Mabel stammered awkwardly, like she wanted to talk but couldn't. That's when Yukino called out crisply from the living room,
"Sis, please grab some ice cream and snacks while you're out."
"!!!"
Mabel's eyes practically sparkled.
"?"
Haruno was surprised. This stunning, ethereal-looking girl was way more innocent than she'd thought. "Innocent" was the polite way of putting it. If she wanted to be blunt, she'd call the girl a full-blown child despite her mature figure. Before this, Haruno had assumed someone with such a chilly vibe would be as aloof as Yukino, but apparently not. The way Yukino treated Mabel was part big-sisterly, part motherly. Haruno found it pretty amusing.
"Sure thing! I'll pick up a bunch of tasty snacks."
"Thank you so much, Haruno-nee-san, you're an absolute angel!!!"
Mabel was practically in tears from happiness.
"Haha."
Haruno, entertained by being called "big sis" and "angel," was starting to grow pretty fond of this adorable, contradictory girl. It was like taking a liking to a cute little pet.
Once Haruno was gone, Yukino said coldly, "Mabel, I believe we need a little talk."
"Ugh!!!"
A chill ran down Mabel's spine. This was bad. Yukino was about to settle the score with her!
While Yukino was busy grilling Mabel, Michiru had finally pieced together all the info from the chat group. She'd already heard the basics about other worlds and all that. Sure, it was surprising, but learning that dragons were real had softened the blow.
What really made her speechless was the very over-the-top "body usage rights". On top of that, apparently over ninety percent of the people in the chat group had made deals with Rei Ao, and a bunch of them had relationships on par with Mai and the others.
"Th-this is whoa"
Seeing her stunned face, Rei Ao remained calm.
"That's what I meant when I said I'm 'special.'"
"Special, as in a total player?"
Michiru gave him a sidelong glance.
"Yeah, you could say that," he admitted without hesitation.
""
They fell silent for a moment.
"Sigh."
Michiru took a deep breath. "Honestly, I should've realized you and Mai were more than just friends. There's no way she'd be that comfy around you at school otherwise. And yet I kept myself totally in the dark, even liking you without suspecting a thing. I'm such an idiot."
She looked up at the sunny noon sky and then smiled. "Hey, it's almost lunchtime. Let's grab something to eat, yeah?"
"Back home?" Kanna asked.
"Nope. I've got a lot on my mind, but overall, I'm feeling pretty good. Let's go treat ourselves. How about crab?"
"Crab? Is it yummy?"
Kanna was curious.
"Sure is. I think you'll love it," Michiru said, smiling before turning to Rei Ao. "You coming?"
"Sure," Rei Ao replied.
It was obvious Michiru didn't want to dig any deeper into what they'd just been discussing, and Rei Ao went along with it. He figured they'd drop it for nowshe needed time to process everything.
~~~
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Chapter 428: Kiss Her! Kasuga Hijiri Trade Request!
Royal Biblia Academy.
Ever since Kasuga Hijiri enrolled, the academy may look calm on the surface, but there's a lot going on behind the scenes.
Thanks to Kasuga Hijiri's easy going personality, she managed to befriend Lilith Asami. But the other so-called "Trinity Seven" aren't exactly approachableespecially Arin Kannazuki, who looks like an older, sexier version of Kasuga Hijiri and always watches her with a cold gaze.
"Hijiri, there's something happening at the academy that I need you to be aware of."
Lilith Asami warned Kasuga Hijiri.
"What is it?"
Hijiri was curious as to what could have Lilith so concerned.
"Ghosts."
"Huh?"
Lilith straightened up and said,
"There's been ghost activity in the academy."
"Real ghosts?"
Hijiri's expression was a bit skeptical. She studied magic, not the occult. A so-called ghost was likely something magic-related, not an actual phantomat least that's what she figured.
Lilith sighed deeply.
"They're not real ghosts. The 'ghost' people are talking about is actually a persona very dangerous one."
"Who?"
"One of the Trinity Seven: Lieselotte Sherlock."
"Sherlock?"
Hijiri froze for a moment. She remembered Selina Sherlock, the girl who ran around campus reporting the news.
"That's right," Lilith said. "You guessed it. Lieselotte is Selina's twin sister. She used to be the second-ranking inspector at the Royal Library, with command over the 'Sloth' Archive. She committed a grave crime by trying to forcibly connect to the 'Eternal Library.' She's gone mad in her pursuit of power and vanished from reality after her magic backfired. Now she's reappeared in the library like some invisible ghost."
Lilith looked intently at Kasuga Hijiri.
"And this all started after you arrived."
""
Hijiri understood. Lilith was letting her know that this mage likely had her in mind as a target.
