So she took Fumino's hand.
"Come, sit over here, and wait for Rei Ao-kun to return. Then he can explain everything properly to you."
"And if you're confused about anything regarding the chat group, you can ask me or any of the other members."
" "
The gentle, motherly words from this elegant woman dispelled any wariness Fumino might have had. Obediently, she nodded and, guided by Yuriko, sat down on the sofa.
After Rei Ao started the livestream, people in the chat group became active.
Frieren: "Oh-ho, another rescue trade."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "So the classic hero-saves-the-beauty storyline begins again."
Misaka Mikoto: "Marikawa Shizuka? Who's that?"
Yomogawa Ayame: "I recall something about her I think she's from Saeko's world?"
Busujima Saeko: "Yes, Shizuka-sensei is one of my companions. Rika Minami is a friend who recently got in touch with her."
Shizue Izawa: "Something happened?"
Busujima Saeko: "From what we've gathered, the defenses of Rika's military base were breached by a wave of undead."
Stella: "Eww, those disgusting undead."
Sui: "Looking at the livestream, Rei Ao-kun seems to have arrived at the place you mentioned."
Shiba Miyuki: "Oh my gosh this is awful!"
Rei Ao was up in the sky, looking down.
Throughout the entire region of the military base, flames roared in every direction, total chaos everywhere.
You could see the undead converging like a tidal wave around the base.
Many soldiers and civilians had taken up weapons, firing chaotically at the undead.
Though some undead were shot down, more would instantly surge forward.
And once humans were bitten, they would soon rise again as part of the undead horde.
If they didn't use large-scale heavy weapons, the place was unsalvageable.
Yet if they did, it meant razing everything, and the humans there couldn't survive either.
"Rika Minami"
Rei Ao narrowed his eyes.
Even in the darkness of night, his gaze remained keen.
Quickly, he spotted a figure retreating while spraying bullets at the undead a woman in black leather.
That must be Rika Minami.
"Ratatat click click!"
Her gun was firing no bullets. Rika quickly reached back for another magazine, her expression changing drastically.
She was out of ammo.
Without suppressive fire, the undead surged toward her.
"Damn it!"
Swearing under her breath, Rika turned and ran. A gloom settled in her chest.
The distance to escape the military base was huge; even with a gun, it would be tough.
Her situation felt desperate.
After all, human stamina was no match for zombies that never tired or felt pain.
Her breathing grew labored, her pace slowed.
The undead were closing in.
A backward glance revealed several withered arms about to grab her.
"Shit!"
She cursed again, thinking that this was the end.
At that moment
Emptiness!
All around, the screams, wails, explosions, gunfire everything suddenly vanished.
"?"
Feeling something was off, Rika slowed her steps.
Huge beads of sweat dripped to the ground.
She looked around in confusion.
Everything seemed as though someone had pressed the pause button.
She saw hordes of undead frozen in place
People's desperate cries halted in mid-expression
Even flames from the explosions were locked in mid-burst.
At this moment, time had stopped!
~~~
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Chapter 408: Trade Request! Save Everyone!
"What is going on here?"
Spinning around on the spot,
She saw that everything in sight was completely motionless.
Confusion and puzzlement filled her mind.
Rika Minami dared not move recklessly.
"Am I dead?"
She couldn't help wondering if time had frozen at the exact moment of her death.
"You're in luck you're not dead."
Rei Ao descended smoothly out of the sky in front of her.
"An angel?"
Rika instinctively assumed he was an angel descending from heaven.
"Sorry, I'm not the angel you have in mind. Though I do know a few angels if you'd like an introduction, I could make that happen."
He tossed out a flippant remark, then introduced himself:
"My name's Rei Ao. I'm a friend of Shizuka Marikawa. She specifically asked me to rescue you."
"Shizuka?"
Hearing that familiar name, Rika exclaimed in surprise.
Not just because she'd only just gotten off the phone with Shizuka and already someone had arrived to help her which was touching in itself; but also because everything happening here was truly baffling.
Meanwhile, in the chat group:
Seeing that Rika was safe, Shizuka Marikawa finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Shizuka Marikawa: "@Rei Ao, Rei Ao-kun, that's Rika Minami!"
Rei Ao: "I know. Don't get worked up. I'll bring her back soon."
After that reply, Rei Ao didn't ask Rika for her opinion. He simply put his arm around her waist, lifting her to her shock up into the air.
