Finally, Arthur decided to go home.
He wasn't sure how long he had been inside the dungeon, but exhaustion weighed heavily on both his body and mind. The kind of fatigue he felt wasn't something sleep alone could fix. Being pushed to the brink of death repeatedly, enduring pain that bordered on insanity, and forcing himself forward purely through willpower had taken its toll.
More than anything, he missed them.
Akeno's teasing smile.
Asia's gentle presence.
Even Rias's composed yet earnest demeanor.
The sterile silence of the dungeon, no matter how comfortable its rest area was, could never replace that warmth.
After settling a few things with Lilith most importantly, that she would remain hidden within the glyph on his hand for now, since her sudden appearance would inevitably cause chaos if she were mistaken for the Lilith of this world. Arthur spoke the command aloud.
"I wish to return."
The world shifted.
In the blink of an eye, he was standing in his bedroom.
Arthur froze for a second, instinctively checking his surroundings. Everything was exactly as he had left it. The faint hum of electricity from the walls, the familiar scent of his room, the slightly uneven floorboard near the bed.
He glanced at the clock on his desk.
10:34.
Not a single minute had passed.
"…That still feels creepy," he muttered.
He walked over to the window and slid it open, letting cool night air rush inside. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with fresh air, and felt tension drain from his shoulders almost instantly.
The rest area had been comfortable, luxurious even, but the air there always felt heavy. Artificial. Too still. This—this was real.
For a moment, he considered going to find the others.
But he quickly shook his head.
If he showed up now, tired, half-detached from reality, and carrying the emotional residue of everything he had gone through, it would only worry them. Tomorrow would be better.
He would sleep.
Arthur headed to the bathroom and took a long, hot shower, letting the water wash away the lingering sensation of blood, smoke, and magic. By the time he turned it off, his mind finally felt quiet.
As he stepped out and wiped the steam from the mirror, he paused.
The reflection staring back at him no longer felt entirely familiar.
Just a few weeks ago, he had been shorter, leaner, with an almost androgynous face that rarely drew attention. That version of him felt distant now.
Thanks to the treasures he had consumed early on, he had already grown taller and more defined—but this was different.
Under the effects of his new physique and the countless enhancements layered onto his body, his appearance had crossed into an entirely new realm.
His height had increased from 180 cm to 188 cm. His frame had broadened naturally, muscles fuller and denser without appearing bulky. Everything about him felt balanced, refined to an almost artistic degree.
His back was wider. His posture straighter.
Each muscle seemed carved with purpose, strong as steel yet flexible and smooth beneath his skin.
His face had changed as well.
The reinforcement of his skeleton subtly altered the structure of his skull, sharpening his jawline and refining his features. His skin looked flawless, almost luminous, and his eyes—once ordinary—now shone with a faint violet hue, like polished crystal catching the light.
Perhaps that was the effect of charm.
His hair had grown slightly longer, its color shifting toward a rich golden blonde.
Arthur studied his reflection in silence.
Anyone who had known the previous version of this body would never recognize him now. Not that it mattered. Aside from parents who were rarely present in his life, there was no one who truly knew him well enough to question the change.
Once again, he pushed aside the thought of reviewing the body's memories, choosing laziness over curiosity.
Then a thought surfaced.
"Hey, system," Arthur said quietly. "I've been wondering for a while… what happened to the previous owner's soul?"
The answer came immediately.
[You do not need to worry, host.]
[There is no previous owner.]
Arthur frowned slightly.
"…What?"
[This body was created from the beginning solely for you.]
He blinked.
"Then what was it doing before I arrived?"
[The body functioned autonomously, without a soul.]
[It followed two simple rules: preserve itself from harm and move toward this location in preparation for your arrival.]
Arthur exhaled slowly.
"I see… I'd feel pretty awful if I'd taken someone else's body and left them behind."
There was a brief pause before the system answered.
[To be honest, that was God's original plan.]
[The displaced soul would have been compensated generously during reincarnation.]
[However, the plan was discarded due to the risk of moral conflict for the host.]
"…That's a relief."
Arthur lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
By the way, host, you still have an unused reward card.
"I know," he replied lazily. "But I don't think I need another body right now, so I'll hold onto it."
[Acknowledged.]
He closed his eyes, finally allowing himself to relax.
Tomorrow, he would take a short break.
And after that…
Riser's plot would begin.
A while had passed since Arthur had fallen asleep when a brilliant crimson magic circle quietly appeared on the floor of his room, right beside his bed.
From it emerged a beautiful woman with long, flowing crimson hair.
Rias stood there in silence for a few seconds, her fists clenched at her sides. The rejection she had received in the Underworld still weighed heavily on her chest. Despite her growth, despite her newfound strength, her family had not even allowed her to speak. Her engagement to Riser Phenex remained unchanged, as if her feelings had never mattered at all.
She could not understand why her father was pushing so relentlessly for the union, even to the point of clashing with her mother and brother. The thought made her chest ache.
In the end, she had only one choice left.
She turned her gaze toward Arthur.
He slept peacefully, his breathing slow and steady. Somehow, he looked different than before. Stronger. More mature. There was a faint, almost imperceptible aura around him, giving him an unreal presence even in sleep.
Her heart trembled.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered quietly.
She felt guilty for involving him in her problems, guilty for leaning on him when she should have been strong on her own. But she had reached her limit. If he accepted her help, she swore she would never take it lightly.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she slowly began to undress.
One by one, she undid the buttons of her blouse, carefully sliding it off. Her skirt followed, then her bra, her movements hesitant yet resolute. Finally, with a deep breath and a hint of embarrassment, she removed her panties. She left her stockings on, remembering something she had once read, her cheeks warming further at the thought.
She folded her clothes neatly and placed them on a nearby chair, her hands trembling slightly.
Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing her bare body in silver. Her pale skin glowed softly, her long crimson hair cascading down her back. Each gentle breath caused her chest to rise and fall, and the quiet of the room made her heartbeat feel deafening.
She stood there for a moment, gathering her courage.
Then she stepped closer to the bed.
With careful movements, she pulled back the blanket covering Arthur and climbed onto the mattress. Her knees settled on either side of his waist, the warmth of his body immediately reaching her. Her breath caught in her throat.
She leaned forward, her hands hovering for a moment before lightly touching his chest.
Taking one last breath to steady herself, Rias gently woke him.
-
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