The fire crackled quietly.Kaien lay on his back, shirtless, chest wrapped in blood-soaked cloth, staring up at the stars.
Blonde Girl was patching him up—reluctantly but gently.Redhead sat by the edge of the camp, sharpening her blade, stealing glances every now and then.
Kaien broke the silence with a classic Kaien line:
"So, y'all ever kiss a guy who just solo'd a raid boss half-dead with a glitch sword or…?"
Blonde: "You're lucky I'm not stabbing you again."
Redhead: "…Yet."
Kaien grinned. His ribs hurt. But damn if his pride wasn't soaring.The monster was dead. He was still breathing.And somehow—he had two badasses staying at his campfire.
For the first time in this world…He didn't feel like a mistake.
⚔️ Then—
The bushes shifted.Leaves rustled.Heavy boots stomped into camp.
Kaien jumped up, instincts flaring—until he saw the mountain of a man walk through the shadows.
Steel-gray eyes. A massive shield on his back. Silent as death.Kaien lowered his sword, breath catching.
Donovan Blackguard.
"…Yo," Kaien said, blinking. "You're real."
Donovan looked him up and down. "You survived the Stormrend alone?"
Kaien shrugged, trying to look cool. "Y'know. Little blood. Little trauma. Classic MC s**t."
Donovan stepped forward—and did something Kaien didn't expect.
He knelt.
"The crest chose well. I, Donovan Blackguard, pledge my shield to you, Kaien Everflame. Until death takes me."
Kaien: "...BRO?"
Redhead dropped her knife. Blonde's mouth opened slightly.
Kaien's eyes burned. He wasn't used to loyalty like this.
"…Then get up, big guy," he grinned. "We're not dying anytime soon."
The Brotherhood had begun.
⚒️ Training Montage Incoming
The next morning:Donovan trained Kaien how to actually fight—stance, balance, breathing.Kaien fell over 17 times.
Donovan: "You swing like a horny bard."
Kaien: "I AM a horny bard."
🩷 Meanwhile – Harem Building Progress: 2/5
Redhead (name reveal incoming):
"My name's Seris. Don't think saving me means I like you."
Kaien: "Nah, I already know you like me. You sharpen your sword extra loud when you're mad. It's cute."
Seris: Blushes, punches his arm. "Shut up."
Blonde (name reveal incoming):
"I'm Lyra. I still think you're dumb. But... thank you. For not running."
Kaien: "You're welcome. And I'm not dumb—just… plot-armored and optimistic."
She didn't respond.
She just sat next to him.
🛡️ Brotherhood Bonding Scene
That night, Kaien and Donovan sat near the fire, staring into the flames.
Kaien: "…Why follow me, man? I'm not some legend. I was literally in Pikachu boxers when I landed here."
Donovan looked at him with those sharp gray eyes."Because you were broken. And you kept fighting. That's the kind of leader I trust."
Kaien didn't say anything.Just quietly added another log to the fire.
👑 Meanwhile – Reinhard at the Academy
Reinhard slammed a noble's sword into the dirt.
"Get out of my way. I have someone to find."
A servant handed him a sealed scroll—it was from a traveling merchant who saw a boy with a cursed sword slay a Stormrend Alpha.
Reinhard smiled for the first time in years.
"Kaien... You're alive."
🔥 Aziel's Last Line This Chapter
Standing on a cliff, overlooking a monster-infested canyon.
Shirt half-unbuttoned. Fire magic sparking around his fingertips.
Aziel smirked.
"Guess it's time I go meet my future harem leader."
🐒 Monku – Riding a wild boar through the jungle
"WHERE YOU AT, KAIEN?! I GOT WAIFU-SNIFFIN' INSTINCTS AND A NEW MOVE CALLED 'THIGH SEEKER!'"