Yuuto kept staring at where Lady Avalon had fallen.
He took a deep breath—then shifted his gaze to the figure standing behind Yamato, Miku, and Kuroneko.
A solid-shouldered figure, hair like blazing red whipped by the sea wind. A beautiful face, but full of alertness.
Irene Belserion.
Yuuto stepped lightly, about to greet her.
"Oh, you must be Irene Belserion, right? Why—"
His step stopped.
Yuuto froze.
Their eyes met.
And…
Thump.
A strange—yet familiar—pressure slammed into Yuuto's chest. A vibration that ran from his bones to the core of his body.
'What is this? What feeling is this?'
Irene felt the same thing. Her eyes widened, pupils narrowing like a reptile's.
She took a step back.
"D-don't come closer!"
Her voice trembled — not from fear, but from a dragon's instinctive panic.
Yuuto stopped. He was confused.
Irene felt not only power…
But a bond. A frequency of existence from a higher being.
'No… impossible… why does that creature's aura feel like…'
Yuuto wanted to speak, but Irene beat him to it — her gaze sharp and shocked.
"Who are you?
Why… why do I feel some kind of connection to you?"
Yuuto opened his mouth — but before he could answer…
"That comes from Arthur's Dragon Factor and Dragon Core. Definitely that."
Lady Avalon stood, rubbing her flushed forehead, brows puckered.
Miku watched Irene with worry. She could see Irene's hand trembling slightly — a clear sign the dragon instinct was rattled.
"Could that be…? They're from different worlds, right?" Miku asked with concern.
Lady Avalon nodded casually.
"Yes, very possible.
Two dragons — even from different worlds — will always recognize each other. A dragon is a dragon."
Irene closed her eyes and inhaled slowly. The threatening aura that had surrounded her eased bit by bit.
Without a word she turned and headed toward the trees.
Yamato took half a step.
"Irene… where are you going?"
Irene didn't look back. Her voice was flat, but sounded strained.
"Going away for a bit. I need… to calm down. Don't look for me."
Miku hurried to follow. "Irene! Don't go alone — this island—"
Irene cut her off immediately.
"Stop. Don't come near."
Yuuto gently held Miku back.
"Let her be, Miku. Something's happening to Irene; she needs space. Besides… Yamato probably checked the whole island already."
Yamato gave a thumbs up.
"Yeah! I pummeled all the dangerous creatures to bits!"
"W-wow… that doesn't make me much calmer, but okay… makes sense," said Miku.
"Anyway, let's move somewhere else to rest," Yuuto said.
Irene began walking into the shadow of the trees.
Just before her figure vanished completely…
she murmured quietly.
Very quietly. Almost inaudible.
"…bastard."
Almost no one heard Irene's mutter because they were already far away — but one person still there heard it clearly.
Only one person heard it: Lady Avalon.
She watched Irene's back disappear, her lips curving into a small, curious smile.
Yuuto looked and saw Merlin facing Irene.
"Sensei? Why are you staying silent? Aren't you coming with us?"
Lady Avalon lowered her hand from her forehead. Her smile shifted into a lecherous grin.
"Hehehe~"
Then Merlin turned back, expression returning to his usual self.
"Oh no, my dear student… I'm coming."
Yuuto didn't know why, but a shiver ran through him.
'What was that feeling just now,' Yuuto thought.
---
On the beach; only the sound of waves softly hitting the sand. Moonlight shivered across the sea, turning everything silver.
"So Yamato, where's your ship?" Miku asked, looking out at the dark sea.
"Ohh, don't worry," Yamato said, hands on his hips.
"I already told her to wait around here."
"Her…?" Kuroneko repeated.
"Well, that," Yamato said, pointing to another stretch of beach.
Yuuto squinted.
"What do you mean?"
"There! She's walking this way," Yamato said nonchalantly.
"Walking?" Kuroneko frowned.
But they saw nothing.
Yamato sighed loudly.
"Good grief… HEY! WE'RE OVER HERE!!!"
Suddenly a silhouette appeared from the thin mist, walking slowly along the shoreline. Her steps were calm and elegant.
"I-it—impossible…" Kuroneko muttered, trembling.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Kuroneko?" Yuuto asked.
The shadow drew nearer. Moonlight fell across the figure—
A woman in a white gown, something on her head, posture graceful and perfect.
"A maid?" Miku said, still in disbelief.
"B-b-how is she here…" Kuroneko said, turning pale.
Kuroneko looked at Yamato accusingly.
Yamato gave an awkward laugh. "Hehe…"
The figure stopped directly in front of them and bowed gracefully.
"Good evening. Welcome, Miss Yamato… and honored guests," she said in a calm but very dignified voice.
Lady Avalon smiled broadly.
"Ohh… what a lovely girl."
