Four days had passed since the declaration of war between the lizardmen and Almodeus's forces. While the former were preparing their troops and creating various additional fortifications in the border villages, the latter didn't seem all that concerned about the impending conflict—in fact, they didn't even seem interested. The small village conquered by the Absolute Lord had quickly become a thriving city, home to all the forest's goblin tribes, plus the few remaining Oni.

  Speaking of them, they had also evolved. They retained their bestial features, but after a slight change of attire, they appeared neater and much more respectable than their previous appearance. Each of the Oni had integrated perfectly into everyday life: Ghu worked in his forge alongside some goblin apprentices, and was tasked with forging top-quality weapons for the city; Shen was placed in charge of the military force responsible for defending the area, replacing Morello, who had returned to the Fear Tower; Zed became part of a search and hunt team; Hattori Hanzo was tasked with training the volunteers in the art of swordsmanship, but he was not alone in this work; in fact, the old Oni was deeply impressed by Hirashi's skills and opened a sort of dojo in collaboration with her, becoming her deputy and student; Huna, the Sacred Priestess, began to assist in the production of clothing and with economic matters, and also established a small temple for the worship of the Crimson Dragon and the Strongwind Dragon, plus another for Lord Almodeus, at the request of the goblins.

  Eventually, Shion became Almodea's assistant and secretary, though she acted more as a bodyguard and companion. Despite appearing like a mature, career-minded woman, she was very childish and careless, similar to the demoness she served.

  As for Almodea herself, she was appointed leader of the settlement by her father's order. She gave the town the temporary name of Almy, after her sentient shadow. Anxious about her new role, Almodea began to show her mature side—though she often passed off some of the financial work to Sergio or Huna, given Shion's unsuitability for those kinds of tasks. The latter was constantly competing with the other female for the new leader's praise and attention, fearful of being seen as inadequate. The Sacred Priestess, for her part, was very happy to help the young girl with her chores because of the appreciation she received, not to mention the satisfaction of being able to tease Shion a little.

  -All things considered, everything seemed to be going smoothly for them.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  8th day of the month of the gray dragon (March) 15:57 PM

  "And we're done for today!"

  Almodea declared, sitting in her office located on the top floor of the city hall.

  "You did a great job, mistress. As usual, Lady Almodea!"

  Shion, who often assisted her with her work, said smilingly. She was the furthest thing from a genius, but she helped as best she could. Furthermore, she and Almodea had bonded so much that they spent all their time together as best friends. Thanks to Huna's sewing skills, the other Oni had been provided with various items of clothing. In Shion's case, she was given a secretary's uniform, consisting of long pants, a tight purple jacket—which she usually left unbuttoned to reveal a generous amount of her cleavage—and a light green shirt.

  "Thanks, Shion! You were really helpful too, you know?"

  Almodea replied, rising from her chair and looking out the window. The city was growing visibly, with the undead patrolling the streets and improving the buildings under Sergio's direction. Furthermore, many of the goblins had decided to train to become a defense force. She didn't know why, but she loved that place so much; Almodea felt happy. It was simple, lively and- above all- she had found someone to spend time with.

  "Come on, Shion! Let's go out for a walk!"

  Without waiting for a response, Almodea took Shion by the hand and dragged her out of the town hall, beginning to explore the town with her. They walked hand in hand through the tiled streets, still under construction, while observing some stalls where goblin merchants were selling their wares, whether exotic foods or fine items.

  "Wow! It's coming along well, what do you think?"

  “I say that you and your father have been a salvation to these goblins…to us, Lady Almodea.”

  The Oni replied, smiling at the demoness. She was still grieving the loss of her family and friends, but Almodea's presence was truly helping her return to a sense of security and stability. Shion was truly happy to be of use to the younger girl, but still feared losing this new purpose.

  “Especially for us Oni. I didn't think I'd be able to adapt to a new life so quickly. I truly thank you for everything, mistress.”

  Almodea smiled at those words and clung to the other girl's strong arm. She had grown very fond of Shion these days, especially since the Oni was almost always with her, so she was happy that the other woman was enjoying her company as well.

  "I'm happy for you, Shion! You're always a great help!"

  At that moment, a light bulb went off above her head. An idea had occurred to Almodea. Now that she had Shion with her, she could do something she'd never been able to do with anyone other than her sister. Besides, she now had a home of her own, why not make the most of it?

  “Hey! Do you want to have a sleepover tonight?”

  "Sleep...what?"

  "A sleepover! Come over to my house and we'll read manga all night!"

  “Are manga those weird black and white books you showed me last time when I slept at your house?”

  “Exactly! You liked them, didn’t you?”

  “Oh, yeah! They were really funny!”

  “So... Are you in?”

  As unusual as it was, Shion seemed to like the idea and nodded happily. The construction of Almodea's home had recently been completed, and it needed to be inaugurated somehow. Contrary to what one might expect, the demoness's home was a very small house, with only a living room with a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom.

