Thud.
The sound of a heavy object falling echoed.
Kitahara Makoto turned his head and saw his sister-in-law's face pale, her eyes flustered, and a bottle of mineral water rolling by her feet. She had clearly overheard the conversation.
"Y-you guys were just joking, right?"
His sister-in-law stammered in panic, completely unwilling to believe her ears.
She had seen Kitahara Makoto return and then mysteriously call the other girls together. Worried that Kitahara Makoto was cheating on her sister, she had secretly snuck over, intending to find out the truth, but instead heard news that made her head spin.
Everyone in Kamakura was going to be finished?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
However, no matter how much Toyohama Nodoka denied it, she couldn't suppress the panic in her heart.
Just now, in the [Onsen Village], she had learned the truth about the world from Mai.
If someone else had told her, she would have been skeptical, but it was her most admired older sister, so the credibility was at least ninety percent. Coupled with the fact that it was an overheard conversation, she subconsciously fully believed Kitahara Makoto's words at this moment.
The entire Kamakura would be destroyed by monsters. Mom, Dad, relatives, friends, classmates, everyone would die…
"Kitahara-kun, what do we do now?"
Kita asked in a low voice.
"I'll first…"
Just as Kitahara Makoto was about to speak, his sister-in-law, with tears in her eyes, stepped forward and grabbed his right hand, desperately saying:
"Bro-brother-in-law, if you can save everyone, I'll do anything!"
That's enough. When I wanted you to call me brother-in-law, you didn't, and now I completely don't want to hear you call me brother-in-law!
"Stare—"
The girls' gazes all fell on Kitahara Makoto.
"Kitahara-kun is so amazing, he's already someone's brother-in-law."
"Should we call him brother-in-law from now on?"
"Brother-in-law~"
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
Undoubtedly, this was the legendary death glare.
A drop of cold sweat trickled down Kitahara Makoto's forehead, his heart filled with nothing but relief.
Fortunately, he had already exposed himself a long time ago, placing himself in a desperate situation to find a way out. Otherwise, Toyohama Nodoka's cry of "brother-in-law" would definitely ignite a Asura field and blow him to smithereens!
Kitahara Makoto decisively took a deep breath and changed the subject:
"Stay calm, don't panic. The monster invasion isn't an overnight thing. We still have a chance. As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility, so…"
Hearing this, the girls' faces showed subtle expressions, some nervous, some worried, but then they heard Kitahara Makoto continue:
"So I choose to tell the authorities."
"Huh?"
"What did Kitahara-kun say?"
"Aren't you going to deal with the source of the fog?"
"…"
The girls all looked at him in shock.
Kitahara Makoto said solemnly:
"Individual heroism is not good. I advocate for saturation tactics. Moreover, the authorities now have many extraordinary individuals. When the sky falls, of course, the authorities will bear the brunt."
The girls: "…"
Although they really wanted to refute him, upon closer thought, there was nothing wrong with it.
Soyo said with worry in her eyes:
"But we are insignificant. Even if we tell the authorities, others won't believe us, right?"
"Don't worry at all." Kitahara Makoto turned his head and looked at Kita and Anon, "When we solved the subway anomaly before, it was already filed with the authorities, so they will naturally believe what I say."
"That's good."
The girls all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Continue asking questions." Kitahara Makoto snapped his fingers and said in a deep voice, "There are two questions left. We need to figure out the source of the Cursed Fog and its location."
"Shall I ask?"
Nijika raised her right hand, volunteering.
"Okay."
Rustle, rustle.
As Nijika posed the question, the answer book quickly flipped pages again. Before long, a line of text quickly appeared.
[Voidworm, a Otherworld creature similar to a silkworm. Its body is fragile, but after feeding, it spews out Cursed Fog]
"Last question, the location of the Voidworm." Kitahara Makoto said softly, "Soyo, you ask."
"Okay."
Soyo took the answer book, her expression serious, and asked softly.
Rustle, rustle.
The answer book quickly flipped pages again. When the flipping stopped, text quietly appeared on the blank page.
