Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The first surprise villainess scores a perfect 10.
Several days had passed since Yume gained her powers, and to Noah’s misfortune, those days had confirmed something he already suspected.
Yume was a public hazard.
"I did it!"
An explosion ripped across the training grounds.
A tree fell, then another, and then part of a nearby wall.
Noah surveyed the destruction.
’This world definitely survived by sheer luck.’
Luna brought a hand to her face.
"That was aimed at the target."
"I know!"
"The target is still intact."
"I know that too!"
Yume lowered her head.
"Sorry..."
"It’s fine."
Noah sighed.
"Just try not to destroy any more infrastructure."
"I’ll do my best."
"You didn’t say you’d stop doing it."
"I’d like to promise that, but I think it would be impossible to keep."
Noah felt a chill.
’That answer was way too honest.’
Still, the training was working.
Yume was gradually learning to control her power, while Luna kept improving steadily.
’Wish I had useful abilities like them...’
The moment Noah finished that thought, he suddenly felt something.
His body tensed as the sensation hit him all at once, signaling that something was approaching them very fast.
Noah turned his head and scanned the forest while the presence grew stronger.
"Yume! Luna! Something’s coming!"
A shadow appeared behind him and he barely managed to open his eyes.
A massive creature descended on their position, but before he could react, two figures shot in front of him.
A pink explosion struck the monster.
At the same time, several black projectiles pierced its body.
The creature was sent flying.
Noah stepped back.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Luna didn’t take her eyes off the enemy.
Yume raised a thumbs-up.
"We saved you!"
Then a laugh echoed through the area, a female voice.
Everyone looked up and saw an unknown girl standing on top of the monster.
She had short, vibrant teal-green hair with loose strands falling beneath a built-in gray hood.
Her eyes were a vivid magenta-pink, shining with amusement as she watched the scene.
She wore a tight gray dress made of a smooth, slightly shiny satin-like material that clung to her figure like a second skin. The outfit left her shoulders bare, paired with long gloves that reached her forearms and high boots that completed the look.
The most striking features were the very pronounced side slits that exposed her hips and a large portion of her thighs, along with thick golden ropes tied firmly around her ribs and the upper part of her thighs, creating a sharp contrast and a clear bondage-inspired touch to the design.
The girl smiled boldly, as if everything were just a fun game.
Noah felt the blood drain from his face.
’It can’t be.’
He recognized that face perfectly, he had seen it many times.
It was Reina Kuromiya, one of the main villainesses in the anime. But the biggest problem was that she wasn’t supposed to appear yet. It was still far too early.
’Why is she here!?’
His mind began racing.
Yume and Luna still lacked combat experience.
They were nowhere near the level needed to face Reina.
Then something worse happened.
Reina stopped smiling and her gaze moved directly to him.
Noah felt an uncomfortable pressure as the villainess’s expression changed. She now looked serious, very serious.
That was when he remembered.
’That’s right...’
Reina hated men, and it wasn’t a mild dislike, it was genuine hatred.
In a world where men were almost nonexistent, seeing one right in front of her was probably like pouring gasoline on a fire.
"Well, well."
Reina’s voice sounded cold.
"What an unpleasant thing."
Noah swallowed.
"G-Good morning."
"No."
"No what?"
"It’s not a good morning."
"Well, it’s still afternoon, so..."
"What an irritating voice."
"That hatred came on fast."
Reina frowned.
Yume stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
"Someone who came to destroy things. Can’t you tell?"
Luna formed more black spheres.
"Then you’re an enemy."
"Correct."
The ground trembled, making Noah’s eyes widen as his detection ability activated again.
"Below!"
Several creatures burst from the ground.
Yume jumped back, Luna fired immediately, and Noah dodged a monster’s claws by centimeters.
’It worked.’
The skill really did work.
He could detect them before they appeared, giving him a huge advantage.
Another monster tried to attack him and Noah sidestepped, making the creature hit nothing but air.
"Noah!"
"I’m fine!"
His gaze returned to Reina, who was concentrating, and he immediately recalled her powers: summoning.
She could awaken dormant monsters and bring them into battle, but each summon required time, concentration, and preparation, so it wasn’t instant.