  “I can invite Huna and Lady Hirashi too! We could have a girls' night out! Is that what you wanted to do?”

  “I was hoping to do something just the two of us…”

  Almodea replied, tightening her grip on the Oni's arm. She seemed hesitant to say the next part of her speech, but continued with a smile.

  “...But if that's what you want, we can do it! The more the merrier!”

  "Thank you, Lady Almodea. Speaking of your house, don't you think it's too small for a woman of your stature? That's my opinion, of course; what matters is your opinion, my lady."

  "No, no! I want to know your opinion!"

  Almodea reassured her, flapping her wings with the same enthusiasm of a puppy wagging its tail because it wanted cuddles.

  "The reason I wanted it small was so I wouldn't have any problems. I grew up in a tower with over seventy floors! I'm happy to avoid getting lost looking for the bathroom..."

  Shion was perplexed by her boss's answer, but she laughed it off. She hadn't really understood much to be honest, but she was a woman of action—it wasn't like Shion to give too much thought to long and convoluted arguments.

  "Now that I think about it, I have a proposal! May I present it to you, Lady Almodea?"

  "Tell me, my dear Shion! I'm always listening to you."

  "Since I'll have the honor of coming to your house again, I'd like to reciprocate by preparing something to eat!"

  At those words, the nearby goblins immediately began to hide, as if they had sensed a death threat. It was well known that Shion was a terrible cook. Her cooking was disgusting, not to mention lethal. Anyone who tried it ended up in intensive care. The only one who appreciated it was Almodea herself, who somehow managed to eat the Oni's food without falling into a coma from poisoning. Unfortunately, this little skill of Shion's was discovered the hard way, when more than half the city ended up in the infirmary after a dinner prepared by the Oni. Shen had tried to warn Almodea of the danger, but she decided to give her new guard a chance; how could she say no to her Shion when the woman asked for something with puppy dog eyes and a shirt that showed off her generous chest so directly?

  They all gained resistance to the poisons that evening. Despite that, no one had been safe from a coma.

  "Oh, yes! That would be awesome! You're the best, Shion!"

  The woman blushed at the compliments. She wasn't often praised for anything other than her strength, so Almodea had been a welcome change of scenery. Shion was practically constantly seeking praise and attention from her new boss, almost obsessively at times, leading her to overdo it or misunderstand the situation. Honestly, Shion was truly happy serving her new boss, who seemed to appreciate her so much.

  "Lady Almodea! Shion! Good morning!"

  Huna greeted them, giving them a short bow. She was accompanied by a pair of female goblins, intent on offering their prayers at the shrine dedicated to Almodeus. She received a sunny greeting from the other two girls, who approached to continue the conversation.

  "Morning, Huna! How are you?"

  "Well, Lady Almodea. You?"

  "I can't complain, and I doubt Shion can."

  "I'm glad! Since you're here, I'd like to ask you a question...May I?"

  "Yes! Ask away!"

  The little Oni opened her milky-white kimono slightly and took out a sheaf of papers, handing them to Almodea. The demoness’s face darkened slightly at the sight of the papers, thinking they were more work. Leafing through them more closely, she noticed they were a collection of signatures—a sort of petition.

  "What are this?"

  "They are requests to erect a statue in honor of you and Lord Almodeus. Some of my subordinates are finishing collecting the ones for Lady Hirashi’s one. Please forgive me for giving you incomplete documentation."

  Almodea almost lost a lung at those words. Were these people so grateful to her and her father that they wanted to erect statues in their honor? It seemed extremely excessive. She loved being idolized by an otherworldly beauty like Shion, but if the whole city was like that, she'd soon be considered a goddess.

  Am I the only one who thinks this is too much? I'll be ruling this city temporarily, and honestly, I'm trying to do a good job of living up to Shion's expectations...

  The fact that everyone in that town saw her as someone important immediately put an absurd amount of anxiety in the demoness’s heart. She was doing everything because she was ordered to, and for making a good impression on Shion...did she really deserve all that praise? Almodea was immature, but not to the point of actively wanting to deceive people; especially when among those people were beautiful girls she liked.

  "This is...I...Hem...I mean...Is"

  She began to mumble, still confused about what to say about that. She wanted to avoid giving an overly simple answer or appearing undecided. She was still maintaining the facade of a mature girl who knew what she was doing. She had to seem like an expert in those matters, even though the Oni knew full well she wasn't, since they were present during her discussion with Sergio.

  "That's a fantastic idea, Huna! Lady Almodea deserves a statue!"

  Shion interjected. Her eyes shone with enthusiasm. She held Almodea in the highest regard, and went out of her way to praise her. Contrary to what one might believe, it wasn't all a ruse for praise; Shion truly loved spending time with the other girl, and her loyalty was rooted in the depths of her heart. Almodea had become a leader who she chose to follow, not because circumstances forced her to.

  "I'm glad we agree on this, dear Shion. Could you lend a hand with the work? What do you think? With your strength, you could be of great help."

