Chapter 10: A lead At Last
....
Shiori's pov
It had been a few weeks since the dwarves and the other races officially moved into my spiritual space, though calling it a "spiritual space" felt inaccurate now.
At this point, it was practically, ethereal city.
And honestly?Watching it slowly evolve into a functioning civilization triggered the same satisfaction I used to get while perfectly organizing a late-game strategy base in a kingdom-building simulator.
Except this wasn't some RPG save file anymore. This was real. Every road, every farm, every workshop, every alliance between species… all of it existed because of decisions I made.
The land had improved rapidly after the arrival of more races. The dwarves exchanged construction techniques with the spider clan, the goblins adapted farming methods from the fishmen, and somehow Haruna had convinced people that "snack breaks" improved productivity.
I still wasn't sure if that was scientifically true or if she just wanted excuses to eat.
Not that I blamed her. The produce here are of gourmet quality.
I sat quietly in my tent, flipping through several organized documents spread across the desk. Ledgers. Population records. Resource distribution. Agricultural projections. Defensive layouts.
My least favorite one being finances.
Why did economy systems always become annoying in every world?
Whether it was civilization simulators, MMORPG guild management, or real life kingdoms apparently, money always became the final boss.
A tired sigh escaped my lips as I closed one of the books.
Most of my time lately had been divided between studying magic manuals and training my abilities. Unlike the fantasy protagonists in anime who mastered everything overnight through "the power of friendship," reality apparently required effort.
A lot of effort.
From what I understood so far, I possessed affinities for multiple elements.
Water.
Fire.
Earth.
Wind.
Darkness.
And technically light magic too… though my compatibility with it was embarrassingly low.
Honestly, it felt like rolling a rare multi-element character build only to discover one stat was permanently nerfed.
Then there were my elite skills. Predator was by far the most useful currently. The ability itself was absurdly broken if used properly. Absorb. Analyze. Consume. Adapt.
A skill that rewarded careful planning. Which meant it suited me perfectly.
But there was a catch.
Apparently there was a limit to the number of skills I could possess
"I still don't know the exact limit…" I muttered quietly while leaning back in my chair. "Meaning I can't just consume every flashy ability I come across like some loot goblin."
As tempting as that sounded.
A strategic build was always stronger than random skill spam anyway. Every gamer knew that.
I tapped my fingers against the table thoughtfully.
"I still need to understand the kingdoms, customs, political structure, racial tensions…" I mumbled. "And that guy carrying Sanemi's scarf…"
That thought alone made my chest tighten.
Questions continued piling up faster than answers.
At this rate my brain was going to blue-screen.
"…Yeah. Break time." i stretched lazily before opening a portal using a mixture of dark and wind magic. Black energy twisted together with streams of compressed air until space distorted in front of me.
Still cool.
No matter how many times I used magic, part of my inner otaku screamed every single time.
I casually stepped through the portal and emerged high above one if the of the parts of the forest where produce were being harvested
Perching myself on a large tree branch, I stared down quietly at the bustling settlement below.
Children running around. Dwarves arguing loudly while carrying materials. Spider clan members trading silk fabrics. Even the Goblin hunters returning with supplies.
It felt… warm.
My eyes narrowed slightly before landing on a familiar figure.
Haruna.
Sneaking food. Again.
I watched silently as she carefully looked left… then right… before stuffing roasted skewers into her sleeves like an amateur anime thief.
I deadpanned.
"Subtle."
I dropped from the tree branch.
"GYAH—!"
Haruna nearly launched herself into orbit from fright.
"L-Lady Shiori!" she squeaked. "I-I was only tas-testing them! I swear!"
"It's fine, Haru." I snorted softly. "I actually came here to steal food too."
Her eyes widened. Then sparkled.
"A fellow criminal…" she smiled
"That is not what I said." I grabbed an apple from one of the baskets before taking a bite.
Crunch.
"…Yummy."
"I know right?!" Haruna beamed proudly like she personally invented apples. Before I could respond, several familiar presences approached us.
"Shiori-sama, there you are."
I looked up.
"Oh. Kuro, Fang." I smiled faintly. "What's up?" kuro adjusted the clipboard in his hands with his usual composed expression.
"I would like to report the kingdom's current progress, my lady."
Straight to business as always.
"Go ahead."
