For some, a seemingly unequal trade was simply their last, desperate hope.
And Rei Ao? He had become the one who could grant these wishes.
Yukino couldn't help but imagine herself in Saya's position. What if her sister or mother had been Yuriko? What would she do in that situation?
""
Yukino clenched her fists, her throat tight with emotion. Just putting herself in Saya's shoes was enough to feel a sense of helplessness that nearly choked her. She realized her choice likely would have been the same.
Seeing that her words had stirred deep reflection in Yukino, Saeko's lips curved in a faint smile. She had a feeling that this seemingly upright, cool-headed girl might soon find herself lying alongside her under Rei Ao.
Yukino suddenly raised her head.
"Busujima-san, would you mind protecting me for a while?"
"Protect you? Why, what do you intend to do?" Saeko asked, intrigued.
"I want to try taking down an undead myself."
This thought had surfaced as her understanding of the world shifted.
Despite being an ordinary person, she didn't want to end up like Tomoya Aki, helpless and unable to fight back. She needed to face these threats with courage.
"Alright."
Saeko agreed without hesitation. She was thinking ahead for Rei Ao's sake.
She didn't want their future companion to be a mere bystander.
Meanwhile, everything was going smoothly for Rei Ao and Yukino Yukinoshita, but back in their original world, Yukino's sister, Haruno Yukinoshita, was anything but calm.
"Where did Yukino go?"
At work, Haruno had heard about the death at the Academy and tried calling Yukino, only to get an "out of service area" message. But how could that be possible?
Where could Yukino have gone?
She opened the thermal imaging feed, waiting for nearly half an hour with no sign of Yukino.
Abandoning that plan, Haruno went straight to Yukino's apartment, using her key to search every room, but her sister was nowhere to be found.
Frowning, she headed next door and rang Rei Ao's doorbell.
She wanted to ask him if he had seen Yukino, but when the door opened, it was a girl who answered.
Mai looked at her curiously. "Can I help you with something?"
Haruno was surprised to see her, vaguely recognizing her, but Yukino's situation was more pressing. "Is Rei Ao home?"
"I'm sorry, but he's out right now," Mai replied with a shake of her head.
"I see"
Not wanting to give up, Haruno pressed further, "By any chance, have you seen the girl from next door?"
Next door?
Mai recalled that Yukino lived next door, so she quickly tagged her in the chat group.
Mai Sakurajima: "@Yukino Yukinoshita, there's someone here who looks a lot like you, asking about you. What should I say?"
Mai Sakurajima: "[Image]"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "My sister!"
Mai Sakurajima: "No wonder you look alike; so, she's your sister."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "Yes she's my sister, Haruno Yukinoshita."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "I'll be back from the trade in under two hours. Just tell her you haven't seen me."
Mai Sakurajima: "Got it."
Taking Yukino's cue, Mai turned back to Haruno and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Yukinoshita-san, I haven't seen her."
"I see, sorry to bother you."
Despite her disappointment, Haruno managed a polite smile before heading back to Yukino's apartment. Yet something still felt offa strange sense of unease nagged at her.
She mentally replayed her conversation with Mai, dissecting each line. Suddenly, a realization struck her.
'The name!'
It was the name!
Haruno was certain she hadn't introduced herself to Mai. So, how did Mai know her name was Yukinoshita?
Haruno's eyes narrowed.
"Could Yukino's disappearance have something to do with her?"
The "out of service" message conjured all kinds of scenarios in her mind, though she didn't want to raise an alarm just yet.
"I'll wait a bit longer, but if"
If Yukino still didn't show up, she'd have no choice but to report her missing.
...
"Haruno, is it?" Rei Ao noticed Mai's message. He guessed that Haruno's sudden concern was likely due to worry over Yukino, but he wasn't inclined to pay it much attention. Right now, Saya Takagi was the priority.
Still, her endurance left a lot to be desired. It was one thing to not be as trained as Saeko, but she couldn't even keep up with Rei.
She was already muttering that she couldn't go on, looking as if she might collapse any second.
Rei Ao felt a bit helpless; they hadn't even completed a round yet, and already?
With a sigh, he considered calling Rei in for a turn. After all, his patience had limits.
Just then, he noticed someone else in the room.
"You're still here?"
Standing not far off was Yuriko Takagi.
""
Yuriko's heart ached as she watched her daughter's weary expression, but her eyes couldn't help but stray back to Rei Ao. His flawless physique, and well, his impressive build.
Looking at Saya's exhaustion, it all made sense.
Biting her lip, Yuriko made a 'difficult' decision.
[Ding! Yuriko Takagi has initiated a trade request!]
[Trade Request]: Allow her to take Saya's place as payment for the trade.]
[Ding! Please select the trade condition!]
~~~
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Chapter 104: The Trade with Yuriko Takagi
Rei Ao paused when he saw the trade request, giving Saya a moment to catch her breath. He looked at Yuriko Takagi with surprise.
"Are you serious?" he asked.
"Yes, after all, she is my daughter," Yuriko replied, her words sounding noble, though her gaze wavered slightly.
Rei Ao, however, picked up a faint scent wafting from her direction, something hinting at her underlying intentions.
With a knowing smile, he replied, "You really are a 'devoted mother,' aren't you? Alright, I'll accept."
[Ding! Your trade request has been accepted!]
[Trade Condition]: 'One-time body usage rights'
[Ding! Confirm the trade?]
Yuriko's heart skipped at Rei Ao's suggestive smile. Did he see through her hidden feelings? She couldn't deny that this remarkable man who had saved her life had stirred something within her, feelings she hadn't had since her husband's deathsomething she had buried long ago.
But, she reminded herself, this trade was genuinely for Saya's sake.
[Ding! Trade initiated!]
[Trade Partner]: Yuriko Takagi
[Trade Purpose]: To take Saya's place in payment for the trade
[Trade Condition]: 'One-time body usage rights'
[Duration]: 3 hours
Rei Ao turned toward her, and Yuriko's heart pounded as she saw him fully. Now she understood why Saya had looked so exhausted.
"Let's begin our trade," Rei Ao said, motioning her forward.
""
Yuriko hesitated for a moment before stepping toward him, mentally repeating, 'I'm doing this for Saya' Not because she was drawn to Rei Ao's strength and youth.
...
Elsewhere, Yukino, who had just mustered the courage to crush an undead skull under Saeko's supervision, froze when a notification appeared unexpectedly in the chat group.
The new trade announcement sparked a lively discussion.
Stella: "Wait, another trade?"
Akame: "No, look closelyit's a different person."
Frieren: "The first trade was with Saya Takagi, but this one is with Yuriko Takagi. The names are different."
Stella: "Oh, you're right!"
Stella: "But what does it mean by 'trade payment'?"
Shizuka: "It says body usage rights."
Stella: "Waitsomeone else can pay it for her?"
Megumi Kato: "They have the same last name. They might be sisters?"
Megumi Kato couldn't help but think of her own sister and the way Rei Ao sometimes looked at her, so her mind immediately went to this possibility.
But as it turned out, reality often exceeds imagination.
Saeko: "No, Yuriko Takagi is Saya's mother."
Stella: "What?"
Mai Sakurajima: "??"
Megumi Kato: ""
Sui: "Wow is that even possible?"
Rei Miyamoto: "Well, it might just be Yuriko's choice."
Rei tried to offer some context. She had been standing near the door, listening, and it was clear that the voice coming from inside wasn't Saya's.
"..."
Yukino's deep gaze turned to Saeko. "And you have no opinion about this?"
Saeko remained completely calm. "None. If it makes Rei Ao happy, that's enough."
"And besides, I'm sure Yuriko made this choice herself."
"..."
Yukino considered this. Yes, the only person who could initiate the trade was Yuriko herself. Yet the whole thing still shook her worldview.
Just when she thought Rei Ao and the others had already crossed a line, it seemed they were only venturing further down an uncharted path.
Rei Ao: "Talking about me?"
Stella: "And you dare to pop up after doing something so shameless?"
Rei Ao: "Haha, why wouldn't I? I haven't done anything against my principles."
Stella: "You"
Stella wanted to say something more, but the words escaped her.
Frieren: "@Rei Ao, can humans really do things like this?"
Frieren knew her fellow elves would never behave this way.
Shizuka: "Most people probably wouldn't."
Ayame Yomogawa: "But Rei Ao isn't just anyone!"
Ayame spoke up to defend Rei Ao with fierce loyalty.
Kajikai and Yukina exchanged glances, giving her a thumbs-up in support.
In fact, Ayame's face was bright red as she made this declaration, but there was a certain reason she could say it so readily.
Her own mother was no longer with her, so she couldn't entirely understand the predicament that Saya now found herself in.
Mai Sakurajima: "@Rei Ao, are you"
Rei Ao: "Just what you're thinking. Want to watch? Yuriko says she doesn't mind."
Stella: "No way!!!"
Megumi Kato: "Um, no, that won't be necessary."
Tohru: "Emm humans sure are complicated."
Mai Sakurajima: "Sigh"
Mai let out a deep sigh.
She hadn't actually intended to ask about Saya and Yuriko Takagi. She was more concerned about what might happen if Rei Ao ever met her own mother.
If it ever came to that, what would she do?
"I need to do everything I can to prevent it!"
Mai thought with determination. As for what was happening with Saya and Yuriko, she didn't want to interfereit was a trade between consenting parties, after all. But as for something that hadn't happened yet, she'd do everything possible to keep it that way.
And if, in the end, she couldn't stop it well, then maybe she'd have to preemptively distract him. Or perhaps take charge herself to ensure he'd have no thoughts for anyone else.
It would be her own way of solving the problem.
Rei Ao: "By the way, I'm in an extended trade session, so Mai, can you get in touch with Raphiel or Vignette? They should put Yukino's sister to sleep to keep things from getting messy."
Rei Ao: "@Yukino Yukinoshita, you don't mind, right?"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "No. And thank you."
Mai Sakurajima: "Got it, I'll go now."
Frieren: "Six hours, @Rei Ao, are you sure you can manage?"
Rei Ao: "Heh, who do you think I am?"
...
In Kasumigaoka's apartment.
Now that she had some free time due to the school closure, Utaha had been looking to the chat group for some creative inspiration. The concept of other worlds always sparked new ideas.
Fresh from a cold shower, she sat on her sofa, taking small sips of water to calm her nerves.
After that incident at school, she had been on edge. And now, with someone dead in broad daylight, the fact that Tomoya Aki's death had been officially classified as an accident only deepened her unease.
It was disturbing to think that even the truth behind a person's death could be concealed.
Lost in thought, she glanced at the chat.
"Ugh!!"
She choked on her water, almost spitting it out. Stunned, she processed what she was reading.
"Rei Ao is he really 'that' bold?"
Not only was he causing chaos, but he was even offering to live-stream it.
The sheer audacity!
The chat group's casual reaction added another layer of shock.
...
"Is there something wrong with me?" Utaha thought, feeling more out of place than ever.
And
"Six hoursis that really okay?"
As soon as she had that thought, her phone buzzed with a message from her editor, Sonoko Machida.
Sonoko Machida: "It's true! Six hours is nothing for Rei Ao. Seize this chance, Utahalet's dive into a new world of inspiration together!"
Utaha Kasumigaoka: "..."
She sent back an ellipsis, mirroring her speechless thoughts.
Her once respectable editor had turned into an enabler.
And how did Sonoko know exactly what she was thinking?
...
Rei Ao chuckled. His question was a bit of a test, and he was pleased to see the group's overall acceptance. It seemed his occasional livestreams had effectively lowered their threshold for shock.
As for Yuriko, who thought she was merely helping Saya
He leaned close to her ear, his voice low. "Yuriko, I have a question. Is Saya truly your daughter?"
""
Yuriko didn't answer, only looked away, avoiding his gaze.
Rei Ao already had his answer. In breaking through a boundary that shouldn't have existed, he confirmed his suspicions. He didn't know the details, but he didn't need to. All that mattered was fulfilling his own desires.
"Yuriko, I haven't done anything yet."
"!"
Yuriko's body froze.
He hadn't moved?
So this reaction was her own?
"Heh, you're clearly saying one thing and feeling another," Rei Ao chuckled.
"Now, let me teach you how to align the twoand make you mine!"
This time, it was Rei Ao's turn.
With a confident smile, he was ready to guide Yuriko, much as he had with others like Kurono Shinguji and Sonoko Machida.
~~~
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Chapter 105: Getting Powerful
"Humans..."
In the cave, Tohru's eyes gleamed with curiosity. The humans she observed through the chat group were quite unlike the ones she knew in her own world.
And then, there was the man who had saved her
"What are humans like in this world?" she wondered.
The people here were so weak; they couldn't even use magic. They built strange, towering, box-shaped structures and created things from metal that her world had never seen.
Her curiosity grew.
A blue magic circle appeared beneath her dragon form, lifting her into the air. As it passed through her, her body began to shrink.
The next moment, she transformed into a human.
A striking woman with bare skin and enchanting curves, though her head still bore horns, and a massive green tail extended from her back.
