"Hinami, you don't need to be so nervous. I'm not that easy to anger."
Seeing that Fueguchi Hinami was still tense, Hachiman did not continue that topic.
"Do you know why you and your sisters came to me?"
"Because... Nii-san, you have the legendary awakened magic essence constitution. Awakened magic essence can help us awaken our bloodlines? So we won't have to keep hiding?"
Hinami looked at him hesitantly and answered in a small voice.
Of course she was not ignorant of her situation. It was precisely because Nii-san held the future of ghouls that she had come with her older sisters to ask for his help.
"Mm, it's good that you understand. The food you just ate had awakened magic essence in it."
Hachiman smiled and gently stroked her short bobbed hair.
"There was awakened magic essence in it?"
Hinami almost cried out, but quickly covered her mouth. She turned her head in shock and stared at the grilled meat rice and fruit salad she had not finished.
No wonder it smelled so good and tasted so delicious. It completely overturned her understanding of human food.
"I know you need my help. I'm just not sure whether that level of awakened magic essence is enough for you."
As he spoke, Hachiman suddenly raised his finger to her lips.
"Hinami, do you smell anything? Of course, if you want to lick it, that's fine. Just don't bite too hard."
"Mm... it smells kind of... nice..."
Hinami sniffed lightly, then could not resist opening her mouth and gently biting his finger. Her soft tongue licked it before she reluctantly let go.
"And... I don't feel that urge to eat... even though Nii-san put his finger in my mouth."
"Then why did the sisters suddenly stop eating... and look at me like that."
She forced herself not to keep licking and looked toward Touka and the Yasuhisa twins, who were still staring at her.
It was one thing for the others. But why was Touka-nee's gaze so strange too?
"Shion just didn't explain clearly. Everyone was surprised because they didn't expect awakened magic essence in the food. Don't worry. We're not short on awakened magic essence. Hachiman produces plenty once a day. We can't even finish it."
Rurikawa Tsubaki stepped in to explain. She even picked up a strawberry covered in salad dressing and ate it quickly to reassure Hinami and the others.
"If you join us, you can eat as much as you want. Hachiman can definitely satisfy your needs. Of course, sometimes he may not have time."
"But we can store some and save it like this to eat later."
Having been dragged down as a shield many times, Tsubaki decided to take the initiative this time.
Since these ghoul girls came for awakened magic essence rather than because they liked Hachiman, they likely would not collapse so easily.
Though she knew that under Hachiman's overwhelming charm, they would eventually be won over completely, before that point it could still be a three-way win.
"C-Can we? We can eat as much as we want?"
Even though Tsubaki spoke kindly, Hinami instinctively looked at Touka instead.
"Hinami, it's okay. Don't be scared. We didn't stop because you ate too much. We were just shocked. We've eaten more than you."
To stop Hinami from overthinking and possibly annoying Hachiman, Touka picked up her spoon again, took a deep breath, and put a full spoonful in her mouth while explaining.
Since he had not intended to humiliate them but truly prepared a special lunch for them, she had no reason to hesitate further.
Putting aside that this salad was not that salad, it was genuinely delicious.
If Shion had not told them, they might never have known. They could not eat human food before. They had no idea what real salad tasted like.
Seeing Touka and Hinami continue, and even Tsubaki eat some, the Yasuhisa twins exchanged a look and resumed eating.
Aside from Hinami, they had all come mentally prepared to offer themselves. There were many ghouls. Why them specifically?
But Touka and the twins were relatively conservative.
Kissing or intimacy was within their understanding. Directly eating his essence was far more intense, especially as a daily meal for awakened magic essence.
They had expected to please him endlessly for a chance to be favored and receive awakened magic essence. They never imagined it would appear in their bowls in such a subtle way.
As each ghoul girl picked up her bowl again, the atmosphere eased.
Naruse Mio, Naruse Maria, Kaede, and Suzu hesitated, then also took pieces from the bowls to prove Tsubaki's words.
In private, they enjoyed it too. They simply did not do this at regular meals with Komachi and Shion present. Gab and Vigne often sat at the table. If they did this openly, those two would refuse to eat.
Not to mention Komachi's classmates visited often. Even if they could not tell, it would still be improper.
Even Origamine Ouka went over and ate a few bites. Her body trembled more visibly, her breathing heavier, her red eyes fixed on Hachiman holding Ursula and Hinami.
Yotsuya Miko, one of the very few who did not eat, felt numb watching this.
It could be used as a lucky charm and as a food ingredient.
