"I haven't encountered the Strange Tale [Evil Neighbor]…"
After listening to the narration, Parallel World Miko gently shook her head and calmly said:
"However, I've encountered a similar Strange Tale, which also exists in the form of a sub-entity. Perhaps it can provide you with some reference."
Natsuki said with interest:
"Tell me."
Parallel World Miko's voice was cool as she said:
"It was an anomaly in the form of a baby, attracting humans through crying. Once a person felt compassion, they would involuntarily treat the entity as their own child, then fall into obsession and madness, and finally be devoured by the Strange Tale…"
Natsuki listened carefully and quickly extracted useful information.
First.
Strange Tales existing as sub-entities actually had a mutual sensory connection between them; they were not completely independent individuals.
However, unlike humans, the sub-entities were not siblings; there was only a simple connection. If one sub-entity was killed, the other sub-entities would become wary and distance themselves, rather than seeking revenge.
That's why when Natsuki killed the [Evil Neighbor] sub-entity at the Shinomiya family estate, no other sub-entities came looking for him.
At the same time.
The relationship between the various sub-entities of a Strange Tale is actually one of competition; once one of them transforms and grows into a mother body, the other sub-entities are very likely to be devoured.
"That was when the apocalypse broke out…" Parallel World Miko lowered her eyes and whispered, "Someone discovered the weakness of the Strange Tale Resentful Infant, used that weakness to raise Resentful Infants, attracted the jealousy of other evil infants, and gathered all the evil infants together to completely eliminate them."
Natsuki whispered:
"That person was… the me from the other world?"
"Mm."
Parallel World Miko responded softly.
Natsuki did not continue to ask, but instead sincerely thanked her:
"Thank you, that's very valuable information, it might even allow us to eliminate the 'Evil Neighbor'…"
After thanking her, Natsuki then spoke about his recent situation.
"Momo-senpai is doing quite well; although her movements are slightly restricted, she enjoys VIP-level treatment and a monthly allowance of one million Yen.
Recently, she has gradually become a 'lying flat' salted fish, achieving your dream ahead of time."
"Lying flat?"
Parallel World Miko's eyes were slightly dazed, as if she was recalling her past self from a long time ago.
Natsuki invited her:
"With your status as the strongest psychic in the other world, once you arrive in this new world, you can immediately enjoy treatment on par with the Queen of England.
Do you want to come over?"
Parallel World Miko lowered her eyes, and after a brief silence, she softly refused:
"No… I still have other things to attend to.
Let's end this meeting here."
Looking at Miko, who had disappeared from the dream, Natsuki gently exhaled.
It was a doomed world destroyed by the Strange Tale disaster, where her mother and younger brother had already passed away, leaving only Miko alone.
Why did she choose to stay?
Natsuki did not ask further.
Since Miko was unwilling to speak, even if he asked, he certainly wouldn't get an answer.
Natsuki voluntarily exited the dream.
Opening his eyes, the room was dim.
Through the gap in the curtains, a crescent moon could be vaguely seen hanging in the sky, clearly indicating that there was still some time until dawn.
Natsuki lowered his head, looked at Miko who was still sleeping in his arms, slowly closed his eyes, and began to rest.
The night passed without a word.
The next day.
After waking up in the morning and routinely teasing Miko, since it was already daytime and the domain expansion couldn't be used, Natsuki directly jumped out the window and left.
Returning to his own home, he reached out and stroked the dumb dog that wagged its tail happily and came over.
Natsuki changed his clothes, washed up, had a simple breakfast, then took out his phone and shared the information he had obtained last night with Mitsui.
"Thank you, Natsuki-kun, the information you provided is very important.
I will immediately arrange for the Strange Tales Management Bureau's experts to research and discuss it…"
After thanking him, Mitsui asked again:
"Natsuki-kun, approximately when will you be coming over?"
Natsuki mused:
"I have other things to do during the day.
I'll come in the evening."
With the start of school approaching, as the Student Council President, it would be inexcusable not to go to school and work for a whole day.
Mitsui: "I'll wait for Natsuki here."
"…"
He put away his phone.
Natsuki changed into his school uniform, then stepped out the door.