  "Great idea, Huna! Thanks to me, we'll be done in no time!"

  Shion's excitement only increased at the prospect of demonstrating her physical prowess to Almodea. She could already imagine the endless compliments she would receive from the young demoness, not to mention the honor of participating in such a majestic feat. Meanwhile, a small grin could be seen on the priestess's innocent lips.

  "Very true. Since you'll be busy with the statue, I'll help Lady Almodea with her chores. Like calculating food expenses, or the accounting."

  "Huh?!"

  At that moment, Shion suddenly froze, knowing that she had fallen into the pink-haired Oni's trap.

  "That's what you were aiming for, right?! No! I'm her secretary, assistant and bodyguard! I'll give her a hand."

  "Are you backing out, Shion? Uh-Uh! That's not like you."

  “If anyone here should back out, it's you Huna! This job was entrusted to me by Lady Almodea herself! The fact that you would take it away from me is an insult to our mistress! You are our Sacred Priestess, and I respect you for that, but I cannot tolerate such shortcomings towards Lady Almodea—I just cannot!”

  “Calm down, Shion! First of all, I'm not trying to take your place! Secondly, it's not fair that only you should receive Lady Almodea's compliments! Furthermore, I think you could benefit from some help. You're not cut out for politics and economics, so let me handle that.”

  “Helping is fine, but stealing Lady Almodea from me is not!”

  Lightning and barbs began to fly between the two, their magical auras beginning to show as they had stopped suppressing them, warning all the nearby citizens that another verbal clash between the secretary and the deputy secretary- the latter unofficial- was about to begin.

  And here we go again...

  Almodea simply sighed at the sight. She'd gotten used to those little scenes by now, and had to admit she didn't mind having two girls fighting for her attention. It reminded her of the anime and manga she often watched. Plus, she loved feeling desired—especially by Shion. However, Almodea knew Huna was just doing it for the fun by teasing the other woman. It seemed the Priestess was jealous of her friend's curves, so she enjoyed teasing her a little.

  This is a bit too much, but I like it anyway!

  The two women's confrontation style was always the same: first they boasted about their recent work, then they moved on to talking about their own skills—where one Huna focused on enhancing her intelligence, while Shion focused on her physical strength—and in the end they denigrated their opponent's weaknesses.

  "Girls, that's enough! Okay?"

  Almodea interrupted, stepping between them. She'd liked to see more of the fight and at least get it through to the second phase, but wanted to avoid any damage or resentment—especially with a sleepover that was work in progress. Not to mention that, if Shion started stomping her feet, they'd have to repair quite a few tiles. That woman has pneumatic hammers in her leg muscles.

  "Of course, Lady Almodea. Forgive me!"

  Huna replied, bowing slightly. Like a good, mature girl, she immediately recognized that she had gone too far with her pranks.

  "You're right to apologize, Huna! What's this behavior in front of Lady Almodea?!"

  Shion teased, placing her hands on her hips and puffing out the chest, as if she hadn't done the same thing she was currently scolding Huna for. The other didn't respond, she simply covered part of her face with the sleeves of her white kimono.

  You're guilty too! But never mind...typical of Shion. I like her the way she is for a reason, after all.

  Almodea laughed at the tragicomic situation that had arisen. Once her temper had cooled, she became serious again and cleared her throat. The sleepover was now her top priority. The war didn't directly affect Almy's town, since her father would be in charge of it. She had nothing to do with that and would simply be a spectator.

  "Listen Huna, I'd like to ask you something."

  "Y-Yes! What is this about? An invasion? A war?"

  The Sacred Priestess asked worriedly, perhaps because of Almodea's serious tone. The demoness laughed lightly at her reaction, then shook her head. The war was something she didn't care about at all.

  "What? No! I just wanted to invite you to the sleepover I'm having tonight!"

  "Sleep...what?"

  "Ugh! A sleepover! Come to my house, we'll read manga and talk until late! Shion will be there too, and maybe even Hirashi."

  "Ohhh! Got it! Sure, I'll definitely be there!"

  Huna replied, calming down completely.

  "Okay, then! See you at my place this evening!"

  With that, the two bid farewell to the priestess, who returned to work alongside her goblin assistants. The small temple dedicated to Almodeus was frequently visited; many saw him as a sort of savior. They couldn't see the Absolute Lord any other way, given the security he had provided and how little he had asked in return. That he was a demon mattered little to none for them.

  "We have to ask Hirashi! Where is she now? Has she gone back to the tower?"

  Almodea asked, clutching Shion's arm. Hirashi had returned four days earlier with a declaration of war, which had immediately prompted Sergio and Morello to begin organizing the troops. The demoness knew that her sister had begun training the goblins alongside Hattori and Ryu, whom respected Hirashi greatly thank to her monstrous strength.

  I can't blame them...she'd kick my ass too, and I even started to train a little bit. She is too OP.

  As she pondered how powerful her sister was, Almodea felt her arm being squeezed by the other woman, that had started talking.

