Jhin returned home wearing loose, baggy clothes. After changing into something more form-fitting, he remembered that the matter regarding the Antarctic Expedition Team hadn't been dealt with yet, so he sought out Nymph to get the details.
"Nymph, are those members of the Antarctic Expedition Team preparing for a second expedition?"
"Yes." Nymph's small hand swiped a few times in the air, projecting a large pile of data. "Excluding a small number of members who are still considering it, the rest have gradually gathered together to conduct preparatory planning."
"When is the estimated time?"
"Between November and December."
Jhin casually flipped through the data. He took a can of cola from the refrigerator, opened it, and took a sip, narrowing his eyes in pleasure.
"Mn, then let's sponsor them one more time. There won't be any issues with the funds, right?"
"Master!" Nymph looked at Jhin with a resentful expression. "You don't think I'm incapable of even earning money, do you?"
"Sorry, sorry." Jhin quickly comforted the little angel, hugging her and kissing her fiercely. "I just asked out of habit, I wasn't doubting you."
"Currently, Master's assets are enough to casually buy an island and establish a country on it for fun." Nymph placed the ice cream into Jhin's rough, large hands, allowing him to play with it as he pleased. She still liked discussing matters with her Master while playing like this; the slight heating of her reactor could significantly improve her work efficiency.
Becoming wealthy enough to rival a nation without realizing it—Jhin knew this was bound to happen sooner or later from the moment Nymph came to his side.
"Then keep an eye on these four girls for me: Mari Tamaki, Shirase Kobuchizawa, Hinata Miyake, and Yuzuki Shiraishi."
"Is Master planning to take the initiative to capture these girls?"
Jhin's movements came to an abrupt halt. He spat out the moist ice cream and looked at Nymph speechlessly. "What kind of strange things has Kazuki been teaching you?"
"Is Master not planning to capture the girls?"
"No. Regarding them... just consider it as me seeing the feeling of 'youth' in them, so I decided to give them a hand."
A Place Further Than the Universe was, after all, one of the works that had moved him back then.
"Understood. Do I need to monitor their daily lives?"
"Stop, stop, stop. Why are you learning from Kazuki? Just pay attention to their general movements for me. Report to me once a week."
"Okay."
After finishing another 'ice cream tasting report' for Nymph, Jhin decided to go check on Gabriel's situation. Since being defeated by Satania that day, apart from going to school, she had shut herself at home for several days without going out. She hadn't even come over to mooch a meal.
This couldn't go on. He had to remind her that she was also his maid!
Jhin stood in front of Gabriel's door and rang the doorbell. Before long, she opened the door listlessly, sporting dark circles under her eyes comparable to a panda's.
"Jhin? What's up?"
"How many days have you pulled an all-nighter in a row?"
"Three days, maybe? I can't really remember." Gabriel scratched her slightly itchy scalp. She had poured all her energy into fighting games these past few days. Satania's triumphant face was the best stimulant; whenever she recalled her miserable defeat, Gabriel would feel a surge of endless energy to continue honing and refining her skills.
"You should pay attention to your health!"
Jhin bore some responsibility for Gabriel turning out like this, as he was the one who had taught Satania that playstyle. He helplessly pushed Gabriel into the room.
"Go sleep for a while. I'll clean up for you."
"You guy... actually running into a maiden's home without my permission."
"Yeah, the 'maidenly vibe' in this room is truly overflowing!" Jhin retorted, looking at the familiar garbage dump of a room. "Presumably, its owner matches this atmosphere perfectly, right?"
"Where exactly do I, this angel, have a problem?" Gabriel raised her dainty little fist, posturing as if to punch Jhin, but she tripped over the trash at her feet and lunged into his embrace.
The mental fatigue she had accumulated instantly erupted after she was surrounded by Jhin's reassuring scent. It easily destroyed Gabriel's mental defenses, and she fell asleep standing right there in his arms.
Jhin: "Vignette, have you ever heard rumors of an angel dying from sudden cardiac arrest due to staying up late?"
Vignette: "No. Don't tell me Gab has pulled an all-nighter for several days again?"
Jhin: "According to her, she's been up for at least three days."
Vignette: "As expected, it's because she lost to Satania that day. It's my first time seeing Gab in such a state too."
Jhin: "Since she won't die from sudden cardiac arrest, I'll put her back on the bed then."
Vignette: "She fell asleep on the floor?"
Jhin: "Pressed against my chest..."
Vignette: "Huh?!"
Jhin: "Nothing else happened. I still have to clean up for her. Bye."
Jhin put away his phone, lifted Gabriel in a princess carry, placed her back on the bed, and thoughtfully tucked her in.
Funny enough, most of Jhin's opportunities to practice his substitute ability actually came from cleaning up for Gabriel. He rarely used it at other times, and since there were few occasions where the substitute was needed, he didn't want to deliberately practice it. Letting nature take its course was best.
An enticing aroma of meat made Gabriel salivate. Licking her dry lips, she opened her small, cherry-like mouth, revealed her neat silvery teeth, and took a fierce bite of the air. Then, she opened her eyes in confusion.
What's going on? Where is that big piece of meat in front of me?
"You're awake? Just in time to eat."
Gabriel sat up and rubbed her eyes, which were still a bit dry and sore. "Jhin, when did you get here?"
Jhin was amused by her. "You opened the door for me this morning. Did you forget everything after one nap?"
"Oh, so that happened." Gabriel stretched her waist, then dug a key out of the pocket of her school uniform hanging on the wall and tossed it to Jhin. "Catch."
Jhin caught the key and looked at Gabriel in confusion. "This key is..."
"My house key. It saves me from having to open the door for you every time. Game time is extremely precious. From now on, just use the key to let yourself in."
"You really trust me, huh."
"Aren't we best friends? I have your house key; it wouldn't make sense if you didn't have mine, right?" Gabriel couldn't be bothered to wash her hands. She directly grabbed a piece of braised pork and shoved it into her mouth, then exhaled sharply from the heat.
"That's what you say, but..."
But for a girl to just hand her key over to me like this... that has nothing to do with being best friends, right?
Gabriel read the meaning in Jhin's expression and added, "If you use the key to do anything bad to me, I will absolutely call the police and have you sent in!"
"Don't worry. Don't you know my personality by now?" Jhin slapped away her small hand as it reached for the braised pork again. "Go wash your hands first."
"Isn't it the same whether I wash them or not? Can an angel like me even have dirty parts?" Although Gabriel grumbled with dissatisfaction, she still obediently ran off to wash her hands.
____
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