"One, two, three…" Kita couldn't help but exclaim softly, "There are so many?!"
Dense text covered an entire page, revealing dozens of locations.
Kitahara Makoto frowned:
"First, record all the locations."
The girls quickly took out their phones to record the information.
Yamada Ryo folded her arms across her chest, deep in thought:
"I remember Kita saw a video on Twitter a few days ago saying there was a 'Resident Evil' in Kamakura, and it only suddenly broke out on a large scale today… Could it be that the worms have been secretly reproducing?"
Anon's imagination ran wild:
"It couldn't be a Zerg invasion, could it?"
Kita retorted:
"Anon, don't say such scary things."
"Pfft, pfft~" Chihaya Anon quickly raised her hand to cover her lips, "Take it back, take it back."
Tomori tilted her small face up and reminded softly:
"Makoto-kun, the worms might be running around."
"That makes sense."
Kitahara Makoto nodded in agreement, reached out and ruffled Anon's small head, then took out his phone and quickly dialed a number:
"We must seize the time and make a quick decision."
The call connected quickly.
Because of the previous stadium incident and the subway incident, Kitahara Makoto was already a well-known figure, and the information he provided quickly received attention.
Kamakura is home to hundreds of thousands of people, and it has now attracted widespread global attention. Therefore, as soon as they received the information, the authorities immediately issued directives, instructing the recruited people to take action.
Coincidentally, a small team was near the location provided by Kitahara Makoto. After quickly killing a Voidworm, the fog in the area quietly dissipated.
After verification, Kitahara Makoto's intelligence was instantly elevated to the highest level and directly conveyed to everyone.
"Mr. Kitahara, there's something I'd like to ask of you…"
The liaison quickly explained the current situation:
"Ordinary weapons are ineffective against strange entities. The locations you just provided are too numerous, and we cannot cover all targets, so please help us. We will give you a generous reward afterward."
"No problem."
Kitahara Makoto did not refuse and readily agreed.
He could get a reward and also supplement Hana's evolution value. There was no reason to refuse.
"Thank you, Mr. Kitahara." The female liaison breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Please wait a moment, I will send you the targets immediately."
Within a minute, several location coordinates popped up on Kitahara Makoto's phone.
"One, two, three, four, five… There really are quite a few."
Kitahara Makoto clicked his tongue softly, put away his phone, and prepared to head to Kamakura.
"Kitahara-kun, let us apply some buffs for you first, then you can go to Kamakura, okay?"
Soyo's eyes were worried, and she quickly suggested.
Kitahara Makoto was startled:
"What is it?"
Soyo said softly:
"It's the ability of [Hagun Utahime]."
Kitahara Makoto then realized:
"I almost forgot about that."
[Ability: Hagun Utahime]
[Category: Active]
[Description: You are skilled in using various musical instruments. The music you play can enhance the attributes of allies and weaken the attributes of enemies]
[Note: Ally determination is decided by the ability user's will]
This thing was a standard support skill that Kitahara Makoto basically didn't use. The reason Soyo knew about it was because one time while resting at a hotel, Soyo was too exhausted. To help Soyo regain her strength and move on her own, Kitahara Makoto curiously tried the ability, felt the effect was mediocre, and then put it out of his mind.
"It's still unclear if Hagun Utahime's buff can stack multiple times. Now is a good time to verify it…"
Kitahara Makoto's mind spun, and he quickly made a decision.
Kamakura was very dangerous now. If there was a way to become stronger, only a fool would refuse.
"The ability of [Hagun Utahime] can enhance attributes…"
Kitahara Makoto looked at the girls and softly explained the ability's effect.
Kita: "Then what are we waiting for? Everyone quickly apply buffs for Kitahara-kun."
Anon: "Exactly, safety first."
Nijika: "But we don't have instruments…"
Tomori: "Let's go home and get instruments now."
"…"
The girls all spoke up, unanimously deciding to fully buff Kitahara Makoto.
Even Toyohama Nodoka, who had been listening from the side, raised her hand and said:
"My friends and I can also help."
