''Take this, evil!''

''Argh...! Where the hell are you shooting at?!''

Amidst the extremely chaotic scene around me, I sit beside this... man. I mean, he's a skeleton.

''Miss Chloe, how are you lately?'' His bony jaw slightly opens, from which an abyssal, deep voice emerges. 

''I'm good, really. It's been a while since we've talked, right? How about you?'' I reply.

''Life in Zircon is peaceful, unexpectedly. It's all thanks to Miss Aurora.''

Golden light flickers in Skely's deep eye sockets. He gazes into the distance, seemingly reminiscing about something.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot.

About... our purpose here. Amelia talked to me before this. She asked if I felt alright giving up the powers I worked so hard for. Now that I am in my own body, although familiar, there are aspects I still can't get used to.

For instance, I no longer possess the same instincts for combat that I once did. The knowledge of using a sword is still here in my head, but there's a sense of disconnection preventing my body from moving like I want it to. Even the mastery of fire and lightning magic is gone. I've become much weaker.

But at the same time, some strange abilities now sit in my hands.

Like... the prospect of mass healing, a way to manifest barriers, and something itching on my forehead, a third eye, that allows me to peer further into reality. Somehow, I feel this is more natural—maybe this was my aptitude all along.

''Hah...''

Now that I think about it, fighting is exhausting, after all.

I just wanna laze around and do nothing...

The point is, I'm more than ready to return to Earth. At least, that was what I thought until I saw the will in Aurora's eyes. I honestly can abandon these relationships I've made so far in this world in exchange for a ticket home. It's going to be painful, and I'll live the rest of my life feeling guilty for not helping these people, but I can endure it.

For my family.

Yet, Aurora has no family left. To her, these people—these connections that she has made here—are her family. The clingy girls, the strange monsters, and the horrors coming from the depths of the cosmic—all hers.

Even if I said I wanted to go home, she would probably send me off with a smile and choose to stay.

I don't want to let her shoulder everything alone. No way.

So... I'm staying, I guess.

''Unpredictable, isn't it?''

''Huh?''

For a brief moment, the flicker in Skely's sockets tells me that he's smiling.

''What kind of fate we're tied to, I mean.'' He says. ''I died once, came back as an undead, reunited with my sister... and now, I'm probably the happiest skeleton in the world.''

''...''

Happiest skeleton... huh...

''Wah...?!''

As I stare blankly forward, lost in my thoughts, a strong gust of wind blows over. This time, no one misfires their magic, but instead, a colossal dragon is cruising above us.

''...I thought dragons were gone?'' I unknowingly mutter.

''Ah, about that...''

----------------------------------------

So, it turns out that Aurora managed to snatch a dragon while hunting.

It became her subordinate, and that's good, but... why did it have to be a beautiful girl? Why is everyone beautiful girls? Seriously, there's something wrong with this.

Ahem.

Either way, with them comes... the horrors.

''These guys just got some powerups,'' Aurora explains, her demeanor somewhat merry. ''They can be your sparring opponents.''

'''' ... ''''

Expectedly, the moment that line drops, the whole atmosphere gets much quieter. No one wants to fight these... abominations, after all. For me, who knows roughly what horrifying things they can do thanks to Aurora's yapping, I wonder if they are even good opponents to begin with.

Take the husky, for example. Won't I just fall over and get stuck in a nightmare as soon as the battle starts?

I know that statue. If I blink even once, it will snap my neck. That... creature wearing a plague mask, too, will kill off my organs or something if I touch him, right? Not to mention the uncanny deer...

I can't believe I'm saying this right now, but I'd rather fight Slenderman. Not that I'm willing to fight, anyway.

''You guys each pick an opponent. We'll do a quick sparring session—no questions allowed.''

''Yes! I want to fight Sle—no, Mister Slen!''

----------------------------------------

So, here I am again, facing the slender man in a suit.

After the other kids get absolutely destroyed, it seems I am the only one left who can uphold humanity's honor. Yet, looking at Mister Slen's wriggling tentacles, I can't help but feel repulsed. His faceless face, that bleach-white skin tone...

And what? Why is he holding a bloodied knife?! This is so wrong on many levels!

''Chloe! Avenge us...!'' Luxia, who nearly got 'cured' to death by the doctor, shouts.

''Don't lose... too fast!'' Nydia, whose head seems a little strange after experiencing a nightmare, awkwardly yells.

The rest are probably too tired to speak.

Hellish. 

The Aurora way of practicing isn't just hard—it's absurd. But then again, it might just be the best.

''Heheh...''

Perhaps a screw has fallen off my head as well... because I feel rather excited. Even if my body and my skills aren't the same, with my tirelessly honed fighting techniques, I can still do something, right?

Right, if I can just adapt and beat my opponent...

Such thoughts flash through my mind as I hold a sword. But then, the match is about to begin.

''Start.''

As soon as Aurora says that, Mister Slen's figure promptly vanishes.

Fast.

No, this is clearly some sort of spatial magic, and if I can't spot him, I can spot his intent! This is what divine vision is for!

''Got you!''

Quickly turning around, I fully expect to parry Mister Slen's knife attack, but halfway through... I realize something sharp is already pressing against my neck.

''...''

At some point... well, I can't really make an excuse for this. My speed is just so much worse now.

I guess I need to start to grind back some of the skills I've lost now.

''I lost.''

In the end, the fight ends in a predictable loss for me, and I proudly enter the losers' side afterward. Lazying around is next on the schedule, and although everybody is kind of annoying for fawning over my Aurora, it isn't all that bad.

Aurora, too, is unexpectedly cooperative. I mean, more socialable. 

''What do you want to do next, Aurora?'' Someone casually asks.

''Hm?''

Narrowing her eyes, she contemplates for a few moments, then nonchalantly replies, ''Horror.''

'''' ... ''''

Somehow, that brings a bad premonition. It's not one of those terrible 'pranks,' right?

''I'm going to summon a new horror.''