[You have entered the first floor of the [Tower of the Divine]]

  “Looks like we’re in,” Noah commented.

  Yuno absentmindedly nodded, his eyes glazing over as he stared at a [System Window] that he knew Noah couldn’t see.

  Noah asked, “What are they saying?”

  Yuno smiled back at Noah, “Not much. Just some random tidbits about the tutorial and such.

  “What is it?”

  Yuno shrugged, “Basic information, like how this tower has twenty floors and there’s a boss every five floors.”

  “Very cliche.”

  “Very.”

  Noah stared at Yuno, his gaze dripping with something that Yuno thought might’ve been suspicion or concern.

  “Are you coming or not?” Yuno glanced over his shoulder.

  “Yeah.”

  [The [Monarch of Slimes] is laughing so hard that her stomach hurts]]

  [The [One Who is Chaos Incarnate] is laughing with the [Monarch of Slimes] and wiping tears away from his eyes]

  [The [Bleeding Phoenix] exclaims that you’re going to be in for a big surprise when you find out how Noah actually acts]

  What? How Noah actually acts? Yuno took a look over at Noah, he’s acting exactly how he usually does.

  [The [Weeping Dragon] face palms]

  [The [Oracle] explains that you’re not going to be able to keep him on a leash once he unleashes his black fire]

  [The [Bewitching Snake] says that the element is definitely supposed to match a character’s personality considering this era’s theme for the grand story]

  [The [Lucky Cat] points out that makes absolutely no sense to someone who doesn’t know anything]

  [The [Saint of Freedom] cryptically says that it will all make sense eventually]

  A leash? Is Noah supposed to become some kind of wild beast? Wait, but they said that I won’t be able to KEEP him on a leash. Does that mean he’s already a wild beast? Yuno groaned, I wish that this was all some kind of insane fever dream.

  “Yuno, are you sure you’re okay?”

  *This character, Noah, is currently feeling concerned about you. They’re also a bit wary.

  Wary? Oh great, so on top of all of this, my best friend is feeling suspicious of me? Yuno had to hold himself back from pinching the bridge of his nose.

  Noah suddenly shoved Yuno to the side. Spiraling black flames burst forwards from his hand and engulfed some sort of… monster in fire.

  Yuno took a deep breath in. I almost just died there, didn’t I? Oddly enough though, that wasn’t the thought that scared him the most. It was the fact that Noah had just managed to kill something that could’ve torn Yuno’s throat out easily.

  Noah gazed down at his hands from which the fire had come forth before turning to Yuno, “are you okay?”

  “That’s what I should be asking you,” Yuno pointed out, “you’re the one who put yourself in harm’s way to save me.”

  “I’m fine,” Noah said dismissively. He smiled and held out his hand as if nothing had happened, “let’s keep going.”

  *This character, Noah, is currently feeling invigorated. They’re high on adrenaline and the feeling of slaughtering a monster. It feels like to them that this was what they were always meant to do.

  Yuno’s eyes widened as he took a step back. Fuck. That’s what they meant by the fact that I’ll be in for a big surprise, isn’t it?

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  [The [Saint of Freedom] explains that Noah is perfectly suited for the integration and has been that way since the beginning. That mindset of the thrill of life and death is part of it]

  [The [One Who Killed Death] is nodding along]

  [The [Bleeding Phoenix] doesn’t understand how you could’ve gotten an attribute that presumably has to do with [Perception] and not know about the other side of Noah’

  “Yuno,” Noah caught Yuno in his arms as Yuno stumbled back, “are you afraid of me?”

  “I…” Yuno froze. Noah knew? Of course he did, he can read me like an open book. “It’s how you seem to feel about this whole thing.”

  “What?”

  “You’re calm,” Yuno looked up, staring straight into Noah’s eyes, “almost unnervingly so. So far you’ve shown almost no reaction to this insane situation we’re in until now, when you killed that thing. Your expression wasn’t fear, it wasn’t shock, it wasn’t guilt for killing something, it was excitement.”

  “That…” Noah glanced away, “I don’t think I can deny that.”

  [The [Spirit Queen] doesn’t want there to be a break-up arc in the story so early on]

  [The [Swift Fox] thinks that it might not just be a temporary break-up if you two decide to go your separate ways]

  [The [Monarch of Slimes] is now very worried about the two you going your separate ways]

  [The [Saint of Freedom] rolls her eyes and says that it’ll be fine]

  [The [Bleeding Phoenix] chuckles and says that we’ll just have to see]

  “Noah, can I ask you a question?”

