Dragon Across the Multiverse (Si-WC)

Chapter 15: The Price of Arrogance

It wasn’t long into our journey before we ran into a problem.

Thanks to the people working for Saya’s parents, many of the roads had been blocked with steel wire fences—likely to keep the undead at bay. However, the downside was just as apparent: the undead had begun to pile up in staggering numbers, clogging the roads leading to their estate.

The sheer density made it dangerous to try and plow through. The Humvee was tough, but flipping it would be game over and I would be forced to reveal my abilities much earlier than I wanted.

So I went with a simpler plan.

“Stop the car for a moment!” I shouted down into the cabin. At my command, Shizuka slammed on the brakes, and the vehicle screeched to a halt.

“What is it, Akari? Why did you ask to stop?” Saeko called up from below, her voice calm but curious. The others leaned in, listening.

“I don’t think we’ll find an opening in the steel fencing. That means we’ll have to make one ourselves,” I explained as I stepped out through the sunroof, landing smoothly on the pavement with Kotetsu already in hand. I made quick work of the nearest zombies, clearing a few feet of space around me.

“Sensei, take the others and drive around for about half an hour, then come back to this exact spot. That should give me enough time to carve us a path,” I instructed.

“You can’t be serious! You’re not planning to handle this by yourself, are you!? That’s insane!” Saya protested, sticking her head out the window, panic evident in her voice.

“I’ll help,” Saeko said simply, already opening her door and stepping out before I could argue. She unsheathed Muramasa and moved to my side, calm and composed, her expression leaving no room for negotiation.

“Haah, alright,” I said, giving in with a nod. I was actually glad for her support, not that I’d say that out loud.

Turning to the rest, I focused on Ciel. “Ciel, take care of them for me.”

“Leave it to me, Master,” she replied with a firm nod, already scanning the area from her seat.

“Alright, now go. The engine’s drawing more zombies to our position—we need the noise away from here,” I ordered, already hearing the groans of approaching undead.

“R-Right! Please be careful, Akari-kun! We haven’t even had our first date yet, so you’re not allowed to die, okay?” Shizuka pouted dramatically.

“Hang in there, Akari-kun! Busujima-san!” Rei called out after her.

“Please don’t die, Onii-chan!” Alice added in her tiny voice.

As the Humvee roared to life again and sped off—flattening a few zombies in the process—I turned my attention back to the horde.

“It seems even in such a short time, you’ve earned everyone’s trust,” Saeko spoke softly from beside me, her eyes on the approaching dead. “Enough that they would leave their lives in your hands. I of course count myself among them.”

“…I don’t know what to say, Saeko,” I admitted, shaking my head. “Other than I’ll do everything I can to make sure their trust—and yours—wasn’t misplaced.”

“Fufufu, I believe there’s no need to worry,” she said with a faint blush. “If you continue to be yourself, that’s enough.”

“Hmhm… Then I’ll have to make sure I live up to those expectations, won’t I?” I replied with a smirk, my feet settling into a ready stance.

Saeko mirrored my movement with a soft smile. “Fufu. I’m sure you’ll exceed them.”

With nothing more to say, we exchanged one last glance—two warriors smiling in the face of death—then launched ourselves into the horde, blades flashing and hearts steady.

=====

Half an Hour Later

“Haah… Haah… Your stamina is incredible, Akari. Though I suppose I should have expected as much after our night together,” Saeko said between deep breaths, leaning heavily on Muramasa for support.

We’d been cutting down undead for the better part of thirty minutes without pause. Saeko, despite her strength and combat training, was still only human—for now. Her body was beginning to feel the strain.

I, on the other hand, looked as if I’d just stepped outside for a walk. Not a single drop of sweat marked my skin, and my breathing hadn’t even picked up. Not that I expected anything different.

“Why thank you,” I said with a grin, sheathing Kotetsu casually. “My stamina is something I take pride in.”

With the last of the zombies dealt with, I made my way toward the fence blocking our path.

“Keep an eye out while I work on the barrier,” I said, crouching beside the steel wiring that had been embedded into the concrete.