"The spider clan have integrated successfully. Several members are now contributing to textile production and mana-thread weaving."
"I see…" I nodded thoughtfully. "That'll be useful long term."
Especially if their silk could be enchanted to make durable gear and cute outfits.
Kuro continued while we walked through the land
"The dwarves have focused primarily on construction and weapon development. They requested that you personally test several prototypes later."
My gamer instincts activated immediately.
Weapons
Custom weapons?
This world was dangerously close to fulfilling every fantasy I'd ever had as a kid.
"The fishmen have begun expanding farmland and clearing sections of forest for future development."
Efficient.
"And the goblins together with the komori wolves have been divided into three operational groups," Kuro explained.
"Hunting, internal security, and external reconnaissance."
We eventually stopped near a cliffside.
Kuro gestured below.
I froze
"…That's huge."
A massive structure was currently under construction beneath us. Workers moved everywhere carrying stone, wood, and metal while dwarves shouted instructions from scaffolding.
"Are you building a castle?!" I awed
"Only the best for our queen," Kuro replied smoothly. I physically recoiled from the embarrassment.
Please stop saying things like that with a straight face.
"We're also incorporating a council chamber," Haruna added proudly. "Based on the system you suggested."
Ah right. The interspecies council.
Honestly I mostly suggested it because every fantasy anime kingdom collapsed the second communication failed.
"We've explained the rules thoroughly," Kuro assured me. "There have been no major issues so far. Each race leader currently serves on the council."
Good. A proper structure reduced future chaos.
"By the way," I asked casually, "where's Ryu?"
"He's currently reviewing your recorded memories," Fang answered.
Right.
Ryu had practically speedrun the creation of an entire archive building dedicated to preserving and viewing my memories.
The man was weirdly obsessed with understanding my old world
Not that I could blame him. Compared to this place, Earth probably sounded like some bizarre sci-fi setting.
Eventually we stopped in front of another building.
The moment the doors opened—
"WELCOME, SHIORI-SAMA!"
I flinched.
Too loud.
Inside were mostly female goblins, komori wolves, spider clan members, and a few dwarves all working together around fabrics, sketches, and sewing equipment.
"Oh wow…" I blinked.
This was basically a fantasy clothing studio
"Hello everyone," I greeted awkwardly. "How are things going?"
Before anyone else could answer, a pink haired spider clan girl suddenly rushed toward me and hugged me tightly.
"Splendid, Shiori-sama!" she squealed excitedly. "We even designed outfits for you and Lord Kuroha!"
Kuro instantly pulled me away from her with visible irritation.
The girl pouted.
I decided to ignore whatever territorial nonsense that was.
"Um… and you are?"
"I am Rei," she answered proudly.
"Well, Rei… the silk looks beautiful." Her expression brightened immediately.
"The moths raised by our clan produce mana-infused silk," she explained eagerly. "It's both elegant and durable."
Now that sounded genuinely useful. Magical combat clothing.
Nice.
"May I see the designs?"
"Of course!"
She quickly brought over several sketchbooks while others displayed completed outfits nearby. I examined each one carefully.
The craftsmanship was incredible.
But…
Too frilly.
Too princess-like.
I appreciated the effort, but I physically could not imagine myself wearing half of these without dying internally.
Then my eyes landed on an outfit displayed separately in the corner.
"…Oh?"
I picked it up before entering the changing room.
A few minutes later, I stepped out.
The room fell silent. The outfit consisted of a cream-colored turtleneck sweater beneath a fur-lined jacket, paired with brown shorts and dark thigh-high socks.
Simple.
Comfortable.
Practical.
Perfect.
"Shiori-sama…" Kuro stared quietly. "You look beautiful."
"…Thanks." I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "This is more my style."
Honestly it reminded me of the cozy winter outfits worn by chill anime protagonists.
The fabric itself felt soft but durable enough for movement.
Functional fashion. Peak civilization.
"Lastly," Kuro continued, "your temporary residence has been completed."
My eyes widened immediately.
House reveal?
My inner shut-in gamer awakened instantly.
The moment we arrived, my jaw nearly hit the floor.
"If this is temporary…" I whispered in horror. "Then what does the final version look like?!"
The mansion standing before me was absurd. Elegant architecture mixed with fantasy aesthetics, glowing lanterns, massive windows, detailed stone pathways
This was literally the kind of house rich side characters had in anime.
