And Yumiko, a self-declared realist, found herself calling someone else love-struck for once.
How ironic.
"Not here?"
In Class 3-3, a blonde twin-tailed girl, Eriri Spencer Sawamura, looked around at the sparsely populated classroom. Disappointment filled her gaze when she didn't see the person she wanted to meet most.
After some time, Eriri had finally recovered from the recent events.
Her mother had taken her to the Aki household to offer monetary compensation, and with that matter settled, Eriri finally felt a sense of relief.
She had planned to invite Rei Ao to her home, just as her mother had suggested.
"Sigh, I guess I'll have to wait until the afternoon."
A small pout of disappointment appeared on her face as she turned to leave.
A voice called out from behind.
"Sawamura-san?"
She turned around to see a girl with a bob haircut, someone she had met before.
"Uh, you are...?"
Her name slipped her mind.
"Sorry, I don't remember your name."
"Megumi Kato."
"Oh, Kato-san! Is there something you need?"
"Yes..."
Megumi's gaze swept over Eriri subtly, observing her.
This blonde girl who had appeared by Rei Ao's side on multiple occasions.
In that moment, Megumi formed an idea.
"I'm a friend of Rei Ao's, and I've heard him mention you a lot. Are you here to see him?"
Rei Ao talks about me often?
Hearing that, Eriri's heart fluttered, and a giddy feeling took over her.
She couldn't suppress the smile spreading on her face as she replied, "Yes, I was looking for him, but it seems he's not here."
"..."
Megumi remained silent for a moment.
This girl, she realized, was surprisingly easy to read.
Her emotions were written all over her face. It seemed she had strong feelings for Rei Ao.
Deciding to push forward, Megumi offered, "If you don't mind, I can pass along a message to him for you."
"This..."
Eriri hesitated.
After all, inviting a boy to her home wasn't something to be relayed lightly.
Megumi, ever perceptive, noticed her dilemma and offered an alternative.
"Or I can let Rei Ao know that you came looking for him, and you two can meet later."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
This option was perfect.
Eriri nodded eagerly, thanked Megumi, and left the room with a bounce in her step.
Megumi watched her retreating figure thoughtfully.
"Maybe these bonds aren't enough yet."
Rei Ao, meanwhile, was entirely unaware that his girlfriends were busy finding new additions for his ever-growing list of connections.
He had more immediate concerns: his latest level-up.
Not just one leveltwo.
Status Update
[Name]: Rei Ao
[Leve]l: 50
[Abilities]: "Freeze", "Self", "True Sight", "Transformation", "Blessing", "Demon King", "Elf King", "Cognitive Disappearance", "Sword Mastery", "Crimson Dragon God", "Time-Causal Interference", "Inherent Device: King of All Things",
Possessions: "God-Freezing Sword", "Demon God Manifestation: Demon's Extract",
Description: You now wield the power to annihilate the surface of the Earth in mere moments!
"It must've been thanks to my Dragon wives."
Rei Ao chuckled, recalling the overwhelming contributions of his two dragon companions.
[Ding!]
[You've reached Level 50. New feature unlocked: Chatroom Subgroup Functionality]!
"Oh?"
This was a new feature.
[Chatroom Subgroup Functionality]
Feature 1: World Subgroups
(Members from the same world can join the same subgroup. Both main and subgroup members can communicate here.)
Feature 2: (Locked)
World Subgroups, huh?
Rei Ao opened the chatroom interface, spotting a variety of newly added world-specific subgroups.
Sure enough, every world now had its own group, populated by the main chatroom and subgroup members.
For instance, the subgroup for Saeko Busujima's world included people like Saya Takagi.
However, the subgroup for Frieren's world had only one member: Frieren herself.
The best part? As the chatroom admin, Rei Ao had unrestricted access to enter and communicate in any group he pleased.
"Interesting."
A mischievous smile crept onto his face. The possibilities were endless.
~~~
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Chapter 135: Frieren is alone on the World Sub Group Chat
The subgroups were assigned to each world.
However, as the special case of being the chatroom administrator, Rei Ao had unrestricted access to any subgroup.
This allowed him to quickly obtain information from members across different worlds.
For instance, right now, he joined Shizue Izawa's world subgroup to inquire about the recent upgrade.
Rei Ao: "@Velzard, @Velgrynd, what major thing did you two do this time?"
Velzard: "Ah, we just took down another Calamity-class monster."
Velgrynd: "Yep, found it wandering around this world. If it weren't for these rules, I'd want to crush all those creatures to become even stronger. One day, I'll stomp Guy into the ground."