  "If I remember correctly, she should be with Hattori, who is busy training the new recruits. The construction of the dojo they requested isn't finished yet, so they should be on the south part of the village, near the river."

  Shion replied, acting like a mature woman, when in fact she'd read the whole thing from a note tucked into her jacket sleeve. She wasn't stupid, just very simple and direct.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  "We are well informed, I see! Excellent work Shion!”

  Almodea retorted ironically. She knew her secretary little trick, but didn't care; she loved complimenting the girl who had become her best friend, that was the one she spent practically all her time with.

  "Only the best for you, Lady Almodea!"

  Shion answered her, puffing out her chest again, that was as big as her immaturity.

  "Now that I think about it, you train with Hirashi too, right? Is she strict?"

  It was the only time the two were apart; during Shion's training with the white giantess. The Oni herself had asked to be trained to improve her skills. All with the aim of being useful to her new mistress.

  " No... but she's a hell of a powerhouse! I've always prided myself on my strength, but she's on another level."

  Shion stated, sounding surprised and respectful. She was truly amazed at how many people she'd met who were more powerful than her in such a short time.

  "Is hard, but I have to be strong! I am your bodyguard, after all. If anything were to happen to Lady Almodea, it would mean I failed as an Oni, as a secretary, and as a warrior!"

  "And as a friend! Don't forget, you're my BFF!"

  "BFF? Beautiful Facing Face?"

  Almodea lost another lung to that stupidity. God, Shion didn't understand her expressions. She'd had to explain so much to her since they'd started spending so much time together. It was only natural, after all- that word was pretty behind when compared to where she come from.

  "Oh, God no! Ahahaha! My chest hurts! Ahahaha!"

  She started coughing with laughter like a certified idiot, clinging even tighter to Shion for physical support. It took Almodea about ten minutes to regain her serious, mature appearance.

  “You misunderstood, my beautiful Shion! BFF stands for Best Friend Forever! Translated, it means you will be my best friend for all the eternity!”

  The Oni blushed at that statement, surprised at being so important to her mistress. She certainly appreciated it, but had no idea what she'd done to deserve all that favoritism or compliments. Almodea seemed to favor her for no apparent reason. Shion didn't mind, but internally didn't feel the attention was truly deserved.

  "A-Are you sure I'm worthy? I mean, I'm honored, don't get me wrong! But we've only known each other for less than a month! Don't you think you're overestimating me too much, my lady? I haven't had the chance to show you my true potential yet."

  "I make friends quickly! You're my best friend, and that's a fact! And more importantly, an order! Do you understand?"

  "Yes, ma'am!"

  Shion stood at attention, clearly missing the irony in Almodea's comment about being her best friend as an obligation. If there was one thing the demoness didn't do, it was force people to be her companions. She wouldn't do that with a stranger, and she certainly wouldn't do it with Shion, for whom she felt boundless affection.

  "Look, I was being ironic...let's forget it! Anyway, try not to overdo it, okay? You don't have to die on me! I don't know how to bring people back to life!"

  Almodea smiled, trying to make her laugh, even though the memory of Fiora's death still haunted the demoness’s mind at times. The thought of losing Shion like she'd lost her previous friends made her heart ache; she wouldn't lose another companion...not again.

  “Is something wrong, Lady Almodea? Your face has gone pale…”

  “Huh? No, no! I'm fine, don't worry. I'm just—”

  “Are you cold? Do you want me to give you my jacket? Maybe even the shirt if in not enough.”

  “N-No.…I’d appreciate seeing you shirtless, but let’s avoid it.”

  Almodea smiled slightly, hugging the other woman even closer. Their arms were intertwined, and the demoness's hand was seeking Shion's. She couldn't help it. That physical connection was like a drug she'd become addicted to.

  “But...You can stay close to me, if you want. Reeeeeeeeeeally close.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Arriving at the temporary training camp, they immediately noticed Hirashi's colossal figure standing out thanks to the white kimono adorned with purple butterflies. The robe was slightly open, allowing a partial view of the bandage covering her colossal breasts. The woman was intent on demonstrating some basic sword techniques to the goblins before her, while Hattori also watched, punishing anyone who was distracted with a resounding blow. Ryu was also with them, but unlike the other two, he was trying the moves like a student.

  "Oh, Lady Almodea! Shion! Welcome to this little training camp!"

  Hattori, dressed in a white suit and a green overcoat, greeted them warmly. While partial evolution hadn't changed much Shion, it had worked wonders on the old Oni. He was still visibly an old man, but he looked like a sixty-year-old at best, not a magical beast who had lived for centuries. He had even acquired a long white goatee that he used to massage during speeches to appear wiser than he really was.

  "Hello, Hattori! How's it going here?"

  Almodea asked, approaching the temporary area. It was clear that it had been prepared hastily, without any real organization in mind. Evidently, the white giantess had no part in the preparation, given how orderly and organized she was normally.

