A few weeks later...

The sun hung gently in the afternoon sky, casting a warm golden light over the scenic riverside town just outside Gloria’s academy territory.

It was a popular date spot for students with quiet streets lined with flower shops, small cafés, and a beautiful stone bridge overlooking a crystal-clear river.

Gray and Lyra walked side by side along the riverbank, their fingers gently intertwined.

Lyra had returned to the version of herself that Gray remembered fondly... the soft, kind, and incredibly lovey-dovey type.

The intense, yandere side that had emerged during his long absence was nowhere to be seen today.

Instead, she was smiling brightly, her light brown hair with golden strands tied in a loose ponytail that swayed with every step.

She wore a simple white sundress that fluttered in the breeze, looking radiant and gentle. She leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked, humming softly.

"Mmm... I’m so happy we could finally have a proper date," she murmured, squeezing his hand hard.

"I missed this. Just the two of us... no training, no drama, no one else."

"Me too. You’ve been working really hard lately. You deserve a break." Gray glanced down at her with a small smile.

Lyra’s cheeks flushed a soft pink as she looked up at him, emerald eyes sparkling with pure affection.

"It’s all because of you, you know? I wanted to become stronger so I could stand beside you properly... but sometimes I just want to be like this. Just your girlfriend... The one who can hold your hand and walk slowly like this without worrying about anything~"

She stopped walking for a moment, turning to face him fully. She reached up and gently fixed the collar of his shirt, her touch tender and caring.

"You look really handsome today," she said softly, almost shyly. "Even more than usual. I feel lucky every time I see you."

Gray chuckled lightly and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"You’re the one who looks beautiful. That dress suits you perfectly."

Lyra’s smile widened into a bright, heartfelt one. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick, sweet kiss on the lips.

"Chu~♡"

Then she took his hand again and continued walking, swinging their arms gently like a happy couple.

They stopped at a small outdoor café overlooking the river. Lyra ordered her favorite strawberry cake and a cup of herbal tea, while Gray got black coffee.

As they waited for their orders, Lyra rested her chin on her hand, gazing at him with soft, loving eyes.

"I’ve been thinking a lot lately," she said quietly.

"Even though you’re at another academy now... I don’t feel as anxious as before. Because I know you’ll always come back to me on weekends. And when you do... I want to make every moment count. I want to cook for you, watch the stars with you, hold your hand like this..."

She reached across the table and gently intertwined their fingers again.

"I REAALLLY love you, Gray. Not because you’re strong or talented... but because you’re you. The one single person who makes me feel safe and happy just by being here."

Their desserts arrived, and Lyra happily fed him a spoonful of her strawberry cake with a playful smile.

"Here~ Say ’ahh’♡"

Gray opened his mouth, letting her feed him.

Lyra giggled, looking incredibly content.

"You’re so cute when you let me spoil you," she teased gently.

Gray chewed the piece of strawberry cake, then suddenly smirked.

Before Lyra could react, he dipped his finger into the cream on top of the cake and swiftly smeared a small dollop across her nose and cheek.

Lyra blinked in surprise, then gasped dramatically.

"Gray!" she exclaimed, eyes wide but clearly fighting back a laugh.

"Yoouu... You got cream on my face!"

She grabbed her own spoon, scooped up a generous amount of whipped cream, and lunged forward.

"Take this!"

Gray dodged at the last second, but Lyra was persistent. She climbed halfway over the table, giggling wildly as she tried to smear the cream on his cheek.

He caught her wrist gently, but she used her other hand to dab more cream on his nose.

"Ha! Got you!" she cheered triumphantly.

The two of them broke into a happy, playful quarrel, laughing like children as they tried to out-cream each other.

Lyra ended up with cream on her nose, cheeks, and even a bit on her ponytail.

Gray had streaks on his jaw and forehead. Passersby smiled at the adorable sight of the young couple messing around.

"Stop, pfftt! Lyra, your dress!" Gray laughed, trying to wipe her cheek with a napkin, only for her to retaliate by smearing more cream on his neck.

"You started it!" she shot back, her eyes sparkling with pure joy.

Until suddenly...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

A massive explosion of demonic energy erupted violently into the sky, painting the once beautiful orange-pink sunset a deep, ominous shade of dark red.

The ground trembled, and birds scattered in panic as a suffocating, malevolent aura washed over the entire town like a tidal wave.

