Twenty-one

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Thor stood on the balcony holding freshly washed clothes, her dragon-like vertical pupils sharp with caution. "I’ll pick Kobayashi up from work today. Humans really are a restless bunch," she muttered.

When she first arrived in this world, Thor sensed that it concealed many powerful beings, some rivaling the dragons themselves. The innate warrior spirit of her dragon lineage once tempted her to challenge these strong adversaries, but those thoughts vanished upon meeting Kobayashi.

Kobayashi’s presence brought new understanding and desires to Thor. Now, all she wished was to live a peaceful and safe life with him.

This world was complex, governed by an order far beyond that of their own, with countless organizations and humans maintaining that order. If her identity were carelessly exposed, it wouldn’t matter much to her as a dragon, but it would bring Kobayashi endless trouble.

Not wanting Kobayashi to be troubled or confused by her existence, Thor chose to blend into human society, learning how to coexist with humans—always prioritizing Kobayashi’s safety above all else.

If Kobayashi faced danger, Thor would not hesitate.

Recently, the atmosphere in Yokohama felt ominous. The mysterious entity Kobayashi encountered, the false god lurking in the shadowy buildings, the ability user who emitted enigmatic white mist, and the royal figure wielding the power of 'Order'—all these made Thor vigilant.

After hanging the clothes out to dry, Thor pondered anxiously, unable to think of a good solution for now.

Suddenly, the door creaked open. Kobayashi’s eyes lit up as he hurried to the entrance. "Welcome home! You got off work early today... huh?"

Kobayashi’s expression grew helpless as the little girl he was holding suddenly broke free and darted toward Thor like a tiny cannonball. "Lady Thor!"

Thor caught the girl, surprised by her sudden appearance. "Kanna-chan?"

The adorable girl wore a white little cape and a pink dress, with tender dragon horns atop her head much like Thor’s.

“Mmm,” Kanna snuggled into Thor, her chubby cheeks rubbing against her, her soft voice melting Kobayashi’s heart.

Seeing Thor’s questioning gaze, Kobayashi scratched his cheek sheepishly. "This kid’s been following me around, saying she’s looking for you, so I brought her here. She even said I should break up with you or something. Kids these days, huh?"

Noticing the dragon horns on Kanna’s head, Kobayashi sighed with a mix of helplessness and relief. "Looks like she might be a dragon too."

Thor held the pitiful Kanna close. "Kanna-chan, how did you get here? You shouldn’t have the power to open the ‘gate.’"

By her age, Kanna was still a child among dragons, unable to perform many spells, let alone advanced teleportation magic.

There were tears lingering at the corners of Kanna’s eyes. "It was my father and mother..."

"Huh?" Kobayashi noticed Thor’s sudden serious expression and realized this might be more complicated. Thor explained Kanna’s past with a hint of resignation.

"Thrown here by her parents as punishment for mischievousness? That’s just cruel!" Kobayashi was furious upon hearing the story, while Kanna sat on the carpet quietly wiping her tears.

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Her pitiful demeanor was a stark contrast to the lively child who clung to Kobayashi before.

Thor shrugged. "There’s nothing anyone else can do in a situation like this." Kobayashi stared at the small, vulnerable Kanna hugging her knees.

"I could send you back," Thor offered, "but what if her parents sent her to some other world..."

Thor’s dragon tail swished beneath her skirt. Though Kanna was a young dragonling, she inherited the name of an ancient breed, and her power and potential were formidable. There was no need to worry about her safety.

Hearing Thor’s plan to send her back, Kanna’s big eyes filled with disappointment, but she said nothing, shrinking even smaller.

Seeing her like this, Thor felt a pang of sympathy. But she was now living with Kobayashi.

"Let her stay, Thor," Kobayashi said, patting her shoulder.

"Huh?"

"I just got a raise recently, so it’s okay," Kobayashi smiled. He still worried about Kanna being alone, and now that he knew, he wouldn’t just stand by.

