CHAPTER 13 – CHOP SUEY CRISIS

LYSANDER FARADEISS

I remained entranced ever since I glimpsed Hiraya's naked form just minutes ago. The image of her well-rounded bosom and her hourglass-shaped figure seared itself into my memory. She donned a pair of green striped panties, further stoking my masculine desires in the recesses of my mind.

"Chill, Lysander, chill," I whispered to myself. She was the priestess of the Six Dragon Lords, a formidable enemy to humanity. These intrusive thoughts about her were unwarranted. My collaboration with her existed solely to alter the course of our shared future.

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In the prior timeline, etched vividly in my mind, the entirety of Magic High School had fallen under the control of Neo Arcadian sympathizers. I recalled the renegade Dragon Knight, Sir Rene Volk, and his dragonoid companion, Clad Fearson, seizing the entire compound and taking its inhabitants hostage.

In the previous timeline, my response was simply to flee. I was among the few students idling near the school gates when the chaos erupted. As pandemonium reigned, I sprinted as far away from the school as my legs could carry me, heading straight for the sanctuary of my home.

Seated upon the worn, familiar sofa in the comfort of my own living room, I tuned into the television, eager for updates and news concerning the grim hostage situation that had unfolded. The negotiations had dragged on for three long days and two even longer nights, with tense dialogues taking place between the hostage-takers and the government. When Neo Arcadia's resolve waned, they took a horrifying turn by commencing the execution of our fellow students.

The aftermath of this brutal event at our magic high school left a trail of thirty lives extinguished and hundreds wounded, a haunting testament to the tragedy that had befallen us. Eventually, the renegade dragonoid and knight met their fate at the hands of the empire's forces, their public execution witnessed by a multitude of onlookers.

It's worth noting that this marked the last time anyone had seen Hiraya Misteltein. Reports in the media suggested she had been abducted, and some grimly speculated her demise. However, after a five-year absence, she would resurface as a Dragon Lord, commanding her formidable Nova Dragon and sowing chaos throughout the world.

This moment represented a crucial juncture in her life, and my aim was to bear witness to it firsthand. That's why I'd been masquerading as her "friend" for a considerable stretch of time, simulating a close bond between us.

Should the unfortunate circumstance arise where she emerged as an adversary to humanity during these acts of terrorism, I was resolute in my determination to eliminate her with my own hands.

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"So, where did you spot these so-called terrorists?" Hiraya inquired, her arms crossed, and her ample bosom accentuating her figure. It was a challenge to divert my gaze, considering I had already seen their full allure.

"I-I..." I stammered, presenting the campus ground schematics and marking the northern gate's entrance. "I believe it's here."

Hiraya's eyes immediately took on a radiant, golden hue. She must have invoked her observer ward sight magic, granting her an aerial perspective of the school's surroundings.

"I'm focusing on the northern gate. Can you provide a description of these individuals?" Hiraya asked.

The faces of those terrorists who had wreaked havoc upon my school were etched into my memory, indelibly imprinted on my mind like a tattoo on the back of my hand.

"The rogue dragon knight Volk," I recounted, "he appears to be a Westerner, donning a brown trench coat, with black hair and a beard. He's probably around forty years old." I paused briefly, swallowing the lump in my throat before continuing, "His dragonoid is a dark-skinned giant clad in a black leather jacket, tattered jeans, and a golden necklace."

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"I've located them," Hiraya declared, blinking to dispel the golden glow in her eyes, deactivating her observer ward sight magic. "They seem to be enjoying themselves at the shawarma stand."

"We should apprehend them before they have a chance to strike," I urged.

"No, not so fast, Lysander," Hiraya countered firmly. "We can't just apprehend them based on the presumption that they're terrorists. They haven't committed any crimes yet."

My impatience mounted, and I clenched my fists. "So, you're suggesting we wait for them to make a move? To take action?"

Hiraya's expression darkened, and she replied, "Yes, for the time being, we have to observe."