Kitahara Makoto looked over at her upon hearing this:
"You guys can't."
"Why?" Toyohama Nodoka was very unconvinced, "We're all girls, why can't we do it?"
If he said they couldn't, then they truly couldn't.
To share the ability, two conditions needed to be met: one was intimate contact, and the other was that the favorability had to reach 'like'. They had only known each other for less than half a day, so there was no way to share the ability.
"Ahem, things aren't that simple…"
Nijika coughed twice and stepped forward to explain in a low voice.
"Don't worry about the instruments." Kitahara Makoto continued, "I bought two sets before, and they're both inside the posters."
Kita quickly said:
"The more buffs, the better. Let's call Hitori over, okay?"
Soyo said softly:
"And Togawa," Tomori looked up and said, "Taki will also help."
Kitahara Makoto nodded, opened his backpack, and took out the Kessoku Band poster from it: "You guys contact them."
…
As they were talking, Nijika had already settled Toyohama Nodoka, and for some reason, Toyohama Nodoka finally stopped insisting on helping.
Immediately after, Kitahara Makoto had his sister-in-law and the others go upstairs to clear space in the living room, then he posted the Kessoku Band poster on the wall.
The girls in the poster quickly 'came to life,' and then the Kessoku Band girls curiously stepped out of the poster.
Soyo softly explained the situation, then said: "Please take out the instruments you bought before."
"Mhm, mhm," Togawa's voice was bright, "Leave it to us."
At the same time.
Hana went in and out of the bathroom, and soon brought Bocchi-chaSakikoang, and Taki. Except for Mai who stayed in the Onsen Village to take care of her mother, everyone else had arrived.
"Togawa, good morning," Kitahara Makoto raised his hand to greet her, "I'll be relying on you all from now on."
Togawa bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth: "Kitahara-kun, you must be careful."
Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice and said: "Compared to being careful, I'd rather Togawa give me a reward when I come back."
Togawa's pretty face flushed slightly, and she responded softly: "…We'll talk about it when you get back."
Kitahara Makoto was slightly surprised: "I thought Togawa would refuse."
Togawa looked up with her pretty face and said: "Then should I take back what I just said?"
"Please, absolutely not!"
"How strange…" Several Kessoku Band girls stood nearby, and Togawa murmured, "I feel like 'I' have changed."
Band Mutsumi said expressionlessly: "Future Togawa's chest has gotten bigger."
Togawa's pretty face flushed, and she quickly shook her head: "I'm not talking about my chest… it's the feeling and aura! I feel like I've become an adult now!"
"Taki is also different," Soyo said softly, "She seems much more confident and cheerful, and she occasionally steals glances at Kitahara-sama."
"I'm not stealing glances at him," Taki crossed her arms over her chest, her pretty face taut, and said seriously, "Soyo, don't talk nonsense."
Soyo's eyes shifted, and she smiled: "If you want to know what happened, we can ask Hana-chan for help."
Hana's current abilities are quite extensive. Before, she could share memories between the Kessoku Band girls and their main bodies, and now it's even easier.
Togawa still wanted to stop her, but it was too late.
As Soyo offered a small cake as payment, Hana quickly extended transparent tendrils, helping the Kessoku Band girls share memories with their main bodies.
"Eh eh eh eh eh?!"
After receiving her main body's memories, Togawa's eyes instantly widened, her pretty face flushed at a visible speed, and then steam billowed from the top of her head.
During the trip to the southern country, she… she had already entered the realm of adults, and even wrote tally marks on her leg…
The shared memories flooded Togawa's mind, making her sense of shame explode instantly.
She was only a first-year high school student; such things should at least wait until after high school graduation!
"H-how is that possible…?"
Taki also widened her eyes, her small face quickly flushing.
In the shared memories, she saw her main body resolving her inner conflict, kissing Kitahara in the mirror space, visiting the fireworks festival with her family, and finally, actively kissing Kitahara Makoto in front of her sister.
No wonder her main body was full of 'stealthy' feelings; she had already betrayed Tomori!
The two Kessoku Band girls covered their faces and no longer stayed, directly hiding back inside the poster.
