Natsuki and Yukino carried satellite phones, so there was no danger of getting lost. Moreover, the Witch Potion's effect was still active, allowing them to see in the dark. The two crossed mountains and valleys to a roadside, then dialed the satellite phone to share their location. All that was left was to wait for someone to pick them up.
Half an hour later.
A pickup truck roared up.
As soon as the car stopped, two girls jumped out.
"Natsuki-sama!"
"Yukino, we're here to take you home."
"…"
The arrivals were Yukino and Sayu.
"Natsuki-sama!" Sayu ran over, checking Natsuki's body up and down. Only after confirming that Natsuki was not injured did she relax, happily hugging Natsuki's arm and saying in a clear voice, "You and Yukino-chan actually rescued people from such a high place. Your deeds have spread throughout all the camps."
"Huh?" Natsuki was startled, "It's spread?"
"Of course camps can communicate with each other." Haruno smiled cheerfully and said sweetly, "Natsuki-kun and Yukino's heroic deeds have completely spread. Now everyone knows about it, and it might even make it to the front page of international news."
Yukino: "…"
She absolutely did not want to appear on the front page of international news!
"Hmm~ I've already thought of the title." Haruno extended a finger, but since she was wearing thick gloves, her movements looked clumsy and endearing as she said with a smile, "The Most Beautiful High School Couple Heroically Rescues Fellow Climbers: A Hymn to Human Courage!"
Yukino's lips twitched slightly, and she couldn't help but say:
"Sister, that's enough."
"Eh, isn't Yukino happy?" Haruno smiled, "This is a chance to get on the international front page, you know."
Yukino folded her arms across her chest and said:
"I have no desire to be on any front page. I just want to live a peaceful life."
"Everyone, get in the car first." Natsuki called out, "We can talk more once we're back at the camp."
"…"
The journey was uneventful.
After returning to the camp, there was naturally nothing more to say. With many people around, it was impossible to take advantage of Sayu. They rested with their eyes closed until dawn. The group, led by assistant, then drove directly away from Mount Everest and took a plane to begin their return journey.
Half a day later.
The group disembarked from the plane, and the familiar bustling city came into view.
"Natsuki, we're over here!"
Just as they reached the airport exit, an incredibly familiar sweet shout reached them.
Natsuki looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a blonde girl standing on tiptoe, smiling brightly and waving happily.
"It's Marin-chan!"
Sayu's eyes lit up, and she shouted happily.
Beside Marin, there was also a black-haired girl wearing pantyhose, Komi, the child-sized Juju, and the brightly smiling Tsubame.
Seeing the girls who had come to greet him, Natsuki couldn't help but smile and say:
"I'm back."
This extreme challenge involved flying all over the world, and they hadn't seen each other for more than half a month, so they missed each other greatly.
"Shoko, long time no see." Natsuki looked at the the timid girl, opened his arms, "Quickly, let me recharge my Shoko energy."
"No, no…"
Komi's pretty face quickly flushed red, and she nervously covered her chest, stammering and shaking her head in a panic.
Juju stepped forward halfway, blocking Shoko, placing her hands on her hips, and tilting her small face up to say:
"Hey, you're taking advantage of Shoko as soon as you get back. Don't go too far, you!"
"It is a bit much." Natsuki nodded, reached out and patted Juju's little head, "My bad."
Slap!
Juju slapped Natsuki's right hand away, puffing out her pink cheeks and saying:
"Don't touch my head!"
Touching her head in public would make people mistake her for a the child, wouldn't it?
"I'm sorry." Natsuki raised his hands and whispered, "Juju, are you free tomorrow?"
Juju was startled: "Eh?"
Natsuki lowered his voice:
"Let's go on a date."
"Bah, bah, bah!"
Juju's small face quickly turned red, and she glared at him in annoyance.
You just got back and you're already thinking about doing that kind of thing? Can't your mind be a little healthier?!
