"Keep it."
Aslan was still looking down, organizing his data, pondering where he went wrong. He didn't care about the wealth of Balthazar Zaharias, the ambitious weapon dealer.
If he wanted, building an industrial chain wouldn't be difficult. He only needed to sell properly adjusted products from Little Garden's Umbrella Corporation in this world. After all, when his power reached a certain level, wealth was merely a string of numbers.
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Liana bowed and responded, then obediently stepped forward to start organizing the documents. Veldiana was a bit confused but stayed silent and helped her sister.
After finishing his notes, Aslan put away his tablet and snapped his fingers. A long black limousine stopped beside him. Koyomi stepped out just in time and opened the door for Aslan.
"Come on, girls, get in."
Aslan waved to the five Matrices.
They looked at the ice cream in their hands, then at Aslan, who wasn't doing anything.
Aslan wasn't angry. He immediately said to Koyomi, "There should be desserts prepared in the car, right?"
"Considering the other Excellencies' fondness for desserts, a special refrigerator has been prepared inside to store them," Koyomi said with an expressionless face.
The only pity was that she was wearing Saikai Academy's high school uniform now, not a suit. Otherwise, she'd look more like a bodyguard.
Hearing Koyomi's words, the other Matrices clearly showed tempted expressions. After glancing at Aslan's smiling face, they followed his lead and got into the car.
"Head to where Matrix No. 10 is."
Now, only Matrix No. 10 remained. Once all twelve Matrices were gathered, Aslan could almost hold the Blazing Banquet.
Though it made no difference whether the ceremony was held or not, this announcement, declaring the Fourth Primogenitor's return to the world, still carried a slight bonus in terms of merit gains.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
As the car steadily drove toward Matrix No. 10's hideout, which had been investigated by the Lion King Agency, a familiar voice sounded in Aslan's ears.
"I really don't know why you took that guy in."
Somehow, Natsuki was sitting beside him.
Aslan didn't look up. He placed his hand on the head of Matrix No. 3, who was lying on his lap, and gently stroked her.
"Didn't I tell you? Just an experimental subject, a lab rat."
Hearing Aslan's words, Liana couldn't hide a sad expression. Her movements while organizing documents paused.
"But, Natsuki-chan, you suddenly came looking for me—do you miss me?" Aslan turned, looking at Natsuki with a narcissistic smile.
"Tch, who'd miss you, you idiot?" Natsuki couldn't help but scoff.
She already despised him, let alone liked him. She came only to shatter someone's unrealistic illusions.
"I came just to remind you. Keep the Blazing Banquet small. I don't want to run around cleaning up your mess."
Natsuki turned her face away, glancing at Liana and Veldiana organizing documents. She didn't want to add a romantic rival for herself—or rather, someone with thoughts she shouldn't have.
Did she really think Aslan couldn't see through her?
Due to Aslan's experiment, Liana had developed thoughts she shouldn't have.
Perhaps she hadn't fully developed them, but regardless, Natsuki had to extinguish that spark first. To join Aslan's harem, Liana didn't meet the criteria in terms of appearance, status, or ability.
In Natsuki's view, to join Aslan's harem, one had to meet at least one of those three criteria. If not, at the very least, Aslan had to have feelings for the woman, right?
Unfortunately, Liana had none of the three. Though she was a pretty girl with decent looks, she was far inferior compared to the women Aslan had met, even compared to Natsuki herself.
But coincidentally, due to the irresponsible Fourth Primogenitor, her workload had increased, and she was short on staff. Liana could be considered talented, and she had been modified by Aslan. So, she shouldn't be left wandering outside.
"By the way, I'll take these two girls," Natsuki said, pointing at Liana and Veldiana.
"Take them."
Aslan smiled, the corner of his mouth slightly upturned, and said to Natsuki, "Natsuki-chan is always so kind-hearted."
Natsuki felt a bit embarrassed under Aslan's gaze and hurriedly left with Liana and Veldiana.
"You're shy, Natsuki-chan."
Aslan smiled, muttering to himself, uncaring whether Natsuki heard him.
Then, the car fell silent again, with only the sounds of the little girls sharing and enjoying their desserts.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
In an ordinary apartment on Itogami Island.
Several boys and girls, who looked about twelve or thirteen years old, were doing their own things in the living room.
"I'm back!"
Suddenly, a cheerful and melodious girl's voice came from the apartment door, along with the sound of it opening.
A girl dressed in very trendy clothes walked in. She had short, rainbow-golden hair, with flames flickering in her pupils.
She wore a baseball-style jacket, denim shorts that reached only to her thighs, and black leather boots with striped socks—one longer than the other. Between her striped socks and denim shorts were a pair of snow-white, flawless legs.
At a glance, she looked like a delinquent who disliked studying and always skipped school. She also had a slight tomboyish aura.
"December!"
Upon seeing the girl, the boys and girls in the living room, who had been occupied with their own tasks, exclaimed joyfully.
"I bought food for all of you. There's also dessert from the shop downstairs today. Come on, eat up."
December cheerfully placed the large bags she was carrying on the table beside her.
A petite Beastman girl, who had been playing with a large sniper rifle in the middle of the living room, jumped up and ran over. She excitedly grabbed the bags.
"Yay, December! We get dessert today—you must be tired." The small Beastman girl wore a dress, looking like an elementary schooler, with cute cat ears on her head.
"Carly, I'm not tired. The money in my pocket is still from Teacher Senga," December waved her hand and said casually.
The Beastman girl opened the bags, taking out bread and desserts. But she didn't eat immediately. Instead, she called her friends.
"Rogi, Rahn, come eat too."
"Coming."
A boy named Rogi, with an ordinary appearance, blue hair, and a very outdated green jacket, responded to Carly's call and ran over.
A girl named Rahn, with long ponytail hair and a somewhat emotional demeanor, forced a smile when called by Carly and joined them for dinner.
"December, aren't you eating?"
Carly, a young child who had been abused since childhood and never ate her fill, enjoyed this delicious dinner and asked December, who was daydreaming beside her.
To Carly, who had been starved, these ordinary desserts were the most delicious dishes in the world.
Carly's words snapped December back to reality. She looked at her and said with a smile, "Teacher Senga is preparing the base point for the initial ritual."
"Once the ritual is ready, Teacher Senga will use the Fengshui Technique to destroy this Special Zone!"
Hearing December's words, Carly and the others showed joyful smiles.
At that moment, December's face suddenly paled, and she looked panicked.
"December, what's wrong?"
Seeing December's trembling body and distressed expression, Carly and the others immediately put down their desserts. They approached and surrounded her anxiously.
"H-He's coming…" December said with trembling lips.
"Who's coming?" Carly and the others asked, confused.
"The Origin, the Fourth Primogenitor, is approaching," December said, word by word, biting her lip.
She had thought the Blazing Banquet would start soon, but she didn't expect it to be this fast.
Would the Blazing Banquet end before she and Senga Takehito could execute their plan?
In an inexplicable state, she seemed to see a man speaking to her.
"Only you left, December."
As Matrix No. 10, December knew full well this wasn't an illusion. This was a declaration from the Fourth Primogenitor Origin, coming to reclaim the tenth Beast Vassal—herself.
Though she didn't resist her fate, if she left, what would happen to her friends here?