Snap!
A plush toy dropped out of the claw machine under Rei Ao's precise control.
"Wow! Rei Ao-kun, you're amazing!"
Even though she was troubled by her inability to read Rei Ao's emotions, Iroha Isshiki kept up her "adorable schoolgirl" persona in this moment.
"Haha, here you go. Where to next?"
He handed her the plush and directly asked about the next stop.
"Uh…"
Iroha's expression froze briefly.
That phrasing sounded odd—almost like he'd seen through her plan. Impossible! She refused to believe her strategy was fully exposed.
Pressing a fingertip to her lips, she pretended to think. After a few seconds, she showed just the right amount of "Aha!" cuteness.
"I've got it, Rei Ao-kun! How about we get dinner and then catch a movie? There's a romance flick I'm super curious about today."
Heh. That was all part of her plan.
By the time dinner finished, it would be nighttime. Then seeing a movie would make it around 10 p.m. Then Rei Ao-kun would walk her home in the dark; they could hold hands, get closer, lead into a confession… She refused to believe she couldn't get him that way!
Iroha's lips curved faintly, thinking it was a perfect plan.
"Oh? Sure, let's go," Rei Ao said, fully cooperative, as though not noticing her smug little smile.
He had known from the start that she was acting according to a plan. He just wanted to see what else she'd do. Admittedly, she had decent acting skills, though maybe slightly inferior to someone like Haruno.
…
"Yumiko, looks like they're off for dinner."
Yuigahama peered out, her stomach rumbling.
"Grr~…"
She clutched her belly.
"You little— so unprofessional!" Yumiko scolded her. But in the next moment—
"Grr~…" her own stomach growled, too.
Yuigahama blinked her big eyes innocently.
Yumiko's face reddened at being so flustered.
"Hmph, fine. Let's just sneak into that same restaurant and order something… Make sure you keep your mask on, so they don't notice us!"
"Got it, got it!"
…
In the Campione World
Amid swirling clouds and mist in a mountain forest stood a simple house—a place that hardly looked inhabited. Yet it was indeed home to someone.
"Master, I was wrong!!!"
A man's wail.
"You were wrong? Hmph."
A woman's snort—then a sudden surge of terrifying aura.
Boom!
A man's body shot out like a cannonball, slamming through a bare tree. The aura's owner was a woman in a cheongsam dress, exuding a fierce, overbearing presence. She went by Luo, named Cuilian, style name "Hao." Luo Cuilian, or Luo Hao—either name worked.
What mattered was her identity:
The one who reigned at the pinnacle of martial prowess: the Holy Cult Master of the Five Prisons. A Campione (God-slayer) known as the Martial Arts King, the sworn enemy of the oldest Campione, the Marquis Voban.
In the martial arts world, a third or so of the adepts belonged to her cult, swearing absolute obedience. Despite existing for over two centuries, she appeared a 17- or 18-year-old supreme beauty, dressed in a white Han Chinese qipao.
Her long black hair was braided in three sections. Luo Hao lived in a remote mountain monastery, rarely leaving. It was said anyone who saw her face would destroy their own eyes, and only her personal disciples could set eyes on her.
That unfortunate man who'd just been sent flying was one of her personal disciples, Lu Yinghua.
"May the wise and valiant Holy Cult Master's name endure as long as heaven and earth, never to fade!
Your fearless martial might, your insight and compassion shine upon the world!
Your disciple, Lu Yinghua, wishes Master ten thousand years of eternal splendor!"
Yes, from the distance came Lu Yinghua's voice, meaning he wasn't dead.
"Hmph, disturbing my cultivation, a fitting punishment," said Luo Hao, withdrawing her frosty gaze. She didn't spare him another glance, turning her attention elsewhere. Instead, she murmured:
"A seventh Campione has arisen, slaying two gods in an instant… Interesting."
That was the news that had driven Lu Yinghua to interrupt her training. It piqued her interest—but only slightly.
She mused, "Perhaps it's time I left the mountain."
Her eyes were keen, though she wasn't aiming for that new Devil King specifically. Her gaze fell toward the distant region of Sakura Island.
…
In the Chat Group
Erica: "@Rei Ao, Your Majesty, there's something I have to tell you!"
Rei Ao: "Just say it."
Misaka Mikoto: "Some urgent matter?"
Erica: "It's about that Sword King, Doni. He's been bragging everywhere about you instantly killing two Heretic Gods."
Fubuki: "That's actually true. I can still vividly recall that scene."
Erica: "Sure it's true, but publicly announcing it like that does you no favor, My King. It only draws unwanted trouble."
Saeko Busujima: "You mean from other Campiones?"
Shiba Miyuki: "Right, those Campiones are arrogant and lawless. They won't stand someone overshadowing them."
Frieren: "Mm, from their viewpoint, Rei Ao-kun is just a newly emerged Campione."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "So that Doni guy is basically putting Rei Ao at odds with the others on purpose?"
Mabel: "Eek, that's devious."
Bibi Dong: "Hmph, no matter if it's on purpose or for fun, he deserves to die!"
Tohru: "Agreed, let's kill him!"
Megumi Kato: "So what do you plan to do, Rei Ao-kun?"
Rei Ao: "He's using me for entertainment, is he? Hopefully he's ready to lose his head."
Tohru: "Hehe, let me do it. I'll rip him apart."
Rei Ao: "I'll deal with it later. I'm busy now."
Sui: "Busy? Are you fighting some powerful enemy?"
Mai Sakurajima: "Huh, if only. He's on a date, flirting."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "Ah, so there's another girl who's caught his eye?"
Mai Sakurajima: "A kouhai from our school, remember? That Iroha Isshiki girl."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "? What are you all talking about?"
Hearing Isshiki Iroha's name, Yukino suddenly felt unsettled. She'd been so immersed in Rei Ao's sweet affection that she'd forgotten about that underclassman who was chasing after him.
Rei Ao: "Hey, it's not that I fancy her. That little kouhai wants to 'capture' me, so now we're on a date~"
~~~
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