Inside the room, Minamiya Chiya sat at the edge of the bed, looking slightly resentful. Just thinking about the "mountain of gold" he had missed made his heart ache.
Top-grade spirit roots were leagues above mid-grade ones. The regret hit him hard.
After a long moment of silent frustration, he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
It's fine. So what if my talent isn't top-tier?
I still have the system.
As long as he kept completing missions and slaying demons, his strength would continue to rise. If quality wasn't enough, then he would make up for it with quantity.
Thankfully, Chiya had an optimistic personality. Otherwise, he might have spiraled into depression on the spot.
"Since Kaede and Rin both have good cultivation potential, once they become exorcists, they can assist me."
"When they reach third-rank exorcist level, I can even take them along on exorcism missions…"
He paused slightly.
"Assuming the 'Hyakki Yagyo' dungeon still exists by then."
Having steadied his mindset, Chiya began planning for the future.
From an ordinary, unranked exorcist to a third-rank one, it had taken him less than half a year.
Given the sisters' talent, along with occasional help from system-provided pills, they might even reach third-rank in just three months.
If he didn't have the system and they all relied purely on cultivation, he would eventually be surpassed by them.
Another half hour passed.
As the first strand of true qi fully circulated through their bodies, Kaede and Rin had officially stepped onto the path of cultivation.
"Mm… this feels so nice…" Kaede stretched lazily, her entire body giving off a soft, refreshed aura, like she had just come out of a warm bath. "It's like basking in the winter sun."
She possessed a high-grade water spirit root.
It suited her perfectly.
"I feel like I could eat a whole cow," Rin said as she opened her eyes, pressing a hand lightly against her stomach. Her tone carried both excitement and a strange sense of craving.
She had a high-grade earth spirit root.
That fit her in its own way too.
"Congratulations," Chiya said with a smile, looking at them both. "In the near future, Kaede, Rin, you'll both become exorcists."
Naturally, he was happy.
After all, these were his future partners.
To cultivate together, fight together, and walk a long path side by side… there was nothing better.
"Really?!" Kaede practically bounced up, her eyes shining as she looked at him.
"Mm. You can feel that warm current inside your body now, right?"
"That's proof you've entered the world of cultivation."
Like an older brother, Chiya reached out and gently patted her head.
Kaede instantly flushed, lowering her head shyly, yet still leaning into his touch, clearly enjoying it.
Rin saw everything.
Every detail.
Her lips puffed slightly in dissatisfaction.
She succeeded too, didn't she? So why didn't he pat her head?
After a brief moment of excitement, the three of them sat cross-legged on the bed again.
Even though the sisters had already formed their first strand of true qi, cultivation still required continuous effort. Talent alone was not enough.
For more than half a year, Chiya had cultivated day and night. That consistency was what allowed him to gain a foothold in this world of gods and monsters.
Fortunately, this world had its own peculiar rules.
Once they reached third-rank exorcist level, they would no longer need constant, intense cultivation.
Spiritual energy would gradually be absorbed and refined by their bodies automatically.
The stronger they became, the faster this process would be.
Maybe that was exactly why so many supernatural beings still existed in this world.
Watching the sisters close their eyes and continue cultivating, Chiya let out a quiet sigh.
In his perception, faint strands of spiritual energy within several hundred meters were all converging here.
They split into earth and water attributes, flowing gently into Rin and Kaede's bodies, circulating once before transforming into usable true qi.
Time passed quickly.
Before they knew it, the night was over.
In the latter half of the night, Chiya also joined them in breathing and cultivation.
By morning, the sisters stretched lazily, feeling completely refreshed. Their minds were clear, their bodies brimming with vitality.
"I'll go cook," Rin said immediately, clearly starving. She didn't even bother washing up before heading downstairs.
"After a night of cultivation, you should take a bath and relax," Chiya said to Kaede, exhaling slowly.
"Right… Chiya-kun… about the residual demonic energy in my arm… do you still need to… help me treat it?" Kaede lifted her arm slightly, revealing her smooth, fair skin. Her cheeks flushed as she spoke.
The moment she said it, she regretted it.
Was that too obvious?
Would he think she was a bad girl?
Her thoughts immediately drifted back to the other night, when she had been lying in bed, thinking about him…
Her heart began racing again.
"Mm. That works. The sooner we clear the remaining energy, the better it is for your cultivation."
Chiya noticed her expectation and, since he also wanted to deepen their relationship, agreed without hesitation.
And so, without Rin knowing, Kaede once again found herself alone in the bathroom with "another man."
...
Just like before, when Chiya entered the bathroom, he saw Kaede lying in the bathtub, her face flushed.
Only her neck and above were clearly visible above the water.
Even so, he couldn't help but admire her.
Her skin was unbelievably smooth, almost unreal.
However, it didn't take long before he noticed something off.
The faint curve beneath the water…
It didn't look like anything was covering it.
"Kaede… you're not wearing a towel, are you?" Chiya narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone direct.
After just a few days of interaction, he understood something clearly.
Kaede was already completely smitten with him.
He wasn't dense when it came to emotions. Anyone would notice the way she looked at him, with admiration and affection in her eyes.
"Ah? N-no… I am…" Kaede panicked, nearly sitting up. Her voice trembled as she tried to cover it up.
Inside, she was already mortified.
Why didn't I just wrap the towel…
Now he's definitely going to misunderstand…
"Really? Then let me take a look…" Chiya grinned, deliberately leaning closer.
"Eh?"
Startled, Kaede lifted her head just as he approached.
Their faces collided lightly.
Her lips brushed against the corner of his.
A soft, fleeting kiss.
"Wow, Kaede, that eager?" Chiya teased, though he was pleasantly surprised.
Even if it wasn't a proper kiss, it was close enough.
And he could always fix that.
"Chiya-kun… I…" Kaede covered her mouth, looking at him shyly, her gaze lingering on his face.
Suddenly, she realized something.
Maybe… he liked her too.
Otherwise, why would he help her so much?
Teach her?
Stay by her side?
And even during that massage the other night…
Her thoughts drifted, and her face flushed deeper.
"So you do feel the same way…" she murmured inwardly.
"Such a silly girl," Chiya said softly, gently lifting her chin. "A proper kiss should be like this."
He leaned in.
Their faces drew close again.
Kaede's breathing grew rapid, warm against his skin.
Then their lips met.
This time, fully.
Soft at first, then deeper.
The warmth enveloped her, like stepping into a gentle, sheltered space.
Chiya's kiss became more assertive, guiding, coaxing her to respond.
"Mm…"
Kaede offered no resistance.
Her arms instinctively wrapped around his shoulders, her body leaning forward against the edge of the tub.
The moment lingered, tender and unhurried.
And just as the atmosphere deepened further…
Everything gradually faded.
The warmth, the closeness, the unspoken emotions between them quietly settling into something more.
...