"Senpai." After a few words with Juju, Natsuki walked over to Tsubame and asked about the well-being of his unofficial daughter, "How is Aoi?"
"Aoi is doing very well, Junior doesn't need to worry." Tsubame's eyes curved, clearly in a good mood, and she said sweetly, "Aoi has remembered everything these past few days, but Miss Ayaka hasn't fully recovered yet, her condition is sometimes good, sometimes bad, so I'm a bit worried about leaving Aoi with her. So for now, I'm still taking care of her."
In fact, they had already communicated about Aoi via phone, but it didn't prevent them from discussing it again in person.
Natsuki asked curiously:
"Why didn't Aoi come?"
Tsubame raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and softly replied:
"Aoi loves to draw, so I enrolled her in an art class. Getting to know and interact with other children can help Aoi develop a cheerful personality."
Natsuki sighed:
"Senpai is indeed a good wife and loving mother."
Tsubame gently glared at him, then turned her head away, not wanting to deal with him.
Natsuki said:
"Let's rest tomorrow, and then the day after tomorrow, how about we take Aoi out to play together?"
Tsubame blinked, her eyes bright, and she agreed:
"…Then the day after tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Sayu was pulling Marin, chattering in whispers. As good friends who had fought alongside each other, their relationship was the closest.
He couldn't hear what the two were saying, but he could see that Marin's pretty face was already flushed, and she was secretly glancing over.
After greeting all the girls, Natsuki thanked the two assistants. After leaving the airport, the two groups parted ways. The two assistants went to the Strange Tales Management Bureau to report, while Natsuki and the girls gathered and chatted. After dark, they each went home.
The journey was uneventful.
Walking outside his home, Natsuki stopped and smiled as he saw the warm light streaming from the windows.
"Finally home!" Mrs. Shimizu cheered happily, eager to go inside, "My tablet, my handheld console, and my unread manga!"
Natsuki sighed helplessly, stepped forward, and rang the doorbell.
The door opened quickly.
A blonde girl with a lollipop in her mouth and a side ponytail appeared behind the door.
"Hmm?" Natsuki paused slightly, surprised, "Ai-chan?"
Hayasaka immediately became unhappy, putting her right hand on her hip and saying,
"What, the perverted president seems very disappointed to see me."
"He's clearly so happy he's incoherent."
Natsuki decisively proved his feelings with action, taking half a step forward and directly scooping Hayasaka into his arms.
"Perverted president, let go of me!"
Hayasaka's pretty face flushed, and she quickly lowered her voice.
Natsuki turned his head to look at Mrs. Shimizu and said,
"Shimizu-nee, you can go now."
"Well, you two have fun." Mrs. Shimizu smiled and waved, floating away obediently, "I didn't see anything."
"There's no one here now."
Natsuki withdrew his gaze, preparing to kiss Hayasaka.
Slap!
A hand directly covered Natsuki's face, and Hayasaka's voice was filled with Shame as she whispered a warning,
"Kaguya is still in the kitchen, if you don't want to die, let go of me quickly!"
Natsuki immediately became docile, obediently putting Hayasaka down: "You didn't say so earlier."
"Heh heh."
"I just didn't want you and Kaguya to fight over me."
"Heh heh."
Hayasaka crossed her arms over her chest, still sneering.
"I'm angry." Natsuki lowered his voice, "Just you wait tonight."
The maid-chan finally stopped sneering, unable to resist a light snort:
"Pfft!"
As they spoke, Kaguya finally emerged from the kitchen, a cartoon apron tied around her waist, a stainless steel spoon in her hand, her hair tied up and wrapped in a white towel, radiating maximum wife-like charm.
Seeing Natsuki return, Kaguya's lips curved upwards slightly, and she softly said, "President, welcome back."
Natsuki also smiled, softly saying, "I'm back."
After more than half a month apart, although they had video calls, the moment he truly saw Kaguya, all his longing surged up at once.