Outside, the sun was bright.
Unconsciously, the time was approaching September, the heat was gradually fading, and the morning sun falling on his body felt exceptionally comfortable.
The journey was uneventful.
Natsuki unconsciously walked to the school gate.
The last time he came was the day summer vacation began in early July, and now it was the end of August, the long summer vacation of over a month had unknowingly come to an end.
For ordinary students, summer vacation is actually very short, as if it's just a turn, but for Natsuki, it felt as long as a century.
"I actually feel like I'm revisiting an old place…"
Natsuki sighed and stepped into the school.
Since school hadn't officially started yet, the school was quite quiet, with only faint training sounds coming from the direction of the sports field.
Those were members of the sports clubs expending their youth and sweat.
Natsuki glanced in the direction of the sports field and found that not only were there members of the sports clubs, but also many wandering evil spirits, and their number seemed to be even greater than that of the students.
He withdrew his gaze, Natsuki walked towards the Comprehensive Building, and before long, he arrived outside the Student Council office.
The door was not locked, indicating that someone had already arrived.
Natsuki grasped the doorknob, gently pushed the door open, and entered the Student Council.
The curtains had already been drawn open, and bright sunlight streamed in from outside the window.
On the sofa near the window sat a girl with picturesque features, dressed in a school uniform, even the hem of her clothes was impeccably clean and tidy.
Her plaid skirt clung tightly to her thighs, vaguely revealing a hint of pure white absolute territory, and black stockings crossed her knees, leaving faint indentations on her smooth, doll-like thighs.
Her soft black hair was simply tied up with a red ribbon, revealing her swan-like fair and slender neck.
Her bright red eyes held a meticulous seriousness, as she sat elegantly on the sofa.
Just by sitting there, she made one feel as if something called 'beauty' was presented before their eyes.
Natsuki stopped, held his breath slightly, then took out his phone.
The purpose of taking photos is to capture and preserve beautiful things.
At this moment, Natsuki felt an impulse to capture and remember the beauty before him.
Click.
The sound of a camera shutter rang out.
Kaguya heard the sound, tilted her head slightly and looked over, her eyes lit up, and a sweet smile bloomed on her pretty face, as if a snow lotus on a mountain peak had quietly blossomed.
She chuckled softly:
"President, good morning."
Natsuki, with quick eyes and hands, snapped a few more photos, then reluctantly put away his phone and said warmly:
"Good morning, Vice President."
"Kaguya-chan~! Mama misses you."
Mrs. Shimizu appeared, happily pouncing over, hugging Kaguya and rubbing against her happily:
"Let me quickly recharge my Kaguya-chan energy."
Kaguya tilted her head slightly, helplessly saying:
"Mama, please be a little more dignified."
"No way." Mrs. Shimizu puffed out her cheeks and said righteously, "It wasn't until Mama became a vengeful spirit that I finally understood one truth: people should live for themselves, not for the gaze of others."
"For example, right now, Mama wants to hug Kaguya-chan, of course I'll say it immediately, because every ordinary moment has the potential to become the most beautiful memory in life."
"Time waits for no one, never wait until tomorrow."
Natsuki walked over and sat beside Kaguya, agreeing:
"Kaguya is not wrong."
"Eh heh~" Mrs. Shimizu tilted her head and looked over, smiling, "Natsuki-kun, do you want to recharge your Kaguya-chan energy?"
Natsuki said seriously:
"Of course I do."
Mrs. Shimizu smiled:
"Come, come, I'll temporarily let you have Kaguya-chan."
Natsuki said:
"Thank you very much."
Kaguya's pretty face flushed slightly, radiant and peerless in the sunlight, she bit her lip and said softly:
"You two shouldn't talk to yourselves, I haven't agreed to that yet."
Mrs. Shimizu tilted her head and said:
"Don't you want to hug the boy you like, Kaguya-chan?"
Kaguya's pretty face turned even redder, she turned her head away and stammered:
"I don't want to!"
Actually, she really, really wanted a hug.
When they were in the dungeon, because everyone was around, she didn't have a chance to properly hug him… but Kaguya's modesty still prevailed, preventing her from actively throwing herself into his arms.