Were they really living in the same world?
"Yotsuya-san, don't worry. Those dishes were specially prepared for demi-humans. You can eat the normal ones."
Shion winked at her while serving fresh salad to Touka and the others.
"Of course, Yurikawa-san, if you want to try, that's fine too."
"Though the awakened magic essence content is small for humans, as long as it tastes good, we can satisfy you."
Yotsuya Miko sensed something off and turned to her best friend Yurikawa Hana, only to see Hana already holding a fruit salad.
"Hana? Didn't you hear what Shion said those were?"
"But... Miko, don't you think it smells amazing? I think they're joking. I've heard about it before. It definitely doesn't taste this sweet and refreshing."
Hana licked her finger, then offered a fruit piece to Miko confidently.
"..."
Miko rubbed her forehead and sighed.
'This foodie... she wants to eat everything.'
Meanwhile, the true foodie Yoshimura Eto had finished her portion. Licking her lips, she returned to Hachiman, knelt before him, and smiled.
"Lord Hikigaya, I've finished. May I have another? I want the freshest one."
"I can't hold it anymore! If none of you are starting, I'll go first!"
Origamine Ouka, who had been suppressing the miasma inside her, could not endure any longer. She rushed forward, pushed Eto aside, and released her sealed senses. Trembling, she swallowed and lifted her head, feeling the vast life force like a blazing sun.
Eto looked at this shrine maiden, whose status and strength far surpassed hers, then suddenly smiled brightly.
So before Lord Hikigaya, everyone was the same. No wonder he gave even ghouls this chance.
Hinami, sitting on his lap, had been watching. She slowly began to understand. Ouka and Eto were direct about wanting the freshest portion. If she still did not get it, she would be foolish.
She buried her blushing face in his chest, peeking at his profile and at Sister Eto competing with the shrine maiden for the freshest salad dressing.
She had thought it was something like magic, conjured with a wave of the hand, just limited in daily supply so they had to ask him.
'S-So awakened magic essence constitution means Nii-san's body secreted it?'
'I just ate it so happily now...'
'Will I still be able to eat so happily in the future?'
"Serve him well. Treat him as your master. Miime, watch here. I'm going to see Iris."
Seeing the ghouls obedient now, Ursula prepared to slip away.
If Iris were here, she might have competed for his lap seat. But with only Kaede and the ghouls present, she refused to lose dignity in front of newcomers.
Let them suffer first.
"Yes, Lady Ursula."
Miime rose and accepted the order, glancing at Eto and Ouka.
She had no choice but to keep watching.
If the ghouls offended Lord Hikigaya, Ursula would tear up her brother's engagement and send his fiancee here to serve him, perhaps together with her.
It was a subtle and complicated feeling.
Human-Dragons were often willful. For the dragon clan leader to act so was fitting.
The only strange thing was Ursula's obedience to a human, allowing herself to be toyed with in public.
Dragons did not need awakened magic essence much. Most demi-humans desired it to awaken bloodlines.
Miime did not believe Ursula's attitude was solely due to that.
"Ursula, don't fight with Iris. Talk it out."
Hachiman did not grab her tail this time. He considered her pride.
"Fine. I'll just scold Iris for poaching my people."
Ursula pouted and flew out the window.
The mermaids had been swayed before. Iris would not ignore these newcomers either.
She could not stop it. Better to poach Iris's allies instead.
If she could not poach elves, she could poach their human allies.
Princess knights and saints sent from human kingdoms, all made pregnant one by one. Let the elves face their allies' anger.
She did not know about his magical girl template for humans, but she had her own ideas.
If he disrupted human royal successions, the elves would be in trouble.
"..."
Hachiman watched her vanish and heard her arrogant laughter outside.
This brat needed discipline.
Kaede and the others were not surprised. Ursula was always like this.
But the newly joined ghouls felt pressure.
If they failed to serve him well, the dragon clan leader might settle accounts.
Hinami, sitting carefully on his thigh, grew uneasy.
Now that Ursula was gone, would it be her turn?
"Lord, let me serve you. Hinami doesn't understand anything yet. Let her watch first."
Touka rose, unbuttoning as she walked. By the time she reached him, only her final layer remained.
"Mm. Touka, take Hinami aside first. Kuro, Shiro, come here."
Touka, with her blue hair covering one eye, seemed cold but pure beneath. Hachiman nodded, ruffled Hinami's hair, and handed her to Touka before beckoning the Yasuhisa twins.
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