"Let's begin."
Ayato picked up the Evil Piece and pressed it to the designated spot on Rindou.
"Mmm..."
Rindou's body trembled almost imperceptibly. Her pretty face grew even redder.
'Ayato-sama's hand...'
'Had touched...'
Thump! Thump!
But soon, she had no energy left for wild thoughts.
She watched the Evil Piece slowly sink into her body, only feeling a huge change taking place.
Her heartbeat quickened, her blood began to boil. Her internal organs, cells, and bones were all changing.
Seeing this,
Ayato raised his hand and summoned the Boosted Gear Gauntlet. A crimson tendril slowly entered Rindou's body.
"Mmnn..."
Rindou's eyes widened.
'What was this, flowing into me?'
'And my back was so itchy.'
Whoosh!
She grunted softly. A pair of black wings burst forth.
A small but long tail also emerged, dancing in the air.
"So this is my tail?"
Rindou blinked, reached up to hold it, and instinctively squeezed.
"Hiss..."
Her legs went weak. She knelt on the ground.
The impact made her roundness bounce a few times.
She glanced at Ayato, but didn't let go. Instead, she reached out her other hand.
"Mmnn..."
Rindou's breathing quickened. Her body began to shift.
Erina was dumbfounded, her face flushing red.
'This sneaky cat.'
'This scheming woman!'
'She's even bolder than I had imagined.'
'Oh my god.'
'This is the activity room.'
'And I am still here!'
"Alright, stand up first."
Ayato said seriously. "It's hard to grant the blessing like this."
"Yes, Master."
Hearing this, Rindou immediately retracted her wings and tail and stood up somewhat unsteadily.
"Oh, Master, what is the blessing? Erina and the others haven't mentioned it."
"To be precise, it's the protection of a god."
"As expected of Master."
Rindou's face showed anticipation.
Then,
She saw Ayato's handsome face getting closer and closer.
"???"
"Mmpphh..."
'So this was the granting of the blessing.'
'So... warm. Such a warm power.'
'Was this Master's protection?'
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Just then, footsteps sounded. Erina quickly walked out and saw Hisako approaching.
"What's wrong, Erina-sama?"
Hisako blinked, her expression somewhat strange.
"N-nothing. It's better if you don't go in."
Erina smiled weakly. "Master is performing the Reincarnation Ceremony for Rindou."
"So what?"
Hisako was confused and about to walk in when Erina grabbed her.
"Trust me. That woman will definitely cause trouble."
Erina said seriously. "It's a woman's intuition."
"Then, because of the servant rules, we'll be in an awkward position."
Hisako was stunned for a moment, then understood.
'What was happening?'
'Was that woman going to offer herself right away?'
'That wasn't right.'
'I hadn't even done it yet.'
'Didn't she know about first come, first served?'
Watching Hisako's expression change, Erina couldn't help but sigh, 'Hisako... seems a bit pitiful.'
…
Inside the activity room.
Rindou pursed her lips, stepped back a few paces, and looked at Ayato with slightly evasive eyes.
"The blessing is a one-time power. Use it carefully."
Ayato reminded her seriously. "If it runs out, you can come to me anytime for a replenishment."
"Every time... is it like this?"
Rindou's lashes fluttered. The blush on her cheeks grew more pronounced.
"Of course."
Ayato smiled, then took out the basic magic book and handed it to her. "Here. This is a gift every servant receives."
"Although you've learned a lot from Erina and the others, it's far from enough."
"Thank you, Master."
Rindou took the magic book and instinctively flipped through it.
"Blessing?"
"Imperial Arms?"
"Dangerous Species?"
Looking at the first few introductions, Rindou's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"So the ingredients Erina used are those Dangerous Species."
"This world is simply a natural treasure trove of ingredients!"
The more she read, the more excited Rindou became.
Of course,
What she looked forward to most was this.
With so many other worlds...
Was it possible that one of them was a culinary world?
As long as she followed her new master's footsteps, perhaps she would encounter it someday, right?
Thinking this, a look of reverence and fervor appeared in her eyes as she looked at Ayato.
All of this was given to her by her master.
Rindou stepped forward, threw her arms around Ayato's arm, and said softly, "Master, I want to fulfill my duties as a servant."
Hearing this, the corner of Ayato's mouth curled up.
Of course, he wouldn't refuse a reasonable request from a servant.
At the same time,
Hearing the strange sounds coming from inside...
Hisako was completely flushed.
She had been beaten to it!
She had really been beaten to it!
Although she had been here first!
"There's nothing to be done. Master has been very busy lately."
Erina comforted her. "I heard he's been working on the Gastrea World all the time."
"Otherwise, you would have had a chance."
"Yes."
Hisako sighed. "Who told me to be so unlucky?"
Although she had long known all servants were Master's wings, so that every single one would eventually be taken…
But the ones who came first couldn't be outdone by those who joined later.
She had heard that several newcomers in the Black Bullet World had already succeeded.
And here she was, still at square one.
"Don't worry. I'll help you."
Erina said confidently. "Next time, I'll definitely create an opportunity for you."
"Then thank you very much, Erina-sama."
"But before that, there's something I need to ask of you."
"What?"
"Well, I'm not very good at the magic to drive away the crowds. I'll have to trouble you."
"..."
Hisako was stunned for a moment, then heard the increasingly high-pitched sounds. She was dumbfounded.
'They still haven't left?'
'So I'm supposed to guard the door, right?'
"Pfft!"
At this moment,
She felt an arrow pierce her heart.
'Hisako, so pitiful.'
Witnessing all this, Erina covered her face.
But what could she do?
As a servant...
It was her duty to help her master!