"…Senpai, how should I answer?"
Natsuki turned his head to Tsubame.
Tsubame's gaze drifted, trying hard not to show a flustered expression, and said as nonchalantly as possible: "Nothing happened. Momo, hurry up and eat."
"No."
"Something's wrong."
Momo crossed her arms, her eyes slightly narrowed, and said, "When Tsubame lies, her eyes involuntarily shift elsewhere… She was clearly lying just now!"
Tsubame hastily said, "That's the otherworld Tsubame's habit, and she's not the same person as me."
Natsuki chimed in from the side, "Although it's not the same person, Senpai's eyes do slightly shift when she lies."
"Ugh—"
Tsubame subconsciously puffed out her rosy cheeks, her bright eyes glaring over: "Junior, whose side are you on exactly?"
Natsuki said seriously, "I am on the side of truth."
"Hmph~"
Tsubame let out a soft snort, indicating her displeasure.
Natsuki walked to Tsubame's side and asked, "Senpai, how long have you been back?"
Tsubame pursed her pink, moist lips and softly said, "I just returned about ten minutes ago. I was a bit hungry, so I came here to eat something first."
Natsuki said meaningfully, "Exercise is indeed very energy-consuming."
"Bah~"
Tsubame's eyes were charming, and she lightly spat.
Natsuki raised his hand and said, "Senpai, I'm hungry too."
Tsubame rolled her eyes: "If you're hungry, eat something yourself."
Natsuki indicated with his gaze, "I want to eat a lychee."
"If you want to eat, get it yourself."
Tsubame said the words, but her right hand naturally reached out, picked up a lychee preserved with ice, and her slender, doll-like fingers, resembling scallions, peeled the lychee, then brought it to Natsuki's mouth.
Seeing this scene, Momo felt completely out of sorts.
She was clearly standing right there, yet Tsubame obediently peeled a lychee for someone else, even feeding it so naturally to a boy's mouth… Her eyes clearly only had the scumbag Natsuki in them!
Momo had been staying at Tsubame's house during this time, and at night, she often badmouthed Natsuki. She was also clear about the progress of Tsubame and Natsuki's relationship. Although their gestures were usually intimate, due to a girl's modesty and shyness, Tsubame would subconsciously maintain a bit of distance.
But at this moment, their small actions could only be described with one phrase: utterly intimate.
What exactly happened to make two people truly utterly intimate?
At this moment, a sentence suddenly popped into Momo's mind: Tsubame you like is already mine!
After realizing this, Momo immediately recalled more details.
When Tsubame returned earlier and came to the restaurant with Tsubame, Tsubame's walking posture was a bit strange. When asked why at the time, Tsubame said she accidentally distorted her ankle… How could such a powerful player twist her ankle like Grandma!
In other words.
This scumbag was doing *that* Tsubame not long ago?
Momo gritted her silver teeth, involuntarily clenching her fists.
Ahhhhhh!
Damn it!
That scumbag Natsuki really deserves to die! He must be hung on a gallows, then sliced piece by piece alive, and then made to eat it with mustard!
"Hiss~"
Natsuki was eating the fruit fed by Tsubame when he suddenly felt a chill, his scalp tingling slightly, as if someone was secretly executing him. He turned his head and saw Momo glaring at him with murderous eyes.
If looks could kill, Natsuki felt he would definitely be cut into a thousand pieces by now.
"Momo-senpai, why are your eyes so fierce?"
Natsuki couldn't help but complain, "Just letting Senpai feed me some fruit isn't an unforgivable crime, is it?"
"Heh." Momo crossed her arms and sneered, "What is done in the dark will eventually come to light!"
Tsubame looked over when she heard this, only then remembering that Momo was still nearby. She had been busy peeling lychees and had completely forgotten, her pretty face couldn't help but flush slightly, and she hastily said, "Momo, come and eat something with us."
Momo gritted her silver teeth and said, "I won't eat!"
She felt like killing someone right now, who could still eat anything!
She wasn't sure if she had feelings for Tsubame, but no matter what, she didn't want to see Tsubame's feelings being deceived by a scumbag.
Tsubame lightly coughed and changed the subject, "Oh, right, Momo just told me that she has already received a dungeon invitation card and will soon know if she can become a player."
Natsuki was surprised, "The efficiency is that high?"
Tsubame raised her hand to tuck the strands of hair behind her ear, revealing a piece of her snow-white, shameful swan neck, and softly said, "No choice, Strange Tale incidents around the world are still increasing. Who knows, an anomaly apocalypse might break out someday. At a time like this, even those in power must be nervous and scared."
Natsuki looked at Momo and said, "Let's rest for a few days, then challenge the dungeon with Momo-senpai."
