Safe House — Late Evening
The room was dim, painted with shades of twilight and sorrow. Rose sat cross-legged on Arsh's bed, her eyes lowered and lips tightly sealed. Her aura trembled with sadness, yet not a single tear escaped her eyes.
A gentle knock echoed from the door.
"Sis... can we talk?" Arsh's voice was low, remorseful.
Rose didn't look up. "I don't want to talk," she said with a quiver. "Go away."
The door creaked open anyway. Arsh stepped in—and a pillow came flying toward him. Then another. Then a book.
With inhuman speed, he caught every item midair and returned them neatly to their places in a blink. Finally, Rose grabbed a blanket, draped it over himself like a child hiding from the world, Arsh sat beside her.
"Hey," he said softly. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you earlier. I lost control. Can you forgive me?"
Rose slowly pulled the blanket off her head, revealing teary but steady eyes. "I'm not mad because you yelled," she whispered. "Because I know you didn't. Your voice... never rises at me. You love me too much."
She pulled the blanket back over her head.
Arsh sighed deeply. "Then... what's really wrong?"
Rose lowered the blanket again. Her eyes glinted with frustration. "Because you treat me like a bird in a cage. Like I'll get hurt the moment I try to fly. Like I'm fragile."
Arsh met her gaze, steady and unwavering. "I know you hate being caged. But I'm not trying to clip your wings, Rose. I'm trying to shield you from hunters—those who see you not as a person, but as a tool. A weapon. A vessel."
Rose leaned against his shoulder, her voice barely a whisper. "I know that much. But I'm strong, Arsh... and I have you. My eagle. You've always been strong enough to fly above all storms."
A smile tugged at Arsh's lips. He reached over and held her hand. "Alright then. Let's make a deal—like Royals do."
Rose perked up, brushing her hair behind her ear. "A royal deal, huh? Alright. What are your terms?"
"First," Arsh began, counting on his fingers, "you have to disguise yourself. No more going out with those signature clothes and your silver-pink hair. Even a low-level demon might recognize you. If they report to a Demon Commander... I might be forced to go all out. That could destroy half the city."
Rose nodded reluctantly.
"Second," he continued, "no going out alone. Ever. If I'm not available, then Noar, Sora, or even Ainz has to be with you."
"Even Ainz?" she groaned.
"Third: You need to share that secret and the information you gave to Sora and OSAI."
Her eyes narrowed.
"And last—no moves that make anyone suspicious of you. You have to be invisible unless I say otherwise."
Rose crossed her arms. "You came pretty well prepared, didn't you? Knew I'd forgive you?"
Arsh chuckled. "Nope. I just prepared it in case I got lucky."
She rolled her eyes, then smiled slyly. "Then I have conditions too."
"Alright, let's hear them."
"First—you tag along with me when you're free. Second—I'll only tell part of that secret. Third—I want to meet Luna. And fourth—I choose my disguise hair and eye colors."
Arsh groaned. "About that... you can't. The disguise machine we use only works with black hair and eyes. That's how we blend you in as my elder sister. Any other color would break the illusion."
"I'll dye it and use lenses," she offered.
"Nope. Dyes are hard to remove quickly and lenses leave marks. Luna's sharp. She'll see through it in seconds. Black fits better."
After a brief pout, Rose sighed, then reached out and clasped his hand.
"Okay. Deal."
They shook on it—an unspoken trust flowing between them.
Next Morning — Safe House
The air was cool with a hint of festival excitement.
Arsh stood in the common room as Ainz, Noar, and Sora gathered around, He is still half-asleep. Ainz grumbled, rubbing his eyes. "Why are we up before the sun?"
"Sorry for the early call," Arsh said. "But it's urgent. I received a tip: demon assassins are here. They'll try to blend in during the Summer Festival."
Ainz blinked awake instantly. "Assassins? Like... the stealth kind?"
"Yes," Arsh nodded. "Specially trained demons. They suppress their aura, blend in like normal humans. Even OSAI might miss them."
Ainz swallowed. "So… how do we fight enemies we can't detect? We can't expose them publicly without causing panic."
"I've updated OSAI's detection algorithms. It'll take a little time, but he'll get them. Until then, we stay alert."
He raised three fingers. "We have three top priorities: the city, the college... and most important "Rose."
Noar and Sora nodded firmly.