Shizue Izawa: "Velzard-senpai, Velgrynd-senpai, you're already so strong."
Velgrynd: "Not strong enough. At least not until I surpass that annoying Guy."
Velzard: "The Primordial Red truly lives up to being the strongest in this world if we don't count big brother's child."
It was true. Their world boasted many powerful beings, but it also followed certain regulations.
Randomly hunting powerful monsters wasn't an option. Many of these monsters were intricately connected to Demon Lords.
Though Velzard and Velgrynd weren't the strongest in their world, their actions were still closely monitored, and even their current movements might have already attracted attention.
Velzard: "This new subgroup feature is really nice. It makes chatting with others directly so convenient. It'd be even better if there were more people."
The main chatroom participants echoed similar sentiments.
Frieren: "In my world's subgroup, it's just me. That's no different from having no one at all."
That couldn't be helped.
Rei Ao did consider another candidate: Fern.
However, Frieren and Fern existed in vastly different time periods. The current timeline hadn't even seen Fern's birth.
Akame: "Najenda and the others said this feature is great."
Stella: "For a group of assassins like you, using this chatroom for intel gathering is ridiculously convenient."
Ayame Yomogawa: "It's a very useful function."
Tohru: "@Rei Ao, darling~ when are you coming home?"
Stella: "???"
Shizue Izawa: 'Tohru-san is so bold in the chatroom."
Stella: "Hmph, boldness in this chat room isn't new. Honestly, everyone here is infected by Rei Ao's shamelessness."
Rei Ao: "Hmm, Still at school. I'll be back this afternoon."
Tohru: "Alright, I'll clean up and get our love nest ready for you."
Mai Sakurajima: "Is this what dragons in heat act like?"
Mai, observing Tohru wagging her tail in excitement, felt incredibly awkward.
Frieren: "I don't understand, but this could make for an interesting research note."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "I'd rather not focus on this right now."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "@Mabel, you better not be causing trouble at my house."
Mabel: "Uh I didn't do anything, I swear!"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "Send me a photo of the fridge."
Mabel: "I-I'm sorry!!!"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "???"
Saeko Busujima: "What's going on now?"
Megumi Kato: "Stealing food, maybe?"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "Exactly. This glutton I have no idea how big her stomach is."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "She ate enough food for three days in one sitting, and still sneaks into the fridge at night!"
Sui: "Ahh! S-so scary."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "Tell me, what's left in the fridge now."
Mabel: "N-not much"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "Not much?"
Mabel: "Nothing... it's empty."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "EMPTY?!"
In the Service Club, Yukino was gripping her book tightly.
She could hardly believe it.
She had prepared enough food to last three days, and yet
It was all gone in half a day?!
"...Haa"
Exhaling deeply to calm herself, Yukino pressed her temples to suppress the rising anger.
For the first time, she began to wonder if she had made a mistake back thenshould she have listened to Rei Ao's warning?
Mabel: "Waaah, I couldn't help it! The food in this world is just way too delicious!"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "Rei Ao, perhaps... I should've listened to you."
Rei Ao: "Haha, I warned you. Never let her take an inch, or she'll take a mile."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "From now on, I'll only buy one day's worth of food. If you eat it all, I'll just order takeout for myself. As for you, Mabel figure it out yourself."
Mabel: "Nooo!"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "Not negotiable."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "@Sui, how long until you reach her village?"
Sui: "About two or three days."
Mabel: "Waaah, I don't want to go! I want to stay here."
Rei Ao: "Haha, when someone as kind, patient, and righteous as Yukinoshita-san can't stand you, what else can I say?"
Reading Rei Ao's comment, Yukino froze.
It was flattering, but it still made her feel oddly uncomfortable.
Her movement also paused when Yui entered the club room after parting ways with Yumiko.
"Yahallo, Yukinon!"
As always, Yui greeted her cheerfully.
"Mm."
Yukino sighed inwardly but nodded in acknowledgment.
Usually, Yui would start chattering about interesting things.
But today was different.
Yui pulled up a chair and sat directly across from her.
Yui Yuigahama: "Yahallo, everyone!"
"???" Yukino was startled.
It wasn't Yui speaking aloud but a message in the chatroom subgroup.
Before she could react, she saw another familiar name in the group.
Rei Ao: "@Everyone, please welcome our new member in this world's subgroup: Yui Yuigahama."
Sonoko Machida: "Welcome."
Yumiko Miura: "Hmph, you actually remembered to introduce her? I thought you'd just abandon her."
