"…Give the Skin Card to Yukino?"
Natsuki's mind conjured the image of Yukino, cold and aloof, wearing a sailor uniform and holding a samurai sword.
He had to admit, it would be quite heroic and dashing.
"Then give it to Yukino." Natsuki extended his right hand and patted Sayu's small head, "When we encounter a suitable Skin Card in the future, I'll give it to you."
"Thank you, Master~"
Sayu's eyes curved into crescent moons, like a kitten, her small head gently rubbing against Natsuki's palm.
As a pet, how can one win the master's favor?
Of course, by always thinking of the master.
Buzz buzz.
His phone suddenly vibrated.
Natsuki took out his phone from his pocket and looked down; it was a message from Mitsui.
"Natsuki-kun, are you still at the headquarters hotel?"
Natsuki: "Still resting at the hotel."
Mitsui: "I'm on my way back, I'll be there soon."
"…"
A moment later.
A knock on the door sounded.
Sayu scurried over and opened the door. Standing outside was a professional woman in a suit and a hip-hugging skirt, wearing black-rimmed glasses, with a graceful figure and beautiful features. It was Mitsui.
"Natsuki-kun, welcome back."
Stepping into the room and seeing Natsuki, the serious expression on Mitsui's pretty face melted like ice and snow, shedding its disguise and blooming into a bright and sweet smile.
Their first encounter was in the space of the Despair Strange Tale, on the Evil Spirit bus. Natsuki, holding an axe in one hand, suppressed all the spirit passengers on the bus, like a true ray of hope shining into the abyss of despair, leaving an indelible impression deep in Mitsui's mind and body.
Seeing Natsuki return safely now, she was, of course, genuinely happy.
Natsuki whispered:
"I'm back."
Marin asked curiously from the side:
"Mitsui has very dark circles under her eyes, she looks like she hasn't rested for days. Didn't you say someone at the headquarters has Evil Spirit Exorcism and can eliminate wandering evil spirits?"
Evil Spirit Exorcism is not an exclusive skill; if Natsuki can get it from a Blind Box, other players naturally can too.
In fact, among the registered official players, several have mastered the Evil Spirit Exorcism ability. These individuals have been hired by the Strange Tales Management Bureau to wander around the headquarters, activating their Evil Spirit Exorcism to eliminate wandering evil spirits in the real world, creating a comfortable environment for other players.
Of course, occasionally there would be a tiny handful of escaped evil spirits, but it was harmless.
Mitsui sighed lightly at the words, a wry smile appearing on her pretty face as she pressed her forehead:
"I haven't returned to headquarters to rest for two days…"
Natsuki pondered:
"Has a new Strange Tale appeared?"
Mitsui nodded gently and said:
"Almost every day, new Strange Tales appear, and most players haven't grown enough, so many Strange Tales cannot be dealt with… However, the Strange Tales are mostly distributed across Japan, so Tokyo hasn't seen any new Strange Tales."
"It's the Strange Tale Natsuki encountered before… The Evil Neighbor."
"The Evil Neighbor?"
Natsuki quickly recalled it; it was the Strange Tale he encountered at the Shinomiya family villa estate before entering the dungeon, whose rule was knocking on the door.
Once the door is opened, the Strange Tale rules are triggered, distorting memories and cognition, subconsciously treating the other party as a close neighbor, or a childhood friend who has been separated for many years, and so on. Immediately after, the Strange Tale will ask to borrow your life, and ordinary people will fall for it unknowingly. Even players, when facing an anomaly that can distort memories, are mostly helpless.
Natsuki said, "It's been so long, and it still hasn't been eliminated?"
"No." Mitsui shook her head, a wry smile appearing on her pretty face, "These past few days, let alone eliminating it, we haven't even been able to discover its whereabouts."
After a pause, Mitsui lowered her voice and said, "Just two days ago, the 'Evil Neighbor' reappeared, but this time the target of the attack was the child of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, so for the past two days, I have been at the Minister of Foreign Affairs' house, along with other staff, providing 24-hour close protection for that child."
Marin suddenly realized, "No wonder Mitsui has such dark circles under her eyes."
Mitsui raised her right hand, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and gently shook her head, saying, "Actually, protecting that child doesn't take much effort. According to the information Natsuki provided, as long as that child isn't left alone, it's fine… It's just that there are too many evil spirits in the Minister of Foreign Affairs' house."
Natsuki's expression was normal as he said, "I understand."
The countless evil spirits wandering in reality, though without intelligence, actually possess a subconscious similar to instinct. They instinctively gravitate around those they hate or cherish, which can be called karmic entanglement.
