[Description]: You possess the power to turn cities into desolate, uninhabitable wastelands.
"Causality Time Interference": Manipulate causality and time.
This ability was one he gained from Shinomiya Kurono, allowing interference with the flow of time and causality. However, it wasn't full control over timethings like time reversal or time travel were impossible. Its effect was limited to altering time within a certain area, such as accelerating or slowing it down. At its strongest, it could create a "pseudo time-stop" by drastically slowing time down.
Overall, it was a decent ability, but what really puzzled Rei Ao was the second ability that had appeared.
He knew what an Inherent Device was. For example, Stella's "Dragon Guilt Sword" and Kurono's twin pistols were both manifestations of their souls. After obtaining Kurono's twin-pistol-type Inherent Device through a trade, the chat group had once again provided a notification:
[Ding! Your acquired Inherent Device is not a manifestation of your own soul. Ability evolution triggered!]
[Ding! You have gained the ability "Inherent Device: King of All Things"!
"Inherent Device: King of All Things": This device can adapt to different powers and transform into the most suitable form.
"My soul's manifestation can change shape based on my abilities?"
When Rei Ao focused inward, he saw that, in the hazy space of his mind, there was a pure white crown. Upon closer inspection, the crown shimmered with different elements: the essence of freezing, sharp sword light swirling around it, and the roar of the Crimson Dragon.
These symbols all represented his abilities.
However, Rei Ao noticed that the pure white crown was the core, symbolizing the King of All Things, the true form of his soul's manifestation.
As he pondered, the two supervising teachers, Shizuka Hiratsuka and Mafuyu Kirisu, watched him with furrowed brows as he filled out the answers without hesitation.
Was it really possible to write this quickly and still get the answers right?
But when they checked the answers closely, their eyes widened in shock.
All the answers were correct!
Shizuka Hiratsuka instinctively glanced at Mafuyu Kirisu, since she had created the test.
Mafuyu shook her head seriously. She hadn't leaked any answers, and this test was one she had prepared overnightno one had seen it, not even herself after finishing it.
The fact that it was impossible for the answers to have been leaked made it all the more shocking that Rei Ao could answer them so effortlessly. How was he doing it?
But that wasn't the most impressive part.
Under their astonished gazes, Rei Ao quickly finished one test.
They thought he might take a break, but instead, he immediately picked up the next test and continued, showing no sign of slowing down.
A test that was supposed to take all afternoon was now being completed within a single class period!
"Done," Rei Ao said, putting down his pen.
Shizuka Hiratsuka and Mafuyu Kirisu were stunned as they flipped through the tests, each page filled with answers. At a glance, most of the answers seemed correct.
Rei Ao stood up and said, "Now that I'm done, I guess there's nothing more for me here, right?"
"Uh yes, you're free to go. We'll announce the results in the afternoon," Shizuka Hiratsuka responded, still dazed.
Rei Ao calmly left, leaving the two teachers holding the tests, staring at each other in disbelief.
...
On his way back to the classroom, Rei Ao was suddenly bumped into by a clumsy pink-haired girl.
"Huh?"
"It's you!"
"Rei Ao-kun!"
Yui Yuigahama looked up in surprise after realizing she had run into Rei Ao.
After taking a moment to look at her, Rei Ao chuckled and teased, "I didn't notice it in your gym clothes, but now that you're in your uniform, are you actually a gyaru, Yuigahama?"
Yui had shoulder-length peach-colored hair with a slightly wavy texture, tied into a bun with a black ribbon. Her school uniform was slightly undone, with the top and bottom buttons unfastened, giving her a typical "gyaru" appearance.
"Eh!"
Yui blushed and shrank back. She dressed this way just to fit in, but in reality, she wasn't much of a gyaru at all.
Seeing her reaction, Rei Ao didn't comment further on her appearance and instead asked curiously, "So, what's the rush? What are you doing?"
Yui's eyes lit up.
"I was actually looking for you, Rei Ao-kun! It's perfect that we bumped into each other."
"Looking for me?"
Rei Ao was intrigued. He was used to people being attracted to him, but he wasn't conceited enough to assume that everyone was drawn to him romantically.
Curious about what Yui wanted, he followed her as she led the way.
~~~
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50 Advance Chapters!
Chapter 48: The Service Club
The Service Club.
Rei Ao was led to a classroom with this sign by Yui Yuigahama. He couldn't help but smirk. Of course, he knew exactly where they were.