Rei Ao: "I was just giving you two some time to chat and bond."
Utaha Kasumigaoka: "Yui Yuigahama? Is she another student from our school?"
Seeing her name mentioned by Rei Ao, Yui's eyes sparkled with excitement.
No matter how chaotic her thoughts were, her feelings for Rei Ao remained steadfast.
Yukino gazed at her with a complicated expression.
"Yui I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before."
Yui smiled gently.
"It's okay, Yukinon. I understand. Besides, I'm still part of this world, aren't I?"
Yui Yuigahama: "Hi everyone! I'm from the General Studies Department, 3rd year."
Little Saint: "Hi, I'm Little Saint! @Kobayashi, that's my mom, Kobayashi."
Little Saint's sudden introduction piqued everyone's curiosity.
Sonoko Machida: "Who are they?"
Rei Ao: "Ah, Little Saint must be the name Kobayashi gave her."
Kobayashi: "Uh yeah, I did."
Kobayashi, who had been trying to stay under the radar, was forced into the spotlight.
Mai Sakurajima: "Oh, so you named her."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "What are you all talking about?"
Rei Ao: "To put it simply, Little Saint is a sentient entity born from the God Sword that nearly killed Tohru. She fused with Kobayashi during the incident."
Tohru: "Tch. I still don't like her presence."
Megumi Kato: "How odd is Tohru part of this world's subgroup too?"
Rei Ao: "For now, yes. Both Tohru and Mabel are part of multiple world subgroups."
Mabel: "Hi everyone! Got any snacks?"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "..."
She resisted the urge to bury her face in her hands.
What exactly had she taken in?
Yui Yuigahama: "Um newbie question: what's this God Sword thing?"
Rei Ao: "Tohru is a dragon, and the God Sword is a weapon designed to kill dragons. That's the gist of it."
Rei Ao: "For more details, you can check the main chatroom's logs or ask someone directly."
Yui Yuigahama: "Okay, got it!"
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Dragons? God Swords?!"
She turned to Yukino.
"Yukinon, aren't you surprised?"
Yukino paused for a moment.
"I was at first. But you get used to it. Besides, I've met Tohru at Rei Ao's house."
"???"
Yui latched onto a crucial detail.
"Yukinon, you've been to Rei Ao's house?"
"..."
Yukino hesitated, realizing she had let that slip.
But seeing Yui's curious and innocent expression, she sighed and confessed.
"Actually, I moved into an apartment right next door to Rei Ao's place."
"Ehhh?!"
Yui exclaimed in shock.
So Yukinon had unknowingly gotten so close to Rei Ao?
Both Yukinon and Yumiko had gotten ahead of her!
A deep sense of defeat washed over Yui.
But instead of giving up, a fiery determination ignited within her.
"Yukinon, I'm coming to your place next time!"
"...Alright."
Yukino couldn't refuse after seeing Yui's serious expression.
Chapter 136: Haruno meet Mabel, Going to Eriri's House?
Yui wanted to visit Yukino's home because it was next to Rei Ao's.
There was someone else who wanted to go to Yukino's apartment tooher elder sister, Haruno Yukinoshita.
But her reason had nothing to do with Rei Ao.
It was because of an uninvited guest in Yukino's apartment?
Earlier that Day
Haruno frowned deeply as she stared at the heat map from a thermal imaging device.
The screen displayed a figure moving back and forth in Yukino's apartment.
"Is that Yukino?"
Logically, with school having resumed, Yukino shouldn't be home right now.
"Skipping class?"
She immediately dismissed the idea.
"Yukino would never skip class."
Haruno couldn't imagine her responsible and dutiful sister doing such a thingunless something unusual had happened.
To confirm her suspicions, she decided to send Yukino a text.
Sister: Hey, Yukino? I think I left a pendant on your sofa last time I was at your place. Can you check for me?
Haruno watched the heat signature on the sofa. The figure lay completely still.
Moments later, Yukino responded.
Yukino: I'm at school. I'll look for it when I get home.
Sister: Ohhh, thanks, my darling Yukino~!
Although her reply was cheerful, Haruno's face had turned icy cold.
The figure in Yukino's apartment wasn't Yukino.
"Then who could it be?"
A man Yukino was hiding?
Or a burglar?
Regardless, Haruno felt this was a serious issue.
She decided to head to Yukino's apartment to investigate for herself.
At Yukino's Apartment
Arriving at the building, Haruno instructed her driver to wait.
"If I'm not back in ten minutes, call for help."