The happy atmosphere vanished instantly.

Gray’s expression turned cold in a instant.

He stood up, gently but firmly pulling Lyra behind him as he scanned the horizon.

The dark red energy was concentrated in the direction of a nearby mountain range, not far from the town.

Lyra’s playful smile instantly disappeared.

"A Demon...?"

Gray nodded solemnly at her words.

"And a strong one for sure..."

[Gray...? Didn’t you say that he was supposed to be at the Intermediate King Realm?]

Jasmine suddenly asked.

’...Yeah. "Supposed" to be...’ Gray gritted his teeth.

He didn’t expect a demon of this level to actually appear so early! The flow of the original novel had been broken for quite a while...

But this... was simply horrifying.

[...Early Sovereign Realm.]

Jasmine added lightly.

’...Tsk.’

Gray quickly turned to Lyra, grabbing her hand.

"We need to get out of here. Now."

But Lyra didn’t move.

Her emerald eyes hardened with a strangely strong... selfless look?

Gray’s heart went cold instantly.

It was the same look from when he tried to run away from a battle with her, since they could potentially die... but she still wanted to save people.

It was clear what her intent right now was...

’...No... no.’

"We can’t," she stated firmly, pulling her hand back.

"If we run away now, a lot of people will die. Look at the town, Gray... there are families here. Children. Innocents. We can’t just abandon them."

Gray’s voice grew urgent.

"Lyra, listen to me. If we stay, we will die. This isn’t some mid or low-tier demon we can handle. This thing is the Early Sovereign Realm. We’re not ready for this."

Lyra’s expression remained resolute. She looked toward the dark red pillar of demonic energy rising into the sky and clenched her fists.

"I can do it," she stated with absolute confidence.

"If I use that ability from before, I might be able to kill it. Or at least hold it off until reinforcements arrive."

Gray’s eyes widened entirely.

"No. It’s too dangerous. You’ve only used it a few times, and you were barely conscious afterward. We should fall back and wait for Gloria... she’ll handle it."

But Lyra had already made up her mind.

Her beautiful light brown hair suddenly began to glow, the golden strands spreading rapidly until her entire ponytail turned a radiant, shining gold.

A powerful divine aura erupted from her body as the God’s Descent began to activate.

Gray froze.

"L-Lyra... don’t you fucking dare!"

Lyra turned to him with a small, gentle smile... the same soft, loving smile she always gave him when she was being her kind self.

"I’m sorry, Darling."

Fwooop!

In a burst of golden light, she shot forward like a comet, flying straight toward the source of the demonic energy at terrifying speed.

"LYRA!!"

Gray reached out, but it was too late. She was already gone, a golden streak disappearing into the blood-red sky.

He stood there for a split second, his heart pounding, before cursing under his breath and chasing after her at full speed.

"Damn it...!"

The peaceful date had turned into a nightmare in a single instant.

[Gray, stop!]

Jasmine’s voice rang sharply in his head.

[Don’t follow her! She made her own decision. If she wants to throw herself into a fight against an Early Sovereign Realm demon, that’s on her! I’m not dying with her!]

Gray didn’t slow down, his black eyes locked on Lyra’s rapidly disappearing figure.

"She’s going to get herself killed," he replied through gritted teeth, voice low but urgent. "God’s Descent or not, she’s not ready for something at that level."

[Exactly!]

Jasmine snapped.

[And neither are you! Even with your recent breakthrough and the Law of Seduction, you’re still only a Late Great Grandmaster. That demon will crush both of you. Don’t be stupid!]

Gray leaped over a rooftop, using Nine Illusionary Dream Steps to close the distance as fast as possible.

"I already marked a Swap Point to run away if needed," he said calmly, despite the situation.

"Don’t worry. If things go south, I’ll pull her and myself out immediately."

Jasmine went silent for a moment, clearly processing his words.

[...You sneaky bastard. You already prepared a Swap Point? When?]

"During the date," Gray answered, jumping from one building to another. "I figured something like this might happen eventually. Better safe than sorry."

Jasmine let out a long, exasperated sigh in his mind.

[You’re really something else... Fine. But if she drags you down with her, I’m going to haunt you in the afterlife.]

Gray’s lips twitched into a faint, tense smile as he accelerated even faster, chasing the golden light that was heading straight toward the source of the demonic outbreak.

"Understood."