Looking down from above, she finally witnessed what a true "miracle" was.
Not just in her immediate vicinity the entire military base, and even the area around it crowded with undead, was clearly stuck in place like wooden statues.
Staring at the devastation below, Rei Ao hadn't yet made any move when a new trade request popped up:
[Ding! Alice has initiated a trade request!]
[Trade Content]: "Please save everyone!"
[Ding! Please choose your trade conditions!]
"Huh?"
He was a bit surprised by Alice's request.
No doubt she was a kindhearted girl.
Looking around at the scene, he had no intention of disappointing her compassion.
[Ding! Trade has begun!]
[Trade Partner]: Alice
[Trade Content]: "Please save everyone!"
[Trade Conditions]: "Single-use body permission"
[Duration: 24 hours]
"Alice?!"
At the villa, as Saeko and the rest watched the livestream, everyone's gaze immediately turned toward Alice.
"U-uh!"
Flushing shyly, Alice used the pillow in her arms to hide her face. She mumbled softly, "II just felt so sorry for them"
" "
No one quite knew what to say.
Saya Takagi pursed her lips. "I know you're very kind, Alice, but this is something we can handle. You you"
Glancing at petite Alice, she was at a complete loss for words. She was seriously worried: given how strong Rei Ao was, a trade with Alice might be too much for her. After all, he's practically inhuman. Even Saya and Saeko had nearly been done in by him let alone Alice.
" "
Fumino Furuhashi had no idea what was happening. She just stared blankly, watching this "disaster movie" scene in the livestream. One glaring question filled her mind:
"Is all this real?"
Rika was having the same question while still in Rei Ao's arms.
Time frozen? Floating in midair? She'd personally seen and experienced both. It was unbelievably unscientific.
And what happened next was even less "scientific."
She saw Rei Ao raise his free right hand, pointing downward into empty air.
"Roar!!!"
The deafening roar hurt her ears, but she couldn't really focus on that.
She looked up, and overhead was a gigantic dragon head shining like a burning sun, jaws spread wide.
"Roar!!!"
A scorching column of flame poured down from that dragon's mouth like a waterfall crashing onto the ground. In just an instant, the entire military base turned into a fiery inferno, the sky lit so brightly it was like midday.
Those in the chat group watching the scene were stunned.
Misaka Mikoto: "??? Wait, that's wrong, wasn't this trade supposed to save people?"
Why did it look like he was roasting all of them?
Shiba Miyuki: "I suspect Rei Ao-kun has a reason for this."
Yotsuya Miko: "I-I think so too!"
Frieren: "Haha, you all have great faith in Rei Ao, which is fair, but look closely. The people and objects in the flames aren't being harmed only the undead are igniting"
Kasuga Hijiri: "You're right!"
Misaka Mikoto: "Eh? So I misunderstood. Sorry!"
Indeed, Rei Ao's flames did not harm ordinary people or property only the undead, which were reduced to black ash in the blaze. In a matter of seconds, Rei Ao dispersed the giant dragon head above, and the sea of flames covering the ground faded like a receding tide. Simultaneously, time began flowing again.
On the ground, those who had still been fighting desperately carried on, not yet realizing what had happened, but soon they all discovered that the undead were gone.
"What happened?"
"Where are the undead? Where'd they all go?!"
People looked around in confusion, unable to find any sign of the undead. It was as though they'd all vanished into thin air. Some wondered if they were dreaming.
"God above! Thank you for your mercy!"
Believers with religious devotion suddenly fell to their knees and prostrated themselves, convinced that the god they worshipped had saved them. But Rei Ao was not their god.
[Ding! Trade Completed!]
"All done."
Exterminating the undead in this area was trivial for him.
"A-are you God?"
Rika Minami couldn't hide her shock. Everything that had just happened seemed like a dream. She couldn't think of any explanation but "a divine miracle."
"Let me ask you something instead. What's your friend like?"
Rei Ao didn't answer, and instead posed a question.
"My friend Shizuka, you mean?"
"That's right."
"Shizuka's a total airhead, clumsy, far too softhearted and easily conned."
Rika casually gave her honest opinion of Shizuka Marikawa.
"And she's got these humongous cow-like breasts, which might be an asset for men, anyway."
She stated that part with extra emphasis.
In the broadcast feed, Shizuka glanced down at herself.
"C-cow?"
"That's accurate," someone said it was Saya Takagi.