The doors opened slowly as Several maids and butlers bowed the moment we entered.
"…Kuro," I whispered cautiously. "Who are these people?"
He visibly shivered when I leaned closer.
What is wrong with this man?
"They are your attendants, Lady Shiori," Fang explained calmly
"…Oh."
That answered absolutely nothing emotionally.
Before I could process things further—
"SHIORI-SAMA!"
I turned as Dayama and Yamada sprinted toward us at concerning speeds.
"Hello Dayama," I greeted. "What happened?"
"Our scouts detected suspicious movement beyond the kingdom borders."
My expression sharpened immediately.
"Monsters?"
"No." He shook his head. "Humans."
Humans? Interesting.
"…I'll check it out myself. Fang, come with me." Without another word, I turned and left.
Because if there was one thing anime taught me—
Random human encounters in forests never ended peacefully.
.......
Meanwhile, deep within the section of the forest where the goblins once resided, the peaceful atmosphere had long since vanished.
Branches snapped violently beneath pounding footsteps as three students sprinted through the undergrowth with absolute terror written across their faces.
"AHHHHHH!" a female student screamed, nearly tripping over a root before catching herself.
Behind them, an enormous Thunder Bear barreled through the forest with frightening speed, its massive paws crushing bushes and small trees alike. Sparks of electricity crackled across its dark fur while furious growls echoed through the woods.
"You just had to pet that bear cub, didn't you?!" the blond-haired boy shouted while running for his life.
"How was I supposed to know its mother would get mad?!" the girl yelled back defensively. "And aren't you supposed to be the leader in situations like this?!"
"Don't blame this on me, you b**ch!" he barked.
"I swear if I die, I'm haunting both of you forever!" she cried dramatically.
"That's not really a threat because I'LL BE DEAD TOO!" he whined in panic.
"Xavier, do something already!" she begged desperately.
The raven-haired boy running beside them remained silent the entire time, his sharp eyes fixed ahead. Unlike the other two, panic never fully appeared on his face. His breathing remained controlled despite the chaos around them.
He stopped.
The other two nearly crashed into him.
"Xavier?!" they shouted.
The boy slowly turned toward the charging beast. Wind brushed through his dark hair as he calmly unsheathed the sword hanging at his waist.
The Thunder Bear roared, electricity surging wildly around its claws.
Xavier narrowed his eyes and pointed his blade forward.
"{Thunder Strike Activated.}"
BOOOOM!
A massive bolt of lightning descended from the sky like divine punishment itself, crashing directly onto the beast.
The forest trembled violently.
Smoke and sparks exploded outward as the students shielded their faces instinctively.
"Did… did he kill it?" the girl coughed.
"I can't see anything…" William muttered.
The smoke slowly cleared.The students blinked in confusion.
Standing before them was a fox girl dressed in strange, elegant clothing unlike anything they had ever seen before. Long hair swayed gently behind her while moonlight-like mana faintly surrounded her figure.
Beside her stood an enormous dire wolf with glowing eyes fixed on the Thunder Bear.
The beast that had nearly killed them moments ago now lay unconscious on the ground.
The mysterious girl tilted her head slightly.
"Are you guys alright?" she asked curiously.
The three students stared at her blankly.
"…Huh?"
"…She's beautiful…"
"…Why is there a giant wolf next to her…?"
The dire wolf growled lowly. The students immediately straightened themselves.
...........
I had asked Yamada to deal with our unexpected guests while I finished planting the last of my Moonlit Lilies.
If I was being honest, gardening had become surprisingly therapeutic lately.
After everything that had happened since arriving in this world, moments of peace like this felt… rare.
I brushed dirt off my gloves while admiring my work.
The backyard behind the mansion had slowly transformed into a personal flower garden of sorts. Most of the flowers were species from my previous world. Roses,Lotuses, Dandelions, Sunflowers, Sakuras, Even lavender bushes
A weird combination, honestly, but I liked it.
The dwarves had also helped recreate several things from Earth for me.
some purely because my inner otaku refused to let go of modern comforts.
"All done…" I stretched lightly. "I should probably check on those humans." I removed my gardening apron and hung it neatly nearby before walking toward the entrance hall.
But when I arrived…
No one was there.
"Strange…" A maid carrying folded towels walked by.
"Um, Mikasu, where are our guests?" I asked.
