"Hmm hmm hmm hmm~"
Perhaps it was due to his fondness for playing musical instruments in his past life.
As he made use of the "music" item, he effortlessly played a warm and soothing melody.
Leticiel listened intently beside him, even humming along with the tune.
The moonlight streaming through the window created a beautifully harmonious atmosphere in the room.
"Master, your playing is truly beautiful."
It had been a long time since he had last played, and while he could remember snippets of many pieces, putting those fragments together felt more like a patchwork of melodies.
Genji glanced at the unfamiliar instrument in his hands, feeling a bit shy.
"I'm a little rusty; please bear with me."
But Leticiel disagreed, eagerly soaking in the music. Whenever she lost herself in the melody, it felt like the whole world belonged to just the two of them.
After all, he was her master, and they were in a private space together.
"No, Master, this is the most beautiful music I've ever heard. It's even better than what I heard at the Great Tomb."
Given her settings, it made sense that she would prioritize her own experiences in such comparisons.
That feeling was quite nice, but wouldn't something more genuine be even better?
No, no, it was already like this, and besides, the person he considered perfect was right in front of him.
The man sat on the edge of the bed, playing a tune from his hometown while gazing at the girl's cheek illuminated by the moonlight.
The girl lay on the bed, absorbing the unfamiliar music and allowing it to resonate within her heart.
Time drifted by slowly; in this place where the concept of time felt irrelevant, it became less significant.
"It's time to sleep."
After soothing Leticiel, Genji closed the blinds. The light couldn't filter through the cracks into the room, and both of them had night vision.
But this statement wasn't directed at Leticiel; it was for anyone watching them. After all, most otherworldly beings didn't need sleep.
Deep into the night...
"Do you think they're in this room? Shoka?"
"That's obvious. I sprinkled powder on them."
A faint glow from the man's hand revealed a fluorescent green on the floor.
It looked like this was the right place.
The man gently opened the door, which creaked slightly after being closed for a while, though the sound was faint.
He peered through the crack, observing the two people inside, feeling a surge of envy.
After all, that girl was truly a beauty.
But now was not the time for envy.
He took out a thin tube and inserted it into the gap of the door.
As he softly exhaled, the powder wafted into the room.
He had paid a high price for this; it should keep those two groggy for quite some time.
After that, he closed the door and stood at the entrance, waiting for the drug to take effect and for the effects to wear off inside.
He had no idea how much time had passed.
Suddenly, the man was jolted awake by a companion beside him.
"What the hell are you doing sleeping? It's about time; let's go in."
To ensure their plan succeeded, they moved very cautiously, afraid of making even the slightest noise.
The wooden door creaked again, and in the silence, the sound was exceptionally eerie.
Even their breathing felt magnified in the quiet.
Gradually, they reached the bedside, watching the two who were fast asleep.
"I've told you two to protect your princess well; I didn't expect it would turn out like this..."
Before he could finish, the two people who had been on the bed suddenly vanished from his sight.
"What the hell?!"
Just as he realized what was happening, his partner who had entered with him also disappeared from the room.
What was going on? He had clearly seen the two sleeping on the bed, but now there was nothing.
And even his partner...
"Shoka, don't scare me! Get out here quickly."
In the dark, enclosed space, fear surged within him as he called out his friend's name, trying to comfort himself. It couldn't be; it couldn't be.
But after a long time, there was still no response.
"Bang!"
After what felt like an eternity, a sudden noise outside the door hit him like a heavy stone against his heart.
He panicked and prepared to flee the terrifying room.
His mind raced with thoughts of how to escape this nightmare, feeling regretful.
He had only sought a momentary thrill, but now he faced this situation.
Could those two actually be formidable opponents?
No, that wasn't possible. Even if they were human, they couldn't do such a thing.
"Shoka?!"
He called out again.
"Damn it, I've been gone for a while now, but why haven't I gotten closer to the door?"
How long had it been? How long had passed?
So tired... so sleepy...
What had once been a small room now felt impossibly vast, even endless.
As his strength finally faded, he collapsed in the room.
...
"Kyouhukou, I leave these two to you."
Standing before him was a cockroach about thirty centimeters tall, standing upright on its hind legs. It wore a lavish red cloak embroidered with golden threads and a tiny crown that sparkled atop its head, wielding a scepter adorned with a pure white gem at the top.
Genji remembered that before she left, he had asked her to bring something back for him.
But they had almost only met on the ninth floor, as even he felt that the Kyouhukou's room was quite intimidating.
"Thank you, Great Lord Genji, and Lord Leticiel."