This is the Modest Restaurant.
The place where—
"Moco. Don't touch anything on my hobby table, or I'll make you unalive." (Yjor)
"It's fine, nothing's going wrong this time. There's no way I'm burning it down! Let's see… our restaurant is right here… and that's the castle to the northwest… and over there is the Tokyo Tower we visited yesterday!" 「Mococo」
An entire city replica sat neatly across the tabletop, compact yet unmistakably familiar.
Like a curious giant, Mococo let her fingers swept across rooftops and towers, nudging them ever so slightly. Though it was only plastic, the craftsmanship behind this miniature made it feel uncannily real.
Even the narrow back alleys, the ones she'd never noticed before, had been faithfully recreated.
"You know, I'm still confused about why you're hiding this talent. If you'd told us sooner, we could've given you a much better reference to work from. Like me, standing right here!" Mococo said proudly.
"You mean the replica of the Lotus Arachnid Queen's nest that I made wasn't amazing?" Yjor stayed focused at another table, tools in hand. "Besides, it also works as a charm to ward off some being."
"It was way too realistic. I almost thought it was a real one!" 「Mococo」
Just as they began another banter, the door creaked open. Fuwawa stepped in, her tail swaying behind as she carried a few successful menu items from her latest test run. Just some simple snacks, pie and juice for three.
As an aspiring cook, she had gradually taken on responsibility for most of the matters in the kitchen. Despite it only being a few months, Fuwawa had already improved her skills significantly and continued assisting Yjor whenever she could.
The same couldn't be said for Mococo which had improved, somehow.
The younger of the twins immediately grabbed her pie, then tossed another portion toward the artist. Yjor caught it effortlessly with one hand, gave it a single sniff, and began eating it little by little.
"I mean, you made it one-to-one scale. No wonder Mococo almost torched it. I'm glad you're working on something smaller now. It's way less scary. And kinda cute, honestly. You sure you don't wanna sell these?" 「Fuwawa」
"Sure enough I told you it's just a hobby. I'm not putting them up for sale." (Yjor)
"You're so stubborn. I've told you a million times, they're amazing and you're cute." 「Mococo」
"So? It won't change anything in another millions." (Yjor)
"That combo's unfair, you know. Just imagine! People are finally moving on from the whole dragon-terror era thing. And this! Is a good way as a record for history. Sure, you can also make some different type of replica. But the real market is... YOU!" 「Mococo」
Yjor sighed. This is getting troublesome.
"Yeah, I saw on TV that the government's been scouting people who are good with their hands. Guess even if everyone's still kinda freaked out about the dragon era, they also don't wanna forget it. They do weird like that," Fuwawa shrugged as she chugged her juice.
"Both of you like to underestimate those dragons, it seems." (Yjor)
"I mean... we've never met one. All we ever heard are just spooky, scary stories about them and news about their doing. I do feel happy since there's no more of them though. That way the world will be more peaceful." 「Fuwawa」
"If you've never met them, then of course you'd feel nothing," Yjor muttered, shoveling another bite into her mouth. She stared into her glass of juice. "But have you ever wondered how the dragons feel… being used like this?"
"Being... used? Yjor, what're you smoking?" 「Mococo」
"Smoking on deez nuts." (Yjor)
"YJOOOOR!!!" 「Mococo」
As the dragons faded from the world, a strange calm settled across it.
From the Abyss to Promethium, from the Forge to Supersonic, they left the skies scorched and the earth broken. Now, in the silence that followed, the world began to reshape itself.
It adapted, just as it had always been foretold.
Across the planet, cheers grew louder with each passing day. Four of the five great harbingers of calamity were gone. Only one remained. The Apocalypse, the final invader yet to fall.
Months have passed since then.
And as Fuwawa once said, the world has grown… slightly better.
It was not only their lands and oceans that were reclaimed.
In their ruin, the dragons had brought change. New resources surfaced from shattered continents. New species rose from warped ecosystems. New territories revealed themselves where devastation once stood.
It was like a world-sized loot drop — all theirs for the taking.
What had once been catastrophe slowly transformed into opportunity.
The Evil Serpent had always known this would happen.
"But those dragons are monsters, aren't they?" Mococo shot back. "They suddenly appeared in this world, destroyed entire cities, and caused countless deaths. Everywhere they went, disaster followed."
"Since their arrival, the human population has dropped by a third," Fuwawa added. "And to make it worse, some of the survivors mutated—some for the better, most for the worse. For decades, people have carried resentment toward them…"
That was simply how people in this world were meant to think. Because, in this world, it was the truth. The dragons were creatures of terror and disaster, painted across every generation in stories full of destruction and hatred.
