Chapter 9: New Residents
"Onee-san, please save me..."
I abruptly sat upright, my breath catching in my throat as my eyes darted around the dimly lit tent. For a moment, panic gripped me. My hands instantly moved across my body, checking for injuries.
Nothing. Not a single wound. The deep gashes from the battle were gone. Even the lingering soreness had vanished like it had never existed in the first place.
"…What?" I stared blankly at my palms before looking around again, my thoughts racing.
The battle
The black Spinner…
The explosion of mana…
What happened after that?
Did we win?
Did anyone get hurt?.
Questions piled up in my head faster than I could process them.
"Oh, I see you've awakened, Shiori-sama."
I nearly jumped at the unfamiliar voice.
Turning sharply, I found a pale young man sitting beside my bedroll as if he belonged there. Wavy jet-black hair framed his face, contrasting against striking ruby-red eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light of the tent.
He was ridiculously attractive. Unfairly attractive. The kind of attractive that immediately activated every survival instinct I had.
Who the heck is this guy?!
"Hello, dear master," he said with a soft smile. "As your new servant, I shall serve you for the rest of my lifespan. To the best of my ability, I shall offer both my body and soul at your disposal."
There was a pause....
"Excuse me?"
My brain froze.
Although he looked calm and harmless, there was something deeply unsettling about him. His smile was gentle, almost sweet, but the obsessive intensity in his gaze sent chills down my spine.
It was like looking at a beautiful venomous snake pretending to be tame. And somehow that only made him more terrifying.
Also—
Why is he so hot?!
No. Focus, Shiori. Survival first. Existential crisis later.
"I'm sure you're curious about your situation, yes?" he asked pleasantly.
I nodded cautiously
"Then allow me to explain."
Flashback
Darkness surrounded me. Or rather, it surrounded my unconscious body.
I lay motionless on the ground while glowing magic circles spread beneath me, illuminating the ruined battlefield with pale blue light.
Haruna knelt beside me, sweat dripping down her face as mana poured from her body into the spell.
"Lady Shiori," she whispered desperately, "I won't let anything happen to you…"
Ryuchi stood opposite her, his expression unusually serious.
"I refuse to leave even a scratch on Shiori-sama!" he declared as lightning crackled around his arms, feeding energy into the healing formation.
The air trembled with mana. Meanwhile, several evolved goblins guarded the perimeter while Fang and the wolves stood alert for enemies.
Even unconscious, I could vaguely feel the warmth surrounding my body.
Safe
Protected.
Flashback Ends
"I see…" I muttered slowly, processing everything.
So they healed me using advanced magic circles.Honestly, that explained a lot.
Still…
I narrowed my eyes at the pale man sitting beside me.
"But who are you exactly?" His smile widened ever so slightly
"You may not recognize me because of my new contracted form," he replied smoothly, "but we have met before."
A bad feeling crept up my spine.
"I am the black Spinner you defeated."
Another pause.....
My face instantly paled.
"Nope," I said immediately.
His head tilted innocently.
"I thought contracts required consent from both parties," I continued slowly, my eye twitching. "So why do I suddenly have a human-shaped spider servant?"
"Well," he replied casually, "Lord Ryuchi provided consent on your behalf."
Silence...
"…Did he now." My brow twitched violently.
Somewhere outside the tent, I sensed the dragon idiot approaching his execution.
"Fear not," the former Spinner said warmly.
"I shall remain forever by your side, Shiori-sama."
He even winked.
WHY IS HE MAKING THIS WORSE?!
He's so suspiciously attractive!
Get yourself together, Shiori. Do not get emotionally manipulated by a pretty bug.
"Oh, you're awake?" Right on cue, Ryu walked into the tent alongside Haruna and another familiar figure.
"Yes," I replied flatly. "And I've also just been informed that I apparently formed a contract without my knowledge."
I smiled sweetly.
The kind of smile that usually came before violence.
Ryu, unfortunately, remained fearless.
"It's better than having a giant insect following you around, isn't it?" he argued shamelessly. "I was thinking ahead.
"I'm truly blessed with such a loyal servant."
"Aww, it was nothing!" he replied proudly.
…I was being sarcastic, you moron.
Deciding murder could wait, I turned back to the black-haired man.
"So. Your name. Any preferences?"
"Anything you give me would please me," he answered immediately.
That somehow felt even creepier. I crossed my arms thoughtfully.
"Well… I named the others based on their characteristics."
I pointed toward Ryu.
"He's a dragon, so Ryuchi. Ryu for short."
Then Haruna.
"She resembled a rabbit dog thing—a Robonix—so Haruna. Haru for short."
Now this guy…
Spider themes definitely wouldn't help his image. Spider-kun? Absolutely not.
My eyes drifted toward his black hair.
