Inside the second-floor suite of Sakura Apartments.
Chisato Nishikigi's expression froze as she stared at the grilled saury, tamagoyaki, fried octopus sausages, rice, and miso soup laid out on the table:
"Wasn't this supposed to be a luxurious meal in Ginza?"
"Why is it just... this?"
"Ah, wait, these sausages are delicious~ Miss Enigma's cooking is the best!!"
Hearing Chisato's cheers, the woman in the kitchen—her raven-black hair tied into a high ponytail, wrapped in a beige checkered apron, her face brimming with a sweet smile—turned her violet eyes towards them and said warmly:
"If you like it, please eat as much as you want~"
"Got it, I'll finish everything."
"In that case, I'll dig in too!" Takina Inoue clasped her hands together in a brief prayer before earnestly starting her meal.
"Homestyle cooking from Japan... It might actually be fun to experience."
Even La Folia joined the dining party.
Watching the three of them devouring their food with gusto, Luo Shu, seated on a single sofa nearby, turned his head with a strange expression. His gaze then landed on Enigma, who was cooking in the kitchen while disguised as Emma.
At this sight, Luo Shu's expression grew even more peculiar:
"So... what exactly are you doing?"
"If I cooked in my original form, wouldn't that look odd?"
Enigma replied without turning around as she wiped down the range hood:
"So I figured I'd just take on this appearance instead."
"I might be a bit rusty, but when it comes to cooking, I'm confident I won't lose to Sayuri."
Hearing this, Luo Shu was speechless: "What's the point of competing with Sayuri over this?"
Enigma turned her head, her innocent face revealing a mischievously cunning smile:
"After marriage, of course, there's no point. But before that, as rivals in love, it's quite entertaining~"
'Good grief, impersonating your own fiancée to compete with your girlfriend in cooking... You really knew how to have fun back then.'
Luo Shu inwardly sighed before turning to Sharon, who was drinking in broad daylight while lounging on the sofa:
"And what about you, Sharon? Drinking in the middle of the day?"
"Post-meal wine is a matter of faith."
Sharon leaned back on the sofa, raising her glass slightly towards Luo Shu with a smile:
"A toast... to my faith~"
Luo Shu felt his scalp tingle at the sight, thinking that being a deity was definitely not something just anyone could handle.
'Though, come to think of it, aren't you just using me as an excuse to drink?'
'Another alcoholic, just like Nia Honjo?'
'Well, Nia might be even worse...'
Seeing Sharon like this, Luo Shu sighed before asking:
"So, Enigma will be staying with you in the apartment below mine from now on?"
"She has nowhere else to go, doesn't she?" Sharon took a sip of wine, smiling faintly. "If she moved into the garrison, I imagine some people might feel uncomfortable, no?"
"Eriri, you mean?" Luo Shu pondered for a moment and agreed. After all, given what had just happened between him and Eriri, it would indeed be awkward for her to suddenly see her father with him.
Hearing Luo Shu assume she meant Eriri, Sharon replied calmly:
"Surely Luo Shu-kun wouldn't want Sayuri-san to keep visiting the garrison every day to flirt with you just to provoke Enigma, would you?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu fell silent.
Damn! He'd almost forgotten about the most troublesome one - Sayuri Sawamura!
And...
"Having her stationed below my flat would be the most troublesome scenario!"
At that moment, Sharon calmly swirled her wine glass and remarked:
"But Eriri-san wouldn't come to live at your place, would she?"
Without waiting for Luo Shu's response, she took a sip and added:
"At most, my house would just become the battleground for you three~"
"Oh, and please don't mind me. After all, offering one's body to the divine is part of a nun's duties."
Luo Shu's face twitched: "...Don't make me sound like some kind of pervert!"
Sharon raised her glass towards him from across the room:
"Even if you became a demon, I would follow you straight to Hell."
"How very reassuring!"
Luo Shu gritted his teeth as he said this, then sighed:
"You've seen the message I sent before coming, right?"
"The Phenex Society's intelligence network?" Sharon raised an eyebrow slightly before pondering: "Speaking of which, the grassroots fanaticism in Phenex Society ranks among the top of all Truth Astronomy factions I've encountered."
"They're among the few organisations willing to give benefits to their lower ranks~"
Luo Shu responded with a hollow smile: "Is that sarcasm about me taking too many points?"
"No, compared to Phenex Society, your 70-30 split makes you practically a god... no, you are a god!"
Sharon cheerfully raised her glass again:
"Let us toast to our Lord God~"
Luo Shu couldn't even muster the energy to retort:
"Does the Starry Sky Church that trains exorcist agents even believe in God?"
Sharon chuckled, visibly pleased as she replied:
"I don't, but I'm quite interested in the Virgin Mary's experiences."
"Cough cough!!"
Luo Shu cleared his throat awkwardly and glanced at the dining table. Seeing the other three pretending not to hear, he sighed:
"So, about the plan to identify a Phenex Society executive as our entry point to uproot Tokyo's Phenex leadership and replace them, taking over management of their grassroots followers... any objections, Sharon?"
"While I've never done it practically, I do have some experience in establishing official churches."
Sharon gazed at Luo Shu with evident amusement as she spoke:
"Or rather, it seems I've finally lived to see the day you're willing to start a cult!"
'I just want their convenient intel network... since Phenex Society scorns money and their followers work for free...' Luo Shu grumbled internally, but didn't refute Sharon's suggestion for cult-building.
If he established a cult worshipping Calamity, would that equate to him, as a Calamity Priest, actively sacrificing to Calamity?
If so, might the Concept of Calamity become more active, thereby strengthening him?
After all, Calamity Bringers gain power feedback by spreading misfortune, closer to the essence of their abilities. So shouldn't a Calamity Priest, like ancient priests, lead followers in sacrificial rites?
Luo Shu wasn't certain about this, but that didn't stop him from experimenting.
After all, even if we fail, there's still an intelligence network to fall back on~
No loss either way!
"So, you have a way to find the person?"
"A way? I don't, but for a certain someone, no method is needed, right?"
Hearing this, Sharon flashed a playful smile and turned her head, glancing at Enigma with a smirk as she said:
"After all, you and the esteemed leader of the Phenex Society are old acquaintances, aren't you?"
"Miss Middleman~"
At these words, Enigma, who had been washing the dishes Sharon used, suddenly looked up, a hint of nostalgia in her voice:
"Now that I think about it, it seems like ages since I last saw Ravel..."
Then, Enigma glanced at Luo Shu and calmly said:
"Since you have a request, I'll try to see if I can arrange a meeting with her."
"Ravel?" Luo Shu was slightly surprised upon hearing the name.
Judging by the pronunciation... is the leader of the Phenex Society a woman?