Though neither of the twins spoke with overt anger, Yjor could still sense the bitterness coiled beneath their words, shaped by every tale they had ever been told. There're probably many others who felt the same.
And from here on, there'll be many more.
The world's hatred of dragons was not without foundation.
But in the end, she chose to let it grow.
"...Whatever you're yapping about. Anyway, just go find your own hobbies instead of hovering around me. Cooking and studying are just your way of repaying a favor, aren't they?" (Yjor)
"Gratitude…" Fuwawa echoed softly.
"…You really think that we're doing this cuz' of that?" Mococo added, her brows knitting together.
"The Old Man's been gone for months. He's probably not coming back. You two can live your own lives out there now." Yjor looked away. "And I… I'll be leaving soon, too. You should start thinking about what you'll do when that time comes."
Fuwawa and Mococo exchanged a look.
The sigh they released was quiet, but heavy.
"That's exactly why we're talking about these so-called 'unsold hobbies' of yours," Mococo said, stepping forward. "We know we can't just stay waitresses forever. We are thinking about what comes next."
"Well, we do plan to travel out there. But even if we were planning to move out someday… soon," Fuwawa added softly, "I thought you would stay. To take care of this place. Granpa would be happy knowing you're here. And if no one's left…"
Her voice faltered just slightly. "Where are we supposed to come back to?"
"But hold on Fuwawa, she said she's going... somewhere?" 「Mococo」
Then, as if reaching the same conclusion at the exact same second, both of them leaned in at once. Their faces hovered inches from Yjor's, both eyes shimmering, the twin's sparks refusing to dim.
"Where? Where?!" Mococo pressed.
"Please just stay~ I'll even call you Sister Yjor for that~" Fuwawa chimed sweetly.
But only a faint crackle from the girl's horn answered them.
"Bau?!" 「Fuwawa & Mococo」
The twins froze as they did not need further explanation.
Dragons they had never met were one thing.
The girl standing before them was far scarier.
With identical squeaks, they scattered in opposite directions. Fuwawa ducked behind the nearest table, her eyes darting across the room in search of somewhere to hide.
Then her gaze landed on something else entirely.
A diversion.
"W-Whoa! You even made a miniature of the Forge Dragon's nest… and the dragon's in it too?" 「Fuwawa」
Fuwawa eyes sparkled as she leaned closer. "Hehe, Matsushita-san would lose his mind if he saw this! Look at the detailing on the armor around its chest. It's so perfect… it's like you've seen the real dragon yourself!"
From behind a cabinet at the far end of the room, Mococo slowly peeked out and blinked at the room. Whatever had been crackling in the air a second ago had vanished.
She exchanged a cautious glance with her sister across the room, then gave her a quick thumbs-up.
"They're not done yet. Don't touch." Yjor lightly swatted Fuwawa's hand away. "Anyway, what does that big guy have to do with anything? Aside from looking stupidly red every time he talked, was he also a Gunpla otaku or some— ...Why are you smirking at me like that?"
Mococo only shrugged, clearly entertained by the senior's complete lack of self-awareness.
Then the faint crackle returned, a spark flickering along Yjor's horns which made Mococo flinched again and immediately raised both hands in surrender. Leaving stuffs falling over from the knocked over cabinet behind her.
A few items tumbled to the green haired maid from the cabinet she had nearly knocked over.
Yjor glanced at them briefly then tilted her head at Mococo, clearly confused. These were things she actually needed from there, but how did Mococo even know from begin with that Yjor need these?
"Absolute… cinema?" Yjor muttered, squinting at her.
"No, it isn't! Hey, Fuwawa, come explain it to her!" 「Mococo」
Silence answered her at first, followed by the unmistakable sound of someone quietly edging away. The older twin knew exactly when not to poke the bear… or the snake. Ba dum tss.
"Hehe~ nothing~ hehehe~" Fuwawa giggled, inching backward.
"Don't just laugh! The sparks on her horns are getting worse!" Mococo protested from behind the table.
"Stop yelling. My ears hurt. Why are you even so scared?!" (Yjor)
The faint sparks danced again, sharper this time, pricking the air like warning static before a storm.
Mococo remained frozen in place, her shoulders shaking, "Ababababa..." She was visibly reconsidering every life decision that had led her to this moment, smiling with her eyes closed.
But instead of asking why she suddenly looked so terrified, Yjor simply studied her face and narrowed her eyes. For Yjor, she's looking kinda disrespectful by pressing her lips together like that.
"Why do you keep memeing at me?" (Yjor)
"This is not... meme-ing... ueehhh..." 「Mococo」
It was the same as back then.
