Chapter 89: Promotion Exam

In the Beast Pirates, there’s no distinction between gender or age among the crew.

The only thing that matters is strength—whether you have what it takes to be a fighter. Everything else is secondary.

So, the only thing you need to climb the ranks is power. Nothing else matters.

But—

"Everyone starts out weak."

"Gh…!!"

A light, almost caressing strike from the butt end of a trident sends a crushing wave of pain through me.

Beneath Onigashima lies a vast, hemispherical black cage—a training ground.

The stone floor and walls are stained here and there with dark red blotches. In other words, this is how much blood has been spilled here before.

"Creatures born strong from the very beginning… Well, they do exist. But aside from those exceptions, everyone starts weak. Even those exceptions were relatively weaker as children."

"Ugh…! Cough Cough…!!"

Spitting blood onto the floor, I keep listening to the monster’s words.

Countless weaklings have been turned into bloody messes on a whim here. This place—is where the weak are reforged into the strong.

If the monster isn’t satisfied… if you can’t prove enough growth, all that awaits is a cold death.

The stench of death fills this place. Some of it comes from the nearby prison, but the overwhelming scent of blood isn’t just from that—it’s from the countless lives lost in training.

"But ‘being weak’ is just an excuse. The enemy won’t go easy on you just because you’re weak. In fact, they’ll swarm you because you’re weak—easy prey. Thinking others will save you is a naive way to survive in this world."

"Hah… Hah…"

I force myself up and raise my sword.

Channeling Ryuo—Haki—into the blade, I swing down at the monster before me. The monster doesn’t even dodge. She casually raises her left arm and blocks with her forearm. For a normal person, that would mean a severed limb or shattered bone, but common sense doesn’t apply to this beast.

"The only way to survive is to get stronger. Excuses like ‘I’m just a kid,’ ‘I’m a woman,’ or ‘I’ve never fought before’ are meaningless. The strong don’t hesitate to take from the weak, after all~♡"

"……!"

That’s right… here, if you don’t grow stronger, you’ll be taken from.

The weak gain nothing—they lose everything. Hiyori understands that all too well from experience.

No matter how just your cause, it doesn’t matter. What decides victory in battle is strength.

Win, and you gain everything—happiness. Lose, and you lose everything—misery.

If you want something… if you want to protect what’s precious… then no matter what, you have to get stronger and win.

This monster, Nue, took everything from her—but in exchange, taught her that truth. In a way, she’s her benefactor… but even more so, her most hated enemy.

"The weak are taken from unless they gain strength, gain power. So then—how do you get stronger?"

"…Just—train…!!"

Answering the question, I pour Ryuo—Haki—into my blade and swing again.

But of course, the opponent just smiles, effortlessly sidestepping left and right.

It’s like playing sword-fight with a child—because the difference in skill is as vast as heaven and earth. Every attack is predicted, and even if they land, they leave no mark. The sheer gap in Haki is insurmountable.

"Right, training your body makes you stronger. Building muscle, endurance. Mastering martial arts or swordsmanship is necessary too. Humans who train enough can even become immune to cannons and blades~♪"

"…!"

"Only a few freaks like Nue are exceptions to that," she wanted to retort—but the reality was undeniable.

This monster was genuinely trying to teach her how to grow stronger. And in truth, she had grown stronger because of it. There was no reason to doubt it now.

"‘Soru’…!!"

"Yes, that’s the first step. Training your body to get stronger is ideal. At the very least, you won’t lose to ordinary people anymore~♡"

"Gh… Ugh…!!"

Using one of the Rokushiki techniques taught by these monsters, I dart behind her at high speed and slash—but Nue doesn’t even flinch. These monsters don’t need techniques like this to be fast, tough, or strong.

"But if you want to aim higher, you can’t ignore Haki."

Nue declares with a grin. Haki—specifically, Ryuo.

"‘Armament,’ ‘Observation’… Well, ‘Conqueror’s’ is something you’re born with, so that’s out of the question. But the other two can be trained. The samurai of this country and the pirates of the New World are strong precisely because they hone their Haki~♪"

"Tch…!!"

Nue catches the blade with her pinky finger—no, not even touching it, stopping it just before contact.

Advanced Armament Haki. When used defensively, it repels weapons and bodies without even touching them. Offensively, it destroys from within.

