"There's no such thing as breaking the rules here, you know~ But since you all look so pitiful, I suppose I'll temporarily let you borrow Eriri's embrace~"
As she spoke, Arifureta loosened her hold on Eriri and stepped aside, smiling cheerfully at Illya and the others.
Though Arifureta acted as if she were being generous, Illya and the rest didn't mind in the slightest—in fact, they happily threw themselves at Eriri.
Eriri welcomed them all with open arms, hugging each of them in turn.
By the time Irisviel and the others returned to the villa, Eriri had just finished hugging the last one.
However, their arrival marked the start of yet another round of affectionate clinging.
...
Time quickly passed, and the next day arrived.
Because a banquet was to be held, the villa was already bustling with activity even before sunrise.
Aside from the artificial maids busily working, members from other worlds also began arriving one after another through the World Gate into the Saekano world.
Since there was still some time before breakfast, Eriri remained sound asleep in her room—and lying beside her under the same blanket was Arifureta.
Both of them were completely bare, but unlike her usual petite form, Arifureta now appeared in her mature, voluptuous one.
Eriri lay curled up in Arifureta's arms, her shapely leg resting across Arifureta's waist, and her face buried between the two lofty peaks of Arifureta's chest.
Just then, a series of urgent knocks came from the door outside, pulling both Eriri and Arifureta out of their dreams.
Opening her eyes, Arifureta's first sight was of the girl nestled in her embrace. A blissful smile spread across her lips, and her arms instinctively tightened as if she wanted to melt the girl into her body.
Eriri, who had also awakened, didn't open her eyes right away. Instead, she nuzzled her cheek against Arifureta's soft chest.
After enjoying the warmth for a moment, she finally lifted her head and opened her eyes.
Though freshly awake, there was no trace of drowsiness in her sapphire-blue eyes—they shone brightly, breathtakingly beautiful.
Meeting Arifureta's gaze, Eriri's lips curved into a sweet smile.
"Good morning, Yue-chan~"
Seeing that smile, even the usually composed Arifureta froze for a second, stunned by the sheer beauty before her. Then, unable to resist, she lowered her head and captured Eriri's lips.
"Mm~"
Caught off guard, Eriri blinked in surprise but didn't resist. Instead, she responded passionately and soon took the initiative, pressing Arifureta beneath her.
Their lips parted slightly as their tongues met. Arifureta's tongue slid along Eriri's, wrapping and teasing, while Eriri tilted her head and sucked lightly on the tip of Arifureta's tongue before pressing in deeper.
Just as things were about to go further, the knocking returned—accompanied by a youthful, playful voice.
"Onee-chan! Are you still not up? If you don't wake up soon, I'm coming in!"
The knock and the voice snapped the two from their heated moment, freezing them in place.
"That's Pecora's voice. Looks like they've already arrived," Arifureta said, glancing toward the door with a hint of regret.
Still, she quickly composed herself. After all, she had already enjoyed plenty last night—and there would be countless opportunities in the future. With that thought, she sat up, unabashedly naked.
Her lips still glistened with moisture from their kiss, and Eriri licked her own slowly, as if savoring the lingering taste.
"Eriri, let's get up quickly. If she really barges in, that'd be bad."
"Yeah, you're right."
Eriri agreed without protest and also sat up.
They exchanged glances, and the next moment, pfft—both girls burst into laughter at the same time.
...
A few minutes later, now fully dressed, Eriri walked to the door and opened it. Standing there was Pecora, looking lively as ever.
"Pecora, I didn't expect you to come this early. It's not even seven yet."
"Ah~ Onee-chan!!!"
The moment she saw Eriri, Pecora's eyes lit up with fervor, and her demonic tail wagged excitedly behind her.
The next moment, Pecora leapt forward, her petite body jumping into Eriri's arms like an octopus clinging to its prey.
"I just wanted to see you sooner, Onee-chan! If that Azusa hadn't only told me this morning that you were back, I would've come yesterday already instead of waiting until now!"
"Hehehe~ Onee-chan's scent… hehe~"
Burying her face into Eriri's neck, Pecora inhaled deeply, savoring the sweet fragrance that drifted from Eriri's skin while giggling like a fool.
"You're still as mischievous as ever~"
Eriri lightly patted Pecora's small bottom but didn't stop her slightly perverted behavior.
"Come in and sit for a bit. I need to wash up~"
Although washing up was completely unnecessary for someone of her level, Eriri had never abandoned such ordinary human habits.
Holding Pecora in her arms, she turned around and carried her back into the room, placing her gently on the bed.
Only after leaving Eriri's embrace did Pecora notice someone else in the room when she turned her head to the right.
"Good morning, Pecora."
Now back in her loli form and neatly dressed, Arifureta greeted her with a cheerful smile.
"Good morning."
Seeing Arifureta in Eriri's room didn't surprise Pecora in the slightest. After all, it wasn't the first—or even second—time she'd witnessed such a scene.
Still, she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. If possible, she too wanted to sleep in Eriri's arms every night.
Eriri ignored their little exchange and headed straight to the bathroom, while Arifureta, after chatting casually with Pecora for a bit, followed her inside.
Since neither of them needed to apply makeup, the entire washing-up process took only a few minutes.
Once everything was done, Eriri led Arifureta and Pecora out of the room to meet the other group members who had arrived.
...