Clack!
Just then, they heard a noise at the classroom door. They turned and saw someone dashing awayleaving a camera on the floor.
"That's"
Hijiri stared, a bit unsure.
"Selina's camera!"
Both of them exchanged glances, their expressions changing. Could Selina have overheard their conversation just now?
Hijiri spoke in a low voice:
"Do you think that Lieselotte person would really harm her own sister?"
Lilith pursed her lips, looking grim.
"She's so lost in her obsession with dark magic thatyes, we need to check it out right now!"
"Right. Let's go."
They both ran out of the classroom, rushing toward the library, worried that Selina might have gone looking for her sister because of what they said and landed herself in danger.
"Huh? Where are they off to, a workout?"
Seeing them sprint away, Akio Fudo got excited.
"Hey, Boss, let's race them!"
Mira Yamana scoffed at the sight.
"We're magicians, not muscleheads. Not everyone's a walking pile of muscle like you, you know."
"Haha, come on, exercising's good for your health."
Akio scratched her head with a broad grin.
"Besides, if someone attacks you when you're that skinny, you're in trouble."
"Hmph, I have magic," Mira retorted, rolling her eyes.
Suddenly, a ninja-like figure appeared in front of themLevi Kazama. She spoke in a flat tone:
"Selina's in danger."
"Huh? How do you know?"
They both looked at her, puzzled.
Levi kept it cool.
"Ninjas specialize in stealth and gathering intel."
In plain language, that meant she had been eavesdropping. With that, her body flickered away like a gust of wind, following right after Kasuga Hijiri and Lilith.
"Boss, I guess we gotta get moving too."
"You don't have to tell me."
No matter what, they couldn't just ignore Selina being in danger.
"Problem is, Boss, with those skinny arms and legs, you'll be too slow."
With that, Akio scooped Mira up into her arms.
"Ah! What are you doing?"
"Heh, I'm gonna show you what real speed feels like!"
"Wah!"
Akio charged forward with Mira in her arms, kicking up a fierce gust of wind.
Inside the library
"Haahaa"
Gasping for breath, Selina stood there, having run all the way in. She'd heard every word. Her sistershe was supposedly in here somewhere.
"Sis! Sis! Where are you?!"
She yelled into the locked-down library. Silence. Suddenly, it was as if the entire place was frozen in time. Selina's eyes went wide at what she saw in front of her
Meanwhile
"Nom! Nom! Nom!"
Kanna was happily shoving chunk after chunk of crab meat into her mouth. Michiru had indeed brought her out for crab. At first, Kanna tried to stuff the whole thing in at once, nearly giving Michiru a heart attack in the middle of the restaurant.
Worried Kanna might pull some jaw-dropping stunt in public, Michiru told her to behave while Michiru picked out the meat for her.
"So good!"
Kanna exclaimed after another mouthful.
"Told you I wasn't lying," Michiru said with a smile.
It felt like Kanna's adorably innocent face soothed all of Michiru's complicated thoughts, at least for the moment. Across from them, Rei Ao was quietly enjoying the scenewatching this sweet dynamic between the tall girl and the little one was surprisingly relaxingand it made the meal all the more pleasant.
Unfortunately, that's exactly when surprises tend to happen:
[Ding! Kasuga Hijiri has initiated a trade request with you!]
[Trade Content]: Kiss her!
[Ding! Please choose a trade condition!]
Rei Ao looked at the notification, confused. Had Hijiri suddenly decided she wanted him to kiss her? While he confirmed the only available condition, he pulled up the group chat:
[Ding! The trade has begun!]
[Trade Target]: Kasuga Hijiri
[Trade Content]: Kiss her!
[Trade Condition]: "Unlimited Body Usage Rights"
[Duration]: 24 hours
"???"
Michiru, sitting across from him, also saw the notification. She froze in place, at a complete loss for words.
~~~
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Chapter 429: Lieselotte Sherlock
[Opening the Chat Group]
Rei Ao: "@Kasuga Hijiriyou're not just asking me to kiss you for the heck of it, are you?"
Kasuga Hijiri: "Hehe, my Demon King really does understand me."
Rei Ao: "Well, you are my Demon Queen. If I didn't get you, who else would?"
Mikoto Misaka: "???"
Stella: "Why are you two suddenly flirting in front of everyone?!"
Rei Ao: "Stella, I like you too."
Stella: "Ugh! Stop it~ not in front of so many people"
Rei Ao: "What's wrong? You don't like me?"
Stella: "That's not it! II only like you and no one else, Rei Ao!"
Mikoto Misaka: "???"
Miko Yotsuya: "Uhh, I seriously don't know where to jump in on this"
Akame: "I suddenly lost my appetite."