"Oh, Lord Dayama took them to the meal lounge," she replied politely before continuing on her way.
Meal lounge?
I sighed. That already sounded troublesome. Walking toward the building, I spotted Dayama standing outside near the entrance with a deeply troubled expression while Yamada stood beside him awkwardly.
"Dayama, how are our guests doing?" I asked.
"Well, um…" he sweatdropped nervously before gesturing toward the inside.
Immediately, loud voices could be heard.
"Hands off that meat! I roasted it first!"
"So what?! Ever heard of survival of the fittest?!"
"Ever heard of chivalry?!"
"When it comes to food, I believe in gender equality!"
I stared blankly. Then slowly turned toward Dayama.
"…Explain."
"They said they were hungry, so I brought them here for food…" he admitted while looking down guiltily.
I sighed before patting his shoulder.
"That was the correct decision, Dayama. Helping people in need is important. Just inform me first next time.
"YES, SHIORI-SAMA!" he straightened instantly.
"…Relax, Grezz."
Honestly, he acted like an overexcited puppy sometimes.
"What's going on here?" Ryu asked while approaching alongside Kuro and Haru.
"Shiori-sama found humans within our scouting range and brought them back for questioning!" Fang explained proudly.
"Huh?" the three stared at him.
"Shiori-sama, please go on in," Yamada said while opening the doors for me respectfully.
I stepped inside.
Only to see the students aggressively devouring food like starving animals. Their cheeks were stuffed so full they genuinely resembled chipmunks.
"…Wow."
The moment they noticed me, they froze.
Dayama stepped forward dramatically.
"Guests! Allow me to introduce the ruler of this magnificent kingdom, Shiori-sama! Alongside her trusted right hands—Lord Ryuchi, Lord Kuroha, and Lady Haruna!"
Hey. Stop exaggerating like we're fantasy nobility straight out of an RPG.
"What?!" the blond boy and the girl exclaimed simultaneously. "Your master is a girl?!"
The raven-haired one—Xavier apparently—remained completely unbothered.
"Got a problem with it?" I asked sharply.
"N-No!" the girl waved her hands frantically
. "It's just… you're already strange enough, so we didn't expect—"
"We're sorry!" the blond interrupted while bowing quickly. "We didn't expect a monster to save us!"
I narrowed my eyes
"I'm a demi-human. Not a monster."
The atmosphere stiffened immediately.
"…Sorry," he muttered awkwardly
"So," I continued calmly, "what exactly are humans doing this deep inside the forest?"
The blond straightened himself.
"Right. Let's introduce ourselves properly first. We're students from the Draco Magic Academy."
"My name is William."
"I'm Mia!" the girl said
"And this is Xavier," William gestured toward the silent raven-haired boy.
I nodded slightly.
"I'm Shiori Koromi. You may call me Lady Shiori or Shiori-dono.
Then I leaned forward slightly.
"Now answer the question.
William explained everything afterward.
Apparently, increasing phantom activity had caused the academy to send students on combat assignments to earn points and gain practical experience point
Honestly…
That sounded like a lawsuit waiting to happen.
"I see…" I muttered thoughtfully.
These kids were basically being thrown into dangerous territory for school credit. Fantasy education was insane.
"Well then," I finally spoke, "you three can stay here for the night."
Their eyes widened instantly.
"Really?!"
"Thank you so much!"
"You're literally a lifesaver!"
I turned toward Dayama and Yamada.
"Treat them properly."
"Yes, my lady!" they replied together.
Before long, night settled over the kingdom.
The halls became quiet. The lights dimmed.
Everyone had gone to sleep.
Everyone except me.
I tossed around endlessly in bed before finally sitting upright with a frustrated sigh.
"…I can't sleep."
No matter how comfortable the bed was…
No matter how safe this place had become…
Something still felt missing.
The silence felt too heavy.
I quietly left my room and wandered through the dim corridors until eventually stopping before a certain door.
The dwarves had finally completed one of my special requests. I slowly opened the door.
And there it stood.
A beautiful piano rested at the center of the room beneath the moonlight pouring through the windows. My expression softened instantly.
Back on Earth, piano music had always calmed me down.
I started learning when I was five years old.
Gaming may have been my main obsession, but music…
Music was different.
It was one of the few things capable of expressing emotions I never verbalized.