A person who can become the Minister of Foreign Affairs must have a lot of karma, and their house is clearly a true Haunted House.
Mitsui pursed her lips and said softly, "Although the Strange Tales Management Bureau has arranged personnel and can temporarily ensure the child's safety, there are always oversights… I still need to trouble Natsuki to eliminate the Evil Neighbor Strange Tale as soon as possible."
Natsuki said, "The sooner the better?"
Mitsui nodded and said, "Naturally, the sooner the better."
"…"
I understand.
This is the difference between ordinary people and those with power and influence.
Ordinary people buying unfinished buildings complain a hundred times to no avail, and may even be beaten for defending their legitimate rights, but if a high-ranking leader says a casual word, it can probably be done that very day.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is naturally a truly 'powerful and influential' person, and with just a word, he can enjoy the highest standard of treatment from the Strange Tales Management Bureau.
Natsuki pondered, "I'll rest for a day first. Tonight, I'll go home and see if I can contact Miko from the other world to inquire about information, then I'll go to the villa tomorrow."
Mitsui thanked him gratefully, "Thank you, Natsuki-kun."
Natsuki extended his right hand and said, "Do you want to paste a skill?"
Mitsui also extended her tender hand, gently held Natsuki's palm, and with a slight blush on her pretty face, said, "Please."
"…"
Skill pasting completed.
Mitsui bowed and bid farewell, then left the room to continue her busy schedule. As one of the persons in charge of the Strange Tales Management Bureau, she had an immense amount of matters to deal with every day.
Natsuki confirmed that the other girls were all busy and unable to come over, then he and Marin and Sayu left the hotel, preparing to go home.
"It's already evening."
Walking out of the hotel and looking at the golden sunset and brilliant clouds in the sky, Natsuki's heart stirred slightly.
Since domain expansion can be performed in the dungeon, it can certainly be done in reality, right?
It's decided.
He would try it when it got dark. If domain expansion could also be done in reality, then paired with the title of 'Dark Walker', Natsuki was confident he could take on ten Batmen.
"Natsuki, should we eat first or go home first?"
Marin tilted her head and asked.
Natsuki said, "I just ate, so I'm not hungry for now."
"Then let's go home first." Marin took out her phone, "I'll call Juju to come over and play."
Natsuki said from the side, "Juju has fallen for it so many times, she probably won't fall for it again."
"Hmmph~" Marin tilted her pretty face up, gently shook her phone, and a bright smile appeared on her pretty face, "It's already arranged."
Natsuki looked over in shock, "You really got her to come out?"
"Of course." Marin proudly lifted her delicate chin, "As long as I make a move, I can definitely get Juju."
"Strange, with Juju's personality, there's no reason she'd agree so readily…" Natsuki rubbed his nose, looked at Marin, and asked curiously, "What reason did you use?"
"Heh heh." Marin put her hands on her hips and said triumphantly, "I have my own brilliant plan, Natsuki, don't ask so many questions."
"…"
The three of them took the train and embarked on their journey home.
The home here naturally referred to Marin's home. Natsuki's home had a dog, and Miko's home was next door. Once the lights were turned on, Miko would definitely notice, which was a bit inconvenient.
The journey was silent.
"We're home! We're home!"
Marin kicked off her shoes, wearing only a pair of black stockings, raised her hands above her head, stretched contentedly, and said happily, "It's indeed more comfortable to stay at home."
Sayu wiped the thin sweat from her forehead and said softly, "It's so hot outside. Let's turn on the air conditioner first. The temperature will be just right after we shower."
"I'll go turn on the air conditioner." Marin stepped into her slippers and pattered towards the living room, "Natsuki, the cold drinks are all in the refrigerator. Take out three bottles."
"Okay."
Natsuki walked to the refrigerator, reached out and opened it. A blast of cold air hit him, especially refreshing in the hot summer.
"Stare—"
A human-headed evil spirit hid in the refrigerator, its dead fish eyes staring intently at Natsuki.
"Tsk~"
Natsuki clicked his tongue lightly, reached out to take out the drinks, and sighed, "Seeing it so many times, it actually looks somewhat pleasant now."
He didn't know what kind of ghost this human-headed evil spirit was, it just liked to hide in places like refrigerators and freezers, and its aggressiveness was very low. It basically just stayed in the refrigerator without moving. After seeing it so many times, he had long gotten used to it and was too lazy to even activate Evil Spirit Exorcism.
Bang.
