I, Kurumi Tokisaki, Am a Wanderer

The girl's voice was soft and alluring, her words laced with a beguiling melody, more captivating than even the songs of the Sirens.

A black-and-red coat draped over her slender frame, its hood pulled low, with a large mask obscuring much of her face.

Her jet-black hair fell to the right, covering one eye, leaving only the other visible—an inorganic, golden, clock-like eye with intricately detailed markings. Its dial and quivering hands seemed alive, an ominous, otherworldly presence.

In her heightened state, enhanced by Blood Break, Kinami observed everything with razor-sharp precision. Though no trace of magical energy radiated from the intruder, she was far from ordinary.

Werebeast? Lunamana? Or perhaps one of the gods' divine progeny who had gained godly essence?

Kinami couldn't tell, but she knew one thing—the intruder wasn't here with good intentions.

More importantly... did this person seriously just call her a "little kitten"?

Kinami puffed out her small chest—a respectable A-cup, she proudly reminded herself. She was already far ahead of her fellow A-level Werebeast.

Who's calling me small!?

But why... why did that person's gaze seem even more mocking now?

Kinami used her heightened senses to analyze the figure beneath the windcoat—and shuddered slightly.

I… lost...

"Im…pos…sible…" Kinami growled, her sharp claws unsheathing from her padded fingers.

A terrifying bomb like E-Bomb was far too dangerous. Even if she had to risk her life in a mutual demise, she would never allow this thing to fall into someone else's hands.

"My, my, an uncooperative kitten, huh?" The girl's golden eye gleamed with a chilling, murderous glint.

"Le…ave…" Kinami ordered in a guttural growl to the Werebeast carrying the bomb. The Blood Break surging through her body had left her utterly empty, even impairing her ability to form proper words.

With a feral leap, she slashed toward the intruder, claws slicing through the air with speed beyond human comprehension. Her swipes created blood-red arcs that solidified into physical constructs, breaking the laws of nature to nearly reach magical territory.

Though petite, Kinami was one of the Werebeast's top-tier elite warriors.

With magic restricted, she could even stand toe-to-toe with a Winged species—and tear them apart if necessary.

And yet… in her disbelief-stricken eyes, she saw the intruder calmly aim her gun directly at the E-Bomb.

Bang!

A golden bullet roared forth, hurtling toward the bomb's thick, crimson casing.

Kinami's tail stood rigid in alarm. Her triangular ears twitched violently, her blood-red fur bristling as every strand rose on end.

In an ungraceful display, she slammed into the ground, claws digging deep to halt her momentum, pivoting mid-air to intercept the bullet.

She didn't trust the lion-like fools in her team to react fast enough. Sure, they were all feline, but those iron-headed meatheads might as well be huskies in disguise.

With a precise strike, Kinami swatted the bullet down, her thin tongue licking at her lips.

Made it.

And then, in her wide-eyed shock, the intruder raised another gun and fired again—this time at the bomb's rear.

Bang!

Kinami accelerated, intercepting the next bullet just in time. She stood there, panting, hands on her hips, fury brimming in her eyes.

"What the hell are you doing, meow!?" she demanded.

"Oh my, what am I doing?" The masked intruder tilted her head in mock thought, resting the base of the gun under her chin.

Simultaneously, her other hand raised her second gun—and fired at the bomb's head.

Bang!

"Oops! My bad, I misfired!"

"What!? AAAHHH!" Kinami dashed again, catching the bullet. As her claws trembled with pent-up frustration, she heard another casual remark:

Bang!

"Oh dear, I fired again. Sorry about that."

Bang, bang, bang!

"Oh no! Again?"

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Kinami dropped to a crouch, her fur drenched in sweat, clothes sticking to her back as she heaved for air.

Blood Break, after all, was a technique that burned through one's life force in exchange for power. It was a move meant to end battles in one strike, not to play a drawn-out game of attrition.

Her eyes darted to the intruder, who now stood with both guns raised.

"Oh no, I think I'm going to misfire again… and again… and yet again~"

That sweet, melodious voice—despite how charming it was—now sounded like the devil itself to Kinami's ears.

"JUST WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT!?" she screamed, utterly exasperated.

But this time, the girl didn't pull the trigger.

Interesting. Very, very interesting.

Beneath the mask, Kurumi's lips curled into a sly, predatory grin. It had been a while since she had encountered someone so… fun.

"If you detonate that E-Bomb, you'll die too, won't you?" Kinami's blood-red eyes stayed locked on Kurumi as she struggled to steady her breathing.

"Even a Old Deus would be killed at this close range, wouldn't they?"

"Hmm…" Kurumi nodded thoughtfully. "But if the E-Bomb goes off here, the Werebeast of Bay Shore Forest will be wiped out—most of them, at least."

A wicked grin spread across her face.

