The continent of Terra.
The snowfields of Ursus.
The endless expanse of pure white snow stung Talulah’s eyes, making them ache.
She didn’t know how much longer these days would last.
Speaking of which, why isn’t Alina back yet?
She had only gone to the eastern village to trade for some food.
Normally, she would have been back by now.
A nagging feeling, an intuition born of her Draco blood, told her something was wrong.
She called over FrostNova and Patriot to ask, but neither of them had seen Alina today.
“This won’t do.
I have to go find her!”
With no time for second thoughts, Talulah turned and ran towards the eastern village.
Her footsteps echoed across the desolate snowfield, each one a hammer blow against the fear in her heart.
The frigid air bit at her cheeks, and her every exhale turned into a plume of white mist that quickly dissipated into the silent surroundings.
Her heart raced, and the ominous premonitions shrouded her mind like a dark shadow.
As she ran, her boots crunched into the deep snow, but the unease in her heart only intensified.
She could smell it in the air—the faint, mixed scent of iron and sweat.
It was a primal smell, one intimately linked with life and death.
Her agile, full-speed sprint came to an abrupt halt.
As a powerful Draco who had never flinched even when facing the Ursus Empire’s strongest—the Emperor’s Blades—she now found herself trembling all over, as if confronted by an immense terror.
There on the snow, a figure lay curled into a ball, stained with dark red blood.
The filthy blood, mixed with dirt, caked her body.
Her limbs were twisted at angles no living person could endure.
The ring Alina always wore was gone from her hand, yet her shattered fingers still gripped tightly to a small basket.
Seemingly sensing a familiar presence, Alina, whose consciousness was already fading, murmured through her lips, her voice as faint as the buzz of a fly.
“I’m…
sorry…
The dried fruit…
for the children…
I couldn’t protect it…”
“Alina!
Who did this?
Was it the villagers?
I’ll kill them!”
“Talulah…
I…
I’m not going to make it.”
“Alina!
You can’t give up!
You have to hold on!
I haven’t shown you the world where the children of the Infected can live under the same blue sky as normal children!
You can’t die!
I won’t let you die!
Once we get back to camp, we can heal you!”
“Talulah…
don’t…
force it.
Seeing you one last time…
I can die with no regrets.
But…
I have one last request.
I hope you won’t resent those who hurt me.
Don’t let hatred grow…
or else…
it will consume you…”
Tears streamed from the corners of Talulah’s eyes.
She desperately wanted to call out Alina’s name, but no sound would come out.
She wanted to speak, to answer Alina, but she was voiceless.
Why?
Why did it have to turn out like this?
“ALINA!!!”
She couldn’t think of any way to save her.
In this moment of utter desperation, she remembered the Dimensional Chat Group and, without hesitation, sent out a plea for help.
She knew most of the members would be powerless, but at a time like this, she had no other choice!
Immediately after, she saw a reply from the new member, followed by a request.
[The Steel Warden] has requested to join your world.
Do you accept?
[Yes/No]
“Yes!”
—o—
In the next instant, a heavy wooden door materialized a dozen meters away.
A young man stepped out.
He had silver-gray hair, a tall, slender frame, and was dressed like a delinquent, exuding a calm and cool-headed aura.
He was carrying a case of milk in one hand and a blue Tarot card in the other, and he was running toward her.
“Persona!”
Chiaki crushed the Tarot card, intending to summon his Persona to heal Alina.
However, the expected Persona didn’t appear, as if blocked by a thick Wall of the Heart.
My self-actualization should be strong enough to summon a Persona in reality by now.
Is it the difference in worldviews?
“In that case…
Izanagi-no-Okami!
Come forth!”
Chiaki pulled a silver pistol bearing the letters S.E.E.S.
from his pocket, pointed it at his own head, and pulled the trigger.
A mysterious being slowly materialized behind him.
It was clad in a brilliant silver trench coat and wore an ornate silver mask.
Its arms, legs, and chest were covered in exquisite, gleaming armor.
In its hand, it held a massive ōdachi with a ring-shaped guard, its blade flashing with a cold light.
The figure was noble and sacred, radiating an endless sense of majesty and gravitas, like a deity stepping out of ancient legend, inspiring awe and reverence.
Its name was Izanagi-no-Okami!
“Salvation!”
At Chiaki’s command, the Izanagi-no-Okami behind him spun its greatsword, making it whirl like a propeller.
A wind-like radiance drifted toward Alina, enveloping her entire body.
Talulah’s eyes were wide with disbelief and shock.
She stared intently at Alina in her arms, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
Under the light’s influence, the crimson liquid rapidly clotted and the skin regained its original color.
She watched in astonishment as Alina’s once-twisted limbs began to slowly straighten, bones and sinews realigning as if gently smoothed by an invisible force.
Even more incredibly, Alina’s breathing, which had been on the verge of disappearing, gradually returned to a normal, steady rhythm.
Her chest rose and fell with strength as the breath of life was infused back into her body.
Talulah: “??!”
“Calm down.
Here, drink some milk to steady your nerves.” Chiaki said with a faint smile, handing her the expired milk.
After confirming Talulah had taken a drink, Chiaki nodded, a triumphant grin on his face.
“This is a small gift.
Please accept it.”
“Ah, this…
you’re too kind.” Talulah had lost all hope for Alina’s survival, yet this newcomer arrived, saved her, and even gave her a gift.
This was far too much.
She was about to refuse, but Chiaki had already vanished, leaving only the case of milk on the snow.
What a good person, she thought.
But…
why does my stomach suddenly hurt?
—o—
[The Steel Warden]: Problem solved.
[Customer Service Sakiko]: It’s great that the problem was resolved so smoothly!
As expected of the Warden.
That said, shouldn’t the newcomer introduce himself?
[The Steel Warden]: Just call me Chiaki.
Of course, you can also call me Banchō.
[Yearning to be a Magical Girl]: Banchō?
Are you some kind of gang leader?
[Underworld’s Rokurokubi]: What’s a banchō?
[Customer Service Sakiko]: A banchō is another word for a leader.
In our world, it’s usually reserved for the heads of yakuza organizations or the top dog of a school’s delinquents.
Simply put, a banchō is the boss.
[I Want to Eat Mei-Flavored Noodles]: Then what does “Warden” (Lao Da) mean?
[Customer Service Sakiko]: ….
How was she supposed to explain this?
Should she tell Kiana that a famous basketball player died in a helicopter crash, so he’s called “Lao Da”?
No, no, no.
Chiaki wouldn’t have chosen that name for such a dark-humor reason.
There must be another meaning.
Perhaps due to cultural differences between their worlds, “Lao Da” over there simply means “boss.”
[The Steel Warden]: It’s nothing special.
I was in a plane crash once, which ‘inducted’ me into the ‘Lao’ generation.
Plus, back home, I’m the leader of the “Self-Proclaimed Special Investigation Team,” in other words, the ‘Lao Da’ (leader/boss).
It’s a pun, so naturally, I’m called the Warden (Lao Da).