Chapter 727: The Gaze of a Two-Digit Number? Leticia's Shock!
"Damn it..."
Misaki Shokuhou stood on the bustling streets of Academy City's School Garden, her honey-blonde hair swaying in the artificial breeze. Despite the familiar scenery, a gloomy shadow lingered in her starry eyes.
She clenched her pale knuckles tightly around the strap of her bag.
The weight of the secrets she had learned from Ren was crushing. Unknowingly, during the incident with Synapse, she had revealed her history and her ambitions in front of him.
Ren did not offer empty encouragement. Instead, he had delivered a harsh dose of reality.
'Then you'll probably have to work hard for a long time.'
'Huh? What do you mean?' she had asked. 'Didn't you say that gaining Doomsday Points can make me stronger? Can't I just defeat the First Rank?'
'First of all, Accelerator is not just generally strong compared to you,' Ren had replied, his voice devoid of pity. 'Secondly, this is not as simple as the Level 6 Shift Project. It involves the very foundation of your city—the Chairman's plan.'
Aleister Crowley. The Chairman.
Misaki Shokuhou, the Queen of Tokiwadai, had never imagined that the darkness of Academy City extended so far beyond the science side. She had learned from Ren that the world was not a closed loop of esper physics.
Magic existed. True Magic.
Beyond the conventional boundaries of power, there were entities known as Demon Gods—Magic Gods—who could twist reality like a wet rag.
The power gap was so immense she couldn't even conceptualize it. Even Misaka Mikoto, who had recently grown stronger through the Chat Group, was still an ant compared to those beings.
For a moment, Misaki Shokuhou's heart was shrouded in an unresolvable gloom. She felt small.
However, the universe—or rather, a certain electric princess—seemed determined to test her patience.
Buzz.
A notification from the Chat Group popped up on her phone.
[Misaka Mikoto: The time stop is lifted. You're back in the dorms, right?]
Seeing that name made a vein pop on Misaki's forehead. If it weren't for this brute ignoring the importance of her own DNA map, the Sisters project wouldn't be such a mess.
Annoyed as she was, she still typed a reply.
[Misaki Shokuhou: What do you want, Misaka-san?]
[Misaka Mikoto: You've gotten stronger again, right? I saw you on the stream. Let's fight in the virtual arena. I want to make you lose, fully convinced of my superiority.]
Misaki Shokuhou's face darkened instantly.
Improvement?
There was clearly no improvement at all! She had just stood there while Ren deleted the enemy!
[Misaki Shokuhou: I'm very busy. Unlike some muscle-brained apes, I have a faction to manage.]
[Misaka Mikoto: Huh?]
[Misaka Mikoto: A fight doesn't take much time. Just one round!]
[Misaka Mikoto: Where are you? I'm coming over.]
Misaki Shokuhou simply locked her phone screen. She didn't have the energy to deal with the Railgun right now. The more she knew about the true nature of the world, the more complicated things became. She had to be careful—extremely careful.
Meanwhile, in Ren's main world residence.
Misaki Shokuhou had just left, returning to her own timeline.
Ren gathered everyone in the spacious living room. The atmosphere was serious, a stark contrast to the usual chaotic domesticity.
He first informed them about the digital traces of the Doomsday Game he had discovered within the systems of Synapse. Then, he described the composition of the game's code—a malicious virus designed to force evolution through despair.
"Has that Doomsday Game appeared again?"
Fujiwara Chika covered her mouth, her eyes widening in shock. She still remembered the embarrassing and terrifying scene of her first meeting with Ren during the first Doomsday Game. The fear of death was still fresh in her memory.
"I'm not sure if it will specifically manifest in our timeline yet," Ren said, shaking his head slowly. "But since it suddenly showed its head in the data of the Sky City, there's always a tendency for it to spread."
His gaze swept around the room, locking eyes with each of the women present—Utaha, Eriri, Megumi, the Nakano quintuplets, and the others.