"Sora, I need you to scout the forest. I want to know what Greed and Gluttony are planning. But don't engage—retreat if it's risky. After that, join us at the college."
"Noar, your job is city-wide surveillance. Report anything abnormal."
"Ainz and I will guard the college and watch over Rose. Ainz—if anyone stares at Rose for more than 30 seconds, eliminate them quietly. Sora, you'll handle cleanup. I'll inform the college staff to give you access and cover."
"Understood," they all responded.
Later That Morning — College Gates
The second day of the Summer Festival had arrived. Students filled the campus with color and cheer. Arsh, Rose, and Ainz entered together—an oddly charismatic trio.
Eyes turned their way.
Ainz leaned toward Rose and smirked. "You're just like your brother—way too pretty even with black hair."
Rose laughed proudly. "Natural beauty, kid. Even this color can't hide it."
Ainz turned to Arsh. "So which games did you pick? I mean we all have to participate in three, right?"
Arsh nodded. "Tug of war, scavenger race, and doughball. All team-based. I won't need to show too much strength—and if I slip up, these games help cover it."
Ohh.. nice you are well prepared, "I picked mini basketball, badminton, and capture ring," Ainz said.
As they stepped onto campus, Luna approached, her gaze briefly locking onto Rose.
Arsh gestured. "Luna, this is my elder sister, Scarlet. She's here for the festival."
"Nice to meet you," Luna said politely.
"I have to get ready for the 300-meter race," she added, glancing at the track.
"We all don't have any game for now so, we'll cheer from the sidelines," Arsh said.
As she walked away, Rose leaned in and whispered, "She's cute. And she blushes just from you saying her name. She definitely likes you."
Arsh turned to Rose. "Shut up, sis..."
A While Later — College Track Field
The commentator's voice boomed. "Ladies and gentlemen! The first event of the Summer Festival—the 300-meter race is about to begin!"
Luna lined up with other racers. She looked into the crowd and saw Arsh. She waved. He waved back.
"Ready—set—GO!"
Luna sprinted forward like lightning, but a slender girl kept up beside her—and overtook her in the last second.
As they prepped for lap two, a whisper echoed in Arsh's earpiece.
"Low-level demonic aura detected," OSAI warned.
"I see her too," Arsh whispered. His eyes locked onto the girl who'd overtaken Luna. "Demon assassin."
He pulled a metallic pen from his sleeve, waited for the moment the girl took a step—
—and launched it. The pen struck her leg with pinpoint precision, knocking her into a blind spot on the track.
Medical staff rushed in.
Luna won the next two laps, and the demon girl was quietly taken to the infirmary. Sora finished the job discreetly.
Back at the finish line, students crowded Luna with praise.
"That was amazing!"
"You're fast!"
Luna smiled humbly. "Thank you. I think I got lucky. That girl was really good."
Arsh chuckled. "She was, but her recklessness cost her. You beat her fair."
Ainz glanced at his watch. "My capture ring match is about to start! Let's go!"
Capture Ring Arena
"Rules are simple," the commentator declared. "Two players enter the ring. Push your opponent out without causing serious injury. Injure them—you're out."
Ainz stepped into the ring. His opponent: a towering, muscular man.
"Rank 5 demon," OSAI reported.
Arsh's expression darkened. He leaned over the rail. "Ainz, don't hold back. He's a demon."
Ainz cracked his neck. "Got it."
The match began.
The demon charged. Ainz dodged, countered—but the man was a tank. He couldn't budge him.
"Arsh!" Ainz called. "Buy me a moment!"
"One shot is all you get," Arsh muttered. He gave OSAI a silent command.
The mic systems glitched, emitting an ear-piercing screech that distracted the crowd.
In that instant, Ainz activated all his boosters and blasted into the demon with full force.
The demon flew out of the circle.
Cheers erupted.
Ainz walked off, panting. "That guy was ridiculous..."
Canteen Area — Early Afternoon
They gathered for food and drinks. Rose gleefully grabbed an iced soda. Luna laughed as Ainz complained about sore legs.
Arsh stood. "Washroom. Be right back."
He stepped out, whispered, "OSAI—locate all nearby demons."
In the next five minutes, he silently dispatched twenty low-ranking demons, hiding their bodies with OSAI's cleanup bots and Soar's help.
Returning to the table, he smiled. "Sorry I took a while."
He sipped his drink, as if nothing had happened.
The day was just beginning—and the shadows were watching.