As a Godslayer, she possessed an extraordinary sensitivity to divine presence, and the distinctive pressure of a Deity of Disobedience radiating from Athena put her instantly on guard.
"A Heretic God" LuoHao narrowed her eyes; her voice was low and icy, a faint killing intent seeping out.
Athena's calm expression rippled slightly. Raising an eyebrow, she looked back and forth between Pandora and LuoHao. She had never expected to meet these two special figures here, in the headquarters of Copper Black Cross:
Pandora, a true goddess.
LuoHao, a formidable Godslayer.
Either one was enough to command her full attention.
Pandora covered her mouth lightly, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
"Fancy meeting you here, Athenawhat a surprise."
Her tone remained lazy and playful, yet her gaze was wary; Athena's aura was far from that of an ordinary Heretic God.
For a moment, the hall was taut with hostility, as though battle might erupt any second.
Seeing this, Rei Ao's lips curved faintly; his demeanor stayed perfectly calm. He patted Erica's hand, signaling her to stay cool, then stepped forward and spoke loudly:
"No need to be tense. From now on, we're all on the same side."
Though gentle, his voice carried unquestionable authority. At his words, everyone unconsciously relaxed.
"LuoHao the Martial King" Liliana murmured.
Erica looked at Rei Ao, intrigue shining in her eyes. "My king, you gained quite a bit on this trip. But when you say 'on the same side,' you mean?"
Rei Ao nodded. "The greatest gains, of course, are LuoHao and Pandora. And LuoHao also swept through the upper echelons of power in Japan. Those rotten forces are gone; that country is basically finished. If you wish, find the right moment and slip in to take over."
Erica's eyes lit up, excitement bubbling. "Yes, my king! I won't let you down!"
Just then, Kaguya stepped forward, a hopeful spark in her gaze. "Um Rei Ao, I'm really interested in this world's magic. Could you teach me? I want to learn powerful spells."
Julis chimed in beside her. "I'd like to learn as well, chat group masterplease!"
Looking at their eager faces, Rei Ao thought teaching them magic might be a pleasant pastime and nodded. "Very well. If you wish to learn, come with me."
Hearing his answer, Kaguya and Julis beamed with delight.
Rei Ao then turned to the silent Ai Hayasaka. "Ai Hayasaka, you come too."
"Understood." A faint smile tugged at Hayasaka's lips.
In the hours that followed, Rei Ao casually instructed the trio in magic. Out of curiosity, Erica and the others observed from the side.
Though his teaching style was simple, it proved inexplicably effective: whether Kaguya, Julis, or Erica and Liliana, all made significant strides in their magical studies.
Meanwhile, LuoHao, Pandora, and Athena watched Rei Ao's every move. Their curiosity about this invincible man only deepened, even as they gradually grew accustomed to one another's presence.
~~~
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Chapter 738: Taking a bath Together...
[Thank you Rystar123, Ghost00, AJ, Jacob Marston, Jose torres, Alexander St. Paul, shanks, Manoucka Ngono, Luca August, Derek M, Arun, famous, Salim, Kieran Gibau, Dark, and more for Joining the Patreon!
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~~~
Before he knew it, night had fallen.
Under the cloak of darkness, the headquarters of the BronzeBlack Cross looked quiet and mysterious.
After a full day of work, Rei Ao made his way to the luxurious bath to soak.
The warm water enveloped his body, relaxing him in both body and mind.
Just as he closed his eyes to rest, footsteps sounded outside the bathroom.
A moment later
The door slid open.
It was Erica.
She stepped in wearing a thin bathrobe, damp hair clinging to her skin, cheeks slightly flushed, eyes filled with shyness and anticipation.
"My king, allow me to wash your back."
Erica spoke softly, walked to the edge of the bath, and picked up a towel.
Rei Ao opened his eyes, looked at her, and curved his lips into a smile.
"What's made you decide to wait on me tonight?"
Erica blushed even harder and murmured, "I I just wanted to do something for you."
But before Rei Ao could reply, the door opened again.
Liliana, also in a bathrobe, entered. Seeing Erica, a hint of displeasure flashed across her eyes.
"The king belongs to all of usI can serve you too!"
With that, she hurried to Rei Ao's other side and grabbed another towel.
Erica refused to back down. "I was here first!"
Liliana puffed out her chest. "The king belongs to everyone!"
The two started bickering, neither willing to yield.
