Deep in the forest, I was standing guard and watch my surrounding.

With the sword I got in my hand as the farewell gift before we go on a journey, I let it lay rest on my side, as I watch the calming scenery of marvelous greenery.

The wind passing through my golden long hair, the rough smell of the forest tickle my nose, the gentle sound of the forest rustling through my ears--

* Clang,clang, sizzle... *

“Hah...I can at least pretend it’s a picnic, if those sound don’t make it so obviously otherwise…”

Suddenly, I heard a disturbing beeping noise. Then, from deep inside a warehouse-like structure behind me, a projectile with smoke behind it start coming right at me.

Taking a deep sigh in my heart, I began to “look” deep into the object itself, my blue eyes glow with the same color...Apparently it’s called a “missile”, a weapon use to deliver an explosive payload with a self-propelling mechanism, toward the target for accurate and efficient destruction…

Well, if by “efficient”, they mean “wiping out this entire forest without leaving any traces”, then the creator sure have a sick sense of humor.

What worse, the giant thing that my oh-so-beloved friend was working on, have way more stuff hiding under it steel-like body, with each one having higher magnitude of destruction than the last.

“And she said it called out to her for help instead, like a damsel in distress...doesn’t that thing more likely to be the final boss inste-”

...Wait, let not goes into how those two strangely fit each other.

First thing first, I need to safely disarm this weapon of mass-destruction barreling toward me. Thus, I look to find the “weakness” to the missile, then instantly swung my sword at them.

The sword passed through it, without leaving a trace on the thing itself. However, the tail stopped giving out flame behind it, and it then go toward the ground, making a big splash at the ground and carving out the earth below it, leaving another trail to the pile of pristine trash lying at the corner.

“Are you okay, Lumina!? Sorry I messed up again...”

Coming out from the smoke, a girl, looking very worried, hurrily rush out. Wearing a thick giant pair of gloves that go to her elbows, it create a mismatch with her outfit, which have been carefully hand-picked by the maid within the castle so that the person that’s wearing can look elegant and casual at the same times...that also is getting dirty all over with soot and oil, even going over her tanned skin and white hair.

“You know, Serena, there is no point apologizing in the first place, if you keep messing up like that.”

I once again then pointed toward that pile of garbage, that’s still smoking from still almost obliterating this entire forest for like the 10th times now.

“Even if both us and that thing are going to be fine, isn’t this place supposed to be some secret base containing highly confidential superweapon? What’s the point of being subtle, if you keep threatening to blow this place up to high heaven and back?”

“...My sincere apology. I was getting too excited with all those new technology before me…”

Embarrassed with herself for getting carried away, she bow herself down toward me, with a blush on her face, and a face that look so vulnerable and guilty and adorable…

“Ahem...Like I said again, there is no point of apologizing if you keep messing up like that, so stop screwing up next time...Why don’t you used your “eyes” to prevent that from happening in the first place? “

Keeping myself from thinking weird stuff, I cough abit and hide the blush on my face while reminding her... Like I said to her, with her “eyes” that see what is unseen, including all possibility, she shouldn’t even have to mess around with that thing by herself in the first place. Not like I found anything unusual looking around with my “eyes”, so it should be the same for her-

“...Ah, I forgot.”

I immediately facepalmed, in exasperation, after seeing that innocent-looking face of her, her purple eyes turn into dot as the thought have completely escaped her.

“...Are you seriously so excited, that you literally forgot to do what is essentially breathing for us?”

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“...I guess so?”

Looking at her, beeting red again from sheer shame, and is now squatting to the ground with both her dirty, gloved hand to her face, I seriously want to make a deep sigh loud enough to cover the entire forest, for such sheer act of airheadness...Refrain from doing so, I instead lie down to the ground, spreading my limb, from sheer exhaustion with dealing with all these stuff…

“Seriously...where are all the coolness and charisma being the demon lord goes, fighting against me back then? You seriously just turn into an overly-excited kid who keep going all over the place, ever since we go into this world for a supposed “vacation”…”

Closing my eyes for abit to rest, I suddenly feel some movement beside me, then something soft supporting my head. Upon opening my eyes, I make eye contact with Serena, as she was giving me a lap pillow with a soft cloth over her legs.

“...Come on, you shouldn’t dirty your head like that.”

...A soft smile on her face, a kind look on her eyes. A faint sweet smell can be felt, when snuggling close to her side.

The wind passing by, the forest rustling, the bird chirping, the sunlight hitting my face…

Suddenly, I immediately feel nostalgic, as if we returned to those carefree daysall these years ago.

‘Ah, we used to be like this huh-’

...No, we can finally be like this now.

“...Then, don’t do all these stuff that would make me exhausted like this in the first place, dummy.”

