Making a deal!

The air of the dojo, heavy with the smell of ozone and excitement from the recent battle, had softened with a strange sweetness.

"Hnnng"

Shija Retsu blinked, his blurred vision slowly focusing on the smoking hole in the ceiling.

"!?!"

A sunbeam crept through the opening, illuminating a scene that defied all logic.

"Mmmph!" (Rrrrccck)

Disoriented, he tried to move, but a sudden tug stopped him, causing a sharp pain in his wrists and ankles.

(Did I survive? What is happening? What kind of kidnapping is this?)

He was on the floor, completely tied up in a surprisingly artistic bondage style, immobilized, and stripped of his outer clothes.

(What happened to Master?!)

Immobilized on the ground, he remembered how that unconscious man on the floor had disappeared along with his Master Kyōra, and the invaders who had vanished in a flash of light.

(What is happening?!)

And in its place, now, at the epicenter of the chaos that had recently been an honorable training dojo, was an absurd scene.

"Nom, Nom, Nom~"

A "girl," with shoulder-length silver hair and white eyes, wore light blue pajamas, sitting cross-legged on a small checkered blanket.

"Slurp~"

She appeared to be having a picnic, with an expression of pure pleasure on her face as she savored something from a spoon.

"Delicious~"

That "girl" licked the spoon with a childlike concentration, totally "unaware" of her prisoner.

(Are they... monsters?)

And around her were three unusual beings.

(Judging by their appearance, size, and lack of vital force, that must be some kind of golem.)

The first being Shija noticed was a small silver armor that was methodically striking one of the dojo's practice dummies with a training sword; its movements were precise and deadly.

(And that one over there... By its shape, is it some kind of shikigami...?)

Then his gaze focused on a small straw doll glowing in gold that was timidly levitating, using a blanket like a cape, intently watching some kind of screen.

(However... That thing over there... Is it some kind of slime...?)

After that, his attention centered on a metallic bronze mass, resembling a cluster of living metal, operating that illuminated screen.

"Ugh... How comfortable! I swear I could stay lying here forever."

After finishing his analysis, Shija returned his focus to the "girl," who sighed with satisfaction, reclining on the blanket.

"Mph! Mph-h!"

Shija, now slightly calmer, struggling against the bindings, let out a muffled grunt in an attempt to get her attention.

"Huh...? Oh, he woke up! How should I start the conversation?!"

When the "girl" finally seemed to notice him, she suddenly started talking to the air as if asking for some response.

(What is she doing?)

Watching her behavior, which seemed like she was arguing with thin air, Shija was stunned as the "girl" pulled out what looked like a simple frying pan and hit the nothingness with an expression of frustration.

"It's fine... I can do it, I can do it!"

After that, she started cheering herself on, raising her arms energetically while the beings around her surrounded her, imitating the same action in a sign of support.

"......"

Faced with this series of events, Shija, uncomfortably observing how the "girl" seemed to have forgotten his existence, remained on the sidelines watching everything, forgetting for a moment everything that had happened and how he was still tied up, not knowing what to say to everything he saw in front of him.

"Ughh!"

Having no choice and recovering himself, Shija tried again to get her attention.

"Ouch?! Why was that, Echidna?! Huh...? Why is he staring at me?"

"......"

"......"

Finally, he seemed to have successfully caught her attention, seeing how the "girl's" face instantly flushed as she looked back at him.

"Forget it!!"

(Frying Pan Smack!!)

"Mmmph!"

Only to then be brutally struck by a frying pan in an unexpected attack from the "girl," who continued hitting him with a tomato-red face full of tears, all day long until sunset, as the sun began to set...

"I am so sorry!!"

.... Until finally, after a long hitting session, the "girl" calmed down, untying him after leaving his face nearly unrecognizable from the blows.

"Haaaa... Huff.... Haaa... Phew... Sigh"

Trying to calm down, Shija panted, taking large gulps of air.

"What the hell?! Why did you attack me like that?!"