Click!
The door was pushed open yet again.
LuoHao, dressed in a simple yukata, walked in with graceful steps.
She glanced at the squabbling pair, a trace of helplessness in her eyes.
Rei Ao looked at her curiously.
"And what brings you here?"
LuoHao met his gaze and answered softly, "A wager lost is a wager honoredwiping my husband's back is only right."
Erica and Liliana stared, stunned that LuoHao had shown uponly to be even more surprised when they saw who followed her.
Athena and Pandora stepped in right behind.
Athena's expression was calm. She looked around and said quietly, "I already belong to him; it's naturally my duty as well."
Pandora stuck out her tongue and laughed. "Athena dragged me along."
Facing these women, each with her own charm, Rei Ao couldn't help but laugh.
He swept his arm wide. "Since you're all here, no one's leaving."
Erica, Liliana, LuoHao, Athena, and Pandora exchanged glancesand silently agreed.
The next morning.
In a guest room at BronzeBlack Cross headquarters, ShinomiyaKaguya rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up.
Though she'd practiced magic all night, her gaze brimmed with excitement.
Under Rei Ao's guidance she had actually cast her very first spellan astonishing achievement for someone raised in an elite environment and endlessly curious about unknown powers.
She washed up quickly, dressed neatly, and headed for the living room, eager to share her joy.
But when she entered, she found AiHayasaka, YatogamiTohka, and Julis already waiting.
"Hayasaka, Tohka, Julis, you're here early. Aren't Rei Ao and the others around?"
Tohka shook her head.
Julis spread her handsshe had no idea where the rest were either.
Puzzled, Kaguya's eyes swept the empty room.
Hayasaka narrowed her bright eyes as though recalling something amusing. She smiled, moved beside Kaguya, and whispered in her ear.
As Hayasaka murmured, Kaguya's face turned crimson at a speed visible to the naked eyefirst widening in shock, then letting out a mortified squeal.
"Ah! Hhow could that be?!"
The cry drew Tohka's and Julis's attention.
Tilting her head, Tohka asked blankly, "Kaguya, what happened? Are you alright?"
Julis looked on curiously, utterly puzzled.
Just then, footsteps came from the stairs.
Rei Ao, wearing only shorts, strode inwellmuscled, skin still marked with unmistakable lipstick prints. Yawning, he greeted casually, "Morning"
In an instant, the atmosphere became impossibly awkward.
"!!!"
Julis stared at the lipstick marks on Rei Ao's body, her brain seemingly frozen.
Kaguya, recalling Hayasaka's whispered words, involuntarily pictured certain scenes; dizziness washed over her, her vision darkenedand she fainted straight away.
Quickwitted, Hayasaka caught her.
Maintaining a polite smile, she explained to Rei Ao, "Master Rei Ao, the young lady just overexerted herself studying magic. Please don't worry."
Rei Ao raised an eyebrow, shrugged indifferently.
"Alright. Erica and the others are still asleepthey probably won't wake up anytime soon.
"Let's head off for now; we can meet again another day."
No sooner had he spoken than dazzling light flared around him. In the next moment he and the others vanished, each returning to their own world.
At the Shinomiya estate.
Hayasaka glanced at the unconscious Kaguya in her arms, sighed softly, and shook her head.
"My lady, you're much too sensitive.
"This reaction simply won't doso I guess my 'precautionary warning' was justified."
Muttering to herself, she carried Kaguya back to her room.
When Kaguya awoke again, she found herself in her familiar bedroom.
Rubbing her stillspinning head, she recalled what had happened, and crimson crept across her cheeks once more.
Biting her lip, she thought to herself, Just what kind of person is Rei Ao?
~~~
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Chapter 739: Rei Ao's Invitation! Let's go to Beach!
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~~~
Friday night descended like a sheet of soft black velvet, quietly muffling the city's clamor.
Every light in Rei Ao's livingroom was on. Warm yellow beams outlined the motes of dust drifting in the air and illuminated the distinctive figures of several young women.
NodokaToyohama (MaiSakurajima) wore a simple white sundress; her long hair spilled loosely over her shoulders as her fingertips idly traced the edge of the sofa. Her eyes bore their usual languortinged with a faint, almost imperceptible anticipation.
"Sora, Ilia, Emilia, Tohru," she called, her voice as clear as spring water. "Let's go. It's time to buy swimsuits."