When they first met her, Yjor had been terrifying.
The moment they learned she was part of the Regust Trope, the very organization that had kept them imprisoned for so long, Fuwawa and Mococo despised her for it. They made sure she knew through every prank and petty act they could think of.
At first, his attempts to mediate helped indeed, but hatred like that did not disappear overnight. The hostility between them lasted for quite some time, even with the Old Man around to bridge their enmity.
As days passed, the twins began to notice something they couldn't quite explain. And it was a huge hole in the making of their hatred. Her perfume, Yjor's scent was... quite unfamiliar.
For Hi-Breeds of their type, scent was everything. During their long captivity, they had memorized every scent that came and went within those walls—the guards, the handlers, the visitors. Every one of them.
Yet Yjor's had never been among them.
Not even once.
And that quiet realization slowly began to twist their hatred into something else entirely.
Curiosity.
"Uuu... that's was hella nightmare." 「Mococo」
"Glad you're not wetting your pants, Moco-chan." 「Fuwawa」
"Speak not to me, you traitor! Though our blood be thicker than the covenant that bind my soul to this humble eatery, forget it not, dear sister... yours betrayal hath scarred the bond we share. And now… you are but a shallot upon my chopping board." 「Mococo」
"...Moco-chan, did you binge a whole season of medieval drama again?" 「Fuwawa」
Monitoring and bonding time slowly began from there.
Despite her striking looks, the green-haired, horned girl carried herself with an almost stubborn indifference, as if the world's opinion of her had long ago stopped being relevant.
It wasn't just the horns. Or the glare. Or the way sparks occasionally snapped in the air. It was the way she carried herself. Decisive, stern, the kind of person who solved problems with action first and explanations never.
She didn't even flinch when the two of them made their hostility plain.
If anything, her complete lack of reaction only made them feel smaller.
It felt like standing before an adult wolf while they were still pups, barely out of the cage.
If they messed up, she corrected them immediately, never hesitating to use force when disciplining them like a strict instructor. At other times, though, it felt less like discipline and more like she simply wanted to remind them of their place, like a bully.
No real reason. No false warning.
It was moments like those that slowly, quietly built something in Fuwawa and Mococo that neither of them had wanted to name... fear and respect. And eventually, something closer to trauma.
But lately… the violence had lessened.
The outbursts were rarer.
The threats felt half-hearted.
Sometimes she even sighed before scolding them, as if she was tired of pretending to be a menace. And somewhere along the way, without either twin realizing when it happened, the fear had shifted too.
"You dare cast mockery upon my righteous and incandescent wrath, dear sister?!" 「Mococo」
"A-Ahaha… Moco-chan… normal voice please…" 「Fuwawa」
As Yjor grew quieter and less visibly frightening, she had started to look almost cute... endearing, perhaps. At least to them, she wasn't nearly as terrifying as she once seemed.
The adult wolf had not grown smaller.
The puppies had simply grown up.
Of course, that illusion shattered the moment they forgot their chores or crossed her boundaries.
"Enough, get ready for opening." (Yjor)
"Ayyy~" 「Mococo」
"...I'm your sister though?!" 「Fuwawa」
Once again, this is the Modest Restaurant.
A small eatery located in Ginza, Japan, one of Tokyo's premier shopping districts.
This part of the city was known for its blend of Western and Japanese luxury brands, historic department stores, and refined cultural experiences. At least… that was the case before the dragon arrived.
Now, it was nothing more than the same gray remnants as everywhere else, a fallen city.
This small eatery was built back when the world was still peaceful.
From then, the restaurant has changed very little over the years. At times, it sells ramen or other simple dishes. At the same time, it also functions as a kind of general store, offering almost anything one might need.
From the outside, the place looked like nothing more than a small, unassuming restaurant. A stark contrast to the towering ruins of malls and glass-fronted boutiques, their shattered windows looming around it.
While inside, it is exactly as spacious as it appears from the street.
Just enough room for a dozen or so customers, with a few wooden tables and chairs, cooling provided by fans and open windows, and a kitchen visible behind a simple curtain.
"Yjooor~! We're almost out of crabs!" Fuwawa called out.
"Mark it on the checklist. I'll restock this weekend." (Yjor)
"…Can I prepare one extra portion for lunch? You know… just in case." 「Fuwawa」
"Do whatever you want. I'll eat whatever's left if that old man doesn't show up again." (Yjor)
At first, the owner of this shop had been nothing more than one old man.
An old man who struggled with technology.
An old man teased by passing teenagers.
An old man who somehow refused to die.
