Joseph returned just before nightfall, though it was perilously close to the agreed time. As he tiptoed toward his room, hoping to avoid detection, the lights flicked on, revealing Mari seated and waiting for him, her expression unreadable.

  “Mari!” Joseph exclaimed nervously, freezing mid-step. “What are you doing here?”

  She remained silent, her piercing gaze boring into him. The tension was palpable, and Joseph, unable to withstand the weight of her stare—so reminiscent of Lyra—blurted out a confession. He explained that he had been caught in traffic caused by the monster-occupied routes and, during that time, had a fleeting encounter with a woman that delayed him. He apologized profusely for his lateness, attempting to shift the focus.

  “Takumi wasn’t kidding; those monsters really have wreaked havoc on the roads,” Joseph added, hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere.

  Mari sighed heavily, her expression softening slightly. Rising from her chair, she moved toward the door, pausing with her back to him. “I hope you won’t be late tomorrow,” she said, her tone firm but calm, before leaving without looking back.

  Joseph exhaled deeply, relieved yet exhausted. Collapsing onto his bed, he quickly succumbed to sleep.

  The next day, Joseph and his team were prepared to embark on their mission to rid the planet of the monster infestation. As they climbed into their vehicles, Takumi and his warriors bid them farewell, their gratitude evident.

  Navigating the treacherous terrains, Joseph’s team encountered ruined routes, each teeming with monstrous threats. They tackled these obstacles with practiced precision.

  Yuki led the charge, obliterating an entire nest of monsters with his superior firepower. Yoshinori took down another hive single-handedly, showcasing his combat prowess. Mari demonstrated her unparalleled skill, clearing out hordes of monsters with ease. Mai dismantled an entire battalion, her strikes precise and devastating. Joseph himself delved into the heart of a monster-filled cave, eradicating the threat effortlessly.

  Together, they cleared the routes one by one, carving a path through land and sea, defeating behemoths and hordes alike. For the team, the battles felt less like struggles and more like opportunities to hone their evolving skills.

  With only one route remaining, the group decided to rest for the night in an abandoned building overtaken by vegetation. The partially exposed rooftop allowed the moonlight to bathe the space, the stars twinkling in the sky above—a rare moment of beauty amidst the chaos.

  Having cleared the area of monsters, they decided to make a meal out of the edible ones. A fire crackled in their midst as Mari insisted on preparing the food.

  Mai and Yoshinori exchanged uneasy glances. They were all too familiar with Mari’s cooking, having endured her culinary disasters before. They immediately began plotting their escape, knowing they couldn’t bear another encounter with her tasteless creations.

  Joseph and Yuki, however, were blissfully unaware of the danger. Joseph excused himself to relieve himself, eagerly looking forward to Mari’s “delicious” cooking. Mai and Yoshinori, shaking their heads in pity, decided to warn Yuki.

  At first, Yuki dismissed their warnings, brushing off their pleas as exaggerations. But when Mari finally served him a portion, the truth became undeniable. The moment the food touched his tongue, he nearly gagged, barely managing to cover his mouth to stifle his reaction. Mai’s voice echoed in his mind through thought communication: I told you so.

  Nervously, Yuki pushed the food aside. When Mari noticed, she asked why he wasn’t eating. Thinking quickly, Yuki claimed he was waiting for the food to cool down. Suspicious, Mari used her magic to cool the dish instantly.

  Yuki’s hands trembled as he stared at the dish before him. His spoon quivered, a single bead of sweat sliding down his temple. He could feel Mari’s gaze boring into him, her arms crossed as she monitored his every move.

  “I worked really hard to make this for you all,” Mari said pointedly. “Mai and Yoshinori are really missing out on this delicacy.”

  “Delicacy my ass!” Yuki thought, barely holding back his grimace. He was desperately stalling, claiming, “I’m just a really fast eater, so I like to savor my first bite.”

  Mari narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. “Then prove it. Eat.”

  Panic surged through Yuki. His hands trembled harder as he scooped the food with a spoon, the room closing in on him. He glanced at Mai and Yoshinori for help. They had their eyes shut, as if mourning the brave soul about to meet his doom.

  Desperate, Yuki used thought communication. “Mai! Yoshinori! Help me distract her!”

  Just as the two prepared to spring into action, Joseph walked in, slightly out of breath. The sudden distraction was Yuki’s lifeline.

  “Where have you been?” Mari asked, shifting her attention to Joseph.

  “I, uh, realized I forgot to wash my hands after… well, you know… so I had to find water elsewhere,” Joseph explained, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly.

  While Mari was focused on Joseph, Yuki seized his chance. Channeling his aura discreetly, he made the food vanish from his plate. By the time Mari looked back, his plate was clean.