At the same time.
Kitahara Makoto was sharing his abilities with the girls.
Given the safety of countless people in Kamakura, plus Kitahara Makoto's own safety, although the girls felt a bit strange, none of them refused to accept the sharing, not even Hitori.
Of course, Kitahara Makoto would certainly not perform the sharing ceremony in front of everyone, choosing the bathroom as the location.
"Hitori suddenly came over, won't Auntie and Futari be worried?"
Looking at Hitori, who walked in with a flushed face, Kitahara Makoto asked softly.
Hitori's small face was burning, and she stammered in a low voice: "Before I came, I told mom I was going to create in my room and asked mom and Futari not to disturb me, so it's fine…"
"That's good," Kitahara Makoto smiled, "How about the bedwetting?"
Hitori's small face became even hotter: "I… I didn't wet the bed…"
"Right now, important matters come first; there's no time for so much chatting," Kitahara Makoto reached out and pulled Hitori into his arms, "Hitori, hurry and kiss me."
"Mmm…"
…
A moment later.
All abilities had been shared.
The abilities on the girls were uniformly Hagun Utahime.
After a brief discussion, the girls quickly decided on the song to perform together.
As the music began, Kitahara Makoto soon felt strands of invisible energy gather on him. Opening his personal panel, a buff status indeed appeared.
You listened to a wonderful song, you gained a special buff, all your attributes are additionally increased by ten percent, lasting for thirty minutes…
Looking at the buff stacks, Kitahara Makoto's spirits lifted: "The buff can indeed stack."
A moment later.
The performance ended.
"Kitahara-kun, how do you feel now?"
The girls all looked over with anticipation.
Kitahara Makoto clenched his right fist, his tone confident: "I feel incredibly strong right now; one slide tackle could kill a tiger."
"The tiger is so pitiful," Yamada Ryo complained, "Someone always wants to hit it."
"Everyone, wait for me to come back," Kitahara Makoto waved, "I'm going to save the world first."
Girls: "…"
Without delay, Kitahara Makoto called Hana and quickly traveled to Kamakura.
"First location… Kamakura High School."
Kitahara Makoto quickly walked out of the office building, got into the car, and sped away with a roar of the engine.
Upon arriving at Kamakura High School, Kitahara Makoto frowned slightly as he looked at the high school enveloped in fog and heavy rain.
It would obviously be very difficult to find a single worm in such a large school.
"Is there a quick way to find the worm?"
Kitahara Makoto took out his phone and sent a message to the official liaison.
"We apologize, we don't have a quick identification method yet," the liaison quickly replied, "However, according to Mr. Kitahara's information, the Voidworm is quite fragile, so there will be monsters guarding it."
Kitahara Makoto was about to speak when he suddenly had an idea: "Do you have a picture of that Voidworm?"
"Please wait."
…
Not long after, a photo was sent over.
Kitahara Makoto clicked to view it and found that it was a grayish-white worm the length of a human arm. It indeed looked somewhat like a silkworm, but its mouth was densely packed with teeth, making it particularly disgusting.
"Let's try if the Fishing Bait works…"
Kitahara Makoto put away his phone, opened his backpack, and took out the item he had found while fishing with Taki and Tomori.
Item: Fishing Bait
Current Status: Optimized
New Entry: Arch-nemesis of the Archmouth. After activating the bait, the target will involuntarily rush towards the bait, and can only escape by breaking free or destroying the bait.
It had been verified before that the Fishing Bait wasn't just for fishing; it could even attract birds from the sky, provided Kitahara Makoto could see them or had a clear image of the target in his mind.
Holding the Fishing Bait in his hand, Kitahara Makoto silently recalled the image of the Voidworm, and the bait quickly emitted a faint glow.
"Very good, activation successful."
Kitahara Makoto nodded in satisfaction.
The glow proved that the entry effect had been activated, and next was to take a stroll around Kamakura High School.
After the bait was activated, its radius of effect was fifty meters; any target within this range would involuntarily rush over.
"The Great Bug Catching Operation, begins."