Starting with No Game No Life: Infinite Chests

When he returned to the human settlement, Riku couldn't help but show a strange expression. He saw Schwi being led by the hand by Couronne, the two of them talking. The other humans looked somewhat awkward and uneasy, but otherwise had no complaints.

"Riku is back. Thank goodness… I'm so glad."

Schwi was the first to spot him, waving her hand from below.

"Riku, you're finally back! We were all so worried!"

Couronne reacted next, joy clear in her voice.

"Wow, it's the leader! He's really flying!"

"So, Couronne was telling the truth, our leader really has incredible power, and the ex-machina is following him too!"

"That's great!"

Suddenly, the entire settlement broke into excited chatter.

Riku understood instantly Couronne must have explained things after Schwi was discovered, otherwise, the situation would be very different.

But this was a result Riku was happy to see.

"Everyone, it's fine. Just return to the settlement, no need to evacuate anymore. I blocked all the aftershocks just now."

After landing, Riku explained softly.

"The settlement wasn't destroyed? That's great!"

Couronne grinned while the rest of the villagers danced and cheered. After living here for two or three years, they'd grown attached to the place. Moving would mean starting over, which would be difficult.

"Riku, did you win?" Schwi walked up to Riku, tugging his sleeve.

"I won." Riku smiled, patting Schwi's hat.

"Comparing the data, Riku's strength rose dramatically, but is still less than the dragonia, yet he won. Strange."

Schwi tilted her head, speaking stiffly. Without her personality template, her words were mechanical and awkward.

"I told you, don't always trust the numbers you see."

Riku shook his head.

"Hmm…" Schwi nodded without further comment.

"No way! Riku, you actually beat a dragonia!" Couronne finally reacted, exclaiming in disbelief.

Even though Riku had said he was as strong as a Flügel, this time his opponent was a dragonia, and he'd won!

The other humans were stunned. To them, beating a werebeast was amazing, but defeating a dragonia, one of the top races, was simply unimaginable.

"It's inconvenient to talk here. Because of the earlier battle, there's a lot more black ash around; it's harmful to humans. Let's head back to the settlement first."

Riku said gravely.

"Okay!"

At this, everyone nodded in surprise.

...

Back at the settlement, after explaining the situation, Riku finally found a moment to relax. He decided to go soak in the hot springs.

"Riku, the water's ready." Couronne came into his room with a smile.

"Schwi, I'm going to take a bath. Stay here for a bit, okay?" Riku patted Schwi's head gently.

Though the villagers accepted Schwi's presence, there was still fear, an instinctive human response to outsiders, not something that would disappear overnight.

So, having Schwi wait in the room was best.

"I want… to bathe with Riku…" Schwi suddenly grabbed his sleeve, speaking softly.

"Riku, you really have trained her, huh…!" Couronne's eyes sparkled mischievously.

"Cour, what are you talking about! Schwi, why? Don't you have a dust-removal function?"

Riku shot Couronne a glare, then said to Schwi with a wry smile. Bathing together didn't sound bad, but with Couronne in the room, it was a bit awkward.

"Because… the dust-removal function causes spirit reactions. It's dangerous…" Schwi replied quietly. "Also… I want to experience bathing like a human, to feel 'heart', but I don't know how to bathe…"

Schwi gave her explanation in her usual flat tone.

"Spirit reaction…"

Riku rolled his eyes. After such an intense battle, the spirit reaction in this area was already off the charts. Any spirit reaction from removing dust would just be drowned out.

Besides, even if someone noticed, so what? The lower races would just tremble in fear, and the higher races, only the Flügel, might pay attention, but even they would just take note and move on.

After all, the fight was already over. What would be the point of coming here now?

But, as Schwi said, bathing together to understand 'heart' wasn't a bad idea, and this kind of interaction wasn't to his disadvantage either.

"Riku, Schwi has a point. You decide. Anyway, as your big sister, I won't stop you." Couronne smiled mischievously.

"In that case, come with me, Schwi." Riku gave in and nodded. No point hesitating any longer after all, he'd already slept with Fia, and Schwi was destined to be his wife in the future anyway…

It should be fine… right?

"Mm. Looking forward to bathing with Riku." Schwi nodded quietly.

With a strange feeling in his heart, Riku led Schwi to the bath. Watching their backs, Couronne fell into thought. Schwi was an ex-machina, but her actions were growing more and more human.

"Seeking heart, huh…" Couronne murmured. "She already has a heart."