Naoki suddenly felt that his life lately had been a bit too extravagant.
Yesterday, he and Aoko spent time in bed and the bathroom until noon.
Today, once again in the hotel room with Aoko and Riddell, they lazed around until almost noon before waking up.
He vaguely remembered that a few years ago, he was still an unwanted old bachelor, only getting a real girlfriend like Aoko at 24. Merry was only half a girlfriend at best. So why, after returning this time, in less than a month, had he evolved into a situation with three people together?
Was he really that popular?
"What're you thinking about?"
Coming out of the bathroom, Aoko, wearing only a towel, asked while drying her hair.
"For a moment, you looked like an old monk meditating."
"Just thinking about something. Lately, I feel like I've been too happy."
Hearing his words, Aoko rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Yeah, you're very happy. The ones suffering are me and Riddell. Even though it feels great, my body really can't handle it…"
Thanks to her four years of experience, Aoko could still get up and shower normally. But Riddell, who went through it for the first time last night, truly suffered. Before the 'battle,' she was full of confidence and bravado, but a few minutes in, she couldn't take it anymore and begged to be subbed out.
A landslide defeat wasn't enough to describe Riddell's state last night. Then, out of curiosity and defiance, she wanted to go again, but before she could recover, the 'giant dragon's attack' had already struck her down. At that moment, Aoko, resting on the sidelines, heard Riddell's pleas for mercy loud and clear.
Based on incomplete statistics:
Riddell shouted "I'm dead!" about 52 times, "Help!" 68 times, "I can't take it anymore!" 43 times—and many other scattered cries that Aoko couldn't fully recall now.
"Naoki, you really have no mercy. At least go a bit easier on a beginner."
"I was provoked—how could I back down?"
Was it the dignity of a Lord or the pride of a noblewoman? Riddell was someone who hated losing. The moment Naoki slowed down a bit, she immediately mocked him, questioning his ability—like a new Souls game player starting with a useless character and charging straight at the Tree Sentinel.
Plus, it was a matter of male pride, so Naoki unleashed his full power and 'pounded' Riddell repeatedly until she was 'half-dead,' and she was still sleeping beside him now.
Thinking back, he might've gotten a bit carried away.
"Well, this is probably the result Riddell wanted. It's already a done deal with you. If she spreads word later that she's pregnant, I wouldn't be surprised. By the way, with how often we're at it, it'd be a problem if we didn't have a kid. You and I have been at it for four years—why no news?"
"How would I know? Maybe next time when you're on your period…"
"Enough." Aoko waved her hand. "Having a kid now is too soon. I'm not someone who can settle down to raise one. No way I'd give birth and then hand the kid to you to raise while I wander off."
"Then the kid wouldn't even recognize their own mother."
Naoki smiled. "But you're right. Now's not the time for kids. Neither you nor I could settle down to raise one right now."
The Incineration of Humanity—though it didn't need to be prevented, and even if it happened, it could eventually be fixed, Naoki still hoped it wouldn't come to that. A world-ending crisis should ideally be stopped in its early stages.
Seeing Naoki deep in thought, Aoko grabbed his hand. "Just do what you want to do. I'll support you as much as I can, like I promised back then. But if you mess up, I won't hesitate to beat you senseless and drag you back."
"We'll see who's beating who."
"Did I say I'd beat you alone? Don't believe I'd team up with Gray to take you down?"
(That's cheating!)
If there was one person Naoki couldn't bear to hurt, it was definitely Gray. His sweet little sister, who'd been with him for nearly ten years—he wouldn't dare lay a hand on her even with a hundred lives, and he hadn't even had the chance to spoil her properly.
"Speaking of Gray… how's she doing lately? I haven't seen her since I got back. Are you two moving separately this time?"
"Same as usual, but taller than a few years ago—she's fifteen now, after all. Plus, she's gotten much better at fighting. Because of what happened four years ago, whenever she has free time, she asks me, Mordred, or Tama to train with her. A lot of the jobs Old Man Jewel assigned were handled by Gray alone. I just helped secure the area."
She can handle tasks from the First Old Man herself?
That meant Gray had grown to a highly reliable level. A fifteen-year-old being that capable—it's hard to imagine what she'll become in the future.
—In every sense.
In the other world, Aoko would have heart-to-heart talks with Gray every time she returned. She knew quite a bit about Gray's little thoughts. Fifteen years old… it should be close, right?
Thinking of this, Aoko suddenly lifted her leg and stomped on Naoki.
"Ouch… why'd you suddenly stomp on me?"
"No reason, just revenge. Who told you to go so hard last night? Also, take Riddell to shower already. You both still smell."
"Part of that smell is yours too."
"Just go!"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At the same time.
In a half-abandoned building in Shin-to, inside a long-unused room.
"Yo, Touko, I'm here to visit!"
Rudely pushing open the door, Merry shouted as she entered, but no one answered from inside.
Following Merry in, Morgan quickly scanned the surroundings. "There are signs of people staying here. They're either not back yet or just left. We came at the wrong time."
"Not really. Think of it as a covert investigation. We might find something interesting, and while they're gone, we can make some preparations. Like, say, placing a small prank Magecraft on the doorknob that'll zap anyone who touches it—like so."
As she spoke, Merry drew a circle on the doorknob, and a small magical formation vanished into it.
Seeing this, Morgan sighed slightly in resignation, then sat at a table by the window. On the table were several documents that had been read.
"This… Hmm, I see."
After flipping through the documents, Morgan gave a faint smile.
"Merry, instead of pranking here, I think it's time you started fulfilling your duties as the Holy Grail War overseer."
"Hmm? Why?"
"Because there might be a Master who's lost their Servant and needs your help."