Of course, these monsters are all masters of Haki. Like the samurai, many specialize in Armament, but they can all use Observation as well. Fighting them without Haki is near impossible.

Especially Nue—whose Observation is monstrous in its own right. She looks at me and sees the future.

"‘A diagonal upward slash from below.’"

"…!!"

"‘Then gritting your teeth in frustration before backing off.’ …Pfft! Ahaha! No need to look so grim. It’s not like this is anything new, right?"

"…!!"

Nue laughs, amused. That’s right—this monster just saw the future.

Observation Haki reads the unconscious signals of living beings, predicting movements and sensing presences.

Hiyori can do it too—she’s been trying to predict Nue’s moves this whole time.

But she can’t. Because her opponent’s Observation is too advanced.

At its peak, Observation can detect presences from afar, glimpse the past, read memories… and even see seconds into the future.

Even if not constantly active, surprise attacks are useless against a master like this. Hiding or running is nearly impossible.

Even among the Beast Pirates, no one matches Nue in Observation Haki… No, in the entire world, it’s unclear if anyone rivals her. Rumors whisper through Wano and the Beast Pirates alike—"Nothing escapes Lady Nue’s sight."

"…Fufufu~♡ What’s wrong? Getting cold feet? …Or do you wanna go home—back to your family?"

"……!!"

Hiyori felt her mind boil with rage at Nue’s words—but at the same time, a chill of terror crawled down her spine.

Yes. This was it. The dread that gripped those who faced Nue. The fear. The reason so many found her utterly unfathomable.

Nue was the worst. She delighted in people’s discomfort, panic, and terror—poking at their weaknesses with pinpoint precision, whether through words or actions. Once she set her sights on you, escape was impossible. Every corner of Wano was under the watch of Nue and the UFOs she created.

One reason for the rumors that "nothing escapes Lady Nue’s sight" was the absurd range of her Observation Haki—but even more than that, it was her sheer unpredictability.

The words Nue spun made it feel as though—

—she knew. Knew your past, your traumas, and was toying with them.

Maybe she truly was reading memories with her Observation Haki. At times, she even seemed to know things she couldn’t—future events, secrets untold.

Perhaps it was coincidence. Perhaps she had other sources. But the truth remained unknown. Even Kyoushirou had feared her.

"Lady Hiyori… it’s possible that monster is toying with us, fully aware of everything. Please, be careful."

Yes. What Kyoushirou feared most was that his—and her—true identities would be exposed. Or worse, that they already were. If that happened, their lives would be forfeit, and the rebels Kyoushirou had secretly sheltered would be purged in an instant.

But so far, neither Orochi nor the Beast Pirates seemed to have noticed.

…Except Nue.

Maybe she was dropping hints to lure them into slipping up. Nue did occasionally say things that felt deliberately calculated to unsettle her.

But showing any reaction would be the end. Whether Nue knew or not, Hiyori’s only option was to keep hiding the truth.

And the fear festered. This was how Nue planted seeds of terror in so many hearts.

The truth was unknowable—and that was what made her so terrifying.

"Hmm~? What’s wrong? You’ve gone all stiff… Need a break? Or maybe a meal? —Oh, I know! How about some oden?"

"! …N-No, I’m… fine."

"Really? Suit yourself~ But if you get hungry, just say the word~♡"

Before Hiyori realized it, Nue had closed the distance between them, smiling up at her from point-blank range.

…And once again, her words sent Hiyori’s heart into chaos.

She fought to keep her composure, but the suddenness of it made her face twitch—just for an instant. Nue noticed, of course, but she didn’t press further. Just let it go.

What is she thinking?

Unsettling as ever.

"Now then… back on topic. Training your body, honing Haki… Sure, that’s enough to aim high, but~ there is a quicker way to get stronger, you know? ♡"

"! You mean…!"

The way Nue said it made Hiyori’s breath catch.

She already knew the answer—but if Nue was bringing it up now…

Has the time finally come?

And the moment that thought crossed her mind—

They arrived.

"—Oi, Nue!! We’re here!!"

"Oh? Faster than I expected, Kaido. Come on in, everyone~♪"

"Nue-san! Brought what ya asked for~♫"

"Kyaaa~♡ Lady Nue, it’s been too long, ngo!!"

"The hell’s with that speech tic… Don’t tell me you picked that up from Doflamingo?"

"…………"

Hiyori instinctively recoiled under the crushing pressure.