A blush spread across Thor’s face as she gazed at Kobayashi adoringly. Wait! If Kanna stayed, wouldn’t that end her and Kobayashi’s exclusive cohabitation?

The charming dragon lady’s expression twisted into a mask of frustration out of Kobayashi’s sight.

As for Kanna, she looked up at Kobayashi with admiration, completely won over, even if she still stubbornly spoke in a tsundere manner, which only made her more endearing.

Since they decided to keep Kanna, Kobayashi’s household needed a thorough shopping trip to gather all her basic necessities.

"Good thing I had the afternoon off—otherwise, I wouldn’t have time to shop," Kobayashi changed clothes, while shy Kanna obediently held onto his shirt’s hem after putting on her shoes.

Thor glanced at the time; the sun had yet to set. "Let’s make this quick," she said. Once the shopping was done, she planned to set up a protective barrier. The smoky scent in the air stirred a flicker of excitement within her.

Shaking away the chaotic thoughts, Thor quickened her pace to catch up with Kobayashi. "Why do you have the day off today?"

"Ah, there have been a lot of recent murders. The boss got scared and sent us home to rest early," Kobayashi replied, holding hands with two dragons on either side, feeling like a true winner in life.

"Yes, it’s definitely dangerous," Thor nodded in agreement. Kanna nodded solemnly too, her expression serious.

During their time wandering, she had witnessed many dark sides of Yokohama.

Kobayashi noticed the two dragons’ alertness and stiffened, quickening his steps. "Let’s get this done fast."

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Back home, after unpacking Kanna’s essentials, night had fallen. Thor asked Kanna to stay with Kobayashi while she went out alone.

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Kobayashi felt worried but knew she, as an ordinary human, couldn’t help Thor much. It was better to stay home quietly and not cause her concern.

Kanna’s chubby little hand gripped Kobayashi’s finger. Her expressionless, adorable face framed by a pair of gem-like blue eyes flickered with reassurance. "Don’t worry, Kobayashi. Lady Thor just went out to set up a barrier."

"A barrier?"

"Yes, to protect you. There’s a bad smell in the air, very unpleasant. Both Lady Thor and I hate it," Kanna frowned—a scent akin to that of dragons but far more acrid.

Kobayashi clutched her phone tightly. She had just messaged Suo Akira and Takiya Makoto. At this point, that seemed all she could do.

Time slipped away. Kanna yawned and unplugged her tail from the socket with a soft pop—fully charged and ready to respond should danger arise.

On the rooftop, Thor extended her hand, immense and majestic power radiating outward before she reined it in. Invisible to humans, layers of complex magical arrays settled over the entire building.

The Special Abilities Division’s detector monitoring Yokohama registered this powerful fluctuation, causing officers to tense and report immediately.

"Was it only for a moment?" Santan Yamakami looked at the data seriously. The officer nodded, sweat beading on his forehead. "Yes, we’ve never monitored this kind of wave before. It’s completely different from the White Kirin."

"Oh?" Reiji Munakata took the data and glanced over it. "Not the King. Looks like another formidable presence has appeared."

During a confrontation with the hacker, Fushimi Saruhiko intercepted news that the White Kirin would launch a full-scale attack tonight. The Blue Team and Special Abilities Division immediately prepared.

Unable to locate White Kirin’s position, they could only brace for a passive defense.

"I heard you allied with the Port Black Hand?" Munakata suddenly said. Santan wiped his sweat but didn’t directly answer.

Munakata didn’t press further, instead giving Santan a meaningful look. "Thank you for your hard work." Santan was capable and resourceful but had many concerns to juggle.

Indeed, under these circumstances, the Port Black Hand was a valuable ally.

"The Dresden Stone Tablet has become active recently. Perhaps you’ll find a good partner there," Munakata adjusted his glasses. Santan was momentarily stunned but quickly composed himself.

Is a new King about to be born?