“L-Leave it to me,” Saeko replied, wiping the sweat from her brow and straightening her posture. She cast a glance down at the sword in her hands and her expression softened. “I must admit again—this blade is beyond exceptional. Even after taking down so many of the undead, there's not a single sign of wear. It remains as sharp as when I first drew it.”

‘If Muramasa was sentient, you’d be lucky to not be cursed for underestimating it,’ I mused internally, smiling faintly as I examined the embedded wiring. With a firm grip, I yanked one end out of the cement with ease, then followed suit with the remaining screws until the steel fencing came crashing down in one clean motion.

“A weapon is meant to kill. It wouldn’t be much of a weapon if it dulled after a few swings,” I replied, dusting my hands off. “But thank you. I’m sure whoever forged it would be pleased to hear your praise.”

“Kill, huh… I guess they are.” Saeko echoed quietly, her voice thoughtful as she stared down at the pristine blade.

Noticing her lapse into reflection, I gave her space while I finished tearing down the last piece. Once the path was clear, I stood up and brushed myself off. “Alright. That should do it.”

The sound of metal hitting pavement seemed to jolt Saeko from her thoughts. She turned and blinked in surprise at the now-cleared entrance.

“You were faster than I expected,” she said, impressed, walking over to inspect the cement. Her brows furrowed. “These installations were professional… we were lucky. If they’d been fastened properly, even with tools this would have taken far longer.”

I gave a shrug. “Lucky break, then.”

Just as she was about to respond, the distant roar of an engine caught both of our attention. A few seconds later, the Humvee came into view.

“Everyone!” Rei shouted, half out of the sunroof, waving excitedly with a massive grin on her face.

“Right on time,” I muttered with a smile. I turned to Saeko and pulled her into a casual side hug. “Thanks for the help. You’re just as amazing as I figured you’d be.”

“I-It was nothing…” she replied softly, blushing and leaning into my side just a little—clearly enjoying the physical contact.

A few minutes later, the group had returned, and after lifting the steel fencing back into place to slow the undead behind us, we were finally back on the road—headed straight toward Saya’s home. Smiles of relief filled the Humvee, the girls glad we would be reaching our next destination without further incident.

=====

Takagi Estate

It wasn’t long before the Takagi Estate came into view. We rolled to a stop just outside the gated entrance, immediately drawing the attention of a few guards who raised their weapons toward us.

Fortunately, Saya popped her head out of the Humvee before things could escalate, shouting sharply for them to stand down. A moment later, the tension dropped as the guards recognized her and lowered their guns, quickly complying with her orders.

After parking the Humvee in the garage and stepping out, we found someone already waiting for us at the front of the estate—a stunning woman with long purple hair and striking violet eyes, bearing a strong resemblance to Saya.

‘Damn, the anime didn’t do her justice. She’s seriously hot,’ I thought, blinking as my eyes quickly took in every detail of her refined beauty faster than the others could register.

“Mama!” Saya cried out and immediately ran toward the woman, leaping into her arms. Her sudden movement gave everyone a clear, unintended view of her striped blue-and-white panties—not that she noticed. A moment later, she wrapped her arms tightly around her mother.

“I’m glad you’re safe, dear,” Yuriko said warmly, holding her daughter close with visible relief before turning her gaze to the rest of us. “Thank you for protecting my daughter.”

She gave us a graceful nod before continuing, “Let me show you to your rooms. You all must be exhausted. Please rest for now—this place is secure. We’ll talk more in the morning.”

“Thank you, Miss Takagi. We’ll gladly accept your hospitality,” I replied with a nod. A few of the girls were already struggling to keep their eyes open—it was still the middle of the night, after all.

Without further delay, Yuriko led us into the main house, Saya staying glued to her side the entire way. She showed us to our respective rooms, offering a few brief parting words before we were left to rest.

With quiet goodnights exchanged, everyone drifted off. As for me, I had a strong feeling things would become much more complicated tomorrow—especially when I met Saya’s father. Something told me we wouldn’t exactly see eye to eye.

=====

Following Morning

I "woke" as the morning sunlight streamed into the room, my senses returned from rest mode. Technically, I didn’t need sleep anymore—being a digital lifeform had its perks—but I still enjoyed temporarily shutting out the constant stream of input from Universal Sense. A brief moment of peace amidst the noise and sights.

