"Ugh"
With that mass of black mist yanked out, Mrs. Sawamura's body immediately went limp. Rei Ao held her up so she wouldn't fall. That black mist was the source of her abnormal behavior.
[Demon]: Night Fiend (or "Nightmare" demon)
[Level]: 12
[Ability]: "Possession"
It was a demon capable of possessing people.
"Heeaaahhh!"
Shrieking, the black mist contorted and finally turned into a hideous, semi-female, half-monster creature resembling a banshee. It eyed Rei Ao warily. In a harsh, rasping woman's voice, it asked:
"Whowho are you?!"
At the same time, it tried to avoid the light. Clearly it was afraid of brightnessthus the name "Night Fiend" was no coincidence.
"Heh, you don't need to know who I am. Just die."
He had no interest in such trash. Feeling the magic within its body, he recognized it originated from the "Holy Cross Continent of Ente Isla", and it posed some threat. But no matter what its goalfear-harvesting or worseit was doomed in his presence. Unlike the other demon that kidnapped Kawasaki Saki, this creature had no luck. The moment it realized it was about to die, the night fiend instinctively tried to flee.
But it didn't even manage to turn around.
Bang!!!
A beam of light punched through its body, obliterating it into fragments in one second.
""
Eriri, having witnessed the entire scene, was speechless.
Rei Ao waved his hand, restoring the overhead lights to normal brightness. He laid Mrs. Sawamura flat on the sofa, confirming she was all right, then approached a silent Eriri. Casually, he burned away the ropes binding her tight.
"Eriri, you"
He was about to ask if she was okay, but Eriri lunged and clung to him.
"Uwaaa!!!"
Finally, she broke down crying. Rei Ao could feel her small body trembling violently. The chair and floor showed damp patchesapparently, she was so terrified she'd lost control. She was still shaken to the core, so Rei Ao lifted her, sobbing and clinging to him, onto his lap as he sat in a chair. He didn't mind the wet seat, giving Eriri the safest, most comfortable position to sob her heart out. He simply held her, saying nothing, allowing her to release her fear.
While Eriri cried, Rei Ao was not idle. He shifted his attention to the chat group. The emergency was over, but people were discussing the "trade."
Frieren: "Eriria person who's not actually in our chat group."
Saeko Busujima: "Seems to be a classmate of Rei Ao's in his world."
Hijiri Kasuga: "If she initiated a rescue request, something must have happened."
Shinoa Hiragi: "@Rei Ao, any chance of a livestream?"
Rei Ao: "No broadcast, but it's already settled."
Akame: "That was fast. It's been less than three minutes since the trade request."
Frieren: "I heard men aren't supposed to be called 'fast.'"
Akame: "Huh? Why?"
Sui: "Is that some weird saying?"
Izawa Shizue: "I've never heard of it."
Sakurajima Mai: ""
Tohru: "Hmph, Rei Ao-kun isn't 'fast'he's super-enduring!"
Kato Megumi: "Uh let's not talk about that."
Yomogawa Ayame: "Eh? Well, everyone will know it after experiencing it."
Stella: "Who wants experience?! Damn it!"
Frieren: "I thought you were all used to this. Alright, guess I'll save other topics for latertoo bad."
Stella: "Better you never mention them!"
Seeing the conversation go off track again, Yukinoshita Yukino, wanting details, took it upon herself to intervene:
Yukinoshita Yukino: "@Rei Ao, how's Eriri now? Everyone seems concerned."
Rei Ao: "She's safe now."
Rei Ao: "Basically, her mom got possessed by a demon and tried to eat Eriri. The demon's been dealt with."
Frieren: "A demon that eats people My detection flags are off the charts!"
Rei Ao: "Calm down, it's not your standard demon racesome creature from another world."
Frieren: "It seems your world isn't very peaceful either."
Rei Ao: "It's getting more chaotic by the day."
He turned to his own world's group chat:
Rei Ao: "@everyone, if you notice anything suspicious, be on guard. Let me know or initiate a trade promptlyotherwise I may be too late to help."
Machida Sonoko: "Tch, a demon that can possess people This world's getting scarier and scarier."
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Is there no way to eliminate that kind of danger permanently?"
Rei Ao: "Contact with other worlds is irreversible. The only way to wipe it out at the source is to actually go to that world."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "How do you destroy it at the source?"
Rei Ao: "Erasing that world entirely is obviously the simplest option."
Miura Yumiko: "Uh"
Kobayashi: "Rei Ao that's a terrifying thing to say with such a casual expression."
Rei Ao: "It's just the most convenient method. Anyway, stay alert."
Kato Hiromi: "Megumi, be careful."