"No need." Momo crossed her arms and said fiercely, "It's already been decided that players recruited by the Strange Tales Management Bureau will accompany me. If it wasn't necessary for someone to invite me, I'd rather go into the dungeon alone. Who knows if the companion by your side might be a beast in human clothing."
Natsuki said speechlessly, "Momo-senpai seems to have a deep resentment towards me."
Momo snorted softly and said:
"You know it well."
Tsubame said with concern, "But the dungeon is very dangerous, and acting alone is definitely not as safe as acting in a team."
"I've long been used to being alone in the apocalypse world."
Momo crossed her arms over her chest and said indifferently, "Besides, Players are people who walk on the edge of danger. If you want to be 100% safe, it's better to go home and sell sweet potatoes."
"Alright then."
Seeing that Momo had made up her mind, Tsubame could only say softly, "There will be a few minutes of buffer time from accepting the invitation to entering the dungeon. At that time, Junior and I will give you some useful items."
Momo said softly, "The Strange Tales Management Bureau has already prepared them for me."
Tsubame said decisively, "There's no harm in being overprepared. It's settled then."
"..."
Having just filled their stomachs and not yet had a chance to sit down, the girls who received the news had already appeared in the hotel.
"Natsuki! We're here!"
The blonde Marin smiled brightly, ran all the way, then made a flying leap, directly jumping into Natsuki's arms.
"Slow down."
Natsuki reached out to catch her, "Don't fall."
"Hmph hmph~"
Marin hummed proudly, wrapping her arms around Natsuki's neck, not at all hiding her happiness and affection. "With Natsuki here, I definitely won't fall."
Behind Marin, there was also a black-haired, straight-haired girl, Sayu.
Because she always placed herself in the position of a 'pet' rather than a girlfriend, Sayu never competed for affection with others. Seeing Marin go forward to act spoiled, she consciously stopped and looked at Tsubame, smiling and saying, "Tsubame-senpai, you're back? Nothing unexpected happened afterward, right?"
Tsubame said softly, "No accidents, everything went smoothly."
"That's good."
As Sayu spoke, she looked at Natsuki, her eyes sparkling, her attention clearly entirely on Natsuki.
Tsubame said understandingly, "I just received news that there are still things to do at home, so I'm going home first."
Sayu quickly nodded and said, "Mm-hmm, Tsubame-senpai, you go back first."
"..."
After a brief exchange, Tsubame quickly said goodbye and left.
"Hmph~"
Momo snorted, quite displeased.
As Tsubame walked towards the elevator, she asked softly, "What does Momo want to say?"
Momo couldn't help but say, "That guy is a scumbag!"
Tsubame said softly, "I know, Junior is indeed very excessive when it comes to relationships."
The two walked into the elevator. Seeing that no one else was inside, Momo spoke freely, "Since Tsubame knows, why are you still with him?"
Tsubame exhaled softly and said calmly, "Because... I like Natsuki-kun."
"I remember the first time we spoke, it was just the beginning of summer, and the first swimming lesson of early summer had officially begun."
Tsubame said softly, "As it turned out, there were several evil spirits in the swimming pool at that time, waving their tentacles and attacking every girl swimming in the water. It was super disgusting at the time, and then I saw that Junior could actually eliminate evil spirits... At that moment, I felt as if a light had suddenly appeared in my gloomy life."
Momo frowned and said, "That's just a sense of security, not true love, right?"
Tsubame looked over helplessly and said, "I'm already eighteen, how could I not tell the difference between a sense of security and love?"
"That's not necessarily true."
Momo muttered softly, "Some people, even when they're thirty, still act like children."
Tsubame raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and said softly, "At first, it might have just been gratitude and a sense of security, but then so many more things happened... So, even if Natsuki-kun shamelessly says he wants to date everyone together, it doesn't matter."
"Because life is too short, and no one knows whether tomorrow or an accident will come first."
"Maybe the end of the world will break out tomorrow. If that day really comes, at least I don't want to leave any regrets in life. Momo, don't say these things anymore."
"..."
Momo moved her lips, unable to retort, and could only say softly, "Alright, I won't say it anymore... But Tsubame, you must be careful."
"Eh?"
Tsubame tilted her head in confusion, casting a puzzled look.
Momo lowered her voice, a strange feeling of grievance and bitterness in her heart. The person she cared about most had now become someone else's, and she even had to help them consider things. Biting her lower lip, she said, "It's about taking safety precautions in that regard, don't get pregnant... If the apocalypse really breaks out, you won't even be able to run if you're pregnant."
"Th-that..."
Tsubame froze at the words, her pretty face instantly flushing visibly, and she nervously covered her lower abdomen with her right hand.
Come to think of it, yesterday it seems she really didn't...
"Bastard!"
Seeing Tsubame's expression, Momo's anger surged. She clenched her fists in fury and angrily declared, "I'm going back right now to beat that scumbag to death!"
