Chapter 22: Caught Between Little Sister and Girlfriend...
'The Principles and Applications of Hypnosis'
"Yes! That's it!"
A spark of excitement flashed in Takumi's heart. He immediately added the book to his purchase pile and strode confidently to the counter.
"Hello, your total comes to 10,800 yen. Would you like them gift-wrapped?"
"No need, I've got a backpack from the supermarket."
"Alright then. Here you are."
Back home, Takumi tossed the backpack onto the sofa and headed straight for the kitchen-dining-bathroom area. The dining room sat in the middle, the bathroom was on the left, and the kitchen on the right. He could hear the gentle sound of running water coming from the bathroom, along with a girl softly humming a song.
Empress's definitely back from training and taking a bath.
"I'm home, Empress."
"Understood. We are currently bathing. Prepare Our evening meal."
"OK."
Takumi was just about to tie on an apron when his phone buzzed. He glanced at it—LINE message. From Nao.
「Konbanwa, Kouichi-kun~」
「Good evening, Nao. Have you eaten yet?」
「Not yet. Today Otou-san and Okaa-san went to the movies to relive their dating days, so I was planning to cook something myself. Kouichi-kun… do you have time? I'd like you to taste my cooking.」
Takumi froze. Of course he desperately wanted to go. But he had to make dinner for Empress—there probably wasn't enough time. While he was agonizing, another message popped up.
「I know about Kouichi-kun's preferences, so… I bravely put on a naked apron just for you ♡ Only for thirty minutes though. If you don't hurry, you'll miss your chance~」
"Naked apron?!"
Takumi's breathing instantly grew heavier. He felt like his nose was about to bleed. In his mind, an invisible scale appeared—little sister on one side, Nao on the other. Slowly… the scale tipped toward Nao.
Just as he was about to type "I'm coming right now," the bathroom door slid open. Clouds of steam drifted out, and the tyrant little sister emerged, still damp from her bath. Her delicate shoulders glistened dazzlingly white under the soft lighting. Shoulder-length hair, dotted with tiny water droplets, fell carelessly around her face. Her cheeks were flushed, glowing faintly. She was wrapped only in a large white bath towel. You could vaguely see the pink bra beneath, struggling to contain the pair of soft, budding rabbits on her chest. They weren't as impressively full as Nao's, but they were already developing into something impossible to ignore.
And most importantly—those legs. Years of training had sculpted them into long, perfect pillars. The bath towel barely reached past her thighs, exposing half their length like an ultra-short skirt. The proportions between thigh and calf were flawless, like translucent jade shining with an enchanting light. The sheer beauty was beyond words.
"I'm not a siscon. I'm not a siscon."
Takumi hurriedly turned his head away.
The tyrant little sister plopped down on the hard wooden dining chair.
"Imperial Brother, We are thirsty."
"Oh—right! I'll get you some apple cider vinegar."
Takumi grabbed a big bottle from the fridge, twisted off the cap, and handed it over. His little sister took a big gulp, then set it down.
"We are hungry. Prepare Our imperial meal quickly."
"Yes, yes."
Bzzzt…
The phone vibrated again. Another message from Nao.
「Why aren't you replying, Kouichi-kun? Oh, right—I already put on the apron. Here's a picture for you~」
Takumi scrolled down. Sure enough, there was a photo: a beautiful blonde girl with red moon contact lenses, wearing nothing but a red apron. Her flawless snow-white back was completely exposed, the seductive curve of her hips and that perfectly round, perky butt… The camera angle was awkward since it was a selfie, but the side-back view was still devastatingly tempting. Takumi swallowed hard.
"What's wrong?"
The tyrant little sister looked at him curiously.
Takumi quickly put the phone down.
"N-nothing. Just suddenly felt thirsty."
"Oh? Here, then. Consider this your reward."
She lifted the bottle of apple cider vinegar and casually handed it to him.
Takumi blinked in confusion as he took it.
"For me?"
"Of course. The treasury is empty, and as Imperial Brother you've been working hard as coachman, royal chef, and more. A small reward is only proper. 'When the ruler regards his subjects as close kin, the subjects regard the ruler as their heart and core. When the ruler regards his subjects as dogs and horses, the subjects regard the ruler as ordinary citizens. When the ruler regards his subjects as dirt and weeds, the subjects regard the ruler as an enemy.' These are the principles a true Empress must follow."
For some reason, Takumi suddenly felt a rush of warmth in his chest. Was this… being spoiled by the Empress herself? He took a sip of the vinegar.
"Alright then. I'll start cooking—huh? Empress, what's wrong?"
He noticed his little sister's face had suddenly turned bright red. She turned her head away.
"Nothing. Just hurry up and cook. Don't get arrogant because of Our favor."
"Got it."
Takumi retreated into the kitchen and stared at Nao's message again, completely torn. Caught between a three-dimensional tyrant little sister and a two-dimensional girlfriend… this was a true battlefield of love. He wondered if the devil engraving system had any way to help.
[Click to enter the 'Oni Chichi I' world.]
He never expected the devil engraving system to actually reply. Takumi's eyes lit up—then immediately narrowed in suspicion.
"Wait a second. Didn't 'Kankin Shoujo [Re:Union]' merge with 'Oni Chichi I' already? Why do I still have to spend magic power to enter? This is way too scammy!"
He'd assumed that since Nao had replaced someone in the 'Oni Chichi' world, he could move freely there without extra cost—like he'd smuggled himself in. But apparently the system still demanded payment.
[If you do not spend the magic power now, even if you successfully conquer both heroines later, you will receive no future magic power income. Only by investing permanent magic power as capital can you harvest magic power in the future. Your first girlfriend was a special case that allowed you to move freely in the Oni Chichi world—like illegal immigration. To obtain permanent residency rights, you must use legitimate means. Because of Nao's connection, you only need to spend 12 points of magic power. You can then obtain 42 points from Akizuki Marina and 36 points from Akizuki Airi. In addition, the time flow between the two worlds can be synchronized in a 2:1 ratio in the future. The benefits far outweigh the cost.]
Takumi couldn't help but give a wry smile. The system sounded exactly like a pushy salesman.
Still… he steeled himself.
"Fine. I accept. Pay it."
Wanna read ahead? Join my Patreon and support the story: patreon.com/ArealMaster