Tohru initiates! Tohru is defeated!
Taihou initiates! Taihou is defeated!
Kurumi Tokisaki uses her Fourth Bullet for recovery—Kurumi is defeated again!
Setsuna activates 5x acceleration—Kurumi surrenders!
Richelieu calls for reinforcements—Mio and Belfast join the fray!
Reinforcements launch a coordinated attack!
Reinforcements are completely wiped out!
To the outside world, it seemed like just an ordinary night.
Occasionally, a patrolling angel passed near the Eternal Snowfall and noticed a shield cloaking it, but thought nothing of it.
Inside, however, nearly five rich and fulfilling days had passed.
When the sixth day's sunlight streamed through the portholes into the room—
Setsuna opened his eyes and yawned.
Tohru was still curled up in his arms, her golden hair slightly tousled, her peaceful profile adorable.
Her dragon horns appeared to be retractable—handy for flying, and easily tucked away for sleep.
But her tail wasn't. Covered in scales, it stretched across the bed—Kurumi was even using it as a pillow.
"Am I a Dragon Knight now?"
Setsuna gently pinched Tohru's cheek.
The dragon girl sleepily opened her crimson eyes, brimming with happiness.
"Ehehehehe—"
Tohru snuggled closer, grinning like a fool.
You'd never guess that this silly, sweet girl was actually a world-ending dragon from the chaos side.
"How are you feeling?"
Setsuna stroked her head.
"Mmm... a little tired, but I'm a dragon, so it's fine."
"Commander, I didn't expect you to be into dragons too."
Tohru looked up at him.
In her world, humans either fled from dragons or tried to fight them.
Someone like Setsuna was a first.
But Tohru figured she was probably the first dragon in all of dragonkind to go beyond friendship with a human.
"I've always been broad-minded."
Setsuna thought dragon girls were amazing—like the ultimate version of beast girls.
"If you want, I could change into my original form, and then we could..."
Tohru started daydreaming.
"?"
"Don't!"
Setsuna quickly cut her off.
Dragon girls were still within his range. A full-sized dragon, hundreds of meters long? That was a bit much.
"Mmm... Commander, when there's time, I'd like you to come home with me."
Tohru whispered shyly.
"Back to the Dragon Maid world? That inner world of yours?"
Setsuna was a bit surprised.
"Yeah. I haven't seen my family in ages. Now that I've found a partner, I think it's time to go back."
"Alright."
Tohru was the daughter of the Chaos Faction's leader—the Emperor of Demise.
Setsuna felt like he'd eloped with a mafia boss's daughter—after they'd already sealed the deal.
Might be time to meet the father-in-law.
"Do you think the Emperor of Demise would have a problem with me?"
He asked casually.
In the original story, the Emperor wasn't exactly fond of Kobayashi.
"Hmm..."
Tohru thought for a moment.
"I think you two might actually get along? Maybe even become friends?"
"Huh? Why's that?"
"Dragons just look down on weaklings. But you, Commander, are strong even by chaos standards—and you lead a nation."
Tohru reasoned.
"Also, your mindset's kind of like ours sometimes—people you can't stand, just wipe them out; worlds that rub you the wrong way, just destroy them..."
"Aren't you basically a chaos faction too?!"
"..."
After Tohru's little analysis, and considering the average moral compass of a Paradox game war criminal, Setsuna figured being labeled as a chaotic force wasn't all that inaccurate.
"Alright, I'll discuss Neutron Purge or Ascension through Crisis with the Emperor of Demise next time. Hopefully he doesn't think I'm too extreme."
...
After waking up, the two surveyed their surroundings.
The Eternal Snowfall's bridge was a bit of a mess.
Clothes were strewn everywhere, leftover fried torpedoes, Kuuga dishes, and all kinds of snacks piled high on the tables.
Setsuna sniffed—the air was thick with a strange scent.
He raised his hand and activated the ventilation system.
"Morning, Commander, Tohru."
Belfast and Yat Sen were early risers. The head maid had already started tidying the room.
Though from time to time, she clutched her waist and rested against the wall.
It was the double Wisdom Cube flagship's squeeze combo! Belfast, being just a light cruiser, had nearly been overwhelmed.
Yat Sen was browsing the Eternal Snowfall's wardrobe.
