Extra's Path To No Harem

Screams echoed from every direction, shaking the air itself. People ran in panic, stumbling through smoke and fire, desperately trying to flee from the attackers who stormed through the streets.

And those attackers…

They weren't simply killing.

They were searching.

They were hunting—for someone.

"Mom…" Lisa whispered, trembling.

"It'll be alright," her mother said, pulling both daughters close. "Stay beside me. No matter what happens, don't let go."

Lina held Lisa's hand tightly.

The three of them hid inside their home, praying the chaos would pass them by.

But fate didn't show mercy.

"Found them! They're here!"

The front door slammed open, splinters scattering across the floor.

Shadows entered—several, armed and merciless.

The peaceful memory shattered entirely, swallowed by the hell that followed.

"Capture them all!"

"Children, run—run quickly…!"

Lisa's mother struggled desperately, even as the attackers pinned her arms behind her back.

She fought until her nails split and her voice cracked, doing everything she could to shield her children.

But escaping from several fully armed men was impossible.

"Mom…!"

"Please, let her go!"

The children cried, but the attackers didn't budge.

Then—

"No! Don't hurt our mom!"

A sharp, trembling voice cut through the chaos.

Lisa stepped forward, her small hands trembling but wrapped in a vivid red glow of magical energy.

Even the attackers flinched at the sight of the unstable aura.

"Tch—she's a vampire…! Everyone, prepare for battle!!"

But before they could move—

"Wait."

A calm voice stopped them.

"D-Doctor," one of the men said, lowering his weapon slightly.

A man in a white coat stepped out from behind the group, approaching Lisa as if examining a rare specimen.

The chaos around them seemed to fade as he lowered himself slightly to meet her eyes.

"So you're Lisa."

"…."

Lisa didn't answer.

She only glared at him—hatred, fear, and defiance swirling in her eyes as the red magic flickered brighter around her hands.

The man's expression shifted subtly—not to fear, but to fascination.

As if he had just discovered something precious.

Or something he'd been looking for.

The man then made an unexpected proposal.

"I have an offer for you."

"…An offer?"

"Yes. If you come with us willingly, I promise not to harm your family."

"…Really?"

"Of course. We only need you. There's no reason to hurt anyone else. We'd prefer to avoid bloodshed if possible."

"No! Lisa! Don't believe a word he says!!"

"Be quiet."

"Mmph…!! Mmph!!"

"Mom…!"

Lisa hesitated, torn.

And as if sensing her wavering, the attackers tightened their grip on her mother, forcing her to her knees.

"Well? What will it be?" the man asked, his tone calm but his eyes demanding. "Will you accept my offer?"

"…I'll do it," Lisa whispered. "But you must keep your promise."

"I promise."

Unable to watch her mother suffer any longer, she finally gave in to the man's suspicious offer.

He smiled softly—too softly—as Lisa let the last remnants of magical power fade from her hands.

"Lisa! LISA!!!"

Her mother screamed, struggling against her restraints, but Lisa didn't look back.

She couldn't.

She left with the man, ignoring her mother's desperate voice echoing behind her.

What happened after… should never happen to anyone.

The memories twisted, warped, and replayed in a nightmare sequence.

A cold laboratory filled with metal and strange devices.

A place that felt carved out of hell itself.

Blood was taken from her again and again.

She screamed, trapped inside a glowing magic circle that seared her skin and nerves.

Her body trembled as if every part of her was being torn apart.

She tried to be strong.

She tried to hold on.

But the tears streaming down her face made it clear—this was torture.

And then—

"Kyaaaaaaaaah!!!"

Lisa's scream echoed through the memory, shaking me awake as I was pulled back into reality.

My heart pounded. My fists trembled.

These were her memories.

Her suffering.

And I had finally seen the truth.

---

Terrible.

Just from briefly touching Lisa's memories, I could sense a fraction of what she'd endured—and even that was enough to make my stomach twist.

The pain she experienced wasn't something mere words could hold. It was torture prolonged for years.

Could anyone stay sane after that?

I forced myself to shake off those useless thoughts as I returned to myself, blinking away the afterimages of her memories.

And then I met her gaze.

The glass tube around her had shattered, pieces scattered across the floor.

She was free now—standing on unsteady legs, but free.

She looked straight at me and quietly said,

"You really came."

"…You asked me to save you."

"I believed you would come to rescue me."

I didn't know when she had seen me or how she could speak with such certainty—but the faith in her eyes was unmistakable.

I let out a faint smile at her bold, almost matter-of-fact words.

It was time to leave.

My magical power was already drained to the bottom, but my body was still working.

That was enough.

Since she couldn't move properly yet, I crouched down and let her climb onto my back.

She rested against me, her voice soft. "Thank you."

As I walked, I felt something—her fingers, trembling—brush against my back.

I pretended not to notice and kept moving, step by steady step, out of the laboratory.

We passed the maze where only the ashes of chimeras remained, then crossed the long, dim corridor, until at last the open hall came into view.

"Eve!"

"Iota! Beta!"

The moment they saw Lisa on my back, Iota and Beta rushed toward us.

A reunion separated by a hundred years.

Of course, since they had slept through most of that time, they probably didn't grasp the true weight of those years—but even so, watching them cry and cling to one another was unexpectedly moving, even for someone like me.

Come to think of it, since both Iota and Beta were born through Lisa's power…

they really were something like family.

And now, at least, this family had finally found each other again.