Hachiman smiled and shook his head, then looked at the maid Shion standing to the side and gave an order.
"Shion, we can start lunch. If Kaede and the others don't eat now, they won't make it to their exams later."
"Oh, right. Since Eto and the others are demi-humans too, Shion, bring out what you collected this morning."
Iris was several hundred years old, and he happily played with her white-stockinged legs every day. Ursula only kept the bratty form; in reality she could turn into a mature beauty anytime, and she had lived a long time too.
Many demi-humans had long lifespans. If Yoshimura Eto and the others awakened their bloodlines and removed the ghoul defects, their lifespans would likely increase greatly as well.
But this was still lunch break. Judging by Kaede and Suzu, they had been waiting for him and hadn't eaten yet. The topic of older lolis could wait until later when he had time to discuss it with Eto.
"Understood, Young Master Hikigaya. Please wait a moment."
Shion's eyes flickered as she caught the hint in his words. She bowed slightly, glanced at Yoshimura Eto and Kirishima Touka from the corner of her eye, then disappeared from the spot.
Originally she had prepared enough food, but now several new vampires had arrived, so it would not be enough.
No problem. She could teleport to the Service Club and add more dishes at any time. She could also broaden these new vampires' horizons a little.
"Thank you, Lord Hikigaya."
Hearing his earlier words, Yoshimura Eto had felt that today's allegiance was secure. But when he told them to sit and eat together, her expression turned subtle.
It was not only her. Kirishima Touka, who had just sat down with Fueguchi Hinami, as well as the Yasuhisa twins, stiffened slightly.
Did this Lord Hikigaya not know about their ghoul problem?
"Hachiman, they're a subspecies of vampires called ghouls. They can't eat normal human food like we can. They can only survive on specially prepared food."
Kaede, who had been sitting quietly beside him watching him show off, finally spoke to explain. At the end, she leaned close to his ear, not saying directly in front of Eto and the others that ghouls ate people.
"That special food for ghouls is like the special blood packs for vampires. It only keeps them alive, and it tastes awful."
"If they don't have that special food, they can't control their hunger. Once they lose their mind from starvation, they'll attack humans."
"That's the real problem they face."
Ursula had briefly explained why the vampires sought Hachiman's help when she brought them in.
Kaede had remained silent because she wanted to see how he would accept them.
These ghoul girls had gathered together after suffering tragic experiences due to their race. If Hachiman could accept them, she could find a way to pull them into her own camp.
Even if Ursula brought them, Ursula had also brought the mermaid divas to Iris. If Iris could poach people, why couldn't she?
But what frustrated her was that Hachiman seemed unconcerned. He did not even ask why they came for help. He just kept looking at them.
"Of course I know. I already had Shion prepare lunch. Look at Ursula, she trusts me completely and hasn't said a word."
Hachiman smiled helplessly when Kaede glared at him. How could he not consider the ghoul issue?
"She can't speak because you've been touching her!"
Kaede rolled her eyes and looked speechlessly at Ursula, who was flushed and sticking her tongue out while being held in his arms.
This was the dragon clan leader? Too weak.
She herself would only get like that if Hachiman fully "held" her. Just sitting in his arms like this was nothing more than being fully prepared and waiting for him.
"...", Ursula could not explain her suffering.
At first she had only thought that his strength had skyrocketed and he no longer needed enhancement magic to suppress her in bed.
But as he held her and kept playing with her tail and horns, she realized something was wrong.
Even if she had not seen him for a long time and her willpower was weaker, she should not become so powerless this easily.
'Damn it! The collar on my neck that blocks mental interference is bound to master.'
It did absolutely nothing to block the life aura radiating from him, constantly tempting her to throw herself at him and indulge.
"Young Master Hikigaya, I'm back."
Just as Ursula was wondering whether she should raise a white flag and retreat, Shion reappeared.
Along with her were the maids Saya and Akira.
They carried two fragrant dishes and served Hachiman, Kaede, Rurikawa Tsubaki, Naruse Mio, and the others.
Shion herself carried a large platter to Yoshimura Eto, Kirishima Touka, and Fueguchi Hinami.
Rurikawa Tsubaki looked puzzled. Shion had heard everything. She should know that these vampires could not eat normal food. Just as she was about to stop her, she noticed that the bowls placed before Eto and the others emitted a strangely familiar scent.
Steaming grilled meat rice bowls and chilled fruit platters, all generously drizzled with milky white salad dressing.
'N-No way...'
"Though it was a bit rushed, this is the special lunch Young Master Hikigaya asked me to prepare for our guests. Please have a taste. If it's not good, I'll make it again."
Ignoring her young lady's changing expression, Shion placed the dishes before the ghouls and smiled as she invited them to eat.
"Special lunch..."
Hachiman had only just learned they were here. What special lunch could be prepared so quickly? But seeing Shion's bright smile, Eto, Touka, and the Yasuhisa twins could only pick up their spoons and eat with stiff resolve.
At worst, they could endure it and secretly throw it up later.
They had eaten human food before. Living among humans made it unavoidable.
Though they always had to vomit afterward, forcing it down was incredibly painful.
"What did you add to this?"
However, after Yoshimura Eto took a small bite with a smile, her expression changed drastically.