  "Very good! Lady Hirashi is an excellent teacher. I have a lot to learn too, you know? Her techniques are revolutionary!"

  "You know there's no need for compliments, Hattori..."

  Hirashi muttered, walking over to them.

  "Sorry, Sensei!"

  The old man answered promptly, bowing his head.

  "No need. Raise your head and make sure the goblins don't hurt themselves with those wooden swords."

  The giant woman bounced his excuses, moving her hand up and down. It was Almodea who intervened between the two, before they got lost in discussions about the mysterious art of the sword.

  "So, Hirashi...Are you free this evening? Or do you have things to take care of from the war against the lizardmen?"

  "No, I'm free. Hardshell will be the commander-in-chief of the war, and I will have nothing to do with it. That's what your father decided..."

  "Hardshell? Would that be a good idea?"

  Almodea acknowledged the warrior's strength, but his stupidity was as notorious as his strength, especially among the ranks of the Fear Tower. Hardshell wasn't an idiot, but he wasn't far from it- especially when angry.

  "You should have figured it out by now. Almodeus's plan isn't just to win, but to make a gain in the process. Hardshell is a soldier and a beast; he must learn to lead, not just kill."

  "It makes sense..."

  Hirashi's words were correct and Almodea knew it well.

  Maybe Dad put me in charge of the city to test me because he wants to give me a higher job after. Am I doing a good work? I miss the days when I was reading manga and watching anime 24/7.

  She began to think about her father having her tested, but the thoughts were interrupted by Hirashi, who moved closer.

  "Why did you want to know if I was free, by the way?"

  "To invite you to a sleepover! This evening!"

  "I should be done by 8:00 PM. I'll get ready and come to your place."

  "Hurray! Hurray!"

  Almodea was over the moon, especially since she didn't have to explain yet again what a sleepover was. It had been hard enough explaining what a television was to Shion- not to mention the Yuri anime argument.

  "On that note, what do you think of a statue of yourself, Lady Hirashi?"

  "A what? What do you mean, Shion?"

  "A statue! Huna is collecting petitions for that!"

  Hirashi sighed at those words. She didn't seem very happy about the news.

  "Look, I don't need a statue, and I didn't do anything to deserve it in the first place."

  "But why? You're the sister of Lady Almodea! You helped build her house, and so much more! You have every right to!"

  Hirashi sighed again and placed her hands on her hips. She was truly opposed to receiving those honors, which she considered excessive and completely unnecessary. She considered herself fortunate that Yor wasn't there with them. The winged woman would surely have made common cause with Shion.

  "Can we talk about this another time? I'm supposed to be teaching right now..."

  "Lady Hirashi is right, Shion. There's no time for such frivolities at the moment!"

  Hattori stepped in, his expression stern. He fully agreed with Shion's proposal, but this was neither the place nor the time to discuss it.

  "You're right, forgive me!"

  “It's okay, it's not a problem.”

  Hirashi raised her hand, as if to put an end to what she considered an idiotic matter.

  "Speaking of teaching, what specifically are you teaching them?"

  Almodea asked, looking at the recruits, who were intent on hitting dummies at designated points. Even though they were evolved, they still remained mere goblins, but with a little training, they could easily hold their own against a Golden rank adventurer.

  "For now we're just reviewing the basics, how to hold the sword and its weak points. However, Hattori asked me to teach him one of my personal techniques..."

  The elder Oni nodded in agreement at those words. He had decided to become Hirashi's student and assistant coach of the city of Almy after witnessing the use of a move so astonishing that it surprised even him, who had been a fencing master for centuries.

  "Personal technique? May I see it, Lady Hirashi?"

  Shion asked, involuntarily making puppy dog eyes.

  Hirashi isn't a proud person, I don't think sweet eyes are enough to-

  "Ok, fine"

  Wait...What?!

  Almodea was shocked. Hirashi wasn't a showoff, so it was unusual for her to agree to demonstrate one of her techniques. However, now that she thought about it, it also made sense for her to do so in this context, given that Shion trained with the white giantess every day.

  "Really?! Thank you so much, Lady Hirashi!"

  The Oni cheered happily. Battle was her specialty, so seeing new techniques always made her exhilarated. She might not be able to replicate them, but if Shion came up against something similar, she would be able to counterattack.

  "You're welcome. If it can help you improve or give you some encouragement is fine. Especially since you have to defend Almodea."

  Hirashi replied stoically, but it was clear she was genuinely happy to help Shion out. She was surprisingly confident in the Oni. A friend of Almodea's was also a friend of hers.

  "Look at you , Hirashi! You really seem like an experienced teacher!"

  Almodea teased, laughing. She hadn't expected her cold sister to find so much satisfaction in teaching others swordsmanship. The giantess simply shrugged at the jab, then grabbed her own purple katana, adorned with purple eyes on the blade. It was the Void Katana, her favorite weapon—and the one she'd trained with the most. In Almodea's opinion, no one could wield such a sword as well as Hirashi.