That meant she had a weakness.
"Yume!"
"Yes?"
"Build up energy!"
"Got it!"
"Luna, cover me!"
Luna didn’t hesitate.
"Understood."
Noah broke into a run, making Reina raise an eyebrow.
"What is this man trying to do?"
"Annoy you."
Noah’s smile appeared.
"I’m pretty good at that."
Reina made a face of disgust. The ground trembled again and new monsters began to emerge, but Noah already knew where they would appear.
"Luna, left side!"
A creature exploded before it could fully emerge.
"Two meters behind me!"
Another monster vanished.
Reina narrowed her eyes.
"How are you doing that!?"
"Magic."
"That doesn’t answer anything."
"Exactly."
The villainess’s expression worsened as she tried to concentrate again, but Noah kept closing in and every time she attempted to summon something, Luna destroyed the monster before it could act.
"How annoying!"
"Thanks."
"That wasn’t a compliment!"
"I’ll take it anyway."
Reina’s patience finally ran out and she snapped her fingers.
The massive monster she had been using as a mount roared and charged straight at Noah.
The ground shook and Yume’s eyes widened.
"Noah!"
But he didn’t move. He waited, and at the last instant he threw himself to the side, letting the creature barrel past.
"Now!"
Yume smiled.
She had been building up energy the entire time.
"I’ll call this one Star Shot!"
A massive surge of energy fired out. The impact was immediate and the explosion shook the entire area.
The monster no longer existed, leaving only a cloud of smoke behind.
Yume raised both arms.
"I did it!"
"Don’t get distracted."
Luna kept aiming at Reina, who was now standing on top of a tree.
The villainess clicked her tongue and tried to summon another monster, but Noah seized the opportunity.
He ran, jumped, and managed to grab her.
"What are you doing!?"
"Stopping you from summoning things!"
"Let go!"
"No!"
Both of them started struggling. Reina tried to push him away while Noah tried to keep her pinned down, but they both lost their balance and then it happened.
They fell. Their faces collided and their lips touched.
The world seemed to fall silent for a few seconds.
Noah opened his eyes at the same time as Reina and they immediately separated.
"I’m sorry!"
Noah raised his hands.
"It was an accident!"
Reina remained completely still.
Then Noah saw a window appear in front of him.
[Cute Face Activated]
Noah was confused.
’Why did that skill activate!?’
Reina kept staring at him, but her expression had changed. She looked confused, as if trying to process what had just happened.
"It wasn’t intentional."
Noah said.
"I swear."
"I..."
Reina stayed silent.
"You?"
"I..."
Before she could finish the sentence, something shot past her head at high speed.
A sphere of energy cut through the air, making Noah freeze as it disappeared into the horizon.
He slowly turned his head and saw Yume smiling, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
"Yume...?"
Then he saw Luna. Her usual expression was gone, replaced by one that looked dangerous, very dangerous.
"Noah."
Luna said in a cold tone.
"Yes?"
"What was that?"
"An accident."
"Of course."
Yume appeared behind him.
"An accident?"
"It wasn’t intentional!"
"I see."
"You don’t look like you see!"
"No, I do see."
"You definitely don’t see!"
Reina observed the scene between Yume, Luna, and Noah, then smiled an amused smile.
"Oh."
She took a step back.
"Now I understand."
"Understand what?"
"That this is going to be very entertaining."
Before anyone could stop her, her body began to fade.
"Wait!"
Noah exclaimed, but Reina disappeared and silence returned.
Noah was left alone facing two magical girls who had seen exactly what happened and were clearly not happy.
Luna and Yume stepped forward.
Noah stepped back.
’I’m going to die.’
"Noah?"
Yume asked with a dangerous smile.
"Y-Yes?"
"We have some questions."
Luna nodded.
"Lots of questions."
Noah looked at the spot where Reina had disappeared and, for the first time in his life, felt envy for a villainess because she had managed to escape.
For some reason, he had the feeling that the next few minutes would be far more terrifying than any battle against monsters.
Besides, one thought kept repeating in his head.
Reina Kuromiya had appeared way too early, which meant only one thing.
The canon was still changing, and it was drifting further and further from what he remembered.
That was very bad news.
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