Ghouls could survive without eating humans, living on special food, but that was only survival.
That food tasted bad and never filled them. It only kept them from going mad with hunger.
This grilled meat was clearly human food, yet it smelled irresistible and did not cause discomfort.
Thinking it was an illusion, she took another large spoonful and savored it carefully. It was not an illusion.
Her body, which rejected human food, now seemed to crave it. With every bite, she felt it being rapidly digested and turned into nourishment.
Touka, Hinami, and the Yasuhisa twins, younger and less guarded, could not stop themselves. They shoveled food into their mouths, almost crying.
'We can eat human food! Ghouls can eat human food?'
The survival problem that plagued them was solved just like that?
Rurikawa Tsubaki and Kaede realized something, their expressions subtle as they watched the ghouls.
"I added this. Since you know about awakened magic essence, you should know how Young Master Hikigaya awakens demi-human bloodlines, right?"
Shion smiled and took out several colorful, once-plump little balloons that now looked deflated. With her pink fingernails, she squeezed a few more drops onto Eto's food.
"I originally prepared these as lucky charm amulets for Yotsuya-san, but since she wants to become a magical girl and protect herself, I'll let you use them instead."
When Naruse Maria had breakfast that morning, it had spilled everywhere. To avoid waste, she had collected it with cleaning magic to use as lucky charms for Yotsuya Miko. Unexpectedly, it came in handy.
Now every part of Young Master Hikigaya was a treasure. Even leftovers carried the power to repel evil and awaken bloodlines. No wonder so many forces coveted him. She was quite pleased that her young lady had clung to him early.
"Ah?"
Yotsuya Miko stared with her mouth open at Shion calmly giving such an utterly indecent explanation.
She had decided to reconsider becoming a magical girl later and just eat lunch and return to exams. She never imagined this involved her. There were lucky charms like that?
But the ghouls reacted even more strongly.
They had no prior experience, and they had not recognized the scent earlier, but they knew what those so-called balloons were.
They understood Shion's words perfectly.
The Yasuhisa twins exchanged looks, unsure whether to keep eating.
If they stopped, it would be such a waste. It was delicious human food they could finally eat.
If they continued... it felt subtle... They were not only seeking refuge under Lord Hikigaya and serving him, they were eating him too.
Touka tried to choke herself to vomit, but every cell in her body urged her to eat faster. She could not bring it up.
Even knowing the truth, she could not resist wanting more of this unprecedented taste.
She stared at the salad-covered grilled meat rice and fruit salad, searching for proof Shion was lying. It looked like salad dressing. Blood was not that thick.
"Mm... Touka-nee, it's really good... I wish Mom could taste this too... Why did you all stop eating?"
Fueguchi Hinami, the only one who did not understand the meaning of the balloons, happily continued eating. Seeing everyone stop and stare at her, she quickly put down her spoon and grabbed Touka's arm, shrinking timidly.
Did she eat too much? Was she greedy for wanting to bring some back to her mom? Did she make everyone angry?
"..."
Hearing Hinami's innocent words, Miime silently stood up and returned behind Ursula, watching Hachiman play with her.
When she smelled the irresistible aroma earlier, she had wanted to eat with them. After all, she came with them.
But now she thought better of it.
One meal did not matter.
And she did not dare eat anyone else's food now.
She had not noticed the scent earlier. What if after she finished eating, someone told her it also contained Lord Hikigaya's essense?
Though she intended to serve him in place of her brother's fiancée to prevent Ursula from breaking the engagement, this was too sudden.
Eating in bed and eating it daily were very different.
She needed time to prepare mentally.
"Ah? Sister Miime? Sister Touka?"
Hinami had not expected Miime, who usually took care of her, to leave as well. She bit her lip, eyes misting, looking at Miime and Touka. She was on the verge of tears but dared not cry here.
Mom was not around. Her sisters could not protect her. She must not cause trouble.
If she angered the big brother who could protect ghouls and give them new life, they would all be doomed.
"Hinami, can you come here for a moment?"
Seeing the misunderstanding, Hachiman sighed and beckoned.
The ghouls' situation seemed worse than he thought. He did not know how Touka, Hinami, the Yasuhisa twins, and Eto ended up together, but it was likely not a happy friendship.
"Mm..."
Touka hesitated, and Hinami stiffened, but she obediently walked over, blushing as she slowly began unbuttoning her top.
"I didn't call you over for that."
Hachiman smiled helplessly at her quick understanding, pulling her into his arms. She sat on one thigh, Ursula on the other.
Ursula, flushed, felt relieved. Bringing the ghouls had been wise.
With another person present, he would not focus solely on her.
She truly needed him to remove her collar. Otherwise, sometimes she could not even escape his embrace.
"Huh? N-Not to undress like Sister Eto?"
Sitting stiffly in his arms, Hinami dared not lean against his chest like Ursula. Her legs were pressed together, body tense, barely sitting on the edge of his thigh. She looked between him and Eto, who still had not put her clothes back on.
"Your Sister Eto undressed herself. I didn't ask her to."
He clarified. He had not told her to undress. She did it voluntarily.
"S-Sorry, Nii-san..."
Hinami's face turned bright red. Overly nervous, she stammered an apology.
She did not fully understand, but since he said so and her sisters did not deny it, she would listen.
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