Xyrene began to explain the characteristics of the twelve continents in detail.
"Vaol continent is known to be the most populated country in the world, ranking third in size. It's a mix of medieval and fantasy-like worlds. Sadist continent, on the other hand, is the largest in Tearth, characterized by its natural beauty. Evoke continent suffers from malnourishment and is home to dangerous creatures due to its deserted nature. Diamante stands out as the modern continent, boasting advanced technology and magic. Petals and Petans continents are situated at the top and bottom of the world, making them the coldest regions. Placis continent is perpetually embroiled in war, currently in its 693rd continent-wide conflict. Satalias continent, where we currently stand, is ruled by King Avias Astras XV and is often referred to as the United States of Satalias. Neptune continent was discovered underwater. Falish continent is ruled by the white-winged races, residing in the sky. Hassia continent is a common destination for inter-world transfers and is geographically close to ours. Fariouz continent lies deep within Tearth's core, home to demons and considered the location of Hell."
After Xyrene finished, Xialdre simply remarked, "Interesting."
Curious, Xialdre asked, "How do you know so much about the world?"
Xyrene replied, revealing her age, "It's because I'm a little over two thousand eight hundred and seventy-two years old."
As Xialdre and Xyrene walked together, a piece of paper suddenly flew directly at Xyrene's face. Blushing, she instinctively covered her face as Xialdre reached out to catch the paper. Taking it from her, he glanced at it and realized it was the memorial paper of Satra Astras.
In his mind, Xialdre muttered to himself, "Looks like I've already theorized what's about to happen next. Although not changing it might not be that bad. Besides, all I want is to find Adonai, and that's it."
Once the girls and Xialdre regrouped, they continued their outing, each trying their best to earn Xialdre's affection, admiration, and perhaps even emotions. They took Xialdre on a walk through the town, enjoying each other's company and the bustling atmosphere around them.
As they walked, Asabe hesitantly asked, "Um, Master, if you don't mind me asking, what is your power?" The other girls fell silent, their attention fixed on Xialdre, eager to learn more about his abilities. Xialdre sighed, considering his response, and then motioned for them to follow him back to the hotel.
Entering the hotel building, Xialdre approached the receptionist and requested food to be brought to their room. The girls stood beside him, anticipation evident in their expressions. However, before anything else could happen, the door of the hotel was suddenly slammed open.
As everyone in the hotel entrance turned to see who had slammed the door open, they laid eyes on none other than Sebas, the first Prince. His gaze scanned the room until it settled on Xialdre.
Xialdre maintained his usual expressionless demeanor, while the girls stood confidently, observing the unfolding scene. Sebas strode directly toward Xialdre, their eyes locking in a silent challenge.
Without a word, Sebas slammed a paper onto the receptionist's table. Xialdre glanced at it briefly before a punch, faster than the speed of sound, burst through the air. Xialdre swiftly blocked it with his hand, causing Sebas to realize he was facing someone not to be trifled with.
As Sebas stepped back, Xialdre remained impassive amid the commotion. Sebas then announced, "You've been invited by the three princesses to a dinner," stunning the onlookers who wondered about Xialdre's identity.
Taking in the scene, Xialdre turned to Sebas and questioned, "Why me?" Sebas shrugged, replying that that was supposed to be his question.
Xialdre sighed and asked Sebas what he wanted. Sebas explained that he had simply come to inform Xialdre of the dinner invitation and to question why he had been chosen.
As Sebas grunted and left the building, Xialdre remained silent, contemplating the invitation paper he had dropped. It wasn't just any ordinary paper—it was an invitation from the princesses.
Feeling the weight of the glares from the onlookers, Xialdre instructed the girls to head back to their room. Meanwhile, Mika, the receptionist whom Xialdre had just denied, felt a wave of depression wash over her. Her friends gathered around, attempting to comfort her in her distress.
Suddenly, someone entered Mika's room, causing her to gasp in fear as she stared at the intruder.