  "Look carefully, Shion. I called this technique: Assassin's Queen Mercy."

  Hirashi had thought about that name for a long time. She had even asked her mother's permission to use the term Queen, as she felt unworthy of even pronouncing it, unless directed at Nikusa, the one and only true queen in her opinion—besides C, of course.

  "Ready? I'm about to start...”

  Despite the warning just given, Hirashi remained still and motionless. She didn't move a muscle for several minutes, as if to increase the suspense. The moment of suspense was interrupted when the tree behind her split in two and fell to the ground, as if it had been cut in half in a single blow—with nothing short of surgical precision.

  "Wow! It was you?! How come? You didn't move!"

  Shion commented, astonished. Cutting down a fir tree of that size was already astonishing, but doing it without even moving? It was almost impossible. For a moment, she firmly believed it had been an illusion.

  "I actually moved; you just didn't see it."

  Hirashi explained how, by combining various abilities she possessed, she could teleport close to a target, strike them with her katana, and return to the starting point. All of that in less than a second, making the movement imperceptible to the naked eye or low-level accelerated vision. This was how she killed the lizard soldier at the village of Tiberio and Druso.

  "Wow! You are amazing, Lady Hirashi! Almost as amazing as Lady Almodea!"

  Shion commented, applauding.

  "I'm glad you like my technique. Now let's get back to our training. Are you up to? Want to join us?"

  "No, I think we're going to my house to get everything ready for the sleepover! Call me if there's any news on the war!"

  With that, Almodea grabbed Shion's hand and began running toward her home. Surely the last thing the demoness wanted to do after hours of paper work was a grueling workout with her sister. The other woman would have been fine with the workout, because it would give her the chance to show off in front of her new mistress.

  "They bonded immediately, uh?"

  Hirashi muttered, watching the pair leave the training area.

  "Shion has never been one to trust at first sight, at least before her evolution. It was Lady Almodea's influence that changed her. I'm sure it made her more affable."

  Hattori's words made it clear that even he was surprised. Shion was an excellent student and a fierce, but not suited to anything other than fighting or knocking things down with her fists. That she could serve Almodea without causing trouble was absurd to him.

  "I like her."

  "Really, Lady Hirashi? Uh-Uh! I didn’t expect that!”

  "If she makes Almodea happy, then she has my trust."

  The giantess finished, sheathing her katana and starting to walk back toward the recruits, leaving Hattori alone. The elder oni chuckled and took a step forward, stopping to notice that a second tree had been sliced in half, likely after Hirashi's last comment. At that moment, it became clear to him that losing her trust didn't end well.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  8th day of the month of the gray dragon (March) 11:47 PM

  Hirashi sat alone near the French windows of Almodea's house, gazing at the starry sky. It looked like the sleepover was over. It had been a lot of fun, and she couldn't deny that she was happy to have been able to participate. It had helped distract her from some of her worries, like the constant questions from her mother when she would find a boyfriend for herself.

  How long can I keep procrastinating my answer to Mother? I don't want a boyfriend, honestly.

  Hirashi stretched slightly, continuing to observe the sky. She had to admit that the only thing this world had that was better than the old one was nature. The old world's hellscape was practically rotten and devastated, especially in the areas without an Overlord to manage it. That starry sky would have been a rare sight if she hadn't been there.

  Did I have fun today? I think so.

  She hadn't done anything different than usual, but she felt happier for some reason. She'd really enjoyed training the recruits, even though they were truly awful and didn't even have the basics of fencing. As for Shion, she was definitely better off than the goblins, but she had a long way to go before she could defend Almodea properly.

  "Here you are, Lady Hirashi."

  Huna greeted her warmly, coming over and sitting next to her on the porch.

  "Hi, Huna."

  The giantess replied, with her usual stoic manner.

  "Is something wrong, Lady Hirashi? You seem more serious than usual."

  “Don't worry, it's all right. I was just thinking about some things. Where are those two? Are they already knocked out?”

  Huna nodded at the question and laughed, covering the lower half of her face with the wide sleeves of her white kimono, as she usually did. Hirashi had always wondered why she did that, but didn't want to seem intrusive, so she didn't ask.

  "I'd say so. You can see it for yourself..."

  She added, pointing to the center of the living room, where sleeping bags had been prepared for the sleepover. Shion was resting in one of them, with a sleeping Almodea resting with her head on her chest, making the two look like sisters who had fallen asleep together—not too far from the truth, given that they had collapsed at the same time and Almodea had hugged Shion in her sleep, as if she were a koala.

  "Let’s don't wake them up."

  The pale woman whispered, gaining the Oni's assent.

  "I admit I'm jealous, you know? This time Shion won, but next time I'll be Lady Almodea's pillow!"

  "I'll pretend I didn't hear the last part, okay Huna?"

  "Of course, Lady Hirashi. I'm joking, of course. I'm happy for her."

  Even if what the Sacred Priestess said was extremely embarrassing, her innocence made it impossible to take her words seriously. Hirashi had already realized how much she enjoyed teasing Shion.

