Avoid Yandere Constellation

Well, honestly, it doesn’t really matter if we get hit first.

If the monsters had attacked the village directly, it would’ve been a different story, but all they did was make the first move. That means there’s no need for a major change in the plan.

“Kage, how long do you think it’ll take for the monsters to reach us?”

“Hmm… at their current speed, about an hour?”

“We won’t be able to gather all the villagers in time…”

Just as Lisanna said, gathering all the villagers within an hour was practically impossible.

But that was only if we called them in an ordinary way.

“Don’t worry. We’ve got someone who can attract attention just fine.”

Saying that, I smirked and looked at Yong-yongi.

•

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Having finished their guard duty, Gabi and Danbi took off their heavy armor and let out a deep sigh.

“Phew… finally done.”

“Seriously. But I still can’t believe Lisanna can use healing magic.”

“Yeah, I was just as shocked when I found out.”

Before she entered the Royal Academy, she could only enhance her body with divine power.

She had never been able to heal others, not even when she awakened as a Saint.

“What the hell did she learn at the Royal Academy to be able to do something like that?”

“Well, only talented people can even get into that place. She probably worked really hard.”

The two continued to unknowingly overestimate their friend, completely unaware of how much she had been beaten by Anje during training.

• Kyaaaaaak!

•

A deafening screech echoed from the sky.

Startled, the two immediately looked up.

“…W-What the hell is that?”

“Am I dreaming right now?”

They rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

But no matter how much they blinked, the shadow of a dragon still loomed in the sky.

• …

•

It wasn’t just them—everyone in the village stood frozen, staring at the dragon with stiff expressions.

Then suddenly—

“Gabi! Danbi!”

Lisanna’s voice rang out from atop the majestic dragon.

Gabi, Danbi, and the villagers tilted their heads in confusion.

That was a voice they shouldn’t be hearing from that direction.

“…Do they teach you how to turn into a dragon at the Royal Academy?”

“There’s no way… right? Even if they did, could Lisanna really have learned something like that—huh? Wait, isn’t that thing coming this way?”

Just as Danbi said, the enormous dragon was descending toward them.

At the same time—

-Whoosh!

A powerful gust of wind from its wings swept over the village.

As the villagers squinted against the wind—

“Did you manage to gather everyone, Lisanna?”

“Hmm… Almost. But I don’t think we got every single person.”

Kaine and Lisanna calmly stepped down from the dragon’s back as if it was completely normal for them to be riding one in the first place.

“See? I told you, she didn’t transform.”

“…No, but what kind of conversation are you guys even having?”

Lisanna gave them a dumbfounded look before turning to the villagers and shouting.

“Anyway, enough with the pointless chatter! Everyone, gather here!!”

Despite their fear, the villagers hesitated only for a moment before approaching.

It seemed Lisanna’s credibility was strong—otherwise, there was no way they would approach despite the presence of a dragon.

“Lisanna, what’s with that dragon?!”

A man raised his hand and asked.

Judging by his scruffy beard and well-built physique, he was probably the captain of the village guards.

And sure enough—

“Guard Captain! It’s been a while!”

Just as Kaine expected, he was the village’s guard captain.

“Oh, yeah, I heard you were back—wait, that’s not the point! What’s with that dragon?!”

“Hm? That’s my boyfriend’s pet.”

Lisanna casually responded while wrapping her arms around Kaine’s.

Then—

• Murmurs…

•

The villagers, including the guard captain, looked at Kaine with expressions full of pity.

Realizing that this was just going to waste time, Kaine quickly got to the point.

“Sorry, but we don’t have time for this.”

““…?””

The villagers tilted their heads in confusion.

Lisanna continued where Kaine left off.

“Monsters are attacking. This isn’t the time to be standing around.”

“…What?”

The villagers’ eyes widened in shock.

The guard captain’s expression turned serious.

“What’s going on?”

“Well, to explain…”

Lisanna relayed what the village chief had told them earlier, along with the information they received from Kage.

The guard captain nodded as he listened.

“Yeah… Now that you mention it, the monsters have been acting strangely lately…”

“Anyway, we don’t have time. Uncle Makao, take the chief and lead the villagers to evacuate.”

“Got it. But will you be able to stop them? If not, we’ll fight too, Lisanna.”

If she were alone, it would’ve been impossible to defend all three entrances at once.

But with Kaine’s group, the situation was completely different.

“We won’t just stop them—we’ll wipe them out. Don’t worry.”

“…I see. Judging by your expression, I don’t need to be concerned. Alright, everyone! Let’s not get in their way and evacuate. Make sure to gather the others as well.”

With that, the villagers began moving in a hurry.

Kaine turned to Yong-yong and gave an order.

“Yong-yongi, head to the southern entrance.”

• Kyuuuu.

•

The dragon nodded and flapped its wings, flying toward the south.

“What about us, honey?”

“What else…”

We wait.

