his chin lightly on the crown of her head, savoring the softness of her hair.
"Last night you curled up in my arms like a startled kitten and fell asleep."
"I'm providing you with a sense of security."
With that, he blew gently at the little cowlick poking up.
"Security?"
Yukino's tone dripped with sarcasm.
"All I feel is unprecedented crisis and a visceral discomfort."
"Release me. Now."
"Otherwise, I won't mind demonstrating just how much strength a 'frail literary girl'"
"can muster in an emergency."
"For instance—my knee greeting a certain unnecessary body part."
The threat was sharp, but she made no move to chamber that knee.
Instead, her legs pressed together bit by bit, tightening around the unwelcome thing lodged at her hips.
Feeling what she did, Zyhark nearly snorted with laughter.
Then he stopped teasing, grudgingly letting her go.
Freed, Yukino quickly slipped on her white panties and blue bra beneath the blanket.
She straightened her slightly rumpled uniform, cheeks still faintly pink, and shot Zyhark a knife-edged glare.
"Hmph."
She turned away with a cold snort, then began combing out her somewhat mussed, ink-black hair.
Zyhark just smiled and didn't mind.
He dressed, stretched, and rolled his shoulders.
Then he walked to the window and gazed at the towering chalk-white spire—Babel.
"All right, jokes aside."
"See there? That's the city's center, Babel."
"Right beneath it is where you're headed—the entrance to the Dungeon."
At his words, Yukino followed his gaze.
Though her face remained reluctant, her eyes showed a thread of curiosity—and sober weight toward the unknown.
"The Dungeon…" she repeated under her breath.
"That's right—a vast labyrinth full of monsters, danger, and opportunity."
Zyhark turned, leaning on the window, and laid things out for her:
"It's the core reason Orario exists."
"Adventurers go in, fight monsters, and collect the magic stones and drops they leave behind,"
"then exchange those for this world's currency—Valis."
"That'll be our Familia's primary income source going forward."
"Of course, as a god, I can't just stroll into the Dungeon."
He gave her the broad strokes on Dungeon floors and how monsters worked, as well as the importance of magic stones and loot.
"And managing all of this—issuing jobs, buying stones and materials, providing basic services and intel to adventurers—that's the Guild."
"This morning's first order of business is taking you to the Guild to register."
"So you can officially become an adventurer."
Yukino listened quietly.
Her expression stayed cool, but she clearly tucked away every word.
Reason told her that to survive here, she had to learn and adapt to the rules.
"I understand."
She replied evenly:
"Then—let's go."
"Good. If you're confident, I can relax."
Zyhark smiled in relief.
Inwardly, though, he drew a deep breath.
Truth be told, he wasn't sure this tsundere young lady, fresh out of the gate, could even beat a goblin.
In her original world, Yukino might not have ever killed a chicken.
Then again, with double magic and double skills, she shouldn't be that hopeless… right?
"Whatever. Let her acclimate to Orario first."
"As for diving the Dungeon—if it doesn't work out, I'll hop us to another world."
"That way, without the restrictions, I can adventure with her and help her grow."
After finishing with Yukino last night,
the system issued a new task: recruit three more heroine-class familia members.
And—out of nowhere—it rewarded him with a Cross-Anime Heroine Summon Card.
Zyhark didn't use it immediately.
In his view, it was likely an extra reward triggered by bringing Yukino into his Familia within two hours.
...
…
(End of Chapter)
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