Lightly scolding her once again, I flick her forehead while still lying down. Surprised, she hold her head with both of her hand touching softly, making an adorable face. Seeing that, I smile lightly, a bit proud in my mischief.

“Ouchie...sorry, Lumina. Ever since I can finally reunited with you again and fulfilled our wish, I feel like there would be nothing at all to be worry about, and let myself lose in the moment…Would that be a bother to you?”

Saying such a thing without skipping a beat, her face, looking a bit embarrassed again look at me in the eyes gently. Feeling a bit embarrassed in return, I said the feeling within the depth of my heart…

“Honestly, quite a bit.”

“Kyu!”

“After all, we’re literally in a strange land, with strange rule and unknown danger all around. If we ain’t careful, we could lose our live here.”

“T-That’s true…”

“And yet, a certain someone here just seems to have their head on the cloud, getting all energetic like a little kid without caring about anything, worrying me to no end.”

“U-Uuu…”

“And that not even mentioning that we’re supposed to be on a “relaxing vacation trip to another world”, yet instead we literally dive ourselves head-first into an active warzone. Oh the trouble to be with you...”

“Uuu…”

Upon learning of what I think deep down, her face became sullen, feeling guilty and sadden by this, like a child when realizing they have done something bad…

‘Good grief, she really does relax herself that much huh.’

Finally making a bit of a playful playback, I stopped teasing her, then raise my hand up to pat that pattable head.

“Don’t worry, I’m just messing with ya.”

“U?”

Surprised, she tilted her head to the sign, with question mark obviously on her face. I then look deep back at her in the eyes, making sure she understand.

“After all...where ever we go, no matter which place we end up with, we’re going to go through all this together. “To keep each other’s company, to got each other’s back, to go together in an endless journey”...Isn’t that what we promised each other?”

I then sporting a big wide grin on my face, I then said with assurance.

“So you can be selfish with me all you want, you know? So don’t worry that much, okay?”

“...Hm.”

“...Such a good girl, you’re”

After patting her head a bit more, I take my hand off, and resumed resting…

“...Um, you can be selfish with me all you want too.”

Suddenly, she said to me, while having a strange tension to her.

“You mean, like patting your head before? I always wanna do that, since you already do it so much for me since we’re little…”

“No, I mean…you can really be selfish with me all you want.”

With a strange pressure from her, she take off her glove, and places her hands on my cheeks, looking at me very tenderly. Meanwhile, her eyes started to glow purple in a strange sense of excitement.

“After all, we does make the same promised, and have the same feeling for each other, right? That’s why...I’m ready to received your selfishness too, you know?”

Holding our face really close together, I can even noticed her faces became subtly red, as if she was in a trance…

“...Is that so, then…”

Seeing her “eagerness”, I raise both my hands, gently reaching for her face…

“Don’t try to blatantly messed with me that hard, okay?”

I said, while also “gently” pinching her really hard, making her winced like >.< and tearing up a little.

“Really, do you seriously think you can pull wool over my eyes, of all peoples?”

“Mu...I thought I can prank you back, as payback for earlier. I even tried really hard with the atmosphere and all that.”

Seeing that her mischief has failed, she sulked a little, her face still stretched like pieces of dough. Seeing that, I released my hand, finished teaching her a little lesson.

“Eh...with how you wear your emotion on your sleeves, I don’t think you can pulled that against me even after a million years.”

“No way...and I was being half-serious too…”

She then pulled her face away from me, half-embarrassed, and half-upset from getting seen so easily, as she continued to sulk with a red face.

Jeez...well, this day will eventually come.

“...Later, okay?”

“Hm?”

Looking immediately expectant, she turn her head at me instantly, eyes sparkling like stars.

“(Hah...don’t be that blatant like that...) I don’t mean in the sense of later “today”...Remember what I said earlier about “literally being alone in a strange otherworldly place”?”

“Hm hm (nod).”

“ As such, I don’t think I will have any peace of mind, without having to worry about dealing with all of the peril ahead.So…”

“So?”

Her eyes shine even brighter, making it hard to look at her directly...With my face blushed a little, I said my promise, with my eyes glow blues.

“So...after we finished dealing with all the trouble in this place, and after I finished prepared myself...By that time, I will be as selfish with you as you want, okay...oof!?”

Suddenly, she hugged me tightly, her face making a big smile. Looking obviously happy, she asked

“Promised? Swear to your heart?”

“...Yeah, swear to my heart.”

I gently hugged her back, while sigh a little in my heart again.

Hah...I have a lot on my hand, ain’t I? How does all these thing started again…

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I’m used to be a Hero. She used to be a Demon Lord.

We were two little girl, separated by fate, and had meet each others in our final battle to get back our happiness.

The battle is over, we have won together, and know we’re on an endless journey, as per our childhood wishes…

...But why is we in this world in the first place is quite a can of worm...