Kuroneko finally exploded.
"Y-Y-YAMATO! Y-YOU—YOU'VE BEEN HIDING THIS—!!"
"Ohh, sorry, should I have told you?" Yamato pretended innocence.
"You hid this from us!" Kuroneko yelled.
"Hehehe… sorry."
Miku and Yuuto exchanged glances — not understanding the fuss.
Lady Avalon smirked like she already knew.
"Oh, this is interesting…"
The maid stepped forward a little. Her posture was perfectly straight, as if she carried courtly grace with her.
"Forgive me," she said softly.
"It seems Miss Yamato has not had the chance to introduce me."
"Oh! Are you a friend of Yamato's assigned to guard the ship?" Miku asked, puzzled.
The maid smiled faintly.
"No, Miss. I am not the ship's guardian."
She stepped into the surf. When her heel touched water—
she did not sink; she stood on the surface.
Then…
blue light like holographic particles lit the sea's surface. From the dark depths a massive ship slowly rose… lifting from the water with the grace of a ballet.
A silver-white hull, elegant blue lines, Royal Navy insignia — a Light Cruiser.
Everyone fell silent.
The maid turned back toward them and bowed slightly.
"Allow me to introduce myself…"
Stars reflected in her eyes.
"My name is Belfast. A light cruiser, of the Royal Navy faction."
She placed a hand on her chest in a polite salute.
"And — starting tonight —
I am the ship that belongs to you all. Please call me Belfast, the faithful servant attending this party."
---
The ship's deck glowed with soft yellow lights, glittering over the night sea as Belfast stood tall and elegant behind Yamato.
They all stepped onto the ship.
"I still can't believe you got a sentient ship."
Yuuto touched Belfast's rail, feeling the smooth, gleaming metal.
"More like a ship girl," Lady Avalon corrected, arms crossed. "From Kuroneko's explanation earlier."
"And she's a maid," Miku added, eyes shining with interest as she looked at Belfast.
Belfast returned a polite, small smile.
Yamato laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha! Surprising, right? I was shocked when I got the gift too!"
Kuroneko sat on the deck floor, turned away and puffing her cheeks. She looked like a sulking kitten.
Yuuto stepped closer.
"Come on, Kuroneko. Don't sulk. Yamato didn't mean anything — he was just joking."
Yamato approached Kuroneko.
"Sorry, Kuroneko. I really didn't expect you to be so into Belfast."
"Shut up…" Kuroneko muttered. She stole a small glance at Belfast — eyes gleaming like a top-tier fangirl.
"If you seriously want an apology…" Kuroneko stood and faced Yamato with demands.
"I want a photo later. With Belfast."
Yamato looked at Belfast.
"You don't mind, do you, Belfast?"
Belfast bowed slightly, graceful as ever.
"Of course I do not mind. If it pleases Kuroneko, I will gladly do it."
Kuroneko immediately straightened up and hurried over, her face bright again.
Yuuto looked at Belfast seriously.
"All right, that's settled. Next," Yuuto said, looking at Belfast, "Belfast-san, there's one thing I want to ask."
Belfast smiled gently.
"Please call me Belfast, Mr. Yuuto."
"Eh? Then call me Yuuto. No need for 'Mr.'"
Belfast shook her head slightly.
"My apologies, but calling one's master without a title is a breach of etiquette for a servant."
Yuuto sighed.
"But your master is Yamato, right…?"
"May I ask your question, Mr. Yuuto?" Belfast cut in calmly.
Yuuto gave up.
"…Fine. Question: why were you able to come to this world? Was it the group system? Or something else?"
Lady Avalon leaned forward, also curious.
"I want to know that too."
Belfast closed her eyes for a moment, as if recalling something.
"I arrived in this world by the group system's summons," she said slowly.
"At the time I was resting after a fierce battle against the Sirens. My body was near exhaustion, and I was preparing to sleep."
Miku stepped closer, curious.
"And then… what happened?"
Belfast opened her eyes.
"Yes. A voice… offered me something.
'A world without Sirens. A world without endless war.'"
There was a short silence.
Yuuto frowned.
"And you accepted that offer?"
Belfast shook her head gently.
"I… remember nothing after that."
"When I opened my eyes…"
She looked around the ship's deck.
"I was already on this island. In this body of mine. And with a hull modified to be habitable for humans."
"The group system gave me basic information about you… that I was assigned as a servant and ship. I also received a message that my comrades would come someday."
Belfast bowed politely.
"From today on, I will perform all duties as servant, navigator, ship-guardian, and your combat support."
Yuuto, Lady Avalon, Kuroneko, and Miku fell silent for a moment, admiring how professional Belfast was.
"Hahahaha, how great — perfect for our upcoming multiverse adventures," Yamato said cheerfully.