Second Shibuya High School.
In the classroom, a lavender-haired girl (anime-style depiction) stared in astonishment at the sudden appearance of the trade chat group.
Her violet-red eyes, filled with world-worn wisdom, reflected deep confusion.
"What a strange thing..."
This girl was Shinoa Hiragi.
On the surface, she appeared to be just an ordinary high school student.
However, in reality, she was the second daughter of the Hiiragi family, the rulers of Japan's cursed-gear organization, "The Imperial Demon Army".
Shinoa had been assigned to Second Shibuya High School as an inspector, tasked with keeping an eye on Yuichiro Hyakuya.
Naturally, her position granted her extensive knowledge about many things—vampires, vampire progenitors, cursed gears, and so on.
But she had never heard of something like this Trade Chat Group, capable of enabling cross-world communication and trades.
The knowledge embedded in her mind, however, seemed to confirm its legitimacy.
Faced with something so far beyond her comprehension, Shinoa approached it with cautious skepticism.
She mentally called out to her companion:
"Shi-chan, can you see anything unusual in front of me? Or detect if I've been cursed?"
"Hm?"
A voice responded in her mind.
This was the voice of "Shi-chan," the demon sealed within her cursed gear, the Shikama Dōji.
Cursed gears were weapons created by binding and sealing demons into them. They were humanity's only means of combating vampires.
By forming contracts with the demons within cursed gears, their wielders could gain physical capabilities seven times stronger than an ordinary human.
However, a weak-willed wielder could end up consumed by the demon, turning into one themselves.
Shikama Dōji was the demon bound to Shinoa's weapon, and she had given it the affectionate nickname, "Shi-chan."
"I see nothing."
"Why do you ask?"
Shi-chan's voice carried a hint of curiosity.
Shinoa fell silent for a moment before shaking her head.
"It's nothing."
Her response was dismissive, but inwardly she was filled with conflicting emotions.
The trade chat group was visible only to her.
"I need to figure out the truth behind this," she resolved.
Frieren: "We're indeed beings from different worlds. We've already confirmed this by traveling between them."
Sui: "If you want to verify it yourself, you can initiate a trade with Rei Ao."
Shinoa Hiragi: "Apologies, but I currently have nothing to trade."
Rei Ao: "That's fine. Just remember the chat group exists if you ever need it."
Shinoa Hiragi: "Group leader… Are you the one in charge here?"
Rei Ao: "You could put it that way."
Shinoa Hiragi: "Then may I ask why I was chosen?"
Rei Ao: "You weren't chosen by me. The chat group randomly selects its members to invite."
Shinoa Hiragi: "…I see."
Hijiri Kasuga: "Does that apply to me too?"
At her school, during a short break, Hijiri Kasuga had found a secluded spot where she could focus on the chat group.
She was carefully examining its nature.
There were no magical energy traces.
"So it's not magic?"
Without any tangible magical elements to study, Hijiri had no choice but to accept the chat group's existence as-is.
"What a fascinating thing…"
The blue-haired girl with a prominent ahoge had a spark of curiosity in her eyes, both for the chat group and the concept of other worlds.
Just as she was about to delve deeper into her analysis—
"Hijiri?"
A voice interrupted her thoughts.
Looking up, Hijiri saw a boy with short, slightly messy red hair and striking crimson eyes.
"Brother," she called out.
This was her older cousin, Arata Kasuga.
Hijiri only felt familial affection for him.
When she was a child, back when their parents were still alive, Hijiri had adored her cousin.
However, after their parents' tragic deaths, Arata had matured quickly and taken on the role of an elder brother. Over time, he had deliberately kept some distance between them.
Now, Hijiri regarded him with nothing but sibling-like care.
(Note: This alters the original setting slightly.)
Arata approached, holding a bag of pineapple buns. His brows furrowed slightly as he looked at her.
"What are you doing here?"
"It's quiet here," Hijiri replied calmly. "I came to relax and clear my mind."
She had already realized that the chat group's rules prevented her from revealing its existence. Thus, she gave him a plausible excuse.
"I see," Arata said with a nod. "I won't disturb you, then."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Staring at her brother's departing figure, Hijiri Kasuga let out a sigh.
First, she had hidden her identity as a mage from her brother. Now, she had another secret to keep—the existence of the Trade Chat Group.