After a moment of thought, she pulled out her usual white cheongsam.
Seeing Setsuna, she didn't shy away. Instead, she called out: "Commander, help me with my hair—I'm getting changed."
"Mm."
Setsuna gently ran his hand through her waterfall-like black hair and helped her pin on her plum blossom hairpin.
Her snowy white back filled his vision, stirring certain urges.
Yat Sen bent down, her jade-like fingers delicately hooking her black stockings, slowly pulling them up along her leg until they reached mid-thigh. With a soft snap, they settled against her fair skin.
A slight squeeze, the transparency and length were perfect.
Then she fastened the buttons on her cheongsam. The snug white dress gradually hugged her curves, accentuating the elegant and alluring figure of a shipgirl.
The sheer black stockings paired with the short cheongsam created a stunning visual impact that left Setsuna a little dazed.
As the saying goes, girls are most beautiful at two moments—when dressing and when undressing.
Undeniably true.
That subtle, ambiguous allure left much to the imagination.
"Commander, it's morning already. Don't let your thoughts wander, alright?"
Yat Sen chuckled softly, a trace of coy reproach in her tone, tapping him lightly on the chest.
"I'm a little tired, you know."
"No, it's just... you're beautiful."
Setsuna kissed her on the forehead.
Even though his Wisdom Cube-powered stamina was limitless, he was definitely entering cooldown phase.
After all, maintaining the Eternal Snowfall's time-distortion state consumed energy too.
As they spoke, Taihou, Richelieu, and Mio also began to stir, shuffling to wash up in their pajamas.
On the bathroom shelf, an entire array of personal care items was lined up.
Just toothbrushes and towels alone amounted to nine sets, with more constantly being added.
"Why doesn't this feel like a vacation at all..."
Richelieu yawned and splashed cold water on her face to wake up.
"Commander, this was supposed to be a break, but I feel even more exhausted. Any idea why that is?"
"..."
Setsuna, the main culprit, gave it a thought and snapped his fingers.
"Next time I'll set the time multiplier higher—you'll get more rest."
Things got a little wild this time. His mental energy was nearly drained. He'd need more practice going forward.
"..."
Richelieu sighed.
Then again, at least it meant the Commander still found her very attractive.
Given the choice between occasionally being exhausted and never being touched at all, Richelieu would, of course, choose the former.
...
After breakfast,
Everyone gathered at the administrative center.
Gudako watched in bewilderment as Setsuna led the way, followed by a parade of shipgirls, Spirits, and dragons.
Compared to Earth's rich playboys vacationing with their harems, this lineup was far grander.
"?"
Looking closer, they were all oathbound girls.
Tohru's cheeks were still flushed as she clung tightly to Setsuna's arm.
"Commander, you had a party and didn't invite me?!"
Gudako slammed the table, a flash of realization striking her.
"You?"
Taihou gave her a glance, putting on a deliberately pitying expression.
"You're not quite qualified yet..."
"Huh?!"
Ritsuka Fujimaru was indignant.
"So what if I'm a bit thinner than you, a bit shorter, and a bit weaker?! So what?!"
"Besides, isn't Nagato even flatter than me? Is the Commander into lolis or something?!"
"??!!"
The innocent miko buried her face in the desk, blindsided.
"Party? What? There's a party?"
"Are there snacks?"
Artoria, halfway through breakfast, looked up eagerly.
"Oh, of course."
"The Commander provides cream puffs and snow cakes, unlimited supply."
Gudako rolled her eyes.
"???"
"I get the first one, but what's a snow cake?"
Jeanne Alter realized she was still too innocent in the face of human evil.
Jeanne d'Arc was even purer.
"Only desserts? Master, I think for a proper banquet, we should prepare more main courses."
"..."
"Next time you both come together. My treat."
Setsuna cleared his throat.
"Master, next time can I come too?"
"Master, Astrea wants in! And Nymph too!!"
Ikaros and the two angels joined the clamor.
...
The office buzzed with chatter early that morning.
Everyone was curious about the Eternal Snowfall's time-manipulation feature.
"Come on, you're all welcome anytime."
"Once you're aboard the Eternal Lew—cough, Eternal Snowfall, no one's getting off."
...
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