Yuko POV
"Can you explain why I have to become your slave just to grow stronger?"
At that, Kyouka removed her hand from my shoulder.
"To put it simply, my ability allows me to enslave living beings when they submit to me. In exchange, I can draw out and enhance the overall strength of anyone I form a contract with."
"So...if I become your slave, I'll get stronger?"
"Yes. Don't worry—once we're out of here, I can terminate the contract."
Yeah… that sounded insane.
Normally, I would've taken time to think it over, but time wasn't on our side. The Shuukis were already on the verge of completely destroying the barrier surrounding us.
You know what? I'll just go along with it.
Because, honestly, I'm willing to do anything right now just to survive—to make it out of here alive, with my body still in one piece.
"So… how do we even do this slave contract thing?" I asked.
"Simple," she replied. "You just need to do something that shows your submission to me."
Before I could even think it through, my body moved on autopilot. I found myself kneeling, staring up at her face.
…Nothing happened.
I blinked in confusion. Wasn't I supposed to do something? Why wasn't it working?
Noticing my expression, Kyouka chuckled. She slowly removed the glove from her right hand and extended it toward me.
I stared at her outstretched hand, my eyebrow twitching.
Seriously? Was this what I thought it was?
I slapped both of my cheeks, trying to steady myself. What am I hesitating for? I already decided, didn't I?
Taking a breath, I reached forward and leaned in, pressing a kiss against the back of her hand—just like those princes did to heroines in old-school fantasy anime.
Except I wasn't a prince.
And she definitely wasn't some beautiful helpless heroine.
I was just an average girl in a Barbie world—surrounded by plastic smiles and people constantly trying to one-up each other.
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Kyouka POV
When the Shuuki finally managed to break through the barrier protecting us,
I felt her lips press against my hand.
In an instant, a torrent of light burst forth from Yuko, blasting away the enemies that had rushed toward us. The Shuuki were sent flying backward before they could even comprehend what had happened.
I could only stare in stunned silence as the light slowly faded.
What emerged from it was someone different.
Canine features with smooth white skin had formed along her face, her height noticeably increased, and her body had grown more muscular. A collar now rested around her neck, a chain attached to it dangling and swaying with her movements.
In an instant, Yuko—now in her slave form—lunged forward and tore through the Shuuki charging at us, destroying it as if it were nothing.
Even she stared at her own hand in disbelief, as though unable to comprehend the power she had just unleashed.
A smile spread across my face the moment I saw it.
"This is brilliant!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my excitement. "I didn't expect you to become this strong!"
"Yeah, me neither!" Yuko shouted, punching the air.
Taking the opportunity, I leapt onto her back and grabbed the chain hanging from her collar. With my katana ready in hand, I glanced at her face. The nervousness she had shown earlier was already beginning to fade.
Which was a good sign right now.
"Okay, Yuko, we're going to tear straight through them!" I said as the crowd of enemies prepared to attack. "You better buckle up, because this is going to be a wild ride."
I tightened my grip.
Now, it's showtime
"On my cue—give it everything you've got!"
"UOAHHHHHHHHHH!"
She lunged forward, bursting ahead with overwhelming force, brute-forcing her way straight through the band of Shuuki. Dozens of them swarmed in, attempting to strike at her blind spots.
But unlike the ones I had enslaved before, she didn't need my commands.
Her response time was instantaneous.
Any Shuuki that tried to ambush her was met with crushing retaliation as she tore through them, smashing chests and shattering heads before their attacks could even land.
I watched as the Shuuki were sent to their doom without hesitation.
One after another, they fell, their numbers rapidly dwindling.
Like desperate beasts backed into a corner, the remaining Shuuki began gathering together, their bodies twisting as they started to fuse into a single mass.
"What are they doing, Chief?" Yuko asked, coming to a halt.
I stared in the same direction.
"They're merging into one," I said calmly. "But don't worry… this actually makes our job easier."
The moment their transformation was complete, we didn't give them the chance to move first.
We charged.
Gripping my blade tightly, I slashed forward as Yuko launched herself at the fused Shuuki with explosive force. Steel and raw power struck at the same instant—
—and in less than a heartbeat, the Shuuki was cut down.
We landed on the ground as its massive body collapsed behind us.
A second later, steam began rising from Yuko's body. Reaching her limit, she reverted to her human form, dropping onto all fours as she struggled to catch her breath, clutching her chest while desperately pulling in air.
