As those crimson eyes emerged from the shadows, stepping fully into the sunlight, Akane Nishino finally saw what was hidden within.
It wasn't the monster she had presumed, but a person!
A young girl who looked only a few years old, with long black hair, wine-red eyes, and delicate, beautiful features.
"Uh... it's actually a person?!"
Akane exclaimed in surprise, immediately realizing her earlier guess had been wrong.
"You're being very rude, you know!"
"What if I am a person? Does that disappoint you?! Huh?"
The black-haired little girl glared at Akane with clear displeasure.
Akane, caught by that glare, felt a chill from the aura the girl exuded.
Especially noticing the longsword hanging at the girl's waist, her fear intensified.
For someone like her, who had lived her whole life in the urban civilization of the modern era, such cold weapons were not commonly seen.
"I... I'm sorry!"
Akane gave an awkward smile and hurriedly apologized.
Hearing the apology, the little girl's expression softened somewhat.
"Fine. As the eldest daughter of the Kagenou Baron family, and seeing as you didn't know, I'll forgive you this time!"
The little girl crossed her arms in front of her chest, nodding calmly.
Seeing that the other party wasn't going to pursue the matter, Akane breathed a sigh of relief.
It was at this moment that she noticed something about the language they were using to communicate.
She realized she wasn't speaking the language of her original world. She definitely hadn't learned this world's language.
Yet, the language of this world felt as if it had always been in her mind, incredibly fluent.
The girl looked at Yuki beside her in astonishment, her eyes questioning whether he had somehow made her learn this world's language unconsciously.
However, Yuki's answer was negative.
Yuki shook his head, then softly said two words: "The Chat Group."
Only then did Akane understand. The reason she could speak and understand this world's language and script immediately upon arrival, allowing for smooth communication, was a basic function of the chat group.
This feature didn't cost any points; it was a benefit for all group members.
Relieved there were no language or script barriers, Akane felt much more at ease.
The little girl here couldn't understand what they meant by "chat group" and didn't press further.
She simply turned her gaze to Yuki.
"Hey! Are you a Dark Knight?"
"To actually spot me when I was so well-hidden!"
The little girl's eyes gleamed, looking at Yuki with a mix of curiosity and fighting spirit.
"First, I'm not 'hey.' My name is Yuki."
"Second, I'm not a Dark Knight, Claire Kagenou."
The corners of Yuki's lips lifted slightly as he spoke calmly to the little girl.
However, upon hearing her full name in the last sentence, the girl's pupils contracted sharply. She instantly drew the sword at her waist, pointing it directly at Yuki.
"You... how do you know my name?"
"Did those bandits from nearby send you to capture me?!"
The girl named Claire Kagenou was on high alert, a cold glint flashing on the tip of her sword, poised and ready to strike.
"Bandits? Capture you?"
"Little girl, you're overthinking it!"
"Have you ever seen a bandit as handsome as Yuki-kun?"
Hearing the other party lump Yuki together with bandits, Akane couldn't stand it and immediately retorted.
Yet, faced with Akane's words, Claire Kagenou merely shot her a fierce glare. Akane instantly wilted under the girl's aura again.
She couldn't help but shrink behind Yuki, peeking out with just half her head to look at Claire Kagenou.
'What's with this kid?! Are all children in this other world this fierce?!'
Trembling, Akane hid behind Yuki, inwardly wailing.
"Tch!"
Seeing Akane's timid display, Claire Kagenou curled her lip dismissively.
Yuki smiled wryly, his gaze resting on Claire Kagenou before him.
She was the older sister of the original male protagonist in this world (had he existed).
She was the eldest daughter of the minor noble Kagenou Baron family. This family had a lineage of knights who used mana to enhance their bodies for combat, and Claire Kagenou before him happened to possess talent in this area.
Therefore, from a very young age, she had strived to become a Dark Knight, constantly training her swordsmanship and mana.
In the original work, because the male protagonist hid his strength, the family considered him a good-for-nothing. Claire Kagenou, as his sister, was given the mission by their parents to protect her younger brother, which made her an absolute brocon.
This also became her motivation to constantly grow stronger.
Now, even without the existence of the male protagonist as her brother, Claire Kagenou was still training hard. It didn't stray too far from the original trajectory.
While Yuki was observing Claire Kagenou, she was also sizing him up.
She actually somewhat agreed with what Akane had said earlier.
The Yuki before her was indeed handsome. Even looking across her family's entire territory, she couldn't find anyone who could compare.
Yuki was the most handsome man she had ever seen, with an inexplicable attraction about him that made her eyes linger on him involuntarily.
"Hmph!"
"Well, I'll tentatively believe you're not with those bandits!"
Seeing that the other party remained silent and the atmosphere was tense, Claire Kagenou gave a proud "hmph" before sheathing her sword, returning it quietly to her waist.
'It's definitely not because this guy is so handsome and pleasant to look at!'
Claire Kagenou secretly thought to herself.
However, the slight blush on her delicate, fair face and the flicker of an indescribable light in her eyes betrayed her true inner thoughts.
"You're called Yuki, right?"
"And what's the name of the woman behind you?"
Claire Kagenou's gaze flickered towards Akane.
"My name is Akane Nishino. Pleased to meet you."
Seeing the atmosphere ease and the other party no longer pointing a sword at them, Akane emerged from behind Yuki to introduce herself.
"Alright, I know now!"
Claire nodded, giving Akane a brief glance before shifting her attention back to Yuki.
"If you're not a Dark Knight, how did you find me?"
"My hiding should have been perfect!"
"And how did you know my name?"
A trace of confusion flashed in Claire's eyes as she turned to Yuki with her questions.
"Simple. Because I'm stronger than you, so naturally I could sense you."
"As for why I know your name..."
The corners of Yuki's mouth lifted slightly, his deep eyes fixed on Claire like a black hole, seeming to draw her in.
"It's because there's nothing in this world I don't know."
"I only needed to look at you once to know all your information."
Yuki's words left Claire momentarily stunned.
Especially when his gaze rested on her, she felt as if all her secrets were being seen through, with nowhere to hide.
In front of him, she felt she had no privacy, as if everything was laid bare under the sun.
"You... are you serious?!"
Claire's words were full of doubt, but her heart seemed to believe it.
"Of course. If you don't believe me, I can tell you something that's about to happen."
"What is it?"
Claire was taken aback, pressing for an answer.
"In a moment, those bandits you were looking for will come and surround us."
A confident smile played on Yuki's lips.
"Huh?"
Claire was stunned for a moment. But before the next second passed, figures emerged from not far away, instantly forming an encirclement around the three of them.
Claire turned her head and looked around. It was exactly the group of bandits she had been pursuing earlier.
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