Extra's Path To No Harem

If we dug into DNA or biological specifics, the truth might be more complicated—but seeing them together now, the word family felt strangely fitting.

All that was left was to escape.

The end of this long ordeal was finally in sight.

"Let's go," I said.

"Wait a moment."

I thought they'd had enough time to reunite, but Beta pointed toward a corner of the room.

"I've already prepared everything. We can escape through the teleporter over there."

…Teleporter?

My eyes widened involuntarily.

There was a teleportation device hidden here?

Just how advanced was technology a hundred years ago?

"It's a one-time-use emergency escape device," Beta explained. "But it should still activate."

Chimeras—artificial lifeforms impossibly advanced even today—

and now a functioning teleporter buried underground.

Even if it was disposable, it made the world from a century ago seem almost futuristic compared to now.

I shifted my grip to better support Lisa and was about to guide her toward the teleporter when—

KROOOOAAARRRR!!

A roar echoed through the hall, deep and violent enough to rattle the walls.

It wasn't just loud.

It carried malice… hunger… rage.

And it was coming from somewhere very close.

"He's here."

Beta's voice was calm—too calm, as if she had expected this from the start. She glanced toward Iota and spoke gently but firmly.

"Iota. Please hold off Epsilon for a moment."

"Krung! Got it!"

At her words, Iota's fur bristled like needles, her small body tensing as she prepared to fight with everything she had.

And then—

BOOM!!

The door didn't simply open—it was torn apart as a massive creature forced its way through.

Krararararara!!!

A lion's head, jaws lined with fangs sharper than daggers.

The body of a dragon, thick muscles twisting beneath its scales.

And on its back, enormous wings that scraped the ceiling.

Just looking at it sent a cold shiver crawling down my spine.

This thing wasn't just wild—it was destruction given form.

But Iota didn't flinch.

She threw herself at Epsilon with a sharp cry, claws flashing, fangs bared.

For a moment, the hall erupted with the sound of their collision.

However, after only a few brief exchanges, Iota was violently swatted aside and thrown across the floor.

"Iota!"

My heart lurched. This was bad. Very bad.

This chimera… it was on a completely different level from everything I'd fought so far.

I reached into my cloak and grabbed the item I had been saving specifically for a situation like this.

Cain's Tear.

A small black jewel—cold, heavy, and ominous in my palm.

No hesitation.

I hurled Cain's Tear straight at Epsilon's head.

Still focused on Iota, Epsilon didn't notice it at all.

The jewel struck its temple—

And then—

BOOOOOOM!!

A thunderous explosion swallowed the upper half of its face.

Krararararara—!!!

Epsilon screamed, staggering as half its head was simply gone, blown apart by the jewel's power.

The sound echoed through the hall, a mix of rage and agony, shaking the air itself.

----

Epsilon, with half his head blown apart, was still twitching on the floor—his body instinctively trying to move even though consciousness hadn't returned.

Persistent didn't even begin to describe him.

To still be moving after taking an explosion directly to the head…

I clicked my tongue in disbelief at his absurd vitality.

But even so, he wasn't in any condition to fight.

Breathing didn't equal danger.

He was done.

We didn't have to worry about him anymore.

All that was left was to get out of this hell.

Supporting Lisa, who still couldn't walk properly, I followed Beta toward the teleporter deeper inside the chamber.

A capsule-like device stood there—something straight out of science fiction.

Magical energy churned inside it, swirling and flashing like compressed lightning.

So this was their teleportation device?

My heart couldn't help but beat a little faster at the sight.

I stepped inside with a small spark of anticipation, my eyes tracing the countless magical circuits lining the interior walls.

Each one glowed with intricate patterns, humming softly with power.

Finally.

We could finally escape this wretched place.

But the moment that hopeful thought crossed my mind—

SLAM!

The door shut behind us.

Beta had closed it. Quietly, without warning.

"Beta…?"

"Unfortunately," Beta said softly, "this is as far as we go."

Lisa and I both froze.

She stood outside the door, separated from us by only a few steps, yet it felt like an entire world had suddenly opened between us.

What was she talking about?

I tried to piece the situation together—rewinding everything she'd said, everything she'd done—but no matter how I twisted it, the conclusion didn't make sense.

"There's a spell that prevents chimeras like us from boarding this."

Beta placed a hand—no, her long tail shaped like one—on the doorframe.

A barrier.

Of course.

The lab was filled with them, all designed to control and restrain chimeras.

It made perfect sense that the escape device would have one too.

But if that was the case…

"Then why did you show us this in the first place?" I asked.

The question sat heavy between us.

Beta didn't answer immediately. Her expression was calm—too calm for someone who was about to be left behind.

Instead, she continued quietly, "We're going to end everything here."

Then she lifted something with her tail.

A button.

A familiar-looking device that made my heart drop.

…No way.

My breath caught as the truth hit me like a cold bucket of water.

She wasn't showing us the way out.

She was sending us away—while she stayed behind to finish things.

To erase the lab.

To erase the remaining chimeras.

To erase herself.

A cold sense of foreboding crawled up my spine.

Eve must have felt it too—her voice trembled as she reached out to Beta.

"It's not over yet…!"

"No."

Beta shook her head firmly, cutting off Lisa's warning without hesitation.

"This is our end."

Before anyone could react, she lifted her hand and pressed a small device she had been holding.

A sharp beep echoed.

[SELF-DESTRUCT PROTOCOL INITIATED]

What?

Self-destruct…?

"Beta?! Iota?!"

Lisa's voice cracked as she called their names, desperation leaking through every syllable.

But—

[10]

The countdown had already begun.

Only then did the reality hit me like a sledgehammer.

This wasn't a threat.

It wasn't a bluff.

Beta and Iota… had already made their choice.