After dealing with the imposter, Ray turned to the Huntress, intending to give her a casual order—only to pause mid-sentence.
"Actually… What's your name? It's going to get tiring calling you 'Huntress' all the time."
They stood in the garden, all traces of the recent battle wiped clean, as if the violence had never happened. The Huntress had been resummoned, her form whole once more, unmarred by the conflict.
A moment ago, she had felt relief—survival tasted sweet, even if fleeting. But just as she had reappeared in the Shadow Castle's dark halls, the space twisted around her, warping reality until she found herself back in the garden. Ray stood before her, gaze steady, waiting.
Her breath hitched. Panic flared in her chest like a struck match.
Had she failed him somehow? Was he going back on his word? He was fickle enough for that, and cruel enough to toy with her hope.
But no—he just wanted to know her name.
Seriously? Couldn't he just pull it from her memories? Peer into her past? Glimpse the threads of her future? Isn't he some kind of omnipotent and omnipresent god anyway? Why bother to ask?
She almost rolled her eyes. Of all the things to rattle her—this? He'd nearly given her a heart attack… over that?
Suppressing her irritation, she straightened her back and steadied her voice. "My name is Diana."
Ray gave a slight nod, as if filing the information away in some mental ledger. Then his expression shifted—subtle, yet unmistakable. The light in his eyes dulled, and a colder presence settled over him.
"I just remembered I have a task for you, Diana." he said, his tone flat. Devoid of emotion, as though speaking about the weather.
Diana's body went still, her senses on edge when listening to his voice calling out for her name with a tone of familiarity.
"Your fellow Hunters are still out there," he continued, his voice calm, unyielding. "Find them. Dispose of them all."
The words struck like a blade, not because they were unexpected—but because they were inevitable.
Her expression flickered. Guilt danced in her eyes for a heartbeat before it drowned beneath resignation. She clenched her jaw. The bitterness on her tongue was familiar now—resentment, grief, helplessness. But she swallowed it all, just like before.
Defiance was not a luxury she could afford.
She bowed slowly, each movement deliberate. Though every part of her resisted, she moved with the grace of someone who had done this countless times before.
She said nothing. Only silence answered him—the only rebellion a tool like her is capable of as she accepted her purpose.
In the quiet that followed, the truth weighed heavily on her chest.
In the end, this was no different from what she'd always been. A pawn moved by powers far beyond her understanding. The only thing that changed was the hand gripping the piece.
Obedience was all that remained to her.
She turned to leave, each step burdened by the gravity of what she now had to do.
She'd always known this was coming. The moment Ray returned, the fate of the other Hunters had been sealed. He never forgot betrayal—and he never forgave.
Now, the blade would fall. And she would be the one to wield it.
'Even if I have to be a monster, if I could survive his wrath then so be it.'
The thought churned in her gut. To raise her weapon against those who once shared her burden… to look them in the eye and deliver death, not out of justice or mercy, but because she was ordered to.
She was no longer Diana the Huntress.
She was a tool. His tool.
And Ray—calm, calculating and quietly amused eyes—was already watching.
He would savor every moment of what came next.
———
After sending Diana off, Ray turned and entered the mansion.
Everyone was already gathered in the living room, seated in a tense silence as they awaited his return. Their eyes met his, wordless but heavy with expectation of what had transpired. They wanted answers.
Ray hesitated. A dilemma weighed on his mind.
Should he restore their memories?
Revealing the truth would only burden them with things they didn't need to know. But keeping it hidden felt… selfish.
With a long sigh, Ray exhaled his conflict away. He shifted back into his feline form and silently leapt onto the sofa, settling into Kuroka's lap where Ravel and Ryoko also sat nearby.
"It was nothing serious," he said casually, as if brushing off a minor inconvenience. "Just someone trying to ruin our peace. I've already taken care of it, so there's no need to worry."
But the room remained quiet.
No one looked convinced. Kuroka gave him the look of disbelief, Ravel said nothing but gave a stiff smile and Ryoko stayed silent, unsure how she should react.
They all knew him too well—this wasn't the first time he'd buried the truth under a casual remark. Still, no one pressed him, understanding that if he chose not to share, there was likely a reason. They trust he would never do anything to harm them.
Sensing the heavy mood, Ray raised a paw and snapped his claws.
With a flash of light, three blonde-haired lolis appeared in the center of the room.
Instantly, all eyes turned to the newcomers.
Ray took it upon himself to introduce them—one by one, offering names and lighthearted commentary. The shift in energy was immediate.
From his wives, the reaction was mixed but calm. Ravel, in particular, lit up—delighted to meet girls who looked like her kindred spirits. After all, she shared their golden hair and petite charm. Kuroka and Ryoko, though less outwardly reactive, offered warm smiles and quiet welcomes.
From his daughters, most responded with excitement and curiosity, eager to welcome new sisters into their ever-growing family.
All except Sirin, who sat off to the side, arms crossed, sulking quietly. Her eyes occasionally glance over at the blond trio, sizing them up like predators sizing up its competition.
As the girls mingled and laughter returned to the room, Kuroka gently stroked Ray's soft fur as he lounged lazily in her lap.
"So… are they our new daughters?" she asked, her tone playful but with genuine curiosity.
Ray shifted, curling more comfortably into her lap before replying, "Not exactly. I didn't think of them as daughters when I brought them in—more like... collectibles. Well… except for Yue… probably Eva too. They are both precious cinnamon rolls. Although, Eva is quite the tsundere, unlike Yue."
Then he paused, ears flicking as he was thinking about something.
"Well, except for Shinobu. You can consider her a pet instead. We had a vacancy for a family pet, anyway." Ray joked.
That didn't go unnoticed.
Shinobu's eye immediately twitched, her mouth opening to protest—but before she could unleash her fury, Ray added:
"I'll give you unlimited Mister Donut donuts if you agree."
Instant mood shift as the air stilled.
Since returning from Monogatari world, she had been pestering Ray for Mr Donut donuts specifically but Ray either didn't care or purposely denied her request. Not because he is spitting on her on purpose but because he isn't some kind of convenient wish granter. If he had picked her up to be his daughter, he might indulge. But he picked her up simply at a whim and she had been annoying the whole time.
"Really? You will not use excuses to deduct my donuts allowance?" She asked skeptically and demanded confirmation. In response, Ray humorously nodded. Not that this will ever bite him back.
"Deal! I, Shinobu Oshino, the legendary vampire Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade, will reluctantly agree to this accord! Pinky promise! No take backsies!" Shinobu blurted with pride on her puffed flat board chest, springing to attention with frightening speed to seize this great opportunity.
In Shinobu's mind, being his daughter would mean having all of their wishes granted, given if the request is reasonable. How worse could a pet be?
Ray's tail flicked lazily, laying with his stomach up and basking in the attentive hands of Kuroka while she pet him. Shinobu's line of thoughts is bare to his eyes like an open book which made him chuckle in amusement.
At the very least, the crisis is averted.
—————
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