After passing the police checkpoint, Ayn and Aya were finally able to continue on their way. However, before they truly set off, several things happened.
The first, of course, was contacting Ari, to tell her that they had already left Tokyo and that she didn't need to worry about Ayn anymore. This time, however, instead of sending a text, he made a direct call. During the conversation, in order to put her mind completely at ease, Ayn even sent her his current location. After checking the map, Ari let out a long sigh of relief. By then, Ayn had already left the Kanto region, saying goodbye to all those zombies, and the weight on her heart finally lifted.
After that, Ayn asked how Ari was doing. She said she had already reached her friend's house in the suburbs of Osaka, and even if something happened, they could still look after one another. So she told Ayn not to worry about her. Next, Ayn asked about their mother. Ari said she was fine, Ana was with her, taking care of everything. Before hanging up, Ari reminded Ayn to call their mother himself and let her know he was safe.
And who was Ana? She was their mother's younger sister, only two years older than Ayn. As for calling his mother, Ayn also felt it was the right thing to do, so after ending his call with Ari, he dialed his mother's number.
When his mother picked up the phone, she was overjoyed. Perhaps because of that excitement, she began asking about everything, from the road conditions to what he had eaten and drunk, so much that Ayn couldn't help feeling she was a bit too talkative. Even so, a warmth spread in his heart, and he couldn't stop himself from saying, "Ari has already booked the flight. We'll find a way to return home as soon as possible." Hearing that, his mother's smile grew even brighter, after all, the last time Ayn went back home was three years ago. Although he often chatted with her online during those years, he had never once actually returned.
And why hadn't he? There were many reasons. First, money. His mother's illness cost a great deal, and the family had to save every penny; just one trip back would have been painfully expensive. Second, Ana was there to take care of everything, so Ayn and Ari only needed to send money regularly. And besides, Ari went back once every year, so Ayn felt there was no need for both of them to go—it would just be a waste of money. And finally, the most honest reason of all: Ayn was a shut-in. Not only that, he was terribly lazy. On rare holidays, he would rather stay home, sleep, or play games than travel anywhere.
In short, once the topic of returning home came up, his mother stopped nagging him, because she knew perfectly well that her son found her chatter annoying. After that, she suggested that Ayn talk to Ana. Though he was reluctant, he still gave in and exchanged a few brief words with her.
Why was he reluctant to talk to Ana? It wasn't because he disliked her, rather, he was starting to vaguely realize that Ana's fate might already be scripted by the system. Unlike with his mom or Ari, what Ayn felt for this woman went beyond family affection; there was something else too—sexual fantasies. The kind where he'd stroke himself off while imagining fucking her pussy, secret and scorching hot.
Why did he have those fantasies? Because Ana had always been beautiful, even as a kid. Back in middle school, Ayn had once given in to impulse and molested her. At the time, she was napping, wearing just a thin layer of underwear; he'd passed by her room and caught the sight by accident. He'd just watched some AV, his desire burning like wildfire, leaving him ravenous like a beast. Seeing her even legs and the outline of her panties, he couldn't help swallowing hard, climbing onto the bed, and gently spreading her legs to kiss the pussy covered by that fabric...
But he stopped at kissing the panties, five pecks at most. Then, terrified she'd wake up, Ayn bolted away in shame. It only happened that one time, and he never lost control again after. Still, the memory burned deep like a brand, crystal clear even now, popping into his head unbidden on quiet nights.
In short, Ayn kept his chat with Ana brief—just a couple of sentences, nothing more than asking "How's everything at home?", thanking her for "taking care of Mom", telling her "Don't worry about me and Ari", and mentioning "We're planning to head back to the country", before wrapping it up quickly. But after hanging up, Ayn couldn't shake the urge to light a cigarette to steady his nerves, because he had this nagging sense that Ana might really end up as his woman, and he absolutely didn't want their family bond to twist into something else like that... because it wouldn't just involve Ana; it'd ripple out to his mom and Ari too...
