Lining up, Kisaragi Rin successively helped the Scarecrow, the Shepherd Witch, the Golden Goose, Calcifer, and the Magic Mirror complete their registration and onboarding ceremony.
With the control effect of the Demonic Garment and the various bonuses he had against Strange Tales, it was unlikely they would betray him.
However, thinking of Miss Red's strength and the top-tier Strange Tales existing in this world, Kisaragi Rin decided to upgrade the Demonic Garment in the Main World later. It would be best to get some more powerful control methods, just in case he took in a Strange Tale that was too strong and couldn't use it with confidence.
Opening the Otherworldly Girl Helper Manual, Kisaragi Rin found that Miss Red and the Shepherd Witch had already been included.
Miss Red: 80
Shepherd Witch: 65
This friendship made Kisaragi Rin's expression peculiar.
It really was a voluntary surrender?
Looking at Miss Red's portrait again, a ghostly figure wrapped in bandages wore Miss Red, and behind it, several roots with black talismans connected to more distorted monster projections.
"By the way, where did Miss Red recruit these Strange Tales from?"
Kisaragi Rin closed the Otherworldly Girl Helper Manual, using the term 'recruit' quite euphemistically.
Not to mention the Queen and the Magic Mirror currently enslaved by Miss Red, Strange Tales like the Scarecrow, though individually ugly, had rare Abilities and strength that could defeat a hundred Hanakos.
Especially the flame in the fireplace, Kisaragi Rin remembered its identity in "Howl's Moving Castle" was set as a powerful fire demon.
"I caught them all during my travels. Only Calcifer is different; I made a contract with it to help it find the truth about why this world has no sun."
Noticing Kisaragi Rin's interest in Calcifer, Miss Red added an extra explanation.
As for Kisaragi Rin having already deduced the reason why this world had no sun?
Calcifer didn't quite believe it, after all, it hadn't even spoken much with Kisaragi Rin. Such a matter required multi-faceted evidence to confirm.
"I see..."
Kisaragi Rin had no opinion and didn't plan to chat with this ball of flame.
Calcifer wasn't very suitable for the Strange Tales Association because its personality was too kind.
Yes, kind. As a fire demon, it actually hated war, and Kisaragi Rin's Strange Tales Association would inevitably start wars to conquer this world.
Although he could gain affection by using reasons like "starting a war is to restore order and light to this world without a sun," this was unnecessary for the current Kisaragi Rin. He didn't lack Calcifer's power, so such minor matters should be left to the two vice-presidents, Busujima Saeko and Spider Mother... "The onboarding ceremony is complete."
Kisaragi Rin smiled. Just as these newly onboarded Strange Tales were about to relax, Spider Mother noticed Kisaragi Rin paused at the word "complete."
Being too familiar with each other, Spider Mother already understood her master's meaning.
"Oh, right.
I have a Pumpkin Freak locked up here. Is anyone its friend?"
Spider Mother asked aloud, and the pumpkin-colored spider also lay prostrate on her palm.
A few people looked at each other, all shaking their heads in denial.
Miss Red explained:
"The Pumpkin Freak's personality is bloodthirsty and prone to anger, so it doesn't get along well with other Strange Tales.
However, its Ability is too special, so normally it's just left alone."
The so-called special Ability naturally referred to the pumpkin carriage with spatial attributes that it created, which, like the Gingerbread Man of the Gingerbread Witch, could always exist, making it a very special, powerful, and potential force.
"Is that so?
In that case, there's no need to hold another onboarding ceremony for the Pumpkin Freak who missed the first one."
Spider Mother showed a sweet smile, handing the spider in her hand to Kisaragi Rin.
"Its Ability is special. If the pumpkin carriage is damaged, it also needs its power to repair it..."
Miss Red wanted to persuade him, thinking it was absurd to give up a Strange Tale with a rare Ability for such a reason.
The reason it voluntarily surrendered was because it possessed a mysterious Ability that could vaguely perceive crises and opportunities. When Spider Mother appeared before it, the Queen's Magic Mirror began to malfunction, and the sense of impending death and the opportunities behind the disaster almost blinded its main body.
Later, it discovered that all of this came from Kisaragi Rin.
Now, the president of the Strange Tales Association acting so irrationally truly puzzled it.
"No need."
Kisaragi Rin replied, then clenched his fingers.
When he opened his hand again, the spider had turned into several Ability Seeds in his palm.
The operation was also simple: transfer the Pumpkin Freak to the Workshop for decomposition, then take out the Ability Seeds.
"What is this?" Miss Red asked.
"An organizational benefit."
Kisaragi Rin shrugged and asked the Strange Tales:
"The power to plant pumpkins, does anyone want this guy's Ability?"
Hmm... literally planting pumpkins, but the actual effect was like the development of a Devil Fruit in One Piece.
As expected of a Fairy Tale Strange Tale, the Abilities born were quite bizarre and powerful.
Naturally, Sadako and the others didn't want to miss out on such power, but considering there were many more Strange Tales in this world waiting for them to plunder Abilities, the pumpkin planting Ability, which leaned towards logistics, made them somewhat worried that there might be better Abilities to choose from later.
Then Illya looked around and decisively took her mother's hand.
Irisviel: "..."
Although they spoke of workplace bullying, the members of the Strange Tales Association actually knew each other, and they didn't know the extent of each other's relationship with Kisaragi Rin, so the atmosphere of their usual interactions was quite humble and polite.
However, as more members joined, strength would become increasingly important.
"Then give it to Irisviel."
Kisaragi Rin didn't mind; this Strange Tale Fairy Tale World indeed represented many opportunities to become stronger.
Then Miss Red saw Irisviel put the Ability Seed into her mouth, then raised her finger, and a pumpkin vine grew out. The pumpkin vine continuously lengthened, and a strange pumpkin grew from it.
"This is... the Pumpkin Freak's Ability?"
Miss Red said in surprise.
The Scarecrow and the others' expressions stiffened again.
This was a stick and a carrot!
This clearly told them that even a Strange Tale with a rare Ability was not important to the Strange Tales Association, because the association could always strip a Strange Tale's Ability and bestow it upon another Strange Tale. And for this same Ability, the organizational benefit Kisaragi Rin spoke of had already proven that the Strange Tales Association indeed could help them achieve greater power.
Provided that, as he said before, no unpleasant incidents occurred.
Rigid control was not good; power and benefits were more likely to win people's hearts.
After doing all this, Kisaragi Rin held Spider Mother in his arms, resuming a lazy sitting posture, signaling that these Strange Tales could relax a bit.
"The onboarding ceremony is successfully concluded.
So, the next topic: the Strange Tales Association needs to select a base territory in this world."