The dungeon air was thick with damp stone and the smell of moss. A faint drip echoed in the distance, the only rhythm to accompany the footsteps of Valkyrie Fang's expedition. Armor scraped, blades clinked, and the occasional whispered curse echoed off the cavern walls.
But among the hunters, one woman's silence was louder than any boots—Kyouka.
Her dagger was clenched so tight in her hand the leather grip squealed under her fingers. Her sharp eyes scanned the shadows as if the monsters lurking ahead weren't her enemies, but the ghosts of her past.
Selene, walking just behind her, noticed it immediately. She always did. With her long braid swinging and her axes and explosive at her hip, Selene slid closer, lowering her voice.
"Kyouka," she whispered, her tone teasing at first, "you look like you're about to stab me instead of the next beast. What's wrong?"
"...Nothing."
The reply was as sharp as the blade in Kyouka's hand.
Selene narrowed her eyes. "Don't give me that. It can't be nothing. What is it?"
Kyouka's lips trembled. For a moment she almost stayed silent, but the weight pressing on her chest demanded release.
"It's about my brother," she finally muttered.
Selene froze mid-step. She had heard the news. Everyone in the guild world had heard it.
"The tragedy of Aether High…" Selene's voice softened. She looked away for a moment, remembering the announcement, the panicked rumors, the gossip in guild halls. "I… knew Madame Gonzalous. She was my principal once. We weren't close, but her death shook everyone. A woman like that… gone."
The group slowed down, but Kyouka didn't care if the others overheard. Her fury bubbled over.
"They arrested my mother for that," Kyouka spat, her tone a mix of disbelief and rage. "On suspicion of murder. Can you believe it? How stupid are they if they believe a healing woman like her can commit something like that."
Selene tilted her head, choosing her words carefully. "Shouldn't you have taken a holiday? At least until your mother sorts things out?"
"My mother will be freed in no time," Kyouka said firmly. "She has connections. She always has. But that's not what keeps me awake."
Selene raised a brow. "Then what is?"
"Ren."
The name fell like a stone into a still pond.
Kyouka's grip tightened. "His name is everywhere now. With this incident, his life won't ever be the same. People will whisper, fear him, hate him. He won't be able to live like he used to."
Selene stopped walking. For a moment, the whole cavern seemed to pause with her. Then, slowly, she asked:
"Why don't you bring him here? To Valkyrie Fang?"
Kyouka snapped her head toward her and smirked bitterly. "Are you joking? No way. You want him to be raped by my own guild members? I don't want to kill any of our guild memebers so no..."
Selene didn't flinch. Her eyes, sharp and wolfish, bore into Kyouka's. "Even if it isn't here, do you think he'll be safe somewhere else? You know how the world is. Sometimes it's not about where it's best for them, but where it's better than the rest."
She leaned closer, her breath almost brushing Kyouka's ear.
"Besides," Selene whispered, "aren't you here to protect him? Then bring him. This is the best guild for him."
For the first time that day, Kyouka's lips curled into something resembling a smile.
Far from the dungeon, under the polished roofs of the Lan estate, Lan Meiling knelt in the great hall.
Before her stood the three pillars of the family—her mothers.
At the center, Lan Xinyue, the First Mother, radiated stern elegance. Her silver-streaked hair was pinned in a crown-like updo, every strand declaring authority. Head of Guild Sirius, her presence alone made the hall heavy.
To her right, Lan Ying, the Second Mother, sharp-eyed and cold as a blade of silver coin. She was the family's treasurer, the Lady of Fortune, her voice enough to shift markets.
And to the left, Lan Hua, the Third Mother, youngest, vivacious, her laughter often as dangerous as her temper.
Together, they studied Meiling like hawks.
"You wish to recruit this… boy?" Lan Ying spoke first, her tone dripping with skepticism. "Ren, was it? A boy tainted by scandal?"
"Yes," Meiling answered softly, bowing her head.
"Why?" Hua pressed, tilting her head playfully. "There are thousands of awakened we can take. Why him?"
Meiling straightened, her voice steady though her heart pounded. "Because he is despised. Cast out by others. Which makes him valuable."
Ying's eyes narrowed. "Valuable?"
"The blood of an Awakener is priceless," Meiling said respectfully. "And the more hated one is, the easier it is to bind him. He has no clan, no protection. That makes him perfect for Sirius. Their won't be any ulterior motives like in marriages or schemes to ruin our family."
A murmur passed between the mothers.
Lan Xinyue's eyes lingered on her daughter. "You speak well. But I must ask one question."
The hall grew colder, as if the torches themselves dared not flicker.
"Do you love this man?" Xinyue asked.
Meiling's breath caught. For a moment she wanted to deny everything. But the First Mother's gaze pierced her like a blade, demanding truth.
Finally, Meiling raised her head.
"No," she said. Then, after a pause, her lips softened. "I don't love him or plan to love him. But… he loves me."
Silence.