Meanwhile, Aya called her grandpa in Kobe to report that she was safe, but she didn't mention Ayn at all. Both Ayn and Aya felt that some matters weren't suitable for discussion over the phone, because they were too prone to leaks, and that was precisely why Ayn hadn't yet told his family about Aya.
After finishing the first matter, let us move on to the second one: the System notified Ayn that the [Companion] quest had been completed. This quest had been issued back in Chapter 2, with the objective being to escape Tokyo together with Aya. The reward for completing it was 500 System Coins.
After Aya obtained her own System, the same quest was also issued to her. However, her reward was not the same as Ayn's 500 System Coins, but instead 375. The reason for this difference was that Aya's permission level was set as a [Family Follower], and according to the System's rules, a [Family Follower] could only receive 75% of the reward granted to the [System Master-Ayn].
When it came to this unequal treatment by the System, Ayn started complaining before Aya even did. Why? Because in his mind, Aya was his wife, and a wife should stand on equal ground with her husband, not beneath him. To him, equality between husband and wife meant that whatever privileges he enjoyed, Aya should enjoy them as well. Only then could true equality between the two be achieved.
However, that was only what Ayn thought in his heart; he did not actually say those words aloud. What did he say instead? He kicked a stone by the roadside and said to Aya, "The System went too far. How can it deduct your reward? Damn this thing!"
And why didn't he voice his real thoughts? It was not because he believed they were wrong, but because he simply was not used to lecturing others about ideals or principles. In his past life, he rarely had opportunities to talk about his personal values, not even with Ari, who was closest to him.
As for Aya, how did she take his complaint? She was no fool, and of course she understood why Ayn was upset. The reduced reward was just the surface, while the real reason was that it went against his belief in equality between husband and wife. How did Aya realize that? Naturally, because Ayn had said something similar before, in Chapter 8 to be exact, when he told her, "I already said I won't go looking for other women. If I can go find them, then doesn't that mean you could go find other men too?"
And now, precisely because Aya could see what Ayn was truly thinking, she felt genuinely happy inside. However, even though she was pleased, she did not actually believe the System had done anything wrong. In fact, she agreed with the rule that "Followers can only receive up to 75% of the System Coins earned by Ayn." Why did she agree? That was a long story.
First of all, one has to understand that the amount of System Coins a person possesses does not merely reflect their status or authority; it also brings real, tangible strength and ability. The more System Coins one has, the more powerful skill books they can purchase from the System Store, and naturally, the stronger they become. In other words, a person's strength or weakness can, in essence, be measured by how many System Coins they hold.
And the reason Aya agreed with the System's decision was closely related to this. Simply put, Aya loved Ayn, so she did not want any other System Users to surpass him in power. Otherwise, it would create a situation where "the master is weak, and the servant is strong," or "the ruler is weak, and the subject is strong." Aya knew her history well—not only Japanese history, but also European and Chinese history. She knew that countless dynasties throughout history had been overthrown by usurpers, and those usurpers succeeded precisely because they were stronger than the monarchs they replaced.
Therefore, Aya understood very well why the System had set such a rule: it was to protect Ayn, to ensure that his position and authority would always remain above those of other System Users. There were many ways to guarantee that, and one of them was to give Ayn more System Coins, allowing him to become stronger than anyone else and to use that overwhelming power to eliminate the possibility of any "usurper" ever appearing.
Did Ayn see this as well? Aya believed he certainly did. And since he understood, how did he view it? In Aya's opinion, he supported the System's rule. Why would he support it? Because he sought a sense of security. Aya could tell that before meeting her, Ayn had probably been someone who lived in constant anxiety and unease. He lacked a sense of security. Why did she think so? The reason was simple: Ayn had a mild mother complex.
This did not mean he harbored any improper desires toward her; rather, it stemmed from his lack of security and his deep longing to feel safe. In his subconscious, his mother was the one who could give him that safety. Once you understood that Ayn lacked a sense of security, it was easy to see why he would support the System's rule—because those rules gave him a tremendous sense of stability. If everything went as planned, no other System User would ever be stronger than him.