"Don't!"
Tsubame quickly grabbed Momo, her pretty face flushed crimson like fire, almost dripping blood. "It's not Natsuki-kun's fault."
Momo said indignantly, "If it's not that guy's fault, whose fault could it be?!"
"Go write the report first, and then go home after you're done."
Tsubame said guiltily, "I haven't seen Aoi-chan in several days, she must be very worried."
"Go home for what?"
Momo huffed, "Go to the pharmacy first to buy medicine, so you don't cause a human life!"
"..."
At the same time.
Natsuki, accompanied by Marin and Sayu, was undergoing questioning by the Strange Tales Management Bureau staff, writing dungeon reports, and having medical examinations, and so on. In short, it was all standard procedure.
No need to elaborate on the trivial matters.
After everything was done, Natsuki took Marin and Sayu back to the hotel room.
"Heishoo~"
Marin made a flying leap, clinging to Natsuki like a koala, wrapping her arms around Natsuki's neck, and said expectantly, "Natsuki, hurry and kiss me."
While saying she wanted Natsuki to kiss her, she actually took the initiative to kiss him.
Lips met.
Before Natsuki could even react, Marin had already taken the initiative to attack and invade.
Unlike Shoko and Juju, Marin, as a school gyaru, always dared to love and hate, never hiding her feelings. If she liked someone, she liked them; if she disliked someone, she disliked them. Facing her boyfriend, she would naturally proactively ask for kisses, completely disregarding the presence of others.
Of course, it also had to do with Sayu being by her side.
The two of them had a comradeship forged through multiple battles together, so they naturally wouldn't feel embarrassed.
"Pop~"
Several minutes later.
Accompanied by a subtle soft sound, Marin jumped down contentedly, breathing slightly, wiping away the silver thread from the corner of her lips, and turned her head to say, "Sayu-chan, it's your turn."
Sayu stepped forward expectantly, lifted her pretty face, and called softly, "Master~"
Natsuki reached out and pulled Sayu into his embrace.
Don't say anything, just take advantage of her and be done with it.
It's not about scarcity, but about unevenness.
If he only kissed Marin and not Sayu, even a pet would definitely get jealous and angry.
A moment later.
The temperature in the room quietly rose.
"Natsuki, did you see the messages Sayu and I sent?"
Marin asked.
Natsuki nodded and said, "I saw them."
Marin's eyes were moist and sparkling with anticipation as she asked, "How's the bunny police uniform?"
Natsuki gave a thumbs up and said, "It's super beautiful."
"Mm-hmm~"
Marin's eyes sparkled as she whispered, "The uniforms have just been brought over. Do you want Sayu-chan and I to try them on now?"
Sayu sat leaning on the nearby sofa, hugging a pillow, her face flushed, not speaking.
Natsuki's heart fluttered, but he suppressed the urge, took a deep breath, and said, "Later tonight. Someone else might come over soon."
Even a simple try-on would take at least an hour, and it would be troublesome if someone came in the middle of it.
"Alright then."
Marin agreed, putting her right hand on her hip and saying, "Tonight, we'll call Juju over to play too... She's usually so stubborn, but she always cries and begs for mercy first. The contrast is super interesting."
Natsuki said speechlessly, "Juju has learned her lesson after so many times, hasn't she?"
"Let's just try."
Marin said nonchalantly, "We've played together so many times already, Juju might even be used to it by now."
No, no, no, you're clearly the only one who's used to it!
Marin, full of enthusiasm, continued, "Oh, right, let's call Chika-chan over too. It'll be even more fun with everyone together..."
Please stop talking, if you keep talking, we'll get banned!
"..."
After discussing trivial matters, Marin finally became serious.
"We returned to the real world a day and a half ago. We waited and waited for Natsuki to come back, but everyone else had other things to do, so we all went home."
"Haruno-nee came back a day ago, saying that university had started, and she went to school to get busy first."
"Yukino-chan returned half a day ago, talked with us for a while, and then left the hotel. I don't know what she went to do..."
"And also, everyone has received their dungeon rewards."
Marin chattered, recounting everything that had happened in the past two days.
Sayu finally caught her breath, her eyes no longer hazy, but her face was still flushed, and she added from the side:
"Juju even got a skill from a Blind Box."
Natsuki asked curiously:
"What skill is it?"
Sayu whispered:
"It seems to be called Petrification."
Natsuki said:
"Medusa's petrification ability from myths and legends?"
"Of course not." Marin shook her head, "I heard Juju say that it's actually a normal-level skill, and it seems to have side effects when used… We'll ask Juju in detail when she comes over to play tonight."
Sayu hugged the pillow and asked curiously:
"Master, what was your dungeon reward?"
"It hadn't been issued before…" Natsuki glanced at the game notification, "It's out now."