  “That was fast!” Mari exclaimed, stunned.

  Yuki nodded nervously. “Told you I’m a fast eater.”

  Joseph, oblivious to the chaos, sat down and eyed his plate. He noticed that Mai and Yoshinori weren’t eating.

  “Why aren’t you two eating? Come on, join me!”

  Mai and Yoshinori shook their heads, politely declining with weak smiles. Joseph turned to Yuki.

  “You’ve already eaten?”

  Yuki nodded vigorously. “Yep, all done!”

  As Joseph took his first bite, the room fell silent. Mai, Yoshinori, and Yuki’s eyes widened with panic as they tried signaling him not to eat. But Joseph, oblivious to their gestures, chowed down confidently—until the taste hit him.

  His face twisted in horror as he spat the food out immediately. “What in the hell?! This food is terribly dis—” He froze mid-sentence as his gaze met Mari’s.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  Mari stood frozen for a moment, her expression darkening as the realization sank in. Her arms dropped to her sides, and her aura flared with rage.

  Joseph swallowed nervously as Mari stormed toward him, her voice icy. “Terribly what, Joseph? Go on, finish your sentence.”

  Joseph stammered, “Uh… I mean… It’s just… a bit…”

  “A bit what?” Mari demanded, her eyes dark and pale, her aura radiating fury. “Do you know how hard it is to cook for all of you? Is this how you show your gratitude? By spitting out my food and calling it terrible?”

  Joseph gulped, glancing at Mai and Yoshinori for help. They immediately turned away, pretending to examine the stars. Yuki was fidgeting, muttering a silent prayer for Joseph’s survival.

  “I—I didn’t mean it like that, Mari,” Joseph stammered, his words tripping over themselves.

  Mari crossed her arms, leaning in closer. “Then how did you mean it, Joseph? I’m waiting.”

  The tension in the room was unbearable. Mai, Yoshinori, and Yuki decided it was best to stay out of it. Joseph, meanwhile, was left to face Mari’s wrath, his confidence crumbling under her glare.

  Joseph stood frozen, his mind racing for a way out. Mari’s piercing gaze bore into him as he struggled to respond. In his peripheral vision, he saw his comrades giving him frantic gestures—wildly shaking their heads, crossing their arms, and silently mouthing, “Don’t say anything stupid!”

  Reality had dawned on Joseph the moment he tasted Mari’s food. He finally understood why his team had avoided it so desperately. The bland yet horrifyingly off-putting taste was burned into his memory.

  Noticing his hesitation, Mari’s gaze shifted to the others. They immediately feigned nonchalance, whistling awkwardly, pretending to examine their nails, or fiddling with random objects. Mari’s eyes narrowed as she turned back to Joseph, demanding, “Well? What were you going to say? Why did you spit it out?”

  Joseph took a deep breath, forcing a nervous yet calm smile as he carefully crafted his response.

  “What I meant to say,” he began, his voice almost convincing, “was that the food was terribly… distinguishably delicious. And the reason I spat it out was… um… because I accidentally swallowed a bug. I didn’t want to chew it along with your amazing food.”

  Mari’s cold stare didn’t waver as she studied him for several long, agonizing seconds. The room felt suffocating as Joseph kept his composed smile. Finally, Mari shrugged, seemingly convinced.

  “Very well,” she said, crossing her arms. “If that’s true and you really meant it, finish your food. Right here. In front of me.”

  Joseph’s heart sank. He stared at her, stunned. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Panicking, he turned to his comrades for help. “Why don’t we all eat together?!” he suggested desperately.

  But one by one, they offered flimsy excuses. “Oh, I just remembered I need to… uh… check the perimeter!” Mai stammered.

  “Yeah, me too!” Yoshinori added, practically running out the door.

  Yuki trailed behind, mumbling something about sharpening weapons, leaving Joseph alone with Mari, who stood with her arms crossed and a firm glare.

  Within his mind, Joseph telepathically screamed, “I swear, I’ll make you all pay for this!”

  Their responses came sheepishly: “We’re sorry! We didn’t see this coming.”

  “We tried to warn you, but we couldn’t risk exposing ourselves!”

  As their voices faded, Joseph sighed bitterly. Left with no choice, he scooped up a spoonful of food, stalling as long as he could.

  “Go on, Joseph,” Mari said impatiently. “Eat.”

  “Oh, Death, where are you when I need you?” he thought miserably. Closing his eyes, he shoveled the food into his mouth. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he chewed, his spirit crushed under the weight of Mari’s unrelenting gaze.

  Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he swallowed the last bite. Without another word, Joseph collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.