He was sturdier than most men his age, his build firmer than even some adults in their prime. But still, he was just an Old Man. And now… no one quite knew where the Old Man had gone after leaving his shop behind for months.
All that remained were three girls working without pay, almost like romusha of a bygone era.
"How is it? Being promoted in charge of cashier?" (Yjor)
"Not bad. But I still like it when I could shout 'Yjooor! Order!' like before." 「Mococo」
"Yeah… don't forget about the catalog on the Collector's side. It's kind of tricky." (Yjor)
"No big deal. I memorized it a long time ago!" 「Mococo」
They divided the responsibilities between themselves, studying whatever knowledge they could salvage from the shop, learning and improving in silence. Only when they felt confident enough did they begin taking on their roles in earnest.
It had been very different when the Old Man first opened the shop.
Back then, it wasn't meant to be a place of warmth.
It was merely a foothold in this world. A stage for him to play his role and nothing more.
When his days in that world first began to move, a little girl greeted him with shy sincerity. Years passed, and that same girl grew into an old grandmother who welcomed him again with that very same warmth.
Though her face had long since faded from his memory, the echo of her laughter lingered in the descendants who shared her eyes. A particular pair of eyes, belonging only to those who could continue the destiny of the generations before them.
What began as a few short years quietly stretched into several decades.
The neighboring shops had passed into their third generation as well. The mischievous teenagers who once teased him had grown into adults and scattered across the world, their names known for more than petty pranks.
He had never meant to remain long enough to watch them grow old.
But time had stretched far longer than it ever should have.
"Hmm? Isn't this one of Grandpa's diaries? What language is this?" Fuwawa frowned.
"Ahh, the one I used to prop up the fridge? Put it back where it belongs." (Yjor)
"Why are names like the King of Lancaster and Bourbon's Boulder in here? They're legendary adventurers from the first generation after the dragons arrived! There's even an entry on the First Alice. Their records are supposed to be sealed—!" 「Fuwawa」
"Customers. Get ready." (Yjor)
"I got it already! But why are you using something that valuable as a fridge prop?!" 「Fuwawa」
"…Perfect width." (Yjor)
This place, at the edge of the city, has preserved countless memories of that old man.
Those who still remembered him tried again and again to reach him. What began as envelopes and handwritten pages eventually became electronic messages, carrying stories of dreams once buried and finally fulfilled.
Again and again, he recorded their lives in his diary.
The volumes had grown thick over time, piling up one after another. There were simply too many stories he wished to remember, too many lives in this world he refused to forget.
It was one of the habits of the Fool, who wished to know everything.
But at the same time, each life story was like a fragile bubble on the ocean.
No matter how carefully he cupped them in his hands, they would burst and disappear, while the tide carried in new foam to take their place, repeating the same quiet ending over and over.
"Alright, first rule about this place! The Old Man sits at the top of the food chain. Below him is the horned waitress with green hair. And at the very bottom, as fodder, are the two wolf-trait hi-breeds. Got it?" 「Shishiro Botan」
"Why does that make it sound like we're entering a dungeon?" 「Omaru Polka」
"What's the big deal? We finally get to see the place Shishiron never shuts up about! Dungeon, tower, dragon's nest, whatever it is, I'll make sure we explore every corner!" 「Momosuzu Nene」
"You really do just want the ramen, don't you?" 「Yukihana Lamy」
The three of them were comrades Botan had in this world.
She had come to know them through the many expeditions in her records. They were close enough to barge into each other's homes unannounced, like neighbors casually asking for a fish without so much as knocking.
Most of them had chosen lives far from the Lioness's path. None were seasoned fighters like her. Yet they had survived nonetheless, carving out their own paths as an adventurer, a bartender, even a circus performer.
But survival wasn't the reason she trusted them.
In a world where darkness demanded constant vigilance, Botan had seen what it did to even the kindest souls. Power. Resources. Wealth. It twisted them all the same. Even before the Dragon arrived, it was no different.
Many had fallen to it, seduced by the new deceptions of this era.
Because her friends still chose to walk in the light, she knew they could be trusted.
"Although Pops has disappeared somewhere… with those three should be fine. What matters is that you know about this place, and your faces are familiar enough here. Just trust me. It'll be worth your time." 「Shishiro Botan」
"We do trust you, Botan-chi. Now let's see how good they really are as a collector," said the one who dressed in a maroon cloak, as she pulled items from the Lioness's car. "I've got plenty of things to trade. Most of them are from overseas, too."
"Omarun? All of that… is from your circus?" 「Yukihana Lamy」
"Well, of course. People love throwing strange things into my circus." 「Omaru Polka」
The reason they were here was simple, it had been Botan's idea.
