《The hero is reincarnated as a delinquent》


 The beginning after the end

    ¡°Diablo! You must die for the sake of peace on our planet!¡± I shout, panting as I point my sword at the Demon King, Diablo. Both of us are covered in wounds, and the destroyed throne room around us is littered with the bodies of fallen comrades and demons alike.


    ¡°Foolish hero. Even if I die, peace will not last long. You humans will always find someone else to blame for your problems or fight over what you lack,¡± Diablo says, gripping a wound with one hand while keeping his sword pointed at me with the other.


    ¡°Humans are not animals like you demons!¡± I snap, charging at him.


    ¡°Foolish, ignorant hero! Humans are emotional creatures, not rational ones!¡± Diablo roars, venom lacing his words as he lunges forward to meet my attack.


    Both of us unleash our auras, knowing that this final strike will decide the fate of our world. Our swords collide, and in an instant, a blinding light engulfs us as our auras explode from the sheer force of impact.


    I gasp for air, my eyes flying open as I jolt upright¡ªonly to almost fall out of my¡­ desk?


    ¡°Noriko!¡± A middle-aged woman¡¯s voice cuts through my confusion, sharp and angry. She stands at the front of the room, glaring at me as the other students burst into laughter. ¡°Why can¡¯t you pay attention and stop disrupting class?¡±


    ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± I ask, confused. My voice comes out high-pitched and distinctly feminine. Is that¡­ my voice?


    ¡°Noriko! Are you threatening me? Go to the principal¡¯s office now!¡± she shouts, her glare intensifying.


    ¡°I¡¯m not threatening you, miss. Also¡­ could you show me where the principal¡¯s office is?¡± I rub the back of my neck, still bewildered. The female voice is definitely mine. As I lift my hand, I realize it¡¯s not my strong, hairy arm covered in battle scars but that of a young, toned girl. What in God¡¯s name is going on?


    ¡°Noriko! Enough of your games! You¡¯ve been sent to the principal¡¯s office so many times you practically live there!¡± the teacher fumes, her patience clearly at its limit.


    ¡°Understood, miss.¡± I stand up nonchalantly and head toward the door. As I walk, I hear the whispers of my classmates.


    ¡°Here we go again.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°What is this? The fifth time this week?¡±


    ¡°Shh. She might hear you.¡±


    Ignoring them, I step into the hallway. A group of boys disappears into a nearby room. Figuring it would be easier to ask them for directions, I follow after them.


    As I step inside, I immediately notice the white walls and, more importantly, a group of boys surrounding a smaller, weaker one who is cowering on the floor.


    ¡°Hey. What are you doing?¡± I ask angrily, stepping toward the bullies.


    The group turns to me, confused.


    ¡°Why the hell are you in the boys¡¯ restroom?¡± asks one of them¡ªa blond-haired, blue-eyed kid who glares at me.


    ¡°Oh? It¡¯s Noriko.¡± Another boy, taller and more muscular with black hair and brown eyes, cracks his knuckles with a menacing grin. ¡°We have a debt to settle with her. Maybe afterward, she can pay with her body.¡±


    I freeze. Did I just hear that right? My expression darkens.


    ¡°Hey, bean sprout. Block, or you might die.¡± I growl before throwing a punch infused with aura. Even though I can tell the aura on this planet is weak, it¡¯s still enough to be deadly if I choose.


    The boy tries to block, but his bones snap as he¡¯s launched backward, crashing into the bathroom wall with a sickening thud. Blood dribbles from his mouth as the dented wall behind him serves as proof of my power. The other bullies gape in horror.


    ¡°H-Hey now, Noriko¡­ we were just joking,¡± the blond stammers, laughing nervously as he backs away.


    ¡°Joking about rape? What kind of joke is that?¡± I snarl before slamming my fist into his jaw, knocking him out in a single hit.


    The remaining two bullies don¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Fuck this!¡± they shout before bolting out the door.


    I turn my attention back to the smaller boy still cowering on the floor. He¡¯s shaking.


    ¡°Wh-What d-do you want?¡± he stammers.


    ¡°Nothing. Are you alright?¡± I kneel down and offer him my hand.


    Before he can answer, an angry voice cuts through the air.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    An overweight, balding man storms into the restroom, followed by a uniformed officer. The moment their eyes land on the scene¡ªbloodied bullies, a dented wall, and a trembling victim¡ªtheir expressions shift from confusion to outrage.