Stepping into the room were Kaido, the All-Stars King and Queen, and three of the tobiroppo: Jack, Ulti, and Page One.

Nearly the entire upper echelon of the Beast Pirates—save those deployed outside Wano.

"E-Even Kaido-soutou…? What in the world…?"

"Fufufu~♡ Well, I called them here for a little event. Can’t guess what it is?"

"…N-No… I haven’t the faintest idea…"

Hiyori answered truthfully, tilting her head slightly.

Nue narrowed her eyes—then dropped a bombshell with two layers of shock.

"—We’re gonna have Hiyori-chan take the test to become a True Elite."

"…………Eh?"

For a moment, Hiyori couldn’t process the words.

First came surprise—then a flicker of joy at finally being granted the chance to rise in rank—

—but then, the name Nue used hit her like a fist to the chest.

Her name.

Not Komurasaki, the false identity she wore like a mask.

Her real name.

Which could only mean one thing—

Her cover was blown.

"Worororo!! Looks like she didn’t see that coming! That face says it all—she never thought we’d find out!!"

"Gh…!!"

"Ah-ah! No running away now~"

"Ugh...!?"

The moment Kaidou burst into laughter, I tried to flee, but Nue immediately grabbed me and slammed me onto the ground. With Nue sitting on my back as I lay face-down, there was no way to move. She shouldn’t have been that heavy, yet somehow, struggling was impossible.

"Hey, hey!! You ain't gettin’ away, so just sit tight!!"

"...! Since... when...!?"

"From the very start ♡ —Well, I was the only one who noticed at first. I told Kaidou and the All-Stars later, and only today did I let the Flying Six in on it."

"...!"

Nue said it so casually—that she’d known all along.
But if that was true... then...

"You knew... and you let it happen...!!"

"That’s right~♪ Seemed fun, after all~♪"

—They had been aware the whole time and let it slide.
I had been dancing in the palm of their hand.
In that moment, Hiyori felt like she had plunged into the abyss.
There was no escape. Nue had her pinned, surrounded by Kaidou, the All-Stars, and the tobiroppo.
This was undeniably the end. She had no future left.

"Never thought Oden’s daughter would still be alive, let alone sneak right into our ranks. Impressive."

"My bad, Kaido. If I’d burned her to ash back then..."

"Damn right!! Half-assed job as usual!!"

"Wasn’t talkin’ to you. Shut it."

"Huh!?"

"Shut iiiiiit!!?"

"Not you, sis!! Quit buttin’ into other people’s fights!!"

...Their bickering no longer reached her ears.

"...Just kill me."

"Hm? Why? You wanna die?"

"Tch... You think I’m stupid enough to believe I can survive... surrounded by all of you?"

"Ooooh, so you’ve got the guts to face death. Just like Oden’s daughter should! You’re way more samurai than those dumb retainers of yours!!"

"...!"

Nue praised her—but the condescension in her tone made it impossible to take as a compliment.
Her life was over. Maybe she had a few days left... or a month at most. They might torture her before finishing her off, but prolonging the inevitable was pointless.
Yes, there should have been no way out—

"Ahaha!! You’re staying calm even after I provoked you~!! Oden would’ve snapped if his comrades were insulted, but you’re a bit different, huh?"

"...!"

"Mmm~? That gritting of teeth—which is it? Actually pissed... or did I hit a nerve? Either way, fun reaction ♡"

She had no retort for Nue’s continued prodding.
...No, more accurately, she chose not to—

"But isn’t it a little early to decide you’re gonna die?"

"! ...What... do you mean?"

"I told you, didn’t I? ‘We’re testing if Hiyo-chan’s got what it takes to be a top player’ ♡ —Queen, Jack."

"Yes!!"

"Got it!! Time for our cute little Komurasaki—no, Hiyo-tan’s big show~~~~~♫"

Before she could process Nue’s words, Jack and Queen sprang into action.
Jack dropped the burlap sack he’d been carrying onto the floor. And when he forced out—when the figure inside emerged, her eyes widened in shock.

"...!! Kawamatsu!?"

"Guh... P-Princess...!! I’ve failed you...!! I couldn’t protect you... and now I’ve shown you such disgrace...!!"

