"Ichika! Miku!"
"Nino! Itsuki!"
At the Aozaki residence, Roy had already sent word ahead using familiars.
As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, Nino and Itsuki spotted Ichika and Miku who had come out to greet them. The four sisters immediately embraced each other excitedly, filling the yard with laughter and joyful chatter.
Utaha, Hayasaka, and others soon emerged from the house to welcome Roy's return.
Touko and Illya lingered at the back, looking thoroughly bored.
"The numbers have increased again," Utaha remarked, watching the group of beauties entering the mansion. Her eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and the smile meant to welcome Roy back couldn't hold.
"Are there even enough bedrooms in this house?" Hayasaka merely glanced at the four newly arrived beauties, already calculating how to arrange their accommodations.
Takina and Chisato stared at the gathering of women—some mature, some youthful, some intellectual, others brimming with youthful energy—their mouths forming perfect O's in shock.
That Roy's mansion housed a bevy of beauties was the one thing he hadn't mentioned during their journey!
"Chisato," Takina couldn't help but grip the hand of the girl beside her, her eyes filled with deep concern.
Chisato gave her a puzzled look.
"Ai, is lunch ready?"
"It is, Lord Roy, but given the number of people, there might not be enough," Hayasaka replied, her expression turning pained as she surveyed the large group before her.
The more women in the household, the heavier her workload became!
Preparing meals alone took up more than half her daily working hours!
Thankfully, Utaha and the Nakano sisters could lend a hand. Otherwise, she'd have to quit her maid duties altogether—she'd rather be a bed warmer than continue as a maid under these conditions!
"We'll make do with this for lunch. I'll figure something out later," Roy mused, wondering if the city hall's cafeteria accepted takeout orders.
Even excluding Rin, who was often away, the Aozaki residence now housed eleven people: Roy, Touko, Illya, Utaha, Hayasaka, Ichika and Miku, Nino and Itsuki, Takina, and Chisato.
Feeding such a large household was a daily challenge.
Surely the cafeteria would accept takeout orders.
If not, he'd have Rin decree a magus privilege allowing them to "force restaurants to accept takeout orders without refusal"!
"Also, we're running out of bedrooms. Even accounting for those who don't need one at night, we're still short."
"This house needs an expansion. For now, let's have familiar faces share rooms."
"Understood."
NIGHT! TIME! ATTENDANCE!
Takina caught the keyword, her ears perking up instantly. Her eyes widened in shock, and her grip on Chisato's hand tightened unconsciously.
Chisato blinked at her, a thoughtful glint appearing in her eyes.
At noon, the four newcomers joined the meal.
With the household size suddenly more than doubling, Hayasaka's lunch preparations proved insufficient. Everyone managed only a half-full stomach.
Just after lunch, Hayasaka took Utaha out for a major shopping spree in the commercial district. Ichika and Miku, having just reunited with their sisters, were kindly given ample time by Hayasaka to catch up.
Takina volunteered to help clear the table, carrying the dishes into the kitchen and meticulously washing them one by one.
"Done!"
After finishing the dishes, Takina took a deep breath, clenched her fists as if psyching herself up, then turned and headed toward the mansion's front yard.
While cleaning up earlier, she had noticed Roy heading in that direction.
Arriving in the front yard, Takina immediately spotted Roy standing there, holding what looked like a very advanced phone, as if he had just been messaging someone.
Beside him stood another girl with soft, short golden hair—none other than Chisato.
"Chisato? What are you talking to Lord Roy about?"
She wore a cheerful smile, chatting with Roy about something.
Soon after, as if finishing her business, she turned and left the front yard.
Takina hesitated for a moment before walking toward Roy.
Roy, who had just seen Chisato off, was about to open his phone again when he noticed Takina approaching—wearing an expression as if she were marching to her doom.
Anyone else might have thought she was heading to war.
"Takina, is something the matter?"
Roy sensed she had something to say and took the initiative to ask.
"Yes."
Takina took another deep breath, trying to suppress the frantic pounding of her heart.
"About Chisato… does Lord Roy know about her physical condition?"
"Chisato's body… you mean her heart?"
"So you do know."
Takina sighed softly, though she wasn't particularly surprised.
Roy's abilities far exceeded her expectations.
Not only did he possess the magical prowess of a Crown-class magus, but he could also obliterate a terrifying cursed spirit like Mahito like it was nothing—even healing her near-fatal injuries in a single second. Roy exuded an aura of omnipotence, making it hard to imagine anything beyond his capabilities.
Him being able to discern that Chisato's heart was an artificial machine wasn't unexpected.
But what mattered was what came next.
Takina took another deep breath, steeling herself.
"With Lord Roy's abilities… could you replace Chisato's heart with a healthy one?"
"That's simple for me."
Roy nodded confidently without hesitation.
Having fully mastered the body-modification abilities granted by Tiamat, the only thing beyond his reach was creating life from nothing. Any other bodily manipulation was well within his capabilities—crafting a heart compatible with Chisato was child's play.
Using Chisato's own cells as a base, Roy could even create a heart stronger than her original one.
"Please, Lord Roy, help Chisato!"
Takina spoke with utmost seriousness.
"And… if Lord Roy has any needs, please don't involve Chisato. I can take her place—I'll do anything, even if it means serving you in bed!"
Roy fell silent at her words.
He gave her a strange look.
"...Is that a no?"
Being stared at with such a gaze, Takina's expression gradually became strained.
"No, I'm not referring to that matter."
Roy shook his head, smiling with a strange expression.
"Chisato just came to see me. Do you know what she said?"
"What...?"
Takina blinked her eyes in confusion.
"'If Takina says everything is aimed at her, then please go easy and let me handle it.' That's what she said."
Roy repeated the words Chisato had spoken just minutes earlier in her tone, sighing with emotion.
"You two really have such a good relationship!"
If this were a different script.
It would totally be an eroge setup!
Speaking of which, are there any doujins like this?