Ever since she had her first bowl of ramen at this modest little restaurant, she had wanted to bring them along. But the terror of the dragons had made travel dangerous, and living in different cities only made it harder.
Somehow, the timing never worked out.
Now that the dragons' threat had begun to fade, even rumored to be disappearing entirely, the Lioness had finally found her chance. She gathered her group and brought them to her favorite place, just like in the old days they used to.
In a way, this felt like a reunion with her friends before the world reshaped them into who they had become. She even drove her armored car nearly twice as fast as usual to get there.
"Huh? Guys, that bird… right there." 「Omaru Polka」
A blue dot hovered in the distance.
"Isn't it too stiff for a bird?" 「Omaru Polka」
"That's too far for me to see clearly. But I'm pretty sure it's some kind of shikigami. The flowline inside it looks like eastern sorcery. I thought barely anyone knew about this place?" Lamy turned toward the Lioness.
"Hm, probably some curious onlooker. Someone needs a lesson about spying." 「Shishiro Botan」
The Lioness pulled out one of her long firearms and raised the .50 caliber rifle toward a blue bird perched on a broken antenna. Harmless as it appeared, the recoil felt no different and the shot pierced straight through its eye.
The bird shattered.
"Are you sure this is fine?" Lamy asked, undoing the silencer spell she had cast around them. "Won't this get you into a trouble? I thought you're low profiling right now?"
"It's fine, I'll let them know what happened and they'll owe us a little… call it a proper first impression. Might even earn you a discount. Wait, where's Nene-chi—ah. She's already peeking through the window." 「Shishiro Botan」
"Nah… she's already barging in." 「Omaru Polka」
Clink
The chime above the door rang, drawing the attention of the three inside the shop.
"Sumimasen~! Do you have udon?" 「Momosuzu Nene」
Normally, a greeting would have followed at once.
This time, there was none.
"Hello~? Udon~?" Nene called out cheerfully.
In an instant, the horned, green-haired waitress's smile vanished, her gaze sharpening like a sashimi knife. Fortunately, before Yjor could reach anything beneath the counter, one of the twins slid between her and the customers.
"W-Welcome to our restaurant! We don't serve udon, but we have a variety of ramen!" Fuwawa said hurriedly. "Is this your first time here? We'd love for you to give it a try. We can even offer a little bonus."
"Collector and scavenger services are available as well!" Mococo added brightly, already guiding them toward her section. "Please place your items in the designated area. First time here? We'll make it worth it."
The Lioness and her companion stepped inside not long after.
"Heyya, you two." 「Shishiro Botan」
"Ah! Botan-senpai! Osu!" Fuwawa and Mococo responded in sync.
The moment they spotted their trainer, friend, and fellow ramen enthusiast, the twins immediately swarmed her in an enthusiastic hug, circling around her like overexcited puppies.
The bond between the lioness and the twin had long been forged. Not only had she once saved them from organization Regust Trope, but she had also taught them how to handle firearms with steady hands and steady hearts.
"(Stare)" (Yjor)
Just then, a sharp glare from the green-haired waitress snapped them back into work mode.
The new customers chose a table near the window and introduced themselves to the twins. Small talk happened, but it clearly wasn't their priority. Soon enough, each of them drifted into their own business and deals.
SLAM
"I got these fairy wings from some cool European folks, just so you know! They've gotta be from someone like Tinker Bell or Peter Pan or something! How can you price these at only ten thousand yen?! What kind of shop is this?!" 「Omaru Polka」
"Hmm... Fairy Dust materials are expensive these days, yes," Mococo replied calmly as she examined the wings, turning one toward the light. "But these are made from resin. A rare resin derived from a species known as the Hippocratea Moth. They're not actual fairy wings."
She lightly tapped the edge, then compared it to a reference diary she had pulled up.
"In parts of Europe and around New Zealand, these are commonly sold as tourist souvenirs. They're not particularly rare outside those regions. And there's no viable way to refine this into actual Fairy Dust either." 「Mococo」
Silence.
"W-What… that can't be…" Polka's expression crumpled. "No way I got scammed again…"
Mococo glanced at the listing on her screen. "These sell for around one hundred and five New Zealand dollars (105 NZD) per piece," she said calmly. "And if I converted to yen, that's roughly ten thousand yen each."
"Omarun, you did fall for something like this before…" 「Yukihana Lamy」
The cashier set the wings down neatly.
"How about this. If you're selling the full batch, that would total one hundred thousand yen. I'll include five jumbo ramen tickets. Ten percent shop tax already applied. We accept cash, electronic transfers, or barter." 「Mococo」
Polka hesitated for a long moment.