Wait…
"I've got it."
His ruby eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"From now on, your name is Kuroha. Kuro for short."
A faint glow surrounded him as the contract acknowledged the name.
"Thank you for such a lovely name," he said softly, almost entranced. "To think you chose it based on my appearance… I'm honored."
"…Right."
Yeah. Definitely obsessive. I need to keep an eye on this one.
"Excuse me." Another voice interrupted my thoughts.
I turned to see a dwarf approaching respectfully. He looked to be in his forties, with a sturdy build and a thick beard braided with metal rings.
"Greetings, great mage," he said with a bow. "I am Lox, chief of the dwarves and supervisor of Advent Cally Market Town."
"Shiori Koromi," I replied.
"First, allow me to thank you. Although our town was destroyed, our people survived because of your efforts. Most humans fled the moment the S-rank monster appeared." His expression darkened slightly.
"Cowards."he spat
So Liam told him everything.
"young flint explained everything, I would never have known our salvation came from you otherwise." He bowed deeply.
Then his expression turned serious.
"Great mage… I have a request. Please allow my people to live within your domain. Our homes are gone, and we have nowhere left to go."
"Okay."
The answer left my mouth instantly.
Lox blinked in surprise.
"That was… quick."
"There's plenty of land," I said honestly. "As long as everyone follows the rules, I don't mind. Besides, I was planning to recruit dwarves eventually anyway."
Their craftsmanship alone would massively improve our survival odds.
Weapons.
Armor.
Infrastructure.
If I wanted to build something stable—and eventually find Sanemi—I needed allies.
"However!" Ryu suddenly interrupted dramatically. "You must pay taxes, contribute armaments, and acknowledge Shiori-sama as your queen!"
Why is he acting like a royal advisor?
Lox, surprisingly, didn't object.
"I have no objections," he replied calmly, kneeling on one knee. "I shall bring my people within two days."
"Sounds good." I smiled
Once he left, Ryu proudly followed him outside like he'd personally negotiated a peace treaty.
I sighed heavily.
Still…
Things were finally beginning to come together. With dwarves joining us, our territory could evolve into an actual kingdom instead of a glorified monster campsite.
And with proper weapons…
I'd have a better chance of finding Sanemi.
All that remained now was solving our financial problems.
Thankfully… i already had an idea for that.
Later ....
I stared blankly from atop the wooden podium.
Below me stood goblins, wolves, dwarves…
…and several species I definitely did not remember approving.
What is going on?
"EVERYONE!" Ryu shouted proudly. "MY NAME IS RYUCHI! LESS FORMAL, RYU!"
"MY NAME IS KUROHA! LESS FORMAL, KURO!" Kuro announced gracefully.
"AND I'M HARUNA… HARU…" she added shyly.
"I AM DAYAMA, THE GOBLIN LORD!" the massive goblin roared proudly.
"AND I AM FANG, CHIEF OF THE WOLVES," Fang declared in human form.
My eye twitched.
What is this gathering?!
"And this beautiful lady before you," Ryu continued dramatically, "is your queen, your master, and ruler of this land!"
"Her title shall be—"
All five of them suddenly shouted together.
"SHIORI-SAMA! OR SHIORI-DONO!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
"SHIORI-SAMA!"
"SHIORI-DONO!"
"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"
I blinked
Okay.
Why does this actually feel kind of cool?
I cleared my throat and stepped forward confidently.
"As your queen, I shall do everything in my power to ensure your safety and prosperity!" I declared loudly. "So in return, lend me your strength!"
The cheering became even louder.ryu looked like a proud parent.kuro looked emotionally possessed.Haru looked relieved I wasn't panicking.
Honestly?
Maybe I could do this after all.
"Onwards to the next topic of discussion, the residents here are settling in perfectly. These are the representatives of the dwarves," Dayama announced respectfully as three figures stepped forward from the crowd.
The moment I recognized the one in front, my expression softened slightly.
"Nice to see you again, Lox," I said with a small smile.
The broad-shouldered dwarf bowed his head politely. His thick auburn beard was neatly braided this time, unlike when we first met during all that chaos.
"Likewise, Shiori-sama. My people have been in a state of relief since arriving here. We owe you our gratitude."
"No need to thank me," I replied with a shrug. "Your services are needed here anyway. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement."
The dwarf chuckled warmly before his sharp eyes narrowed with curiosity.
"But I must admit, I am intrigued. It is not every day a mortal controls evolved monsters to such a degree… nor earns their loyalty so completely." He folded his arms thoughtfully. "Are you perhaps a Hero chosen by the goddess?"
Hero?
For that bitch?
Yeah, absolutely not.
If anything, that woman probably wanted me erased from existence.
The mere thought of her made my mood sour instantly.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not under the approval of that bi—" I coughed into my fist. "I mean… goddess."
