In the dead of night, Tatsuya slipped out of the hotel, leaving no trace behind. Even the military personnel assigned to keep a watchful eye on him remained completely oblivious to the fact that their target had already vanished into the darkness.
"The security is even tighter than I expected. Well, it's only natural, considering Mother was the one who gave the order." Tatsuya allowed a small smile to play on his lips as he pictured his mother's silhouette—a woman who radiated a dangerous aura but possessed a hidden, gentle affection.
As he let himself sink into the memories of the private moments he'd shared with her, a sense of nostalgia washed over him.
White: "Hey, are you ready yet? How much longer do you plan on making us wait?"
Tatsuya Yotsuba: "My apologies. I'm opening the dimensional portal now. Everyone, prepare to enter."
Time Eater: "It would be best not to delay any further, hi hi hi…"
Sword Princess: "..."
Tatsuya Yotsuba: "I know! Just get over here already!"
Three dimensional gates flickered into existence right before Tatsuya's eyes.
From the first gate, a mature woman with silver-white hair and eyes as red as fresh blood stepped out. Her gait was casual, yet she carried herself with an unmistakable elegance. Every movement she made exerted a mature charm that was rarely found in any other woman.
She was Testarossa, one of the strongest Primal Demons from the world of Tensura.
"Thank you for summoning me~," Testarossa said, offering Tatsuya an elegant word of thanks.
Tatsuya found himself momentarily dazed by her sheer beauty, his eyes fixed on her for several seconds without so much as a blink.
"Tatsuya-kun?"
"Ah... uh, yes? What is it?"
"Fu fu fu. So, this is what it feels like to be looked at with such lustful eyes? Not bad at all."
"Ugh, I'm sorry."
"Hi hi hi, there's no need to apologize."
"What an unusual interior..." A voice, flat yet remarkably soft, drifted through the air.
Tatsuya and Testarossa turned their heads, spotting a beautiful girl with a deadpan expression surveying her surroundings with a look of quiet wonder. Tatsuya's eyes widened the moment he registered what Aiz was wearing.
"Ara~ what a cute outfit. What kind of clothes are those?"
"A sailor uniform? Where on earth did you get that?" Tatsuya asked, his voice laced with confusion.
"Loki gave this to me. She said it was once worn by a 'Lost One' from another world."
"A Lost One? You mean someone who crossed over from a different world?"
"Mm... What do you think? Does it suit me?" Aiz even gave a small twirl, seeking Tatsuya's opinion.
"One thousand points!"
"Eh? What do you mean by that?" Aiz tilted her head, clearly failing to grasp the meaning behind Tatsuya's eccentric rating.
Testarossa smiled gently and chimed in, "I believe he means it suits you perfectly."
The corners of Aiz's lips curved upward ever so slightly.
"Thank you. For some reason, hearing that makes me happy."
As a classic kuudere, Aiz rarely allowed a smile to grace her face, saving such expressions for truly special moments.
"Ara ara~ ufufu~ it looks like I'm the last one to arrive~." Kurumi's voice immediately commanded everyone's attention.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
Tatsuya's heart skipped a beat, racing faster in his chest. He turned his head slowly, his expression turning to one of pure shock as he gazed at the stunning woman standing before him.
Too perfect. It was as if she had been personally designed by the Creator Himself—that was the first thought that flashed through Tatsuya's mind upon seeing Kurumi in the flesh.
Kurumi was quick to notice Tatsuya's intense gaze. She offered a soft, teasing smile and said, "You're even more handsome than you appeared on the screen."
"Ugh, thanks. You're also..."
"Also what?"
"Also far more beautiful than you looked on the screen."
"Hi hi hi~ thank you, but flattery like that won't work on me. You still have a very long way to go if you're planning on adding me to your harem~."
"Aha ha ha..." Tatsuya could only manage a hollow laugh in response to Kurumi's playfulness.
Earlier, Tatsuya had gone through the trouble of renting out an entire floor specifically for the group's use. Not only that, but he had also arranged for maids from the Yotsuba family to attend to them.
He did this for one simple reason: he didn't want anyone else to catch wind of the group's existence—at least, not for the time being.
Aiz, driven by curiosity regarding the modern interior, began to wander around the room with Tatsuya acting as her guide. Testarossa and Kurumi followed behind them, though they didn't seem particularly impressed.
To Kurumi, this world wasn't all that different from her own. Testarossa, on the other hand, was a demon who had existed since ancient times; it was difficult to pique her interest with anything that didn't involve toyed with humans.
As dawn approached, Tatsuya prepared to make his way back to the hotel. He left a message for the group, instructing them to follow the arrangements made by the maids staying with them.
Aiz would surely listen to him. However, Kurumi and Testarossa were a different story, and they left him feeling a bit uneasy. Tatsuya couldn't begin to guess what went on in the mind of a Primal Demon, nor could he control the madness of the Spirit of Time if she decided to go on a rampage.
"Wait a second... I feel like I've forgotten something. But what?" Tatsuya reflected for a moment, racking his brain, but he couldn't recall whatever it was that slipped his mind.
"Forget it. I need to get back before the others realize I'm gone."
To be continued...Anvanced Chapter patreon.com/AgamYupi02