So then, was Ayn's idea of "equality between husband and wife" merely a lie? Of course not. Aya could clearly see that this man truly wished for such equality. The idea of equality between husband and wife did not conflict with Ayn's support of the System's rule. If Ayn had the power to grant Aya the same status as his own, he would have done it without hesitation.
Why? Because Ayn loved Aya. That love made him naturally want to give her everything best he had. Of course, Ayn also knew that feelings could change someday. There was always a chance of a breakup, a divorce, or even betrayal from Aya herself. Yet even with all that in mind, the love he felt for her at that moment would not allow him to treat her unfairly. He still wanted to give her the very best he could.
However, the decision was not in Ayn's hands but in the System's. The System cared nothing for how deeply Ayn loved Aya, because history had long proven that even between husband and wife, father and son, or mother and child, there could still be conflict, betrayal, or even bloodshed on the battlefield. Because of that, the System had decided that no matter who you were—whether Ayn's wife or even his mother—you could never receive the same treatment as Ayn. The maximum amount of System Coins you could obtain was limited to 75% of Ayn's.
As for "equality between husband and wife," although Aya was delighted by Ayn's belief, she herself did not intend to pursue absolute equality. As long as Ayn respected her and continued to love her as deeply as he did now, that alone would be enough for her to call it happiness.
Moreover, Aya did not believe Ayn would abandon her in the future. Why not? It was not because she trusted the character of that pervert, but because she trusted herself. Aya believed that she had the ability to maintain their relationship, and that through her own effort, she could always remain one of the most important people in Ayn's life. Right now, she believed that her advantage was overwhelming, and with such a great advantage, she could hardly imagine any situation in which Ayn would abandon her. Therefore, Aya did not think there was anything wrong with having a slightly lower status than Ayn. What mattered was not status or power, but whether Ayn still loved her. That alone was enough.
After the second matter was settled, what was the third? Because they had completed the System quest and received a sum of System Coins, Ayn and Aya decided to buy some skill books to make themselves stronger and better prepared for the risks that might appear in the future. Of course, they did not plan to spend all the money; they would keep some funds in reserve for emergencies.
As for what Aya bought, we will leave that for later if it ever becomes relevant. For now, let us talk about the skill books Ayn purchased. Ayn bought four in total: [Transcendent Network Lv1], [Transcendent Compute Power Lv1], [Transcendent Hacker Lv1], and finally [Transcendent Tentacles Lv1].
Transcendent Network was already mentioned in earlier chapters, so we will skip it for now. Transcendent Compute Power can be understood simply as making Ayn's CUP performance stronger, just like a computer's CUP; the stronger the CUP, the more Ayn can do. For example, with higher CUP he could handle dozens of tasks simultaneously, or in combat release thirty Energy Bullets at once (previously, Ayn could at most release five concurrently, although in the plot he has not yet actually used the skill [Energy Bullet Lv1]).
In the twenty-first century, the Transcendent Hacker skill is extremely practical. It allows Ayn to use Transcendent energy to directly interfere with electronic information and devices: infiltrating the internet, servers, and cloud storage; tampering with identity records, surveillance footage, traffic logs, and other electronic data; remotely controlling cameras, vehicles, drones, electronic doors, and even some civilian power facilities. In other words, with Lv1 Ayn could, in a short time, alter surveillance recordings, forge passage records, and even temporarily prevent the device from uploading or transmitting data.
Of course, Lv1's capabilities were not omnipotent; it could not accomplish certain high-difficulty operations, such as destroying military operational networks, rewriting a bank's clearing ledger, completely erasing national-level data, or maintaining long-term concealment within high-security systems. To do those things, one would either need to raise the skill level or rely on help from an insider.
As for Transcendent Tentacles, these tentacles were not slimy, octopus-like monster limbs, nor were they disturbing alien appendages. They were formed entirely from pure Transcendent energy, elegant in appearance, like arms woven from light and threads of energy.
