Frieren: "This question is strange."
Frieren: "Would a human's body be harmed after mating? I've never heard of such a thing."
Rei Ao: "No, it wouldn't."
Rei Ao: "But I'm much stronger than an ordinary human. If you're curious, you can ask Saeko Busujima for details."
Frieren: "@Saeko Busujima, can you tell me? I'd like to study it."
Stella: "..."
Stella was about to lose her mind.
The topics in the chat group were way too bold and explicit!
Saeko Busujima: "Mm... very strong."
Saeko Busujima: "At least from what I learned in biology class, what happened isn't usually possible."
Stella: "???"
Sakurajima Mai: "???"
No way! Why would you even answer such a question?!
Saeko Busujima didn't care.
Aside from Rei Ao, everyone in the chat group was female, and none of them were from her world.
There wasn't anything she felt she couldn't say. Even if it were in front of Takagi Saya and the others, Saeko could still admit the truth without flinching.
That was just her personality—casual and unbothered, except when it came to her own nature.
Saeko Busujima: "Rei Ao-kun, my body is fine. Thank you for your concern, and thank you for saving all of us."
She had already recovered, though her body still felt an occasional numbness.
Having experienced this for the first time, Saeko wasn't sure if it was a side effect or if... she had developed some sort of addiction.
She could only observe and see.
Rei Ao: "No need to thank me."
Rei Ao: "The protection from the ice crystals is temporary. You'll need to find a better solution."
He didn't care about being thanked. In the end, this was just another trade.
He didn't expect Saeko to become loyal to him after one or two trades.
Feelings take time to develop.
It would take more interactions.
So…
Rei Ao: "Saeko Busujima, I have a way for you to become strong enough to fight more of the undead. You might want to consider it."
What he was referring to was the ability "Blessing." He hadn't tested this ability on anyone yet.
If Saeko was willing to trade, he didn't mind granting her his blessing.
Saeko was momentarily stunned.
Become stronger?
She instinctively recalled Rei Ao standing still against hundreds of undead, freezing them all with just a look.
The scene made her heart race.
She understood what Rei Ao was implying—another trade.
The right to use her body could be traded multiple times, unlike an ability.
It was the only trade option she had left.
"Is he hinting at that?"
Saeko looked down at her body, a seductive smile forming on her lips.
At least she knew her body could attract Rei Ao.
A small sense of satisfaction welled up inside her.
But now, she needed to remain calm and confirm what she truly wanted.
Saeko Busujima: "I'll think about it."
"This guy... he really is a pervert!"
Sakurajima Mai was even more convinced of her thoughts after witnessing this exchange.
She thought about whether it would be better to avoid asking for his help altogether. Who knew if she'd be in danger?
Rei Ao: "@Sakurajima Mai, back to the main topic. I live at xxxxxx. Why do you ask?"
Sakurajima Mai: "It's nothing..."
"There's no way I'm going to his place!"
Sakurajima Mai swore to herself.
...
At 1 a.m.
Rain started to fall during the night.
The wind howled, and heavy rain poured down.
**Ding dong!**
The doorbell rang at Rei Ao's house.
"Who is it?"
Dressed in pajamas, he opened the door.
What he saw was Sakurajima Mai, arms crossed, shivering in the cold.
"Hm?"
Though surprised that she had come at this hour, seeing her soaked to the skin, with her undergarments clearly visible through her clothes, and not even trying to cover herself, he decided to let her inside.
"Don't stand out there in the rain. Come in and talk."
...
Inside, Rei Ao handed her a clean towel and a new bath towel.
"Don't say anything yet. Take a bath first, or you'll catch a cold."
"…"
Sakurajima Mai held the towels, unsure what to do.
She was afraid that Rei Ao might have other intentions.
Rei Ao noticed her hesitation and chuckled.
"Yes, I do appreciate beautiful women, but I'm not a creep who would randomly touch you."
"If you're really that worried, I can start a livestream. You can watch it to keep an eye on me. How about that?"
With that, he activated the livestream.
[Ding! Rei Ao has started a livestream!]
Akame: "So sudden."
Stella: "I was just sleeping, and now there's a livestream?"
Frieren: "A human female—are you going to livestream the process for my research?"
Stella: "What? No way! That's unacceptable!"
Rei Ao: "What's the problem? No one's forcing you to watch. If you don't like it, you can leave the stream."
Stella: "You…"
Alright, fine. It's true she could leave.
But... this was so shameless!
She hadn't been in the chat group for long, but Stella felt that all of her royal upbringing had been sullied.
She was witnessing all sorts of embarrassing topics she had never encountered before!
"Mother, Father, I feel so impure!" Stella thought, her face flushed with shame, as if she were on the verge of tears.