    ¡°Noriko! Did you do this?¡± the old man barks, his face red with fury.


    ¡°I did. But¡ª¡± I try to explain, but he doesn¡¯t let me finish.


    ¡°You are hereby expelled! Get off my property and don¡¯t ever come back!¡± he roars.


    ¡°Noriko, you are under arrest for assault and property damage,¡± the officer says, pulling out¡­ are those shackles?


    ¡°Wait! I only fought them because they were going to fight me and rape me!¡± I argue, trying to clear up the misunderstanding.


    The officer freezes, glancing between me and the old man. With a sigh, he finally speaks.


    ¡°We still need to take you in while we investigate.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± I hold out my hands, allowing him to shackle me. As he does, I glance at his name tag¡ªShiba.


    ¡°How long will the investigation take, Mr. Shiba?¡± I ask.


    ¡°A couple of days, most likely,¡± he replies before leading me out of the restroom.


    The moment we step into the hallway, a crowd has already gathered, whispering amongst themselves.


    ¡°Oh shit, she¡¯s finally lost it.¡±


    ¡°Damn, she actually got arrested?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s be real, we all knew this would happen eventually.¡±


    I ignore them, following Shiba out of the school. But the moment I step outside, my breath catches in my throat.


    Towering skyscrapers, flashing neon signs, and vehicles made of metal moving along paved roads¡ªthis is nothing like the world I know.


    ¡°What in God''s name¡­?¡± I murmur in awe.


    Shiba leads me toward a strange metal beast. My eyes widen as he opens its stomach, revealing seats inside. Hesitantly, I climb in, and he closes it before moving to the front. He opens another compartment, climbs in, and the beast roars to life.


    As we move through the city streets, I should be scared. Worried, even.


    But I¡¯m not.


    I¡¯m excited.


    Is this magic? Or is it some kind of advanced technology?


    My mind swirls with questions as we drive into the unknown.

 Cages

    A low, rumbling growl surrounds me, vibrating beneath my body like the stomach of some massive beast. My head is pounding¡­ not from battle, not from wounds, but from something deeper. A wrongness. A displacement.


    Where am I?


    The last thing I remember clearly is¡­


    No, I wasn¡¯t in a throne room anymore. I wasn¡¯t fighting the Demon King. That battle was over. I had won. I had fulfilled my duty.


    But then, I fought again.


    Not against demons. Not on a battlefield. But in a place where walls were smooth and floors too clean, where the weak were tormented by cowards who thought themselves powerful.


    I fought them. I won.


    And then¡­


    My fingers curl against something strange and smooth. Not armor, not leather, but a strap, crossing over my chest like a binding spell. My body is still, restrained but not shackled. I am seated, not standing.


    This is not a dungeon.


    I shift, feeling the movement of something beneath me. A jolt. A hum. A strange, rolling sensation.


    I glance to my side.


    A man sits there¡­ gripping something round, his eyes fixed forward. He¡¯s not armed. He¡¯s not watching me. His hands twist slightly, and the entire cage I¡¯m in tilts. I jerk forward, but the strap tightens against my chest, holding me in place.


    I inhale sharply.


    I am inside the belly of a beast.


    A beast with no heartbeat.


    A beast that follows the others before it in a perfect, unnatural rhythm.


    I don¡¯t move. I don¡¯t speak. My mind is still catching up.


    The man beside me exhales. ¡°You¡¯re quiet.¡±


    I don¡¯t answer.  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    His fingers drum against the circular device in front of him. ¡°Not even gonna argue? Call me names? Scream about injustice?¡± He glances at me, his brows pulling together. ¡°Shit. Did they finally knock your brain loose?¡±


    I narrow my eyes.


    This man¡­ Shiba. I remember him.


    A guard. A soldier, maybe, but not in the way I know soldiers. He is not my enemy, yet he is not on my side either.


    He sighs, focusing back on the path ahead. The world beyond the beast¡¯s clear walls stretches out in ways I still cannot comprehend.


    Giant glowing symbols hang above us, suspended in the air, flickering like enchanted runes. Towering structures with smooth, perfect surfaces rise into the sky. Strange lights flash, unnatural and rhythmic. And the beasts¡­ they move together, side by side, never straying, never colliding, their glowing eyes unblinking.


