Chapter 526: Long Time No See! Yotsuba Is Startled!
Before leaving, Emilia mentioned that the other Royal Selection candidates, Crusch and the others, all wanted to see him. However, Ren wasn't that idle. He simply told Emilia to tell them to be obedient and do their jobs. "We can talk next time."
Emilia agreed, though with her kind nature, she'd likely relay it more tactfully.
As he was leaving, Ren also finalized the contract for Puck, allowing Emilia to readily use the power of the Beast of the End. Although this power was weaker than hers, she was the Queen now and couldn't do everything herself. As a considerate boyfriend, Ren naturally had to free up her underlings. With Volcanica, Puck, and Reinhardt as her three enforcers, no decision should be difficult.
After all, the Witch Cult had long been eradicated, and the Witches themselves had become Ren's lovely paramours.
"Heh heh, how was the taste of my good daughter?" Echidna's inquisitive voice greeted him the moment he returned home. Her white eyes showed immense curiosity.
"What good daughter? She's just a spirit you created," Ren gave her a look. As soon as he returned, she couldn't wait to come out and ask.
"Well, it's all the same." Anyway, to Betty, she was her mother.
"Tsk, she was more exciting than you. Are you satisfied?" Ren's reply was perfunctory.
But Echidna furrowed her brow, thinking seriously. "More exciting than me? The difference should be in our physiques. So if I were to transform into the same physique as her…"
"..." Speechlessness was Ren's greatest respect for her thirst for knowledge.
"Ren, you're finally back." Kanae, sensing his return, came directly to the bedroom. Ignoring Echidna, she rushed into his arms like a gentle breeze, greedily inhaling his scent.
"What happened here?" Seeing her slight anxiety, Ren instinctively activated Divine Omniscience. Everything in the world appeared in his mind. He had thought something abnormal had occurred, but he learned it was just that Utaha had something urgent to discuss.
Kanae shook her head. "Nothing happened. It's just that Utaha-san seems to need to see you."
Yukino and the others understood that if Ren wasn't around, he was handling important matters. Ren had set up a connection to a parallel cosmic space he created, and those he confirmed could enter it freely to train. He had also created spatial passages connecting the homes of Shizuka-sensei, Yui, Kaguya, and others to his own.
The reason Utaha was so eager seemed to be because the signing event for her new book was today, and she wanted him to accompany her. "Hmm, I understand. I'll go find her."
But first, he went to the living room. Holding Kanae's hand, he walked out. In the living room, Neko and Nao were playing video games. Then there were the five sisters studying under Haru's strict supervision.
"Oh, so that's how it is! As expected of Haru-sensei!" Itsuki was very happy to have understood another knowledge point.
The five sisters had been studying for several days and were making progress. The reason was because their teacher was a cute cat, so they were willing to learn without the pressure they felt from a human teacher. Moreover, Kanae, Nao, and Neko were all very kind to them, occasionally inviting them for meals. They had also become friends with Eriri and others who frequently visited.
"By the way, where did Ren-kun go?" Itsuki whispered.
Haru quietly ate her dried fish, ignoring her. It was break time.
"Oh, yeah, it's been a while since I've seen him," Ichika poked her cheek with her pen.
Yotsuba's eyes darted around. "Do you think he went to save the world?"
"Huh?" Nino immediately said, "Yotsuba, have you been reading too many sci-fi novels?"
"Heh heh, I was just guessing. He's so mysterious, maybe he really did," she scratched her head. "You agree, right, Miku?"
"..." Miku, with headphones around her neck, didn't speak, giving her a look that told her to figure it out herself.
However, that glance made Yotsuba freeze. Ren had appeared silently behind her. Seeing Miku look over, he smiled and made a shushing gesture. Miku just watched quietly.
"Oh, don't take it seriously. I was just guessing," Yotsuba waved her hand.
"Maybe you guessed correctly."
"Ah?" Hearing someone agree, Yotsuba sat up straight. She wanted to see who it was. But in an instant, a question mark flashed in her mind. That voice sounded like a male's? Her peripheral vision noticed the others were all staring at her side.
"Is there something next to me?" She turned her head curiously. Their eyes met. She saw Ren, smiling and staring at her, only a dozen centimeters away.
He greeted her softly. "Long time no see, Yotsuba."
"Eh!!!" Her startled cry echoed in the living room.
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