"All of you, pay attention. Whether you've participated before or haven't been selected yet. If you find any strange system prompts or anomalies, inform me immediately via the Chat Group."
All the women nodded seriously. The air was heavy with tension.
They thought the meeting was over, and prepared to disperse to their duties.
But then, Ren's expression shifted. The seriousness melted away, replaced by a familiar, wicked smirk.
"Since you're all here, why leave so soon?"
He stood up, loosening his collar.
"Let's go up to the third floor. We need to perform a thorough... 'system check'."
Since Shinomiya Kaguya and the others were also here this time, they had to do something big. A massive, collective stress-relief session.
The women, who already understood the implicit meaning of "The Third Floor," reacted instantly. Some blushed furiously, others looked excited, and a few—like the fearless darkness of Lalatina—began to tremble with anticipation.
Only one person seemed on the verge of a panic attack.
"Eh??? Is... is it really my turn?!!"
Amano Hina, the Sunshine Girl, clutched her skirt, her face draining of color. She looked around like a trapped rabbit.
"Come on, Hina-chan! Don't be a spoilsport!"
Tohru, the Dragon Maid, didn't give her a chance to retreat. With a cheerful grin that showed off her fangs, she grabbed Hina's arm.
"I want to be first today! But you're coming with us!"
Ren walked over, stopping in front of the trembling weather maiden. He looked down at Amano Hina, his gaze intense and captivating.
"So, Hina. Do you want to become my person completely?"
"Ugh!"
So... so direct!
Amano Hina's face turned beet red, steam practically erupting from her ears. She looked at Ren's broad chest, then at the encouraging (and slightly predatory) expressions of the other women.
She knew this day would come. She had accepted his protection, his power, and his affection. But the reality of the "Third Floor" was... overwhelming.
After what seemed like a fierce internal struggle, Hina took a deep breath.
She bowed her head, her voice trembling softly. "Please... please be gentle, Ren-san."
Ren smiled, a genuine, warm expression that melted some of her fear.
"Don't worry. Everyone here has experienced my gentleness. Come on."
He reached out and pulled Amano Hina into his arms. She felt small against him, her heart pounding against his chest like a trapped bird.
As it was her first time stepping into this world of adulthood, he decided to be thorough.
Behind them, Yukinoshita Yukino and Kasumigaoka Utaha exchanged a knowing glance and twitched their lips simultaneously.
'Gentle?'
They could practically hear the irony. They could no longer experience "gentle." Now, as soon as Ren started on them, it was a barrage—a storm of stamina and intensity that left them unable to walk straight for hours.
Although... to be fair, they themselves were quite crazy in their demands lately.
Ren lifted Hina effortlessly, and the group ascended the stairs, leaving the innocence of the lower floors behind.
Meanwhile, downstairs.
The few people left in the living room on the second floor looked at each other in awkward silence.
Miyauchi Renge, with her triangular mouth and deadpan expression.
Ichijo Hotaru, the mature-looking elementary schooler.
Koshigaya Natsumi and Koshigaya Komari, the sisters from the countryside.
All of them were considered the "Little Ones"—too young or too innocent for the activities upstairs.
And watching over them was the incredibly awkward Nishimiya Yaeko.
The mother of Nishimiya Shouko and Yuzuru sat on the edge of the sofa, her hands resting stiffly on her knees. She felt like she was sitting on needles.
Why?
Because her two good daughters had both been taken away upstairs by Ren. Even Tohka's little sister figure had gone up.
She, the mother, was left here to babysit.
She could hear the faint sounds of footsteps and laughter from above, and her imagination ran wild. As a mature woman, she knew exactly what "checking the system" meant.
She flushed, shaking her head to clear the thoughts. She couldn't let these children see her flustered!
She forced a stiff, maternal smile and turned to the little ones staring at her.
"Do... do you girls want to learn how to make cakes? I'll teach you. We have plenty of strawberries."
She felt that at least she shouldn't let them be misled by obscene thoughts or curious noises. Distraction was the best strategy.
"Uh, okay! Cake!"