Normally, they would grow from Ayn's back as an extension of his body. When necessary, however, Ayn could separate them, allowing the tentacles to exist independently as free energy forms within the surrounding space. Even so, they remained directly linked to Ayn's nervous and sensory systems, functioning much like "detached arms." Of course, these tentacles would only appear when Ayn actively activated the skill; when not in use, they did not exist and placed no burden on his body.
At Lv1, Ayn could generate five tentacles, using them for grasping, whipping, firing Energy Bullets, or performing basic precision work. Every movement was driven directly by his consciousness, requiring neither speech nor gesture, as naturally as moving his own arms. Each tentacle's length and thickness could freely change according to Ayn's will: when strength was needed, they became thicker and sturdier; when dexterity was required, they would contract into slender and flexible forms.
At the same time, these tentacles possessed touch, smell, taste, pain, temperature, vibration, sight, and hearing, no different from Ayn's own fingers, skin, nose, eyes, or ears. The only difference was that their sensory range was magnified several times over, and they provided multi-angle, distributed perception, allowing Ayn to "see" and "hear" multiple directions at once during combat or delicate work.
The tips of the tentacles naturally tapered into teardrop-shaped mouthparts. In their normal state, countless hair-thin energy filaments rested quietly within those openings. It was precisely these micro-filaments that enabled Ayn to perform extremely delicate operations, from dismantling small machines, to repairing car engines, to maintaining complex electronic equipment—all with ease.
Although the Transcendent Tentacles had a multitude of functions, the real reason Ayn bought this skill was something simple and downright lewd: "I want a few more cocks..." That's right—this guy was already scheming in his head about tormenting Aya—during sex, one thrusting into her tight asshole, one plunging into her wet hot pussy, one stuffing her pink lips for a deep-throat blowjob, making her scream and beg in ecstasy as her pussy juice and breast milk sprayed everywhere. It was with this filthy fantasy in mind that he shelled out the money for it, and sure enough, it perfectly realized Ayn's dirty dream.
The system also offered variants: the energy tentacle filaments could morph into thick cocks, veined and throbbing hotly; or switch to slick tongues and lips that curled and licked every inch of sensitive skin; or even turn into vibrating eggs, oval energy orbs buzzing away; and not to mention transforming into sex toys like rough-textured vibrating dildos or multi-headed fake cocks, humming as they plunged into her pussy or asshole. All these variants were driven by Ayn's will, perfectly tailored to his lusts, giving him even more ways to take turns ravaging her.
In fact, there were some versions of the filaments that could turn into tight pussies and tender assholes, letting Aya fuck those tentacles back with a fake cock in turn, so Ayn could feel the submissive pleasure of being filled up. Unfortunately, under the current system version, for the sake of Ayn's mental health, the system strictly forbade him from using the feminization mode, refusing to let him personally experience the ecstasy of a pussy getting fucked.
Ayn was a bit unhappy about this—he wanted to turn into a woman and get fucked by Aya. It wasn't that he really wanted to become a woman; he just simply wanted to experience a woman's pleasure. However, the system was adamant: "For the sake of your mental health," leaving Ayn to sigh inwardly and give up on this absurd lewd thought.
In fact, the system didn't just warn Ayn—it quietly notified Aya as well: [Under the current circumstances, the master's psychological state is relatively fragile. For the sake of the master's mental health, do not treat the master as a woman and engage in sexual activities with him as such.] This notification immediately woke Aya up to the fact that she had to treat Ayn as a man, not a woman. So, she decisively shelved the idea of fucking Ayn's asshole.
Why did she have to see Ayn as male? The system explained it clearly: "Psychological state is relatively fragile." Although it didn't elaborate, Aya could guess the part the system left unsaid: because his psyche was still too fragile, going on like this long-term would gradually turn him from a man into a woman, and the system absolutely didn't want to see that outcome. So, until his mind was strong enough, the system wouldn't let Ayn acquire a woman's body. Of course, that was the system's stance, did Aya agree? Of course she did; she didn't want her man to turn into a woman someday... Though a female version of Ayn didn't sound half bad, she still loved this male version of him more.