The webbed hands were unmistakable, though his skin tone had changed.
The bloodied samurai was none other than Kawamatsu—the "Kappa of the Red Scabbards," one of the retainers who served the Kozuki family.
She’d heard he’d been captured and imprisoned in Queen’s labor camp in Udon, but bringing him here now... could only mean something terrible.

"Alrighty, alrighty~~~♫ Jack, put that thing over there ♫"

"Got it."

"Ngh...!"

Queen tinkered with something outside the cage, then gave Jack another order. Following it, Jack stepped inside and fastened a collar around Hiyori’s neck.

"All set, Nue-san!!"

"Okaaay!! Then let’s get this show on the road♪ Introducing~~~~♫"

"Produced by Nue-san!!"

"‘You Can’t Go Home Until You Prove You’re a Top Player!! The Black Cage Deathmatch Survival Test’~~~~~!!!"

"YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

"Nue-sama’s the GOAT~~~♡"

"...!!"

As Nue proudly announced the name of this so-called "test," only Queen and Ulti cheered and raised their hands in excitement. The others remained silent, while Hiyori and Kawamatsu could only watch in dread. The ordeal had begun.

"And here we go, Nue-san!! Time for another cruel, thrilling show!! Shame the audience is so small today!!"

"True. But what can you do? ♡ We’ve even kept Hiyo-chan’s existence hidden from Orochi, after all. Making too big a deal of this would cause problems—both for Wano’s rule and for Orochi’s ego."

"!? You’re... hiding me from Orochi...!?"

Hiyori couldn’t help but voice her shock at the suspicious remark. Nue turned to her with a grin and elaborated.

"See how nice we are? Normally, a surviving Kozuki would be executed on the spot~~♡ But y’know, if you join us like that kappa or Ashura in Kuri, we might just let you live... Though with Oden’s actual kid, Orochi would throw a fit, so keeping it quiet seemed better."

"Orochi’s a coward… No matter how many times I tell him it’s fine, he’s still pissin’ himself. Honestly explaining what we’re doin’ would just be a pain."

Kaidou took a swig of liquor as he added that. They’d even hidden this from Orochi—someone they’d been allied with for over a decade.

But for Hiyori, that hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things. What did matter was whether Kyoushirou had been exposed too… and what was about to be done to her.

For some reason, it seemed they weren’t going to kill her outright. Nue continued, explaining why.

"Anyway~ That’s not important! What is important is whether you can pass this test and become a top player!"

"! Don’t tell me… knowing I’m a Kozuki survivor, you’re trying to recruit me…?"

"Preposterous…!! Such a thing is unthinkable…!!"

"But it’s totally thinkable!! —Which brings us to RULE EXPLANATION TIIIIIIME♪"

Declaring this a "promotion test," Nue cheerfully carried on, ignoring Hiyori’s bewilderment. Queen struck a pose beside her, and the two launched into their explanation.

"Hiyo-chan, you’ll be fighting for seven days straight!! No food, no water—just a survival battle in this cage!! Your opponents will be~~~ Page One!! Ulti!! And Jack!! Three of the tobiroppo~~~~!!!"

"YES!! But don’t worry, Hiyo-tan!! They won’t gang up on you—it’s tag-team rules!! Plus, if you get knocked out, you get a whole hour to rest!! …Well, ‘rest.’ After that, we’ll just electrocute you awake again!!"

"…!! Such absurd conditions are unacceptable…!!"

Kawamatsu roared in protest from outside the cage. But Hiyori knew it was pointless.

They wouldn’t listen. These people followed through on their whims. Mercy for the weak didn’t exist here.

So if she wanted to survive…

"…What are the conditions for walking out alive?"

"Princess!?"

"Oho~ Someone’s got resolve!"

"Muhaha, this one’s got more guts than the kappa!! Let’s keep those rules rollin’~~~~♫"

Resolve? Of course. She wouldn’t have infiltrated the Beasts Pirates without it. She’d long since prepared to die—had already suffered near-fatal wounds before. She wasn’t about to start screaming over something like this now. All she could do was strive to survive. That was all.

"The condition’s simple, Hiyo-tan!! Just stay alive for seven days!!"

"Do that, and you’ll be released and promoted to top player!! Plus, we’ll throw in a little… performance bonus to make you even stronger!!"

"…A Devil Fruit."

"Fufu… As expected of one of our crew~♡ Yep, yep! We reward new top players with Devil Fruits to boost their combat power!"