In their room, the girls and Xialdre found themselves unable to recall the question they had wanted to ask. Xialdre glanced at them, but remained silent, actually remembering the question himself.
As night fell, Natalia, Clementine, and Isayao gathered around Clementine's bed, engrossed in a game of cards. Meanwhile, Rain, Xyrene, and Asabe settled onto Asabe's bed, exchanging stories from their past.
Xialdre lay on his bed, reading the invitation paper given to him by the prince, lost in thought as he contemplated its significance.
Xialdre calmly read through the invitation, noting that he was requested to attend but that it was also okay if he chose not to. The event was scheduled for the following day.
Calling for Natalia, he asked her, "What is it like to be an adventurer?"
Natalia's eyes sparkled with excitement as she realized Xialdre's interest in becoming an adventurer. She eagerly responded, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.
"Master, being an adventurer is a relentless pursuit of the unknown, a journey where the destination is secondary to the experiences gained along the way," Natalia began.
"It's about stepping beyond the comfortable confines of routine, pushing boundaries, and discovering the vast tapestry of life that lies beyond the horizon."
"It's about embracing the thrill of uncertainty, the adrenaline rush of challenges faced head-on, and the profound sense of freedom that comes from charting your own course."
"It's not just about traversing physical landscapes but delving deep into the recesses of your own soul, confronting fears, and unlocking hidden potentials."
"In essence, to be an adventurer is to live with passion, curiosity, and an unwavering belief in the boundless possibilities that lie ahead."
The rest of the girls watched in awe as Natalia spoke passionately about the life of an adventurer. Intrigued by her words, they gathered around her, curious to hear more. Xialdre then asked, "What is your story from when you were an adventurer?"
Natalia's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "I'd be happy to share, Master."
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, a figure in a cloak was sprinting through the alleys, pursued by a group of enforcers. He panted heavily as he grabbed a metal pole near a dumpster.
The enforcers, anticipating a confrontation, were caught off guard when the runner didn't use the pole to fight back. Instead, he used it to vault himself onto a nearby roof.
As they watched in disbelief, the runner discarded his cloak, revealing himself to be the Crimson Phantom, a notorious criminal in the town. He laughed down at the enforcers, who were left fuming below.
"F*ck you, Crimson Phantom! We'll make sure to capture you next time!" they shouted, frustration evident in their voices.
Crimson Phantom, a renowned thief and master of escapes, was known as the greatest runner in town, ranking just behind the king in speed. He had always managed to evade capture, making him a legend in his own right. As he joyfully sprinted across the rooftops, one of the roofs gave way beneath him.
Laughing at his misfortune, he expected another routine fall, confident in his ability to escape as always. However, this time, he crashed through the ceiling and landed squarely in the middle of Xialdre and the girls' room.
Surprised but ever the jokester, Crimson Phantom looked around at the astonished faces and quickly quipped, "Why did the person fall off the roof of a house full of strangers at night?... Because they were stargazing and took 'falling stars' a bit too literally!"
The girls stared at him unsatisfied with his joke. Crimson Phantom smiled nervously and attempted to make his escape. However, before he could even move an inch, Asabe was already holding his hand. Shocked and confused, he barely had time to react before Asabe knocked him out with a swift punch to the face.
As Crimson Phantom, also known as Daniel Lionahay, began to regain consciousness, a portal opened on the floor beneath him. A tentacle emerged, wrapping around him, pulling him into the room's center. He slowly opened his eyes, realizing he had been captured. He looked around, seeing Xialdre and the girls staring at him with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Uncomfortable, confused, and scared, he stammered, "Wh-who a-are you guys...?"
Natalia stepped closer, her eyes narrowed with suspicion and irritation. "Who are you, and how in the f*ck did you fall off our roof?" she demanded.
Daniel glanced at the octopus-like tentacle holding him and swallowed hard, realizing he was in no position to resist. Fearful of provoking his captors, he quickly answered, "Daniel Lionahay. I, uh, was just running across the rooftops when the roof gave way beneath me." He tried to maintain his composure but couldn't hide the fear in his eyes.