"Me dying in exchange for the downfall of your entire race… whichever way you look at it~~~you're the ones taking the massive loss here."

Kinami's heartstrings tightened. Everything the intruder said was, regrettably, the truth.

Gradually, she eased out of her Blood Break state, her small head working furiously to think things through.

If the intruder's goal was truly to wipe out the Werebeast, she could have unleashed a barrage earlier instead of playing fetch like a dog with a ball.

Thinking this, Kinami's cheeks flushed even redder.

Damn it, damn it, damn it!

She actually… actually treated me like some kind of plaything.

"What exactly… do you want?" Kinami asked, her slit pupils narrowing as they fixated on Kurumi.

She had realized by now that this person and the earlier infiltrator—likely a deadman—were connected.

"Oh my~~~ little kitty," Kurumi's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "I just want that thing, you know."

Kurumi pointed at the E-Bomb.

"That big, thick, heavy thing. You wouldn't be able to handle it~ So just hand it over to your big sister."

As expected, the target was the E-Bomb.

Kinami lowered her body, her posture seemingly submissive, her tail hanging straight down, its tip trembling faintly.

"Fine." Kinami's sudden agreement stunned the lion Werebeast, who exchanged bewildered looks.

"Oh my, what a good girl. Then hand it over to your big sister."

"You come and take it yourself," Kinami replied, a tinge of defiance in her voice as she puffed out her chest.

Kurumi's eyes glinted with amusement, briefly glancing at Kinami's tail before taking a step forward.

But just as Kurumi passed by, Kinami's claws slashed out like a gust of wind, attacking from both sides as she re-entered her Blood Break state.

However, to Kinami's shock, Kurumi seemed prepared, retreating in an instant and vanishing from sight.

"How…?"

Before Kinami could react, a sudden force gripped her tail, lifting her clear off the ground.

Kurumi had grabbed her tail and, with a flick of her wrist, hurled her across the room.

Kinami slid across the floor, coming to a stop at a corner. She curled into a small ball, clutching her tail tightly, trembling as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Next time you try to lie, little kitty… remember to hide your tail," Kurumi remarked, her voice dripping with amusement as she loomed over Kinami with a teasing smile.

Whether it was genuine submission or merely a defensive act, Kurumi could tell the difference.

Turning her gaze away, Kurumi walked casually toward the lions.

The lion Werebeast bared their fangs in a menacing display, their growls a clear warning. But Kinami, still curled up and teary-eyed, waved them off.

No matter what, the E-Bomb couldn't be detonated here.

Kurumi stowed the bomb away with ease.

The lion squad's vice-captain scooped Kinami up in their arms, the petite Beastman burying her face in the vice-captain's bosom, her expression a mix of frustration and humiliation.

Scoundrel! Bastard! Every single one of them is a scoundrel!

Even you're bullying me now!

"Hey… are you our enemy?" Kinami peeked out from the vice-captain's chest, staring at Kurumi.

"Enemy? Am I?"

Providing such critical intel, only to take the most pivotal item at the last moment…

Even if the Werebeast had managed to transport the bomb away, it would've just been discarded far away and rendered useless.

"Who knows~~~?" Kurumi chuckled, raising the same hand she had used to yank Kinami's tail.

Kinami stiffened, her ears perking straight up before she hastily urged her squad to retreat.

Left alone, Kurumi sighed wistfully.

As expected… whether artificial cats, mimetic cats, or mechanical cats, they can't quite match the feel of a real cat.

—

Out of fear of the E-Bomb, the Werebeast easily drove out the Dwarves.

Out of fear of the E-Bomb, the Werebeast were easily persuaded to retreat by Kurumi.

That's how this world worked—once the conditions were met, even a pawn could slay the queen.

"Schwi…" Kurumi pulled off the external device clipped near her ear, calling out to her companion.

She didn't mind throwing a dash of Ex-Machinas' spirit signatures into the mix to further confuse the situation. Ghost… Ex-Machina… God Species—whatever it took to push the scenario toward the one Rick envisioned.

Boom.

The sound of spirit energy igniting resounded as Schwi leapt down from the entrance, hurtling straight toward Kurumi.

Kurumi staggered as she caught her.

She couldn't deny it—Ex-Machina were definitely solidly built. At least when it came to materials, they were exceptionally substantial.

Kurumi carefully set Schwi down, ready to shake off her hands, only to find Schwi tightly clutching her right hand. The small girl pressed her nose close, sniffing intently.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Kurumi tried discreetly to pull her hand back, but Schwi held on firmly.

"Onee-sama… your hand smells like someone else…" Schwi murmured, her voice soft but resolute, her cheeks puffed indignantly. "The stinky fox marked you."

"Ha!?" Kurumi froze.

Stinky fox? How could she call that cute little tanuki a stinky fox?