She’d known, of course. It was common knowledge that non-ability users received Fruits upon promotion.

Part of her had even hoped to exploit that system—to grow stronger through it. After her identity was exposed, she assumed the opportunity was lost… but apparently, the chance still remained.

Yet she doubted that was the only condition. Glancing at Kawamatsu, she posed the question.

"…That can’t be all, can it?"

"Hm~? Why do you say that?"

"…I doubt you’d recruit a Kozuki without contingencies. More importantly, that doesn’t explain the collars on Kawamatsu."

Right—there was no way those collars were just for show.

Hers could be dismissed as an anti-escape measure, but Kawamatsu’s presence here suggested something far worse—

"…Is the real condition that… only one of us gets to leave alive?"

"!"

"Ding-ding-ding~♪ Correct!! Hence these Queen Special™ collars!!"

"Muhaha, sharp as ever!! Then let me spell it out!! These collars are rigged to explode if you stray too far from this cage~~~♫ But their other function? They unlock… when one of you dies!!"

"When one of us…"

"! …Dies…"

The moment the words left Queen’s mouth, Hiyori realized what Kawamatsu was likely thinking.

…He’ll choose to die for me. Without hesitation.

"So if Hiyo-chan kicks the bucket mid-test, Kawamatsu walks free! But for you to leave… well, on the seventh day, you’ll just have to… kill him yourself♡"

"…………"

"…Huh. Not even a flinch. Guess it’s that easy for you, huh?"

Hiyori fell silent. To survive—to walk out—she’d have to kill Kawamatsu. With her own hands.

It was cruel. It should have filled her with rage, with conflict.

And yet…

A part of her remained eerily calm. That detachment unsettled even her.

"…What if I win?"

"Hm? Win?"

So she asked. Coolly. Directly at Nue.

"If I defeat the tobiroppo… would I be allowed to leave?"

"!"

"HAH!? The hell you say, Komurasaki!! You think you can beat ME!?"

"…………"

The atmosphere turned lethally sharp the instant those words left her mouth.

The three Tobiroppo were the source. Ulti wasn’t the only one bristling—Page One and Jack too glared, their anger thinly veiled.

But Nue, as always, shattered the tension with laughter.

"Pfft—AHAHAHA!! That’s our girl!! I love it, Hiyo-chan!! That resolve, that look in your eyes…! Reminds me of Oden!!"

"Wororororo!! You’ve got some nerve saying that… Fine, I’ll promise you this!! If you really win, I’ll let both you and that brat live!!"

"...Is that true?"

"I don’t repeat myself!!"

Just as he steeled his resolve—Kawamatsu lashed out at Kaidou’s words.

"What kind of—!! Who could ever trust a promise from you?! Back then too… you swore that if we endured, you’d release us!! And yet… you killed Lord Oden!!!"

"...Believe it or not, makes no difference to me. Either way, you’ve got no choice but to accept this."

"Tch… I won’t let Lady Hiyori save me like last time!! If one of us has to die for the other to escape, then I’ll kill myself right now—"

"—Hmph. You really think I’d let you do that?"

"What?!"

Just as Kawamatsu was about to snap back at Kaido and his crew, King spoke quietly. Then, as if agreeing and taking over, Nue giggled and chimed in.

"King’s right~. We won’t let you do something so boring. If you kill yourself… we’ll just kill Hiyori-chan too~ ♡"

"That’s absurd!!"

"No matter what you say, we make the rules here ♡ For Hiyori-chan to survive, she either has to beat one of the Tobiroppo or last seven days and kill you herself. Those are her only two options~."

"Y-You monsters…!!"

"Ahahahaha!! So angry, so angry~ ♪ …But as much as I’d love to see you die of rage… your little lord has already stepped inside, you know~?"

"!!"

Nue taunted Kawamatsu, and his gaze flickered toward her. But none of that mattered anymore. If he let himself get distracted, he’d never survive a battle against the strongest.

"...So, who’s my first opponent?"

"P-Princess…"

"Hmph!! Got some nerve, flaring up that Haki!!"

"…………"

Her eyes met each of the Tobiroppo’s. Every one of them was a formidable foe. Despite being around the same age, they were among the ten strongest in the Beasts Pirates.

Right now, she stood no chance against them—but that didn’t matter.

If she had to fight… if she had to survive—then winning was the only path forward.

