"Where did they go?" Sharone asked.
"You've asked that for like the hundredth time," Rey said, flipping through the book in his hands. "They've been gone for only fifteen minutes."
"But still...."
"There's no need to worry," Duke Philip said. "I'm sure she only took Kojo somewhere so she could talk to him."
"Or kill him," Leo said.
"What do you mean kill?" Lin asked.
"Well, it's possible that the saintess sensed an evil within him and took him to someplace where she could safely deal with him without causing damage to the surrounding area."
"Hey, Kojo isn't a bad person. He's perverted, yes, but he's not—" Koniko began, but Leo cut her off.
"I heard you three have only known him for a few months, correct? Do you know where he came from?" Koniko was silent.
"Thought so. He could have been hiding his true intentions this whole time."
"It's an unlikely outcome," Jack said.
"How can you be so sure, Raid Chief?" Leo asked.
"I just know," Jack said. "I'm one of the few people who can discern a person's nature, and I can tell you that you're wrong about that kid." Lin glanced at him. He returned the glance and smiled.
"Kojo's a kind person. I don't think he's capable of doing anything bad," Adrianna said. Everyone looked at her.
"So you do like him," Rey said. She blushed.
"No, it's just that—"
"Even if what you said is true, there's no way the Saintess is gonna be able to beat him that easily. Kojo's a tough one," Jack added.
"Do you know what you're even saying? Aside from the fact she possesses a Sacred Blade, she was blessed by the goddess herself. Her exploits are things of legend," Leo said with deep admiration, imagining Yukio in his mind.
Sharone looked from Leo's dreamy expression to Koniko, who just shrugged.
"I think he's in love," Koniko whispered to Lin, who nodded.
"Anyway, no matter how strong this Kojybiy is, I doubt he can—" Just then, there was a blinding flash of light, then a loud boom accompanied by a strong earthquake which shook the foundations of the estate.
"What's happening?" Rey asked, blinded by the flash of light.
"It's coming from the beast glades," Jack said.
Sharone sensed Kojo's arcana.
"It's Kojo."
"What?" Rey yelled. "That's impossible. The glades are more than 30 miles away."
"I knew he was powerful, but to create an explosion that can be felt all the way here is truly remarkable," Jack said.
"Now I'm entering him into the tournament no matter what," the duke said.
The light faded, and the shaking stopped. They looked out of the window and saw a giant mushroom cloud in the distance.
"There's no way," Leo said.
Kojo and Yukio suddenly appeared in the room.
"Lady Yukio," Leo said, walking over.
"Kojo," the girls said together.
"What happened?" Leo asked.
"I just took him out to see how strong he is," Yukio replied.
"But surely that attack you used just now was too powerful to be wasted on him." Leo noticed that Yukio's cloak had a huge rip at one side.
"What happened to your robes?"
"You like asking questions," Yukio retorted. "It got torn when I dodged an attack from Kojo."
"KOJO ACTUALLY MADE THE STRONGEST PERSON IN THE WORLD EVADE AN ATTACK?!" Jack and the duke said together.
"I must say that was impressive use of water magic," Yukio said.
"AND HE USED WATER MAGIC TOO?!" The two men yelled again.
"Well, your lordship, I have no doubt that this time, Opal will put on a blockbuster performance."
Kojo looked at her. "Blockbuster?"
"That being said, I'm afraid we must take our leave in order to investigate the cause of that beast's demonification."
"Please do. Though I'm unsure why you're doing this after so much time has passed, I'll give you my full support. I'll provide both of you with lodging at my estate for as long as you're staying," the duke said. She and Leo bowed before turning to walk away. She paused as she passed by Kojo.
"The investigation may take a while, so we may be in town during the tournament. I look forward to seeing your performance, Kojo."
She walked toward the door, stopped, and turned.
"I'm glad I met you," she said with a smile before walking out with Leo, who turned to give a last-minute scowl.
"What's up with that dude? He has looks, I'll give him that, but I think he'd be even more good-looking if he actually smiled," Kojo said. He then realized that everyone in the room was looking at him. He looked around before looking down at himself and not so discreetly smelling his body.
"What was that?" Koniko demanded.
"Um, well," Kojo scratched his chin, thinking of how he was going to explain. The duke put a hand on his shoulder.
"The Archsaint seemed impressed with your magical abilities." His grip on Kojo's shoulder tightened a bit. "I expect great things from you," he said with a menacing smile.
As Yukio and Leo left the estate, Leo kept ranting about how commoners were becoming bold and should be taught their place. Yukio ignored him. She was lost in her own thoughts.
"That guy," she thought. "I'd never thought I'd hear the name Kojo here of all places."
"Commoners these days, I swear," Leo was saying. "And that boy too. It's easy to see that he's just some riffraff who'll bring nothing but trouble." Yukio got annoyed by this. Leo kept talking, annoying Yukio further.
"That's enough," she said, her blue eyes giving off a faint blue glow.
"Go get the horses, we're going to the bureau," she ordered.
"Yes," Leo said before leaving to get the horses.
"Being with Leo is like suffering an unending headache," she said, touching her temple.
She looked back at the duke's estate.
"Kojo," she said softly. "Could he be like me?"
A gentle breeze blew. A flower touched her cheek. She caught it before it fell.
"Hope," she turned and walked away.
Kojo turned and explained everything that happened to the girls on their way to the inn.
"I don't like that girl," Koniko said.
"Me too," Sharone agreed.
"I feel like I should have stepped in to stop her when she warped you away," Lin said.
Kojo was lost in thought, thinking about the tournament and about Yukio.
"The reward money and the estate aren't bad," he thought. "I could finally get my own room instead of paying for one cramped space." He remembered waking up to three beautiful young women lying half-naked around him.
"Not that I mind. Would getting my own room be a good thing?" he wondered.
(You actually like being cramped in a small space with three girls, don't you, you pervert?)
"I'm not..., whatever," he thought about Yukio.
"But that Yukio chick. Never thought I'd hear that name in this place."
(Indeed.)
"Is it even possible for two people from the same world to reincarnate into the same world?"
(SAGE: The possibility is not zero.)
"Haha, man, I don't know what to think anymore," Kojo sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
"Kojo," Koniko called.
"Hm?"
"What are you thinking about?"
"The tournament."
"Just the tournament?" she asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"You were thinking about the reward?" Sharone asked.
"Yeah," Kojo said. "If I'm being honest, the rewards aren't that bad." He suddenly felt the atmosphere change.
"You're agreeing to marry royalty," Lin said.
Kojo froze.
"Wait, that's not it," he said quickly.
(Go figure.)
"Shut up," he said under his breath.
The three of them started laughing.
"We're just kidding," Sharone said.
"You should have seen the look on your face," Koniko added.
Kojo nervously laughed along.
"Geez, you guys. But what do you think about living in a mansion?" he asked.
"It might be cool," Koniko said.
"As long as we have each other, it'll be fine," Lin added.
Kojo blushed. Sysia giggled.
(Hahaha. You're such a dork.)