Death Guns In Another World

Chapter 2066: Date with Saeko after a while

The air was alive with color and music. Fireworks painted the night sky above Velria in ribbons of crimson and gold, their echoes thundering like distant drums. The sweet scent of grilled food lingered in the air, mixed with the faint perfume of summer blossoms drifting from the festival gardens. Laughter and music surrounded them—but for Alex and Saeko, the world had fallen silent, reduced to the sound of their own beating hearts.

Their lips parted at last, the kiss leaving a trail of warmth that refused to fade. Her breath trembled against his chest; his fingers lingered in her hair as though afraid she might vanish if he let go. The world resumed around them—cheers, applause, murmurs—but they stood still, eyes locked.

Alexʼs lips curved into a faint smile.

”Itʼs really you,” he said quietly, his voice heavy with disbelief and joy.

Saeko met his gaze, her usual calm fractured by emotion.

”And you look the same,” she murmured, her tone soft yet trembling. ”Though… a bit more reckless.”

He chuckled—a sound she hadnʼt heard since before the final battle of their old world.

”Guess some things never change.”

Without another word, he reached for her hand. She didnʼt resist. Her fingers slid into his, fitting perfectly, and for the first time since their separation, the emptiness in both their hearts seemed to ease. Together, they walked through the lantern-lit street, two shadows bound once again.

Every step they took drew glances. The cold, untouchable swordswoman from the eastern provinces—the one whose reputation in the guilds was spoken with equal parts awe and fear—was walking hand in hand with the infamous Black-Ranked adventurer. Yet neither cared. The night was theirs alone.

They passed by rows of vendors shouting joyfully about their wares. The aroma of roasted beef skewers mixed with the sweetness of caramelized fruit. Alex stopped, buying two sticks of grilled dango brushed with honey glaze. He offered one to her.

Saeko hesitated for only a heartbeat before accepting. She bit into it lightly, the warmth melting on her tongue. ”You still remember my favorite,” she said softly.

”Of course,” he replied. ”Iʼd never forget something like that.”

Her lips curved into the faintest smile.

”Great!”

They walked on, weaving between stalls and laughing children holding paper lanterns. When a group of performers passed by—dancers in crimson masks and bells tied to their ankles—Alex and Saeko stopped to watch. The rhythmic beat of the drums echoed in their chests, and for a fleeting second, Saekoʼs expression softened completely.

Alex glanced sideways, taking in the sight of her in her traditional kimono—the indigo silk embroidered with silver cranes, the way her long hair caught the glow of the lanterns. She looked almost unreal, like something out of a dream he had been chasing since waking up in this world.

”You look beautiful,” he said quietly.

Her cheeks turned faintly pink, but she didnʼt avert her gaze.

”Guess I had good motivation,” he said with a teasing grin.

They continued exploring—playing festival games, sharing food, and occasionally stopping just to take in the sight of the city around them. The streets of Velria were overflowing with light and life.

At one stall, Alex tried his hand at a ring toss game, aiming to win a small plush dragon. His first three throws missed entirely, earning him a smug look from Saeko.

”Youʼre terrible at this,” she said flatly.

”Hold on,” he muttered, rolling his shoulders. He lined up his final throw, focusing. The ring arced through the air and landed perfectly around the target post. The stallkeeper clapped. Alex turned to Saeko with a grin. ”See? I always win in the end.”

She raised an eyebrow but accepted the dragon plush he handed her, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. ”Still arrogant as ever.”

”Would you love me if I wasnʼt?”

”…Maybe,” she said, but the way she held the plush betrayed her affection.

After a while, they found a quiet path leading away from the crowds—a wooden bridge stretching over the river that flowed through Velria. Lanterns floated gently on the surface of the water, their light flickering like hundreds of drifting stars.

They leaned against the railing, the cool night breeze carrying the distant hum of laughter.

”Itʼs unexpected,” Alex said, watching the water.

”To think weʼd meet again here, of all places.”

Saekoʼs gaze was on the sky. ”I thought you were gone,” she said simply. ”After the last battle… after everything fell apart since we entered the world door. I woke up in this world alone. I didnʼt know if anyone else had survived.”

He nodded slowly. ”Same. For months, I thought it was over—that Iʼd never see any of you again.”

There was silence for a moment, the kind that said more than words. The fireflies hovering around them cast a soft, golden light across her face.

”How have you been living since then?” Alex asked, finally turning to her.

She exhaled softly. ”When I woke up here, I had nothing. No clue where I was. So I did what I knew best—took my blade and became a mercenary.”

She looked down at her reflection in the river, her tone steady but tinged with something fragile. ”I climbed through the ranks, mission after mission. I swore to become a guild master one day.”

Alex blinked, surprised. ”Guild master?”

She nodded. ”It sounds strange, doesnʼt it? But… that was my way of finding you.” Her eyes lifted to meet his. ”I thought that if I became strong enough, built enough influence, then somehow our paths would cross again. Maybe youʼd hear my name. Maybe youʼd come looking.”

For a moment, Alex said nothing. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face.

”Thatʼs crazy,” he said softly. ”Because… thatʼs exactly what Iʼve been doing.”

Her eyes widened.

”Iʼve been working to rise within the Adventurersʼ Guild,” he continued. ”Building connections, taking missions, getting stronger—not just to survive, but to prepare. I want to take control of the guild one day, reshape it. I didnʼt realize until now that our goals are the same.”

A faint, disbelieving laugh escaped her lips. ”So even separated, we thought the same way…”

”Guess thatʼs fate,” he said gently.

She looked at him for a long moment before whispering, ”Fate… or the bond we forged before this world.”