After Hikaru proposed the terms of their deal, Ddraig quickly reached an agreement with him, promising full support. However, when Hikaru brought up training in the Tyrant Dragon form, Ddraig was taken aback.
With a trembling voice—almost as though showing concern—it said:
"Um… Partner, could you not be in such a hurry? The Tyrant Dragon isn't something you can master that easily. Many of my previous hosts died trying to train for it."
"We're not rushing. We can take our time."
The Tyrant Dragon state fully unleashes the Red Dragon Emperor's power. Ddraig knew very well how fearsome it had once been, rivaling even the Transcendents of the Underworld. The top-tier forces of Heaven, or those so-called "Monitor of God's Children," never mattered to it before. But colossal power often comes with a steep price—no human body could endure that burden.
"Come on, Partner, be honest with me—did you run into some trouble? Are you being hunted by someone powerful?"
"No."
"Then why are you so determined to grow stronger, so soon?"
"If I have this power, of course I want to develop it. I'm not someone who'd just leave a 'nuclear weapon' unused, only to rely on a handgun,"
Hikaru replied, expression unchanged.
"I might not use it right away, but I can't afford not to have it."
On hearing this, Ddraig realized just how unwavering this man's will was, impossible to sway. Unable to persuade him otherwise, Ddraig could only cooperate.
Of course, compared to unlocking the Balance Breaker, pursuing the Tyrant Dragon was far more difficult. Setting aside whether a host's body and mind could handle the Red Dragon Emperor in its prime, Hikaru was more concerned about the restless souls sealed deep within the Sacred Gear. According to Ddraig, once the Tyrant Dragon was activated, the consciousness of those tormented spirits would flood into his mind. Hikaru had zero desire to let such alien entities invade his head—so finding a way to purify the curse became the top priority.
He conducted several experiments. Having made some headway, he decided to call it a day, hoping to resolve the Tyrant Dragon's secondary side effect within half a month. After reviewing his gains, Hikaru casually tidied the house. Then he noticed Asia timidly descending the stairs.
Her delicate features showed hesitation, as though too shy to speak up.
"What's the matter?"
Hikaru asked.
"I… could I take a bath? I don't even know…where the bathroom is."
She had been upstairs this whole time. Only after seeing the armor on Hikaru's body dissolve like a receding tide did Asia come out. She hadn't bathed for several days and could smell a faint odor on herself.
"A bath, huh."
Hikaru thought for a few seconds, then asked:
"Can you scrub my back?"
"Huh?"
…
In a bathroom large enough for ten people, steam condensed on the glass walls, filling the air with a hazy warmth that blurred one's vision.
Hikaru sat on a small stool in front, while Asia, wrapped in only a towel, knelt behind him. Her pale skin, exposed to the warm, humid air, glowed alluringly under the lights. Even the strip of flesh between the towel's edge and her thighs was enough to spark the imagination.
Only three people were in the bathroom: Hikaru, Est, and Asia—who was in charge of washing his back. As for Ddraig, Hikaru had already tossed it into the spirit realm to sleep.
Gazing at the broad expanse of his back, Asia's cheeks flushed with heat, and her arms trembled unconsciously, weakening her scrubbing pressure.
"A bit more force."
"S-sorry!"
She apologized instantly, gripping the towel and rubbing away. Having suffered two betrayals already, she dreaded once again being abandoned. She wanted Hikaru not to dislike her—she'd handle all the household chores, if only he wouldn't cast her out.
"No need to apologize. You're one of us now, so just relax."
Hikaru's somewhat carefree voice drifted over. In the past, he'd asked Est to help wash his back, but the sword spirit's notion of "light pressure" often left him with injuries.
"We… we're one of us?"
At these words, Asia suddenly froze. Then tears the size of peas began trickling from her eyes. But she recovered quickly, wiping away her tears and murmuring:
"S-sorry—I just got too happy… No one's ever said that to me before."
"Hikaru… what are we, now?"
"Friends, family, companions—whatever you want to call it."
Those words struck Asia's heart like a profound blow.
"Family… I finally have a family."
Tears streaked her face, yet she smiled brightly.
"I'm so happy, Hikaru. Really, so happy. Thank you… truly, thank you."
Hearing her continuous stream of gratitude from behind him, Hikaru's lips curved in a faint smile. Asia was an orphan, abandoned by her birth parents; one could well imagine how his words impacted her. Meanwhile, Est, floating in the large tub, cast a sideways glance at Asia before leaning back as if to swim—only to sink with a "glug glug."
"H-Hikaru, Est just went underwater!"
"Don't worry about it. Let's keep going."
~~~
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