Kato Megumi: "Sis, worry about yourself instead. I'm pretty strong now."
Kato Hiromi: "Emmm, no matter how strong you are, you're still my little sister. It's natural I worry."
Kato Megumi: "Okay, I'll be careful."
Yukinoshita Yukino: ""
Watching the Kato sisters' interaction, Yukinoshita felt a faint twinge of envy. She too wished she could communicate with her own big sister that way. Butthat was impossible.
~~~
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Chapter 212: A Mother's Worry... (Bonus Chapter)
About five minutes passed.
Eriri's loud crying gradually subsided to intermittent sobbing. Rei Ao gently patted her back and asked:
"Feeling calmer now?"
"Yes."
Though Eriri, who was clinging tight to Rei Ao, was still trembling, she had at least soothed her terror somewhat. Suddenly, she recalled her mother's situation and hastily wiped her tears:
"How's my mom?!"
"Don't worry. Mrs. Sawamura is fine."
Rei Ao reassured her: "She was just possessed by a demon from another world called a Night Fiend. Now that the demon's dead, your mother's body is unharmed."
Then, with a playful look, he teased:
"Instead of fretting about your mom, shouldn't you worry more about you and me?"
He pointed at his pants and shoulder, which were visibly damp with wet stainspart from her tears, part fromother fluids. The same for Eriri herself.
"Don't you feel a little chilly in certain places?"
""
Eriri naturally realized what had happened.
Social death!!!
She turned ashen, like her soul had left her body.
"Heh heh"
Sometimes, when people are pushed to the brink of despair, they let out a weird laughjust like Eriri right now.
"Heh heh I'm so embarrassed, I can't go on living"
Showing such a mortifying appearance in front of the boy she likedshe might as well die. In response, Rei Ao, gently pinching her nose, put on an exasperated look:
"You can't die yet. Don't forget our trade."
"Uh!"
That reminder made Eriri recall she was the one who initiated the trade and had been rescued by Rei Ao. Her gaze fell on the trade info, specifically on the trade condition:
Body usage rights once.
Seeing those words, Eriri felt her entire body burning up, her mind on the verge of shorting out.
"D-Do we really have tothat?"
She had never experienced anything of the sort; this unknown frightened her. Big teary eyes pleaded with Rei Ao:
"I'm scared of it"
"I'm afraid I can't help you there," he replied.
"Rules are rulesand I doubt you want to make things difficult for me, right?"
Rei Ao politely tossed the final say to Eriri. Then he added:
"Besides, I didn't complain about your accident wetting my clothes. Could it be you're disdaining me?"
"Ugh!!!"
Mentioning her accident-induced incontinence once again, Eriri nearly burst into steam. She was still perched on Rei Ao's lap, so at once, she jumped down and stumbled a bit:
"II'm going to go shower. J-Just wait for me!"
With that, she clutched her skirt and hurried toward the bathroom.
"Uh"
Not long after Eriri entered the bathroom, the figure on the sofaKaori Sawamuraregained consciousness. Pressing her hand to her slightly sore head, she sat up:
(Alright wtf author? Is it Ai or Kaori?)
"Whathappened to me?"
"Mrs. Sawamura, do you remember what just occurred?"
Rei Ao walked over to her.
"Rei Ao-kun? Why are you"
"Ugh!"
Mid-sentence, Mrs. Sawamura clutched her temple in pain. After a moment, she slowly recalled what happened, including what she had "done" to Eriri.
"Eriri! How's Eriri?!"
She had nearlyhurt her own Eriri. Alarmed, she scanned the room.
"Mrs. Sawamura, Eriri has calmed down. She's taking a bath now."
"Phew I'm so glad Eriri is all right."
Hearing her daughter was unharmed, Mrs. Sawamura breathed relief. If anything had happened to Eriri, she'd never have forgiven herself.
"Rei Ao-kun, w-what on earth happened to me?"
She now realized how abnormal her state had been. Rei Ao gave a concise explanation:
"You were possessed by a demon from another world. The demon's dead now, so you're safejust get some rest."
"A demon"
Knowing Rei Ao mentioned "demons," she was still horrified by actually experiencing it firsthand.
"Thank you, Rei Ao-kun, for saving me and Eriri. If not for you"
She couldn't bear imagining the outcome.
"I appreciate your thanks," said Rei Ao, "but rushing here wasn't free."
Arms folded, he said bluntly: "Eriri already decided to pay the fee for it."
"Eh? A fee? Money?"
If it was money, Mrs. Sawamura didn't mind. Their family still had plentystaying alive was worth any price.
But Rei Ao shook his head:
"Not moneyEriri herself."