And immediately he shouted, releasing all his frustration at the "girl" who refused to look him directly in the eyes.

"Ahem—Hello! Welcome back to the land of the living. How do you feel?"

And as if nothing had happened, the "girl" brazenly changed the subject, sporting a wide, closed-eye smile, still avoiding eye contact.

"I feel like someone who just watched his Master get corrupted and then was tied up by a... an intruder!"

In response, Shija, unable to contain himself any longer, shouted, letting out his thoughts.

"So release my bonds right now! I have to go after my Master!"

And unable to remain calm, he demanded, even knowing he was behaving childishly, but conscious that he couldn't control himself.

"That's impossible"

"What?!"

And in response, The "girl", gracefully ignoring Shija's panic, wore a calm smile.

"Yes, I know you're stressed"

Immediately after, with surprising naturalness, she returned to the blanket on the floor and, grabbing a bottle of milk, began to drink.

"But I refuse!"

"What?! Why would you do something so ridiculous?!"

So that immediately afterwards after drinking the entire bottle of milk, Store it in her pocket, approaching Shija and crouching down, she rested her chin on the palm of her hand with surprising theatricality.

"Look, to be honest, I'm exhausted. I mean, put yourself in my shoes! One moment I got here, crushing someone I don't know, only to then be attacked by perverts, without letting me explain anything, only for them to finally run away like cowards! And then you, the only person who could give me context, fainted!"

After saying that, she paused, pointing at the ceiling with her finger.

"That's why I launched an attack at the sky to vent and had a picnic to calm down. But you, on the other hand, are in what is known as Trauma Berserker Mode! So if I let you go, you'll run out, faint again, and I'll have to drag you, and honestly, I already have enough problems here."

"......"

Shija stared at her, unable to contradict the strange logic.

(She's right...)

And despite not wanting to acknowledge it, Shija had no choice but to accept that what she said was true, as in his current state, he had no strength whatsoever.

"But if you want to go after your Master, then you need information and power."

Finishing her speech, the "girl" stood up, pointing at Shija with her finger, and declared.

"But you are lucky! Since you're the only one who didn't run away, you automatically become my tourist guide! And in exchange, I will train you to gain power!"

"...."

Shija blinked at the most absurd proposal he had ever heard.

(This is absurd... But...)

Under normal circumstances, Shija would in no way have accepted such a deal. However...

(She was capable of defeating the invader leader and fighting the Master evenly...)

... Reviewing her performance and what "she" was capable of, Shija understood that his only hope of becoming stronger to recover his Master might be this.

"So, do you accept the deal?"

"......"

In that way, despite his doubts, confusion, and anger, Shija...

"I accept"

He made his choice.

"Perfect! Guide acquired!!"

"Haaaa..."

That was how the young disciple sighed deeply, gaining a new master, while reflecting—ignoring the joyful celebration noises in front of him—on how the truth he had noticed in the battle was clear: Dominion-H was a threat he could not handle alone.

"But as soon as my Master is freed, you will have to answer for the destruction of this sacred dojo!"

Nevertheless, despite that, Shija set that condition.

"No problem! Deal sealed!"

After answering cheerfully without thinking, grinning from ear to ear, she suddenly paused, turning around to look him in the eyes for the first time.

"I almost forgot! My name is Mireya. And you, my friend, are my new guide."

"I'm not called Guide, I have a name"

"Really...? And what is it?!"

"I am Shija Retsu, disciple of Kyōra Lunei and successor of the Kyōgetsu style!"

"Such passion!!"

Hearing that response, Mireya squatted down, untying the ropes with an unsettling manual dexterity, while Shija felt a pang of relief and a growing sense of terror and anticipation regarding what would come next.

"So, I'm counting on you, Mr. Guide!"

"I just told you my name!"

In that way, the journey began without Shija knowing that Mireya planned to escape without ever paying for the dojo's repairs....

"Then let's go!"

... But he would discover that far too late.