    It is unnerving.


    I force myself to breathe. To observe. To learn.


    Shiba keeps talking. ¡°You¡¯re lucky, you know that? Could¡¯ve been worse. Kid¡¯s in the hospital, wall¡¯s busted, and you¡¯re here with me instead of in a cell. Your mom¡¯s gonna lose her shit, but at least you¡¯re not getting charged.¡±


    Mom.


    I don¡¯t react, but the word lingers.


    Not my mother. Not the one I knew.


    But Noriko¡¯s mother.


    I don¡¯t know her. I don¡¯t know anyone from this life.


    But they know me.


    I grip my knee, grounding myself. This is dangerous. If I am expected to be someone I am not¡­ if I am known, recognized, familiar to these people¡­ then any misstep could expose me.


    I cannot allow that.


    Shiba keeps glancing at me like he¡¯s waiting for an outburst. I stay silent.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he mutters. ¡°Fine. Be weird.¡±


    The beast beneath us slows, lets out a strange, hissing breath, and then stops. Shiba moves his hand, pulls a lever, and suddenly¡­ the side of the beast opens.


    I tense, reaching for a sword that isn¡¯t there.


    Shiba gives me a weird look. ¡°Get out.¡±


    I move slowly, cautiously, stepping onto the strange stone beneath me. It¡¯s not dirt. Not cobblestone. It¡¯s too smooth, stretching out endlessly without cracks, without flaws.


    Before me, a building looms¡ªtall, unyielding, glowing from within like a palace of glass and steel.


    Shiba gestures toward the doors. ¡°Inside.¡±


    I do not trust him.


    But I understand him.


    And so, I walk.


    The air inside is thick with unfamiliar scents¡ªpaper, ink, something sharp and bitter. The walls are lined with desks, occupied by men and women in strange uniforms. Some stare at glowing slabs in their hands. Others sit before large, flat panels displaying shifting images and words I cannot read.


    None of them carry swords.


    None of them wear armor.


    And yet, the tension in the air is unmistakable.


    This is a place of law.


    A fortress of control.


    A woman looks up as we approach. ¡°She¡¯s here?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± Shiba says, gesturing at me. ¡°Didn¡¯t even fight this time. Kinda weird, actually.¡±


    The woman¡¯s eyes flick to me, then back to Shiba. ¡°Her mother¡¯s on the way.¡±


    Shiba grunts. ¡°Figures.¡±


    Mother.


    Again, the word settles in my chest like a weight.


    I follow Shiba down a hall, into a small, enclosed room with a table and two chairs. He gestures for me to sit.


    I do.


    He leans against the wall, arms crossed. ¡°Alright, listen up.¡±


    I meet his gaze.


    ¡°You got into a fight. You wrecked school property. Kid¡¯s in the hospital. And now you¡¯re acting like you don¡¯t know what the hell¡¯s going on.¡± He tilts his head. ¡°So what¡¯s the deal?¡±


    I take a breath.


    I must be careful.


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t remember,¡± I say.


    Shiba squints at me. ¡°Bullshit.¡±


    I don¡¯t flinch. ¡°My mind is¡­ unclear.¡±


    Not a lie. Not entirely.


    His jaw tightens. ¡°You think this is funny? Playing dumb?¡±


    ¡°I am not playing.¡±


    He watches me, measuring my words.


    Then, finally, he exhales and rubs his temple. ¡°Look. If this is some dumbass excuse to get out of trouble, it¡¯s not gonna work. Your mom¡¯s gonna be here any second, and if you pull this amnesia crap with her, you¡¯re gonna wish I¡¯d just thrown you in a cell instead.¡±


    I stay silent.


    But inside, I am bracing.


    Mother.


    This woman¡­ this stranger¡­ will see me and expect her daughter.


    She will know my face. My name. My past.


    And I¡­


    I know nothing.


    I fold my hands in my lap, forcing my breathing to steady.


    If I am to survive here, I must learn.


    If I am to avoid suspicion, I must become the Noriko they expect.


    At least¡­ until I understand this world enough to decide what to do next.


    Shiba shakes his head, muttering to himself.


    And outside the room, footsteps approach.


    The test is about to begin.

