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Chapter 296 ~ Dragon God Tamer

Yuuji had almost forgotten this feature of the [King’s Treasury]—that living beings could not only enter it but also reside within it comfortably. After all, he had never really taken advantage of this particular function of the SR-ranked item granted through the Multiverse Group Chat.

Est, for example, always preferred to stay within him in her spirit form rather than inside the treasury. She would materialize when Yuuji was home to spend time together with him. But when he wasn’t, she would prefer to stay in her spirit form and remain close to his soul—closer than any physical space could ever allow.

As for the twin slimes, Aria and Alice constantly vied to be his necklace or remain in their humanoid forms, always seeking to be as near to Yuuji as possible—whether nestled against his chest or clinging to his arms.

His [King’s Treasury] had, until now, been treated purely as a mobile arsenal—filled to the brim with powerful weapons and magical artifacts from Yggdrasil. Every armament he possessed had been moved there for convenience, each piece ready to be summoned at a moment’s notice for battle or defense.

Every single weapon stored inside was of the highest caliber, artifacts that could change the course of a war. Yet, he rarely used any of them.

After all, he had Est—the Spirit Sword Sovereign, the strongest and most trusted weapon in his possession.

And, more importantly, using anything else would likely earn him a pout—or worse, a day filled with silent complaints—from the possessive sword spirit loli. 

Still, letting such legendary weapons gather dust would be wasteful. So he treated the treasury more as a cache of ammunition for his devastating magical artillery than as a living space.

That was the only perspective he’d ever had on it… which was why he’d almost completely forgotten that the treasury could house others—living, breathing companions—in comfort.

“Well, let’s see how she likes it here first,” Yuuji murmured, referring to Ophis. “Once she’s comfortable with us and willing, maybe I’ll offer her a place inside the [King’s Treasury]. But I’m not going to confine her. I’d rather gain a reliable ally than lock the Dragon of Infinity in a vault.”

Albedo nodded thoughtfully in agreement. “In that case, I shall begin procuring some accommodations inside. A proper bed, some essentials… maybe even some entertainment.”

“Mm… I might be able to shape the environment at will, but there are other things she might need, like a bed, a room, maybe some books, a tv, and a computer as well to keep her occupied…”

Yuuji’s casual murmuring made her pause. She tilted her head slightly, then looked at him with a glint in her eye.

“My love,” she purred, “can you enter the [King’s Treasury] yourself?”

He nodded. “Yes, I can.”

Although Yuuji had never done it, having received the full knowledge on its usage upon receiving it from the Multiverse Group Chat, he knew he could enter it.

A sly smile curved her lips as she wrapped herself around his arm, pressing her generous curves against him. Rising to her tiptoes, she leaned in close, her voice dripping with seductive warmth as she whispered into his ear.

“Then… shall we enjoy some private time within it, my love~? I’d be more than happy to offer my input on the interior design… among other things~”

Yuuji’s heart skipped a beat. A soft blush tinged his cheeks before he smiled and kissed her tenderly.

“I would love that. Then let’s plan a complete refurbishment of the [King’s Treasury]—tonight.”

“Mmm~ My love~ I wouldn’t want anything more~”

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“Fufufu~ Do you like this one, Ophis-chan~? It’s called Azuki Bean Yokan! Yuuji made it just yesterday~” Aika cooed cheerfully, holding out a neat slice of the glistening red bean jelly on a tiny porcelain plate.

The petite black-haired girl took it with both hands and stared at it for a moment before taking a small, delicate bite.

“Mm… Tasty…” She nodded, her tiny lips and cheeks moving ever so slightly, like a little cute squirrel.

Aika beamed. “Hehe~ I’m so glad! Now how about this one~?” she asked, presenting another sweet, this one wrapped in soft mochi and filled with strawberry and red bean paste. “This is a Strawberry Daifuku! And yes~ Yuuji made this one too~!”

Ophis gave a tiny nod and bit into it. The moment the sweetness bloomed across her tongue, her eyes lit up just a bit more than usual.

“Mm… I like this one more…”

“Hehe~ I do too!” Aika giggled, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Ah, but don’t forget to drink the green tea with it! It’s a little bitter, but it balances out the sweetness and brings out the flavor even more! Like a secret combination~!”

She handed over a small, lacquered cup filled with steaming green tea. Ophis took a cautious sip, her brows twitching slightly at the bitterness.

“Gulp... Bitter…” she muttered softly.

Then she took another bite of the daifuku.

