Bonds Beyond Worlds

Hajime had returned from the depths of the abyss, dragging back the spoils of his latest conquest: the carcasses of a massive scorpion and cyclops. The weight of the materials and meat was more than he'd anticipated, making it a struggle to transport them back to their base camp. Yet, even after the grueling journey, something incredible happened. Yue, her energy revived after tasting blood once again, rapidly regained her superhuman strength, helping him carry the materials with ease.

They could have used the sealed room, but Yue's aversion to it was understandable. After being confined there for so long, the thought of returning to that dark, suffocating space was enough to make her reject the idea entirely. She didn't need to speak it aloud for Hajime to understand. Instead, they worked together to resupply, and it was during these quiet moments that their conversations began to deepen.

"So… in conclusion, Yue is at least 300 years old?" Hajime asked, a mischievous grin on his face.

Yue glared at him with reproachful eyes. "Breach of etiquette."

A slight chuckle escaped Hajime as he scratched the back of his head. From what he'd gathered, the vampire tribes had perished in a massive war around 300 years ago. Yue, likely sealed long before she could grasp the passage of time, might not even know her true age. She was sealed at the age of 20, which would make her just over three centuries old.

"Do all vampires live that long?" Hajime asked, intrigued.

"I'm special. My 'Regeneration' halts my aging," Yue explained, her voice cool and calm, though there was a hint of pride in her words.

It made sense. While vampires typically lived for around 200 years, Yue had stopped aging at the age of 12, thanks to her powerful regenerative abilities. Even though vampire tribes were known for their long lifespans, Yue's unique condition allowed her to transcend the natural limitations of time. She had become one of the strongest vampires in just a few short years after awakening her latent powers.

"That explains your strength," Hajime murmured. "But it sounds like there's more to your story."

Yue's eyes darkened, and she nodded, continuing her tale. Her uncle, blinded by greed, had spread rumors labeling her as a "monster" in an attempt to justify her murder. But Yue was far from a monster. Her "Auto Regeneration" made her nearly indestructible, and no matter how many times they tried, they could never kill her. Eventually, in their desperation, they chose to seal her away, something she had not resisted at the time, too stunned by the betrayal to react.

"That's when they sealed me," she finished. "I didn't know what happened to the scorpion or how I ended up in that place. I only regained my senses once I was sealed in the dark room."

Hajime's thoughts turned inward. He had hoped to find a way back home, but the discovery that Yue didn't know any more than he did about the labyrinth was disheartening. Still, they had learned something crucial.

"So… about this place," Hajime continued, his voice now more serious. "Do you know anything that could help us escape?"

Yue's eyes darkened, her gaze distant as she considered the question. "It is said that the labyrinth was created by one of the traitors," she explained slowly.

"Traitors?"

The word hung in the air, and Hajime paused his work to listen more intently. Yue had never shown much emotion, but there was a gravity in her words now that made him want to hear more.

"Eight traitors," Yue continued. "They were followers of God, who rebelled against him in ancient times. They created this labyrinth to destroy the world. But when they failed, they fled to the ends of the world. The places they fled to became the eight Great Dungeons. One of them is the Orcus Dungeon, the one we're in now. And it is said that at the deepest part of the abyss, one of the traitors lives."

Hajime processed the information. "So, if one of the traitors is still down here, there's a chance there's a way out?"

Yue nodded, her expression unreadable. "If they were as powerful as the rumors suggest, it wouldn't be surprising if they had some form of transportation magic hidden away."

Hajime exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. There was hope, after all. If he could find a way out of this abyss, maybe he could finally return home. He returned to his work, his hands moving swiftly as he crafted new weapons, but his mind remained on Yue's words.

As the two of them worked together, their casual conversation shifted. Yue's piercing gaze never left his hands as he assembled the parts for a new weapon, and Hajime couldn't help but notice how much she seemed to admire his work.

"Is it that interesting?" Hajime asked, unable to resist the curiosity.