  ***

  The next morning, the team found Joseph still unresponsive. Mai checked his pulse, shaking her head.

  “He’s dead…” she muttered dramatically. “Mari’s cooking actually killed him.”

  But the truth was far stranger. Joseph hadn’t died from the food’s taste. Instead, he’d decided to hold his breath for three days straight, refusing to face reality.

  Unaware of his ruse, the team carried Joseph’s “lifeless” body on a makeshift stretcher crafted from wood and leaves, continuing their mission. Despite their leader’s “death,” they easily cleared out the monster lairs along their route, though they couldn’t find the final boss.

  Upon returning to the city, they reported their progress to Takumi, who frowned when he noticed Joseph’s motionless body.

  “What happened to him?” Takumi asked, alarmed.

  “Oh, it’s nothing serious,” Mai said quickly, trying to deflect attention.

  The group exchanged nervous glances, briefly glancing at Mari, who stood off to the side, looking remorseful.

  Unknown to them, Joseph was silently cursing his teammates for dragging his fake corpse everywhere. “I swear, once this is over, you’ll all pay for this humiliation!”

  As Joseph’s “lifeless” body lay motionless on the makeshift stretcher, chaos erupted near the heart of Toyohashi City. A massive roar shattered the calm, shaking the planet to its very core. The ground trembled as the monster boss emerged from the nearby ocean, its colossal form dwarfing the city’s tallest structures. The creature's presence was overwhelming, its dark aura radiating fear and despair.

  The warriors of Toyohashi, led by Takumi, immediately sprang into action. They launched an all-out assault against the monster, but their efforts barely made a dent. The beast’s thick hide deflected their attacks, and its retaliation was devastating, leveling entire blocks with each swing of its massive limbs.

  Joseph’s group observed the battle from a distance, debating among themselves who should step in.

  “We have to act before the city is destroyed,” Mai said, her voice steady but urgent.

  “Are you sure? That thing’s on another level,” Yuki replied, glancing nervously at the destruction.

  “Takumi’s giving it his all, but it’s not enough,” Yoshinori added grimly.

  Without waiting for further discussion, Mai made her decision. “I’ll handle this.”

  Before anyone could stop her, she leaped into action, her aura blazing as she soared toward the battlefield. She called out to Takumi, who turned to see her approach.

  “Takumi! Combine your aura with mine!” Mai shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.

  Takumi hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “Understood!”

  The two warriors channeled their combined energy, their auras merging into a brilliant, pulsating light. The ground beneath them cracked from the sheer force of their power. Meanwhile, the monster boss roared again, gathering energy for a devastating blast aimed directly at the planet’s surface.

  “We don’t have time!” Mai yelled. “Now!”

  With a synchronized shout, Mai and Takumi unleashed their combined energy in a single, devastating strike. The beam of light tore through the air with unstoppable force, striking the monster mid-air just as it prepared to release its blast. The attack pierced its skull, and the resulting explosion obliterated the creature entirely.

  The battlefield fell silent as the dust settled. The once-imposing monster was no more, and the planet was safe.

  After the battle, Takumi approached Mai, his expression filled with gratitude and admiration.

  “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “Your strategic thinking and strength saved us all. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Mai nodded, brushing off his praise. “It was a team effort. I’m just glad we stopped it in time.”

  The rest of the group joined them shortly after, carrying Joseph’s stretcher. They decided to remain in Toyohashi City for two more days, hoping for Joseph’s revival. Mari, in particular, stayed by his side, guilt and worry etched on her face.

  ***

  On the second day, Joseph finally “revived.” He groaned dramatically as he sat up, feigning confusion. Mari was the first to react, throwing herself at him with tears streaming down her face.

  “I’m so sorry!” she cried, her voice trembling. “I never meant to put you through that!”

  Joseph hesitated, unsure how to respond. “Uh… it’s okay, Mari. I’m… alive, so no harm done?”

  The rest of the group cheered, relieved to have their leader back, though they remained oblivious to the fact that Joseph had faked his death the entire time.

  With Joseph back, the group prepared to continue their journey. They met with Takumi to inform him of their departure. Takumi, in turn, brought them to the city lord, who formally thanked them for their efforts in saving Toyohashi City.

  “We owe you a debt we can never repay,” the city lord said, bowing deeply. “You’ve not only protected our people but also restored hope to our world.”

  After exchanging farewells, the group ventured toward the portal that would take them to the next regional planet. As they stepped through, Joseph couldn’t help but glance back one last time, silently vowing to make his comrades pay for the ordeal they’d put him through.

  “Next time,” he muttered under his breath, “you’ll all be the ones pretending to be dead.”

  With that, the portal shimmered and closed, whisking them away to their next adventure.