"I guess I'll have to wait for the right moment to reveal my identity," she thought, her gaze shifting back to the chat group interface.
Mai Sakurajima: "Both newcomers have spoken up; they seem like people we can communicate with peacefully."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "...So far, we haven't had anyone in the chat group who couldn't engage in friendly communication."
Akame: "There was one—Tohru."
Tohru: "Huh??? When have I ever been unfriendly? Don't spread lies about me in front of my darling!"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "..."
Megumi Kato: "Darling… You two seem to have quite an intimate relationship."
Tohru: "Of course! I'm already preparing to give Rei Ao dragon babies~"
Shinoa Hiragi: "Wait, are you two… a couple?"
Rei Ao: "Hey, Tohru, no need to flaunt your affection so blatantly."
Hijiri Kasuga: "Hold on, dragon babies? What does that even mean?"
Tohru: "Because I'm a dragon!"
Hijiri Kasuga: "!!!"
Frieren: "Don't mind it, newcomer. Rei Ao is just building his own harem here in the chat group."
Hijiri Kasuga: "Eh? Are you part of it too?"
Frieren: "Oh no, not me."
Frieren: "But these are: @Stella, @Yukino Yukinoshita, @Mabel, @Shizue Izawa. Apart from them, pretty much everyone else is."
Mabel: "Waaah, don't hit me! I'm sorry, sob sob!"
Stella: "??? What's going on now?"
Saeko Busujima: "Who's hitting you? Yukinoshita-san?"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "I didn't touch her."
Rei Ao: "I did."
Megumi Kato: "Did Mabel do something wrong?"
Mai Sakurajima: "Probably something bad, right?"
Stella: "Wait, why are all of you assuming Rei Ao wasn't just bullying her?"
Ayame Yomogawa: "Isn't trusting Rei Ao-sama the natural choice?"
Stella: "..."
Frieren: "Human emotions are truly strange."
Rei Ao: "Well, it's not entirely her fault."
Rei Ao: "To put it simply, she was wandering around Yukinoshita's home without wearing clothes. I accidentally saw her, and she started screaming while drawing her God-Freezing Sword to attack me."
Tohru: "Oh, yesterday? I did sense a surge of ice magic nearby."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "That's not all."
Then, Yukino stood up to give the full, unembellished account of what had happened.
Yukino Yukinoshita: "I was standing right next to Rei Ao at the time. If it weren't for his intervention… I might not be here to explain."
Frieren: "Ah, I see. So it was to defend Yukino that you disciplined her."
Mai Sakurajima: "In the real world, ordinary people shouldn't be targeted with abilities so casually."
Sui: "The Ice Tribe really is unreliable."
Mabel: "Sob sob, I know I was wrong! I promise I won't do it again!"
Ayame Yomogawa: "Acknowledging your mistake and changing is the mark of a good child."
Stella: "She's not exactly a child anymore, is she?"
Shizue Izawa: "Wait, am I not one of Rei Ao's harem members too?"
Rei Ao: "Huh???"
Stella: "What's this? You can't even keep track of your own actions?"
Mai Sakurajima: "Did you sleep with her?"
Rei Ao: "No, I didn't."
Akame: "Conflicting testimonies?"
Megumi Kato: "Rei Ao and Shizue aren't criminal suspects, you know."
Frieren: "Could doing this so often cause memory loss?"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "Science suggests overindulgence can impair memory, but outright amnesia seems unlikely…"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "Perhaps his level of overindulgence goes far beyond the norm."
Rei Ao: "...Yukinoshita-san, when did you start casually discussing topics like this? You've changed."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "I… I was just sharing knowledge."
Yukino felt slightly flustered as Rei Ao pointed this out.
In the past, she would've avoided topics like this altogether, even expressing disgust at such things.
Now, though, she realized she was willingly participating in conversations she once found distasteful.
Looking at her hands, Yukino admitted to herself for the first time—perhaps she really had changed.
Meanwhile, Rei Ao was left momentarily puzzled.
Had he slept with Shizue? Surely, he wouldn't forget something like that.
But then, Shizue shyly clarified.
Shizue Izawa: "Ah, no… Everyone misunderstood. It wasn't sleeping together—it was just a kiss."
Stella: "A kiss?!"
Rei Ao: "Oh, that. Yeah, I remember now."
Rei Ao chuckled wryly. A kiss? Sure, that had happened.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 50 Chapters Ahead of Others!