The disdain in my voice was impossible to hide.
Lox blinked.
"So you are not working under the goddess?
"Not at all," I answered with a pout, crossing my arms tightly beneath my chest.
For a moment, the dwarf simply stared at me. Then unexpectedly, he smiled.
"I see… then that is actually reassuring."
"Huh?" I blink
"Our principles differ greatly from hers," he admitted honestly. "Many of us distrust the so-called divine order. If you are independent from the goddess, then it would be an honor to serve under you instead."
That caught me slightly off guard.
Before I could respond, Lox bowed once more and returned to the dwarven group waiting nearby.
"My turn!" Ryu suddenly interrupted loudly, throwing an arm around my shoulders with far too much enthusiasm. "I found these guys a while ago! Apparently they worship me like some kind of god. Their village also suffered because it was close to the market town!" he gestured dramatically toward a massive gathering of humanoid fish-like people standing nervously nearby.
Blue scales covered parts of their bodies, their webbed hands twitching anxiously under my gaze. Some carried spears while others wore rough tribal clothing made from woven reeds and seaweed fibers.
I slowly turned toward Ryu.
"Why," I began carefully, "did you never mention you had followers, you absolute imbecile?"
Ryu immediately stiffened.
"Well, I'm mentioning it now!" he defended quickly. "They have water and wind magic attributes. They're fast, agile, and their scales are incredibly durable too!"
I stared at him silently. Then I sent him a cold glare that clearly translated to: You are absolutely getting punished later.
His entire body tensed.
"S-Scary…"
"My turn next," Kuro said smoothly, stepping forward before Ryu could embarrass himself further.
Behind him stood several spider hybrids.
Unlike ordinary monsters, these ones looked surprisingly human. Dark markings spread across their skin like elegant tattoos, and some had additional crimson eyes or faint spider-like limbs folded behind their backs. Despite their intimidating appearances, they stood calmly and respectfully.
"Shiori-sama, meet my followers—the Spider Clan," Kuro explained proudly.
"Similar to Ryuchi's story, my family once led them before I was possessed."
His gaze softened slightly.
"Like me, they were driven only by hunger and destructive urges. But after evolving… they regained their minds. They are finally free."
I could hear the genuine pride in his voice.
Honestly… seeing monsters evolve emotionally as well as physically was still surreal to me.
"Very well," I nodded. "What about you, Haruna? Do you have followers too?"
The quiet girl shook her head gently.
"No, Shiori-sama."
I let out a small sigh while mentally organizing everything.
Goblins.
Komori wolves.
Dwarves.
Fishmen.
Spider Clan.
When did I accidentally become the leader of an entire fantasy civilization?
Seriously, I was one dramatic speech away from turning into some overworked anime ruler.
Still…
As I looked around at the enormous crowd staring at me with expectation and admiration, a strange warmth settled in my chest.
"A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU ALL!" I shouted loudly.
The response was immediate. Cheers exploded throughout the camp. Some screamed in excitement.
Others applauded.
A few of the goblins even started crying dramatically for some reason.
Honestly, they were way too emotional.
"Alright!" I clapped my hands together. "Ryu, explain the rules to the new residents and make sure the dwarves are comfortable."
"Yes ma'am!"
"Kuro, Haru, monitor things and make sure Ryu actually does his job."
"Understood."
"Oi, what's that supposed to mean?!" Ryu protested. I ignored him completely.
"Okay, bye now!"
I immediately turned and began walking away before anyone could stop me.
"Where are you going, Shiori-sama?" Kuro called out curiously.
"To do something useful," I replied dismissively without looking back.
Once inside my tent, I finally let out a long breath. The noise of the settlement became muffled outside as I walked toward a wooden crate sitting quietly in the corner.
Honestly…
I really hoped they finished building my house soon. This primitive camp life was beginning to offend my modern standards.
My hoodie was already torn and ragged from the previous battle, my makeshift bed was literally stitched together from monster pelts, and half the camp smelled like wet dirt and smoke.
I missed civilization.
Badly.
I crouched beside the crate and lifted the lid open. Inside rested seven thick hardcover books, each coated in different colored leather. Red, Blue, Black, Silver, Green, Gold,White.
These were the books Ryu had stolen—borrowed, according to him—from the dwarf city before it got destroyed.
Oh well, finder's keepers
I picked one up carefully.
"…Damn. I can't understand a single thing written here."
The pages were filled with strange symbols and unfamiliar letters.
Wait.
Didn't I have some kind of translation skill?
I quickly opened my status screen.
{Name: Shiori Koromi}
{Age: 17}
{Species: Demi Human}
{Profession: None}
{Title: Queen of Ethereal City}
{Achievements: Protector of the Goblins, Alpha Wolf Slayer, Contract Master}
{Charm: Lv 15}
{Luck: 20}
{HP: 50000/50000}
{MP: 50000/50000}
"…Wow."