I clicked my tongue and muttered a curse under my breath. I understood the importance of prudence and that everything I said had to withstand scrutiny, especially coming from me. Hiraya was right, even though I didn't like it. Prevention was preferable to a cure, but patience was the call of the moment.

"I believe in you, Lysander," Hiraya suddenly whispered, her smile warm and genuine.

I was taken aback. "Huh?"

Hiraya continued, "I said I believe in you. My intuition is telling me that you're not a bad person, Lysander."

The irony was not lost on me. This elf was misunderstanding a lot of things. I was, in fact, a bad person. I had taken lives during the dragonoid war in the previous timeline, and I was currently plotting to take Hiraya's life. My association with her was a charade, a flimsy pretense. Sooner or later, I would have to confront her.

Hiraya swiftly dialed a number on her phone and set it on the table. "I've called for backup. Let's await their arrival."

"Alright," I acquiesced.

Hiraya, in the interim, headed to a cabinet and retrieved her bag, revealing two lunch boxes. She placed them on the table before me.

"Why don't we have lunch together?" she suggested, and I was taken aback by her gesture of cooking for me. However, I had already indulged in a snack at the shawarma stand, and I was quite full.

"I-I already ate out," I confessed.

Hiraya's smile waned slightly, a hint of disappointment in her eyes, but she still insisted on offering one of the lunch boxes. "You can take this for later, as a takeaway."

Seeing the forlorn look in Hiraya's eyes, I couldn't bear to disappoint her. I reluctantly took a seat and opened the lunch box, revealing a colorful and aromatic chop suey that made my mouth water. Despite feeling full, I found it impossible to resist the temptation of such a delicious dish. Besides, the extra sustenance might be necessary for the impending battle.

"Well, I suppose I can join you for a meal," I relented, and began to devour the dish. After a few mouthfuls, a question arose. "Wait, why did you even cook for two?"

Hiraya responded with a teasing smile, "Because I'm practicing to become your wife!"

I couldn't contain my surprise and promptly choked on the chewed vegetables. "Pffft!"

"Ah! Don't spit those out!" Hiraya protested. "Is my cooking really that bad?"

I quickly regained my composure, wiping my saucy lips with a napkin I had grabbed from the shawarma stand earlier. "Stop making jokes out of the blue!" I exclaimed.

Hiraya laughed, "Ahaha, sorry, sorry. To tell you the truth, I was planning that extra serving to be my dinner since I'm guessing I won't be taking a break until midnight. So... Is it tasty?"

I decided to offer a genuine compliment for her culinary skills. "Your cooking is really good. I have no doubt you'd make a wonderful wife in the future," I said, but immediately backtracked, stumbling over my words, "N-Not my wife, of course. I think you'd be perfect for anyone else."

Hiraya leaned back thoughtfully, considering my words. "Hmm, you think so? Too bad I'm not really planning to get married."

"I'm sure you are," I replied.

The memory of our final battle in the previous timeline haunted me. Hiraya had fought alongside her dragonoid consort, capable of transforming into a Nova Dragon. I was certain that if I remained close to her, that formidable creature would reappear sooner or later.

Suddenly, distant gunshots pierced the air, interrupting our conversation.

"Is that—" Hiraya began, her voice filled with concern.

I swiftly rose from my seat and rushed to the windows. Outside, I witnessed a chaotic scene unfolding. People were running in all directions, toppling stalls and causing a stampede in their panic. The school grounds had descended into chaos, making it impossible to discern what was happening amidst the frenzy.

The chilling announcement over the campus's public address system sent shivers down my spine.

"Attention, all students of Tasty Town's Magic High School. This is the Neo Arcadia. We will take control of the entire campus grounds until our demands are met by the empire. All students are hereby ordered to remain in the classrooms. Violators will be shot. And survivors will be shot again."

This was the moment we had feared. Now, the real test was upon us. I turned to Hiraya, uncertain of how she would react in this crisis, knowing that her role as the oracle of the Six Dragon Lords could be a key factor in resolving the situation.