Miyabi looked at Cael.
Her expression remained unchanged, but a strange look briefly flickered through her eyes.
“This area isn’t safe.
Public Security and the rescue teams are already on their way.
I suggest finding somewhere secure and hiding until they arrive.”
Cael glanced around, then gave an awkward smile.
“I don’t know the area.
I’m actually an orphan.
I used to live in the Outer Ring and only came into the city because I was planning to find a job.
Then the Hollow expansion happened today…”
When you were on your own, your background was whatever you said it was.
Besides, he really was an orphan.
Claiming he’d come from the Outer Ring was perfectly reasonable.
“…All right.
Follow me for now.
Hollows are dangerous, so don’t wander off.”
“Okay.”
Miyabi turned and headed out of the alley.
Cael followed about five steps behind her, staring at her back while thinking about how he could warn her about the Ethereal explosion.
As someone born and raised in this world, Miyabi undoubtedly knew far more about Ethereals than he did.
And with the Ethereals in this world possessing Aberration Traits, the information from the game could only be treated as reference material.
He couldn’t rely on it blindly.
Miyabi suddenly stopped.
Cael, lost in thought, failed to notice and walked straight into her back.
“Ah, sorry, Miss Hoshimi!”
Cael hurriedly stepped back half a pace and apologized.
“It’s fine.”
Miyabi turned around and took a vial from her pocket.
“You don’t seem to have any Ether aptitude, and you’re already showing mild symptoms of corruption.
This is a high-grade anti-corruption serum.”
“Oh—right.
Thank you, Miss Hoshimi!”
Cael accepted the vial from her and drank it in one go.
“Miss Hoshimi, do you know a lot about Ethereals?
I spent most of my life in the Outer Ring, and I didn’t even have a phone, so I couldn’t really go online.
I barely know anything about Ethereals or what you’re supposed to do if you encounter one inside a Hollow.
“Could you explain some of it to me?
That way, if I ever run into an Ethereal again, I’ll at least know how to protect myself.”
As expected, asking about Ethereals was the best way to approach this.
The fox-eared girl thought for a moment before answering.
“Ethereals are special lifeforms born within Hollows.
They require a certain level of Ether to survive.
Every Ethereal is dangerous.
“If you haven’t received professional anti-Ethereal combat training, you should never face one alone.
If you encounter an Ethereal, the best option is to hide somewhere, remain quiet, and wait for rescue—or wait until the Ethereal leaves.”
“I see…”
Cael nodded thoughtfully.
“I’ve seen some movies where certain Ethereals can explode.
Is that actually true?”
“Are you talking about Blastcrawler?” Miyabi replied.
“They’re extremely dangerous Ethereals.
They’re classified as suicide-type destruction Ethereals.
They actively approach their targets before triggering a violent Ether explosion.
The blast radius is roughly five meters.”
Cael silently listened to her explanation.
The low-risk Blastcrawler from the game was apparently considered a medium-risk or even high-risk Ethereal here.
“Then how are you supposed to deal with one?”
“Ranged attacks.
Destroy it before it gets close, or leave the blast radius before it detonates.”
“Miss Hoshimi, what if there was an especially powerful Blastcrawler?
One with an incredibly strong explosion and such a wide blast radius that you couldn’t escape in time.
What if it could even cause the surrounding Ether to undergo a chain reaction?
How would you deal with something like that…?”
Miyabi’s steps paused.
Several strange images flashed through her mind, only to disappear just as quickly.
A high-risk Ethereal that exploded…
For some reason, that particular idea surfaced in her thoughts.
Cael assumed she was considering his question.
Using Blastcrawler as a lead-in and introducing the concept of an explosive Ethereal was the best way to warn her indirectly.
As long as Miyabi knew such a possibility existed, her combat instincts should be enough for her to react appropriately if she actually encountered one.
Dullahan, you cheap bastard.
Using an explosion to catch Miyabi off guard?
Not this time.
“If such an Ethereal really existed, it might be possible to reduce the force of the explosion by severing the surrounding Ether flow,” Miyabi answered after thinking for a moment.
Cael looked slightly startled.
“Sever the Ether flow?
Can you actually do that, Miss Hoshimi?”
“For me, it isn’t particularly difficult.”
Cael relaxed.
Good.
If Miyabi had a countermeasure, then she wouldn’t be helpless against Dullahan’s explosion this time.
His goal had been achieved.
It really hadn’t been easy.
After all, he was the only person who knew the truth, and he couldn’t simply tell Miyabi outright that he knew Dullahan could explode.
That would immediately make her suspicious.
The two continued walking for a while.
Along the way, Miyabi killed another Tyrfing.
Cael checked it.
As expected, this one also possessed both [Evolution] and [Gigantification].
At that moment, a communication from Tsukishiro Yanagi arrived.
Just like before, the conversation played out without any changes.
Yanagi informed Miyabi that the Hollow expansion had been caused by a high-risk Ethereal—Dullahan.
Once Yanagi transmitted Dullahan’s coordinates, Miyabi led Cael all the way to the spatial rift.
It was the rift leading to Dullahan’s location.
And beyond it was where Miyabi’s next battle would take place.
“…Are you still planning to follow me?”
Miyabi stopped and looked at the young man behind her.
“There’s going to be a dangerous battle ahead.
For your own safety, you can’t follow me any farther.”
“Miss Hoshimi, I want to come with you.”
“No.”
Miyabi’s answer was calm, her expression betraying neither joy nor anger.
Cael took a deep breath.
Looks like there was only one method left.
He looked deeply into Miyabi’s beautiful eyes.
“Miss Hoshimi, you know…
I’ve actually always been your fan.
“From the very first moment I saw you, I was completely captivated.
I still remember that afternoon, hearing people talk about how you entered Hollows to hunt Ethereals, how you cut them down cleanly and stood there as you sheathed your sword.
“I’ve never forgotten it.
“And when you saved me from that Ethereal, I knew my heart was already yours.
Nothing else in this life could possibly compare.
“To witness you fighting an Ethereal with my own eyes…
that’s my greatest wish!”
Miyabi fell silent for several seconds.
Then several more.
“…”
She turned her head slightly away.
A faint blush appeared on her face.
The fingers of the hand holding Tailless at her side unconsciously curled tighter, while her fox ears gently folded backward, their tips taking on a light shade of pink.
Those crimson eyes that remained calm even when facing swarms of Ethereals or difficult cases drifted away, no longer daring to meet Cael’s direct, burning gaze.
Even the cold aura that normally surrounded her seemed to soften slightly.
Miyabi was no stranger to praise.
But she’d never encountered anything quite like this.
Was there really any difference between praise this direct and a confession?
My…
fan?
She pursed her lips before speaking.
“If that’s truly your greatest wish, then I’ll help you fulfill it.
But for your own safety, stay as far away from the battle as possible while I’m fighting.”
As expected.
No one could completely resist praise like that.
Not even the usually aloof Miyabi.
“I promise!”
It really helps the fic grow!