Time seemed to slow as the figure descended, not falling, but soaring—a controlled, deliberate dive. As they drew closer, details sharpened. A black coat fluttered behind them like raven wings, and in their hand, they gripped a katana that shimmered with the faint fluorescent light of the room.

The instant their boots touched the ground, a shockwave rippled outward. The shadowy hands recoiled, disintegrating into wisps of smoke upon contact with the wave of energy. The oppressive air lightened, if only slightly.

Aka Manto hissed. "Who dares to intrude upon my world?" his voice thundered.

From the shadows, a figure stepped forward with an almost lazy nonchalance. He straightened to his full height, revealing a pair of eyes that gazed upon the malevolent spirit with a disinterested calm, as if this were merely an inconvenient detour in his day. His dark hair fell in tousled waves over his forehead, partially obscuring one eye, but not enough to hide the flicker of boredom behind them.

Without a word, he unsheathed his sword and swung it casually through the air, the movements so swift that his arm blurred into a haze. In an instant, the cursed toilet paper binding Rinne fell away, sliced cleanly. Even strands that were well beyond the sword's physical reach fluttered to the grimy tiles below, severed as if by invisible blades.

Rinne gasped as she stumbled free from the remnants of her restraints. She quickly regained her footing, brushing off the lingering scraps of blue paper that had drained so much of her strength. Her eyes darted to the newcomer, feeling both a surge of relief and irritation.

"Sorry for being late," he said, glancing at her with a smirk that bordered on insolence. "Uh... you." He paused, his brow furrowing slightly as if trying to recall a trivial detail. "What was your name again?"

She stared at him, incredulous. "Are you serious?" she snapped in disbelief. What a jerk!

Aka Manto's hollow gaze shifted between them, a flicker of confusion crossing the spirit's otherwise impassive mask. "Intriguing," he mused, his voice like the rustling of dead leaves. "You managed to break my bindings with such ease."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Turning her attention back to the immediate threat, Rinne squared her shoulders. "How did you even get in here?" she demanded, shooting a quick glance at the newcomer. "This seems to be a pocket dimension that Aka Manto created.”

He shrugged nonchalantly, sheathing his sword with a practiced flick of his wrist. "Oh, that? I saw a door floating in the middle of the field outside. Seemed interesting, so I opened it. Next thing I know, I'm here."

Her jaw dropped. "You just... walked through a random, floating door? In the middle of nowhere?"

He raised an eyebrow, as if her surprise was unwarranted. "Well, yeah. In any game, if a door isn't meant to be opened, it's usually locked. Common sense."

She blinked, momentarily speechless. "Do you always just barge into suspicious places without thinking?"

He met her gaze evenly. "I'm a former humble salaryman who's been isekai'd into this game world to cleanse it of darkness. It's kind of my thing. I’m simply a calamity of change who lives by my nature. Nothing more, nothing less. "

Rinne pressed a hand to her forehead, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. This guy is delusional, she thought, but there was no time to dwell on it.

"Fine, whatever. Thanks for the help," she conceded grudgingly. "But we're in serious trouble. This is Aka Manto's dimension, where he has all the advantages. My mana is almost completely drained thanks to that cursed blue paper. We need to find a way out—preferably the way you came in."

He glanced upward, scanning the warped, crimson-streaked ceiling. The tear in reality through which he'd entered was now sealed, the fabric of the domain mended seamlessly. "No can do," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Looks like we're trapped. Only way out is through him."

Aka Manto's laughter filled the space. "Futile!" the spirit declared, spreading his skeletal arms wide. "You think you can escape? Both of you will perish here." With a flourish, two rolls of toilet paper materialized beside him—one red, one blue—hovering ominously in the air.

"Now, make your choice," he sneered, his hollow eyes fixed on the newcomer. "Red or blue? I hope you can decide better than the bitch behind you."

Rinne’s temper flared at the insult but held her tongue, her eyes flicking toward her unexpected ally. He seemed unfazed, even amused.

With deliberate calm, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a slender stick of Pocky. Placing it between his lips like a cigarette, he took a slow, thoughtful bite, letting the chocolate-coated end rest casually at the corner of his mouth.

"Of course she couldn't pick a color," he said, exhaling as if releasing a puff of smoke. He tilted his head slightly, regarding Aka Manto with a detached curiosity.

"Didn't you know?" A faint smirk played on his lips. "Pretty girls don't poop!”