Ace POV
I let out a long sigh for what felt like the hundredth time today as I slumped onto a bench in the mall corridor.
Both of my hands, and even my forearms, were covered with large shopping bags.
Every single one of them was the result of Lala, Yuki, Miko, Asia, and Ayano's shopping spree. The five girls were still happily browsing through the clothing store in front of me.
Honestly, fighting powerful monsters or high level curses was much easier than serving as the pack mule for five girls.
"Ace-sama, do you need any help? I can carry half of those bags." I turned toward the voice.
Tohru was standing beside me in her maid uniform, drawing plenty of attention from the people walking by.
"No need. They're not heavy. It's just... there are way too many of them," I replied flatly as I adjusted the plastic bag handles around my wrists before they slipped off.
Then I looked at her.
"Instead of waiting here with me, why don't you go shopping with them?"
Tohru smiled faintly and casually shook her head, folding her arms across her chest.
"There's no need, Ace-sama. As a dragon, human clothing isn't particularly important to me. Besides, if I ever want a different appearance, I can simply alter my scales and use magic to create whatever outfit I like. Shopping for clothes is nothing more than a waste of time."
"I see... That's pretty convenient," I muttered lazily.
After they finished shopping, I drove Miko and Yuki home.
Why drive them?
Because it looked more appropriate, especially when dropping Yuki off.
At last, I was home.
The moment I stepped inside, I collapsed onto the sofa. Lala headed upstairs, probably to put away everything she had bought, while Tohru began cleaning the house.
Since I had nothing better to do, I decided to call Zastin.
Before that, I asked the System.
"System, is it okay if I call Zastin right now?"
[Certainly. There is currently no risk of disturbing him.]
After hearing the System's answer, I grabbed my phone, found Zastin's contact, and leaned back against the soft sofa.
Beep... Beep...
The call connected almost immediately.
"Hello, Ace-sama. Is there anything I can assist you with?"
Zastin's voice was unusually quiet, almost as if he were deliberately keeping his voice down to avoid attracting attention.
"Yo, Zastin. I just wanted to check how things are going," I said casually with my eyes closed.
"How's the operation to capture Tengkotak?"
"Everything is proceeding according to plan, Ace-sama. The mission is progressing smoothly. We are currently tracking Tengkotak's movements."
"I see. Good. Let me know if anything changes."
"Understood, Ace-sama."
Click.
I ended the call.
Still, I was curious about what was really happening.
I opened my eyes again.
"System, show me the actual situation."
[Just as Zastin reported, they are currently tracking Borara's location.]
I didn't have anything to do anyway.
Might as well join them.
I immediately sat upright, throwing away all the laziness that had clung to me ever since we left the mall.
Looking toward the second floor, I raised my voice.
"Lala! I'm heading out for something urgent! Don't wait for me for dinner!"
Without waiting for a reply, I walked straight toward the large mirror hanging in the living room.
I stepped through it, emerged from the mirror inside my house's Mirror World counterpart, walked outside, and found Evil Diver already waiting in front of the door.
I climbed aboard and immediately took off.
"Our destination is Malaysia."
Several hours later, I finally arrived above the floating island within the Mirror World.
I exited through a mirror inside Tengkotak's spaceship.
The moment I returned to the real world, I looked out the window.
Looks like I arrived just as they captured Papa Zola.
Hmm...
I should call Zastin again.
I dialed his number.
He answered almost immediately.
"What is it, Ace-sama?"
"I'm inside Tengkotak's spaceship."
"What?! How did you get in there?"
"I have my ways. I'm going to rescue the hostages. Once they're safe, you can handle the rest, right?"
"Of course."
I quietly slipped out of the spaceship.
"Alright. Get ready."
I hung up.
Time to rescue the hostages.
Stealth had never been my specialty, but Fenghuang Down made it possible.
As long as I convinced everyone there wasn't any danger nearby, I could move around unnoticed.
Well... unless someone actually looked straight at me.