Shizue Izawa: "Maybe you're just full already?"
Frieren: "Mhm~ I might've overeaten."
Rei Ao: "So, let's hear itwhat's going on?"
Kasuga Hijiri: "Well Actually, I ran into a mage who seems to be after my powerlike she wants my mana."
Rei Ao: "She's picking on my Demon Queen? I'll go take her out."
Kasuga Hijiri: "She's one of the Trinity Seven, you know."
Rei Ao: "Never mind, then. I'll just make her my Demon Queen, too."
Mai Sakurajima: "Hey! Don't change your plans the moment you find out it's a woman!"
Rei Ao was really just trying to lighten the mood.
Erica: "What in the world is going on?"
Erica looked totally lost.
Saeko Busujima: "It's something like an 'interworld trade.'"
Erica: ""
Fubuki: "Wait, so you can really travel across worlds?"
Rei Ao: "If you don't believe it, you can try it out. I'll be sending out invites in a bit; if you want to experience it, just accept."
It seemed that things on Kasuga Hijiri's side weren't too urgent at the moment. Rei Ao turned to Michiru, who was currently spacing out.
"So, yeah, you saw what just happened. I might need to leave for a bit; I'll pay you back for this meal later."
Kanna: "Rei Ao-nii, where are you going?" she asked, blinking her curious eyes.
"I'm heading to another world."
Kanna: "Do they have tasty stuff there?"
Oh, Kanna. Food is always your priority
Rei Ao chuckled.
"Another world has its own goodies. There might be something delicious, who knows?"
Kanna: "!!!"
Eyes shining at the thought of yummy food, Kanna tugged on Michiru's sleeve.
"Michiru, Kanna wants to eat yummy things, too!"
Michiru: "Uh but that's another world" She couldn't help laughing and crying at the same time.
Rei Ao: "It's no problem. You can come along if you want."
Michiru: "R-really?" She swallowed hardafter all, it was another world!
Rei Ao: "Sure, if you're up for it."
He got up with a grin.
"First, let's pay the bill."
Moments later, as they left the restaurant, Rei Ao made his choice to travel to Kasuga Hijiri's world.
[Ding! You have selected the following to travel with you: Kanna, Erica, Fubuki, Michiru Hyd!]
Meanwhile
After Kasuga Hijiri and Lilith Asami arrived at the library, Levi Kazama, Akio Fud, and Mira Yamana showed up one after another. Right away, they spotted Selina floating in the center of the library.
"Selina!"
Lilith called out. Selina glanced over weakly, her lips parted but voiceless. A lip print stood out on her smooth neck. At the same time, a figure slowly materialized behind her: a woman with twin-tailed blond hair and purple eyes, curvy figure, wearing a black cropped coat and long black gloves, paired with black shorts, over-the-knee socks, and boots. She looked like a more mature, seductive version of Selina.
Lilith's eyes narrowedshe recognized her immediately.
"Lieselotte!"
Indeed, this was Selina's twin sister, Lieselotte. At that moment, she seemed to be kissing Selina's neck, and Selina's eyelids were drifting closed until she passed out entirely. Lieselotte lifted her head and licked her lips with a delighted smirk.
"Ah, my sweet sisterthanks for your mana~"
She wasn't violating her sister. She had siphoned Selina's mana. Letting go, she allowed Selina's limp body to collapse to the floor.
"My, my, look how lucky I am. Three mages coming to me all at once."
Her eyes glinted with eager desirethe hunger for mana. She eventually settled her gaze on Kasuga Hijiri, smiling ear to ear.
"Turns out I was right. A candidate for Demon King has shown up at the academy. Aren't I fortunate?"
"Lieselotte"
Levi Kazama narrowed her eyes.
"I've heard about you: the only one of the Trinity Seven branded a criminal."
"So it's really her," Akio muttered. They'd all heard the rumors.
Mira Yamana demanded,
"What did you do to Selina? She's your sister!"
"Heh, I just took her mana, that's all. Don't worry, I'll be taking yours soon, too," Lieselotte said confidently, stretching her arms above her head. "Of course, you can spare me the effort by handing it over willingly, since Selina's mana alone isn't quite enough."
Apparently, Selina's mana only allowed for one use of her ultimate move. Up against a Demon King candidate and several mages, Lieselotte didn't want to take any chances. If she got her hands on the Demon King candidate's manaand that demon essenceshe'd be able to harness the power of the Eternal Library!
"Just try it!"
None of these Trinity Seven were pushovers. They drew out their grimoires and connected to their archives, preparing to fight. Lilith even pulled out a massive riflea magical sniper rifle!
