The system, seemingly sensing the turmoil in his heart, began its usual nonsense.
[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully completed Chizuru Kagura's final conquest.]
[Current Environment Detected: Private, quiet, undisturbed.]
[Target Status Detected: Moved, shy, defenses completely lowered.]
[Based on comprehensive analysis using the "Romance Behavioral Big Data Library," the System has reached a conclusion: This is... a heaven-sent opportunity!]
[System Recommendation: Host should immediately, right now, take decisive action! Don't be a coward—just do it! As the saying goes, action beats hesitation, and any day is as good as today! Fortune favors the bold—go hard enough and Chizuru goes on maternity leave!]
"STOP!!"
Cloud roared in his mind, forcibly cutting off the system's increasingly outrageous "dirty talk."
After updating, had this system turned into some kind of "veteran pervert"?!
Yet the system's instigation had planted a seed that took root and sprouted in his heart.
He looked at Chizuru before him—her pretty face flushed crimson from emotion and shyness, beautiful beyond description.
Those bright eyes were filled to the brim with love and trust for him.
It seemed...
The system had a point?
Cloud's heart began to beat faster, thumping uncontrollably.
...
Night deepened.
Moonlight like water filtered through the ancient window frames, falling upon the tranquil courtyard of Kagura Shrine.
All was silent save for the occasional chirp of insects.
Cloud was currently creeping along the wooden corridor leading to the rear sleeping quarters like a thief.
His mind was currently mush.
No—more accurately, mush filled with "restricted" imagery.
Earlier, the system's barrage of "dirty talk assists" had planted a seed in his heart, and now it had grown into towering trees—no, two towering trees.
One tree was carved with "Chizuru Kagura."
The other was carved with "Maki Kagura."
"Sin, sin..." Cloud silently recited a calming mantra while uncontrollably fantasizing about various "sisterly bloom" scenarios.
"How can I have such depraved thoughts? I'm a hero who saved the world! How could a hero... think about such things?!"
[Ding! System Friendly Reminder: According to this System's big data analysis, Host, you... belong to the type with rather strong desires.]
"Get lost!" Cloud mentally cursed, having been called out.
[Think about it. Chizuru Kagura—dignified, elegant, orchid-like grace, the very model of a Yamato Nadeshiko. Maki Kagura—mature, composed, the gentle big-sister type, with a hint of married woman... er, a hint of forbidden ascetic beauty. A sisterly bowl... ahem, sisters united, their combined power cuts through gold! This is the ultimate romance men pursue their entire lives!]
[Go for it, young man! Hesitation leads to defeat! Decisiveness leads to... well, going for it! Charge in there and show them your might as the Harem King! Let them witness what a champion's prowess really looks like!]
Under the system's "devil's whisper" of relentless instigation, that last string called "reason" in Cloud's heart snapped with a twang.
He arrived at the door to Chizuru's room.
The Japanese-style paper sliding door wasn't locked. Through the gap, faint amber light filtered out.
Cloud pressed his ear gently against the door.
Inside, all was silent. Only the sound of even, calm breathing.
"Asleep?"
Cloud felt a surge of secret delight mixed with a tiny bit of disappointment.
But actually, asleep was better!
He could... hehehe...
A lecherous grin spread across his face. Then, with movements he believed to be utterly undetectable—rivaling a spy defusing a bomb in an action movie—he slowly, bit by bit, slid open the paper door.
The room was filled with calming incense.
In the moonlight, a slender figure in a pure white sleeping robe lay on the tatami, her back to the door.
Black hair cascaded like a waterfall, spread across the pillow.
Graceful curves were faintly visible beneath the thin sleeping robe.
It was Chizuru Kagura.
She seemed to be sleeping deeply, completely unaware of this "uninvited guest's" arrival.
"Hehehe..."
Cloud's face showed a "just as planned" smile.
He removed his shoes and, like a stalking leopard, climbed onto the tatami without a sound.
However, what he didn't see was...
Behind him, that "sleeping beauty" with her back turned to him—beneath those closed eyelids, her long lashes were trembling ever so slightly.
Chizuru Kagura wasn't asleep at all!
She was pretending to sleep!
Her heart was also in complete chaos.
When Cloud had brought those two divine artifacts during the day, the love in her heart had completely overflowed, no longer suppressible.
She knew this man would definitely come tonight.
She was also looking forward to him coming.
So she had bathed and changed early, put on her favorite sleeping robe, and lay here with her heart pounding like a little rabbit.
She could clearly hear the sneaky footsteps outside the door, could hear his excitement-suppressed breathing.
This idiot!
Did he really think she was asleep?
His movements were so... clumsy!
Chizuru's heart was a mix of embarrassment and amusement.
Just as her thoughts were wandering, a warm body radiating masculine presence pressed gently against her from behind.
A pair of strong arms encircled her slender waist.
"Mm..."
Chizuru's body instantly stiffened, a barely audible whimper escaping her lips.
"Did I wake you?"
Cloud's slightly husky, magnetic voice whispered softly in her ear.
His warm breath brushed against her ear, making goosebumps rise across her entire body.
Chizuru didn't answer. She only buried her face deeper into the pillow, yet her body unconsciously leaned back, pressing closer against that warm chest.
This subtle movement said everything.
...
Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"