— — — — — —
"..."
Ryo could feel someone staring at him—subtle, almost probing.
He didn't need to look. He knew that gaze had to be coming from the doorway: Leticia's.
His eyelid twitched twice. Then his expression went blank as he stared at Shiroyasha gripping his collar, eyes narrowing in quiet menace.
Shiroyasha froze under his stare for a few seconds, then awkwardly pulled her hand back and gave a guilty little laugh. "Alright, alright. I know it wasn't you."
"So what?" Ryo's voice dropped dangerously. "You frame me just because it's convenient? Drag me into your scheme to punk Queen Halloween, and now you're grabbing me like I'm at fault?"
Shiroyasha's face stiffened. Then she cleared her throat, collected herself, and patted Ryo's shoulder with a tone that practically screamed I'm being profound right now:
"Ryo, you're already my certified subordinate god. You gotta learn to take the fall for your boss~"
Ryo's eyes sharpened even more. "And that means I'm supposed to just accept it? And deal with the weird looks from everyone?"
"Uh… well…" Shiroyasha winced, then forced herself to act tough. "Fine, name your price."
Ryo narrowed his eyes and stuck out a hand. "This much."
"…"
'Shameless… truly shameless…' Leticia and Black Rabbit thought at the same time.
"Can I pay in installments? Or maybe I can offset it with a Pleasure Street VIP card?"
The looks Leticia and Black Rabbit gave her instantly changed—from exasperation to downright judgment.
The two of them… really were made for each other.
"Alright, enough jokes."
Ryo pried Shiroyasha's hands off him and lounged back with one leg propped up on the conference table.
"That news story… was the Queen's doing, right?"
"Who else but this bitch?"
Shiroyasha rolled her eyes. "In the entire Little Garden, the only ones bold enough to write crap like that about me are Algol and her. Everyone else, I've already beaten to death."
"So Queen Halloween really is the mastermind behind this?"
Black Rabbit looked uncertain. "So… the story about you having Ryo's baby… was fake?"
"Cough cough cough—!"
Shiroyasha nearly choked to death.
Leticia quietly pulled a water flask from her Gift Card and handed it over.
"Leticia-chan is still the sweetest."
Shiroyasha took a huge gulp, then glared at Black Rabbit.
"You little bunny brat. Can't even serve guests a drink? No manners at all."
"You're obviously changing the subject. You are. Can't even deny it." Black Rabbit's expression grew faintly dangerous.
Shiroyasha caught that look and inhaled sharply.
Leticia chuckled. "Shiroyasha, perhaps you should explain properly?"
"Tch." Shiroyasha clicked her tongue, then looked at Ryo, annoyed. "Kid, Byakuya's awake, right?"
"She is," Ryo nodded. "But she can't manifest as a spirit form yet."
The power hidden within the God Cloth was immense. Even though Byakuya had become something like the God Cloth's spirit, she still couldn't control its power—so appearing physically was impossible for now.
"Can't manifest, huh?" Shiroyasha nodded, surprisingly understanding. "Well, then there's no need to disturb her."
She finished speaking and blurred into motion, flashing around the room and slamming a series of runes into the walls before landing back on the table.
"All done." She dusted her hands. "Now that troublemaker can't spy on us."
Spy…?
So Queen Halloween had been peeping just now…? Ryo's mouth twitched. He really didn't know what to say.
Leticia and Black Rabbit clearly realized who the "troublemaker" was too, judging by their complicated expressions.
Shiroyasha didn't care. "Aiya, that foolish girl actually helped us out this time."
Helped…?
Black Rabbit's eyes went round.
'Wait—does Shiroyasha really have designs on Ryo? And who's Byakuya? The sealed divine child from the article? Did they really have a kid?'
It felt like the sky was falling on her.
'So from now on, I'm just… a rabbit who can look at the carrot but never take a bite?'
And then someday, when their kid grew up, Ryo would lift her in his arms and say—
"Byakuya-chan, this is Auntie Black Rabbit. She's our pet."
'Nooooo—!'
Black Rabbit felt her whole body go weak and nearly collapsed.
Ryo, meanwhile, was stuck on one line. "She helped? What do you mean?"
Shiroyasha stared at him in disbelief. "Seriously? You didn't catch on?"
'I make headlines in a scandal, and I'm supposed to be thrilled?' Ryo's face twisted slightly.
Leticia spoke up hesitantly from the side: "Do you… mean the publicity for the debut game?"
Shiroyasha snapped her fingers. "Exactly! Knew you'd get it, Leticia-chan."
"Advertising?" Ryo's expression turned strange.
In Little Garden, communities holding a Gift Game needed promotion—Arcadia included.
Given Arcadia's resurgence, announcing a Gift Game would attract people… but mostly spies.
But add in a sensational scandal with Shiroyasha?
Completely different story.
In short: hype. Viral marketing. Riding the wave.
If the headline was "Arcadia revives and hosts a Gift Game," some communities might send scouts.
But if it was "The man who made the ShiroYoruMaou want his babies is hosting a Gift Game," Then anyone in the four-digit tier with half a reputation would rush over to watch the show.
Sure, it was weird. Embarrassing, even. But humans loved drama, and this would definitely pump up participation—and Ryo's influence.
And even if Ryo didn't promote it, the Queen's paparazzi would do it for him anyway.
Wait…
So that was the Queen's goal? Use Shiroyasha's fame to boost Ryo's visibility—While also taking the chance to tease Shiroyasha?
A two-for-one deal?
Ryo's face twisted again.
Shiroyasha sighed and patted his shoulder with the calm of someone who'd suffered through this many times before.
"Kid, neither of us can stop her. Halloween loves her little schemes."
"Instead of worrying about that, focus on your debut match. Try not to embarrass yourself."
She kept patting his shoulder. "And even if you mess up, don't stress about losing face. I'm your main god—if I don't care about my reputation, why should you?"
"But… aren't you famously 'shameless' in the Upper Layers?"
Black Rabbit's innocent voice continued, "Losing face doesn't bother you at all, right?"
Shiroyasha's smile froze.
She slowly turned toward Black Rabbit, who was wearing the most innocent expression possible.
She could lose face… but you're not allowed to say it.
.
.
.