Before Kurumi could react further, Schwi produced a small tube from somewhere. A glowing blue liquid flowed from it, washing over Kurumi's hand.

"There… no more. Now it smells like Schwi," Schwi said matter-of-factly, a hint of satisfaction in her tone.

Kurumi looked down at Schwi's earnest face, one that seemed almost… jealous.

"What the heck…"

She reached out, gently pinching Schwi's soft, cool cheek.

"You're so adorable, Schwi!"

"Error—Error—Error!"

Schwi's head tilted to the side with a faint creaking sound, the red warning messages of [-Warning0000-] covering her internal display.

Far, far away…

A pair of ancient, wheel-like eyes slowly opened.

"I…"

"I???"

"I!!!"

The eyes, old and vast as eternity, now reflected a single image: a golden clock-like eye ticking softly.

And then…

Darkness.

Nothingness.

If even the abandoned Elf capital held extraordinary value to humanity due to the information it contained, then a Dwarven research facility—nearly intact except for claw marks on steel walls and floors—offered even greater potential.

Schwi hovered mid-air, her arms outstretched as crimson lights scanned every inch of the facility.

A miniature three-dimensional projection of the research station formed in Schwi's hands—the entire purpose of bringing her inside.

"Onee-sama… task completed."

"Mm."

In a dimly lit, cramped cave, the white soldier chess piece symbolizing the Werebeast was moved to the western islands of the Lucia continent by the silent leader of the dead.

Fearing the E-Bomb, the Werebeast had decisively chosen to migrate as a tribe. The weapon was simply too terrifying. This continent could fight amongst itself for all they cared; they were done.

The silent specters observed the elegant girl with bangs obscuring her left eye, a surreal and dreamlike figure.

She was too powerful. Unrealistically so.

How could a species abandoned by the gods be so favored?

The world-destroying war revolved around three primary factions.

First, the distant continent of Avant Heim, a floating sky metropolis. It housed a host of creations forged by Artosh, the God of War—Flügel, divine weapons made by gods to kill other gods.

The Flügel, one of the top six species, were inherently perfected magic entities, possessing eternal lifespans and unmatched magical aptitude.

This was the faction of Artosh, the God of War.

Second, the subterranean city of Hardenfell, located 10,000 meters beneath the surface. It was a civilization of extraordinary mechanical engineering, centered around the "Creator's Flame"—the Divine Fire Furnace. This was the capital of the Dwarves.

This was the faction of Okein, the God of Forge.

Third, Mellyrn, the pure white forest and birthplace of the Elves.

This was the faction of Kainath, the God of Forest.

In Lucia, the forces influencing the war were deeply tied to the Elves and the Dwarves.

Having already "visited" the Dwarves…

The next stop was the long-eared ones.

Rick moved the white king chess piece to Mellyrn.

The Elves were the race with the highest magical aptitude. Kurumi's target was Nina Clive, the "Flower Crown Lady," an unparalleled prodigy who had elevated the Elves to become the dominant force among the three factions.

Against such a sorceress, one's spirit energy would automatically be identified, as though laid bare. Any disguise would be utterly meaningless.

But… was there someone in this world who had absolutely nothing to do with spirit energy?

Before Kurumi's arrival, the answer was no. Now, there was.

On the outskirts of Mellyrn, Kurumi attempted to convince Schwi to stay behind the defensive enchantments.

"One hour. I promise, just one hour, okay?" For some reason, Kurumi felt Schwi was getting increasingly clingy. Was it just her imagination?

After much effort, she finally persuaded Schwi, at the cost of letting the girl lightly peck her on the cheek.

Pulling her hood over her head, tightening her mask, and flipping her bangs to the right, Kurumi strode toward Mellyrn.

The city outskirts bristled with defensive enchantments. Only a seasoned schemer could infiltrate the city without triggering them all.

Or…

They simply didn't exist.

Kurumi strode openly through the defenses, leaving the enchantment-dependent Elven Gard completely unprepared for such boldness.

Stopping a random Elf girl, Kurumi's silver tongue quickly coaxed out the location of Nina Clive's residence.

As she turned to leave, Kurumi didn't notice the girl's enraptured, smitten expression.

The Elves were known in this world not only as "vindictive little pests" and "compost," but also by another title—"Lust Spirits."

In other words, they were a race that appreciated beauty indiscriminately, regardless of gender.

Lightly humming, Kurumi followed the girl's directions and soon arrived at the Flower Crown Lady's luxurious mansion.

"Well, well~~~" Stopping at the front door, just as she raised her hand to knock, Kurumi froze, a teasing smile creeping across her face.

"It seems Lady Flower Crown~~~has a rather private hobby, doesn't she~~~"

Thanks to her exceptionally sharp hearing, Kurumi could make out faint, strained moans and gasps coming from the mansion's underground chambers.

My Flower Crown Lady couldn't possibly be into BDSM, right?

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