Natsuki closed the refrigerator, distorted open a bottle of juice, handed it to Marin, then picked up a bottle of sea buckthorn juice, distorted it open, and handed it to Sayu.
"Thank you, Master~"
Sayu took the drink with both hands and thanked him happily.
"Gulp, gulp, gulp~"
Marin tilted her head back and drank a few sips of juice, exhaled contentedly, and then said, "Natsuki, check the house to see if there are any evil spirits hiding inside. Sayu, go take a shower first, I'll cook."
Natsuki coughed twice and said, "Let Sayu do the cooking, you go take a shower first."
"Ugh—"
Marin puffed out her pink cheeks, unhappy, "Natsuki looks down on me."
"I don't."
"Then why won't you let me cook?"
"Because… I don't dare to say."
"…"
Marin went to take a shower, Sayu was in charge of cooking, and Natsuki, while drinking a beverage, checked the house, quickly finding evil spirits hiding under the bed and in the wardrobe.
Activating Evil Spirit Exorcism to "clean" the house, Natsuki returned to the sofa and sat down, turning on the TV to watch the evening news.
Knock, knock, knock.
After an unknown amount of time, a knock on the door suddenly sounded.
Natsuki got up and went to open the door. A petite, slender-limbed pink-haired girl, somewhere between a junior high student and a child, came into view. It was Juju.
"Juju-sama, good evening."
Natsuki looked down and couldn't help but smile.
"Huh?"
Juju took half a step back, wary, "Why is Stupid Natsuki here?"
Natsuki said speechlessly, "Can't I be here?"
Juju's eyes were wary, "Marin didn't tell me you were here!"
At this moment, Marin poked half of her pretty face out of the bathroom, her hair still dripping wet, and said in a clear voice, "Juju, come in quickly… Natsuki said he didn't want to cook alone, so I called him over to eat together."
Juju retorted, "If you don't want to cook, you can just eat out, right?"
Natsuki said, "The food outside isn't hygienic."
"Pfft~"
Juju scoffed lightly, "Don't generalize. There are clean restaurants."
"Juju, come in quickly." Marin called from the bathroom, "I'll shower first, and I'll give you the stuff after I'm done."
Juju hesitated for a few seconds, then carefully stepped into the house, looked at Natsuki, and warned softly, "I'm just here to pick something up, don't try to do anything weird!"
Natsuki raised his hand and said, "Don't worry, I promise I won't do anything weird."
"Hmph."
Juju pouted, scoffing at Natsuki's promise, not believing his so-called guarantee at all.
Natsuki continued,
"I only do lewd things."
Juju clenched her small fists in anger, wanting to hit someone:
"Die!"
You don't even pretend anymore, do you?
Natsuki returned to the sofa and sat down, patting the spot next to him, saying:
"Come sit."
"No."
Juju sat at the other end of the sofa, huffing lightly, "The further away from you, the better."
Natsuki didn't mind, and asked curiously:
"I heard Sayu say, that Juju-sama has mastered a new skill?"
"It's a skill opened from a Blind Box, it feels a bit like a chicken rib..."
Juju pursed her lips and displayed the skill panel.
[Skill: Petrified Skin]
[Category: Active]
[Effect: After activating this skill, your body will gradually petrify, your presence will decrease, making you as inconspicuous as a stone. As a cost, your movement speed will be affected, and your five senses will be severely dulled.]
Goodness, it really is a petrification ability, but it's not about petrifying others, but petrifying herself.
"This skill..." Natsuki commented, "It's not bad, it can be useful in certain special situations."
"What's so good about it?" Juju retorted, "I tried it before, and the effect of turning into a 'stone person' was pretty good. My sister didn't even notice me when she walked past. But once this ability is activated, you can't just turn it off whenever you want; you have to wait for a period of time... The feeling of dulled senses is like being inside a stuffy suit, in short, it's super uncomfortable."
Clearly, this is what is called a "chicken rib" skill—tasteless to eat, yet a pity to discard—and it is also the skill mastered by most players.
Natsuki handed over a copy scroll:
"Here, one of the rewards for clearing the dungeon. Learn whatever skill you want."
Juju crossed her arms over her chest and huffed lightly:
"No, I have my own."
Natsuki picked up a Shine Muscat grape and offered it to her:
"Then have a grape."
Shine Muscat, also known as Sunshine Rose, was originally a specialty grape cultivated in Japan. When it first hit the market, the price was extremely high, but as the technology was cracked, the price kept dropping, and it became an ordinary fruit.
"Ah..."
Juju subconsciously tilted her small face up, opened her mouth, and allowed herself to be fed.