Thump.
Natsuki dropped the luggage bag in his hand, took two steps forward, and directly embraced Kaguya.
"Eh eh eh?" Kaguya's pretty face quickly flushed, "Mom and Hayasaka are still here."
Kaguya had an extremely strong sense of shame; although she really wanted a hug, doing it in front of her mom and Hayasaka was indeed quite embarrassing.
"Just for one minute."
"One minute is too long!"
"…"
Crunch!
Watching the two embrace at the entrance, Hayasaka couldn't help but bite her lollipop in half.
To take advantage of Kaguya right in front of her, the perverted president was truly getting more and more arrogant!
Kaguya was, after all, thin-skinned. After a short hug, she broke free, her pretty face crimson, saying,
"President, go wash up first. Dinner will be ready soon, just in time to eat."
"…Okay."
Natsuki agreed, and walked towards the bathroom.
In fact, he had already eaten out and wasn't hungry at all, but there was no way he could say no right now.
After coming out of the shower, Kaguya hadn't finished preparing the meal yet.
Natsuki first sat on the sofa, then opened his bag and took out the souvenirs:
"Ai-chan, this is your gift."
Hayasaka glanced at the box, seeing it packed full of souvenirs, with hardly any clothes visible, and couldn't help but retort, "The president sure has a lot of souvenirs to give away."
Natsuki said with a normal expression, "When you're a person, the most important thing is to treat everyone equally in one night."
"Pfft!"
Hayasaka couldn't help but snort.
Natsuki said, "You don't want the souvenirs?"
Hayasaka raised her chin: "Of course I do."
Dislike was one thing, but if she didn't get her share of souvenirs, it wouldn't be dislike, but anger.
After receiving her share of souvenirs, Hayasaka first stood up, put all the gifts into her backpack, then extended her right hand again and said,
"President, hand it over."
Natsuki paused, puzzled: "Hand what over?"
"Give me the Lucky Coin." Hayasaka bit her lollipop, "I want to use the Copy Scroll to copy a skill."
Natsuki reacted, glanced at the kitchen, and whispered,
"Still that 'Good Fortune in Pairs'?"
Hayasaka nodded lightly: "That's right."
"…"
Damn it! She's single-mindedly trying to make Kaguya have twins, has she even asked Kaguya's opinion?!
Natsuki handed over the Touch of Destiny: "The charge is full."
"Heh."
Hayasaka's eyes showed disdain.
Natsuki explained, "While traveling all over the world, I didn't encounter any situations that required flipping a coin, so it wasn't specifically prepared for you."
"No need to explain, explaining is just covering up." Hayasaka put away the coin, and a subtle expression suddenly appeared on her face, "Speaking of which, Shoko recently drew a very interesting skill."
Natsuki was curious: "What skill is it?"
"Go ask the perverted president yourself." Hayasaka was clearly unwilling to answer, and as she spoke, she extended her right foot, her black-stockinged doll-like foot stepping on Natsuki's thigh, "By the way, how effective is the president's enhancement skill?"
Natsuki had naturally told everyone about the ultimate reward of the Extreme Challenge.
Natsuki shook his head and said, "After completing the challenge on Mount Everest, I immediately took a plane back, and haven't used it yet… Now is a good time to try it out."
Natsuki spoke while opening his skill panel, asking Hayasaka's opinion:
"Which skill is better to evolve?"
Hayasaka rolled her eyes: "Wait until after dinner, let Lady Kaguya choose."
Natsuki nodded: "That makes sense."
"…"
As they spoke, Kaguya walked out of the kitchen:
"President, Hayasaka, you can wash your hands and eat."
"Coming."
Natsuki agreed, went to help, and then, with a normal expression, ate all the dishes, almost bursting.
After dinner and tidying up, the three sat on the sofa, with Mrs. Shimizu lying flat and slacking off beside them, beginning to study the newly acquired limited skill, 'Evolution'.