The three mothers exchanged glances, measuring their daughter's words. The debate was far from over, but a seed had been planted.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit, paper-walled room in the heart of the east, Daichi paced like a caged animal.
His sandals tapped against the tatami mat. Sweat drenched his brow.
Suddenly, the sliding door hissed open.
A woman entered. Her beauty was like a blade—sharp, flawless, dangerous. Her kimono flowed with quiet grace, but her face was marred with fury, her features twisted with righteous rage.
"Mother..." Daichi gasped. Relief and fear tangled in his throat.
He rushed toward her, arms open like a child running to taste a sweet treat..
Her response was a kick to his chest.
Daichi collapsed, choking, the tatami scraping his skin.
Her voice thundered like a temple bell. "Who is responsible for the massacre at the academy?"
Daichi's eyes filled with tears. "I-I don't know! I told those girls to lay low until the noise died down! I swear it!"
Chiyo's glare was merciless.
"I had Madame Gonzalous's support," Daichi sobbed, his words spilling like a broken dam. "She… she backed me, because of our… relationship. I don't understand why everything crumbled!"
Chiyo's hand cracked across his face.
"Fool!" she shouted. Her disfigured cheek twitched with rage, her voice echoing through the room. "Do you think lies will save you? Do you think cowardice will?"
Daichi whimpered, curling into himself. "I-I don't know what's going on anymore!"
Chiyo loomed over him, her shadow swallowing his trembling figure.
"You shame me," she hissed. "You shame us all."
She yanked him up by the collar and slammed him against the wall. The paper door shuddered.
"Listen well, Daichi. Whoever is playing this game with us… whoever dares move pieces against our will… they will pay."
Her voice dropped into a venomous whisper, so cold it pierced bone.
"And if you fail me again… you will pay first."
Daichi's tears streamed freely. He could only nod, his throat too tight to form words.
Chiyo released him, letting him crumple like discarded paper.
Her eyes burned like twin blades as she turned away. "Now come and lick my pussy and satisfy me.."
***
Luxy stood before Ren, her frame trembling as her wings flared open. The glow around her feathers grew brighter, filling the hospital with a warm light.
"Luxy… wait, are you really going to—?" Ren asked, eyes wide.
"I told you already," Luxy said firmly, though her voice quivered. "Without this, you won't survive. You need power—something to help you see the truth. And this is the only way."
Her wings spread, light scattering across the walls. Then—
Shrrrip!
One of her delicate, glowing wings tore away in a burst of light. Ren's chest tightened as the wing dissolved into particles, streaming straight into his body.
"Ah—!" Ren gasped, clutching his chest as the power surged inside him. His vision blurred, and for a moment it felt like his heart was being pierced.
Luxy fell to one knee, breathing heavily. "Haa… haa… it's done. You've inherited it."
Ren blinked rapidly, holding his head. "What… what did you give me?"
Luxy forced a faint smile. "The ability to see… the affection of the women around you. Their true feelings. With this, you'll know who is dangerous, and whom you should continue working on."
A faint screen flickered before Ren's eyes. His jaw dropped.
"It's… it's like… a tracker?"
He spoke aloud, and the glowing text shifted into clarity:
[Affection Tracker]
??? – 100%+ (MAXED OUT — RUN.)
Lan Meiling – 15% (Some interest on the host.)
Tachibana Kyouka – 50% (Deep connection)
Tachibana Hiyori – 30% (Growing attachment)
Tachibana Misa – 27% (Safe… probably.)
Ren's hands trembled as he scrolled through the list. "Meiling… Kyouka… Hiyori… Misa… these make sense. But…" His eyes froze on the very top entry.
"Luxy." His voice cracked. "What the hell is this? Who is… '???'"
Luxy's expression darkened as she finally saw the list reflected in Ren's eyes. She stiffened, her single wing twitching nervously. "A hundred percent…? No. No, this is wrong. That's not possible."
Ren swallowed hard, his body going cold. "MAXED OUT… RUN. What does that even mean?"
"I don't know…" Luxy admitted, her usual confident voice trembling. "I've never seen anything like this. Affection that high isn't… normal when you haven't even met this person. Whoever this '???' is—they're beyond human obsession. They're something else."
Ren's face paled. "Something else? You mean… not even you can explain this?"
Luxy's remaining wing folded tightly around her. She stared at him with unease. "Ren… you need to tell me. Who have you been with? Who have you met recently? Think carefully!"
Ren shook his head rapidly. "I… I don't know! I haven't—this doesn't make sense! Someone is already at one hundred percent and I don't even know who they are?!"
Both of them fell silent, the glowing words ??? – 100%+ (MAXED OUT — RUN.) hovering between them like a curse.
Ren's fists clenched. "If this is true… then someone out there… already sees me as theirs."
Luxy looked at him, her eyes sharp and fearful. "…Then we need to figure out who before they find you first."
The two of them locked eyes, the air heavy with dread.
"Ren…" Luxy whispered. "Who is this '???'?"
Ren's voice trembled as he whispered back. "…I don't know. But I'm afraid to find out."