I quietly approached the hostages.
The moment they noticed me, I raised my index finger to my lips.
Once I was close enough, I took out my phone and forced all three of them into the Mirror World through it.
How did they all fit inside?
No idea.
The important thing was that they were safe.
After successfully hiding them away, I turned to leave.
Unfortunately, my luck had apparently run out.
Yoyo Oo happened to turn around to check on the hostages.
"Hey?"
"Captain! Someone's rescuing the hostages!"
"What?!"
Just as I tried to escape, something enormous crashed down toward me.
I dodged it easily, but my only escape route disappeared.
"Who are you?!" Borara roared.
At the same time, Gaga Naz charged at me with a massive punch.
"Tch. How am I supposed to answer when you're attacking me?!" I pointed my phone toward Gaga Naz.
A humanoid rhino like creature, Metalgelas, emerged from the screen and immediately charged forward, slamming Gaga Naz away from me.
Using the opening, I activated the Twenty-Four Tempest Steps and escaped.
I'll leave the rest to Zastin.
From a distance, I watched Zastin and his subordinates clash with Tengkotak.
Fairly even?
No.
Zastin clearly had the advantage.
Especially with his Power Sphere, which perfectly suited direct combat.
Meanwhile, his two subordinates were fighting Gaga Naz together and were more than capable of handling him, even after he enlarged himself.
That left only Yoyo Oo and Kikita.
I'd deal with them quickly.
Kikita first.
I slipped back into the spaceship to find her.
The moment I stepped out of a corridor, I ran straight into her.
Wow.
My luck really was terrible today.
She immediately fired her laser sniper rifle.
Using the Twenty-Four Tempest Steps, I effortlessly dodged while rapidly closing the distance.
Inside the narrow corridors, the environment completely worked against a sniper.
It didn't take long before I knocked her unconscious and tied her up.
One down.
One to go.
I dragged Kikita outside the ship.
Along the way, I encountered Ciciko.
The two of us stared at each other for a moment before I simply walked past.
"Don't worry, Ciciko... no, Kokoci. Just be more careful next time."
I noticed her tense slightly the moment I spoke his real name.
After leaving the ship, I placed Kikita somewhere safe before heading toward Yoyo Oo.
As I passed by, I caught sight of Zastin and Borara locked in an intense duel.
Part of me wanted to join them... But honestly, watching from afar was entertaining enough.
When I got close enough, I stunned Yoyo Oo with a simple taser.
Turns out he really was that weak.
Definitely the brains of the group, not the muscle.
I tied him up, carried him over to where Kikita was, and placed him beside her.
Then I released the hostages from the Mirror World and removed the restraint rings binding them.
"Thank you, young man!" Papa Zola laughed. "But next time, could you avoid stuffing us into such a cramped place? It gave me a stomachache."
I chuckled. "Of course. But would you like to become a hostage again for that?"
"Of course not! I don't plan on becoming a hostage ever again."
I simply nodded before looking toward the other two former hostages.
Probe thanked me with tears streaming down his face...Can robots even cry?
Meanwhile, Adudu walked over to Kikita, knelt beside her, and glared at me.
"You! Were you the one who did this to my beloved?!"
"I was gentle when I knocked her out. You should be grateful I didn't smash her into pieces."
I clenched my fist tightly in front of his face.
"B-Boss, I really don't think you should pick a fight with the person who just saved us," Probe hurriedly said.
At that moment, a massive explosion echoed across the battlefield.
I turned toward the source.
Borara was on one knee with his hammer planted in front of him, facing Zastin.
I didn't know whether Zastin had noticed...
But I could clearly see Borara secretly gathering energy in the hand hidden behind his hammer.
Using the Twenty-Four Tempest Steps, I rushed toward them.
Unfortunately...
I was a little too late.
Looks like I'll have to use that.
Before Borara could unleash his attack, I activated Fenghuang Down at full power.
Fenghuang Down Second Power, Complex Manifest.