 Dangerous

    I sit there, trying not to fidget as the door swings open. A woman steps in, her heels clicking against the cold floor with an unyielding rhythm.


    She¡¯s tall and poised, with long white hair cascading over her shoulders and piercing blue eyes that seem to cut straight through me. Her gaze is cold, assessing. A wave of tension settles over the room as she crosses her arms, her expression tight.


    Her eyes narrow. A sigh escapes her lips¡ªsharp and weary.


    ¡°You truly are a disgrace to our family,¡± she says, her voice stern and cold.


    A disgrace? My jaw tightens. A mother saying that to her child? Even after everything I endured in my past life, I can¡¯t imagine hearing those words from someone who¡¯s supposed to care for you.


    ¡°A disgrace?¡± I repeat, my voice low with disbelief.


    ¡°Yes, a disgrace.¡± Her voice sharpens. ¡°Do you have any idea how much I pay to keep your messes quiet? How much I¡¯ve shelled out to keep you out of jail and to keep the reporters off our backs?¡± Her gaze hardens. ¡°Are you trying to ruin my reputation as the Guild Master of the Luna Guild?¡±


    The Guild Master of the Luna Guild.


    My mind sharpens. So this world has guilds¡­ adventurers¡­ probably monsters and demons as well. It¡¯s not just human corruption at play here. This is a structured system of power. A system I need to understand if I¡¯m going to survive.


    ¡°Noriko Watanabe!¡± The woman¡¯s voice slices through my thoughts.


    I lift my gaze to meet hers.


    ¡°Are you even listening to me?¡± Her eyes flash dangerously.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± I answer automatically, trying to assess her reaction.


    Her lips curl in disdain. ¡°How many times have I told you to call me Ms. Akira when we¡¯re in public?¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m guessing a lot,¡± I mutter. The weight of someone else''s history pressing down on me makes my chest tighten. Why am I being punished for the previous actions of the girl who came before me?


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    Akira¡¯s eyes narrow, but there¡¯s a flicker of something else beneath the hardness¡ªdisappointment? Resignation?


    ¡°Tch. At least ¡®ma¡¯am¡¯ is an improvement for a delinquent like you,¡± she mutters, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.


    A delinquent.


    I was a hero once. A champion. I stood at the edge of death and fought for my people. I never harmed the innocent. I never preyed on the weak.


    So why¡­ why must I be a delinquent here?


    I squeeze my fists beneath the table, swallowing the bitterness curling in my chest.


    Akira¡¯s gaze sweeps toward Shiba, who stands quietly against the wall, arms crossed.


    ¡°Well?¡± Akira says, her tone colder. ¡°What¡¯s the damage?¡±


    Shiba clears his throat. ¡°The wall¡¯s going to cost about two grand to repair. The kid¡¯s in the hospital, but nothing permanent¡ªfractured ribs, bruising. His family hasn¡¯t pressed charges¡­ yet.¡±


    Akira¡¯s jaw tenses. ¡°Because I paid them not to?¡±


    Shiba shrugs. ¡°Could be.¡±


    ¡°Of course it is.¡± Akira sighs, resting her hand on her temple as if fighting off a headache. ¡°How much did the settlement cost me this time?¡±


    ¡°Fifteen grand. Plus another three to keep the media quiet.¡±


    ¡°Eighteen thousand?¡± Akira¡¯s gaze snaps toward me, her eyes darkening. ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯ve cost me in a single day.¡±


    I don¡¯t look away. The number means nothing to me. I¡¯ve paid a far higher price for far less.


    Akira¡¯s lip curls. ¡°And yet you sit there, looking so unaffected.¡±


    ¡°She was defending someone,¡± Shiba says, surprising me.


    Akira¡¯s gaze flicks toward him. ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Shiba¡¯s eyes sharpen slightly. ¡°She stepped in because the other students were harassing a kid. Tried to rough him up. And¡­ they made some pretty serious threats.¡±


    Akira¡¯s expression shifts, but only slightly. ¡°And how did she respond?¡±


    ¡°She warned them.¡± Shiba¡¯s mouth twitches as if suppressing a smirk. ¡°They ignored her.¡±


    Akira¡¯s gaze darkens further. ¡°And?¡±


    Shiba shrugs. ¡°She handled it.¡±


    Akira¡¯s eyes flash toward me, scanning me as if seeing me for the first time.


