Exercising his administrative authority as the group leader, Haruto immediately updated her nickname.
He didn't need to guess—he already knew precisely who these two newcomers were.
[Name]: Sui
[Level]: 25
[Abilities]: 'Elf Bloodline,' 'Elf Magic'
This was Sui from Uncle from Another World.
Name: Shizue Izawa
Level: 22
[Abilities]: 'Elemental Magic,' 'Fire Spirit,' 'Demon Lord's Blessing,' 'Summon Magic: Flame Lord'
And this was Shizue Izawa from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.
Two wanderers plucked from entirely different fantasy dimensions. What a fascinating coincidence.
Sui: "..."
Far away, deep in a rugged fantasy wilderness, the orange-haired elf girl sat quietly beside a crackling campfire, staring blankly at the translucent chat screen glowing in front of her.
"Sui..." It was the first time anyone had addressed her so simply. Was it too casual?
Yet, as she looked at the interface, a quiet awe settled over her.
This chat group was incredible—it connected people from completely separate worlds!
Saeko Busujima: "Do all the new members have elf traits?"
Frieren: "If you don't mind, could you send a picture? I'd love to see what elves look like in other dimensions."
Sui: "A picture?"
Shizue Izawa: "A picture..."
Meanwhile, Shizue sat upright inside her canvas tent under the night sky, carefully removing her iconic anti-magic mask to reveal her gentle, striking features.
She found the entire concept of the chat group baffling, yet deeply intriguing.
"A picture?" she muttered to herself.
Fumbling for a moment, she quickly figured out the group's interface, activated the camera feature, and snapped a quick selfie.
Shizue Izawa: "[Picture]"
Shizue Izawa: "Sorry for any confusion earlier. I'm actually human, though I am possessed by a Fire Spirit."
Sui: "Oh! I think I figured out how it works!"
Sui: "[Picture]"
Sui sent her own snapshot, her features softly illuminated by the warm, dancing glow of her campfire.
Ayame Yomogawa: "She's so pretty."
Mai Sakurajima: "Indeed, a very lovely young lady."
Shizue Izawa: "Thank you both for the kind words."
Sui: "Please... don't focus on my appearance. It makes me feel terribly shy."
Frieren: "Sui really does look quite similar to the elves in my world."
Frieren: "However, the Fire Spirit Shizue mentioned doesn't quite sound like the elemental spirits I'm familiar with. If you don't mind, could you share a bit more about the demons and spirits of your world?"
Shizue Izawa: "..."
Haruto: "You don't have to answer if it brings back painful memories, Shizue-san."
Haruto was well-versed in Shizue's tragic history—a gentle soul shaped by a deeply sorrowful past.
"My past?"
Shizue's expression softened into a distant, melancholy gaze as her memories flickered back.
Shizue Izawa: "The truth is... I'm not originally from this world."
She shared her story to the quiet chat room: how she had been violently summoned across worlds by the powerful Demon Lord Leon Cromwell and given the name "Shizue."
To keep her burning, fragile body alive, the Greater Spirit Ifrit had been forced into her.
She spoke of being saved by the masked hero Chloe, of living as a teacher and adventurer, and of her ongoing struggle with Ifrit's volatile nature.
Frieren: "I see."
Frieren: "Summoned across space by a Demon Lord, carrying a powerful spirit entity within..."
Frieren: "Wait, Demon Lords? Does your world have a structured demon race as well?"
Haruto: "Alright, that's enough cross-examining for now."
Haruto: "Her world operates under completely different rules and history than yours, Frieren."
Frieren: "I was merely satisfying my academic curiosity..."
Haruto: "You'll have plenty of time to chat and compare notes later. For now, as the group leader, let me officially welcome both of you."
Haruto: "If either of you ever needs assistance, resources, or a way to change your circumstances, feel free to make a request through the group."
Sui: "A trade...? Hmm, I think I'm doing alright. I don't really need anything at the moment."
Stella: "@Shizue Izawa, didn't you mention earlier that you were struggling to keep the fire spirit under control?"
Shizue Izawa: "Yes, but... wouldn't asking for help trouble Haruto-san?"
Stella: "Please, if anything, he's probably hoping someone would bring him a good trade!"
Shizue Izawa: "..."
Shizue Izawa: "No, it's quite alright. The Fire Spirit Ifrit is far too dangerous for me to involve others..."
Mai couldn't help but sigh softly, a gentle empathy evident in her voice.
"It's clear that Shizue-san is an inherently kind person."
Rather than risking the lives of others or imposing her burdens, she chose to silently endure the volatile, destructive power of the fire spirit raging inside her.
Even trapped in impossible circumstances, her first instinct was to protect those around her.
Mai turned her gaze toward Haruto, her eyes carrying a quiet plea. "Haruto-kun... shouldn't you help her?"
Haruto offered a casual shrug, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "You heard her yourself. If she's too polite or stubborn to initiate a trade, my hands are tied. The system requires cooperation."
He stepped closer, closing the distance between them, and murmured near her ear, "Besides, are you really so eager to share your boyfriend with someone else?"
Before she could react, his hand slid smoothly around her waist, his fingers pressing flush against the fabric of her skirt and tracing the curve of her hip, pulling her flush against his chest.
The sudden, intimate contact sent a shiver racing up her spine, and a soft gasp slipped past her lips, quickly turning into a flustered giggle.
"Stop it~ The chat group is still active..." she whispered, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink.
Haruto's thumb brushed lightly against the sensitive skin just above her hip, his voice dropping to a low, husky hum. "There are plenty of ways to handle a trade, and not all of them involve the system..."
Sensing the dangerous shift in the atmosphere and feeling his lips brush against the sensitive shell of her ear, Mai's breath hitched.
Realizing things were escalating far too quickly for a late afternoon in the living room, she quickly caught his wandering wrist and gently pushed him back.
"I—I need to make dinner!" she stammered, darting away from his reach with a hurried step toward the kitchen counter.
Haruto didn't press her further. He let her go with a low, amused chuckle, knowing better than to push her boundaries past her comfort zone.
Still, lounging against the doorway with his arms crossed, his eyes tracked every graceful movement as she tied back her hair and pulled out the ingredients.
Watching her hips sway slightly as she moved around the compact kitchen, a teasing glint entered his eyes.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully and called out in a casual tone, "Hey, Mai... have you ever considered cooking dinner wearing nothing but an apron?"
Thud.
Mai's hand, gripping the chef's knife, instantly froze against the cutting board.
The kitchen went dead silent. Slowly, with an agonizingly deliberate motion, Mai turned her head back to look at him.
Her eyes narrowed into a dangerous, piercing glare, sweeping down slowly from his face all the way to his lower half before locking back onto his amused expression.
"Haruto-kun..." she said, her voice dropping an octave, sweet yet laced with lethal intent.
"Do you want to lose your dinner tonight? Don't distract me while I'm holding a knife."
Haruto immediately raised both hands in a mock gesture of total surrender, though the playful, triumphant smile never left his face.
He didn't miss the way her ears flushed a brilliant, burning crimson beneath her hair, nor the hesitation in her pause.
She hadn't denied it, and she certainly hadn't rejected the thought outright.
Oh yeah, Haruto thought with a satisfied grin, there is definitely hope for that later.
*****
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