Melusine continued her routine, wandering the streets and helping anyone in need. It had become second nature to her, a part of her daily life in this world.
Every morning, familiar faces greeted her with warm smiles and cheerful hellos.
"Lancelot, you're up early again!"
It was a comment she heard often. As a Spirit, Melusine didn't need sleep. She could stay awake indefinitely, sustained by the mana her dragon heart produced. It had been half a month since she last slept, and she felt no fatigue.
Even if she wanted to sleep, her sense of time was different from that of humans. What might feel like a few hours to her could easily translate to weeks or even months for them. And besides, she didn't have a home to return to. Sleeping on the streets wasn't an option, so she simply stayed awake, filling her days with helping others.
That afternoon, as Melusine walked through the bustling streets, she suddenly sensed something amiss. Her sharp instincts kicked in, and she turned her gaze toward the source of the disturbance.
A massive billboard, about three meters wide and five meters long, was tilting precariously. The metal frame groaned under the strain, and the bolts holding it in place seemed on the verge of giving way.
"Watch out! The billboard is going to fall!"
A voice in the crowd shouted in panic, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. More and more people looked up, their faces pale with fear as they realized the danger. The billboard tilted further, creaking ominously, and it was clear that it could come crashing down at any moment.
Pedestrians who witnessed the scene could no longer stay calm. Screams filled the air as people scattered like ants, desperate to avoid the falling billboard. The massive structure tilted further, its metal frame groaning under the strain, before finally giving way with a deafening crash.
Amid the chaos, a little girl in a school uniform tripped and fell, unable to move out of the way in time. She looked up, her eyes wide with terror, as the billboard loomed above her.
The crowd froze, some holding their breath, others covering their eyes, unable to bear the thought of what was about to happen. No one dared to step forward to help—it was too dangerous, too late.
Just as the billboard was about to crush the girl, a silver-white figure shot through the crowd like a streak of light.
Shido, who had been about to rush forward himself, stopped in his tracks, stunned by the sudden blur of motion.
If he had to describe that silvery-white figure, the first word that came to mind was meteor.
"Bang!"
The billboard crashed down with a thunderous roar, its metal frame crumpling on impact. The bricks beneath it shattered, debris scattering in all directions.
Anyone witnessing the scene would have assumed the worst—that no one could have survived such a catastrophic accident.
But what happened next left everyone speechless.
Beneath the mangled billboard, the silver-haired girl stood tall, her right arm raised to support the massive structure as if it weighed nothing. In her left arm, she cradled the young student, who had squeezed her eyes shut in fear.
For a long moment, there was silence. Then, realizing she felt no pain, the girl slowly opened her eyes.
Her gaze met a pair of radiant golden eyes, calm and reassuring.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here. Nothing will happen to you."
The silver-haired girl's voice was calm, almost matter-of-fact, yet it carried an undeniable sense of reassurance. The female student, still trembling, felt a wave of relief wash over her.
With a slight exertion of force, the girl pushed the massive billboard aside as if it were nothing more than a cardboard box. The crowd, which had been frozen in shock, gasped in unison.
"Th-thank you… Are you… are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?" the female student stammered, her thoughts jumbled by the surreal turn of events.
Melusine shook her head, her expression serene. "It's fine. After all, I'm the strongest. No matter what happens, I'll be okay."
Her golden eyes softened as she looked at the student. "What about you? Are you hurt?"
"N-no… I'm fine, thanks to you," the student replied, her cheeks flushing red. She fidgeted nervously, her hands twisting together in front of her.
"That's good," Melusine said, a faint smile touching her lips. "If you were hurt, I would've been very troubled."
The student's face turned even redder. "Um… excuse me… what's your name? I… I'd like to thank you properly…"
Before she could finish, the crowd, which had scattered moments earlier, began to gather again. Their initial fear had been replaced by curiosity and excitement.
"Wow, that was so cool! Are you guys filming a movie? The special effects are amazing!"
"Hey, silver-haired girl! Can I be your fan? Say something to me!"
"She looks like a knight! So cool!"
"She so cute like a doll is there really someone like that in the world?"
"That dress she's wearing looks expensive. Where did you get it? I want one just like it!"
The onlookers chattered excitedly, convinced that Melusine and the others were part of some elaborate movie production.