"Tell us what's with that goofy-ass costume of yours," Clementine said, remaining calm and collected while Natalia glared at Daniel in anger. Xyrene, Rain, and Asabe remained expressionless alongside Xialdre, while Isayao looked as confused as Natalia and Clementine.
Daniel swallowed hard, realizing he was out of his depth. "Well, most people call me Crimson Phantom as a nickname since I'm the second fastest person on this continent, or 10th ever recorded."
Asabe then chimed in, "That's true. My temporary fifth instinct turned on, and most people only get to their third instinct."
Natalia, still fuming, turned to Asabe. "What? But then, when we fought you, Asabe, what level of instinct turned on?"
Asabe confidently and immediately responded, "One."
Natalia, Isayao, and Clementine doubted her, but Asabe continued, "This is also the reason why I want to ask Xialdre about his true power that he might be hiding from us."
Just then, people started entering the room, drawn by the noise of the breaking roof. Their eyes widened when they saw Crimson Phantom. One of them shouted, "LOOK, THEY CAUGHT CRIMSON PHANTOM! LET'S TAKE HIM AWAY FROM THEM. WE MIGHT NEED HIS BOUNTY OF OVER TWENTY PLATINUM COINS...!!!"
The room filled with murmurs and the tension rose as the crowd closed in, eyeing Crimson Phantom and the group with a mix of greed and determination.
As the crowd charged at Xialdre's party, Daniel smiled, his confidence bolstered by the arrival of his own group, who entered the scene through the broken roof. Xyrene dropped Daniel at Xialdre's silent signal, and Phantom yelled to the crowd, "TOO BAD, B*TCHES!" A blonde girl and a muscular man swiftly took him away.
The people surrounding Xialdre and the girls sighed in frustration. One of them, angered by the apparent escape of such a valuable bounty, threw a punch at Xialdre. However, before he even realized it, his arm was severed, and he screamed in pain as blood sprayed from the wound. The crowd's eyes widened in fear as they turned to see Rain standing there, her expression cold and merciless as she has bitten off the man's arm.
Xialdre looked at the crowd, his cold gaze enough to make them realize they were not to be trifled with. Panic spread, and they fled the room, carrying the screaming man with the severed arm.
Turning to Clementine, Xialdre ordered, "Clean the blood on the floor and the rooftop."
Clementine, eager to serve, smiled brightly and replied, "Of course, Master." She got to work immediately, feeling content in her role as both maid and loyal slave to Xialdre.
Xialdre pondered over Daniel Lionahay as Natalia speculated that it was likely an alias.
"That's probably not his real name," she said, skepticism in her voice. "Why would someone so infamous give us his true identity without knowing what we're capable of?"
Xialdre sighed, shaking his head. "You're wrong, Natalia. That is his real name."
Natalia frowned. "But he's a well-known figure. Why would he be so forthcoming with us?"
Xialdre looked at her calmly. "The eyes he showed us were not those of a liar. They revealed a truthfulness that can't be faked. He's too clever to use a fake name in a situation like this, knowing it could easily backfire."
Meanwhile, Daniel and his party continued their escape. The muscular man, Astreos, laughed heartily at the chaos they had caused, while the girl, Yuri, complimented his actions.
However, they soon noticed Daniel seemed downcast. "What's wrong?" Yuri asked, concerned.
"I was caught," Daniel admitted. "The only reason I escaped was because the leader of that room showed mercy."
Yuri frowned. "What are you talking about? Aren't you the second fastest person in this continent?"
Daniel sighed. "Yes, but not as fast as some of the others in that room."
Astreos looked puzzled. "What kind of races were in there that you couldn't outrun?"
Daniel looked at him seriously. "There were some very powerful individuals in there, including a dragon king Candidate and a few others whose abilities I've never encountered before."
"Dragon race born-type in human form, octopus race born-type in human form, and the cat race born-type in human form," Daniel said, his voice tinged with awe.
