The girl had bright ruby red eyes and jet black hair-

Wait, isn't she Li!?

(Authors note: For those that don't remember, Li is one of the new students that appeared in chapter 8)

What? How? When? Why? What?

Hundreds of questions raced through my mind.

Hold on, where's Aqua!? And where's the dragon!? Where am I?

I sat up and looked around.

We were currently on the roof of a building. The red mist was still all around us.

But Aqua was missing. Had she been crushed? My palms sweat and my heartbeat increases in pace at the thought of the idea.

I turned to Li.

"Where's Aqua?"

As if answering my question, two more people jumped up onto the roof, and one was carrying Aqua.

One had blond hair-wait isn't that Fukitsuna?! Why the hell was SHE here?

She had her hair tied up in a ponytail, and carried a bow, with a quiver of arrows on her back.

The other had deep silver hair, golden yellow eyes and was quite brawly. He was clad in shiny silver armour, and carried a huge black sword with him.

Aqua attempted to gracefully jump out of his arms but fell face first onto the roof.

"OW!"

I rushed over to check on her.

"Aqua! Are you alright?"

She gave me a thumbs up sign and got up.

I looked at her body and saw no wounds. Thank goodness, it seems that she was unhurt.

Silver hair then began to speak.

"You guys are lucky we happened to also be here, otherwise both of you would have been food for that dragon. What were you guys thinking, charging in with no plan? Do you think this is a game or something? One wrong move and you would have been dead!"

"

Geh. His words strike deep.

Fukitsuna sighed.
"Leave it. We have bigger worries to fret about. We'll need to set up formation against the dragon again."

Silver hair nodded, and both jumped off the building.

Li turned to us.

"We'll save the introductions for later. For now, stay here. You weaklings clearly aren't strong enough to fight."

And with that, she jumped off.

I collapsed back onto the ground.

"Aqua, do you know what is going on anymore?"

She shook her head.

I sighed.
I suppose these are the other hunters that Liz mentioned before. But various questions float around my head about the trio that just saved us.

Well, at least I can just leave the dragon to them now. Judging by their weapons and tone, they seem to be veterans. I can just relax and take a breather-

"Kazuma! Get up!"

Aqua had already dusted herself off and was standing over me.

"Why? Let's just relax here."

"Do you have no pride? I don't know who they are, but they called us weaklings! Let's show them that they are wrong!"

She started to pull at my arm.
"Come on, let's think of a plan!"

"Yeah, the plan is to just stay here until they finish."

I did not want to face that dragon ever again, hell no! That brief touch with death was enough for me!

"Ah come on Kazuma!"

"Don't 'ah come on Kazuma' me! You are the one who blindly charged in and got us into this mess in the first place!"

"But-"

"We nearly died! I nearly died! All because you charged in head first!"

"Hahhhhh? You blame this on me despite the fact I saved your sorry ass?"

"You saved me? You tripped and fell! This is all on you!"

Now, one would expect Aqua to do an Aqua and either start crying or begging, but she just sighed.

But I remain firm. I simply refuse to fight such a creature under any circumstance! I could still feel the fear that it struck within me when it roared. The shockwaves that were sent through me when it struck the barrier Aqua set up…

No way am I going to fight that thing again!

But as I open my mouth and lash out at Aqua, she smirks and starts twirling her hair.

"Hm, I seem to recall while messing around on your computer, I came across a certain little folder…"

Oh no.

"I think it was called… 'homework'..."

Oh no no.

I shake my head in response.

"I-I-I don't know w-w-w-what you are talking about! You must have been mistaken!"

"Oh? I guess you won't mind me telling everyone at school about it then?"

I start to sweat a little.

How did this little rat find her way to that folder? It was hidden under layers of camouflage (Aka misleading folder names) that I made just in case!

Aqua stepped forward.
"The deal is simple Kazuma. If you don't come along, the contents of your 'homework folder' will be spread all around school with your name."

I collapse onto my knees.
Was Aqua the true monster all along?

"Y-y-y-y-ou wouldn't dare-"

"Ku ku ku… you've severely underestimated me Kazuma. You aren't the only one who can blackmail people into submission."

Geh. Is she still salty I threatened to ban her from my consoles?

I started to rack my brain for any solution to this problem.
Oh wait! My sword problem!

Putting aside our tomfoolery, I quickly explain to Aqua about the problem with Murasame.

Aqua went deep into thought.

"Hmm, while it is true that you aren't worthy…"

Hey! No need to insult me while thinking out loud!

"... but I don't remember any cases of this happening. I'll contact Eris later about it."

"Soooo does that mean we don't have to fight?"

Aqua sighed.

"Kaaaazzzzzzuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmaaaa, you have a second power right? Why don't you put it to use in a battle for once?"

"And do what? Create a water bucket and throw it at the dragon?"

Aqua smiled.

"Fight the dragon or have your homework folder leaked. Pick one."

Very reluctantly, I nod.

"Fine, you win. But only this once you hear? And wipe that smug look off your face, I'm not letting you touch my consoles for a week after this!"

"Wha-Kazuma you meanie!"

And so, as we bicker on the rooftop, I began to formulate a plan with Aqua on how to fight a massive lizard with wings.