"Make a trade with me, and I can grant you power."
""
Yukino frowned, instinctively rejecting the idea. Other than her body, she had nothing else of value to offer.
Rei Ao understood her pride well. She hadn't yet fully adjusted to this new view of the world.
But then, an opportunity presented itself.
[Ding! Saya Takagi has initiated a trade request!]
[Trade Request]: Find and rescue her mother.]
[Ding! Please choose your trade condition!]
Rei Ao's lips curled into a grin. "Yukinoshita-san, how would you feel about experiencing world travel?"
"Hm?"
Saeko Busujima and Rei Miyamoto cut down the undead like they were slicing vegetables, clearing the way as they escorted Saya Takagi and Shizuka Marikawa to the location Saya had called a survivor gathering point.
But when they arrived, everyone froze in shock.
A young girl with a small white dog at her side looked ahead and hesitantly said, "Saya-oneesan, it looks like there's no one here."
This girl was Alice Maresato, whom they had rescued not long ago.
""
Saya Takagi bit her lip.
The survivor camp was now devoid of life. The scene was utter chaos, with only the undead roaming around.
That could only mean one thing the camp had been overrun by the undead.
Which meant her mother and father might
"No, I have to find them!" Saya, her eyes red, rushed inside.
The others exchanged glances before following her.
At last, they came upon a zombie.
Saya's voice trembled as she murmured, "Dad?"
The undead figure in a suit was unmistakably her father. As he lurched closer, Rei Miyamoto stepped forward without hesitation and drove her spear through his head.
Shizuka gently patted Saya's shoulder in comfort.
Saeko looked around and noted, "We haven't seen any sign of your mother here."
"Yes! My mother she might still be alive!" Saya clung to this faint hope, no matter how slim it was.
Immediately, she sent a trade request to Rei Ao.
[Ding! Your trade request has been accepted!]
[Trade Condition]: One-time body usage rights
[Ding! Confirm the trade?]
"Confirm!"
If it meant finding her mother, she would do anything!
[Ding! Trade Initiated!]
[Trade Partner]: Saya Takagi
[Trade Purpose]: To find and rescue her mother
[Trade Condition]: One-time body usage rights
[Duration of Stay]: 3 hours
Shizuka looked at Saya with a complicated expression. For her family, Saya had chosen to make a trade after all.
"Where is this?"
"As you can see, this is the world where Saeko resides."
A man and woman were in conversation.
It was Yukino Yukinoshita and Rei Ao.
This time, he had brought only Yukino to this world.
"Rei Ao! Please, help me find my mom!" Saya's desperation was clear, and she was nearly ready to drop to her knees.
Every passing second could mean life or death for her mother.
"Don't worry. Since the trade has started, I will fulfill my end."
Air stirred around them as elemental wind magic activated.
"Huh?"
Alice cried out in surprise. "I-I'm flying?!"
The others were similarly astonished as they were all lifted into the sky, held up by the wind, quickly ascending.
Yukino watched the scene, stunned.
This was true supernatural power!
Below them, she could see the twisted, shambling forms of humanoid monstersthe undead, or "zombies," as they were often described. The devastated, chaotic remnants of human civilization below gave Yukino her first true sense of the apocalypse.
This terrifying reality clashed with everything she had once believed.
Scanning the area, Rei Ao pointed. "Is that pink-haired woman over there your mother?"
Saya followed his gaze anxiously.
In the woods, a woman with pink hair and a purple dress was running, pursued by a group of undead.
The gap between her and her pursuers was closing fast.
"Mom!!!"
Saya instantly recognized her mother's running form. Relief flooded herher mother was alive! But terror followed as she realized her mother was about to be overtaken by the undead.
"Rei Ao, please save my mom!"
"You don't need to askI'll complete the trade."
Rei Ao merely lifted a finger.
Suddenly, fierce winds arose.
'Whoosh! Whoosh!'
Takagi Yuriko ran, breathing heavily. After the undead overran the survivor camp, she had only one thought: to see her daughter one last time.
But the human body has its limits.
'Thud!'
Her weakened legs finally gave out, and she began to collapse, a single thought of despair crossing her mind.
"It's over."
If she fell here, the undead wouldn't give her a chance to get back up.
Yet, oddly enough, she didn't feel herself hitting the ground. Instead, a strong gust of wind lifted her, carrying her upward like a kite.
The next thing she knew, she was floatingright in front of her daughter.
"Mom!!!"
