The midday sun bathed the village entrance in warm light as Alex, EMI, and Aria arrived, accompanied by the woman they had saved. They all stopped right at the entrance, where the main road split into several directions.
Alex broke the silence:
"Well, it looks like our paths part here. What will you do now?"
The woman, still lost in her thoughts, looked down for a moment before answering:
"First, I'll find a safe place for all the girls I rescued. Even though I'm free, some still see me as a criminal. I don't want to risk them suffering again."
EMI, with quiet determination, stepped forward:
"If anyone tries to harm you again, I'll personally make them regret it."
The woman blushed at EMI's unexpected protectiveness, murmuring softly:
"Thank you..."
Impulsively, she grabbed EMI's hands tightly, making her look at her in bewilderment.
"Once I finish what I must do, I'd like to join you all. I want to get to know you better, EMI."
EMI, not fully grasping the implication behind the words, smiled sincerely:
"Of course. We could always use extra help. Besides, you could help us keep Alex away from bad people."
The woman's face briefly showed a flicker of jealousy, though she quickly hid it. She turned to Alex, gave a slight bow, and took a breath before speaking:
"Alex, I never thought I'd trust a man again... but you're different. Thank you. Please take care of Aria, and especially EMI. Because when I return, I'm going to make her fall in love with me... and only me."
Alex, with a serene smile, extended his fist toward her.
"You have my respect. But remember: I'm just a side character. My job is to keep my friends safe. And now that includes you too."
The woman looked at him, surprised, before smiling and bumping her fist against his.
"We'll see."
With a final glance at the group, the woman offered a sweet smile:
"I know you already know, but my name is Serena. See you soon."
Serena walked away toward the outskirts of the village, her silhouette fading into the crowd.
---
In a quieter corner of the village, a short, hunched figure observed a magical hologram projecting a detailed map of the city. His malevolent smile contrasted with the ethereal glow of the map. Three other figures stood around him.
The first was a man dressed in attire similar to a ninja, though with flashy details that betrayed his lack of subtlety. His face was hidden, but a deranged smile twisted his mouth, revealing sharp fangs.
The second was a burly man, much taller than the others. He wore partial armor covering his chest, forearms, and knees. His expression brimmed with excitement, as if he eagerly awaited an order to unleash his strength.
Behind them, a giant pink lion lay on the ground, three times larger than a normal lion. Black scales adorned its neck, front legs, and part of its tail, enhancing its intimidating presence. In a deep, weary voice, it spoke:
"Can you make less noise? I'm trying to sleep."
The mage, without taking his eyes off the hologram, replied mockingly:
"You'll sleep when the mission is finished."
The lion snorted and lazily stood up, approaching the group to observe the map. His interest was minimal, but his eyes glowed faintly at the projection.
"We'll take this village and all the riches it hides," declared the mage confidently. "It's small, but enough to fund our plans."
The man dressed as a ninja spoke eagerly:
"Can we have a little fun with the villagers?"
The mage nodded dismissively:
"Do what you want. But be careful. It seems one of the heroes sent by the Queen of Elsword is here."
The armored man clashed his fists together, smiling:
"A hero? This is going to be fun. I've been dying to fight one."
Meanwhile, the lion yawned and examined the projection with curiosity, stopping at the images of their targets. His gaze settled especially on Alex, and a low growl escaped his throat.
"That's the guy with no special abilities?" he asked sarcastically.
The mage smiled.
"Yes. Though something tells me he won't be as useless as he seems. That's why we must be cautious."
The lion's eyes gleamed with interest as he growled softly.
"Interesting. It might be worth staying awake for this."
---
A few minutes passed before EMI finally processed Serena's words. Her face turned bright red as she spun toward Alex, almost demanding an answer:
"Did I just understand that woman said she's going to try to make me fall in love with her?!"
Alex, with a teasing smile, replied:
"It seems so. You're already building your own harem in this world, just like you had in our old one. Though this time you started with a girl."
Aria, surprised, interjected:
"EMI had a harem in her world?"
But after a brief moment of reflection, a mischievous smile appeared on her face:
"That means if someone's already in love with EMI, then Alex is just mine."
EMI turned to her, annoyed:
"Don't even think about it! Alex loves me more than you."
The two began to argue as Alex, resigned, crossed his arms. Finally, Aria raised her voice triumphantly:
"Alex still owes me a promise!"
Alex sighed, accepting his fate:
"You're right..."
With a neutral expression, he wrapped an arm around Aria's waist, making her face blush intensely. Aria closed her eyes, sure she was about to receive an unforgettable kiss.
Instead, Alex simply leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
EMI burst out laughing at Aria's astonished expression:
"That was perfect."
But Aria, though surprised, turned with a satisfied smile:
"At least I got a kiss on the forehead! And what did you get?"
EMI, caught off guard, began to stammer about her incredible friendship and unique bond. The two girls resumed their dispute, leaving Alex in the middle of them, shaking his head as he murmured to himself:
"Here we go again..."
The group continued toward the heart of the village, surrounded by laughter and minor squabbles, while, in the distance, new threats quietly prepared to emerge.