As expected, I felt a familiar warmth resting against me. Turning my head, I found Ciel nestled at my side, her red eyes already open and gazing at me with a soft smile.

Smiling back, I leaned down and greeted her with a light kiss before pulling away. “Good morning. Are you enjoying yourself, Ciel?”

Knowing exactly what I meant—being here in this world, experiencing things with a physical form—Ciel nodded, resting her head on my chest again. “Good morning, Master. And yes… very much so.”

“Then the trip’s already worth it,” I murmured, brushing a hand through her soft silver-blue hair. “Our time here is almost up. With our targets found, we’ll depart tomorrow evening—once both groups are reunited.”

“Affirmative,” Ciel replied, her voice muffled against my chest before she slowly pulled away. “If that’s the case, we should get up and double-check the Humvee, weapons, and supplies.”

“Yeah, good idea.” I stretched out with a small grunt, blinking as I remembered one specific point. “Speaking of guns… we’d better keep an eye on them. I get the feeling someone here might try to ‘requisition’ them, assuming we’re just a bunch of kids playing with dangerous weapons.”

At that, Ciel’s crimson eyes immediately glowed with restrained fury. Her expression hardened.

“A mere human dares to steal from Master?” she asked, her voice chillingly flat.

“Easy, Ciel. It hasn’t happened—yet,” I said soothingly, placing a hand atop her head. As always, my touch calmed her instantly, her shoulders relaxing under my palm.

“…If it does happen, though,” I added with a smile, “leave it to me, alright?”

Ciel gave a reluctant pout but still nodded, her expression softening at last.

“Now come on,” I said, standing up and walking toward the door. “Let’s see if I can convince Saya to let me use the kitchen. I want to see the look on everyone’s faces again when they taste my food.”

Wordlessly, Ciel followed behind me, ever loyal, ever watchful—my Manas, my companion, my other half, and the sharpest blade I had at my side.

Getting Saya’s permission, I cooked our group a hearty feast. We all sat down together for breakfast, chatting and laughing while enjoying the food—many of the girls clearly excited, not just to be eating my cooking again, but also from the comfort of being around other humans for the first time in a while.

I noticed quietly that Momo, Fumiko, Misuzu, and Toshimi looked particularly happy to be here. At one point, I overheard them whispering about staying at the estate permanently—something I had absolutely no problem with.

‘Well, that solves that issue,’ I mused internally. ‘At least they’ve already been counted as captured by the Catalog, and I received credits from them—meager as they were.’

Once breakfast was over, we were escorted through the estate to meet with Saya’s parents, who had requested a formal conversation. We followed behind a notably subdued Saya. Gone was her usual sharp-tongued confidence—she seemed tense, almost nervous.

“You alright, Saya?” I whispered, slowing my pace to walk beside her. My voice seemed to catch her by surprise—she jumped slightly before glancing over and relaxing once she saw it was me.

“F-Fine,” she replied, forcing a smile. “I just wanted to warn you… my dad can be a little intense. He’s not used to being told no, and he always gets what he wants.”

Her voice carried a weariness that wasn’t there before—an edge of vulnerability she rarely showed. She looked up at me, eyes hesitant, as if bracing herself for my reaction.

Raising an eyebrow, I allowed a smirk to tug at the corner of my lips. “Then he’s going to be disappointed,” I said plainly. “I bow to no one, Saya. Not your dad, not anyone. If he becomes a problem, we leave. Simple as that.”

She blinked at me, clearly surprised by how quickly—and unapologetically—I responded. But rather than scolding me for being blunt, her lips curled into something far more genuine than her earlier smile.

“G-Good,” she stammered, cheeks flushing. “I didn’t want my boyf—ahem—I mean… I didn’t want you to just roll over, even for my dad.”

“Boyfriend, huh?” I teased quietly, catching her slip. Saya went stiff, her face turning a brilliant shade of red.

“We have done things a bit out of order, haven’t we?” I added with a sly grin. “Not that I mind the title.” Before she could say anything, I leaned in and stole a quick kiss, making sure no one was looking.

Saya froze—completely short-circuited—her entire face red as steam practically came out of her ears. She came to a stop in the hallway, unable to process what just happened.