Seeing her mother safe, Saya Takagi cried in joy and ran to embrace her.
"What what's happening?" Yuriko looked around in confusion, seeing everyone else also held aloft by the wind, as if in a dream. Or had she died?
If so, did that mean her daughter Saya was dead too?
The thought cast a shadow over her face.
"Oh, Saya, my poor girl never even had the chance to grow up and live happily"
"Ma'am, I think it's necessary to clarifyboth you and Saya are very much alive," Rei Ao interjected, breaking her out of her daze.
They slowly descended, the solid ground beneath their feet restoring a sense of stability.
Rei Ao added with an odd smile, "And soon enough, Saya will, in fact, be an adult."
"Huh?"
The graceful woman was confused.
Rei Ao, however, gently pulled Saya from her mother's embrace.
"Enough hugging. Any more, and you'll be hugging her to death."
"Huh? W-what do you mean?" Saya was baffled. Wasn't her mother just saved?
'Sigh.'
Rei Ao's fingers moved with a flick, and in an instant, a flash of light sliced through.
Yuriko's dress straps were cut, and with a look of confusion, she found her dress loosening and slipping, revealing silky lingerie and her figure.
But none of them questioned Rei Ao's actions, as they saw a bloodied scratch on Yuriko's waist.
"This!" Saya's heart froze.
An undead scratch! This meant her mother had been infected.
"How could this happen?" Yuriko, however, seemed calm.
"It's alright, Saya. At least my wish to see you one last time came true." She had known about the wound and felt herself fading as her wish was granted.
"Saya, live a good life."
"Mom!!!"
"Enough," Rei Ao interrupted, stopping the tearful farewell.
"She's not dead yet, so don't make this dramatic."
He pressed his hand to Yuriko's wound.
"Mm!"
The cool touch made her shiver slightly, followed by a soothing warmth spreading through her body. Her body reacted instinctively, though she quickly turned her head to hide her embarrassment, not daring to look at Rei Ao.
After a few seconds, Rei Ao removed his hand.
In a moment of relief, Yuriko glanced at her waist and found her wound gone. The skin was perfectly unblemished.
"You're healed!" Saya exclaimed, remembering Rei Ao's miraculous abilities. Overjoyed, she cried out, "Mom, you won't turn into an undead!"
"This"
Yuriko was overwhelmed, completely unsure of what had just happened.
But before she could celebrate, Rei Ao interrupted Saya's excitement with a reminder.
"Don't celebrate too earlyit's time to fulfill the trade's payment."
"!!!"
Saya's face turned bright red.
Yuriko looked puzzled. "A trade?"
A short time later.
Rei Ao burned down all the remaining undead and found a clean, well-located villa for the group to rest in.
Along the way, Yuriko Takagi, Yukino Yukinoshita, and Alice Maresato had witnessed powers beyond their imaginationRei Ao's, Saeko's, and Rei's.
Saeko, now at Level 24, and Rei, at Level 10, could handle the undead with ease.
Yuriko now understood what the "trade" involved, and she couldn't help but feel her earlier words had been prophetic.
Only moments before, she had mourned that her daughter hadn't grown up yet and now she was stunned, realizing her daughter was indeed about to become a woman, all for her sake!
~~~
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Chapter 103: Exhausted, Yuriko initiated a Trade
"This villa is pretty nice."
"Rei, Saeko, I think you two could use it as a shelter."
Rei Ao had gone for a walk while Saya prepared herself, and upon returning, he felt that the villa's location was ideal.
"Yes, I think it's great too," Rei agreed, nodding.
The spacious, quiet house was perfect. As they explored, Saeko and Rei helped themselves to a few snacks, though they kept their composure, knowing they shouldn't interrupt Rei Ao and Saya's moment.
They didn't mind having more close friends on the teamall part of the same family. And they were sure that Rei Ao, with his abundant experience, would have no trouble with Saya, who had none. They could already envision everyone together in the future.
Shizuka Marikawa came over and quietly pointed toward a room. "Saya's ready."
Rei Ao nodded. "I'll go to her now."
But Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly said, "I'd like to go for a walk."
Rei Ao glanced at her, understanding what she meant. She likely didn't want to witness the "unseemly" trade about to take place.
He respected her straightforwardness. "Go ahead."
"I'll go with her, just in case there are any stray undead outside," Saeko volunteered.
"Sounds good."
When Rei Ao entered the room, he was surprised to find not only Saya but also her mother, Yuriko.
