Several days had passed since welcoming Naruse Mio as a Servant and taking Isha under protection.
Living a daily life with no particular changes, Renya had finished yet another day of student life.
Then came the after-school hours—time for clubs, hobbies, or hanging out with friends. Renya had chosen the latter and was out in town with his friends.
"This place is a large shopping mall with all sorts of things, so it's convenient not just for everyday use, but they also have a good selection of stuff girls need. I often come here to hang out with Haruka-chan and other friends too."
"Well, it's always crowded because of that, though. Since this is a regional city, there aren't that many places to go."
"It certainly seems like a popular date spot."
"It's nice having shops this well-stocked."
Honami's explanation was met with Haruka's low-energy comment, while Sylpha and Mio nodded with smiles.
Yes, Renya was currently spending his after-school time with Sylpha, Elfaria, and Mio, having Honami and Haruka show them around Kuoh Town.
Elfaria, who didn't join much in the conversation, was strolling arm-in-arm with Renya.
"Renya, I want to sleep with you tonight."
"Ah, of course, that's fine."
Perhaps because she was with Renya, Elfaria was visibly happy, wearing a smile the entire time.
Wherever they were, as long as Renya was involved, Elfaria was satisfied.
"You two really get along well, don't you?"
"Renpon, you're standing out, so tone it down a bit."
"Honestly, all that clinging and lovey-dovey stuff..."
Honami and Haruka were used to it, but Mio muttered with a pout.
Mio was present because she had transferred to Kuoh Academy from the all-girls' school she had been attending.
Incidentally, her class was the same as Renya and the others, as a precautionary measure.
Despite all that, they browsed around the large shopping mall, window-shopping as they went.
This two-story department store near Kuoh Academy, as Honami had explained, was frequently used by students. The first and second floors formed a long, open shopping mall with considerable floor space.
The rooftop, though irrelevant to Renya and his group, was a parking lot.
There was also a multi-story parking garage underground.
The first floor housed a branch of a major used bookstore, a sporting goods store, a grocery section, an electronics store, a fast-food joint, a general goods store, and various other shops suitable for everyday use, just as Honami had said.
The second floor had a pet shop, an arcade, a food court, a bookstore, and a drugstore.
This floor was suitable for hanging out with friends or going on dates with a lover.
"Hehehe. Hey, Renya. Will you go on a date with me sometime?"
At some point, Sylpha had positioned herself on the opposite side from Elfaria and, linking arms with him, looked up at him with that question.
"I don't mind."
"Good. Then it's settled. I'm looking forward to it, my date with Renya."
Though Sylpha said it casually, Renya could tell she was genuinely happy.
"A-Sylpha, that's unfair! Hey, Renya? Me too!"
"Ah, of course."
Renya nodded to Elfaria, who was burning with competitive spirit, as if it were only natural.
Before long, they entered a general goods store.
Various products lined the shelves, but what particularly caught the girls' attention were ceramic mugs with cute, stylized animal faces.
"Wow, cute!"
"Well, not bad, I guess."
"There are quite a few types too."
"Oh, this one's nice."
Honami, Haruka, Sylpha, and Mio each picked up a mug, voicing their opinions.
All the different animal designs were cute enough to stir a girl's heart.
Elfaria, even amidst this, was happily linking arms with Renya.
"Wow, the price matches the quality, huh."
Haruka let out a small exclamation upon seeing the price tag on the bottom of a mug.
It displayed a price of eight thousand yen—a hefty sum for a high school student.
At that high price, Haruka and Mio also returned their mugs to the shelf.
Sylpha seemed unfazed, likely because she earned a decent income herself.
Even though their lives had changed greatly since coming under Renya's care, Honami and Haruka's values regarding such things hadn't changed much.
"Might as well buy some since we're here."
It was Renya who spoke up.
"R-Renya-kun, are you serious?"
"Yeah. I'll buy one for everyone at our place."
"Renya, as expected."
"E-everyone... does that include me?"
"Of course. Everyone here, plus Lavinia and the others."
"Renpon, you're loaded after all."
"I want one that matches Renya's."
And so, Sylpha and the others thanked Renya while noisily selecting their mugs.
Incidentally, Renya and the others' mugs were also chosen by Sylpha and the group.
After leaving the general goods store, as thanks for the mugs, the girls pooled their money to buy Renya some clothes—since he didn't care much about fashion—and then they bought crepes to eat while walking. It was a time that felt appropriately youthful, something they hadn't really experienced before.
As the sun began to set and the surroundings grew dark, even for spring, Renya and the others decided to head home together since they lived nearby.
Elfaria, who was arm-in-arm with Renya, aside, Sylpha, Honami, Haruka, and Mio were having a lively girls' talk.
It was as if they were walking through a dark residential area.
"...This is."
"A barrier..."
"I wonder who it could be."
Renya, Elfaria, and Sylpha immediately noticed, and a moment later, Mio also realized the existence of an invisible force field that had been deployed.
"—Renya. This is..."
"Yeah. It seems it's aimed at us."
"Who on earth? Could it be remnants of Zolgia?"
"Who knows. Let's have the one over there answer that."
While responding to Mio, who had experienced various incidents lately, Renya naturally shifted his mind and body into combat readiness. He indicated with a chin gesture the figure perched atop a streetlamp.
Draped in a black coat fluttering in the night wind, wearing a mask—a large-built someone was looking down at them.
"Who are you?"
"You're Leonhard Pheles, aren't you?"
"I'm the one asking here. But fine. So? If I am, what do you want?"
"I have no grudge against you, but this is business. I'll take your life."
With that, the black-clad assassin leaped from the streetlamp and dove toward them.
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