Japan, Kyoto City.
Mount Atago.
Luo Shu took a deep breath as he gazed at the setting sun, now reduced to lingering twilight. The evening mountain air was crisp and cool, like unsweetened ice cream on the tongue, effectively soothing his nerves.
After all, there was only about an hour left until the summoning ritual.
"Ara ara, is Luo Shu-kun preparing himself?"
A teasing voice rang out from behind. Without turning, Luo Shu knew it was one of Kurumi Tokisaki's shadows, emerging from his own.
And the reason for her appearance...
"Is something wrong?"
Ten minutes ago, the Spirit Liquid had already been handed to Megumi Kato and transported to Luo Shu via Divine Kingdom teleportation, so he wasn't worried about that. With all materials ready and the ritual preparations handled by Serafall and Suzuka Dairenji, it was hard to guess why Kurumi had sought him out now.
"It's a clone from Hong Kong. She's made a very interesting discovery."
Kurumi Tokisaki walked over to Luo Shu, smiling as she looped her arm through his and even pressed her cheek against his shoulder.
This intimate gesture was something the original Kurumi would never do.
But some of her clones could be remarkably bold.
Sometimes when Luo Shu woke up in the morning, he'd even find a Kurumi clone trying to pull his trousers off.
While the original kept strict boundaries, the clones went all out—only Kurumi could play this game.
Though the maiden's affectionate lean was sweet, Luo Shu's mind was elsewhere, already preoccupied with the ritual. So he responded absentmindedly:
"Hong Kong? Was there an attack?"
"Yes indeed, attacked by a lovely heroine."
Kurumi Tokisaki said with a grin, emphasising the word 'heroine'.
"A heroine? A Familia candidate?" Luo Shu showed some interest at this: "There's actually someone within Truth Astronomy suitable to become a Familia? That's rather intriguing."
"What was her purpose in attacking you?"
At this point, Kurumi deliberately poked Luo Shu's chest with her index finger and said with a smile:
"I'm quite hurt, you know, since Luo Shu isn't even worried about me being defeated..."
"If I were captured, your favourite eyepatch-wearing Kurumi might be subjected to all sorts of things by a wicked woman..."
Luo Shu's face twitched as he replied with a mix of amusement and exasperation:
"Weren't you just calling her a lovely heroine? Now she's a wicked woman?"
"Those aren't mutually exclusive," Kurumi said with a playful grin.
'Fine, as long as you're happy...'
Luo Shu sighed inwardly and shook his head. After some thought, he asked:
"Was that Familia candidate coming for Aya?"
Hearing this, Kurumi puffed out her cheeks slightly, looking somewhat indignant as she stared at Luo Shu:
"Luo Shu."
"Sometimes it's better for boys to play dumb."
Luo Shu chuckled at this, withdrawing his arm from Kurumi's grasp and flexing his wrist:
"Well then, my apologies, but right now my brain is on high alert."
As he said this, Luo Shu turned to Kurumi and asked:
"You mentioned a 'lovely heroine' earlier, and since she's from Truth Astronomy, based on my understanding of such heroines' personalities, the only thing that could motivate them to act would be Aya's recent capture by me."
Though their personalities differ, heroines in anime are generally kind-hearted by default.
The possibility of them attacking SDS personnel is there, but not high.
But if it's the SDS provoking them first, that's another matter.
Recently, the only major incident where SDS provoked Truth Astronomy was Aya's capture.
Hence, his deduction that this was related to Aya.
Noticing Luo Shu withdraw his arm, Kurumi gave him a surprised glance before clasping her hands behind her back and smiling:
"The one who attacked me was Miss Aya's disciple."
"A cute elf called Emilia."
"Who did you say?" Luo Shu froze, his expression turning to utter astonishment: "Emilia? An elf? White hair, purple eyes? Kind personality with a cat-like spirit companion?"
"Ara ara~" Kurumi feigned surprise as she looked at Luo Shu: "Has Luo Shu's Familia radar activated again?"
"Have you been snooping into another girl's private secrets?"
"What Familia radar..."
Luo Shu stared at Kurumi with utter bewilderment - what nonsense was this now?
First a Familia radar, then girls' private secrets... making him sound like some peeping tom...
"Because Luo Shu always seems to know the little secrets girls don't want to share."
Kurumi gazed at Luo Shu with a knowing smile, her eyes full of mischief as if she'd seen through his thoughts:
"Always scoring points right in girls' sweet spots - it's hard not to question Luo Shu's motives."
"It's like knowing I love cats, so you deliberately kept many in the Familia garrison. Oh, I almost forgot Yukinoshita also adores cats."
"Luo Shu-kun often takes advantage of Yukinoshita being distracted by cats to peek under her skirt, don't you?"
Luo Shu's face darkened as he stared speechlessly at the woman spouting such slanderous words:
"It's you who deliberately flashes your skirt while petting cats. Yukino wears safety shorts."
"So you were peeking under my skirt then~" Kurumi Tokisaki teased with an amused smile.
Luo Shu knew arguing with Kurumi Tokisaki was futile—he'd always lose. He simply sighed and changed the subject:
"So, you were attacked by Emilia and Puck? Did you manage to detain them?"
"Not at all." Kurumi suddenly raised her short-barreled flintlock pistol, aiming it at Luo Shu. "Want to see?"
Luo Shu didn't refuse.
Then—bang.
The bullet's Spiritual Power transmitted memories directly to him.
In an instant, Luo Shu witnessed all of Kurumi's experiences before narrowing his eyes:
'Top Tier Class? And two of them... No, likely Emilia and Puck sharing... Some kind of summon-sharing ability perhaps...'
'But a Hero Rank spirit at Top Tier Class... What a shame. If it could advance to Demigod, it might have made decent material...'
'And that time-reversal power at the end—was that the Witch of Envy, Satella?'
'Why is her power manifesting through Emilia? And she can even activate it voluntarily...'
Countless questions arose in Luo Shu's mind, yet none had answers.
Seeing this, he suppressed his thoughts and said:
"Leave them be for now. Focus on completing the ritual first."
"As for Aya... Don't interfere. If she wants to leave, let her."
Whether Aya Tokoyogi would leave with Emilia was practically a foregone conclusion.
A former Demigod whose level had been sealed and degraded would be committing suicide by returning to Truth Astronomy.
Aya wasn't that foolish.
Luo Shu's true intention wasn't to grant Aya freedom, but instead to let her contact Emilia, creating an opportunity to keep Emilia here.
After all, given Puck's overprotective nature towards his "daughter," he'd never allow Emilia to keep working for Truth Astronomy.
Especially not with the Witch of Envy, Satella, possessing Emilia.
"Kurumi, inform Aya of the situation. Let her decide the rest."
Kurumi couldn't help but laugh. "Seems another innocent girl is about to be deceived by Luo Shu-kun~"
Luo Shu didn't rebut Kurumi's teasing. The mischievous woman could say whatever she liked—his priority now was capturing the nature spirit.
As Luo Shu remained silent, a figure approached from the nearby shrine.
Sensing the newcomer, Luo Shu's expression turned grave.
It was Suzuka Dairenji.
Suzuka's appearance meant the ritual preparations were nearly complete.
The nature spirit...
May everything proceed smoothly...