The morning sun rose, its light spilling across the scarred landscape of Hokkaido.
The rescue team from the Japanese Public Safety Commission finally arrived, late.
But before this city that had been completely reduced to ruins, this rescue force was like a drop in the bucket.
But regardless, when the players saw the rescue workers scattered among the rubble, they couldn't help but feel a slight sense of relief… apart from Aki and his brother, they had finally seen living people in this world who weren't players.
"Everyone, have something to eat."
Ran distributed the food she had managed to find to the group.
But when she reached Mana and Erina, she paused slightly and silently walked around them.
It wasn't intentional neglect, but she already knew that the mother and daughter possessed the God Tongue, and those coarse compressed biscuits and instant noodles were like poison to them.
Just as Ran was about to walk past them to distribute the remaining food to Alice's family, a piercing cry suddenly tore through the air: "Mother—!"
Everyone spun around.
Mana, who was already thin, suddenly fell backward, her face even paler than the day before.
"Mother! Mother! Wake up!!"
Erina threw herself onto her mother, shaking her desperately.
Yukino, who had learned some Medical Ninjutsu, quickly stepped forward and placed her fingers on Mana's pulse.
After a moment, her expression turned grave. "If she doesn't eat soon, her life will be in danger."
This statement was stating the obvious.
If Mana could eat normally, how would she have ended up like this?
It wasn't just Mana… Erina was also at her limit.
She hadn't eaten a single bite since arriving in this world and was barely holding on.
"We should give her an IV drip."
Looking at his unconscious sister, Soe's brow was deeply furrowed.
"Where are we supposed to get an IV drip here!"
Leonora's voice was filled with despair, her eyes reddening.
"I'll go ask the rescue team!!"
Alice turned and rushed towards the rescue workers without a second thought. But in less than five minutes, she came back looking dejected, her expression even worse than before.
They might be able to scrounge up a few packs of instant noodles or compressed biscuits, but who would carry IV drips on a disaster rescue mission?
Besides, had that stuff even been invented in this era?
"We'll have to ask him."
Hayasaka Ai, who had been following the group quietly since crossing over, finally spoke softly.
Her gaze passed over the others, settling on a damaged building not far away… this was already the fourth building they had used in the past two days.
In an instant, everyone's eyes followed her gaze.
"Will he agree?"
Soe's face was bitter as he recalled the merciless refusal from the day before.
Just then, Erina clenched her jaw and stood up.
The actions of Utaha and the others the previous day had given her an idea.
She had barely taken two steps—
"You are not to disturb Senpai."
Yu blocked her path.
"What do you want?!"
Erina bit her lip hard, finally casting aside all the pride of being Totsuki Academy's [Ice Queen].
"I, I... I'll offer myself to him."
Behind her, Soma, Tadokoro Megumi, and the others stood frozen, disbelief written all over their faces.
That young lady, who at school always looked like everyone owed her money, could actually say something like that?
Yu paused for two seconds upon hearing this.
Then he silently stepped aside.
'—Someone of this caliber, Makoto-senpai probably wouldn't refuse.'
If it were someone like Yukino... that would be a different matter and worth stopping.
On the other side.
"Ahhh—"
Kato Megumi, rising from the futon, gently covered her pink lips and yawned.
The morning light fell on her languid, pretty face, still carrying a hint of last night's lingering fatigue.
But before her vision could fully clear, her ears caught the familiar duet of a man and a woman.
"Makoto-kun, Utaha, you two are at it again... can't you rest a bit?"
Seeing the scene before her clearly, Megumi let out a helpless sigh.
Makoto didn't even look back. "Who do you think I am? Come here."
He grabbed her and refined her instantly.
Erina had been standing outside the door for over half an hour.
She had already made up her mind, but listening to the continuous sounds coming from inside, she lost her nerve.
'This was... a bit too much, right?'
After an unknown amount of time, the commotion inside finally subsided.
Erina took a deep breath, steeled her resolve again, and gripped the doorknob.
But before she could push it open, the door was pulled from the inside.
Taken by surprise, Erina stumbled forward, about to fall—
Fortunately, a large hand steadied her shoulder in time.
"What are you here for?"
Makoto, looking refreshed, looked at her and asked.
…
Five minutes later.
Nakiri Erina sat inside the room, watching Utaha, Megumi, Airi, Marina, and Chizuru line up one by one to wash up. Even though she had mentally prepared herself, she still felt her worldview shattering.
Makoto sat at the foot of the bed. "What exactly is the matter?"
As soon as he spoke, Utaha, who was drying her hair, Megumi, who was showering, and the Aizono sisters, who were waiting in line, all turned their gazes towards this young girl whose looks and figure were no less than theirs, with hair styled like an elf's.
"I, I..."
Erina bit her lower lip hard. After a few seconds, she broke down and cried out:
"I can do that kind of thing with you too... please, save my mother!"
The room fell silent for a moment.
Utaha and the others merely averted their gazes and continued with what they were doing.
They had already guessed.
"This is the solution you came up with after thinking all night?"
Makoto looked at her with interest.
"I, I can also cook for you for the rest of my life... n-not that you're short on chefs..."
Erina lowered her head, her voice growing quieter.
If Makoto asked, countless top-tier chefs would come to curry favor with him.
Hadn't his meals in the real world been handled by the Totsuki Elite Ten Council?
She glanced at Megumi and the others and silently added to herself: 'Not short on women either.'
"But I'm not really in the mood for that right now..."
Makoto leaned back against the chair, letting out a long sigh, a rare trace of exhaustion showing in his expression.
With his current physique, taking on five at once was his limit. Especially since all five girls had undergone transmigration and had physiques strengthened by Chakra.
The ordeal yesterday had almost drained him dry.
Even if his body could still handle it, his mind couldn't… just like how even if you love gaming, playing for over ten hours straight will make you tired.
"P-Please... I'm begging you!"
Erina was so anxious tears streamed down her face, each little pearl hitting the ground.
Her mother had lost consciousness… they couldn't afford to delay any longer.
Makoto watched her anxious expression for a moment, then silently crooked his finger at her. "Come here."
Erina didn't dare hesitate. She quickly scurried up to him: "P-Please..."
She was about to ask if Makoto had any other requests when she saw him tilt his chin up slightly and tap his lips with his fingertip.
Erina's face instantly turned crimson.
In her free time, she loved reading romance manga. How could she not understand such a hint?
Erina clenched her fists tightly, her nails almost digging into her palms. She desperately convinced herself: 'For mother, do it!'
With that thought, she leaned forward slightly—
Five seconds later, she suddenly shuddered, her pupils contracting sharply.
She felt something stirring, disrupting her God Tongue.
'So... so... delicious...'
"Saying you don't want to, yet your body is quite honest."
Utaha, who had just finished drying her hair, caught sight of this scene and couldn't help but pout, her familiar sharp tongue showing.
But the next second—
Chizuru, who had been waiting to shower, noticed something unusual about Makoto and suddenly sat down beside him, kneeling...
Utaha:
Megumi:
Aizono sisters:
'What the... sister? That hungry?'
Half an hour later.
Makoto led six girls back to the players' gathering spot.
"How was it?"
Makoto looked sideways at Erina, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Erina: "..."
Erina buried her face deep in her chest, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to disappear into.
Makoto was somewhat surprised.
He had thought that, amplified by the God Tongue, she would feel nauseous enough to vomit.
'Could it be that my... stuff... actually tasted good?'