Shamelessly Asking You Guys To Ckeckout The Advance Chapters On My Patreon (TT)
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Eren's voice rang out clearly from a distance, causing the girls to panic. Moments ago, they had merely suspected someone was peeping at them, but now it was evident someone was approaching.
Without a second thought, the girls hurriedly ran to the shore, scrambling to dress as quickly as possible.
Underwater, Ryo could hear Eren and Armin calling out to him. He gritted his teeth, cursing inwardly.
"Of all the times to show up, it had to be now! Are they trying to get me killed?"
Meanwhile, Eren and Armin, freshly washed and dressed, strolled along the lake, oblivious to the tension. Spotting the group of girls hurriedly dressing, they stopped in confusion.
"Why are you all here?" Eren asked innocently. His oblivious tone only made Ryo's situation worse.
The girls, still flushed with embarrassment, exchanged wary glances.
"Um, have you seen Ryo?" Eren added. "He was with us earlier but disappeared. We're really worried about him. If you see him, let him know we're looking for him!"
Ryo, hiding among the reeds, clenched his fists and cursed under his breath. **This idiot!**
Mikasa's expression darkened as her suspicions solidified. Armin, catching on to the girls' increasingly hostile glares, tried to nudge Eren away.
Ani stepped forward, crossing her arms. "No, we haven't seen him. Why don't you two head back?"
Her tone was sharp, but she glanced at Mikasa, signaling her to hold off. Mikasa, though brimming with fury, refrained from attacking Eren and Armin outright.
"But his clothes are still here," Eren persisted, looking genuinely concerned. "If we leave without finding him, someone might take them."
Ryo's face burned with frustration. **Eren, you absolute moron! You just handed me over on a silver platter!**
Armin, mortified, grabbed Eren by the arm. "Let's go, Eren," he urged, his voice tight with urgency.
"What? But—"
"Just go!" Armin hissed, dragging him away before Eren could spill more unnecessary information.
Once the boys were gone, the girls regrouped, their suspicions confirmed. They nodded to one another and moved toward the pile of clothes left on the shore.
Krista, still blushing, hesitated. Her heart ached with conflicted emotions. While she believed Ryo wasn't the kind of person to peep, she couldn't deny the circumstantial evidence against him.
"What should I do now?" Ryo muttered to himself, peering out from his hiding spot. The group of girls remained determined, clearly intent on waiting him out. His only clothes were on the shore, and there was no way he could emerge from the water naked without facing utter humiliation.
Ryo clenched his fists. "Eren, you owe me big time for this!"
Shivering in the frigid water, Ryo turned to the only option left. **The system.**
"System, please help me! I'm freezing to death here!"
A moment of silence followed before the system finally responded, its tone indifferent. "This system is an upright one and doesn't involve itself in such shameful activities. Host, you'll have to rely on your own ingenuity!"
Ryo's temper flared. "If you don't help me, I'll drown us both!"
Spotting a large rock nearby, he grabbed it, preparing to sink himself.
"Wait, wait, wait! Let's not act rashly!" the system interjected hurriedly. "Life is precious! Surely we can discuss this!"
Ryo growled through chattering teeth. "Then come up with a plan, now!"
The system sighed dramatically. "Fine. The system's mall has an inventory of food, daily necessities, and even clothes. Normally, these items are locked due to your low access level. However, as this is an emergency, I'll grant you temporary access. Go ahead and redeem what you need."