    ¡°And this¡­ this sudden burst of righteous behavior? Where did it come from?¡±


    I meet her gaze evenly. ¡°I couldn¡¯t stand by and watch.¡±


    Her lips press into a thin line. ¡°You couldn¡¯t stand by and watch? Since when have you cared about anyone but yourself?¡±


    I don¡¯t answer. Because I know the truth would only confuse her more.


    Akira straightens. ¡°And you didn¡¯t even bother to deny the charges?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the point?¡± I ask quietly.


    Her gaze sharpens. ¡°The point, Noriko, is that you represent this family. Your recklessness reflects on me. On our reputation.¡±


    I let the silence stretch.


    Ms. Akira takes a slow breath, her eyes calculating. ¡°This¡­ change in behavior. It¡¯s not natural. Something happened.¡±


    Shiba tilts his head. ¡°Head trauma, maybe?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sick,¡± I say.


    Akira watches me carefully. ¡°No, you¡¯re not. That¡¯s the problem.¡±


    Her words linger in the air, sharp and heavy.


    She turns toward Shiba. ¡°Keep her under observation. If this behavior continues, I want a full evaluation done.¡±


    Shiba raises an eyebrow. ¡°Evaluation?¡±


    ¡°I need to know what¡¯s going on,¡± Akira says flatly. ¡°If her behavior changes too much¡­ people will start asking questions.¡±


    Shiba¡¯s gaze sharpens. ¡°You think someone could be influencing her?¡±


    Akira¡¯s gaze hardens. ¡°I think that whatever this is¡­ it¡¯s dangerous.¡±


    Dangerous.


    I sit quietly as Akira¡¯s heels click against the floor. At the door, she pauses.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be returning to school tomorrow.¡±


    My gaze flicks toward her. ¡°And if I refuse?¡±


    She smiles faintly. Coldly. ¡°Then I suppose I¡¯ll have to make things¡­ difficult for you.¡±


    She turns and strides out of the room.


    Shiba sighs. ¡°Well, that went better than expected.¡±


    I look at him, feeling the weight of the new knowledge I¡¯ve gained.


    A guild. A structured power system. Monsters, possibly demons. And a family name with influence strong enough to cover up a public assault.


    I close my eyes.


    I have a foothold in this world now.


    I just need to figure out how to use it.

 Wyverns

    I reluctantly followed my mother out of the holding cell. The metal bars clanged shut behind us with a cold finality that made my shoulders tense. The guards ¡ª or whatever they were called in this world ¡ª stood at attention, their gazes cold and unforgiving as we passed. I recognized that look. I¡¯d seen it often enough in my old life ¡ª knights assessing whether you were a threat or a problem they could ignore.


    We stepped through the heavy doors and into the bright chaos of downtown Tokyo. I squinted as the sun reflected off the sea of glass and steel surrounding us. Towering structures reached toward the sky, flashing strange glowing images that shifted and pulsed with unnatural light. Figures smiled down from the sides of buildings, their mouths moving, speaking soundless words. Magic? No¡­ something else.


    My mother walked ahead without saying a word, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement. I hurried to keep up, trying not to stare at the strange images above. They flickered and shimmered unnaturally, as though made from illusion magic ¡ª but they weren¡¯t spells. Some kind of¡­ technology.


    In front of the Police Headquarters, her black metal beast awaited us. The monstrous thing sat low on the street, dark and predatory. It had no legs, just strange circular limbs beneath it, and yet it didn¡¯t sink into the ground. I¡¯d seen these metal beasts many times now, and I still couldn¡¯t wrap my head around how they worked. They didn¡¯t breathe. They didn¡¯t have a pulse. Yet somehow, they lived.


    Mother opened the front compartment and slid inside without a word. I hesitated before climbing into the back. The door shut with a mechanical hiss, sealing me inside. The seats were soft and black, with a scent that reminded me faintly of polished leather armor.


    The beast growled to life beneath me, a low, rumbling sound that vibrated through the floor. My mother gripped the circular control mechanism in front of her, guiding the beast onto the paved road. We slid smoothly into the flow of other metal beasts, all moving in perfect lines like soldiers in formation.