"You don't want to, huh?" Mrs. Shimizu said with a smile, "Natsuki-kun, get out the truth mirror."
Kaguya: "…"
As they spoke, the Student Council room door was pushed open again.
A girl wearing a school uniform, with a jet-black bow tied in her bangs and pink hair, walked in.
Before she even arrived, the girl's clear and sweet voice had already rung out:
"Kaguya-chan, I'm here!"
Natsuki looked over at the sound and smiled:
"Chika, good morning."
"Eh eh eh?!" Chika's bright eyes lit up, and a radiant smile immediately bloomed on her pretty face, "President, you actually came so early?"
Natsuki said:
"Of course, it's because there's someone I really want to see, someone very important, at school."
By now, Natsuki dared to flirt with Chika in front of Kaguya, he was that audacious.
"President, don't say strange things, there's a lot to do today."
Secretary Chika's pretty face flushed slightly, then she smiled and greeted Mrs. Shimizu.
Behind Chika, another slender girl with short black hair walked in, it was Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi, the Student Council accountant whom he hadn't seen all summer vacation.
"Kashiwagi, good morning."
Natsuki raised his hand to greet her.
Kashiwagi, holding a folder with both hands, tilted her head and looked over at his words, saying airily:
"The hands-off President who doesn't reply to messages or answer calls has finally appeared."
Natsuki spoke nonsense with a straight face:
"My sincerest apologies, I was traveling in Hawaii for a while, but then I encountered a storm, the cruise ship was wrecked, and I was stranded alone on a deserted island, so I couldn't use my phone at all."
"How dangerous…" Kashiwagi walked over, holding the file, and said airily, "Since the President was stranded on a deserted island, how did he get back?"
Natsuki continued:
"Because school was about to start, and I thought the Student Council wouldn't be able to handle things without me, so I crossed the Pacific Ocean alone and swam all the way back."
"Ah~! President is wonderful." Kashiwagi exclaimed softly, her expression exaggerated, her acting zero points, "Even if the President didn't swim back, we could still handle it.
"Vice President Kaguya has already finished most of the work, you know."
"…"
As the members arrived, the slightly quiet Student Council quickly became lively.
New students in Japan enroll in early April each year, and it is now September, so there is no need to hold a grand entrance ceremony.
The work that the Student Council needs to handle mainly includes club assessments and budget reviews, as well as the school marathon activity at the beginning of the school year, and so on.
After a busy period, everyone quickly determined the next course of action.
"President, I'm going to see the principal first."
Kaguya, holding a folder, got up and left the Student Council.
Natsuki, on the other hand, sat behind the desk, engrossed in writing the materials that needed to be submitted.
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi sat on the sofa, with her laptop in front of her, meticulously preparing financial reports.
As for Chika…
"President, President."
Chika walked up to the desk, leaned forward, propped her chin with both hands, and with eyes full of anticipation, said:
"What do you want me to do?"
"Hmm…"
Natsuki's gaze dropped slightly, lingering for two seconds on secretary Chika's tender, inviting lips. He pondered, "Chika, why don't you get us some tea?"
"Ugh…" Chika puffed out her rosy cheeks slightly. "Isn't that just being an errand girl?"
Natsuki handed her a pen and said, "Then you write the application form?"
"No." Chika shook her head. "Those words are so official; it feels like copying from a template. There's no fun in it at all."
Natsuki then said, "Or how about you take Kashiwagi's place and do the financial reports?"
Chika blinked, "I don't know how to."
"…"
Their eyes met.
Chika stuck out the tip of her rosy tongue and obediently turned to say, "I'll go pour you all some tea."
A moment later.
"President, the tea's here."
Chika first poured a cup of tea for Kashiwagi, then carried a cup of black tea to the office desk.
"Thank you."
Natsuki politely thanked her, capped his fountain pen, and placed it on the edge of the office desk.
Clatter~
As he took the black tea, Natsuki's arm lightly brushed against the fountain pen, causing it to clatter to the floor.
"President, your pen fell."
Chika had no idea she had fallen into a trap. While speaking, she squatted down to pick up the fountain pen.