"It's too big." Juju furrowed her small brows, "My mouth can't fit it."
"Is there a possibility..." Natsuki picked up another grape and offered it, "that your mouth is too small?"
Juju opened her mouth, bit the grape with a soft "mmph," and turned her head to glare:
"Where is it small?"
Natsuki retorted:
"Something much smaller than your finger, and you were already teary-eyed and couldn't swallow it..."
"Stupid Natsuki!"
Juju's small face quickly flushed red, and she head-butted Natsuki's chest, shouting in embarrassment:
"Don't talk nonsense with your eyes wide open!"
Where is it much smaller than a finger?
It was clearly a monster, alright!
However...
Juju recalled those past scenes, and her small face flushed even redder. Even though it wasn't on the same scale as a grape, how could she have swallowed it back then?
Natsuki looked down and smiled:
"I was talking about cold capsules. When you had a cold before, you couldn't even swallow one capsule and had to pour out the powder inside... What is Juju talking about?"
Juju: "..."
The human body truly cannot be compared.
For example, some people can swallow an egg whole, but there are others whose throats are naturally very small. When they have a cold or are sick, they can't even swallow a cold capsule directly; they have to open the capsule and pour out the medicine powder inside before they can take it.
Juju happens to be a girl with an extremely small throat, and she often chokes when drinking milk.
"Shut up!"
Juju clenched her small fists, huffing angrily and about to move further away, when she finally reacted.
Wait!
When did this guy pick her up and put her on his lap?
Why didn't she feel anything at all?
"Stupid Natsuki!" Juju widened her eyes and glared, "You actually ambushed me with Time Stop?"
Natsuki said inexplicably:
"What ambush?"
"Still trying to argue." Juju bit her small silver teeth, "You were clearly sitting at the other end of the sofa before, and now you're, you're holding me... You clearly used Time Stop, didn't you?"
"I am not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense." Natsuki denied it three times, refusing to admit he used his ability, "Think carefully, did I use Time Stop, or did you sit up yourself."
"How could that be..."
Juju subconsciously wanted to retort, but halfway through, she suddenly bit her lower lip.
She remembered.
When she was demonstrating her newly acquired skill, Stupid Natsuki secretly moved to sit next to her, but the grapes were too big, and she wanted to pick smaller ones from the fruit platter, so she bent over to choose, and then... then Stupid Natsuki seemed to have patted his thigh, and she subconsciously sat on his lap?
So Stupid Natsuki really didn't use Time Stop, and it was all her own instinctual reaction?
Why would this happen?
A word that often appeared in her mind subconsciously surfaced: training.
The reason she unconsciously sat on the boy's lap was actually that she had been subtly trained into Stupid Natsuki's shape.
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
After inadvertently discerning the truth, Juju's small face instantly turned explosively red.
She hasn't been trained into Stupid Natsuki's exclusive shape!
"The food is ready."
Sayu walked out of the kitchen carrying the dishes, completely unconcerned about Juju sitting on Natsuki's lap, and smiled:
"Juju, Natsuki-sama, hurry and wash your hands, it's time to eat."
Juju's small face flushed red, and she quickly got up from Natsuki's embrace:
"I'm not eating, you guys eat by yourselves!"
Marin had just finished showering and came out of the bathroom, and hearing this, she said:
"Juju hasn't eaten yet, right? Let's eat together. I'll give you the figure after dinner."
Natsuki asked curiously:
"Figure?"
"That's right, a figure." Marin put her right hand on her hip, proudly raising her chin, "Yesterday, when I was chatting with Juju, she said she was missing one figure from her complete Magical Girl set, and I just happened to have it, so I asked Juju to come over and get it."
So that's it.
Knowing that Marin's home is a den of dragons and a tiger's lair, she actually came over just for a figure. It's necessary to let you experience what it means for human hearts to be treacherous again!
Juju indeed hadn't eaten yet, and under the invitation of Marin and Sayu, she eventually sat down at the dining table.
Although Natsuki had already eaten and wasn't hungry, he still washed his hands and sat next to Juju, accompanying the three girls to eat something.
"To celebrate everyone clearing the dungeon, cheers!"
Marin raised her glass and shouted happily.
Looking at the red liquid in the glass, Juju furrowed her brow slightly and said:
"It's not alcohol, is it?"
"Of course it's not alcohol, it's just fruit juice." Marin took a sip and exhaled lightly, "Juju, just take a sip and you'll know."
Juju picked up the cup, took a sip, and only felt the taste was slightly peculiar, but there was no alcohol, so she finally relaxed.