Even though he knew, he couldn't resist teasing her: "Yuigahama-san, you're not thinking of anything strange about me, are you?"
"Uh"
Yuigahama blinked, glancing up at the classroom sign and immediately understanding what Rei Ao was implying. She frantically waved her hands in embarrassment. "You've got it wrong, Rei Ao-kun! The Service Club isn't some weird HH-type place! I-I just joined this club recently."
However, Rei Ao's playful look only grew more pronounced, causing Yui to become even more flustered.
"It's true! Our club helps people, that's all!"
"Mmm"
'I'm making it worse,' Yui thought in despair, feeling like everything she said just made the situation more embarrassing. Desperate, she threw open the classroom door.
"Our club president, Yukino-chan, can explain it better!"
The door swung open with a bang. Inside, a quiet, black-haired girl with a cold expression was calmly reading a book by the window. Her long, straight hair and icy demeanor were as striking as her beauty. She glanced up, frowning slightly, and in a voice that was both pleasant and chilling, she said:
"I've told you before to knock before entering, haven't I?"
"Ugh!"
Yuigahama shivered at the reprimand, hurriedly trying to explain, "It's because Rei Ao-kun misunderstood what our club does, so"
"Our club's mission is to lend a hand to those in need. That's why it's called the Service Club, right?" Rei Ao interrupted, smoothly summarizing the club's mission before Yukinoshita Yukino could explain.
"Eh?"
Yuigahama blinked, a large question mark practically visible over her head.
"Rei Ao-kun just now"
"I thought it'd be fun to mess with you, Yuigahama-san. I did it on purpose," Rei Ao said with a grin.
To Yui, that smile looked terrifying!
"Ugh"
She whimpered like a small animal, realizing she had been completely played with.
"Rei Ao-kun, you're so mean!"
She puffed her cheeks out like a pufferfish, visibly upset.
"..."
Yukinoshita Yukino closed her book with a soft thud and spoke, her voice cold as ever, "Yuigahama-san, if you joined my Service Club just to flirt with others, you can leave."
"Wait!"
"Yukino-chan, you've got it all wrong! Rei Ao-kun and I aren't a couple or anything like that!" Yuigahama hurriedly explained.
She quickly walked to a nearby cabinet, opened it, and pulled out a bag of cookies.
Yukino's eyes softened in understanding as soon as she saw the cookies.
Yuigahama handed the bag to Rei Ao, saying, "Rei Ao-kun, thank you for helping me to the infirmary before. These are cookies I made as a thank-you."
"Did you make these yourself?"
If Rei Ao remembered correctly, Yuigahama's cooking skills were famously terrible, no matter how hard she tried. He couldn't help but be curious.
He opened the transparent bag, took out a cookie, and brought it to his mouth.
Yuigahama looked on with eager anticipation, while Yukino hesitated, as if she wanted to stop him.
The story behind these cookies was a bit complicated. Yesterday, Yuigahama had come to the Service Club, asking for help in making a thank-you gift of cookies. Following the club's mission to help those in need, and with the belief that "teaching someone to fish is better than giving them fish," Yukino had taken on the request and guided Yuigahama through the process of making cookies.
At first, Yukino thought this would be a simple task. As long as Yuigahama followed the steps, she should have been able to make passable cookies. But Yukino had underestimated Yuigahama's unique cooking "skills."
Despite following the recipe step by step and using the correct ingredients, no matter what they didwhether Yukino helped directly or guided her from the sidethe result was always the same: the cookies were inedible.
For the first time in her life, Yukino felt a sense of despair in the kitchen. She even began to question her own abilities. After several failed batches, Yukino finally gave up. The last batch of cookies, which had been made under her direct supervision, was still so bad that Yukino couldn't bring herself to say they were good.
So, she had told Yuigahama, "Anyone who tastes these will certainly feel your sincerity."
It wasn't a lie, but Yukino still felt guilty about it.
Now, watching Rei Ao about to taste one of those cookies, she wanted to stop him but realized it was too late.
Rei Ao took a bite of the cookie.
And then calmly swallowed it.
"???"
Yukino was stunned.
Did he really just swallow it that easily?
~~~
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50 Advance Chapters!
Chapter 49: Honest and Blunt
Seeing Rei Ao calmly eat the cookie without a change in expression, Yui Yuigahama's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Rei Ao-kun, how is it? Does it taste good?" she asked eagerly.