  "By the way, you haven't told me what you think about the statue idea."

  Huna's question came like a bolt from the blue to Hirashi. She hadn't given it much thought and hoped they'd forget about that silly proposal.

  "I'm not convinced..."

  She replied, tucking her gray tank top under the jacket. Even though it was quite warm, Hirashi stuck to her usual attire—not that she could feel hot, being immune to climate change. She knew she had a stunning body, but wasn't a fan of showing it off to the world.

  "You deserve it, in my opinion! You're doing so much for the city of Almy."

  "I don't think so. I'm just doing what I did before, now I just teach while I train. Besides, it was Hattori's idea, so build a statue for him—"

  "You should not belittle yourself, Lady Hirashi!"

  Huna interrupted, waving a stern index finger at the older woman.

  "You may not realize it, but many consider you a heroine! A figure to be admired for her strength and beauty!"

  "Where I come from, those would be called a simp..."

  "A what?"

  "Forget it. If you want to make a statue of me so badly, go ahead. But I won't be the model. I'll give you a picture and it will be as it is."

  Hirashi finished, quite exhausted from the constant admiration. In that regard, she was the complete opposite of Nikusa, who loved being the center of attention.

  "B-But...Lady Hirashi, a statue made based on an image doesn't necessarily do justice to your perfection! Your height, your magnificent and toned curves, your powerful and colossal brea- "

  "Yes, yes, I understand. Stop complimenting me, please. I'm not used to it and it feels weird."

  Hirashi cut her off, immediately regretting how harsh she'd been with the little Oni. For some reason, the way Huna complimented her reminded Hirashi of Yor. She found it annoying to receive compliments just because she was beautiful. Sometimes it was okay, but not always. It was exhausting.

  "Forgive me if I seemed too irritated. I'm just not used to being complimented so much. I think it's over the top, honestly."

  "No, I am the one who need to apologies. I was following Miss Yor's directions. I think I overdid it."

  "That's why that whole spiel sounded familiar. It's a good thing I stopped you, otherwise it would have been more awkward. Yor has a bad habit of complimenting my body parts in a precise and extremely awkward order... Even some of my most intimate ones."

  "Yeah, I was feeling uncomfortable too, to be honest. Complimenting you so directly is disrespectful, since I'm your subordinate."

  Huna admitted, lowering her head and blushing with embarrassment. Luckily, her face was already covered by her kimono sleeves.

  “It's just that, seeing Shion always doing it with Lady Almodea, I wanted to try it with you. Please forgive me..."

  The little Oni sighed sadly, genuinely sorry for getting caught up in the moment. She truly admired women like Hirashi and Almodea. They were so strong and determined, something she wasn't. Honestly...she was most envious of their bodies. If she envied Shion's ample breasts and strong build, she was jealous of everything about Hirashi. The white giantess literally had it all, from strength to beauty. How could she compete with such perfection?

  "You don't have to apologize. Almodea likes that kind of compliment, so you can do it with her. I'm more reserved."

  "I acted like Shion, how embarrassing..."

  Just thinking about it made Huna blush completely red. She felt hypocritical, childish, and a little ungrateful. She was causing trouble for the woman who was training the recruits and had helped her build the temple dedicated to Almodeus. Could she have been ruder?

  "Calm down, nothing happened."

  Hirashi ordered her, trying to sound gentle, but only partially successful. He still had to work on that.

  "Anyway, I'm serious when I say you underestimate yourself, Lady Hirashi. You've done so much for the city! Not only do you train the new recruits, but you help with hunting and gathering, as well as construction! You deserve recognition!"

  "You say?"

  "Yes! Please believe me, Lady Hirashi!"

  The pale giantess looked up at the sky again at those words. She wasn't sure she deserved anything; she didn't feel like she'd done anything significant, but Huna's insistence was starting to make her change her mind—to doubt her own doubts.

  “Okay, I give up.”

  Hirashi declared, throwing up his hands in defeat.

  “Make a statue if you want, but I'd rather help out around town than be a model.”

  Huna nodded at that statement, understanding the giant's responsibilities.

  “As you wish. As a Sacred Priestess, I will bless you in the name of the Dragon Cresimi.”

  “Speaking of your religion...shouldn't you like...hate me?”

  "Hate you? Why would I, Lady Hirashi?!"

  To say Huna was stunned would be an understatement. The pale woman's words had been completely unexpected. The little Oni admired Hirashi, not only for her beauty and strength, but also for her confident, unflappable nature. She was jealous of those enormous breasts because she was young and flat as a board, but hate her? It was impossible.

  "You are a priestess, and I don't believe in your religion. Shouldn't there be a conflict?"

  "Oh, no! Believing in the Cresimi Dragon is different from worshipping him! We believe more in ideals than in the God itself. It's important to remember our ancestors and honor their memory. In our faith, there is no room for hatred..."

  "It's probably the first religion I like."