"Which skill do you think I should evolve?"
Natsuki asked for their opinions.
"Hmm…" Kaguya rested her right hand on her rosy cheek, pondering, "Copy and Paste?"
Of all the skills Natsuki currently possessed, Copy and Paste was the most valuable, even more important than the Golden Legend-level Time Stop skill. While Golden Legend was powerful, it could only be used by one person, whereas Copy and Paste could lead the entire team to become stronger together.
Hayasaka nodded: "I agree with Kaguya, Copy and Paste is indeed the most important."
"Then that's it."
Natsuki nodded, activating the Evolution skill. A stream of light flowed onto the 'Copy and Paste' skill icon, and as the light dissipated, the original purple skill actually revealed a faint golden hue.
"Evolution successful… The name hasn't changed, but the skill effect has new variations."
Natsuki displayed the evolved skill.
The original skill name was [Touch of Destiny], and the skill description was:
[Exclusive Skill: Touch of Destiny]
[Attribute One: Give it to me! You can extract destiny from a target through physical contact, including basic attributes, health points, basic skills, etc. The extracted power will disappear within a certain period of time]
[Attribute Two: What's mine is yours! You can share the power of destiny with others through physical contact. When the shared target uses the power, the power of destiny will be rapidly consumed]
[Please note: There is a priority hierarchy between skills. When the contact target's skill exceeds the priority of Touch of Destiny, you will not be able to extract the other party's skill power]
At this moment, after the skill evolved, it still had the same name, but the skill color turned light gold, and at the same time, the skill effects underwent brand new changes.
[This skill has evolved, gaining additional skill effects]
[Good Fortune Multiplied: During evolution, skills you Copy and Paste will be usable three times. Please note, cooldown time will not reset]
[Shared Destiny: Designate a target, and the destinies of both parties will be bound. You will share all abilities with this target, excluding exclusive skills, title skills, equipment skills, and Golden Legends. At the same time, all damage received will be evenly split between both parties]
[Fated Person: Following the guidance of destiny, you will instantly appear beside your fated person, transcending space. Please note, prerequisite conditions must be met to unlock Fated Person]
[Remark: Evolution effect can last for sixty minutes]
"It actually gained three brand new effects." Hayasaka widened her eyes, exclaiming, "The effects have directly increased by a large margin. That Good Fortune Multiplied effect has directly tripled, but it's a pity, if it could paste three skills and then multiply the usage count by three, it would be perfect."
Natsuki couldn't help but retort, "When you're a person, the most important thing is to avoid being greedy."
"The president makes a good point."
Hayasaka smiled as she looked over, and while smiling, she quietly stepped on Natsuki's right foot when Kaguya wasn't looking.
Kaguya pursed her rosy lips, softly saying, "It's indeed been greatly strengthened. Shared Destiny is easy to understand; its effect is similar to leg attachment, just more powerful… Fated Person, from the description, it seems like instant movement?"
"It should be." Natsuki said, "But you have to bind a Fated Person; you can't just teleport wherever you want."
"You're already amazing," Hayasaka seized the opportunity, tilting her head and smiling, "The most important thing for a person is to never be greedy."
Kaguya ignored their bickering and asked curiously:
"But what are the prerequisites for that Fated Person?"
"The skill description isn't clear," Natsuki pondered, "I guess we'll have to figure it out slowly… Kaguya, give me your hand. I'll help you paste the skill, and we can try Fated Person at the same time."
"Alright."
Kaguya nodded lightly and extended her right hand. The girl's skin was as white as doll-like, her fingers like scallion roots, looking especially beautiful under the light.
Natsuki grasped it, secretly tickling Kaguya's palm, which earned him a shy glare from her.
"Fated Person… activation failed." Natsuki raised an eyebrow slightly, "It must be that the prerequisites haven't been met."
Kaguya withdrew her right hand and turned her head, saying:
"Hayasaka, you try it."