Still staring at the fallen Shuuki, I turned back to Yuko as she slowly pushed herself to her feet.
"What… was that just now?" Yuko asked, still flabbergasted by everything that had just happened.
I had to admit—
Right now, I wanted to recruit her.
And more than that… I hoped she would stay.
Even if quite selfish on my side.
"Yuko," I said as I approached her, leaning slightly closer. "There's something I want to tell you."
"What is it?"
I placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Work for me." I said with a smile, nodding confidently.
Yuko blinked, looking around before pointing at herself.
"Me? Work for you?"
"Yep."
At that, Yuko scratched the back of her head, hesitation clearly written across her face. She looked unsure of herself, as if she didn't know how to respond.
"I mean… I don't really have any special skills besides cooking and housework. That's pretty much the only thing I can be proud of—"
The moment she mentioned housework and cooking, my ear twitched.
You think that's a bad thing?
You're dead wrong.
"If you can handle chores," I said, my eyes glinting with interest, "then that actually makes things even better."
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Yuko POV
At her offer, I was genuinely surprised.
Truthfully speaking, hearing her say she wanted to recruit me made me pause—not because I wanted to refuse immediately, but because it forced me to think about what was actually waiting for me in the future.
Like I said… the only thing I'm really confident in is housework.
Nothing else.
I'm not particularly smart.
I'm just someone who plays games to escape reality.
When I imagined my future, I saw myself ending up in some shady company as an office worker, living a boring, mediocre life. I'd probably lose all my free time to responsibilities, barely having the chance to play games anymore.
Life would probably start to suck.
But if I joined the Defense Force…
Maybe I could actually do something helpful. Something that would help protect people in our nation instead of being ordered around by some rich boss who takes credit for everyone else's work.
Maybe… I could finally become someone useful.
And honestly—
Fighting those Shuuki felt good.
Strangely enough, I wasn't afraid of them when I transformed into THAT.
Thinking about it… I already had my answer.
Staying with her might actually be the better path for me.
Yes, it would be dangerous—but it couldn't possibly be worse than living every day as the same old lazy version of myself.
"I'll probably suck compared to all the amazing people in the Defense Force," I said, letting out a self-mocking smile.
At that, the woman standing before me suddenly dropped her smile.
"No, you won't," Kyouka said firmly. "There's greatness in you—you just haven't seen it yet. Far more than what your own eyes can recognize."
She closed her eyes before continuing.
"Yuko, I'll tell you this honestly. My goal in life still hasn't been fulfilled… the complete eradication of every Shuuki in existence."
A faint, bittersweet smile formed on her lips.
"My life didn't begin happily. It was filled with tragedy—bad memories that will stay with me forever. But that doesn't mean I have to remain trapped by them."
She formed a fist and gently tapped my chest.
"What matters is who you are now… and who you choose to become next," she said with a soft chuckle. "You're too focused on what you were—and what might go wrong."
"What if what others say about me… is true?" I asked, a flicker of doubt in my voice.
She snorted softly, shaking her head.
"You must never let anyone else define what you can't do just because of where you come from," she said proudly. "Your only limit is how willing your heart, body, and soul are to lift you higher."
You know what?
I admit defeat
We had only just met, but none of that mattered anymore.
"So," she asked gently, "who are you?"
I closed my eyes as her hand lowered, yet my heart continued pounding with excitement.
She was right.
Clinging to bad expectations would never lead me anywhere. Comparing my past to my future would only hold me back.
A wild smile spread across my face.
I had reached my conclusion.
My sister was still far beyond my reach right now—but maybe this opportunity could turn something impossible into reality.
Even if the chance was only one percent…
As long as the possibility existed, all that mattered was acting on it.
A failure.
A disappointment.
An average girl.
That's who I am.
"My name is Wakura Yuko!" I declared, standing up straight. "I might be a dumbass, but I'll be in your care, Chief Kyouka!"
But right now, those very things would become the reason I keep moving forward.
Maybe my fears were never meant to stop me—only to show me how much farther I could go once I faced them.
No matter what waits for me ahead, I want to see it with my own eyes… and become someone stronger along the way.
I don't have to be timid.
If all I ever did was wish, I'd end up watching my whole life pass me by… growing older without ever achieving anything.
It's time to act.
Time to step forward.
And see what I'm truly capable of.