At the other end of the sofa, Emilia's red hair gleamed vividly under the lamp. Tilting her head, she blinked her blue eyes in bafflement.
"Swimsuits? I already have one."
"Sora and the others don't," Emilia added. "And I want a new one too!"
Beside her, Tohru all but quivered with excitement; the dragon horns halfhidden in her hair and the tail swishing behind her betrayed exactly what the word swimsuit conjured in her mind. She was determined to buy something even more alluringsomething that would seize Rei Ao's attention at a glance.
Sora merely rocked her head nonchalantly. "Anything's fine with me."
Ilia, ever elegant, pinched a bit of her skirt between two fingers, eyes evaluativeas though calculating what design would make her stand out most on the shore.
This tableau was caught by MaiSakurajima (still in NodokaToyohama's body) as she emerged from the kitchen with a glass of juice. She blinked in puzzlement.
"What are you all up to? Shopping for swimsuitsDon't tell me you're going swimming?"
Not being in the chat group, she knew nothing of the plan.
Mai raised her gaze and offered a gentle smile.
"More or less. Rei Ao invited us to the beach this weekend. How about joining us, Nodoka?"
Toyohama froze for a beat before her eyes lit up.
"A beach trip? That sounds fun!"
She nodded vigorously, with scarcely a moment's hesitation. "I'm in, absolutely! I've been dying for a break!"
Her delight was like a child who had just been given candy. Under her mother's strict regimen she spent every day in training, with no time at all to relax.
At the same time, an odd tension permeated the neighboring apartment shared by Gabriel and Raphiel. Vignette and Satania were there too, the four of them gathered around the coffee table.
They had been playing a board game, yet an invisible pressure seemed to pulsate through the room.
Gabriel sat stiffly upright, though her fingers on the game controller were rigid. When Rei Ao stepped inside, she stole a glance, heart lurching, cheeks flushing crimson. The scene from that night replayed unbidden in her mind; a lingering heat in her body left her restless.
Ugh why does my body betray me the instant I see him she fumed inwardlyyet she could not stop sneaking peeks at him.
Vignette, spotting Rei Ao, bowed her head in panic, twisting her skirt until even her ears were scarlet. The eavesdropping incident was still vivid in her memory.
Only Raphiel remained outwardly composed, sipping tea as she spoke with feigned casualness.
"Rei Aokun, what brings you here?"
He sat down beside Gabriel as naturally as if it were his own home, swept his gaze around, and smiled.
"I'm here to invite you all on a beach trip this weekend."
"A beach trip?" Satania perked up at once. "Master, I'm going! I'm going!"
Gabriel wrinkled her nose and refocused on the game screen.
"What's so great about the beach I'd rather just keep gaming."
Yet even as she muttered, her body inched subtly closer to him.
Rei Ao's mouth curled into a mischievous grin. When the others weren't looking, he reached out and gave Gabriel's soft little butt a quick squeeze.
"!!!"
Gabriel jolted so hard she nearly flung her controller. Mortified and furious, she glared at him, cheeks the color of ripe apples, and hissed under her breath: "WWhat are you doing?!"
"Nothing," he shrugged innocently, "I just thought you looked adorable playing games and couldn't resist teasing you."
She frantically pressed his hand down, eyes wide with alarm. "Cut it outthere are others here!"
Drawing a deep breathand feeling Raphiel's curious gazeshe blurted, face burning, "Forget the game II'll go to the beach too!"
Only then did Rei Ao retract his hand, satisfied. Raphiel and Vignette found her sudden change of heart strange but offered no objections and agreed as well.
The weekend arrived right on schedule: bright sunshine, a gentle breeze.
Rei Ao's house was already packed with a crowd of teenage girls and young women. They clustered in small groups, chatting in low voices; the air fairly crackled with youthful energy, making the place feel much more cramped than usual.
Sora and Ilia stood together, deep in discussionsome kind of strategy, by the look of it.
Mabel, Alicia, and SumikaFujimiya had gravitated toward one another by chance; Alicia's face shone with excitement, never having been to the seaside before.
Kobayashi and Shin hung back to one side.
Kanna, curious as ever, surveyed everyone like an inquisitive chick, while her companion Michiru soaked in the atmosphereSo many people!
RizuOgata pushed her glasses up; FuminoFuruhashi fussed nervously with her clothes, and MafuyuKirisu stood beside them, holding both girls' hands with gentle eyes.