  Noah nodded, “Go ahead.”

  “How do you feel about me?” Yuno asked.

  *This character, Noah, is going through a lot of conflicting emotions.

  “You’re one of my best friends,” Noah finally said, “and one of the most important people to me.”

  *This character, Noah, is nervously waiting for your answer.

  “I see,” Yuno nodded. I still don’t know what to do. I don’t think he’s going to hurt me but… “Let’s just go.”

  “Alright.”

  *This character, Noah, is now extremely agitated.

  Agitated? That’s not good.

  *This character, Noah, sensed your nervousness and is forcing himself to calm down.

  Ha. After I just said that I wouldn’t be afraid of Noah because some eldritch beings told me that I should be careful. He’s always going to be himself.

  [The [Monarch of Slimes] doesn’t like this turn of events and wants you and Noah to make up and be friends again]

  [The [Empress of Vampires] agrees and says that it will be beneficial to stick around with Noah for the future]

  [The [Monarch of Slimes] doesn’t want the two of you to just be friends for the benefits! She wants you two to have a real, non-transactional relationship]

  [The [Saint of Freedom] rolls her eyes and says there’s no way in Two Hells that the two of you would split up or ever get into some kind of relationship purely for benefits]

  [The [One Who Killed Death] asks if by ‘relationship’ that means that you and Noah are both gay]

  [The [Stalking Wolf] points out that you two could be bi. Or omnisexual. Or some other orientation]

  [The [Tyrant of Fallen Angels] tells everyone to shut up and to stop acting like gossiping pre-teens going through puberty]

  [The [Silent Tiger] begs the [Spirit Queen] to make her boyfriend less of a kill-joy]

  [The [Spirit Queen] smacks the [Tyrant of Fallen Angels] over the head]

  [The [Tyrant of Fallen Angels] glares at the [Spirit Queen]]

  [The [Spirit Queen] glares back at the [Tyrant of Fallen Angels]]

  [The [Tyrant of Fallen Angels] backs away and puts his head down]

  [The [Monarch of Slimes] laughs maniacally]

  Yup. Definitely squabbling children. “Sorry.”

  Noah blinked, seemingly surprised by Yuno’s sudden apology, “What?”

  “It’s honestly probably better that you’re calm in a situation like this, I overreacted–”

  Nosh held a hand up, “It’s fine, Yuno. Don’t worry.”

  Yuno sighed, running a hand through his hair, “You’re so forgiving. I don’t understand it.”

  Noah scoffed, “Only you or one of our other close friends would describe me that way.”

  [The [Monarch of Slimes] is glad to see that you two are back to being friends again]

  [The [Saint of Freedom] smugly says that she told everyone all along that it would be fine]

  [The [One Who is Chaos Incarnate] complains that it was too anticlimactic and that you should’ve had a dramatic fight and then made up when you were both half dead]

  [The [Oracle] points out that most low ranking beings can’t easily recover from that type of damage]

  [The [One Who is Chaos Incarnate] pauses and then says oh]

  [The [Lucky Cat] nods]

  [The [One Who is Chaos Incarnate] pouts, saying that the [Oracle] and the [Lucky Cat] are making him feel single]

  [The [Lucky Cat] points out that the [One Who is Chaos Incarnate] has a boyfriend]

  [The [One Who is Chaos Incarnate] says that the issue is that the [Bewitching Snake] never likes to do romantic things]

  [The [Bewitching Snake] objects and says that’s definitely not true]

  [The [Swift Fox] says that the [One Who is Chaos Incarnate] is a really bad boyfriend]

  [The [Empress of Vampires] agrees]

  [The [One Who is Chaos Incarnate] glanced around for anyone who will take his side]

  The chat went completely silent.

  [The [One Who is Chaos Incarnate] sadly mopes in the non-existent corner of the chatroom]

  That nearly caused Yuno to burst out laughing. Maybe this whole situation isn’t so bad.

  “You seem to feel better,” Noah commented.

  “I do,” Yuno nodded.

  “Let’s go try to clear this dungeon then. It’ll be like all of those mmorpgs we used to play with the others.”

  “Except it’s in real life.”

  Noah grinned, a rare smile appearing on his face, “Exactly.”

  That’s right. It’s all going to be okay.