After picking up the fountain pen, Chika was about to stand up when a hand suddenly reached out and pressed on her shoulder.
"Eh, President?"
Chika looked up at Natsuki, who was squatting beside her, and asked in confusion, "I already picked up the pen."
Natsuki lowered his voice and said, "That was a pen I deliberately knocked down."
"Eh? Eh?"
Chika blinked in confusion, then quickly realized what was happening. Her pretty face rapidly flushed, and she whispered, "What do you want to do, President?"
Natsuki smiled. "You've already guessed what I want to do, Chika, haven't you?"
Chika's pretty face turned even redder, and she quickly shook her head, saying, "I can't guess, I really can't guess."
Natsuki whispered, "When I woke up this morning, my lips were a bit dry and chapped. I wanted Chika to help me apply some lip balm."
Chika breathed a sigh of relief and quietly said, "The lip balm is in my bag. I'll get it for the President…"
Natsuki grabbed Chika's wrist and whispered, "You know what you should use to apply lip balm."
"I don't know at all." Chika puffed out her rosy cheeks slightly and whispered, "Kashiwagi-chan is sitting on the sofa. We'll be discovered, won't we?"
Natsuki whispered, "The office desk is blocking her. Kashiwagi can't see."
Chika still wanted to struggle a bit: "That's still not okay. If I agree now, the President will definitely make even more outrageous demands later, won't he?"
Natsuki looked surprised. "You actually guessed it?"
"What?" Chika immediately puffed out her rosy cheeks. "The President really does want to do something even more outrageous!"
"We'll talk about future matters when the time comes. For now, hurry up and help me apply the lip balm," Natsuki whispered. "You don't want Kashiwagi to hear, do you?"
Chika muttered softly, "The President is so mean…"
Natsuki whispered, "An office romance where you have to tightly cover your mouth to keep from making a sound because you're afraid of being discovered by colleagues must be very exciting, right?"
Chika's pretty face flushed crimson, then turned pale with embarrassment. "It's not exciting at all!"
"…"
Chika had no choice but to puff out her rosy cheeks and carefully lean in. Her bright, lip balm-coated lips pressed against his, helping him apply the lip balm.
Chika was initially quite concerned, worried about being discovered by Kashiwagi, but it wasn't long before she became engrossed.
Kashiwagi was clearly on the sofa preparing financial reports, yet she was hiding behind the office desk, playing a kissing game with the President. Chika had to admit, it was indeed super tense and exciting.
Pop~
With a soft sound, Natsuki finally let go of secretary Chika.
"Hoo…hoo…"
Chika's pretty face was flushed, her eyes moist and dewy. One hand covered her chest; she was almost out of breath.
Natsuki's gaze was burning, and he whispered, "One more time."
"No, no more…"
Chika quickly shook her head.
You say no, but you don't get up and move away. Your actions and words don't match at all!
At this moment, Kashiwagi's voice suddenly rang out: "President, what was that sound just now?"
Chika jumped in fright and quickly held her breath, covering her mouth.
Natsuki wiped away the silver thread at the corner of his lips, sat back in his office chair, and said as if nothing had happened, "My pen just fell. I was picking it up."
Kashiwagi tilted her head and said, "But I heard a strange sound just now."
Natsuki replied without changing his expression, "It must be auditory hallucination."
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi said airily, "By the way, where is Chika-chan?"
Natsuki said calmly, "She just went out."
"Eh…" Kashiwagi blinked. "I don't seem to have heard Chika-chan open the door and leave."
Natsuki said, "That's because you were too engrossed in making the report."
"…"
In any case, just don't panic.
If you panic, you'll expose yourself 100%. If you tough it out, Kashiwagi surely won't go under the office desk to check, right?
"Is that so? I must not have noticed…"
Kashiwagi responded airily, then stood up and walked over with her notebook, saying as if nothing had happened, "President, the report is ready."
Natsuki reached out and said, "Let me see."
"Here~"
Kashiwagi handed over the laptop, and then the charm in her hand clattered to the floor.
"Oh dear, something fell…"
Kashiwagi exclaimed softly. As she spoke, she bent down to pick it up, naturally tilting her head to look under the office desk.