"…Well, alright. Deal. They're just souvenirs in the end." She sighed. "Electronic payment, please."
"Thanks! We'll display one right here if that makes you happy. We keep plenty of them as little souvenirs from our customers' first visits," Mococo pushed the payment terminal forward, while gesturing to the accessories lining the walls.
"Eh? Well… sure, I guess." 「Omaru Polka」
Another transaction was completed that day.
Meanwhile, after finishing the latest batch of orders in the kitchen, the horned, green-haired maid felt the need for a breath of fresh air. She untied her apron and set it aside before giving Fuwawa a subtle glance.
The girl with blue headband understood immediately and gave a small nod in return.
Behind her, laughter and noisy chatter continued to fill the restaurant. Yjor stepped outside and leaned against the wall. After a brief sigh, she let a small portion of her tail slip free from beneath her uniform jacket.
She usually kept it hidden... even from the twins.
There was something about exposing it that made her uneasy.
"Ugh, it's heavy. Why's this body even need one." (Yjor)
The cool evening air brushed against her skin, washing away the lingering heat of the kitchen.
That was when she noticed it. The district had changed. New signboards glowed beneath freshly installed lights, and storefronts painted in bright, eager colors now stood where empty lots once lay.
"They're building them awfully close to this place." (Yjor)
If she looked a little farther down the broken street, she could see a newly opened bakery. Across from it stood a steakhouse that had already begun serving customers despite the cracks appearing on its exterior walls.
They were rebuilding what had been abandoned, reclaiming what had been ruined. New foundations were being laid. New signs were rising. The district was beginning to breathe again.
With the world slowly returning to peace, people seemed unwilling to waste any time.
"It's only a matter of time before this district becomes crowded again," Yjor murmured to herself.
She noticed the shop owners waving at her from across the street, a few others were sweeping the sidewalks, while some walked quietly beside the friends and family who had survived.
Some of them had visited the restaurant several times already. Good customers. Polite. Careful. The type who didn't cause trouble, though they often asked the same cautious question over their meals.
Is this area truly safe?
Can we live here?
Seeing where they stood now, Yjor understood why they kept asking.
As long as they didn't interfere or start snooping around, she had no objections to them taking advantage of the situation and settling nearby. After all, she knew something they did not.
Modest Restaurant was one of the safest places in the world.
All because she was there.
"Property prices and investment values are at their lowest right now," she murmured. "Buy low, sell high. Renovate, then resell above the original value… that's what Zei used to say about business, right?"
The moment the name left her lips, Yjor stiffened.
She covered her mouth.
"That was careless… He told me never to speak his name." (Yjor)
She exhaled slowly, forcing herself to calm down and ignore the curious glances drifting her way. Many of them came from younger onlookers who stared a little too long, perhaps not yet familiar with social norms and etiquette of when to look away.
Even from across the street, a little girl stared at her without blinking.
Though unfazed, Yjor slipped her tail back out of sight.
"Lelei? We still have other areas to inspect besides this part of Ginza. Hmm? Oh… a Hi-Breed. That explains it," a soldier said, glancing in Yjor's direction. "Staring like that is rude. Either say she's cute or look away."
"Sorry, Itami. It's just that most of the Hi-Breeds we've encountered tend to share traits similar to small animals found in this world," the blue-haired girl said, offering Yjor a slight bow.
The soldier followed with a brief nod of his own. "Now that's true…"
"But what kind of traits come with horns like those? The flow of her magical energy feels far too vast for an ordinary Hi-Breed. I could almost compare it to the legendary Abyss Dragon we fought before." 「Lelei la Lalena」
"Hmm. Side-growing horns, green hair, peach-colored eyes… late teens, maybe?" Itami scratched his cheek. "That actually reminds me of an X-Case in this district. Classified as docile, if I remember right. Could be her."
"An X-Case? Like the Five Dragons of Disaster?" Lelei tilted her head toward him.
"Don't lump everything scary into the dragon category." 「Itami Yōji」
"I might be off anyway." He waved a hand dismissively. "Come on, let's move. I grabbed some of those meat buns everyone's been lining up for lately. We'd better get back before Rory starts sulking in the car."
The two of them headed back to their military vehicle, where several others were already waiting. For a brief moment, Yjor caught the soldier glancing over his shoulder at her. He gave her an awkward smile.
Like someone asking for understanding.
She had seen that expression before. A quiet request. A silent apology. This was probably the Old Man's doing again. Another careful adjustment, another invisible thread being pulled within this country.
Though she did not particularly care about it.
Yjor only cared when someone stepped too close.