"Ooooh, look at that bloodlust~ ♪ Well then, I’ll just step out of the cage—who wants to go first~?"

"...I’ll take her."

"Okaaay!! First up is Pe-tan, a.k.a. Page One!!"

"Pe-tan’s gonna do his best, goo~!! Rooting for you from here, gooo~!!"

"Cut it out, Big Sis, you’re killing my focus!!"

She didn’t care who it was—she just wanted it over with. Watching as Page One stepped into the cage, she raised her sword and waited. First up: Page One. Compared to Jack or Ulti, he might’ve been the lesser evil, but underestimating him would be a mistake. Though just twelve years old, he was an elite who had fought his way into the Tobiroppo alongside Ulti. Even if he was the weakest among them, he was still far above her level.

"Don’t take it personally when I crush you."

"Of course. I wouldn’t expect anything less."

"Now then~ ♪ With both fighters locked in—let the Black Cage Deathmatch… begi—"

"!"

"!"

The moment Nue’s words ended, Page One shifted into battle stance—and just as she prepared to react—

The fight began—

"—Lord Kaidou!! Lady Nuuueee!!"

"…Haaah? The hell is it nooow~? We were just getting to the good part~."

"Hey!! I said nobody interrupts us here!!"

"My deepest apologies!!!"

“S-Sorry!!! But it’s an emergency...!”

“...?”

Two members of the Beasts Pirates came running through the corridor, suddenly bursting onto the scene. Both Nue and Kaido responded with slightly annoyed expressions. Their subordinates flinched nervously, but upon hearing it was urgent, they begrudgingly gave permission to speak and gestured for them to continue.

“What the hell is it!?”

“Well, um... it’s that... Lord Musashi is rampaging again...”

“──Haaah!? A-gain!?”

“Y-Yes!! A-Again!! A-And this time, they’re demanding that Lord Kaido, Lady Nue, and even the All Stars and the Tobiroppo who are here now come, too...”

“They’re going wild and we can’t stop them! Some of the facilities have already been damaged...!!”

“Tch... That idiot...!!!”

“...Huh? I don’t really get it, but they’re asking for us?”

“Y-Yes. They said they need to talk or something...”

“Hmmmmm... This was getting to the good part, though──haah... well, I can always watch it later. Guess we should go and see what this is all about. Shall we?”

“That stupid brat...!! Oi, lead the way!!!”

“Y-Yes, sir!! This way!!”

“...We’re going too.”

“Ehhhhh!! We seriously have to deal with them!?”

“...Brother King. We...”

“You lot come along too. We probably won’t need the help... but just in case. Page One, hold down the fort.”

“...Got it.”

“Ehhhhhh!!? I gotta go toooo!!? Nooo, I don’t wanna gooo!!”

“Just go already...”

For some reason, Kaido left the room looking furious, with Nue perched on his shoulder, tilting her head. All Stars and the Tobiroppo followed, leaving only Page One behind in the room. During that exchange, the name “Musashi” came up... Musashi—if memory serves, although we’ve never met—was said to be one of Kaido’s children.

“Tch. Sounds noisy out there, but I can’t let up here. I’ll beat you down and take a break before they get back...!!”

“!”

“Princess!!”

Even with the others gone, Page One continued his orders to fight me, trying to wear me down. With a sharp step in, he threw a punch.

I infused my sword with Haki, preparing to block it. That’s how the battle began—but then, something strange happened again.

“...!”

“! That sound—was that a key!?”

“Eh...!?”

The circular cell, naturally, couldn’t be opened without a key.

Not that it mattered for me—I had a collar, so I couldn’t leave anyway—but the key had just been tucked into Page One’s coat earlier. The rest were likely stored somewhere else, or held by Kaido, Nue... or possibly the other Tobiroppo who came and went from this place.

But just now, someone else opened it. As Page One tried to identify the source, he knocked me back in a clash and turned toward the sound—

“──Thunder Bagua!!!”

“!!!”

──A kanabo slammed through.

Page One’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the floor.

The person who had done it—a tall figure in a familiar outfit—stood over me, gasping for breath, and looked down at me.

“Haa... Haa... Somehow... I did it...!!”

“You’re... Wha—!?”

They placed a trembling hand on my shoulder, still struggling to breathe for some reason.

Then they looked me straight in the eye and said:

“──I’m your parent!!!”

“...Huh!!?”

──What the hell is this person talking about?