Go to another world?
Finally, the function had appeared!
He could finally leave this place!
Shinobu's discovery made Shirai Takeru's entire body shudder.
He couldn't stop himself from laughing wildly into the empty void around him.
Anyone who hadn't been stuck in this empty space would never understand how terrifying it was.
There was no danger, true—
But the loneliness and emptiness could devour a person whole.
Stay alone too long?
Your body might be fine—but your mind would go insane.
That's why Shirai had always stayed in the group chat, doing nothing else.
Robin: "So they only unlocked this function—maybe it depends on how many members the group has?"
Kirino Kosaka: "Then doesn't that mean we might get to meet each other?"
Miko Yotsuya: "Whoa, now I'm kind of excited!"
Tohsaka Rin: "Wait, people from different worlds can actually meet?"
Kirino Kosaka: "We're already in the same chat group. What's impossible anymore?"
Shinobu Kocho: "That means… Kirishima Touka, looks like we will be meeting in person."
Robin: "Not necessarily. I checked—only native residents of a world can invite others in."
Robin: "And I doubt she'll give you that chance."
Shinobu Kocho: "What?!"
This turn of events left Shinobu bitterly disappointed.
She had already been itching to expand her demon-slaying duties into other worlds.
Such a pity!
Why did it have to be a ghoul from that world who joined?
Shirai Takeru: "Shinobu, now's not the time to get hung up on Touka. You'll have plenty of chances to meet her later."
Shirai Takeru: "Invite me to your world—now!"
Shinobu Kocho: "Invite you? For what?"
She was immediately on guard.
They were from different worlds.
At best, they were just online acquaintances.
Randomly inviting someone from another world into your own?
Any rational person would think that was absurd.
But Shirai only needed one sentence to shatter her defenses.
"Do you want to save your sister or not?"
"After everything that's happened, you should believe I really do have the power to travel between worlds."
Reading that, Shinobu's hand began to tremble.
Her heart fell into a storm of conflict.
But the hesitation lasted only a few seconds.
Her gaze soon hardened.
Even if it meant taking a huge risk—
After all, who knew if Shirai really had the power he claimed, or if he was even a good person at all?
Who knew what the price of his help would be?
But as long as there was even a sliver of hope...
She was willing to try.
"Fine. I'll invite you right now."
Having made up her mind, Shinobu decisively opened the invite function and sent a personal invitation to Shirai Takeru.
Erina Nakiri: Huh? We're crossing over to another world this suddenly?
Miko Yotsuya: The pace is a bit fast, but I'm jealous. I want to see what other worlds are like too.
Kirino Kosaka: I'd think twice if I were you. Don't forget—her world has demons. You don't want to get eaten, do you?
Shinobu Kocho: Demons aren't exactly common. And if you stay close to me, you'll be fine.
She couldn't help but feel a bit speechless.
Could they not talk about her world like it was some kind of hellscape or post-apocalyptic ruin?
Miko Yotsuya: How about we all go as a group then?
That suggestion actually tempted Erina Nakiri for a second.
But…
Someone had already done who-knows-what while looking at her photo.
What if they saw her in person?
She shivered just thinking about it.
She quickly dropped any idea of going in person.
Robin: I looked into it just now. If you want to visit someone else's world, you not only need an invitation from a local, but there's also a cost.
Robin: Each travel consumes a certain amount of time-space points.
Rin Tohsaka: Time-space points? What's that?
Robin: No idea. But everyone starts with 100, just enough for one trip.
Kirino Kosaka: Free lottery draw for new members, free first world jump...
Kirino Kosaka: Isn't this just like one of those freemium gacha games?
Shirai Takeru: To be fair, it's not just a freemium game—it's one of those games that exist solely to suck up your money.
And he would know better than anyone.
Just thinking about it brought up painful memories.
So painful.
But right now, the top priority was getting out of this godforsaken void.
While the others continued discussing time-space points and how to earn them, Shirai Takeru didn't bother joining in.
He immediately accepted Butterfly Shinobu's invitation without hesitation.
The next moment, without any warning, Shirai Takeru vanished.
The endless void returned to stillness, like he had never been there at all.
—
At that same time, in Shinobu's room at the Butterfly Mansion...
She stood frozen, watching as a man appeared out of nowhere right in front of her.