"Huh?"
She froze. Eriri herself was the payment?
"What does that mean?"
Rei Ao didn't explain much; he simply took the quickest route:
[Ding! You have chosen in the group sub-chat to grant a role to Kaori Sawamura!]
"This!!!"
Mrs. Sawamura looked in astonishment at the group chat before her eyes. The knowledge streaming into her mind explained what a "trade" was.
"Eriri and Rei Ao-kun have made a trade"
She realized now why Rei Ao had said it wasn't money she'd be paying. As she further understood the chat's powers, she was even more stunned by Rei Ao's abilities. Reading Eriri's "Save me!" entry, she could imagine how terrified her daughter must have been. Mrs. Sawamura's heart ached. But one thing left her perplexed:
"Rei Ao-kun, this condition'body usage rights'what exactly does it mean?"
It was what Eriri offered as payment. Looking at Rei Ao's calm expression, she saw him respond evenly:
"Frankly, I don't need to say ityou must have a clue, right?"
""
Yes, she had already guessed. Having Rei Ao confirm it left her expression complicated. The deal had already begun. Mrs. Sawamura was a sensible person. Realizing the uniqueness of Rei Ao and this group chat, she didn't say anything about canceling the trade. Instead, she breathed a sigh, as if letting go:
"Rei Ao-kun, I'm in no position to interfere further. But there's something I'd like clarified."
"Go ahead. I'll answer if I can."
Mrs. Sawamura asked gravely:
"Rei Ao-kun, what do you think of Eriri?"
She could easily tell her daughter had feelings for Rei Ao. But given Rei Ao's special circumstances and hisvaried romantic life, she hoped this "deal" would not be merely a cold contract, but perhaps a chance to form a new relationship.
~~~
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Chapter 213: Eriri (Bonus Chapter)
Why did Kaori Sawamura want to actively matchmake Rei Ao and Eriri?
Because both she and Eriri knew how tangled Rei Ao's feelings were. Yet strangely enough, neither of them felt any dislike for the other love interests. In fact, she herself, out of a certain selfish motive, even "nudged" Eriri to seize her future with Rei Ao.
Regardless, Eriri was going to give her first time to Rei Ao. Mrs. Sawamura didn't see a problem with thatshe actually viewed it as a chance for her tsundere daughter to open up and make her decision. If they truly ended up togethermaybe she herself could often see Rei Ao as well?
As Mrs. Sawamura was absentmindedly thinking about Rei Ao, the words "marry me" flashed through her mind. Preparing to answer her question, Rei Ao apparently didn't notice her distraction and spoke bluntly:
"Mrs. Sawamura, I really like Eriri. If she needs it, I'm willing to take responsibility for her for the rest of her lifuh, maybe the next half of her life."
"Ahem!"
Right after he said that, a coughing noise came from the bathroom.
"Mm"
Not far inside the bathroom door, Eriri crouched on the floor, her face burning with embarrassment. What did she just hear?! Rei Ao-kun said he liked herhe'd even accept responsibility for her! The shy, anxious Eriri felt as though her heart might float away.
Outside, Rei Ao and Mrs. Sawamura exchanged glances, each knowing Eriri had been eavesdropping. Hearing Rei Ao's response, Mrs. Sawamura let out a subtle sigh of reliefat least it wasn't one-sided on Eriri's part.
But Rei Ao, all of a sudden, took a step forward and whispered softly by Mrs. Sawamura's ear:
"However, I'll also take responsibility for Mrs. Sawamura's future."
"Eh?"
Warm breath brushed her ear. Because the words were so shocking, Mrs. Sawamura's knees weakened. Rei Ao, noticing her condition, stepped back with a faint smile:
"If Mrs. Sawamura doesn't mind don't lock your bedroom door tonight."
After delivering that heavily suggestive remark, Mrs. Sawamura's heart nearly pounded out of her chest. Her legs trembling, she involuntarily stumbled back against the bathroom door.
Eriri asked:
"Huh? What's going on out there?"
She quickly hid her body, wondering if Rei Ao was about to come in or something. She wasn't afraidstrangely, she almost felt a hint of anticipation. But her hopes went unfulfilled. Clack! The door opened and was just as swiftly closedby her mother.
"Mom? Your face is all red and panickedare you feeling unwell?"
Eriri hurried over in small steps.
"If you're truly unwell, you must let Rei Ao-kun take a look!"
She worried her mother might be suffering some aftereffects of demon possession or something.
"N-no"
Kaori forced a smile, wiping her disheveled hair, guiltily masking her nerves. Terrified that her abnormal state might show, she stiffly changed the subject:
