She responded with a perfect smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Kato Megumi. But it's just a temporary arrangement, and there's no problem."
"I trust Rei Ao-kun wouldn't harm me. Besides, it's a trade."
"A trade"
Kato Megumi mulled over the word.
She didn't say anything further.
With Kato Megumi's help, buying clothes and other daily necessities for Sakurajima Mai became much easier.
Rei Ao was more than happy to take it easy.
While Sakurajima Mai was trying on clothes, the two of them waited outside the fitting room.
For the first time, Kato Megumi asked Rei Ao a question she had been wondering about.
"Rei Ao-kun, do you really have superpowers?"
"Why don't I let you experience it yourself?"
Rei Ao smiled as he gently placed his hand on Kato Megumi's cheek.
"!!!"
In an instant, she felt the coldness.
"Impressive."
Kato Megumi didn't show much surprise. After a simple compliment, she suddenly changed the subject.
"So, does that mean everything in the chat group is true? Did you really with Saeko Busujima?"
"..."
Rei Ao sucked in a sharp breath.
He hadn't expected Kato to ask so directly.
But he quickly regained his composure, shrugged, and replied, "Yes, it was just a trade."
He then teased, "Did your opinion of me drop because of that?"
"..."
Kato Megumi stared into Rei Ao's sapphire-like eyes for a long time before responding.
"Yes."
She was honest.
It was unrealistic for her opinion not to change even a little.
"I understand it was just a trade, so I don't dislike you for it, Rei Ao-kun. But I"
Before Kato could finish, Sakurajima Mai walked out of the fitting room.
"Alright, I'm done."
Rei Ao was in a good mood after hearing that Kato wouldn't dislike him because of the trade.
"Let's go pay, then."
"Mm."
"..."
Staring at Rei Ao's back, Kato Megumi murmured to herself, "But I'm still jealous of them."
Chapter 16: Ayame Yomogawa Trade Request
After buying all the necessary items for Sakurajima Mai:
"Rei Ao, do you want to invite Kato Megumi to visit your new home?" Mai asked.
Rei Ao smiled. "Kato, since my new place is close to yours, would you like to come by and take a look?"
"Sure, I've noticed that your new house is quite close to mine, so I'd love to see it," Kato responded.
"Alright, let's go."
Upon entering Rei Ao's new home, Kato Megumi was surprised by its spaciousness.
"Rei Ao-kun, this place must have been expensive."
Rei Ao chuckled and waved his hand. Suddenly, the table was filled with gold and jewels.
"This!!!"
Even Sakurajima Mai, who had seen her share of wealth, was shocked.
Kato Megumi's eyes were also dazzled by the piles of gold and jewels.
Rei Ao explained, "These are from Saeko Busujima's world. You know, that world is in a state close to the apocalypse."
"..."
Both of them immediately thought of zombies, much like scenes from disaster movies.
"Rei Ao-kun, were you in danger there?" Kato Megumi asked, her eyes filled with concern.
Sakurajima Mai, feeling a little envious, pouted and said, "Danger? He was a hero over there, saving people left and right, especially Saeko Busujima. They were practically inseparable."
Rei Ao shot her a glance. "That was a trade, okay? You don't understand."
"Anyway, feel free to take anything you like. There's plenty here."
"Really?" Mai's eyes sparkled as she spotted some beautiful jewelry.
"I'll pass," Kato Megumi said, declining.
She didn't even glance at the jewels, instead looking directly at Rei Ao with a serious expression. "I don't want any of these. What I want is a ring. There's nothing here that I like."
"If possible I hope one day you can give me one, Rei Ao-kun."
"..."
Rei Ao instinctively glanced at Kato's ring finger.
After a few seconds of silence, he made a solemn promise. "Kato, I will definitely give you a ring you like one day."
"Mm."
Kato Megumi smiled for the first time, and Rei Ao was stunned by her beauty.
"..."
Sakurajima Mai suddenly felt that the atmosphere between them had become quite intimate. Compared to Kato, she couldn't help but feel like she was losing.
So, she also said, "I don't see anything I like either."
"Haha, okay, I'll find something you like one day as well," Rei Ao laughed.
They hadn't even formalized any relationship, yet she was already feeling jealous. It seemed his strategy of staying close and taking advantage of opportunities was working perfectly.
At that moment, a notification from the chat group appeared.
[Ding! Ayame Yomogawa has sent a trade request!]
[Trade details]: Protect the people of Iwato Station and ensure their safe escape aboard the Kotetsujyo.
[Ding! Please choose the trade terms!]