“Chomp… Mm. It became sweeter…”

“Right~?” Aika beamed triumphantly. “That’s the magic of harmony! You drink the tea right after a bite, then another bite after a sip—it’s like a rhythm! Sweet, bitter, sweeter, and sweeter still~”

Ophis gave a slow, solemn nod, her small mouth now filled with bite-sized pieces of wagashi, completely engrossed in the experience.

A warm breeze rustled through the surrounding trees of the garden, carrying with it the scent of green tea and sakura blossoms. The koi pond behind them rippled gently, sunlight shimmering across the water like scattered gemstones.

After a few moments of silent chewing and sipping, Aika glanced toward her new companion and asked cheerfully, “So~ What do you wanna do next, Ophis-chan?”

Without hesitation, Ophis glanced up at her, her voice quiet but clear. “I want to try… the hot spring.”

Aika’s eyes sparkled. “Oh~! Then let’s go right now!”

Excitedly, she rose to her feet and offered her hand to Ophis, who took it without a word. Aika quickly called out to the others through a communication charm, inviting Yuuji, Albedo, Erika, and even the lazy C.C. to join them for a soak.

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The group gathered at the estate’s private hot spring, nestled behind the dojo and shrouded in a grove of sakura trees. Mist floated lazily across the surface of the steaming waters, and glowing paper lanterns swayed gently above, casting golden reflections onto the rocks.

After a short shower, Ophis stood quietly at the edge of the spring, her damped black hair fluttering softly in the breeze as she observed the others. Yuuji was reclining against a smooth stone with Albedo nestled against him, her pale skin glowing in the steam. Erika and C.C. lounged nearby, chatting softly as the water bubbled around them. Aika stood next to her, guiding her gently into the spring.

“Alright~ Now, let’s soak in the hot springs~ It’s quite hot, so be careful, okay~?”

The heat from the hot springs were of no harm to a being like the Dragon of Infinity. Both Aika and Ophis, herself, knew this. However, Aika wanted to treat her like a regular girl. 

After all, if she were to ignore her tremendous power, she looked and acted like an innocent and naive little girl who knew not the way of the world. 

Moreover, she must’ve lived all her life around beings who feared her and/or tried to take advantage of her. So Aika wanted her to experience living like a regular mortal being. To have friends. A place to belong. A home. 

As they settled into the warm embrace of the hot spring, a serene stillness fell over the group. Mist curled lazily above the surface, the gentle steam wrapping around their bodies like a comforting blanket. The soft rustle of leaves in the night breeze and the distant chirping of cicadas formed a tranquil chorus under the starlit sky.

Ophis sat quietly beside Aika, her slender frame half-submerged in the water. Her long, jet-black hair floated around her like strands of silk. Her crimson eyes, ever calm yet brimming with quiet curiosity, were fixed on the pair at the far side of the spring.

She watched how Yuuji chuckled softly at something Erika had said, how Albedo leaned into him with such unguarded affection, resting her head on his shoulder while her arm wrapped possessively around his. Their every movement was filled with ease and warmth, as if they were parts of the same whole. The others, too, shared playful banter and light touches—a closeness that Ophis observed with silent intrigue.

“…Are you… mates?” she asked softly, her voice barely louder than the lapping water.

All movement stilled for a moment. Yuuji and Albedo turned their gazes toward her—gentle, calm, and without judgment.

Yuuji smiled. “I suppose you could put it that way,” he said. “But… we’re not together just to ‘mate’ and produce children. We’re together because we love each other.”

Ophis tilted her head. “Love…?”

Her voice was tinged with sincere confusion, her brows faintly furrowed.

The concept eluded her. To her, mating was a functional act—a biological necessity to continue one’s lineage. And for an immortal being such as her, such a thing wasn’t even necessary. 

Why attach something intangible like emotion to it? Why did the mere mention of this “love” make their eyes soften? Why did it seem to bring them peace… happiness?

She looked at Yuuji and Albedo again, then Erika and C.C, and then at Aika beside her, who gave her a warm, understanding smile.

“Mm-hmm~ That’s right,” Aika said gently, reaching out to brush her fingers against Ophis’s. “Love can be warm… like this water. Or soft, like a hug. Or sweet, like the daifuku we had earlier. It’s a feeling you get when you’re with people who make your heart feel safe… and full.”

Ophis looked down at their joined hands in the water. Her expression remained unreadable, but her grip tightened ever so slightly.

After a pause, her quiet voice drifted between them.

“…I don’t understand.”

Aika giggled softly and squeezed her hand in return.