  The little Oni stood up and began to laugh, amused by the situation. The giantess always seemed so confident and cool, but when you spoke to her, you could tell it was all just a facade; she's a woman like all the others, just a little more reserved and introverted.

  "Lady Hirashi, since the statue will not be able to represent your magnificence, may I compensate?"

  "Compensate?"

  "Yes! I'll make you a late-night snack. It's a small gift, but—"

  "It doesn't matter. My mother says you never refuse a gift."

  Hirashi interrupted, standing up himself and leading Huna into the kitchen. Like the rest of Almodea's house, it was surprisingly small but comfortable. It looked like a regular gas stove, but it was actually powered by magic; much safer and less wasteful. Huna had quickly adjusted to the new methods- she was truly gifted in the kitchen.

  "Are you on a diet? Or do you have any allergies?"

  "No, you're free to do whatever you like. Instead, make all the noise you want, Almodea wouldn't wake up even if I detonated a bomb next to her."

  "Really?"

  “Yes, I tried.”

  Hirashi muttered, wondering why everyone assumed she was on a diet or picky about food. She looked at Almodea, who was still clinging to Shion like a koala whit its tree. She found it incredibly cute. She remembered how many experiments Almodea had done to find a spell that could create an alarm clock that would wake her up on time. The bomb thing wasn't a joke, just a failed experiment.

  "Same goes for Shion, by the way."

  The cook replied, lighting the fire. She, too, had glanced at the two sleeping girls, smiling. For some reason, there was something funny about watching Almodea use Shion's breast as a pillow, clinging to her as if it were a lifesaver.

  "Are we sure they aren't sisters separated at birth?"

  Hirashi's ironic question made Huna laugh, and she nodded quickly, looking over at the giantess. She couldn't help but feel a little envious of her superior's physique. Despite being an adult in age, she was short and underdeveloped— still a breathtaking beauty, but she hated it when Shion teased her about that very thing during their friendly arguments. If she'd had a body like Hirashi's, she'd have won those arguments in less than a minute.

  Huna shook her head at that imaginary scenario. It was wrong for someone like her to think such things about her superior. She was someone who paid close attention to the etiquette she'd been taught during her years of apprenticeship in the Crimson Dragon Cult.

  "Thanks for cooking, by the way. After Shion's dinner, I'm still a little hungry."

  At those words, the cook's face went pale. The memory of Shion's food was debilitating. Huna had managed to hide her portion under a rug, which covered the food-eaten floor. How could no one have noticed that beneath one of the rugs was a hole that reached the foundations of the house? It would be a secret between Hirashi and Huna, one that would be taken with them to the grave.

  "Yeah, I don't know how you managed to eat it all without saying a word! You have a stomach made of iron, Lady Hirashi!"

  The priestess patted the woman's belly a few times for emphasis. She giggled lightly as she felt the tough skin beneath her jacket. Hattori had told her that not even his sword- which had wounded Almodea- had been able to cut Hirashi’s skin. She laughed for a few minutes and patted the other woman’s belly a few more times; the skin beneath her clothing was so hard that it felt like she was tapping on a diamond. Then, she realized what she was doing and lowered her head, blushing in embarrassment and shame.

  "Forgive me, Lady Hirashi. It was out of place!"

  "No.…"

  The giant shook her head, remaining impassive, but not in a stern or irritated way.

  "There's no need to apologize, Huna. Also, call me just Hirashi when it's just you and me. I know the honorific is important to you, but when we're alone, you can use my first name. Is that okay?"

  Huna nodded, smiling at those words. Although she felt strange about being able to call one of her superiors by the first name, she was immensely happy. For her, it meant they were creating a bond beyond simple peaceful coexistence. She and Hirashi were becoming friends. She'd never had many, considering many girls in her old village feared her because of her position as a Sacred Priestess.

  "Thank you, indeed. Please sit down, Lady...er, just Hirashi! Please take a seat, it's almost ready!"

  The Oni gestured, embarrassed. Not using honorifics was proving harder than expected; it went against her traditions and the teachings of her tribe, but she knew the other woman's request was intended to level the playing field between the two, to establish a friendship of equals.

  "You can even skip the third person... you know what? Do what you can, it's just the two of us."

  Hirashi replied, sitting down at the small table nearby.

  Luckily, Almodea prepared a suitable chair for me...

  The giantess thought, then looked at Huna at the stove. She was extremely skilled, second only to C, in her opinion. The two hadn't met yet, but she was sure they would get along well as fellow cooks.

  "It's ready! I hope you like it!"

  The Oni handed her a plate of rice with meat, then bowed slightly.

  "I'm sure it will be..."

  Hirashi commented, taking a taste. It was really good; she could not negate that.

  "You eat something too, I feel weird being the only one chewing."

  "Hm? Of course!"

  The two began to eat with gusto, talking to each other and hearing the snoring of Almodea and Shion in the background, who had started drooling in their sleep because of the smell of the food.

  Life in this simple town isn't bad. I... like it here?