"I want to make a tall one!"
Komari, who was actually older than she looked but terrified of ghosts and "adult" things, immediately accepted the invitation. She was sitting on pins and needles too.
"Yes! Let's bake!" Komari squeaked. She also didn't want to think about those... terrifying scenes she had accidentally glimpsed in the manga Ren owned.
"Nyanpasu!" Renge raised her hand. "I want to put curry in the cake."
"Ren-chan, absolutely not!" Hotaru cried out in panic.
Far away, in the dimension of Hakoniwa (Little Garden).
At the headquarters of the merchant community, Thousand Eyes.
Shiroyasha, the Demon Lord of the White Night, snapped open her folding fan with a flourish. She smiled mischievously at the golden-haired vampire standing before her.
Leticia Draculair.
The former Demon Lord and Knight of Hakoniwa was already dressed in a crisp black and white maid outfit, highlighting her petite yet noble figure. A oversized red ribbon adorned her hair.
"Are you ready, Leticia? To welcome your new Master."
Leticia nodded calmly, her red eyes devoid of resistance. "I am ready, Shiroyasha-sama."
Her fate of becoming someone else's property was already sealed. It was the price for the survival of her comrades in the "No Name" community. She had accepted it long ago.
"Hehe, your Master is quite something. He isn't just a powerful human," Shiroyasha said, her eyes narrowing with a knowing glint. "Perhaps... he can even bring back your former strategist."
"???"
Leticia's calm facade cracked. Her eyes widened in genuine astonishment.
Strategist...
Their former strategist was none other than the brilliant mind of the Arcadia Community—Canary (Canaria).
But how was this possible?
Canary had been dead for years. Her existence had been erased, her story ended. Moreover, among the Gods and Buddhas of Hakoniwa, many wished for her to remain dead. The disruption she caused was too great.
What kind of person would dare to look for Canary?
Wouldn't that be making an enemy of the chaotic balance of the Gods?
But... Shiroyasha's tone was not mocking. It was serious.
Shiroyasha waved her fan gently, staring at the artificial sun outside the window. "Don't doubt my words. I'm not joking. That person... Ren... is even stronger than me in my prime."
"!!!"
Leticia's pupils constricted to pinpricks.
Stronger than Shiroyasha in her prime?
Shiroyasha was a former Demon Lord of the White Night, a Spirit of the Sun who held authority over the sun's mass. In her prime, she was a cosmic entity of the highest order.
If Ren was stronger than that...
"Didn't that mean..." Leticia whispered, her voice trembling, "The other party is a Two-Digit Number? Or even... One-Digit?"
In Hakoniwa, power and authority were ranked by the number of digits in one's Gate. A Two-Digit existence (Rank 10-99) was equivalent to the "Truth of the Universe"—beings who could create and destroy cosmologies at will.
A Two-Digit existence had taken an interest in her? In a fallen Vampire King?
Although Leticia didn't understand the reason behind it, the gravity of the situation shifted. Serving a lustful human was one thing; serving a Cosmic Truth was another entirely.
She straightened her posture, placing a hand over her heart.
She said seriously for the first time, her voice filled with a renewed resolve: "If that new Master can truly do it... if he can return Canary to us... I will wholeheartedly become his servant. My body, my soul, everything will be his."
Shiroyasha nodded with satisfaction, closing her fan.
That was the effect she wanted.
Since she was giving Leticia as a gift to Ren, it had to be a completely loyal and obedient gift. She didn't want to send Leticia to Ren only for the girl to remain expressionless and cold the whole time. That would be a breach of her promise to her old friend.
"Sigh..."
Shiroyasha slumped slightly, looking at Leticia's cute figure.
"But I am quite envious," she grumbled, a pervading gloom surrounding her. "It is a pity that such a high-quality beautiful girl is going to be given away by me. I wanted to dress you up more..."
Fortunately, Kuro Usagi (Black Rabbit) was still there to tease. Otherwise, life in Thousand Eyes would be too boring.
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