I stared blankly at the absurd numbers.
Had I seriously gotten this strong already?
That was honestly terrifying. I continued scrolling through my abilities.
{Basic Skills}
• Bite Attack
• Claw Attack
• Sensitivity
• Speed
• Agility
• Stealth
• Strength
{Elite Skills}
• Magic Affinity
• Sprint Boost
• Slime Manipulation
• Radar
• Body Armor
• Poisonous Mist
• Thunder Strike
• Webber
• Language Barrier
• Steel Webbing
{Unique Skills}
• Predator
• Mimicry
• Insight
• Power of the Mind
"Huh?"
I paused
"I don't remember seeing that one before…"
My finger tapped the unfamiliar skill.
{Do you want to activate Language Barrier?}
{YES} {NO}
I immediately pressed YES.
A faint ripple passed through the air.
The sensation was strange—almost like cold water brushing across my skin for half a second.
Then I looked back at the book. My eyes widened instantly. The text… had changed. Everything was translated perfectly.
"So cool!!" i practically squealed in excitement.
"Now I can actually read these!"
Without hesitation, I grabbed the first book and flopped dramatically onto my makeshift bed, kicking my legs behind me like an excited child while opening the cover.
Magic Manual
This realm is divided into six segments:
Commons — Humans
Draco — Demonic monsters such as vampires, succubi, incubi, hellhounds, etc.
Crystallia — Mystical beings such as elves, fairies, sirens, and spirits.
Demi Humans — Werewolves, beastkin, hybrids, etc.
Demi Monsters — Lower-class monsters with lesser intelligence such as goblins, dire wolves, lizardmen, slimes, etc.
Dragons
"So that's how the world is categorized…"
I continued reading eagerly.
Magic is the cornerstone of society and is accessed through one's life force, commonly known as mana. Only species with exceptional intelligence can wield magic efficiently.
That explained a lot.
So Dayama and Yamada could probably use magic now because of their evolution. Ryu, Haru, and Kuro definitely could too.
Actually…
Thinking back carefully, they probably used healing magic on me after the battle. I flipped to the next section.
Magic can be summoned through two methods:
Incantations
Magic Circles
Incantations are the more common and convenient method, while magic circles are mainly used for teleportation and advanced healing. Everyone possesses a natural mana limit determined at birth.
Magic Affinity:
Magic affinity determines what elemental attributes one can wield.
The six elemental attributes are:
• Water
• Fire
• Earth
• Wind
• Darkness
• Light (Lightning)
Most individuals can wield only two or three attributes in total.
Those capable of using more than three are known as Hero Candidates.
"…Interesting." i slowly closed the book halfway.
"Okay… let's try something simple." I climbed off the bed and walked toward the open section of the tent.
The night breeze brushed lightly against my face.
"Let's start with an intermediate spell…"
I held out my palm while rereading the incantation.
"Supple rivers, princess of all streams that run through the earth… sweep away all with your hidden might…"
Mana surged through my body instantly.
"SPLASH FLOW!"
The reaction was immediate. Wind spiraled violently around my arm while a sphere of water rapidly condensed above my palm.
My eyes widened in amazement.
"So this is—"
BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!
The water projectile exploded forward before I could finish speaking. The entire tent ruptured apart instantly. The compressed blast shot through the camp like a cannon, shredding wooden poles and sending rainwater spraying everywhere.
Silence followed.
"…Oops."
"SHIORI-SAMA!!"
Ryu suddenly barged into the destroyed tent alongside Haru, Kuro, Fang, Dayama, and Yamada.
"Oh, hey guys," I greeted awkwardly while slowly raising off the floor.
Kuro immediately rushed over.
"Are you injured?!" he asked worriedly while checking my face and arms for bruises.
"I'm fine, really," I assured him, gently moving his hands away. Ryu noticed the book lying nearby.
"…A magic manual?" he blinked
"I was practicing magic," I admitted casually.
"That's all, so don't panic." Everyone stared at the completely obliterated tent walls.Then they stared back at me.
"…You destroyed an entire tent with one intermediate spell," Fang muttered.
"Wow…" Dayama said with visible admiration. "You're incredibly talented, Shiori-sama!"
"Thank you, Dayama," I replied before pointing toward the mess surrounding us.
"Now please get this place cleaned up and send someone to prepare a new tent for me."
"Yes, Shiori-sama!"
The goblin immediately sprinted away at full speed.
Fang stepped forward calmly afterward.
"Do not worry, Shiori-sama. Your temporary residence is almost complete."
My eyes lit up instantly.
"Oh really?!
Finally.
No more living like a homeless fantasy protagonist.