Both Kato Megumi and Sakurajima Mai noticed Rei Ao's sudden change in expression and asked simultaneously, "What's wrong, Rei Ao-kun?"
Rei Ao smiled and replied, "It's nothing, just a trade request."
Ayame Yomogawa's request had come unexpectedly, especially since she hadn't spoken in the group until now.
He checked her personal information.
[Name]: Ayame Yomogawa
[Level]: 0
[Ability]: "Basic Archery"
"As expected, it's very simple."
Based on her trade request, it seemed that Iwato Station had been overrun by the Kabane.
"I guess I'll have to be a bit demanding in this trade."
With nothing else of value to offer, her only option would be to trade her body usage rights.
[Ding! Your trade request has been accepted!]
[Trade terms]: "Basic Archery," "Body Usage Rights Once."
[Ding! Do you wish to confirm the trade?]
"..."
Ayame Yomogawa stared at the trade notification, feeling conflicted.
Not long ago, a Kabane-infested Hayajiro had crashed into the western gate of Iwato Station.
That night, Iwato Station was breached.
Screams and explosions filled the air.
Her father had led some men to inspect the Kotetsujyo, planning to abandon Iwato Station. However, she had not yet received any signal from him.
Meanwhile, the people she was leading were growing increasingly restless.
Only by reaching the Kotetsujyo could they escape, but the Kabane were too numerous.
Those who were bitten and killed would turn into enemies. Even with the protection of samurai, it was becoming nearly impossible to break through.
In desperation, Ayame had reached out to Rei Ao for a trade.
And she had received a response.
But the trade wasn't for wealth or resources; it was for body usage rights.
She had a vague idea of what that meant.
Thus, she hesitated.
As a noblewoman, she had studied matters of physical intimacy from books.
But that didn't mean she had experienced it herself.
"Let's go! If we don't make it to the Kotetsujyo, we're all going to die!"
"I don't want to die!"
The shouts of the people behind her strengthened Ayame's resolve.
"I am a member of the Yomogawa family. It is my duty to protect the people!"
Without further hesitation, she confirmed the trade.
[Ding! Trade initiated!]
[Trade with]: Ayame Yomogawa
[Trade details]: Protect the people of Iwato Station and ensure their safe escape aboard the Kotetsujyo.
[Trade terms]: "Basic Archery," "Body Usage Rights Once."
[Time limit]: 3 hours.
Chapter 17: Don't point a gun at me
"..."
Body usage rights again!
Sakurajima Mai and Kato Megumi both turned to look at Rei Ao. Unable to hold back, Sakurajima Mai asked directly, "Ayame Yomogawa... she's a woman too, isn't she?"
Rei Ao rolled his eyes. "Of course, I'm not into men."
"Tch, being a pervert isn't much better than that!"
She snapped back, her tone filled with frustration.
What bothered her was Rei Ao's promiscuous behaviorready to engage in *that* kind of thing again. Even though she already knew about Saeko Busujima, suddenly having another person in the mix irritated her. After all, a pervert is still a pervert!
"Ugh, I'm not arguing with you. You two do whatever you want. I'll be back soon."
And with a quick *whoosh*, he vanished.
"He really disappeared!"
Kato Megumi waved her hand where Rei Ao had just been, but only felt empty air.
Sakurajima Mai, seeing world-hopping for the first time, was curious for a moment, but then she sneered.
"Hmph, rushing off like that... his mind's probably full of dirty thoughts."
Kato Megumi glanced over at Mai, her calm gaze seemingly seeing right through her.
Suddenly, she asked, "Sakurajima Mai, do you... like Rei Ao?"
"Eh?"
Iwato Station:
"Ayame-sama, we can't protect these people any longer. You must escape first."
Kurusu, the young and powerful samurai, spoke. He was highly valued by the Yomogawa family and close to Ayame Yomogawa herself.
However, making such a statement in front of everyone was putting Ayame in a difficult position.
The crowd immediately erupted in panic. "What are you saying? Is Ayame-sama going to abandon us?!"
Panic spread among the people.
"Everyone, I have never intended to abandon you. It is the duty of the Yomogawa family to protect the people of Iwato Station," Ayame quickly reassured them, stepping forward to calm the situation.
"But, Ayame-sama..."
Kurusu was about to protest again, but Ayame silenced him with a sharp glare.
Ayame was disappointed. If Kurusu continued down this path, he could drag everyone into despair. She couldn't understand why someone as wise as Kurusu would suggest such a thing. Now, more than ever, they needed unity, not discord.
She could only hope that the trade she made would indeed bring help.
They wouldn't last much longer.