Yue nodded, her small hands hugging her knees as she watched him intently. It was a striking sight: her small, fragile figure in contrast to the immense power that lay dormant beneath her surface. The more Hajime looked at her, the more he realized just how captivating she was.

(But she's 300 years old. Loli-baba is real…)

The thought hit him like a sudden weight. Even though her appearance was youthful, her actual age was far more ancient. Hajime's otaku instincts kicked in, and before he could stop himself, his mind wandered to a less-than-appropriate place. But Yue's sharp intuition didn't miss a beat.

"Hajime, you just thought of something strange."

"No, I didn't," Hajime quickly protested, his face flushing as he tried to avoid her gaze.

Yue's piercing eyes softened for a moment, but then she asked a question that caught him off guard.

"Hajime, why are you here?"

Hajime froze. It was a question he hadn't truly thought about, at least not in this context. Why was he here, in this abyss, stuck with a vampire from a destroyed world?

"Well," he started, scratching his head as he leaned back, "my class was summoned to this world, but I was considered useless… until I fell into this dungeon, that is."

The words came easier now, and he found himself explaining his journey in detail: the betrayal of his classmates, the Behemoth he had fought, the demons he had eaten, and his struggle to survive. With each word, Yue listened intently, her eyes wide with sympathy.

As Hajime spoke, Yue began to sniffle, and before he could realize it, tears welled up in her eyes.

"What happened suddenly?" Hajime asked, startled by her tears. He reached out, wiping them away gently.

"I… Kusu… Hajime… it's painful… just like me…" Yue whispered, her voice breaking.

Hajime paused, unsure of how to react. His chest tightened as he realized she wasn't just crying for herself—she was crying for him, too.

"I'm fine," he said softly, stroking her head as he tried to reassure her. "It's all in the past. Don't worry about it. I'll survive. I've got a lot to focus on. Revenge is part of it, but I'm not going to let it consume me."

Yue looked up at him, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. Then, in a soft voice, she spoke again.

"Going home?"

Hajime blinked, surprised by her words. "Yeah. I want to go home… to my world. I've changed a lot, but I want to return. I have to."

Yue's face softened, and she muttered to herself, "…I don't have a place to return…"

The words struck Hajime hard. He could feel it in his gut—Yue was lost. She had no home, no purpose. If he left this world, she would be alone again.

Without thinking, he spoke the words that had been sitting heavy on his heart.

"If that's the case, want to come with me?" Hajime asked, his voice serious but warm.

Yue blinked, her eyes wide with shock. "Eh?"

Hajime, realizing how bold he'd been, rushed to clarify. "I mean… you can come with me, to my world. It's full of regular humans, so it would be a bit cramped, but… if you want to, you can come. You'll have a place there."

Yue's eyes widened in disbelief. She stared at him for a long time, her mind racing to catch up. Then, in a quiet voice, she asked, "Is that really okay?"

Hajime nodded, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Of course. If you want to."

Yue's face broke into a genuine smile, the first one Hajime had ever seen. It was so radiant, so full of life, that it took his breath away. He quickly turned away, focusing on his work, but a warmth spread through his chest. The bond between them had deepened, and he knew that no matter what, they would face the challenges ahead together.

The future, uncertain as it was, now seemed just a little bit brighter.

Name

Nagumo Hajime

Age

17 Years Old

Gender

Male

Level

51

Class

Transmutation Artist (Synergist)

Attributes

Strength: 980

Vitality: 1090

Resistance: 970

Agility: 1260

Magic: 980

Magic Resistance: 980

Skills

Transmutation

Mineral Appraisal

Precision Transmutation

Mineral Enquiry

Mineral Separation

Mineral Fusion

Replica Transmutation

Magic Manipulation

Magic Emission

Magic Compression

Iron Stomach

Lightning Clad

Divine Step

Air Walk

Flicker

Grand Legs

Air Claws

Night Vision

Far Vision

Perception

Magic Perception

Hide Presence

Poison Resist

Paralysis Resist

Petrification Resistance

Varja

Magic Penetration

Language Comprehension