Chuckling, I grabbed her hand and gently tugged her forward so she wouldn’t fall behind. “That’s a cute reaction, Saya~” I teased, just as we reached a large set of doors at the end of the hallway.

I leaned close and whispered one more warning, grinning. “Snap out of it, or I’ll kiss you again—in front of your parents this time.”

That did the trick.

Saya immediately snapped out of her daze, jolting upright with an expression of pure panic. Her blush somehow deepened as she looked up at me, flustered and fuming, just in time for the doors to open.

“Good morning, everyone,” came Yuriko’s voice, serene and composed. Her presence instantly commanded attention.

“I want to thank you all for bringing our daughter home safely,” she continued once the group had settled.

“It was all thanks to Akari here that everything went smoothly, Mrs. Takagi,” Saeko spoke up, stepping forward confidently with Muramasa sheathed at her side. Her calm voice carried weight.

“Hm. I recognize you,” a deep voice interjected. A tall, imposing man stepped forward—Souichiro Takagi. His eyes scanned over us, pausing briefly on Saeko and the sword at her hip. “Busujima’s daughter, yes? Saeko, if I recall.”

“Yes, that’s correct,” Saeko replied with a respectful nod. “As I was saying, it was thanks to our leader, Akari Tempest, that we made it here safely. He took charge, protected us, and ensured our needs were met.”

She turned slightly and gestured to me, inviting the attention of both parents.

Souichiro’s sharp gaze shifted to me, resting momentarily on Kotetsu at my side. “Impressive,” he said slowly. “For someone so young to accomplish such a feat, and with so many in your care to make it here without any casualties.”

His tone sounded vaguely patronizing, but my empathic sense quickly dismissed the thought—he wasn’t mocking me. His feelings were genuine, if guarded. Thankful, even if his pride wouldn’t let him show it openly.

“It was no problem,” I replied coolly, offering a polite nod—the most he was getting from me. “I’m Akari Tempest. Saya also played an important role, as did everyone. Each of us contributed in our own way.”

“Tempest, huh?” Souichiro muttered, his eyes narrowing as he observed Saya standing next to me—too close, in his opinion. “Strange. I’ve never heard my daughter mention you before.”

“Not surprising,” I replied with a casual shrug, unfazed by his scrutiny. “I only moved into the city a few days ago. Today was supposed to be my first day at school. I ran into Saya by chance before everything went to hell, and, well… one thing led to another.”

I offered nothing more, letting the unfinished sentence do the heavy lifting. There was no chance in hell I was going to tell this man that his daughter and I went from strangers to lovers in the span of hours, seeing sides of his daughter that he could never imagine.

“…I see.” He didn’t look convinced, nor particularly pleased, but there was little he could say without sounding unreasonable. His eyes flicked back to Saya, who—unaware or uncaring—was completely relaxed by my side.

The atmosphere was thick, ready to tip into tension. And sure enough, the door to the side of the room opened.

A man stepped inside—likely one of Souichiro’s subordinates—and immediately drew my attention. Not because of who he was, some rando for all I cared, but because of what he was holding.

Weapons. Ammunition. Our gear. Packed hastily into a duffel bag that very clearly belonged to us.

‘So, it comes to this after all, huh?’ I thought grimly, already feeling the mood shift behind me.

Rei, being the hothead that she is, was the first to react.

“Hey! Those are ours! Where are you taking them!?” she snapped, stepping forward with a furious scowl.

The man sneered, not even bothering to hide his condescension. “Weapons are not toys, little girl. We’ll be confiscating them, of course. They’ll be put to better use here—by adults who know how to properly use them.”

He turned to address Souichiro directly. “Takagi-dono, I don’t know where these kids found this gear, but surely it would serve the estate better in the hands of trained personnel.”

Souichiro opened his mouth to respond—but never got the chance.

Because the man froze.

A breathless moment passed before he realized why: the cold edge of a shimmering blue blade now rested beneath his throat.

I stood at his left flank, eyes dead, voice colder than steel. “Drop them... or lose your head.”

The room went completely silent.

The man holding our weapons trembled slightly, his bravado shattered in an instant as his mind registered the reality of my threat.

‘Well,’ I mused internally, keeping my gaze locked on him. ‘Seems our stay here might be shorter than expected after all.’