As time went by, more and more members and their companions arrived in the Saekano world through World Gate.
By around ten in the morning, nearly everyone who was supposed to attend had arrived—including Ilina and Lillian, whom Eriri had personally brought over from England.
Those companions who came along with the group members were all astonished to learn that Eriri had ascended to Level 9. Still, their attitudes toward her didn't change much.
After all, to them, there was no perceptible difference between an Eriri who was Level 8, Stage 9 and one who was Level 9. The difference was far beyond their comprehension—they only knew bits and pieces from what the others had mentioned.
Naturally, Eriri had no intention of putting on a display of her Level 9 power just to prove anything.
This banquet, unlike the New Year's celebration, wasn't arranged with any specific performances. Instead, it was a casual gathering where anyone could freely showcase whatever they liked—singing, dancing, even magic or acrobatics.
Of course, these weren't ordinary acrobatics or sleight of hand, but ones performed using supernatural powers and actual magic.
Almost everyone took turns performing. Even those who normally disliked being in the spotlight ended up joining in, carried away by the cheerful atmosphere.
For example, the Kirisu sisters—Miharu and Mafuyu—performed an elegant figure-skating routine on stage.
Enhanced by their extraordinary power, their performance was dazzlingly graceful, far beyond what ordinary humans could ever achieve.
Leading a group of little girls like Illya and Enju Aihara, the younger ones also went on stage to present a short performance they had prepared overnight, drawing laughter and applause from everyone.
Later, at Kaori Miyazono's invitation, Eriri joined her on stage for a violin and piano duet.
Although Eriri's piano skills far surpassed Kaori's violin abilities, this wasn't a formal concert—so there was no pressure, only harmony and fun.
Moreover, Eriri intentionally adjusted her rhythm to match Kaori's, creating a seamless performance that enchanted everyone and earned thunderous applause.
Following their duet, a steady stream of people began inviting Eriri to perform together.
Some invited her to dance, others to sing duets, and a few even asked her to join in skits and plays.
Eriri accepted every invitation, performing each act to perfection and raising the enthusiasm of the banquet to new heights.
Since this wasn't a formal or commercial event, there was no need for social pleasantries. Beyond the performances, the essence of the gathering lay in eating, drinking, and enjoying leisurely fun.
People played multiplayer games, mahjong, shogi, and more—it was a scene of endless merriment.
When evening arrived, everyone gathered to watch movies and anime adaptations based on the works of Eriri, Utaha Kasumigaoka, and several others.
The lively atmosphere continued for days on end—by the seventh day, the excitement had yet to subside.
But all good things must come to an end, and the banquet couldn't last forever.
At everyone's request, it was decided that Eriri would perform a solo piano piece on stage to conclude the week-long celebration.
...
At five in the afternoon, the stage was set. Everyone who had attended the banquet gathered before it—no one was absent.
All sat quietly in their seats, gazes burning with anticipation. No one spoke a word to disturb the serene air, not even the usually lively young girls.
On stage, Eriri sat gracefully before an amethyst piano, her eyes gently closed, her slender, pale hands resting on the keys.
The next second, one of her fingers lightly pressed a key, and a clear, melodious note rang through the hall.
That single sound was like a spark setting off a fuse—it ignited the entire hall. One note after another followed, forming a surge of music that was both gentle and overwhelming.
Eriri's fingers danced across the keyboard, alternating between rapid bursts and slow, tender motions—swift enough to leave afterimages at times, and at others, as gentle as a lover's caress.
The audience below unconsciously closed their eyes, letting themselves be carried away by the melody.
In that moment, they felt as if they had stepped into another world—one filled with dreamlike beauty. Smiles of pure bliss appeared on every face.
Finally, Eriri pressed the last key, and a deep, resonant tone marked the end of the thirty-minute-long piece.
The audience opened their eyes as if waking from a dream, surprised to realize that half an hour had passed in what felt like mere minutes.
Then, a thunderous wave of applause filled the hall, echoing like rain against rooftops. Everyone's faces glowed with excitement, their voices rising in lively chatter.
"As expected of Eriri! That piano piece was incredible—no matter how many times I hear her play, I'm always moved to tears."
"Right? I can play piano too, but compared to Eriri, I'm basically still a beginner."
"Eriri looks so beautiful when she plays… It's a shame that no camera could ever capture that kind of beauty completely."
"It's fine, my brain is the best camera—I've recorded every single moment of her performance~"
Some praised Eriri's piano skills, while others admired her beauty—every comment was filled with heartfelt admiration.
But soon, murmurs of surprise rippled through the crowd as people began to notice something strange.
"Wait... my strength just increased—by a lot..."
Arche, who was sitting between her two sisters, suddenly felt an immense surge of power within her body. Her delicate face showed sheer astonishment.
With the chat group still under maintenance, she had no way of checking her current level, but she knew one thing for sure—she could now easily obliterate her former self.
Hearing her sister's exclamation, Gutiolica and Virelica instinctively focused inward as well, only to discover that their powers had also multiplied many times over.
"Onee-chan! My power just got stronger too!"
"Mine as well! It's incredible!"
Hearing her sisters, Arche's eyes widened as a memory flashed through her mind—one from over a year ago.
It was the same as back then: the same kind of banquet, the same kind of piano performance from Eriri, and the same sudden, overwhelming surge of strength!
—
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