"Rika Minami!!!"
Shizuka cried out in shame and frustration.
~~~
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Chapter 409: Fumino's Curiosity about the Trade... Well...
"Rika Minami!!!"
No sooner had Rei Ao transferred her to the villa than Shizuka Marikawa rushed forward, grabbing hold of her. Her face was flushed with anger as she demanded, "Who were you calling a 'cow'?!"
"Shizuka? Why are you here?"
Rika stared at her in confusion.
"What do you mean, 'why am I here?' This is our home, you ought to ask yourself how you got here!"
Shizuka retorted, hands clasping Rika's face as she surveyed their surroundings.
A strange room.
Strangers all around.
"Huh?"
Who am I? Where am I?
Rika's head spun with questions.
"Though it's quite moving to see old friends reunite," Rei Ao said, crossing his arms, "I still have to remind you about the matter of our trade."
"Oh, Rei Ao-kun, I haven't forgotten. Please give me a bit of time."
Shizuka grabbed Rika by the hand, leading her toward the bathroom.
"I'll tell you what happened while we take a bath. That way we can save some time to, uh, do more."
Though it was embarrassing to say, Shizuka certainly craved the experience, which explained her eagerness.
"Oh, and Alice, you come along as well."
"U-um"
Alice, her cheeks reddening, trailed after them.
Saya Takagi pursed her lips.
"Rei Ao, is it really okay for Alice to do that?"
She was still worried.
"What's there to worry about?" Rei Ao asked with a smile.
Flustered by his not-exactly-innocent grin, she mumbled, "B-because you're just so over the top, and is Alice really up to it?"
"Heh, there's nothing she can't manage. I'll take good care of her."
He was experienced enough not to act recklessly. He'd simply scale things back some, no problem.
"But something like this can't happen without all of you. Head to the bedroom and wait for me."
"Hmph, pervert!"
Saya gave a snort, but her body obediently carried her to the bedroom.
"Rei Ao-kun, please don't mind her," said Yuriko gently, revealing Saya's tsundere side. "She's all talkshe truly missed you."
Rei Ao slipped an arm around Yuriko's waist as she passed, lightly kissing her lips, then curved his mouth into a grin and asked, "And did you miss me?"
"Mhm"
Yuriko didn't shy away, nodding. Moving close to his ear, she used a sultry tone and said, "Not only did I miss youI also want"
"Then wait and see."
Saeko and Rei needed no words at all. The way their flushed, captivating gazes clung to him said everything. They followed Yuriko into the bedroom. Even though Yuriko's mature charm stirred him slightly, Rei Ao wasn't rushing into anything.
Instead, he went and sat beside Fumino Furuhashi.
Since the chat group wasn't closed, some of them noticed this scene.
"Fumino?!"
Rizu Ogata rubbed her eyes to be sure she wasn't seeing things.
Rei Ao had gone off to another world for the tradeso why was Fumino there?
All at once, her heart filled with mixed emotions, a vaguely uncomfortable feeling, like something that had belonged to her alone was being taken away. Without realizing it, she clenched her fists, staring fixedly at the stream, trying to see exactly what they would do or say.
In truth, they weren't about to do anything.
"Fumino, are you able to remain calm right now?"
Rei Ao spoke to check on her.
" "
"Rei Ao-kun, do you think I should be calm at a time like this?"
Fumino forced a bitter smile.
Calm? How could she be calm? She'd just realized this was truly a real world. Remembering the disaster-movie scenes she'd seen in the live feed, her heart was gripped by dread. Those zombie-like creatures truly existed in this world
"With me here, at least you don't have to be scared."
As reassurance, it didn't sound that comforting, but after she'd witnessed his formidable power, those words carried weight. Just now, to her, he was like a blazing flame by her side, radiating security. Gradually, her fear receded, replaced by curiosity and wariness toward Rei Ao.
"Rei Ao-kun, have you always been doing things like saving people? It's almost like a gift from the gods"
Many of the survivors at the military base, overwhelmed with emotion, believed an unknown god had saved themgranting them a miracle. Fumino pictured herself as one of those people facing utter despair. She'd probably feel the same way, for she couldn't think of any explanation more convincing than a miracle.
"That's mistaken."
Rei Ao waggled his index finger, dismissing that praise.
"Eh? It is? But"
Fumino didn't see how her logic was wrong.
"You only see appearances. I'm neither a hero nor some kind of deity."