It wasn't hard to understand why the crowd assumed this was some kind of movie scene. After all, no one in their right mind would believe that someone could survive being hit by a massive billboard and walk away unscathed. Add to that Melusine's intricate, otherworldly dress—something that looked like it belonged in a fantasy rather than modern society—and her self-proclaimed name, which sounded like something out of a storybook, and it was no wonder people thought this was all staged.
Melusine quickly became the center of attention, surrounded by curious onlookers snapping photos and asking questions. Amid the chaos, her gaze drifted toward the blue-haired teenager standing at the edge of the crowd.
She recognized him—he was the one who had stared at her earlier when she was helping the old lady. And just now, he had been the only one who had tried to step forward and save the girl.
Melusine gave a slight nod, acknowledging his bravery. Despite being an ordinary human, he had been willing to risk himself to help someone in danger. In her mind, her impression of him shifted slightly—from "pervert" to "slightly above decent human."
Her eyes then moved to the aqua-blue-haired girl standing beside him. Melusine's sharp instincts immediately picked up on the girl's presence. She was a Spirit, just like Melusine, but there was something different about her. Perhaps it was because Melusine herself wasn't originally from this world, making her a unique existence among Spirits here.
Melusine shook her head slightly, refocusing her attention on the female student she had just saved. The girl was still staring at her, wide-eyed and speechless, clearly overwhelmed by the surreal experience.
"My name…" Melusine began, her voice calm and steady. "You can call me Lancelot."
She delivered the words with the poise and grace of a knight, her presence so commanding that the female student could barely muster a coherent response.
"A-a… wa… ahem!" The girl stammered, her face turning red as she tried to compose herself. She cleared her throat and bowed deeply. "Th-thank you, Miss Knight Lancelot!"
Melusine nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. She waved her hand dismissively, as if to say it was no big deal, and added, "It's fine. After all, I'm the strongest."
Her tone was matter-of-fact, as if stating an undeniable truth. The female student blinked, still in awe, as Melusine turned and walked away, her silver hair shimmering under the sunlight.
-----------------------------
"Hmm? Isn't this Lancelot?"
Melusine's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice calling her name. She turned to see Aunt Suzuki, a kind-faced woman carrying a few bags of groceries.
"Aunt Suzuki? Did you just finish shopping?" Melusine asked, her tone polite but distant.
"Yes, I did. What are you doing here, Lancelot?"
"Just wandering around, seeing if anyone needs help," Melusine replied. "Can I help you carry your bags?"
Aunt Suzuki chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, it's fine. These aren't heavy. But… would you like to come to my house? You probably haven't had dinner yet, right? Every time I see you, you're helping others. It seems like you never take time to eat."
Melusine shook her head gently. "Thank you for your kindness, but I don't need it."
From the look on Aunt Suzuki's face, it was clear she understood Melusine's reluctance. Still, she couldn't help but smile at the girl's unwavering sense of duty.
Melusine glanced at the bags in Aunt Suzuki's hands and added, "Even if you don't want me to carry your things, at least let me escort you home."
Aunt Suzuki's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my, isn't that too much trouble?"
"It's my duty," Melusine said firmly. "A knight shouldn't let a woman walk home alone, especially at this hour."
Her tone left no room for argument, and Aunt Suzuki finally relented with a grateful smile.
After ensuring Aunt Suzuki made it safely home and politely declining her offer to "come in and have some snacks," Melusine found herself alone once more.
Since arriving in this world, she had spent most of her time helping others, earning her a reputation as a kind and selfless figure. But now, as she walked aimlessly through the streets, her sharp senses picked up something unusual.
Her golden eyes flickered, transforming into the burning vertical pupils of a dragon. The calm expression on her face was replaced by one of solemn focus.
"I can detect spiritual energy fluctuations… and there's the smell of blood in the wind," she murmured, her voice low.
After only a moment's hesitation, Melusine locked onto the source of the disturbance and dashed off at a speed that was almost impossible for the human eye to follow.
(A/N: To be honest, I never expected anyone to recognize the fic I mentioned before. But in less than two days, an MTL reader like me managed to guess it right—wow! Congrats to OwObing! The prize has already been given; here's the proof. For those who tried I acknowledge your effort, so don't feel down. Maybe in the future, I'll do a giveaway again after creating my Discord server.)