Yuri and Astreos exchanged skeptical glances. "Seriously, Daniel?" Yuri asked, crossing her arms. "You expect us to believe that?"
Astreos chuckled. "Yeah, sounds like a tall tale to me."
Daniel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know it sounds unbelievable, but it's true. The leader of that room, Xialdre... he and his party are unlike anyone I've ever seen."
Yuri's expression softened a bit. "If you're sure, then we need to be more careful. Those kinds of races are not to be underestimated."
Astreos nodded, still skeptical but more thoughtful. "Alright, Daniel. We'll take your word for it. But let's make sure we stay out of their way from now on."
"Well, I don't think that's gonna happen" Daniel mused to himself.
The next day, Xialdre and the girls went around town. Clementine was purposely bumped by someone, causing her to fall to the ground. The person who bumped into her extended a hand to help her up. Xialdre and the rest of the girls watched the situation unfold.
The man grinned at Clementine. Rain looked up at him, recognizing him as a noble. "Sorry, pretty lady," the noble said. Clementine slapped his hand away. He giggled and said, "Wow, hasty. You know I'm a noble. Now come with me." The noble then grabbed her hand forcefully, trying to take her back to his mansion.
Xialdre grabbed the noble's arm tightly as Clementine withdrew her hand from his grip. Angered, the noble attempted to slap Xialdre, but his attempt was futile as Xialdre swiftly blocked the blow.
Gasps echoed from the onlookers, who speculated that Xialdre had initiated some form of punishment against the noble. Unfazed, the noble chuckled, "That's more like it. Finally, I have another victim. Mister, you have quite the harem there. Give them to me. As a noble of Twilight Western, I suggest you surrender them to me unless you wish to face my tortures."
Daniel and Yuri, disguised and blending into the crowd, stumbled upon a bustling area where a confrontation was unfolding between Xialdre and a noble.
The noble hurled insults, belittling Xialdre, who remained composed. "You talk big for a peasant kid. I won't let you get away with this. The enforcers are on their way. Good luck," the noble spat.
Unfazed, Xialdre responded calmly, "Do you think you're intimidating?" With that, Xialdre and the girls swiftly departed the scene, leaving the infuriated noble blinking in disbelief. By the time the enforcers arrived, Xialdre and his companions were already out of sight, leaving the noble seething with frustration.
As the chase unfolded, Daniel and Yuri followed closely, observing how Xialdre and his group effortlessly outpaced the pursuing enforcers. "I told you they outpace me by a significant margin in speed," Daniel remarked to Yuri.
"But they still haven't exceeded the speed of sound, right?" Yuri inquired.
Daniel considered for a moment. "Perhaps they're searching for something, or maybe they're simply toying with the enforcers," he speculated. With five stars on their wanted level for disrespecting a noble—out of a total of ten—they were certainly attracting attention.
The chase intensified as Xialdre and the girls burst through the wall of a bakery, grabbing bread and other baked goods without paying. Their audacious act only further fueled the law enforcement's determination to capture them, seeing them as a growing criminal threat akin to Crimson Phantom.
In response, the enforcers escalated their pursuit, branding the group with an eighth star on their wanted level. But even as they closed in, Xialdre's formidable strength became apparent when he swiftly incapacitated one of the enforcers with a powerful kick to the head.
This display of strength only heightened the enforcers' realization that they were dealing with extraordinary adversaries. With a sense of desperation, they raised the group's bounty to ten stars.
In a blink of an eye, the group vanished from sight, leaving the enforcers bewildered and disheartened by their miraculous escape, having reached the highest level of notoriety before reinforcements could even arrive.
Meanwhile, Yuri and Daniel were stunned by the speed and precision of Xialdre and his group. Suddenly, Xialdre appeared behind them and shoved Daniel, causing him to fall onto Yuri. Before they could react, Xialdre vanished once more.
Yuri's face flushed, her heart pounding uncomfortably as she found herself beneath Daniel. Despite the fear and confusion, Daniel couldn't help but feel a mix of embarrassment and excitement from Xialdre's push.