Just then, a spirited girl wielding two steam rifles stepped forward.
"I'll clear the way for you."
"Mumei?" Ayame blinked in surprise.
This girl had been a guest of her father's and was known only by the name "Mumei." Beyond that, Ayame knew little about her.
"Save your strength; this is my battlefield now," said a voice, disrupting Mumei's preparations.
The crowd turned to see a man, dressed in oddly out-of-place clothing, casually walking toward Ayame.
Kurusu immediately pointed his steam rifle at him, demanding, "Who are you? Who allowed you to approach Ayame-sama?"
But before he could finish speaking, *boom!*
A powerful gust of wind sent Kurusu flying. He crashed into a wooden post, breaking it and falling to the ground, bleeding profusely and losing consciousness.
Rei Ao calmly withdrew his foot and glanced at Kurusu with cold indifference, as though the samurai were nothing more than a bothersome bird.
"I hate it when people point guns at me. If it happens again, you'll die."
"!!!"
Everyone behind him was stunned by the sudden turn of events.
Mumei's pupils contracted. Even after unlocking her Kabaneri restraints, she hadn't been able to catch his movements.
'Is he also a Kabaneri?' she thought.
"Your man insulted me. So, before completing the trade, I'll take a little interest first."
Ayame Yomogawa was still reeling from shock when Rei Ao suddenly grabbed her chin and kissed her forcefully.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
That was Ayame-sama! How dare he?
"Ayame-sama!!!" one of the samurai shouted, raising his gun.
But Ayame quickly raised her hand to stop him.
She could sense that Rei Ao would not hesitate to kill anyone who pointed a gun at him again. The samurai were essential for their defense; she couldn't afford to lose them over something like this.
It was just a kiss, after all.
She had already traded away the usage of her body, so she had mentally prepared herself.
But the next moment, her eyes widened.
This wasn't a simple kissit was deep and intense.
A few moments later, Rei Ao released her, leaving her panting and flushed.
He licked his lips and smirked. "Interest collected. Time to get to work."
[Ding! Trade initiated, live broadcast now starting!]
Rei Ao walked to the front of the group, ignoring their stunned expressions.
Looking down the street ahead of them, the path was chaotic, filled with Kabane feasting on the bodies of the dead.
"Hey, do you need my help?" Mumei asked, guessing that Rei Ao might be a Kabaneri. After all, even Kabaneri were stronger than normal humans, but she doubted he could handle that many Kabane alone.
"Heh."
Rei Ao let out a laugh of disdain.
"If I need help with trash like this, my power is worthless."
He slammed his right foot into the ground.
*Crack!*
The others barely registered the sound of something breaking.
The next second, an overwhelming wave of cold air burst out, spreading rapidly from one end of the street to the other.
"Huff..."
Everyone gasped in shock, their breath visible as it condensed into mist.
They stood there, mouths agape, staring at the sudden transformationan entire street turned into a world of ice.
~~~
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50 Advance Chapters!
Chapter 18: Is this the power of God?!
The ground and buildings were all covered in a thick layer of ice. The Kabane wandering among them were frozen in place like ice sculptures, completely immobile.
Everyone, including Mumei and Ayame Yomogawa, had the same thought in their minds:
"Is this the power of a god?!"
In the chat group, only one person was truly shocked.
Kato Megumi: "Is that really... Rei Ao-kun?"
Frieren: "He said his name is Rei Ao, but it seems like he's gotten even stronger."
"So... this is the true Rei Ao-kun," Kato's eyes sparkled, filled with both shock and curiosity.
Stella: "What?! How is he getting stronger so quickly?"
At first, Stella had been confident she was stronger than Rei Ao and didn't need to trade with him. But now, just a few days later, how was he already more powerful than her?
Saeko Busujima: "Perhaps Rei Ao-kun is growing stronger through battle."
Having watched Rei Ao's steady rise in power firsthand, Saeko Busujima was the one who felt this the most. Watching the livestream and seeing his calm demeanor as a powerful warrior, Saeko finally understood the strange sensations in her body. It wasn't a side effect, nor was it an addictionit was heartache, a longing for Rei Ao. There was no doubt now: she had fallen for this powerful man and craved the thrill of being dominated by him.
Akame: "So strong..."
Akame thought that if only Rei Ao could join Night Raid, it would be amazing.
Sakurajima Mai: "..."
Watching Rei Ao in action, she found it hard to reconcile this powerful image with the same person who had helped her buy clothes and casually interacted with her. Though his help had been part of a transaction, the question Kato had asked her earlier still lingered unanswered.