Like this one.
"A Hi-Breed in a place like this?!" the newcomer tilted her head, then closed the distance.
"So it's true, then! Excuse me," she added brightly. "Is this the rumored shop and restaurant? The one where you can exchange items for cash? And the one run by two adorable wolf-type Hi-Breeds?"
"You… judging by that outfit, you're a streamer, aren't you? How did you hear about this place?" (Yjor)
"Oh? Do I need connections to get in?" the stranger laughed lightly.
"This isn't that kind of place. But do you have one?" (Yjor)
"I just heard it from a passerby. Nothing dramatic. But yes, I'm a streamer. Delutaya Delta. Nice to meet you." She gave a small, playful tilt of her head. "This place has been trending online lately, so I figured I'd see it for myself. That's all."
At that moment, the tips of Yjor's horns began to glow faintly.
"Heeeh… she has glowing horns too." 「DelutayaΔ」
The streamer leaned in slightly, eyes sparkling with fascination. "Up close, they're magnificent. And your hair… it looks silky but fluffy at the same time. Never mind the restaurant, it's fine if I can't get in. But would you do a stream with me instead?! Please?"
Within this world, streamers were not considered as essential as Adventurers or Hunters.
They did not clear monsters or secure unstable territories. Instead, they documented such events, broadcasting danger as spectacle and turning chaos into content for the wider public.
Most of them lacked strong combat ability since their purpose was not to fight, but to explore this new world and share what they witnessed.
There were exceptions, however. Some streamers also worked as Adventurers. Dual professions were not uncommon, though only a handful were truly capable of performing both roles at the same time.
Judging by the girl's presence alone, Yjor suspected she might be one of those rare few.
"Hm… it's almost like a dragon… No, is it a Kirin? But those peach-colored eyes…" 「DelutayaΔ」
"You're standing too close, maintain a reasonable distance." (Yjor)
"I'm sorry! It's just… I'm really into Hi-Breeds. Especially the horned ones. You have no idea how many horn signatures I've collected from different Hi-Breeds as proof." She gestured excitedly, while showing her album like a trophy.
"…So you're a creep." (Yjor)
"I know! I am! I'm sorry!" DelutayaΔ bowed so quickly it almost looked rehearsed.
"Stop yelling..." (Yjor)
Strange as she was, there was something about the streamer that felt… familiar.
A faint presence, similar to that old man. Probably she met him somewhere.
But Yjor did not show it on her face and chose not to react. She just allowed the streamer to enter Modest Restaurant without further resistance. If questioned directly, Yjor was certain the girl would knew nothing.
Still… just in case.
"What kind of person told you about this place?" (Yjor)
"Huh? Oh… some old guy, I think. Probably the same age as my grandpa?" DelutayaΔ replied casually.
Of course.
"Which direction did he go? Did he tell you anything else?" (Yjor)
"I'm not sure. He just said he was joining the Apocalypse Dragon subjugation squad." She scratched her cheek sheepishly. "He actually invited me too, but I'd prefer to live a little longer, so I declined. Is he someone you know?"
Yjor cut the conversation short with a small gesture and allowed her to pass.
Even when the streamer casually offered a share of her channel's profits in exchange for collaboration, Yjor showed no interest. She had no intention of selling herself for exposure.
Instead, she merely told the girl to order something like any other customer.
Though not to her, of course, but to the twin watching from afar
Moments later, loud voices erupted from inside.
"Turned out there is twin Hi-Breeds!" 「DelutayaΔ」
"W-What?! Ma'am! Please don't touch our ladies!" 「Fuwawa」
Yjor closed her eyes briefly and let out a slow breath.
"Little Apocalypso… huh. After he's taken care of, everything will finally be over. All the dragons have played their parts. What's left now is simply letting this world adapt to what remains." (Yjor)
She dug both hands into her skirt pockets. In her right palm rested a small key.
In her left lay another. Scratched, dented, but identical.
"This world won't fall so easily. Not like some of the others before it." (Yjor)
Both opened the warehouse behind Modest Restaurant.
One was hers. The other had belonged to the old man.
"And with that… one more world has become capable of holding its own ground." (Yjor)
She had found it by the roadside not far from the restaurant, discarded like trash.
As if thrown away on purpose. She had recognized it instantly, even through the damage. What she still couldn't understand was why its owner had thrown it away at all.
"Haaah... why won't he just explain everything to me instead of being so secretive. Leaving me alone here to babysit, while he carries on with his world-securing scenario... I could've helped him too, if he'd just asked..." (Yjor)
Her gaze fell to the dented key.
