Arthur and Yotsuya Miko headed upstairs to the second floor.
The two sat close together, chatting.
Miko told him about the events of the past few days—
such as her battles against evil spirits.
Just yesterday, Yurikawa Hana had been targeted by another spirit.
Since using spiritual energy would trigger the phenomenon of solar flares, she didn't dare act rashly.
Instead, she escorted Hana safely back home.
Thankfully, spirits couldn't enter inhabited houses.
That one had been stuck outside.
Seeing it lingering at the door, Miko lured it away, then ambushed and exorcised it in a suitable location.
In short—
a sneak attack.
As the spirit drew close, attracted to her life energy, she gathered her spiritual power into her whole body, funneling everything into her fist.
That punch carried her full strength.
And the spirit had exploded on the spot.
After their talk, the two got playful and began a hand-clapping game.
Over an hour later, they finally stopped and took a break.
"By the way, Miko…"
Arthur turned to her and asked:
"Are you going home tonight?"
"Eh?"
Still dazed from losing the game, Miko hadn't really heard him.
Seeing that, Arthur chuckled and repeated, "I said, are you going home tonight?"
This time, her eyes refocused, gradually clearing.
Her voice came out soft and a little hoarse:
"I told my mom I'd be staying over at Hana's tonight."
"I see."
Arthur raised a brow.
He recalled that she had used the same excuse the last time she came.
Unknowingly, Yurikawa Hana had already "hosted" Miko for two nonexistent sleepovers.
"In that case… how about another round?"
He rolled over, pinning Miko beneath him.
"N-no, not again! Let's rest, please…"
Her expression changed at once.
Though part of her longed for it, she shook her head. Her body felt drained of all strength.
Arthur was just… too much.
If they continued, she feared she might really break.
"It's fine. Watch me."
With a small smile, Arthur activated his Sky Magic.
A soothing power instantly spread through Miko's body.
Her spirit lifted, her fatigue dissolving rapidly.
Once she was restored, Arthur dismissed the magic and—ignoring her gasp of protest—mounted her once more.
A symphony of joy played again in the bedroom.
By past three in the morning, Arthur gazed at the sleeping Miko beside him.
Her face was flushed, her brows faintly knit, even in slumber.
With a gentle smile, he quietly cast Sky Magic again.
This time he carefully controlled the flow of energy so as not to wake her.
The moment the power seeped into her, Miko's expression relaxed.
Her lips curved slightly, a blissful smile spreading—as though she were dreaming something sweet.
Arthur slipped out of bed, changed into fresh clothes, and entered the bathroom for a quick shower.
But halfway through—
"…Hm?!"
His heart jolted.
He sensed something unusual rapidly approaching.
It was an instinct born of his many augmented senses—
a danger sense that had never triggered until now.
That alone proved how extraordinary the presence was.
Perhaps equal to him.
Or stronger.
His thoughts sharpened as he strode to the window.
Looking out, he saw a massive shadow streaking across the night sky.
It was cloaked in some kind of energy that masked its form.
Its speed was astonishing—it had already flown kilometers away in mere seconds.
"…Heading toward Saitama."
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
With a thought, he summoned the Compendium of All Things.
Sure enough, a new, unlit entry appeared.
When unlit, the image showed only a silhouette—
and this one was clearly shaped like a dragon.
A Western dragon.
"A dragon…"
His gaze deepened.
In a modern-day crossover world, the sudden appearance of a Western dragon could only mean one thing.
He immediately thought of a certain series:
Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.
The one that had just flown by was, without doubt, Tohru.
He had even glimpsed a sword embedded in her back.
If he wanted to confirm, he only needed to follow.
Without hesitation, he shut off the shower.
Circulating Force through his body, he evaporated every drop of water instantly.
He dressed quickly: a white T-shirt, a black hoodie, khaki slacks.
Grabbing his phone and keys, he stepped into the courtyard—
and launched into the sky.
A concealing barrier wrapped around him,
and at half the speed of sound, he shot toward Saitama.
Between the barrier and the powers of his Silver Sanctuary, his flight left no trace.
Soon, he reached a familiar place.
Saitama Prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo—
the city of Oborozuka.
He'd been here before, luring a horde of evil spirits during a previous trap-and-cull operation.
"Oborozuka…"
Murmuring the name, Arthur suddenly remembered something.
In Dragon Maid, wasn't that the very city where the story was set?
He had never noticed before.
If not for encountering Tohru now, he might never have realized.
Not long after, on the city outskirts—
Arthur tracked the target into the same mountain forest as before.
Landing quietly, he advanced along the woodland path.
Through the underbrush, he finally spotted her.
A colossal dragon sprawled on the ground.
Its emerald-green scales shimmered like cut gemstones fitted together,
and even lying down, it stood nearly three meters tall.
A pair of bat-like black wings sprouted from its back.
On its head, a pair of antler-like brown horns branched upward, while sharp white fangs glinted from the sides of its maw.
A massive sword was lodged in its back, the wound still oozing blood that writhed before dissipating.
So it really is Tohru.
Arthur's thoughts stirred.
Sensing someone's approach, the dragon slowly lifted its head and opened its eyes.
Golden irises, slit with crimson pupils, gleamed with dangerous majesty.
An invisible pressure spread through the air.
An ordinary human would have collapsed to the ground in terror.
"Human. Leave this place."
"Or die."
Her voice was cold, imperious.
Barred fangs glinted as she bared her teeth.
Yet Arthur felt no killing intent.
Instead, he smiled faintly.
Man and dragon locked eyes.
The night breeze stirred Arthur's hair.
For a long moment, they simply stared.
Then, a flicker of surprise flashed in Tohru's heart.
This human wasn't afraid of her at all.
More than that—she sensed no malice from him.
His gaze toward her carried… warmth.
Even an odd sense of fondness.
What a strange human.
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