"D-Daniel, if y-you want t-to do something like this, c-can't you wait until night falls?" Yuri stammered, misinterpreting the situation. Daniel, realizing what she meant, felt a stirring of desire. With a mischievous smile, he stood up, leaving Yuri embarrassed on the ground of the rooftop.
"Sorry, I was pushed by Xialdre, but I do like some kind of hot stuff right now," Daniel said, his grin widening. "Since you are my slave, strip up."
Yuri, uncomfortable but obedient, nodded. "Are you really that desperate to do it now?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Daniel sighed, his grin not fading. "I can't believe we're gonna do it right now on the roof," Yuri muttered, her face red as Daniel slowly began to strip her, her body trembling with a mix of Adaptation and reluctant sadness "Let's do it Dear master".
Yuri was a long-time slave of Daniel, enduring the pain and humiliation he inflicted upon her. Despite her despise and hatred for her master, she always put on a fake expression, fearing abandonment like with her previous masters.
Though subjected to sexual assault and violence, Yuri found herself caught in a complex web of emotions. Despite the deep-seated loathing she felt for Daniel, an unsettling arousal grew within her each time he forced himself upon her.
Trapped in this cycle of abuse and conflicting desires, Yuri's feelings were a tangled mess of pain, resentment, and unwanted arousal, leaving her confused and tormented by her own reactions.
Yuri was born into slavery, an unwanted consequence of her mother's rape by their master. From the moment of her birth, her life was marked by hardship and subjugation.
As she grew older, Yuri was sold to various slave buyers, each transaction a reminder of her status as property. Despite the relentless cycle of abuse and exploitation, she managed to survive, adapting to each new master and the horrors they brought.
Now, she found herself under the control of Daniel, a master who inflicted both physical and emotional pain. Trapped in this seemingly unending cycle, Yuri endured her suffering, her spirit weighed down by the harsh reality of her existence.
As noon fell, Xialdre decided to follow the directions on the map that Sebas had given him. It was now afternoon, and the map had led them to a seemingly random building in town. As they approached, a butler emerged from the building and greeted them warmly.
"Good afternoon," the butler said with a courteous bow. "Please follow me."
Rain looked confused, unsure of what was happening. Clementine remained collected and calm, her maid training helping her maintain her composure. Natalia and Isayao were well-behaved, sticking close to Xialdre. Asabe and Xyrene, as always, remained expressionless, simply following Xialdre's lead.
As they entered the building, they followed the elegant and regal butler. Xialdre looked around, noticing how meticulously cared for the building was. The butler then flicked his finger, causing a random floorboard to open, revealing a deep staircase leading beneath the building.
Xialdre and the girls remained calm and composed as they descended the dark staircase along with the butler. Once they reached a large hallway below, the floorboard above them closed. The butler flicked his finger again, and torches lining the hallway ignited, illuminating their path.
As they proceeded through the hallway, Xialdre observed the various creatures guarding it. Toxicant snakes, skeletal tigers, cyclops, goblins, and other monstrous beings stood watch, their presence a clear indication of the importance and secrecy of this place.
Natalia and Isayao were impressed by the dangerous creatures, while Asabe and Xyrene made the monsters flee in fear with their mere presence. Rain and Clementine chatted quietly among themselves.
Xialdre turned to the butler and asked, "Where are we heading?"
The butler glanced at him, continuing to walk. "Shouldn't you already know? Stop pretending that you don't. I can't imagine why three princesses invited you to the castle."
Xialdre replied, "I doubt you'll continue living when we get there, don't you think?"
The butler retorted, "I know you don't. No need to mention it, Visitor." He looked ahead, clearly disliking the interaction. They finally reached another staircase leading upward.
The nine climbed the stairs and emerged before a grand golden door. Beyond it, the three princesses awaited at a large dining table. The journey had been long, though only Xialdre and the butler seemed aware of the time that had passed. Through the luxury giant windows, Xialdre noted that it was already nighttime.