"Check."
Natsuki silently recited in his heart.
Lines of text cascaded down before his eyes like a waterfall.
[You cleared the dungeon Happy Town.]
[You completed the main quest 'Community Security guard', earning unanimous praise from all residents of Happy Community, and your basic reward has been increased by an additional one hundred percent.]
[You completed the side quest: Late Night Plumber, bringing a couple back together.]
[You completed the side quest: Dog Lover, a true dog lover should prove themselves with practical actions.]
[You completed the side quest: Internet Addict Kid, you successfully helped a junior high student overcome their internet addiction.]
[You completed the side quest: Redemption of the Desperate Girls' School.]
[You completed…]
[Based on your overall performance in the dungeon, you received one thousand two hundred game points.]
[Based on your overall rating performance in the dungeon, you received 8 free attribute points.]
[You obtained the item 'Item Lock Card', please click to view specific attributes.]
[You obtained one item 'Blank Skill Scroll'.]
[Category: Consumable]
[Attributes: Please click to view]
Looking at the several thousand game coins he had accumulated, Natsuki sighed helplessly:
"Can't use them all, simply can't use them all."
Now, apart from the daily Blind Box, Natsuki basically wouldn't exchange anything in the rotating shop, unless he encountered particularly valuable items or abilities. He was just waiting for new golden legendary skills to refresh, then he would go all out and take them down.
Unfortunately, two months had passed, and the golden skills were still nowhere to be seen.
Of course, in Natsuki's opinion, the Domain Expansion ability newly acquired in the dungeon was actually more powerful than a golden legendary skill, a pure profit.
He continued to look down.
As expected, Natsuki once again received the dungeon's MVP, followed by the five-choose-two reward segment.
Natsuki clicked to view, and with a glance, he found that apart from a Skin Card, the other rewards were all very ordinary.
"Choose the Skin Card."
Natsuki silently recited in his heart.
Streams of light converged.
Soon, a card condensed and formed at Natsuki's fingertips.
"Eh, it's a Skin Card?"
Marin and Sayu looked over curiously.
Natsuki nodded and handed the Skin Card over casually:
"It's the dungeon MVP reward."
The two girls took the Skin Card and saw a blurry girl on the front, wearing a standard blue and white sailor uniform with a red bow tied at her chest.
[Item: Combat Sailor Uniform]
[Category: Skin Card]
[Usage: Equip to take effect]
[Attribute One: Instant Change, when you activate the Skin Card, your original clothes will be hidden, and you will instantly complete the change of clothes.]
[Attribute Two: Combat Girl, after equipping this Skin Card, your various basic attributes will receive an additional bonus, your attack speed and critical hit rate will be additionally increased, and as a trade-off, your defense will be weakened and lowered.]
[Note: The sailor uniform used with a samurai sword will have a better effect.]
"It's actually a sailor uniform Skin Card." Marin curiously flipped the card over and complained, "But it's too strange to use it with a samurai sword, isn't it?"
Natsuki said:
"Although it's strange, it somehow sounds heroic and dashing."
Marin enthusiastically asked:
"Natsuki, should I try the effect of the Skin Card?"
Natsuki nodded:
"Just try it."
"Mmm-hmm~"
Marin picked up the Skin Card and chose to equip it.
The next second.
A stream of light flashed over her body, and a blue and white sailor uniform appeared out of thin air on her.
As is well known, the sailor uniform is not a native Japan costume, but a school uniform style introduced to Japan from Britain during the Meiji Restoration, with a history of several hundred years. Today, most schools can design their own school uniform styles, and the sailor uniform has fallen into the category of old relics.
However, Marin in the sailor uniform still made people's eyes light up, and they gave her a thumbs up.
Indeed, a cute girl is still cute, even if she wears a sack.
"Natsuki, how is this sailor uniform?"
Marin pinched the edges of the sailor uniform with both hands and spun around in front of Natsuki, bringing a fragrant breeze.
Natsuki took out his phone and took pictures with clicks:
"It looks super tasteful."
It could be seen that the sailor uniform skin was not a traditional style that reached the ankles, but was quite trendy. The skirt exposed her absolute territory, and the upper half of the sailor uniform was also very short, faintly revealing a hint of her belly.
After taking the photos, Natsuki turned to Sayu and said:
"Sayu doesn't have a Skin Card yet, so this Skin Card is for you to use."
"Thank you, Master." Sayu thanked him happily, but then shook her head, "This Skin Card isn't suitable for me, I don't want to fight Evil Spirit face-to-face at all… It feels very suitable for Yukino."
Natsuki asked curiously:
"How so?"
"When everyone was sharing their dungeon gains earlier, Yukino mentioned that she obtained a special item-level samurai sword." Sayu whispered, "It just happens to go well with the sailor uniform."