In the inn of the remote world of Ky'lar, the Hot Springs spa was an oasis of steam, where the relaxing thermal baths had been transformed into a surreal water park completely saturated with artificial life.

"Haahhh~"

There, Mireya, covered only by a towel, sighed, feeling the heat enveloping his sensitive skin, reclining with his back resting on the warm rocks by the edge.

"This... is life..."

Sighing calmly with an expression of pure satisfaction, in contrast to the scene around him, which was one of joyful and disorganized chaos.

(Play!)

(Catch me!)

(I'll win!)

(Yay!)

(Relaxing!)

Thousands of straw dolls and animals of all shapes and forms fluttered and played, some floating on the water while others, immersed, took the bath alongside their "mother".

"Quack, quack!"

"Quack, quack, quack."

"Quack, quack..."

On the other hand, the dozen hard-candy blue ducklings swam and quacked animatedly on the water's surface, creating small ripples around them, peacefully sweetening the water.

("So much peace!")

At the same time, Silver, the small silver armor, floated calmly on its back, lying on the water, striking a relaxed pose in a backstroke style, observing the sky.

("Clink, clanck!")

On the other side, Brownie, the bronze techno-organic mass, adopted a liquid state again, changing its shape to transform into a small steampunk-style yacht with a polished brass hull adorned with copper rivets, and tiny twin smokestacks that released small harmless puffs of steam, while on its deck, tiny precision gears visibly spun, giving it an air of technical opulence as it sailed peacefully through the thermal waters.

("La la la~")

(Splash!)

And frolicking at the edge were the timid golden straw doll Goldie playing with Vrain, the canned brain in its container, slowly splashing water, ensuring that the delicate cargo remained safe.

"Oh, right, speaking of all this..."

Then observing the entire surrounding scene, Mireya focused his attention on the eight Shikigami (paper men) floating and frolicking around him, some in the air in a relaxed manner and others lazily in the water.

"Are you all okay with staying in your current form to enjoy the hot springs?"

Mireya then stretched calmly, directing his gaze at the Shikigami and posing a question out of curiosity.

"Huh...? So you're fine as you are... Okay, if that's what you want..."

It was then that a nearby Shikigami floating in the air nodded vigorously, indicating they were fine, to which Mireya nodded affirmatively.

"Although I feel a bit lonely being the only humanoid-looking one in the place."

He then pouted, letting out a slight complaint filled with resignation.

"You should be aware that I can take human form to keep you company, if you so wish."

But in response to those silently murmured words, Echidna replied calmly.

"Nah, it's not necessary!"

However, in response, Mireya waved his hand, dismissing the offer carelessly.

"Hooo~... that's interesting."

And in response, Echidna asked telepathically, filled with curiosity.

"As far as I know, you shouldn't have any problem bathing with women; after all, by this point, you should be used to it."

"It's true that I'm used to it, but the thing is that with you, Echidna, I'm not used to it at all! Especially because unlike the others, who often have rough or childish behaviors, yours is refined!"

"I see, I see~!"

"Ugh..."

Hearing those words, Echidna replied cheerfully, to which Mireya, sensing the presumptuousness in Echidna's telepathic tone, immediately tried to change the subject, looking frantically around him.

"... Wait a second... Is that what I think it is?!"

Until something caught his attention, stopping him dead.

"My, it's truly interesting that such an object has survived."

It was then that both Mireya and Echidna focused their attention on one of the Shikigami floating lazily in the water, who was holding a small spherical object between its paper hands.

"How is that possible?!"

Seeing the spherical object, Mireya then remembered the battle he had against that plant woman whom he had pierced with everything he had at her weak point, which he considered to be her core at that moment, thinking it had been destroyed in the collision, being surprised that it had actually survived all that.

"Uhm... Excuse me, little one, but... I want to ask you... Where did that come from?!"

Mireya then, after asking, immediately received answers via sign language, discovering how after that attack, the cracked core survived in a horrible state, vanishing along with them when Mireya's strength was exhausted.

"Wow... That thing is tough..."

After which, when the Shikigami were reinvoked at that moment in the inn, the cracked core was reinvoked along with them.

"Excuse me, could you lend me that for a moment...?"

Therefore, after discovering such a thing, Mireya kindly asked to borrow the object, to which the Shikigami carefully obeyed, handing it over attentively.

"Was this thing really indestructible...?"

Thus, Mireya, investigating it carefully, examined it closely, inspecting the cracks created at close range.

... But.

"The prey is alone."

"It's time."

At that very moment, in parallel, Desmos (Yuriel) and Ubel (Helen), after having sent Shija and Boudica to collect materials as a distraction, headed to the bath.

(BOOM!!)

But upon the "sisters" reaching the bathhouse door and, without the slightest hint of decorum for the hostesses, they kicked the door open with a tremendous crash.

"?!"

However, the noise was so loud and sudden that Mireya was startled in the water, causing the core he was carefully holding to slip from his hands due to the shocking noise.

"Gulp...!"

Then, the spherical object shot out, accidentally entering Mireya's open mouth, thus being "assimilated" at maximum speed.

"Oh, no... No, no, no, no... This has to be a joke...?"

Thus, Mireya accidentally swallowed the entire cracked core, which slid down his throat while the energy fused more and more before extinguishing from within him.

"......"

"....."

Meanwhile, on the threshold of the door, Desmos and Ubel stopped, their predatory smiles frozen on their faces.

(Enemies...?)

(Kill.)

(Destroy.)

(Attack!)

For both of them were bathed in uncontrollable amounts of killing intent while the warm air turned cold and heavy, saturated by the pure malice emanating from the legion of monsters present in the place.

"....."

"....."

Finally, both were completely paralyzed.

"Well, well, well, we were waiting for you..."

And it was at that instant that Echidna's telepathic voice resonated directly in the minds of Desmos and Ubel, who watched as the true monsters finally returned their gaze.

"Now choose."

The pair of assassins, feeling the greatest fear of death, with their bodies trained for combat were immobilized, understanding that, at the slightest movement, they would be killed by the trained instincts of their own bodies, which were now responding to the instinct of the monsters surrounding them.

"Submit or... Die."

Thus receiving the question that will define their destinies.