"It's been a while, Utaha-senpai."
Haru smiled gently at the beautiful girl who had entered the teachers' room, trying to break any tension she might feel after all this chaos.
"Mm... yes, it has been a while, Haru-kun."
Utaha nodded lightly, running her hand through her hair anxiously, trying to calm herself. She hadn't slept well last night, hadn't eaten anything since yesterday, and zombies were roaming everywhere.
She felt her current appearance was very disheveled, which made her nervously try to tidy her hair, as if attempting to regain some control over herself.
She didn't like appearing unkempt in front of acquaintances, even amidst this catastrophe.
"Everyone, please enjoy your meal. I'll prepare more soon."
Haru said as he stood up, while the large table containing various foods was almost empty.
It was clear that many of those present were still hungry, and he himself hadn't eaten in a long time, so he decided to prepare more food.
"I will help you."
Saeko said calmly and elegantly, putting down her chopsticks and rising to go with him.
Sora saw this scene and clearly gritted her silver teeth, feeling a slight annoyance, but she didn't try to stop her.
It was obvious that Haru was very tired, and having someone help him prepare food would be better for everyone.
Thinking about that, Sora felt a small pang of disappointment, and her hands twitched slightly.
She remembered how her mother had repeatedly tried to teach her cooking, but she had always refused.
And now, Saeko—who hadn't hidden her feelings or enthusiasm—stood beside her brother, helping him cook with complete ease, while Sora remained torn between feelings of jealousy and the desire to help.
Haru entered the kitchen first, followed immediately by Saeko, who carefully closed the door behind her.
It was clear she didn't intend to let anyone watch or hear what she would discuss with Haru in this small kitchen, as if she wanted to create a private space for herself away from prying eyes.
—
In the kitchen.
In that small kitchen, barely enough for four people, Haru raised an eyebrow slightly when he saw what Saeko had done, but he didn't comment. He simply took out the remaining food to start another round of cooking.
"May I call you Haru-kun?"
Saeko asked in a quiet voice, her blue eyes focusing on him with an unusual intensity.
"And you may also call me just Saeko."
"As you wish."
Haru nodded lightly. He had to admit—even if only to himself—that he wasn't entirely unaffected by having a beautiful girl like Saeko with him in this cramped kitchen.
"So... you have something you want to say, right?"
"As expected."
Saeko smiled a small smile, carrying no shyness or embarrassment... but something resembling strange pleasure.
"I'll get straight to the point... Can you give me a supernatural power too? Exactly as you did for your little sister."
"...Oh?"
Haru turned his gaze away from the frozen sausages and stared at her curiously.
"And what makes you think I was the one who gave Sora her power?"
Saeko chuckled lightly, a faint, sarcastic laugh.
"Do you think we are truly fools?"
Then she continued in a cool, analytical tone:
"It's strange for only two siblings to suddenly possess supernatural power... without any trace of anyone else having something similar. Then... from Sora's reaction, it seems she doesn't know the origin of her power at all. While you... didn't show a hint of surprise when you heard her talk about her new power. As if you knew beforehand."
"..."
Haru stared at her for a few seconds, his gray eyes meeting her blue ones, before a faint, sarcastic smile appeared on his lips.
"I see... It seems I was a bit careless."
Then he went back to cutting the sausages.
"But... even if you discovered that—that doesn't mean I'm obligated to give you a supernatural power like Sora's."
He said in a quiet but firm voice.
"We only met today, and you are not my sister, not my lover, nor my wife."
He shrugged indifferently.
"So... I don't see a reason to accept your request."
"True."
Saeko nodded quietly... a calmness that carried no trace of shock or disappointment at his refusal. On the contrary, there was something like determination in her eyes.
She took a step toward him... then another... until the distance between them became dangerous in itself.
Before Haru could even think of retreating, Saeko pressed her body against his side with calculated softness and leaned close to his ear like someone about to steal a precious secret.
She whispered in a low, warm... and dangerous voice:
"What do you think, then... about me giving myself to you?"
She let her words slowly spill into his ear, as if meticulously planted.
She didn't retreat, but continued in a voice more quiet, more serious, and more seductive than it should be in a situation like this:
"Consider it an investment..."
She raised her hand and lightly touched his shoulder, as if testing his reaction.
"I will pledge my loyalty to you."
She raised her head slightly and looked directly into his eyes—eyes that never flinch.
"And I will become your sharpest sword, in a world where survival requires more than just luck."
A faint, dangerous smile appeared on her lips:
"For in this hell... it's better to have a strong person... you can trust to protect your back."
"..."
Haru was silent for a moment, not because he believed her words. He wasn't foolish enough to trust someone he had known for less than a day.
But suddenly, a floating screen appeared before him, interrupting his thoughts and decision, as if the world itself was forcing him to reassess the situation.
[Dong! You have a new quest]
[Quest: Saeko's Request]
[Objective: Accept her offer and give her the power she craves.]
[Reward: Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū Book, 1X Diamond Upgrading Ticket]
[Note: Once the individual Saeko swears allegiance to the host, her loyalty will be 100% guaranteed.]
Upon seeing the reward, Haru's eyes widened in surprise. He knew of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū—the powerful sword art he had seen in an anime before—and its style relied on super speed sufficient to cut most things in the world.
But what truly shocked him was the other reward: 1X Diamond Upgrading Ticket. It was the rarest he had obtained so far, and more importantly, Saeko's loyalty would be guaranteed at 100%.
It was undoubtedly a winning deal, no matter how he thought about it.
"Alright... I will give you the power you want... in exchange for your loyalty."
Haru said in a quiet voice, maintaining his composure despite the internal excitement he felt. He didn't know exactly why, but he felt that showing excessive enthusiasm would be entirely inappropriate in this situation.
Saeko smiled a quiet, determined smile, then performed a perfect dogeza, placing her forehead on the floor before him:
"Thank you very much... From now on, I swear to be your sharpest sword, to protect you and destroy your enemies."
'Eve, use a Bronze Upgrading Ticket on Saeko.'
He commanded in his thoughts as he noticed the damaged wooden sword in her hand.
Then he gave the command to himself, this time with greater focus:
'And use one on her personal sword as well.'
[Upgrading]
[...]
Suddenly, Saeko felt a surge of heat flooding her entire body, while her white skin gradually turned a warm red, with her body temperature rising noticeably.
"Ah~" — She could only let out a seductive moan from her beautiful lips as she hugged her body, with beads of sweat flowing over her alluring figure.
Her appearance was extremely seductive at the moment, to the point where even Haru found himself fascinated by her while a large tent rose in his pants.
[Upgrading]
[...]
[You have acquired Mugenjin]
[Name: Mugenjin]
[Type: Weapon]
[Grade: B+]
[A very sharp sword that can display great power depending on its wielder and possesses a special trait]
[The sword gets stronger with each kill.]
...
To get more chapters please visit my p@treon :
[email protected]/Akasaki_Ryujin
For support :
https://ko-fi.com/akasaki_ryujin
_
My computer was down, and that's why I haven't been able to upload anything for the past few days.