    I leaned against the window, watching the city pass. My eyes caught on the tall black figures stationed at every street corner ¡ª the golems. Towering constructs of metal and dark glass, their glowing blue eyes scanned the crowds. Unlike the guards in my old world, these golems didn¡¯t carry swords or shields. Instead, strange black weapons were mounted on their arms ¡ª sleek, metallic rods that pulsed with arcane light.


    Magic guns. I¡¯d watched them in action before watching an illusion with Shiba while we waited for my mom to pick me up. These golems could fire magic spells with perfect precision. I didn¡¯t know how it worked ¡ª if they had mages trapped inside them or if they were simply artifacts animated by some complex magic. The fact that they could move and think made me uneasy. Artificial life ¡ª the idea felt too close to necromancy for comfort.


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    My mother remained silent as we crossed a large intersection. Her gaze was fixed ahead, her jaw tight. I wondered if she was angry with me ¡ª for getting into trouble again. Or maybe she was just tired of dealing with me.


    A sharp sound split the air ¡ª a wailing screech that made my stomach clench. Red lights flared along the edges of the buildings, flashing rhythmically.


    ¡°Civilians, please head to your nearest shelter. A wave of wyverns is heading our way. I repeat, all civilians please head to your nearest shelter.¡±


    Wyverns. My breath hitched.


    I pressed my hand to the window and squinted at the sky. There ¡ª just above the tallest tower ¡ª dark shapes cutting through the clouds. Long, leathery wings. Sinuous bodies with glinting scales.


    My heart hammered in my chest as the first wyverns swooped low over the city. Smaller than dragons but just as deadly, their venom could melt steel, and their claws could cut through plate armor. In my old life, killing a wyvern required a fully armed squad of knights.


    A screech cut through the air as a wyvern slammed into the side of a building. Glass shattered, raining down onto the street. A second wyvern dove toward the street, mouth open wide, flames building in its throat.


    The golems reacted instantly. Their arm-mounted weapons flared with blue light, and bolts of energy streaked through the sky. The nearest wyvern jerked mid-dive as a blast of magic struck it in the chest. It screamed and twisted, smoke trailing from its body.


    Another wyvern dove toward the street, talons outstretched. A golem fired ¡ª missed. The wyvern opened its mouth ¡ª


    A blur of movement.


    My mother was out of the car before I could react, standing in the middle of the street. She reached into her coat and pulled free a slender sword. The blade gleamed silver as a pale mist curled around it. The air itself seemed to chill in response.


    She held the sword low at her side, her gaze calm and focused. The wyvern roared and dove straight for her.


    Mother raised her sword, and a thin line of frost traced along the length of the blade. The wyvern¡¯s mouth opened wide ¡ª


    She stepped to the side, swift as a shadow, and slashed upward. A burst of pale blue light shot from the blade, cutting across the wyvern¡¯s chest. Ice formed instantly along the wound, spreading outward and encasing the creature''s body. The wyvern crashed to the ground, frozen solid.


    I stared, breathless.


    Another wyvern swooped down.


    Mother raised her hand. The air shimmered as a wall of ice erupted from the pavement, jagged and lethal. The wyvern smashed into it and tumbled sideways.


    ¡°Stay in the car,¡± she said without looking back.


    I pushed open the door. My legs hit the pavement before I even realized I¡¯d moved.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I shouted.


    Mother glanced over her shoulder, eyes sharp. ¡°You can¡¯t handle this, Noriko.¡±


    I clenched my fists. ¡°Try me.¡±


    She turned fully toward me then. The silver mist from her sword swirled around her feet. ¡°You don¡¯t know the dangers yet.¡±


    ¡°I know how to kill a wyvern,¡± I shot back.


    A shadow passed over us ¡ª another wyvern circling above. My gaze tracked it automatically. My muscles tensed. My body still remembered the rhythm of battle.


    Mother¡¯s gaze narrowed.


    ¡°I suppose there¡¯s no stopping you,¡± she said. Her tone was calm, but I didn¡¯t miss the faint edge of disapproval in her voice.


    Another wyvern dived toward the street.


    I reached into my coat, fingers brushing the hilt of the short sword strapped to my side ¡ª a training sword from one of the high school¡¯s I attended.


    ¡°Stay close,¡± Mother said as her blade flashed. ¡°And try not to get yourself killed.¡±


    A wicked smile curled at the edges of my mouth.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ve killed worse.¡±