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If Umbrella was still running viral experiments after the outbreak, it meant the company was far larger than anyone could imagine.
In the games, Umbrella refused to die. In the movies, even after nations fell, the company thrived.
Rosen's strategy was simple: make enough noise to draw Umbrella's attention. That way, they'd be forced to reveal the location of their headquarters.
Because if he just charged around blindly while Umbrella deliberately hid, he'd waste far too much time finding them.
"Ohhh, so there was a deeper reason behind it. Here I thought you just wanted to show off in front of us." Gabriel clapped her hands like she'd figured out a puzzle.
Her gaming instincts told her to just follow the "main quest." But real life wasn't so convenient—no quest markers, no auto-pathing.
Speaking of which, this chat group was seriously lacking.
Even MMOs had auto-path systems. And this "high-level multiverse chat group" could only toss them random missions? What if they got dropped into a story none of them knew? They'd be stumbling around blind!
Rosen sighed. Gabriel's imagination really did run wild sometimes.
Fubuki, Saeko, and Frieren agreed with his approach, though. Searching the whole world for Umbrella would be far too troublesome.
"Get some rest," Rosen told them. "We'll scout the area nearby."
No one objected. Saya Takagi, Yuuka Nanri, and the others were exhausted. After so much mental and physical strain, the sudden relief was leaving them lightheaded.
Just as Rosen turned to leave, Shizuka Marikawa suddenly dashed up and hugged him from behind.
Soft, warm pressure pressed against his back.
"Eh? Where are you going, Savior? Can I come too? I'm all sweaty and I don't dare bathe alone. Would you come with me?"
She pouted dramatically. "Honestly, it's a problem! My chest is so big it soaks my clothes whenever I sweat. Even sleeping's a pain—if I lie on my back too long, I can't even breathe properly."
Shizuka spoke without the slightest trace of embarrassment.
While Yuuka Nanri and Saya still treated Rosen's group with wary respect, Shizuka's reaction was completely different—childlike, almost.
The definition of an airheaded ditz.
"Hey… Shizuka, you're making things awkward for Rosen," Yuuka Nanri scolded gently, pulling her back with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry. She's always like this. But she only shows this side to people she trusts. And… I want to apologize too, for doubting you earlier."
"Eh? What's the problem, Yuuka Nanri? I want to bathe with the Savior!" Shizuka pouted again.
"It's really hard to get myself clean all on my own, you know."
As she said this, she cupped her massive chest with both hands and gave them a bounce.
Basically, if you've ever seen jelly wobble, you get the idea.
The girls around her exchanged awkward glances.
Gabriel couldn't help but glance down at her own chest, then muttered in frustration.
Ugh! People really did get mad comparing themselves to others.
Saya and Rei frowned slightly.
Sherry compared sizes with her hands, then quietly gave herself a pep talk. Her little dog barked right on cue, as if cheering her on.
The more mature women didn't seem to care much.
Fubuki looked confident as ever, while Frieren gave Rosen a curious, almost teasing look.
"So, that's the type you like, huh?"
Rosen frowned. Had he really been that obvious?
"When I was training with my master, she taught me lots of things about men. She said they're the kind of creatures who get excited just seeing a bit of skin. She even taught me a spell to sense a man's body heat reactions."
"…What kind of messed-up lessons are those?" Gabriel gawked.
Wasn't magic supposed to be about attack, defense, sealing, and support?
Frieren squinted and gave a goofy grin, her mouth curving like a wave.
Rosen didn't bother explaining.
He was still a man—and a virgin at that.
Getting body-checked by Shizuka like that and having a reaction? Perfectly normal.
Luckily, his skin was thick enough now that he could shrug it off. Otherwise, dealing with a thousand-year-old elf teasing him about it would've been unbearable.
"..."
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