"So that's it. Flandre and I ended up here because of you?"
Listening to Ren's explanation, Remilia's expression suddenly cleared up.
She had been wondering why she was suddenly brought into another world. Although she had suspected that someone might have manipulated her, she couldn't think of a reason. She always thought of herself as the dignified Queen of the Blood Moon, but even she had the self-awareness to admit she couldn't compare to beings capable of casually pulling others into alternate worlds.
Still, she never expected that this was all due to a random contract draw… and she and Flandre were the ones summoned.
As for Remilia and Flandre, Ren now considered them as his own people.
For Ren, the limited-time training mission wasn't a big deal.
Even if it failed, the bond formed with Remilia and the others wouldn't just disappear.
The multiverse was vast—sooner or later, he'd make it to Gensokyo.
For Ren, time had already ceased to be an issue.
Back at Natsuki's house, Ren took a sip of red tea after explaining everything.
By the way, Lucemon had run off again. This new world was a brand-new playground for her, so of course she'd go out exploring. That angel was never the type to stay still. Even though Ren warned her not to cause too much trouble, he still had Ophis tail her, just in case.
There was no need for Ophis to fight her. Just blocking her path and saying, "Your food is mine now," would be enough to make her stop.
A very practical reason!
Incidentally, Natsuki wasn't home at the moment. She was dealing with the aftermath of Remilia and Flandre's fight.
Though she really wanted to lock up the crazy vampire, after one look at Ren, she wisely chose to clean up instead.
She couldn't win… Fortunately, Ren didn't seem to want to destroy Itogami Island and even helped stop Flandre's rampage.
In that case, Natsuki couldn't afford to antagonize him. For now, she could only host him at her house and wait until everything settled down before asking questions about his origins.
If he refused to explain, she'd simply stay vigilant while being polite.
At the very least, she didn't want to turn against Ren—someone who could casually suppress that vampire wasn't someone she could handle.
Though her battle with Flandre hadn't gone all the way to the end, the destructive potential of that rampaging vampire was too dangerous. If possible, Natsuki would rather never have to fight someone like that on Itogami Island again.
The idea of widespread destruction was already enough to give her a headache.
"Maybe… this is the Scarlet Devil Mansion's opportunity..."
Thinking of the current situation back home, Remilia frowned and muttered internally.
She could use Ren's power to grow stronger, and perhaps find a way to restore Patchouli, Sakuya, and Flandre to their normal states. Once that goal was reached, she could return to Gensokyo and heal them.
With that thought, Remilia's confidence surged again.
"But… being a pet? This is the greatest humiliation I've ever experienced!"
The very thought made Remilia visibly frustrated.
"I, the head of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, have actually become a human's pet? This is a disgrace!"
Her gaze shifted to Ren, full of indignation. But before she could say anything, a giant glowing hand suddenly appeared above her head.
"Eh—!?"
Sensing intense danger, Remilia immediately wrapped her hands around her head and crouched down, burying her face between her knees as if bracing for a devastating blow.
But what she received instead was the sound of a camera shutter.
Click!
Remilia: "???"
She tilted her head and slowly raised it.
What greeted her was a photo—of her crouched down, shielding her head.
"Ahhh, so this is the dignified mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion? What a funny sight..."
"You—!" Remilia pointed at Ren, tears of humiliation welling in her eyes.
This man was actually doing something so cruel!
Flandre, Flandre! Your big sister is being bullied! Wake up and help me!
Seeing Ren's smug grin, Remilia gritted her teeth, but it was no use.
"Really now, where's all that dignity? And yet you say being someone's pet is the ultimate disgrace? Patchouli and Sakuya both treat you like a kid."
"What did you say!? And how do you even know what I'm thinking?"
"You said it out loud yourself, idiot."
"I am not an idiot! I'm—woah!"
A garlic bulb suddenly flew at her from who-knows-where. Hit square in the chest, Remilia lost her balance and fell backward.
The great mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion had several weaknesses: running water, sunlight, and… garlic.
Incidentally, Remilia was indeed afraid of flowing water. She once fell into the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon in Silent Sinner in Blue, and that didn't hurt her—because it wasn't flowing.
Ren's eyes lit up as he lifted his phone again.
Click!
Another shutter sound. Ren smirked playfully.
"So it's a little bear after all. I didn't realize our honored Scarlet Devil Mistress was so full of childlike wonder."
High emotional intelligence: childlike wonder.
Low emotional intelligence: you're still a kid.
"Why are you so damn good at this!?"
Seeing this, Remilia's face turned beet red and puffed up like a cat ready to strike.
She raised her hand, as if about to draw a weapon, but looking at the smug Ren, she eventually lowered it again.
She had to admit a painful truth: she couldn't resist.
Watching Remilia sulk in a corner, Ren cheerfully scrolled through the pictures on his phone.
Nice, nice… Life definitely wouldn't be boring from now on.
His usual target (Kuroka) didn't come along, but now he had a new one—Remilia.
Despite her muttering about humiliation, Remilia still cast a worried glance at her unconscious little sister. She frowned, clearly hesitating about something.
Clinging to the "dignity" of her position, she puffed her chest and stood up on a chair to match Ren's height while he sat.
Then she looked him in the eye and asked:
"If Flandre and I become your so-called pets, will her destructive urges disappear?"
Between her pride and her sister, Remilia chose the latter.
Of course, the contract was already sealed. Even if she wanted to resist, it was too late.
This was her way of rationalizing the situation—finding excuses while begrudgingly accepting reality.
Seeing her get serious, Ren also put away his phone.
"Your sister's problem is simple—she awakened a power too strong for her to control..."
Remilia briefly described their past.
Basically, the classic setup: trauma, then an uncontrolled awakening.
It's a trope seen in many anime and tokusatsu series.
Though Remilia had also awakened, the power of fate wasn't fully under her control—it only acted as a passive skill. Flandre, on the other hand, awakened too early, and the boost in strength was far too much.
Right now, the only solution was to seal that power until she could control it.
Or...
"If she can't control her current power, then let her gain a new one—something easier to manage. Through that, she can learn to master what once overwhelmed her."