"You agreed?"

He looked thrilled; the Emperor of Flames trembled like a plucked string, asking again to make sure.

"I’ve got no choice. I can’t beat you, so I’ll meet your terms."

Heat flared in my chest; my gaze burned like embers on his face. "But if you try anything indecent, I’m out. I’ll skip the third floor of the Nine Cold Labyrinth."

"Yes, yes!" Yan Ya Princess finally spoke, cutting him off with a blade-cold tone. "You useless big bro! Touch my friend, Yumigawa Sumeragi, and I’ll sever our bond as siblings."

Warmth flickered in me, like a tiny coal catching air. I glanced at Yan Ya Princess and felt oddly happy.

"My sister, and Mr. Yumigawa, rest assured! I am a gentleman, and I will not stain my station!"

The Emperor of Flames squared his shoulders, face carved with resolve. Even so, unease crawled over me like ants on skin. Fine. Better a sharp pain than a long agony. I should hurry and change into the maid outfit.

I sighed, wind slipping from a cracked bell. "Emperor of Flames, I need to change. Where’s convenient?"

"Of course! Follow me."

He flung open the doors of the Fire Dragon Hall, posing with courtly grace, like a prince schooled from birth. Shame his mind and temper are both cracked porcelain.

I sighed again and walked in with Yan Ya Princess.

Inside, the Fire Dragon Hall smelled ancient—stone and iron old as dusk. Floors, walls, chandeliers looked centuries deep, like a timeworn temple. And it was filthy.

Dust lay like sleeping ash, cobwebs hung like gray veils, and the air clotted like a sealed jar. The windows were shut tight; I coughed and tasted grit.

"Hey!"

I covered nose and mouth and shouted, a whip-crack in the stale room. "How can anyone live here? Open every door and window! We’re suffocating!"

"Useless big bro… how lazy can you be?!"

Even Yan Ya Princess bristled; a little girl is delicate, like a reed in winter wind. I coughed and cut that thought before she caught it and exploded like a lit fuse.

"Y-Yes!"

Spooked by our heat, the Emperor of Flames bolted, faster than sight, toward doors and window latches.

Moments later, every door and window gaped wide, like mouths gulping air.

Lava lands don’t gift fresh breeze, but it was better—at least breathable.

With Yan Ya Princess leading, I quickly found a clean empty room. I slipped inside, shut the door, and, dragging feet like lead, changed into the maid outfit.

Outside.

Ba-dump, ba-dump—the Emperor of Flames’ heart hammered like a war drum. His breath rasped like a bellows, his face wore a guilty glow.

"Hey, useless big bro! Can you act normal?"

Yan Ya Princess edged away, putting space between them like a drawn curtain, disgust on her face.

"My sister, how can you not understand me?! I’ll soon see a blonde maid! My dream will finally come true! How can I not be excited?!"

He clenched one fist and wiped tears with the other; emotion poured from him like a spring breaking rock.

"Ha—do whatever."

She popped a lollipop in, a small sun behind her lips. She gave up and confirmed one thing: her useless big bro was rotten to the core.

Creeeeak—

Right then, the door swung open, and a supernaturally pretty maid stepped out, heels heavy, like walking through syrup.

The Emperor of Flames stared. Yan Ya Princess did too. Because the girl was stunning—

Platinum hair, bright as moonlight on frost, tied into twin ponytails, as he’d demanded. A soft blush warmed her fair cheeks like the first peach bloom. Wine-red eyes gleamed like glazed garnet.

The maid outfit fit as if tailored by fate, cloth hugging like calm water. Her frame was slender, easy to cradle, and her legs—long and graceful—wore sheer white stockings, pure and alluring like ice lit by dawn.

From any angle, this blonde maid was the top tier of beauty.

And who she was needed no saying.

"Ah, so beautiful! An angel descended—no! A goddess descended!"

As if seeing a miracle at sea, the Emperor of Flames slowly kneeled, tears streaming like rain, hands folded in prayer. Ugh—my foot almost flew on its own.

Shame scorched me; being stared at in a dress by a man felt like fire ants under silk. I could hardly breathe.

"Yumigawa Sumeragi… are you actually a woman?"

Yan Ya Princess snapped me back; her words almost made me cry. Please don’t, those hurt like needles under nails. I looked at her, wounded.

"Uh… sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean it!"

She quickly apologized and offered me a lollipop. "Don’t be sad. It really suits you."

"It’s fine. I’m used to it."

I took the lollipop and gently patted her silky hair, her small head warm like a kitten.

"Ehehe."

Yan Ya Princess closed her eyes and smiled, comfort melting over her face like sunshine. So cute—my heart healed. With her around, I could survive these three days. Yeah.

—Sorry, I take that back. Arms wrapped my leg; hot breath blew against my skin. A chill ripped through me like ice water. Rage surged; I looked down.

As expected, the Emperor of Flames clung to my leg, rubbing his handsome face up, wearing an entranced, nauseating look.

"Ah—so soft! This supreme softness is the highest bliss! And the stockings’ slight roughness—irresistible… ah, my life, I could die without regrets."

"…"

"…"

Yan Ya Princess and I were beyond words; we looked at him like trash left to rot.

Finally.

"Die, you pervert—useless big bro!"

We raised our feet together and kicked the Emperor of Flames with all we had.

"Ah… this pain… is also rather marvelous!"

Dripping filth, he flew backward at once.

Boom!!

He smashed a hole in the wall and shot out of the Fire Dragon Hall, gone from sight.