A new fanfic has officially been added to Patreon!
To celebrate, I'm sharing a 50% discount code that can also be used by readers of my other fanfics.
Code: LEWDSHOT
Patreon: patreo n.c om/METARLN
The code will only be available for a limited time, so feel free to use it if you've been thinking about joining or returning.
Thank you for supporting my translations!
...
Looking at the Steel Lady Nanase floating behind Karin, Takumi wrapped an arm around Touko's slim waist and curiously asked, "This is a lot like a Stand from JoJo. Does it have any special abilities?"
"Even though I don't get what you mean by a JoJo Stand, my imaginary body shares my vision and can fight alongside me too. As for special abilities..." Karin carefully felt it out for a moment before continuing in an uncertain tone, "It can deploy a domain to trap people. And it seems like it can also absorb other people's emotions to strengthen itself."
Because she had only just gained control over this imaginary body, Karin still wasn't fully sure about all of it.
"You can drop the 'seems like.' Your power's already rising really fast," Takumi said, sharply picking up on the change in Karin's aura. "Looks like all the discussion around you online has stirred up a ton of public attention and emotional investment."
He had immediately noticed Karin's presence growing stronger.
The way her power worked was actually pretty similar to the Interworld Gate Progress he was collecting.
In terms of growth potential, if it was handled properly, Karin was probably about to enter a period of explosive power growth.
Looks like it's time to finalize that entertainment company. I should go visit Mrs. Yukinoshita again and get her to help out a little.
Muttering that to himself, Takumi tilted his head and looked at Touko, who had recovered a bit of strength in his arms.
Or rather, instead of recovered, it was more accurate to say Touko had slowly adapted to her current situation.
Her cheeks were flushed deep red, and her golden eyes were still misty with moisture.
But even though she'd regained some strength, there was no way she could make it back on her own.
"Mrs. Yotsuya, looks like you could use a little more help too."
"Mmnh~~"
With her mind completely blank, Touko let out a soft little moan on instinct.
At this point, she was like a doll, letting Takumi move her however he pleased.
Meanwhile, Saki had finally sorted out what was happening.
"So... it's over now. But my boss... If only I'd been more alert earlier, this never would've happened."
Her pretty face was full of guilt.
She genuinely hated herself right now, hated that she hadn't realized sooner what might happen here.
She had already encountered a monster once before, yet she'd still clung to blind hope.
Takumi glanced over at the mangled pile of flesh and calmly said, "People die when their number's up. As for all the messy fallout here, I've already handled it."
The moment he said that, he lightly snapped his fingers.
Dream demon magic spread out instantly, blanketing the entire city.
In that brief instant, everything connected to what had happened here was easily rewritten.
What Saki had experienced was changed into a more ordinary version of events: they had encountered a criminal, fought him, and her superior Terada had died in the struggle.
And standing there, Saki could feel the extra memory now sitting in her mind.
She pressed her lips together, her face full of disbelief.
"You can even rewrite memories that casually... So this is what the real world is really like?"
A bitter smile tugged at Saki's lips.
At this moment, she could genuinely feel how small and insignificant she really was.
If she went back now, maybe she could still return to her old life.
But... but could she really go back?
When a frog at the bottom of a well finally glimpses the world outside, the only thing it can think about is how to leap out.
And Saki was the same now.
Rather than drowning in a fake world, she'd rather risk dying in the real one.
Well, maybe not that extreme.
More than anything, she simply didn't want to end up like her boss one day—dying for no reason, without ever understanding why.
Taking a deep breath, Saki looked straight at Takumi.
She knew perfectly well that Takumi was her only path out of that "well."
"C-could I treat you to a drink sometime...?" She bowed politely, her tone sincere and earnest. "I want to thank you for saving my life."
Faced with such a cool, beautiful policewoman inviting him like that, there was no way Takumi was going to refuse.
"Here's my number. Pick a time and place," he said easily. "But I've got school starting tomorrow, so I'm only free on Saturdays and Sundays."
"Okay!"
Saki eagerly saved the number, inwardly thrilled.
The fact that she could get in touch with Takumi that easily made her absurdly happy.
But then, after hearing Takumi casually mention that he still had school, Saki couldn't help letting her imagination run wild for a moment.
Am I... really asking a student out? Does this count as an older woman preying on fresh young meat? Tch, no, no—I'm not old! But seriously... he really is perfect boyfriend material.
Saki nervously snuck a few glances at Takumi, suppressing the strange fluttering in her chest.
Maybe because she had such a strong personality, she had never actually had a boyfriend.
And the only man who had ever really made her heart race was the one standing right in front of her.
Handsome in a clean, masculine way, the kind of face that crushed ordinary men on sight.
And on top of that, mysterious, powerful, and radiating that overwhelming sense of safety.
And he was still just a high school student!!
For a twenty-five-year-old woman like her, the temptation of a beautiful boy like that was downright impossible to resist.
While she was drifting off into those thoughts, Kotoko walked right up to her.
"Officer, openly inviting my boyfriend on a date right in front of me is pretty shameless, you know~"
"W-what are you talking about, you little brat? How exactly am I being shameless?"
Hearing Kotoko talk like that, Saki snapped back irritably.
"I don't really like being called a little brat. Besides, maybe later on, I'll be the one who develops before you do, Officer~"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean!?"
Hearing something so direct, Saki couldn't help raising her voice.
She could very clearly hear the smug boasting hidden in Kotoko's tone.
What did she mean by develop first? Was she really saying a little girl like her might beat Saki in that department?
There was no way she could accept that!!
Saki's eyes started drifting again, periodically sweeping over Takumi's body.
Maybe because of how strong-willed she was, she'd never dated anyone up to now.
And the only person who had ever genuinely made her heart pound was Takumi.
Watching Kotoko and Saki start bickering over this increasingly bizarre topic, Takumi walked over with a dark look on his face and flicked Kotoko on the forehead.
"What are you even saying? Don't start making dirty jokes."
"That's not a dirty joke, it's the truth, okay? I've actually been practicing lately, and I even ordered two huge tubs of lube just for—mmph mmph mmph!"
Takumi slapped a hand over Kotoko's mouth before she could finish, and she immediately started struggling hard in protest.
Takumi forced out an awkward smile and shot Karin a look.
"Alright, I'll help you keep her under control."
Karin sighed helplessly, nodded, and walked over to drag Kotoko back so she couldn't keep talking.
Once the situation was under control, Takumi said his goodbyes to Saki.
Then, taking Touko, Kotoko, Karin, and the others with him, he got into the car he'd constructed out of magic and immediately started driving back down the mountain.
Saki stood there watching Takumi and the others disappear into the distance before finally looking away.
Then her gaze fell back on the chaotic scene around her, and she let out a long sigh.
Glancing at the ugly, nauseating pile of mangled flesh nearby, Saki quickly sped up and hurried back to her patrol car to report in.