Haruto considered himself a hypocrite.
He hated the sight of a barrel aimed at him. The cold steel, the arrogance of someone daring to think they held his life in their hands—disgusting.
And yet… he loved the feeling of holding a gun himself.
That quiet power. That subtle thrill when another's breath hitched, when their gaze wavered, when they understood who was in control. It wasn't justice, it wasn't cruelty—it was satisfaction.
Kurusu had tasted that, and Haruto didn't regret putting him down. But Ayame… pointing a weapon at her, teasing her into surrender—that was intoxicating in a different way.
Now, with barely ten minutes left before he had to leave this world, he kept his demands modest. The Kōtetsujō still needed Ayame, after all.
When she was fully dressed again, Ayame stood before him, cheeks still flushed, bowing respectfully.
"My apologies for not being able to fully satisfy you, Haruto-sama."
Haruto blinked, lips twitching. The way she said it made him sound like some mischievous fox spirit stealing offerings in the night.
"You realize what that means, don't you?" His tone was playful, but there was an edge in his gaze. "You'll have to make it up to me later. You know what I mean."
Her blush deepened until even the tips of her ears turned red. "…Mm."
He hadn't expected her to yield so easily. Maybe it was her noble upbringing, her ingrained sense of duty… whatever it was, it only made him want to tease her further.
Instead, he simply pulled her close, kissing her briefly before lifting her chin so their eyes met. His voice softened, but carried no doubt.
"From now on, you belong to me alone. Do you agree?"
Her lips trembled, eyes glistening like dew on glass. "Haruto-sama… I am willing to serve you forever. Please continue to protect the Kōtetsujō."
"…Good." A faint smile touched his lips. "Then I won't let you down."
He kissed her forehead, whispering words of power. The air shimmered faintly as a red three-petaled flower bloomed where his lips had touched.
The moment he pulled away, he invoked Observe, peering at her transformed status.
---
[Name]: Ayame Yomogawa
[Level]: 0
[Abilities]: Blessing, Ice Crystal Archery
---
"…Interesting."
Her basic archery had shifted into Ice Crystal Archery, a bow of frost capable of firing arrows that froze and exploded on impact. But what caught his attention most was the other ability—his Blessing.
It allowed her not only to evolve but to level up like him.
Ayame stared in awe as a bow of glimmering ice materialized in her hands. "This… this is your doing, Haruto-sama?"
"Yes," he replied casually. "My blessing." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Stop the train for a moment and come with me. I want to test something."
"Understood."
She was about to leave when he leaned in, lips brushing her ear.
"Oh, and by the way—your livestream has been running since the moment I started… supporting you."
"E–eh?!" Her cry of mortified shock echoed down the carriage as Haruto smirked to himself.
---
Ten minutes later
"Whoosh!"
The ice arrow flew true, striking a Kabane through the heart. The creature froze solid, then shattered into glittering shards.
Haruto clapped slowly, approving. "Excellent."
With his guidance, Ayame had already climbed five levels in less than ten minutes. Not only had her skills sharpened, but her body now moved with a strength and grace beyond human limits.
---
[Name]: Ayame Yomogawa
[Level]: 5
[Abilities]: Blessing, Ice Crystal Archery
---
Of course, half of the experience points from every kill flowed back to him. That was the true beauty of his blessing.
Overjoyed, Ayame dropped her bow and rushed into his arms, pressing her lips against his.
"Thank you, Haruto-sama… for your blessing."
He chuckled, stroking her cheek. "Heh. And you can't blame me for not warning you about the livestream now, can you?"
Her face turned crimson again. "N-no, my lord… it's just… so embarrassing."
Her shame kept her quiet in the chat group—too aware that others had seen more of her than she wanted.
Haruto kissed her once more, then whispered, "It's fine. You'll get used to it."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. Get used to it?
He wasn't joking. If the chat group really was filled with girls from countless worlds, then why not? Why shouldn't he turn it into his personal sanctuary? The livestreams were more than amusement—they were slow, subtle conditioning.
A sigh escaped him. "I really am a terrible man…"
But his time here was ending. He rested his hand against her cheek one last time, voice low but commanding.
"You want to protect the Kōtetsujō, and I won't interfere. But remember—you belong to me. You can't throw your life away for anyone else. Don't be soft. Don't show mercy to traitors. If someone causes trouble, cut them down and use my name as your shield. If you run into a problem, you come to me. Understand?"
Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of devotion and resolve. "I understand."
"And one more thing." His tone sharpened. "I'll be granting sub-group access to Mumei, Yukina, and Kajika. Bring them into your fold. Make them loyal to you."
"Yes, Haruto-sama."
She didn't ask what a sub-group was. She trusted him completely.
"…Good. I'm leaving now."
---
As his form dissolved from this world, a faint chime echoed.
[Ding! Sub-group access granted: Mumei, Yukina, Kajika.]
In the Kōtetsujō, three women blinked as a strange new interface appeared before them. Confusion rippled between them, though they noticed Ayame's name tied to it.
Kajika: "Um… what is this? Some kind of divine message?"
Yukina: "I-I don't know… but it has Ayame-sama's name attached…"
Mumei: "Tch. Whatever it is, if it's connected to that guy, it'll be troublesome."
Their words carried curiosity, suspicion, and a hint of excitement—the first stirrings of the web Haruto had begun to weave.