I slowly sat down before the instrument. My fingers hovered above the keys. The moonlight illuminated them faintly.
I began to play. Soft notes flowed through the silent room like water.
Gentle.
Melancholic
Lonely.
My body moved naturally alongside the melody while quiet singing escaped my lips unconsciously.
The emotions buried deep inside my chest slowly surfaced with every note. A tear rolled down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away.
"That was beautiful."
I froze instantly.
Mana flared around me instinctively as I turned sharply toward the shadows. A figure slowly emerged.
"…Oh. It's just you, Xavier."
The boy ignored my defensive tone entirely as he approached the piano carefully.His eyes held genuine fascination.
"What is this thing?" he asked quietly while brushing his fingers across the polished surface.
"A musical instrument called a piano," I answered bluntly. "It allows someone to create music."
"…Extraordinary. I heard only nobles possess such things." There was genuine awe in his voice. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
"So what exactly are you doing here at this hour?"
"I heard the melody," he replied honestly. "You sounded… sad."
I looked away immediately.
"That's none of your business."
"…Maybe not." He leaned lightly against the piano. "But songs like that usually carry feelings tied to someone important."
Silence.
"I had a sister."
I internally groaned.
Oh no. He's monologuing.
"You really shouldn't tell strangers your tragic backstory," I deadpanned. He ignored me completely
"She was everything to me," he continued quietly. "Our parents were hero descendants and hero candidates, so they were almost never home. Most of my childhood was just me and her.
His expression darkened.
"But one day… she was taken."
I frowned slightly.
"Taken by who?"
"I don't fully know." His fists tightened. "But I remember the name they used."
His gaze hardened. "The Crimson Cross."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"Crimson Cross…"
"She told me she'd come back for me," he continued bitterly. "But deep down, I knew it was just to comfort me."
"So I trained."
"Every single day."
"I pushed myself to the limit hoping that one day I'd find them."
He laughed weakly. "But no matter how strong I became… I found nothing."
The room fell silent for a moment.
"Do you want revenge?" I asked.
Xavier paused.
"…I don't know."His voice became softer.
"I just want my sister back."
"Even if she's dead…"
"…I'd settle for something—anything—to remember her by."
I quietly observed him. Then narrowed my eyes again.
"But why are you telling me all this?"
"Because maybe you can do something I couldn't." He looked directly at me. "Your mana is abnormal. Honestly, it's terrifying."
He smiled faintly.
"But if someone could oppose people like them… maybe it's you." i stared at him silently before speaking coldly.
"Let me make one thing clear." I stood from the piano bench.
"I have absolutely no interest in walking some self-righteous hero path."
His eyes widened slightly..
"I do what I want."
"You don't get to shove expectations onto me just because I saved your lives." i walked toward the exit slowly.
"If our goals happen to align someday, then maybe I'll help."
"But don't mistake kindness for morality."
I opened the door..
"It's late. Go get some sleep."
And with that—
I left without waiting for his response.
Back inside my room, I stood silently by the window while staring at the moonlit sky.
"Crimson Cross, huh…"
Finally.
A lead.
Ryu and the others were strong. Strong enough to crush most enemies effortlessly.
But I still couldn't risk that goddess discovering them too early.
Not yet.
Not until I was ready.
I slowly clenched my fist.
"All my life…"
"Ever since I was a kid playing video games and reading manga…"
"I always dreamed of becoming the strongest."
The overpowered character no one could defeat.
The hidden mastermind.
The final boss standing above everyone else.
Back on Earth, it was just fantasy.
Escapism.
But here?
In a world overflowing with magic and swordplay?
That dream no longer felt impossible.
"But to achieve that…
"I need more power."
"More knowledge."
"More control."
"I need to improve in every possible aspect."
I stared at the moon with unwavering determination.
"Just wait for me, Sanemi…"
"Your big sister will do whatever it takes to find you."
"Even if I must become something terrifying.
My eyes darkened slightly.
"In order to save you…"
"I must become someone who cannot be stopped."
"A figure who watches the chaos of the world…
"…and manipulates it further."
"As cunning as the foxes from old legends."
"Beautiful like a rose…"
"…yet covered in thorns sharp enough to wound even gods."
A faint smile appeared on my face.
"If this world wants a monster…"
"Then I'll become one powerful enough to make heaven itself tremble."