Reichi felt as if time had ground to a halt. The whistling wind rushed past his ears as he fell, but it was the echo of Erina's sadistic laughter from above that truly cut deep. His mind flashed back to that quiet morning in Japan—the scent of rain on the asphalt and the screeching tires of the truck he dove in front of to save his classmate. Back then, he thought that sacrifice was his end. He never imagined he would face a second, far more painful death in this magical realm at the hands of someone he called a friend.
"Who could ever love a weakling like you?" Those words felt like poisoned needles piercing his heart. His eyes blurred, not from the fear of the fall, but from the crushing weight of betrayal.
Suddenly, his hand brushed against a cold, rigid stone surface at the bottom of the pit. As he touched it, a series of ancient, circular runes carved into the floor ignited with a brilliant cerulean glow. It was a Teleportation Circle. In a flash of blinding blue light, the dark dungeon vanished, and Reichi was gone.
The Scent of Sakura
When Reichi finally regained consciousness, he wasn't lying on a cold stone floor. Instead, he felt something incredibly soft and warm beneath him. A faint, ethereal fragrance drifted into his senses—a scent that reminded him of home. It was the delicate, sweet aroma of Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) and Ume (Plum Blossoms) on a fresh spring morning in Tokyo.
He slowly forced his eyes open. As his vision cleared, his breath hitched in his throat. He found himself resting his head in the lap of a girl so stunningly beautiful that she seemed like a dream. Her skin was as pale and flawless as fresh snow, and her silken golden hair cascaded down, brushing against Reichi's cheeks. Her eyes were deep and calm, like a hidden mountain lake.
"Am I... back in Japan?" Reichi whispered, his voice cracking. "Or is this a dream?"
The girl offered a small, gentle smile. It wasn't the jagged, poisonous smirk Erina wore, but a smile as serene as a sunrise over Mount Fuji. She placed a comforting hand on his forehead. "Rest easy, young one. You are safe now. I am Eriza, the ancient Golden Dragon of this sanctuary."
The Arrival of the Dark Dragon
Reichi stared in disbelief. This beautiful girl... a dragon? Before he could process the thought, the air in the room suddenly grew heavy. A swirl of pitch-black smoke materialized, and from within the shadows stepped another woman. Her hair was as dark as a moonless night, reminiscent of the mysterious Yuki-onna from Japanese legends. She wore robes crafted from what looked like solidified darkness.
She was Eriza's younger sister—Akane, the Dark Dragon. Her sharp, amber eyes narrowed as she saw Reichi resting in Eriza's lap. Her voice was cold and commanding, like the strike of a katana.
"Sister! Why is this pathetic human here?" Akane's presence sent a shiver down Reichi's spine. "Is he trying to harm you? I should dispose of him before he brings trouble."
Reichi tried to scramble to his feet, but a sharp pain flared through his wounded body, making him gasp. Akane paused, noticing the tattered state of his gear and the deep, hollow sadness in his eyes. Her harsh gaze softened, if only by a fraction.
"No, Akane," Eriza said softly. "He is no enemy. Look at his eyes—they are the eyes of one who has been discarded by the world. Fate has brought him to us."
Akane turned away, her cape fluttering like a shadow. But before leaving, she spoke in a firm, resolute tone. "The world threw you away because you were weak. If you wish to survive in this realm, you must become power itself. Remember this, human: in this world, weakness is the only sin that is never forgiven."
As Reichi watched her leave, he felt a strange fire ignite within his chest. He was no longer the boy who died for a crush or the E-Rank adventurer who was betrayed. Under the protection of the Dragon Sisters, the Rise of the Unknown Hero had truly begun.