Hayasaka complained as she extended her right hand, saying:
"If Kaguya can't succeed, I definitely won't be able to either…"
Who knew Natsuki's voice would faintly sound:
"It succeeded."
"Eh?"
Hayasaka's eyes widened, and she stared over blankly.
Natsuki looked back at Hayasaka innocently.
Their eyes met.
They suddenly guessed what the prerequisites might be.
Of course, it's not certain yet, but they already had a direction for verification—Marin, Chika, Juju, and others could activate Fated Person, while Tsubame, Yukino, and Shoko could not, making the truth clear.
"The so-called prerequisites…" Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest, involuntarily biting her lip, already vaguely guessing the truth, "Is it something the president and Hayasaka have done, but I haven't?"
Hayasaka immediately panicked and quickly explained:
"Young lady, let me explain, it's not what you think!"
"Stop talking." Kaguya shook her head and stood up, saying, "It's about time to go back."
Natsuki was startled and asked, puzzled:
"You're leaving?"
"Eh eh eh?" Mrs. Shimizu, who was slacking off, quickly floated over, "Kaguya-chan, you don't want Mama anymore?"
"I do want you," Kaguya raised a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, saying calmly, "It's just that I rented an apartment nearby, and I'll be staying there tonight."
Natsuki asked, confused:
"Why rent an apartment?"
"…"
Kaguya didn't answer, simply walking silently towards the entrance.
Natsuki turned to look at Hayasaka.
Hayasaka raised the phone in her hand to show him, stepping towards Kaguya, and said aloud:
"Goodbye, President, Kaguya and I are going back."
They left just like that.
Kaguya and Hayasaka didn't stay; they actually changed their shoes and left, leaving only Natsuki and Mrs. Shimizu looking at each other.
"I know," Mrs. Shimizu suddenly put her right hand on her hip, "Kaguya-chan suddenly wants to rent a place to live; it must be because Natsuki-kun went too far."
Natsuki said, speechless:
"What did I do that was too much?"
"Hmph," Mrs. Shimizu snorted, "Don't think I don't know, you sneakily raid Kaguya-chan every morning."
Natsuki said with a normal expression:
"Kaguya wasn't awake then; how can something done while she's asleep be considered a sneak attack?"
Mrs. Shimizu sighed with emotion:
"No wonder Natsuki-kun can have a harem; I've never seen anyone so shameless."
Natsuki: "Thank you for the compliment."
After Kaguya and Hayasaka left, the house suddenly felt empty. After a while, Hayasaka sent a message, explaining why Kaguya no longer wanted to live together.
"There's no such thing as an airtight wall. Ever since Kaguya obtained that golden legendary skill, 'Descendant is the Strongest in the World,' her three brothers, and even the head of the Shinomiya family who is lying in bed, all demanded that Kaguya get pregnant as soon as possible."
"Kaguya naturally refused sternly."
"But those guys didn't give up. To achieve their goal, they even asked me to add [beep—] and similar things to Kaguya's black tea."
"And then…"
"I snitched on them to Kaguya!"
"Kaguya was very angry, so she chose to move out directly to show her determination."
"…"
So that's it.
Natsuki understood why Kaguya didn't want to continue living together.
As for having children, if it's by mutual consent, then fine. But the people of Shinomiya family, in their desire to be uncles, tried to use various methods to get Kaguya pregnant. They couldn't be uncles in another world, but they could be uncles to the strongest brat in this world.
However, all this coercion inevitably made Kaguya very unhappy, making her feel like she had once again become a tool for the Shinomiya family, so in a fit of anger, she directly ended the cohabitation, preferring to move out rather than risk being secretly drugged one day.
Natsuki: "I just messaged Kaguya, and you've already arrived at the apartment… Kaguya isn't with you right now, is she?"
Hayasaka: "Eh?"
Natsuki: "Let me experience the skill effect of Fated Person."
Hayasaka: "…Perverted president, don't come over!!!"