Chapter 5: The Bond of the Oni

Haru wiped the sweat from his brow, breathing heavily as he leaned against the jagged rock wall of the cavern. His entire body ached, his arms sore from wielding his battered sword for hours.

Nearby, the last of the **Rock Lizards** collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash, its thick, stone-like scales shattered by a massive force.

Standing over its broken body, **Shira**—the silent **Blue Oni**—slowly lowered her **Buster Sword**, the weapon still humming with the remnants of her brutal swing. The battle was over. She had once again claimed the finishing blow.

A faint, ghostly light flickered in the dim cavern as the Rock Lizard's corpse dissolved, leaving behind scattered loot. Haru watched, chest rising and falling with exhaustion, as the system notifications appeared before his eyes.

> **Shira has leveled up!**

> **Shira – Level 25 → 26**

But as the numbers faded, another realization hit him.

> **Haru has gained 0 XP.**

Haru scowled. **Again?!**

His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword. Every time they fought, Shira ended up landing the final blow. And every time, *she leveled up while he remained the same.* He had thought just *assisting* in battle would grant him experience points, but after several days of grinding monsters in this cave, it was clear—*the one who deals the finishing blow gets most of the XP.*

That explained why Shira was already level **26**, while he was still stuck at **Level 10**.

**"Damn it…"** Haru muttered under his breath, slumping onto a nearby rock.

Shira turned to look at him, her deep blue skin illuminated by the glowing crystals embedded in the cavern walls. She tilted her head slightly, as if questioning why he was so frustrated.

Of course, she wouldn't understand. She never spoke.

Haru sighed, rubbing his forehead. **I need to start finishing my own fights.**

As he caught his breath, he opened his **status screen**, hoping to see if he had gained *anything* from their battles. His stats appeared before him in glowing golden letters.

> **Haru – Level 10**

> **HP:** 176/200

> **Strength:** 15

> **Agility:** 13

> **Endurance:** 16

> **Mana:** 8

> **Charisma:** 40

Haru's eyes widened.

**Wait… what?**

That last stat—**Charisma**—**wasn't there before.**

His other stats were hovering around **10 or lower**, but his Charisma was **an absurd 40 points**! That was ridiculously high for his level. In any normal RPG, Charisma would be used for diplomacy, negotiation, or **influence over others**. But in this world, Haru hadn't even *seen* Charisma as a primary stat before.

A thought clicked in his mind.

**Could this be because of my "Lady Killer" talent?**

His secret ability had awakened when he first encountered Shira. It was what allowed him to form a bond with the **Oni**, even though she was supposed to be an enemy. Was this Charisma boost a side effect?

**If so… does that mean it influences how my bond with Shira grows?**

Haru glanced at Shira, who was now crouched near the cave wall, **cleaning her Buster Sword with a cloth**. She didn't seem to care about the numbers or system messages. To her, battles were simply part of existence.

But he knew better.

**If this stat is really connected to my skill, I need to understand how it works.**

But first, he needed to rest.

After deciding they had fought enough for the day, Haru and Shira set up a temporary **camp within the cave**. Using some of the supplies he had scavenged from fallen monsters, Haru managed to start a small fire, its warm glow flickering against the rocky walls.

The two of them sat in silence, the only sounds being the distant dripping of water from stalactites above.

Haru took a bite of the dry **ration bread** from his inventory. It tasted like absolute garbage, but it was food. Across from him, Shira sat cross-legged, resting her sword across her lap, her glowing crimson eyes focused on the flames.

Haru wanted to talk to her.

Ever since she had become his **first bonded familiar**, she had never spoken a single word. Not once. **Could she even speak?** Or was it simply that she *chose* not to?

Haru shifted, feeling the weight of his exhaustion settling in. He hesitated, then finally decided to break the silence.

**"Hey, Shira."**

The Oni lifted her gaze to him.

**"…You don't talk much, huh?"**

She blinked. Slowly. Then tilted her head again, as if questioning his question.

Haru exhaled through his nose. **Yeah, figures.**

But still, despite her silence, there was something… different about her.

Unlike before, **he could feel something shifting in the air between them.** A warmth, a connection—like invisible strings tying them together.

His **Lady Killer ability.**

Somehow, without words, without conscious effort, their bond was **growing stronger.**

**"I don't really know how this whole 'familiar' thing works, but… I guess I should say thanks. For sticking with me."**

Shira blinked again.

Then, without warning, **she moved.**

Haru barely had time to react before she was suddenly in front of him, her large frame **looming over his seated position.** Her crimson eyes **stared directly into his.**

**What the—?!**

Haru's face **flushed instantly** as Shira **leaned down, her face inches from his.**

Her breath was warm against his skin. Her massive, clawed hands rested on the ground beside him, **caging him in**.

Haru's heart pounded. **What… what is she doing?!**

**"Shira?"**

She didn't respond.

Instead, **her lips brushed against his.**

Haru's entire brain **short-circuited.**

Haru felt a jolt run through his body—**an electric heat spreading from his lips down to his core.**

Shira's kiss was brief—barely more than a touch—but the **shock of it left his mind spinning.**

Then, just as suddenly, she **pulled away**, her face unreadable.

Haru **sat frozen**, unable to process what had just happened. His breath came in short, sharp gasps. His heart thundered against his ribs.

**What the hell was that?!**

Shira **tilted her head again**, as if waiting for his reaction.

Haru's face burned. **"W-why did you…?!"**

No answer.

No words.

Just **those deep, unreadable crimson eyes watching him.**

But something told him—**he had just unknowingly strengthened their bond.**

And for the first time, Haru truly wondered—**just how deep could this connection go?**