But.
Even so.
Haruka Kasugano's "Holy Sword" still couldn't find its way into her "Root."
Why?
After several attempts, Shiki Ryougi finally realized the problem. The "keyhole" was too small, and the "key" was far too large...
How had Haruka Kasugano managed to "open the door" before? It didn't matter now. Shiki knew that at this moment, only brute force would work. Consequently, she used her body weight to forcibly press her Root's entrance down onto the key.
"Ahhhhhhh—!"
At that moment, Shiki let out a scream that echoed through the entire agency.
It... hurt...
No, but accompanying the pain was... an intense... pleasure...
The sensation was exactly like riding a free-fall tower at an amusement park. Facing that sudden weightless drop, it was both terrifying and thrilling—something that fills one with dread yet is utterly addictive. That was exactly how Shiki felt right now.
But she had been too optimistic. The key had only penetrated the lock by half, and she was already drenched in a cold sweat, afraid to push further.
I am not a weak woman...
Shiki's waist was incredibly slender. Due to long-term training and her petite frame, her waist was barely a handful, adorned with firm lines that drew the eye. Yet, it was this very waist that Shiki found difficult to move. Because the key was so large, she tried to use a forced grinding motion to rotate the key into the lock. Every single movement was a challenge to her willpower.
"Ah..."
"Ah—"
"Ahhhhh..."
"Ah~!"
Just like a roller coaster—thrilling and terrifying. But this extreme stimulation left Shiki entrated. Compared to the violent physical sensation, her face had long since settled into an expression of intoxicated addiction. Her gaze was blurred, her face flushed deep red.
This trance-like feeling... was better than the high of killing.
She thought back to years ago... when she loved wandering at night just to stumble upon the scene of a fatal traffic accident. Though rare, she had seen it a few times. She would watch the corpses struck by cars, the flowing blood, the shattered skeletons... and every time, she would show an intoxicated, dazed expression.
Ah! How wonderful!
But—compared to the beauty of witnessing a murder scene... it was clear that right here, right now—this was far more beautiful!
Ah! Ah! Ah!
Shiki began to grind even more frantically. This is amazing! Why bother killing people anymore? Wouldn't it be better to do this every day?
Ah... and no moral condemnation either! This is truly wonderful!
Fullness! Whether mentally or physically, Shiki felt an unprecedented sense of being "filled." At this moment, the emptiness she had carried for so long vanished without a trace.
Amazing—Kimochi (It feels good)!!!
[Ding~! Congratulations to the Host for changing Shiki Ryougi's hobbies, shifting her source of pleasure from killing to union! Shiki Ryougi's Infidelity Progress +50%~!]
Haruka Kasugano watched the system notification and was instantly overjoyed. This is fantastic! The play I directed was worth every bit of effort!
He had long since woken up. Or rather, he had been awake since Shiki was enjoying the "ice cream." Once Circe observed that Shiki was attempting the union, she instructed Kirie Fujou to cancel the spiritual pull on Haruka Kasugano. Therefore, Haruka Kasugano had essentially enjoyed the entire process.
However, Shiki's oral technique had been quite rough. The first half-hour was practically torture, and the key was that he couldn't make a sound. Luckily, Shiki had been facing away from him the whole time. When Shiki finally tried to "insert the key," Haruka Kasugano nearly passed out for real. The entrance to Shiki's Root was truly too tight. That crushing pressure was enough to make anyone lose their mind.
As Shiki slowly rotated, Haruka Kasugano almost hit his limit. Following the system's congratulatory report, Haruka Kasugano stopped pretending.
"Shiki, why are you on top of me?" Haruka Kasugano asked, feigning that he had just woken up.
"Ah? I..." Shiki was caught red-handed. Her brain was currently occupied by pleasure, and she had no idea how to put words together.
"Shiki, you love me, don't you?" He sat up directly, hugging Shiki from behind. He grabbed her soft curves and lifted one of her legs, then began to enter her Root like a madman.
"Ah~! Ah~! I... I..." Shiki's face turned an even deeper shade of red. She knew perfectly well she was doing something only lovers do... but her naturally stubborn nature made those words impossible to say.
"I... I also love... SHUT UP—" Shiki was so embarrassed she felt like she was smoking, so she directly covered Haruka Kasugano's mouth with hers to stop him from talking.
The two of them shared a deep kiss. After an unknown amount of time, Haruka Kasugano injected his essence into the Swirl of the Root. Shiki collapsed, lying limp on the sofa, sweat matting her hair against her elegant neck. They clung to each other, panting heavily.
---------
Touko Aozaki watched everything from outside the door.
Wait? It's fine that Shiki was fooled by Haruka Kasugano and fell for this older guy... I can even understand her getting handsy while he was "unconscious"... but why did Haruka Kasugano wake up so suddenly? Can a ghost's soul-snatch really be cured by sex? And just now, the spiritual energy on Haruka Kasugano clearly detached of its own volition. Hehehe! I think I've guessed a few things!
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[Ding~! Shiki Ryougi is an EX-tier beauty; the rewards for 50% Infidelity Progress are extremely rich. It is not recommended to save them; please exchange them for rewards immediately!]
Haruka Kasugano held Shiki on the sofa, looking at the message. Makes sense! Just starting Shiki's mission granted a permanent Noble Phantasm. 50% progress must be even better! Fine, exchange the 50% progress for rewards now!
[Ding~! Congratulations to the Host for receiving rich rewards!]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the Class Skill: "Connection to the Root A"!]
[Connection to the Root: Rank A]
That which is born from 「 」 and returns to 「 」. A farewell to the Dualities, a return to the Four Symbols, commanding the Eight Trigrams—the cornerstone of the principles of the world.