The next day, after making some preparations, Arthur entered the Reincarnation Space together with Saeko.
"I'm here," Arthur said to the unanswered call.
["White Blade" invites you to enter private room No. 12345. Do you accept?]
"Accept."
"Oh, right, Saeko is with me too."
Although Saeko was a Reincarnator, she was also considered Arthur's personal contract. Because of that, even without a Team-Up Card or similar items, she could move with him as his contracted companion, whether it was entering an instance on Arthur's current floor or going together to a private independent room opened by someone else within the Reincarnation Space.
So when Selena was waiting in full readiness for Blank's arrival, she was momentarily stunned to see that two figures appeared in the room.
The living room space was extremely spacious—luxurious, yet not gaudy. Pink gauze curtains swayed gently with the breeze from the window, carrying with them the faint scent of flowers from outside. The beige sofa, elegant furniture, refined decorations, and the carpet stretching toward the inner rooms were all eye-catching in their own right. Above, a crystal chandelier shimmered brilliantly, scattering light across the room and adding to the opulent atmosphere.
This private room almost silently revealed Blade's family background—she was very likely a wealthy young lady.
And thinking about it, that made perfect sense. To keep someone hovering on the brink of death with that kind of illness required rivers of money. Not to mention… she had already transferred the fifty million Luminares as a down payment right after their discussion the previous day.
"Nice to meet you, Blank."
Selena immediately stepped forward and extended her hand. "I am Selena. Thank you very much for being willing to help this time."
Arthur briefly shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, I am Arthur." Right after, he gently pulled Saeko Busujima forward to introduce her. "This is Saeko Busujima. I imagine you all should know her already."
Over the past few days, the two of them had been going out and walking around the city without hiding themselves. With the investigations unfolding regarding Blank's identity, he was certain that others had already begun to piece things together—and in truth, that was exactly what had happened. Gavin had already informed the investigators that he saw Blank inside that Dungeon accompanied by a young woman with long purple hair—impossible not to notice—slightly tall, with light blue eyes.
On the very same day before Blank revealed himself, the Luminar government uncovered information about her. When they failed to find any historical records related to Saeko's existence, there was only one possible conclusion: Blank had brought a character from the Dungeon into the real world.
Still, very few people actually knew about Saeko. After all, almost no one had ever truly seen her inside a Dungeon over the years... and if they had, it was only in fleeting glimpses. Although Selena was curious about what kind of status Saeko Busujima currently held in reality, she knew it wasn't something she should pry into.
"Hello, Busujima."
"Mm, hello there."
Saeko Busujima spoke with a gentle smile, her eyes carrying a special charm the other woman couldn't quite decipher.
"Sister…"
A weak voice sounded from behind.
Selena suddenly snapped out of it and stepped aside, revealing the person standing behind her. It was a rather conspicuous young girl who looked to be around eighteen. She appeared pale and so fragile that even a passing gust of wind might have been enough to knock her down… yet, deep within her gray eyes, there was a faint strength—thin, but filled with perseverance.
"So… you're Blank?" she asked. Her voice came out clear and soft as she examined him from head to toe, seeming slightly delighted upon seeing him.
Selena glanced at him from the side, a hint of resentment in her gaze. "Originally, Sophia's favorite had always been me. But ever since you, Blank, made your debut, this heartless girl has completely forgotten about her own sister…"
Sophia rolled her eyes at her older sister. "Stop being dramatic, sis. If you manage to reach SSS-rank, maybe you can become my favorite again."
At that moment, everyone could almost hear a crack... as if Selena's heart had shattered into pieces from her sister's reply.
"But you're really amazing. I kept saying that you would definitely get that SSS-grade evaluation purely through strength. In the end, my sister didn't believe me and even lost the bet—mmph!"
Sophia was only halfway through her sentence when Selena suddenly covered her mouth.
Selena awkwardly glanced at Blank. Luckily, there was no strange expression on his face. For a brief second, she had nearly lost her cold and untouchable aura.
Having finally managed to settle Sophia down, Selena felt that today was more exhausting than ever before. She had never been good at interacting with anyone who wasn't family to begin with, and now she was in the position of having to ask someone else for a favor. And yet her sister wouldn't let her have a moment of peace… Honestly, you ungrateful girl—who do you think is the one worrying about you this whole time?
Selena shot her sister a resentful look. Sophia, meanwhile, was showing a long-lost vitality as she chatted happily with Blank, her pale face even carrying a faint flush of excitement.
"Alright, let's get down to business first."
Arthur was slightly overwhelmed by the young girl's enthusiasm—she looked just like an excited fan meeting her idol. Especially given how incredibly frail she appeared, it made it even harder for him to refuse her request. Fortunately, with Saeko Busujima quietly assisting at his side, they managed to gently coax the girl into calming down.
Still… he couldn't help but feel that Saeko's gaze toward her was a little strange. No—rather than just her, it should be said that Saeko's gaze toward both sisters carried a subtle, unreadable nuance.
...He wouldn't be in trouble, right?
The four of them took seats on the sofa, gathering around the coffee table in the living room.
"I imagine you've already researched the four dungeons on the 10th floor beforehand," he said, his tone returning to its usual seriousness. "What are your thoughts on them?"
Sophia knew that, in terms of experience, she couldn't compare to her older sister—a top-tier Reincarnator—let alone someone as extraordinary as Blank. So she stayed quiet, sitting obediently to the side without interrupting. Saeko Busujima naturally had no intention of interjecting either, remaining composed as she listened.
Selena understood that the question was directed at her alone, so she didn't hesitate to explain her thoughts.
"My opinion is this. First, we should rule out Shiki and Ashura. That leaves the other two dungeons… but to be honest, I can't clearly distinguish which one is better. Based on all the currently known information, both of them are still in a largely unknown state."
She paused briefly before continuing, her tone turning more decisive.
"If I had to choose… I would probably pick Steins Gate."
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The extra chapter will be released later today.