Hidden Management Department, 7th basement level.
The vast, empty hall was made of nothing but reinforced concrete, an unfinished shell without even floor tiles.
[New Familia member Yomi Isayama has received 10,000 points. Monthly fixed point income has increased by 1,000 points.]
[New Familia member Ayame Jinguuji...]
Luo Shu, who was helping Natsuki Minamiya fold the underground space, suddenly looked up, a surprised expression on his face. "They finished the mission that quickly? That Takatsuki Izumi girl has some luck on her side..."
Although the tasks assigned to Takatsuki Izumi were suspected of being ones she could just coast through, the fact that it happened every time was enough to prove she had some luck.
Whether it was getting embroiled in the Kasumigaseki incident, which brought three Hero Rank Class holders to the Familia, or the current situation where Ayame Jinguuji and the others came to them of their own accord, it was all proof of Takatsuki Izumi's luck.
Of course, the most amusing thing for Luo Shu was how she had become a vampire because of Shizuka Hio, escaping the racial limitations of a ghoul, only to then actively choose the Death Flame Sorcerer Class in her pursuit of power, thereby missing out on this opportunity for a Vampire Class promotion.
If Takatsuki Izumi had chosen her Class a little later, she probably would have been fast-tracked to a Hero Rank Class holder just like Shizuka Hio, instead of being stuck at the threshold of Elite Rank like she was now.
In a way, such an experience could be considered a kind of dynamic equilibrium in her luck.
'Perhaps after Takatsuki Izumi has a spell of bad luck, I could let her try a more difficult job?'
Shaking his head, Luo Shu dismissed the strange thought and turned his gaze to an uninvited guest.
Looking at the white-haired gothic lolita with a crescent moon mark on her forehead, Kuesu Jingūji, Luo Shu couldn't help but smile. "I didn't think you'd be willing to leave the Warring States Abyss world."
"The Tree of Ages's condition has stabilised. The rest can be left to Kaguya and the SDS technicians. That will be enough."
After saying this expressionlessly, Kuesu Jingūji raised her eyebrows, sized up Luo Shu, and then said, "I heard from Kikyo that you're already a Demigod?"
"Your information seems a little out of date."
Luo Shu turned his head, glanced at Natsuki Minamiya, who was carving spatial magician runes on the various concrete support pillars, and then asked, "So, is there something you need my help with?"
"Considering your contributions to the SDS, as long as it's not too much trouble, I'm happy to solve it for you."
Hearing Luo Shu's promise, Kuesu Jingūji simply said dispassionately, "I need you to separate the Book of Truth from me without harming my soul or body."
"If possible, I hope you can shatter the Book of Truth and turn it into promotion materials."
"If Kikyo didn't lie to me, this shouldn't be a difficult matter for you now."
Hearing Kuesu Jingūji's request, Luo Shu had no intention of refusing. Instead, he asked curiously, "Didn't Kikyo tell you that as long as you become a member of the Familia, all the problems you want to solve can be solved?"
Luo Shu wasn't surprised that Kikyo would share information about the Familia with Kuesu Jingūji, as it was something Kikyo was doing under his instruction.
What surprised him was that Kuesu Jingūji had waited so long to find him, and that she hadn't mentioned becoming a member of the Familia at all, instead hoping he would shatter the Book of Truth and reduce it to promotion materials.
To this, Kuesu Jingūji just said calmly, "It is precisely because Kikyo explained it that I made this decision."
After speaking, Kuesu Jingūji looked at Luo Shu, her gaze devoid of much emotional fluctuation, and said in a cool tone, "Joining the Familia after becoming a Demigod, versus joining before becoming one... I imagine that as the master of the Divine Pantheon, you are also clear about the difference."
Hearing this, a subtle expression appeared on Luo Shu's face.
Although there were many Demigods in the Familia now, apart from Reverie Metherlence, most of the others had joined the Familia at Hero Rank and then become Demigods.
The only ones who had joined the Familia after reaching Demigod Rank or higher were Reverie Metherlence and Tenka Yatogami.
According to Luo Shu's summary, after joining the Familia, normal members would awaken a power one rank higher than their own or receive some form of completion.
And according to her own feedback, Reverie Metherlence had awakened the Wind Authority Prototype.
As for Tenka Yatogami, she had awakened a special ability that was the inverse of her sister Tohka Yatogami's—the Kingdom of Origin and End.
This ability pushed both Tenka Yatogami and Tohka Yatogami to the critical point of becoming Apostles, and they could split into two people to fight when needed.
This was almost equivalent to adding an Apostle candidate and two Apostles in their strongest state to the Familia.
With such benefits, Luo Shu naturally understood Kuesu Jingūji's idea.
"You want to become a member of the Familia after becoming a Demigod, so you can use the power of the Divine Pantheon to reach the limits of a Demigod?"
"Such a possibility is not insignificant, is it?" Kuesu Jingūji said calmly. "I've contacted Reverie and confirmed her condition. Apart from her spiritual power scale being much lower, she practically only needs to continue accumulating power to become a Wind Apostle."
Seeing that Kuesu Jingūji had even gone so far as to contact Reverie to confirm the situation, Luo Shu couldn't help but ask curiously, "Then how did you sort out your Class?"
To this, Kuesu Jingūji confessed, "The points the SDS has recently acquired have all been spent on me."
"With the help of Aya Tokoyogi's research, I used points through Kikyo to deduce the most suitable Class for me from the Dream Simulation Chamber."
Speaking of which, Kuesu Jingūji looked at Luo Shu in confusion. "Hasn't Meer reported this to you?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu paused, his tone rather peculiar. "...She probably did."
"But it was most likely hidden in those chats she sends me in the middle of the night to flirt with me."
Kuesu Jingūji fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then said, "That's something she would do."
After a pause, Kuesu Jingūji posed a soul-searching question. "In the messages Meer sent, were there also some of my private photos hidden inside?"
Luo Shu immediately retorted, "How could she possibly do something like that?"
Despite his denial, many photos flashed through Luo Shu's mind.
There were maid outfits, cat ears, pyjamas, and even risqué outfits like a bunny girl suit without the tights and even a sheer negligee.
But Luo Shu would never admit to these things, not even if he were beaten to death.
However, Kuesu Jingūji's reply was exceptionally calm. "I allowed her to send them."
Luo Shu fell silent.
His silence was the kind of socially-cringing silence that comes from being caught in a lie on the spot.
A few moments passed before Luo Shu, full of embarrassment, changed the subject. "So, what is your Demigod ritual?"
Hearing this, Kuesu Jingūji lowered her eyes and said in a cool tone, "To invert truth and falsehood!"