Even Yukinoshita Yukino cast a curious glance his way, wondering if he would lie. She didn't like dishonesty, but
Considering how much effort Yui had put into making the cookies, Yukino realized that telling the truth might severely hurt Yui, who was filled with anticipation. For the first time, she hoped Rei Ao might lie to spare Yui's feelings.
However, Rei Ao remained calm and shook his head.
"It doesn't taste good. In fact, it's probably the worst cookie I've ever eaten."
"!!!"
Yui Yuigahama froze in place, stunned as if she had just been struck by lightning.
"..."
Yukino was equally dumbfounded.
This guy was brutally honest.
Even she thought that such blunt honesty was a bit inappropriate. He could have softened the blow a little.
Yui's shoulders slumped as she lowered her head in disappointment.
'Sigh' Yukino sighed inwardly. She blamed herself for not secretly mixing her own cookies into the batch. That might have made things turn out differently.
But then Rei Ao's next words turned the situation around.
"Even though it tastes bad, I really appreciate it. Thank you, Yuigahama-san."
Completely unexpected.
"Is he just comforting me?" Both Yui Yuigahama and Yukino thought the same thing.
Yui wiped away the tears that had welled up from being so disheartened. Fighting back her sobs, she said, "Rei Ao-kun, you don't have to comfort me."
"I'm really sorry for giving you something so terrible!"
She began to bow in apology, but Rei Ao gently grabbed her right shoulder.
"There's no need to apologize. I'm not lying to comfort you."
"..."
Yui bit her lip, not entirely convinced.
But then Rei Ao raised her right hand in front of her and said, "I have very sharp senses, especially my sense of taste."
"I could immediately taste a faint hint of blood in the cookie."
He gently brushed his fingers over Yui's right index finger, which was wrapped in a bandage.
"This finger, you injured it while making the cookies for me, didn't you?"
"???"
Yukino frowned in confusion.
'He could taste blood from a baked cookie?'
That didn't seem possible. But even though it sounded like a wild guess, it turned out to be accurate. Yui had indeed cut her finger while baking.
Yukino assumed it was just a lucky guess meant to comfort Yui, but in reality, Rei Ao's heightened senses were genuine. As he had grown stronger, his senses had become incredibly sharp. His sense of taste, borrowing a concept from a particular food-based anime, was at least on par with a "God's Tongue."
He could even distinguish the subtle sweetness in Mai's "juices," so detecting a trace of blood was no challenge at all.
But did Yui believe him?
At the moment, she wasn't thinking too deeply about it.
Because as Rei Ao's hand brushed over hers and his gentle words reached her ears, her body tingled as if tiny ants were crawling over her skin.
"Does your wound still hurt?"
Seeing Rei Ao start to lift the bandage as if to check the wound, Yui was overwhelmed by an odd sensationlike he was about to undress her. Blushing furiously, she quickly pulled her hand back.
"N-No! Thank you for your concern, Rei Ao-kun, but I'm fine."
"However, this thank-you gift doesn't count. Next time, I'll make sure it's something you'll enjoy!"
From start to finish, she didn't dare meet Rei Ao's gaze. After hurriedly blurting out her words, she practically fled from the classroom.
"..."
Now, the two remaining people, who weren't that familiar with each other, exchanged glances. Yukino naturally averted her gaze and broke the silence first.
"Rei Ao-kun, how did you know about the Service Club's mission?"
Rei Ao didn't try to impress the beautiful girl he had taken a liking to with some grand explanation. He knew Yukino wouldn't believe vague answers.
So, he casually brought up a familiar name.
"Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei told me about it before."
"Hiratsuka-sensei?"
Suddenly, Yukino recognized his name.
"Oh, so it's you"
"You've heard of me?" Rei Ao asked curiously.
Yukino set down her book and took a sip of her tea.
"Hiratsuka-sensei had mentioned your academic performance to me. She said she would recommend you to this club."
Not only was Hiratsuka-sensei her former teacher, but she was also a friend of Yukino's older sister. Because of this connection, Yukino was familiar with her.
When Hiratsuka brought it up, Yukino hadn't thought much of it. She had seen Rei Ao's grades beforehe had always hovered around just outside the top 100. Even when he improved, it was never by more than 10 spots, meaning he never made significant progress or fell behind. In a way, that was impressive on its own.
This curiosity led Yukino to accept Hiratsuka's recommendation.
~~~