"...If he'd just asked... he only had to tell me what to do." (Yjor)
Metal bit into her palm as her grip refused to loosen. For a fleeting second, her horns cracked with a sharp, splintering sound. Far more ominous than anything Mococo had triggered before.
"Just tell me and I—" Yjor exhaled, the rest of the words dissolving before they could form.
Then, just as suddenly, they snapped back to normal.
But it was already too late. The door chime rang as it swung open.
Fuwawa and Mococo rushed out, eyes wide with alarm. Yjor straightened almost instantly, her expression smoothing into something blank — mildly annoyed at best — as she feigned ignorance.
"Y-Yjor! What was that?!" Mococo's voice trembled.
"Hmm? Nothing. I'm just irritated. Some business rival decided to show their face." (Yjor)
Fuwawa didn't look convinced. "…Are you sure? Just now, it sounded like your horns… grew again. The cracking was really loud. Some of the customers thought a tree had snapped outside."
Yjor snorted softly.
She hadn't even known her horns could make a sound like that when her anger surged. That was… new. Or maybe it wasn't, and she just never paid attention long enough to notice.
It should have been funny, realizing something like this so late. Or so she thought.
But the twins didn't laugh.
Their animal ears drooped slightly, their tails lowered in uneasy silence as they continued watching her. Not shocked. Not confused. Just worried. Like they had seen this before. Like they had recognized the pattern.
Fuwawa stepped forward first, voice gentler now. "If something is bothering you… please don't hesitate to talk to us, okay?"
"Why would I even bother? Talking with puppies like you two?" (Yjor)
Mococo crossed her arms. "Just looking at your horns is enough to give it away, you know! We've already told you, your horns are terrible at keeping secrets. Look at the mirror over there. What do you see above your head?"
Yjor glanced at her reflection. But rather than focusing on whatever was strange about her horns, Yjor seemed to get distracted by her own face entirely and visibly liked what she saw.
"Hoeeh?! What're you doing?!" 「Mococo」
"What? I'm looking at my reflection. What else?" (Yjor)
"That's not what I mean!" 「Mococo」
"Hehe, hey Yjor. I know I'm not always as quick to understand as Mococo. Sometimes what you say goes over my head. But I still try. I really do want to understand you." Fuwawa's voice softened as she continued.
"And for what it's worth, Moco-chan feels the same way. Even if she'd never admit it." 「Fuwawa」
"I don't think I need to hear all of that. So? Any last rites you want to deliver?" (Yjor)
"And stop giving us that scary look all the time! We can't tell what you're planning when you stare like that, you know? I mean, I know I'm not as soft and polite as Fuwawa when it comes to talking…" 「Mococo」
She glanced aside, ears twitching. "But... I'd appreciate it if you talked to me too."
There was a brief pause.
Then both of them leaned in slightly.
"You got that?!" the twins said together.
"Sigh, all I'm getting is both of you crossing my territorial line now." (Yjor)
Despite that, she raised her hand just slightly.
Not to push them back, but to hold them where they were.
She didn't push them away. Nor did she retreat.
For a brief second as she watched them, something inside her felt oddly ticklish, like a laugh trying to surface and not quite making it out. Because if what the twins were saying was true… then little by little, she was beginning to resemble him.
Hard to understand.
Wearing a permanent intimidating look.
Keeping everything to herself as if silence were some kinds of virtue.
That was the one thing she absolutely refused to become.
She did admire him, in her own way. But to turn into a blockhead like him? Nah, no way. A crooked grin slowly pulled at her lips, and before either of them could react, she reached up and rubbed both of their heads.
"Don't you dare liken me to that Fool." (Yjor)
"Hey—?!" they yelped in sync.
"Maybe just say how much stronger and more dependable I am than him, yeah?" (Yjor)
"Just who are you even talking about... ugh, you messed up my hair." 「Fuwawa」
"I've told you before, long hair is nothing but trouble in the kitchen. Mine's not long enough to be a problem, but yours..." Yjor then pointed at Mococo. "Why don't you just cut it short like hers?"
"Don't just casually try to erase our trademark!" 「Mococo」
And just as the brief warmth of that small, ridiculous moment settled in—
Another voice sliced through the air from inside the restaurant.
"Hey! Excuse me! All of you! Where's the remote for this TV?! There's huge news about the dragon blowing up right now!" DelutayaΔ shouted from within, her voice carrying past the doorway. "Hurry up! They're about to announce the subjugation of the Apocalypse Dragon!"
The mood shifted instantly.
Fuwawa and Mococo exchanged a glance, then ran back toward the restaurant.
Meanwhile, Yjor exhaled slowly through her nose. The grin was already gone.