Yuriko, dressed in a long red dress, stepped forward. "Rei Ao-san, may I take Saya's place to fulfill the trade payment?"
"No!"
It wasn't Rei Ao who answered, but Saya herself.
"Saya!" Yuriko bit her lip, trying to silence her daughter.
But Saya removed her glasses, took off her jacket, and declared, "This was my own trade, and I'll pay for it myself."
She was fully prepared. In fact, there was a faint hint of anticipation she couldn't hide.
Rei Ao nodded. "This trade isn't something that can be settled with words alone."
He cast a glance at Yuriko, noting her beauty and poise after she had freshened up.
He then chose a reward for both Yuriko and Alice.
[Ding! You have chosen to grant Yuriko Takagi and Alice Maresato access to the sub-group of the chat network!]
Knowledge of the chat network flooded into Yuriko's mind, and she stood there, stunned.
Rei Ao, however, turned back to Saya and approached her.
Noticing Saya's shy expression, he teased, "You seemed pretty quick to turn down her offer, almost as if you were looking forward to this yourself."
"W-well"
Saya's body tensed.
She had to admitshe was a little curious. Every time Saeko and Rei were around Rei Ao, they always seemed so happy, and it piqued her interest.
Of course, her interest was also because Rei Ao was, aside from his flirtatious ways, someone who was otherwise admirable, having saved them and shown powers she'd never imagined.
Her feelings didn't yet amount to love, but she certainly didn't find him unpleasant.
This matched Rei Ao's philosophy: he believed in the power of growing feelings over time.
Noticing a subtle change in her demeanor, he smiled, leaned in, and said, "In that case, let me take care of the rest."
"Mm"
Saya closed her eyes, softly murmuring her assent.
Yuriko Takagi processed the knowledge flooding into her mind, quickly analyzing all the information about the chat group with her sharp intellect.
The conclusion she reached was utterly shocking.
No wonder Rei Ao possessed such supernatural abilitiesthey were powers from another world!
She also understood that Saya's trade was not merely a verbal agreement or simple contract. The chat group enforced trades through binding measures.
As she struggled to absorb this information, Saya's sudden sharp gasp pulled her back to the present.
Turning around quickly, Yuriko's eyes fell on a scene that left her speechless.
The trade payment had already begun, and she couldn't stop it.
...
Outside the villa, Yukino Yukinoshita gazed at the ruined cityscape, unable to calm herself.
This was a city in the throes of an apocalypse.
'Whoosh!'
Behind her, Saeko's sword flashed as she slashed down an approaching undead. After sheathing her blade, Saeko suddenly turned to Yukino.
"You seem uncomfortable, or perhaps even disturbed, by Rei Ao's trades," she observed. "Or do you simply dislike him?"
""
Yukino's expression grew complicated.
Did she dislike Rei Ao? In fact, no. Her initial impression of him had been good, especially because of her friend Yui. But learning later about his "player" nature did stir feelings of disapproval, especially considering his involvement with both her teacher, Shizuka-sensei, and her friend Yui.
But since joining the chat group, she had witnessed things she'd never imagined or understood before. She began to realize they weren't exactly people from the same world.
Her judgments of Rei Ao were based on the worldview of an ordinary person. But Rei Ao could travel between worlds and wielded tremendous power. He was not a regular person.
So, was it even fair to view him through her own moral lens?
After a moment of silence, Yukino didn't answer Saeko's question directly. Instead, she asked, "What about you? How do you view these trades and him?"
Saeko smiled calmly.
"I have no regrets."
Indeed, she had never once regretted her choice.
"If it weren't for Rei Ao, I, along with Rei and the others, would've died under the undead's onslaught long ago. Without the trade, I wouldn't be here, standing next to you, talking."
Saeko held Yukino's gaze and said, "No matter how you view these 'dirty' trades, if you ever choose to make one, just don't regret it."
"The moment a trade begins, Rei Ao will make sure you receive exactly what you wish for. And you, in return, should fulfill your side of the bargain."
""
For the first time, Yukino heard the perspective of someone directly involved in a trade she had judged as "dirty." When she thought it over, she found she couldn't easily refute it.
She didn't know everything Saeko and the others had experienced. But Saya's recent trade was something she had witnessed firsthand. If Rei Ao hadn't arrived due to the trade, Yuriko Takagi would have died at the hands of the undead. And without his ability to cure infection, she would have turned into one herself.
