Just as Yukino Yukinoshita stood there dumbfounded, a small head peeked out from the end of the entryway. Nia Honjo glanced left and right before flashing Luo Shu and Yukino Yukinoshita a mischievous grin:
"Miko's all ready~ Next up is the super rare pajama perk round~ Everyone~ Wanna see?"
"It's not a pajama perk!!"
Miko Yotsuya's indignant cry echoed through the room.
Nia Honjo naturally paid no heed to this, instead beckoning Luo Shu with a mischievous grin.
Luo Shu gave Nia an exasperated look but still called out to Yukino Yukinoshita before they both entered the living room together.
Upon entering, Luo Shu immediately spotted Miko sitting on the sofa, clutching the hem of her nightdress.
The adorable black-haired, golden-eyed girl was wearing a light blue nightdress adorned with lily patterns, revealing her smooth, slender calves while her slippered toes fidgeted nervously.
Her blushing cheeks, tearful eyes and overall shy demeanour were particularly heart-fluttering.
Luo Shu had initially wanted to compliment her, but considering Nia's inevitable teasing presence, Yukinoshita beside him, and the earlier situation...
"That nightdress looks really nice on you."
He ended up saying it anyway... though only about the nightdress...
Luo Shu mentally grumbled, completely ignoring Nia's smirk.
Hearing the compliment, Miko instinctively tightened her grip on the hem before whispering with reddened cheeks:
"Thank you."
After speaking, she froze momentarily, completely bewildered by her own gratitude.
Noticing Miko's embarrassment, Luo Shu quickly changed the subject:
"Speaking of which, Miko, since you're here, where's Hana?"
At this, Miko pressed her lips together and wordlessly pointed towards a slightly ajar bedroom door.
Following her finger, Luo Shu glimpsed through the crack a girl's upper body sprawled inelegantly in deep sleep, drool trickling from the corner of her mouth.
After a moment's silence, Luo Shu asked:
"Did Hana and you sleep at Nia's place last night?"
Miko replied softly, her face still flushed:
"Because we saw a ghost last night..."
"It was someone wearing a red and black striped gothic dress, being carried through the air by a bunch of hands, floating around..."
Red and black striped gothic dress? Floating around? An exclamation mark seemed to appear above Luo Shu's head.
Miko continued:
"When I saw her last night, she smiled at me - a really mischievous smile. And most importantly, there was actually a clock in her eyes..."
"Well then..."
Luo Shu turned to exchange glances with Yukino Yukinoshita, who had already guessed the identity.
Then he looked down at his faint shadow and couldn't help asking:
"Kurumi, care to explain?"
As he spoke, a circle of black-red shadow appeared at his feet, followed by a twin-tailed head popping up to look at Miko.
Instantly terrified by the sudden appearance, Miko hugged a nearby cushion tightly.
Meanwhile, Kurumi Tokisaki effortlessly emerged from the shadow and shrugged:
"Probably my main body got tired from training and had her clones carry her back to the room when she was spotted?"
"As for specifics, since the main body hasn't woken up yet, today's memory synchronisation hasn't been transmitted. If you want more details, you'll have to wait until she wakes up."
After ascending to Demigod status, Kurumi Tokisaki's passion for growing stronger was evident to all members of the Familia.
Every day, apart from sleeping hours, she would immerse herself in the Dream Simulation Chamber within the Hidden Management Zone. Not only was the original Kurumi there, but at least thirty of her clones were also training diligently inside.
Whenever she had free time, Kurumi would even drag Luo Shu's consciousness into the Dream Simulation Chamber, using his appearance and abilities to spar against her original self.
Thanks to this rigorous training, Luo Shu immediately mastered the application of Concept Entanglement upon reaching Hero Rank. The reason was simple—he had "logged into" Kurumi's abilities so often that he had grown accustomed to her combat style.
Yet even so, Luo Shu's training intensity still couldn't compare to Kurumi's. Her dedication was so extreme that even he found it somewhat excessive.
"So, basically, she was just exhausted from training and got carried back, and that's what you saw?"
Luo Shu sighed, completely failing to see how Kurumi's state could frighten anyone.
Wasn't she just beautiful and adorable?
A hardworking, capable, and affectionate Miss Kurumi Tokisaki—how could anyone not consider her a treasure?
Luo Shu exhaled, then pointed at Kurumi and explained to Miko Yotsuya:
"As you can see, this is Miss Kurumi Tokisaki, also a member of our Familia. Her abilities include the function of creating clones."
"The reason you saw her being carried by a bunch of hands is, well, actually her clones supporting her body from within the shadows while moving. That's pretty much what happened."
Beside them, Miko looked confused:
"But Honjo-san said..."
Before Miko could finish, Luo Shu turned his head towards Nia Honjo, who was already sneaking towards the entryway, and said irritably:
"So it was you causing trouble again, Nia~"
"What was it this time? Tricking Miko and Hana into sharing a bed with you?"
"No, no, no, how could it be something that boring..."
Nia waved her hand dismissively, then placed her hands on her hips and declared confidently:
"Compared to something as dull as sharing a bed, wouldn't the blankets slept in by two super-beautiful girls be way more fragrant~?"
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita's eyelid twitched slightly before she calmly said to Luo Shu:
"My apologies, Director. I underestimated Honjo-san's threat towards women."
"Later, I will attempt to include Honjo-san's... preferences in our educational materials."
"NOOOO—" Nia instantly dropped to her knees before Yukinoshita, wailing: "If it goes into the educational materials, then every new Familia member will know about me!"
"Please, anything but that!!!"
Seeing Nia like this, Luo Shu walked over, crouched beside her, and whispered:
"Nia, stand up."
"This is the story you started yourself."
Hearing this, Nia's face flushed red as she couldn't help but retort: "Isn't that a line from a manga?! It's super weird to say that now!"
"I think it fits perfectly!" Luo Shu replied calmly. "After all, I ate your mother, right?"
Nia's expression immediately turned awkward. Upon closer consideration, Mio Takamiya—the former holder of the Almighty God Class and the Spirit of Origin—was indeed inside Luo Shu's stomach.
That... wasn't very funny.
"Alright, I surrender! As long as you don't write this into public knowledge, I'll agree to whatever you say!"
Watching Nia Honjo raise her hands in surrender, Luo Shu didn't even lift his eyelids as he said:
"Then start by telling me everything you've done these past few days. Including brushing your teeth, washing your face, what you ate, where you slept, what you were thinking - say it all in detail!"
Nia Honjo froze for a long moment after hearing this, then said:
"...How about I just give you access permissions so you can check directly with Raziel?"
Luo Shu nodded while holding Raziel, which had somehow already appeared in his palm:
"Mm, go ahead and grant it then."
Nia Honjo: "..."
So you were prepared for this all along!!