Buzz, buzz.
Her phone in her pocket vibrated gently.
Natsuki took it out and saw that it was a message from Marin.
"The drink Juju is having is the Drowsy Black Tea from game."
Natsuki: "..."
She actually gave Juju black tea again! No wonder they say backstabs from a best friend are critical hits every time!
Natsuki looked up speechlessly, at Marin sitting across the dining table.
"Eh heh~"
Marin secretly made a peace sign:
"Don't worry, it won't really make Juju drowsy. It will just make people easily impulsive, and it's far from the lust mushroom."
"..."
Dinner ended.
Unbeknownst to them, the sky had already darkened, and outside, the streetlights were quietly lighting up one by one.
"Here, the figure is here."
Marin walked over with a Magical Girl figure and handed it to Juju.
"Thank you, Marin-chan." Juju thanked her softly, put away the figure, and stood up, saying, "I'm going home now."
"No rush." Marin said with a smile, "Juju, your forehead is sweating. Why don't you take a bath before going back?"
"It is a bit hot after eating..."
Juju pursed her lips, feeling inexplicably hot and thirsty, and sweating all over.
"The bathwater is ready, and this is the clean towel Juju used before; I've kept it well." Sayu handed over the towel, smiling, "Juju, hurry and take a bath."
"N-no..."
Juju naturally knew what would happen if she stayed to bathe, but her heart inexplicably sped up uncontrollably, and the words that came to her lips turned into a soft stammer:
"Then I'll take a bath first, and then go home."
Juju took the towel and nervously walked into the bathroom.
"Hoo..."
Closing the bathroom door, Juju clutched her chest and let out a soft sigh of relief.
Why?
Why did she say she would stay and take a bath!
It was clearly the correct choice to go home and bathe. Staying to bathe was super dangerous; Stupid Natsuki might just barge in.
"But... but I really am sweating, and this sticky feeling is so uncomfortable. Taking a bath would be much more comfortable..."
Juju found excuses for herself while taking off her clothes.
On the way, her gaze accidentally fell on the mirror, and looking at her scarlet face in the reflection, she felt as if she had been burned by flames and quickly averted her eyes in embarrassment.
She naturally knew the truth of the matter.
Some things can neither deceive others nor oneself.
Knock knock knock.
A knock on the door suddenly sounded.
Juju quickly covered her body, nervously looking at the bathroom door:
"It's me, Juju, open the door." Marin's voice came from outside the door, clear and crisp, "I've brought Juju's pajamas, they're on the chair by the door, Juju remember to get them yourself later."
"I know."
Juju let out a soft breath, first washed her hair clean, then stepped to the door, opened the bathroom door a crack, preparing to get the pajamas.
At this moment, a hand picked up the pajamas and handed them over.
"Thank you…"
Juju thanked him subconsciously.
The pink bunny pajamas were handed to Juju, but the hand that handed them over did not withdraw.
Juju's gaze shifted downwards, falling on that hand.
Under the light, the right hand reaching in had long, slender fingers, neatly trimmed nails with no nail polish, and more importantly, its outline was noticeably larger than a girl's hand.
The next second.
Natsuki's voice sounded from outside the door:
"When you thank someone, you need to show sincerity."
As his voice fell, Natsuki pushed open the door and walked into the bathroom.
"Eh, Stupid Natsuki?"
Juju's eyes widened, and she quickly took half a step back, warily saying:
"What are you doing in here?"
Natsuki looked down at Juju from above, and said earnestly:
"Sayu took care of the cooking, Marin is mopping and cleaning the house, and I haven't done anything, so I feel deeply guilty. That's why I came to help you scrub your back."
"I don't need your help scrubbing my back!" Juju's face flushed, she clearly understood that the so-called 'deep guilt' was all an excuse, just to come and take advantage of her, but her heart couldn't help but secretly quicken, and she lowered her voice, "Get out quickly!"
"Keep it down." Natsuki smiled, "Juju wouldn't want everyone to hear, would she?"
"Damn it!!"
Juju's heart raced, she already knew what was going to happen next, but her maidenly reserve and pride made her want to struggle a bit:
"Get away, I'm not washing anymore, let me out."
"Tsk~"
As expected, she was a tsundere junior high student, only her mouth was the toughest.
Natsuki closed the bathroom door behind him, and leisurely said as he took off his clothes:
"When Juju decided to stay and take a bath, she must have already prepared herself mentally, right?"
Juju's face flushed, and she guiltily turned her head away:
"I, I didn't…"