“That’s okay~ You don’t need to understand it all at once. You’ve got time, and we’ll help you. Just let yourself feel things, little by little. For now… let’s just enjoy tonight, okay?”

Ophis didn’t reply with words, but after a long moment, she gave a tiny nod and leaned her head against Aika’s shoulder.

The night continued with gentle laughter, quiet conversations, and the soothing sounds of the hot spring. Steam rose around them, glistening beneath the soft glow of paper lanterns. Above, the stars twinkled in the velvet sky—silent, eternal witnesses to the scene below, where the Dragon of Infinity took her first small step not as a weapon or a god…

But as a girl learning what it meant to live—and perhaps… to love.

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Ophis sat alone on the engawa, the polished wooden veranda glowing faintly under the pale silver moonlight. The koi pond before her shimmered gently, reflecting the stars that scattered across the dark velvet sky like grains of celestial salt. A faint breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby maple trees, carrying with it the cool scent of earth and spring water.

By her side rested a jade-colored yunomi cup, wisps of steam rising from the freshly brewed green tea within. Beside it, a lacquered tray held delicate wagashi—strawberry daifuku and crimson red bean namagashi molded into the shapes of cherry blossoms and peonies, their form so beautiful they could be mistaken for real flowers.

She didn’t move, but she wasn’t idle. Her obsidian eyes watched the ripple of the water disturbed by the playful koi. Behind her, the estate was alive with distant warmth—the sound of muffled conversation, soft laughter, the creaking of tatami mats under idle feet. Even the faint rhythmic clack of a bamboo fountain striking stone mingled with the soothing rustle of the night wind.

To an eternal being who had lived eons in the infinite emptiness of the Dimensional Gap, a single day should have meant nothing.

But this one… this day was different.

In one brief sunrise to sunset, she had seen more color, heard more voices, felt more things than she could remember in countless centuries.

Meeting Yuuji. Being gently guided by Aika through hallways and gardens. Eating strange foods that made her mouth water and her stomach feel strange. Watching how people smiled when they weren’t trying to manipulate or fear her.

It had been chaotic. Noisy. Cluttered with sensations.

Yet, oddly… it wasn’t unpleasant.

Why? she wondered. Why does this not bother me like Great Red’s noise did…?

Her fingers reached out and delicately picked up a strawberry daifuku. The mochi’s soft pink hue glowed under the moonlight. She studied it as if it were a sacred artifact, then slowly brought it to her lips.

The moment she bit down, a burst of flavor greeted her—sweet and fragrant, the mochi giving way to the tang of ripe strawberry and the mellow richness of red bean paste. Her eyes fluttered just slightly, her lips parting in the quietest hum of satisfaction.

“…Tasty.”

Just then, soft footsteps approached across the wooden floor.

Yuuji.

He moved without disturbance, his presence strong yet gentle like the night breeze.

“May I sit with you?” he asked, voice low and warm.

Ophis turned her gaze toward him. After a second’s pause, she gave a silent nod.

Yuuji eased down beside her, his eyes turning to the koi pond, just as hers had been. He didn’t speak immediately, allowing the moment its own stillness.

“...So,” he said eventually, “what do you think of this place?”

Ophis blinked slowly. Then, in a quiet, near-thoughtful murmur: “It’s… noisy.”

Yuuji chuckled under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah… it is.”

She looked down at her daifuku, then out at the water again.

“But… it’s not unpleasant.”

Yuuji turned to her, surprised, but his expression quickly softened into something more tender.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Silence again. Not uncomfortable. Not cold. Merely still.

Then, without turning to her, he said gently, “You’re free to stay here, if you like.”

Ophis turned to him fully, eyes searching his expression, as if trying to decipher the intent behind his words. There was no condition. No binding pact. Just sincerity.

After a pause, she nodded.

“I have another place you might enjoy even more,” he continued, raising a hand. A ripple of golden light appeared in the air before them, swirling like a divine mirror—his personal dimensional space.

Ophis stared at it. Her pupils widened, just a fraction.

She had seen many things in her existence. But not this.

The ripple hummed with warmth, unlike the cold chaos of the Gap.

Yuuji stood and stepped through the golden light without a word.

Ophis remained seated for a moment longer. Then, slowly, she rose to her feet. She took one last look at the koi pond, the stars, and the tea still warm beside her.

Then she followed him in—into something unknown, uncertain, but somehow… inviting.

For the first time in her long, lonely existence, Ophis took a step forward not to escape, but to explore.