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An hour passed.

The once-lively village of Herion was now eerily silent.

Standing at the northern entrance, Riche wore an expression full of dissatisfaction.

‘…I wanted to charge in alone with Young Master.’

Actually, while this operation was indeed the most efficient course of action, she couldn’t deny that there was some personal desire involved.

After all, this was a chance to be alone with the young master, even if only briefly.

However—

‘Still… this time, I should yield, shouldn’t I…?’

After hearing about Lisanna’s situation from Kaine, she couldn’t bring herself to insist on having her way.

It was too serious of a matter to prioritize her own selfish desires.

At that moment—

—Kyaaaah!

—Kuweeeeek!

Monsters let out shrieks as they charged forward.

They were nothing more than low-tier monsters.

“Haa… I suppose I should relieve my stress on them first.”

Lise infused aura into her twin daggers.

At the same time—

—Whoosh! Whoosh!

With dazzling movements, she sliced through the heads of the approaching monsters.

Their necks separated from their bodies in an instant.

—Flinch!

The monsters behind them halted their charge.

Then, instinctively, they realized—

Whoever stepped forward first would die.

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you moving?”

Lise asked the trembling monsters in an icy tone.

Then, she pushed off the ground and continued—

“If you won’t come to me, I’ll just go to you.”

With that, Lise began her massacre.

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Meanwhile, at the eastern entrance—

Kage stood, glaring at the monsters charging toward her with her sharp eyes.

Then—

—Poof!

She transformed into her adult form.

Had it been a while since she last turned into an adult?

“Ugh… my chest feels heavy.”

Unlike her usual form, her adult body had a noticeably heavier chest.

Still, her grown form was far more efficient for battle.

There was no helping it.

At that moment—

—Kyaaaah!

A goblin wielding a crude dagger lunged at her.

Without even looking—

—Bang!

Kage extended her fist and blew the goblin’s head apart.

—Splatter!

Goblin flesh rained down from the air.

At the same time, its blood splattered onto her face.

“Ugh… I really hate getting dirty in this form.”

Her current appearance closely resembled Kaine’s ideal type.

So, of course, she wanted to look his best when Kaine saw her…

“This is annoying…”

As expected, her face was already stained with monster blood.

She knew this was inevitable, but experiencing it firsthand was frustrating.

“…You guys are gonna pay for this.”

With an eerie smile, Kage cracked her knuckles.

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While Kage and Lise were dealing with the monsters—

—Kyuuuu…

Yong-yong was quietly waiting at the southern entrance.

Of all the things he looked forward to on this journey, Yong-yong was the most excited.

He had envisioned having fun, just him and Kaine, traveling together.

But—

—Kyuuuuu!

Instead, that oblivious human had stuck to him like glue every day, bringing along a tiny, peanut-sized brat.

And that wasn’t all—

—Kyuuuut! Kyuuuut!

He had even brought along a woman who resembled that disgusting vegetable who had beaten him up just a few days ago.

On top of that, this was that human’s hometown.

—Kyuuuuu…!

Just thinking about it made his blood boil.

Yong-yong glared at the ground with fiery eyes.

Then—

—Kieeeeek!

—Kyaaaaah!

Right on time, some convenient stress-relief punching bags arrived.

With a furious shriek, Yong-yong let out a roar of frustration.

—Kyuuuuuuut!!

Monsters usually prioritized instinct over reason.

So naturally—

—Flinch!

All the monsters stiffened at the sound of his cry.

Fear flashed across their faces.

Seeing their expressions, Yong-yong unleashed his breath attack.

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—Kwaaaang!

Hearing the explosive sound of a breath attack from the south, Kaine turned his head.

‘Looks like Yong-yong is having fun.’

Well, considering how quiet he’d been for a while, it made sense that he was letting off some steam.

Dragons were meant to roam freely on their own, after all.

‘He must have been pretty frustrated staying cooped up at the estate.’

Whether he understood Yong-yong’s feelings or not, Kaine simply nodded in satisfaction.

“Dear, when are we going to move?”

Lisanna asked in a voice filled with concern.

She seemed anxious about the people who had evacuated.

Kaine replied—

“Just wait. The time will come soon.”

“…Alright.”

Lisanna nodded.

Noticing her slightly troubled expression, Kaine gently patted her head.

“And don’t worry. The evacuees are safe.”

“How do you know that?”

Because of the map function and volume adjustment, of course.

But there was no need to explain all that, so Kaine made up another excuse.

“Fate told me.”

[The Goddess of Fate places ??? on her head.]

Huh? She hadn’t sent a message in ages, and now she responds to this?

As Kaine stood there, dumbfounded—

“Oh… I see.”

Lisanna nodded in relief.

Just then—

“What the hell?! What is this all of a sudden?!”

A voice filled with panic rang out from the forest.

Hearing it, Kaine smirked.

“Lisanna.”

“Hm?”

“It’s time.”