Well, it was a lot of data to go through, and things were finally starting to move forward into something more concrete.

Up until now, everything had just been gathering, organizing, stacking one thing on top of another, but this part felt different. This was where it actually started to mean something. We were entering the phase where all of it would be implemented into the automatas.

It wasn't just theory anymore, or planning, or some rough idea floating around in our heads. This was the part where things would start taking shape in a real, tangible way.

Still, finishing everything was a long way off. That much was obvious.

Right now, the focus was on data analysis. It sounded simple when you said it out loud, but it really wasn't. There were layers to it. We had to go through everything carefully, break it down, understand it properly, and make sure there weren't any gaps or mistakes hiding somewhere. Only after that could we even think about implementing it properly. Rushing this part would just screw us over later, and I wasn't interested in dealing with that kind of mess.

So yeah, slow and steady.

Even knowing that it would take time, I couldn't deny that I was looking forward to it. There was something satisfying about seeing things come together step by step. It wasn't flashy, and it definitely wasn't quick, but it had its own kind of appeal. The kind that sneaks up on you without you noticing.

"War is going to come knocking on our doors sooner rather than later, so it's better that we prepare ourselves as much as we can," I said.

The words came out naturally. It wasn't something I had to think hard about. It was just the truth. Waiting around and hoping things would work out wasn't really an option anymore.

"Am I doing a good job?" she asked, sounding a bit unsure. "The rabbitmen I found are really good when it comes to agility, but I still think they're a bit untrained. I'll need to train them a lot more."

She paused for a second, like she was thinking about something else.

"Oh, and by the way, if you want a woman there, I could tell them. I think they'd willingly go for you. Like me, they want their children to be strong."

She said some kind of recommendation, casually thrown in like it was just part of the conversation.

I glanced at her for a moment, then looked away again.

Honestly, I didn't even know if it was necessary at this point. Things were already busy enough as they were. Still, the way she said it made it sound like it wouldn't exactly be difficult to arrange. If someone interesting enough showed up, I guess I wouldn't mind getting some bunny ass.

No point overthinking it.

***

It was the next day.

I was halfway through walking towards the Leonamon coffee shop when someone suddenly showed up in front of me.

Well, not exactly out of nowhere, but it definitely felt sudden enough.

My eyes shifted up, and that was when I saw her.

A very familiar face. Her name wasn't as familiar though.

The moment her eyes landed on me, her entire expression changed. It was instant. Like a switch flipped somewhere inside her.

"Lord Mephisto!" she called out.

She didn't just say it. She practically shouted it, loud enough to make it feel like she was announcing something important to the entire road. The way she said it made it sound like she had just found something she had been searching for forever. Or someone.

And just like that, she used a name I hadn't really been going by anymore.

Hearing it like that, out in the open, felt… weird.

A bit embarrassing, if I was being honest.

It reminded me of those moments when someone drags up an old name or nickname you used to take seriously, then throws it at you in public like it's nothing. That kind of secondhand embarrassment hits differently when you're the one on the receiving end.

So yeah, this was probably what that felt like.

"I've been looking for you for quite a while, you know?" she said, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and relief. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

She didn't wait for an answer. She just started walking toward me, her steps confident, almost eager.

The closer she got, the clearer it became.

She looked like she was in her late forties. That was her actual age, from what I remembered. Still, her appearance didn't fully match that number. There was a youthful quality to her, something that softened the edges of time. At the same time, there was no hiding the maturity she carried. It showed in the way she moved, in the way she held herself, in the look in her eyes.

If I remembered right...

"You're Marisa, right?" I asked.

"Yes!" she answered immediately, almost too quickly. "I've been waiting for this moment!"

Her reaction was intense.

The way she looked at me… it wasn't just recognition. It was something closer to reverence. Admiration pushed to a level that felt a bit too much.

Honestly, it was a little concerning.

This was... the woman I fucked during my first year at the academy.

Back then, she had been alone, caught up in her own moment, masturbating without realizing someone else was nearby. I heard her moaning, followed the sound, and well, things went the way they did. I took the opportunity, got what I needed, and walked away with her skill. Even if I didn't use it often, it had proven useful in certain situations.

So it wasn't like it had been meaningless.

"I'm really glad you still remember me," she said, her voice softening just a bit.

Truth was, I had completely forgotten she existed.

That probably sounded harsh, but it was what it was. Still, there were certain things I didn't forget. The feel of her pussy, for example. Funny how that stuck more clearly than anything else. Maybe that said something about me, but I wasn't about to overanalyze it.

If anything, I could say this much with confidence.

I hadn't forgotten any woman I'd fucked before.

That was probably why the memory came back the moment I saw her. It didn't take long. Just a second, maybe less, and it all lined up.

Even so, I hadn't expected to run into her again like this.

"Lord Mephisto," she said again, her eyes still locked onto mine, filled with that same unwavering devotion. "Would you come with me for a moment? There's something we want you to see."

There was a slight pause after that, like she was waiting for my response but already expecting a yes.

I stared at her for a second.

For some reason, I already had a feeling about what she was going to show me.