The butler led them into the dining room where the princesses were seated. After introductions, Xialdre and the girls took their seats. As they settled in, the butler suddenly turned to ashes. Tears welled in his eyes before he completely disintegrated, leaving Xialdre and the girls watching in stunned silence.
Now facing the three princesses, Arisawa spoke first, a smug smile on her lips. "Fufu, thanks for coming, X-I-A-L-D-R-E. Now tell me, how did you manage to manipulate both of my sisters and make one of them your slave?"
"Arisawa!" Alisha interjected, clearly distressed. "You never told me you'd talk about that!"
Arisawa glared at her. "Shut up. You know I can kill all of you in this room right now, right?"
Alisha fell silent, her eyes fixed on Xialdre.
Xialdre remained calm. "What do you want from me, Princess Arisawa? Is it about our past?"
Isayao and Clementine exchanged glances, confused. They had never known Xialdre to have any connection to the princesses until Alisha.
Meanwhile, Tailin noticed Clementine and waved at her, receiving a polite smile in return. Turning to Arisawa, Tailin asked, "Sister, how did you know Xialdre in the past?"
Arisawa smirked. "Well, Tailin, I guess you'll just need to wait and listen to our conversation to get your questions answered. *Fufu*"
Arisawa then turned her attention back to Xialdre. "I forgot, I actually cannot kill everybody in here, at least not you, Xialdre—or rather, Kitaki."
Xialdre remained expressionless. "Is that you, Kiara?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied.
Tailin began to ask, "Kiara? When did you get that na—" but Arisawa silenced her with an annoyed look. "Sorry," Tailin mumbled, backing down.
Meanwhile, Daniel and Yuri, having finished their business, lay hugging each other in rooftop as tears fell from yuri's eyes.
Back at the palace, Alisha spoke up, "I guess it's my turn to talk. So, Xialdre, how did you manage?"
"Manage what exactly?" Xialdre replied.
"Stop acting dumb. We know you're the one responsible for why Satra is missing!" Alisha's voice was filled with anger and disrespect.
Xialdre didn't hesitate to respond. "You talk big despite being my slave, Princess. Do you want to feel that old suffering you just experienced again?"
Alisha remained silent, while Tailin spoke up, expressing her boredom. "This is so boring. I only came here because I wanted to have a sweet talk with Clementine and Xialdre... Oh, right, Clementine, want to come to my room?" Clementine looked at Xialdre, who nodded, indicating that she could go with Tailin. The two of them then left the dining room to head to Tailin's room.
Meanwhile, Natalia was confused by the different names Arisawa and Xialdre were using for each other. Suddenly, it dawned on her, and she asked Xialdre, "Master, if you don't mind me asking, are you another worlder like the princess?" Xialdre confirmed her suspicion with a simple "yes."
As the girls were shocked by this revelation, Arisawa asked Xialdre, "Kitaki, do you want to tell us the story of our previous life together?" Xialdre questioned why, prompting Arisawa to giggle and respond, "Have you changed what happened?" Xialdre remained silent, and Arisawa sighed before saying, "I just like to hear it again. I know the past might not have been so cliché, but hey, why not hear it again, right?"
Xialdre responded coldly, "Look, in the grand scheme of things, our past lives are just chapters in a book we've already closed. Those struggles, those triumphs—they're all part of a story we've moved on from. So, let's not dwell on what's already been written. Today's a new chapter, a fresh start. And in seizing the present without being weighed down by the past, we find the freedom to shape our own future, to create a narrative that's truly our own."
Arisawa then disquietedly said, "What happened to change you this much, darling?" As the room fell into silence, the girls screamed, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, DARLING!?" But then the world turned black and white, time stopped, and only Asabe, Xyrene, Arisawa, and Xialdre could move. The entire sky lit up, and Xialdre realized he had finally found who he was looking for: the girls who could move looked at the window along with him as an explosion occurred in the sky of the Hassia continent, the continent closest to theirs.
Xialdre then said, "Adonai, what performance are you trying to accomplish right now?"