When Kyoko reappeared before Eriri and the other two, half an hour had already passed.
During that half-hour, Eriri and Seraphim had talked about many things. Although Eu didn't take the initiative to speak, whenever she was asked something, she cooperated fully in answering.
Through this half-hour of conversation, Seraphim gained a much deeper understanding of Eriri.
At the same time, their relationship became much more harmonious, no longer as serious as at the beginning.
Seeing Seraphim chatting and laughing with Eriri at her side, Kyoko's head immediately filled with a giant question mark.
"Eriri, why hasn't this Vampire Ninja left yet? Don't tell me the matter isn't resolved?"
"It's already resolved. Oh, right, Kyoko, let's do some reintroductions."
Eriri stretched out her right arm to wrap around Seraphim's smooth, snow-white shoulder, her palm boldly resting atop Seraphim's ample chest.
"This is Sera. From today onward, she's one of us. Be sure to get along with her from now on~"
Seeing the self-satisfied smile on Eriri's face, Kyoko was left speechless.
But given how well she understood Eriri's tastes, she wasn't surprised in the least. In fact, when Eriri had first asked her not to go too hard on Seraphim, she had already guessed this outcome.
Now, it was simply confirmed.
"Fine, as long as you're happy."
Saying that casually, Kyoko sat down nearby.
As long as the matter was settled and Seraphim wouldn't be constantly bothering her, she didn't mind being on friendly terms with her.
But that didn't stop her from venting in the chat group.
[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): Family, who gets this feeling!]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): What's wrong? Why does this sound so bitter?]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Didn't Eriri go over to your place? Is there gossip?]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Spill it! popcorn.jpg]
[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): Actually, it's nothing. Maybe I shouldn't say…]
[Erica (Level 7, Stage 2): ?]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Are you messing with us? Say it or I'll buy a Cross-Realm Teleportation talisman and spank your butt! angry.jpg]
[Adele (Level 7, Stage 1): Agreed, count me in, hehe!]
[Lefiya (Level 7, Stage 1): Of course, I won't miss out either! rubbing hands.jpg]
[Riveria (Level 7, Stage 1): Lefiya, it looks like you've really gone bad. Come here, I'll teach you a lesson!]
[Lefiya (Level 7, Stage 1): Nooo, Lady Riveria, I was wrong!]
[Reina (Level 7, Stage 1): Lefiya is pathetic, caving in at just one threat.]
[Riveria (Level 7, Stage 1): Sounds like you also need some discipline, Reina! smile.jpg]
[Reina (Level 7, Stage 1): …]
[Reina (Level 7, Stage 1): Forget I said anything!]
[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): Alright, alright, since you're all pressuring me, looks like I can't keep quiet. sigh.jpg]
[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): Basically, Eriri came here to deal with the Vampire Ninja issue. But in less than half an hour, she's already cuddling up affectionately with that same Vampire Ninja.]
[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): Photo evidence: cuddle.jpg]
[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): How did it come to this? I was clearly the first one! Whether meeting Eriri or hugging her—it was me first! So why? Why has it turned out like this…]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): First you sound bitter, now you're whining like a White Album protagonist. Seems you've got range.]
[Alice Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 1): What do we do when we encounter a White Album-type?]
[Gabriel (Level 7, Stage 2): Do you even need to ask? Beat them to death!]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Beat the White Album protag!]
[Fumino Furuhashi (Level 7, Stage 2): Beat them!]
[Lefiya (Level 7, Stage 1): Beat them!]
...
Watching Gabriel and the others kick up the chant, even the quieter group members began joining in the repetition.
The chat group quickly grew lively.
For Natsuki Minamiya and the other three who had only joined the group a few days ago, this bizarre scene left them utterly confused.
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): What's a White Album protagonist? And why beat them to death?]
[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 5): Same question!]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): I'm curious too.]
[Frieren (Level 2, Stage 8): It doesn't sound like a compliment.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Did you all finish watching the memory footage in the group?]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): Yes, I did.]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): Of course!]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Then you should've seen the footage called White Album, right?]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): "White Album" refers to the messy love triangle of the three main characters. Kyoko's words earlier were almost copied straight from the lines of the two heroines. That's what makes her a White Album protag!]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): And that's why White Album protags must be beaten to death!]
During the New Year's party, Setsuna Ogiso had been invited to sing. Out of casual interest, Eriri had uploaded the anime White Album to the chat group.
After some playful banter between Eriri and Arifureta, the "White Album protag" meme unexpectedly caught fire in the group.
Although discussion of it eventually quieted down, Kyoko's recent message had revived the meme.
Not only that, even Kyoko's earlier bitter line was a recycled phrase from the chat group itself.
And most of these memes originated from Eriri and Arifureta.
Of course, other members from modern worlds would also occasionally toss in memes from their own worlds.
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Applause! clap.jpg]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): clap.jpg]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): …]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): Are you all really this bored?]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Haha, it's just chatting. As long as it's fun, don't take it too seriously!]
[Yuuki Asuna (Level 7, Stage 2): That's right. If it's too serious, there's no fun.]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): Fine, as long as you're happy!]
At that moment, while Eriri was still chatting with Seraphim, she quickly noticed the noise in the chat group and split her attention to take a look.
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): I enter the group for one second and already see people gossiping about me!]
[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): Not at all! Heaven and earth can attest—I only spoke the truth!]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Kyoko, you've got guts. Did you forget Eriri's right next to you?]
[Moeha Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 1): Kyoko-nee, careful, Eriri-nee might spank you~]
[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): So what! Even if I die, nailed inside a coffin, I'll still shout with my rotting vocal cords…]
[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): …Eriri, I was joking!!!]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): …]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): Did Miss Kyoko really just get spanked by Miss Eriri?]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Don't frame me! I didn't hit her.]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): 6]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): You're all really good at this…]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Hahaha, Kyoko, you're killing me here!]
[Moeha Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 1): Kyoko-nee, you're just too funny, hehe.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Kyoko, looks like the crown of Meme King belongs to you this time!]
[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): Hehe, I was just joking around~]
No one in the group mentioned how quickly Eriri and Seraphim had gotten along.
After all, for them, that sort of thing was far too common to be worth bringing up.
Did they really think only Kyoko understood Eriri's tastes?
Of course not. If Kyoko could guess it, so could they.
So the moment Eriri showed interest in Seraphim in the group, they all knew she wouldn't escape her clutches. It was only a matter of time.
[Frieren (Level 2, Stage 8): Quite interesting.]
Watching the constant scroll of messages in the chat, Frieren felt her mind—stagnant for centuries—becoming active again.
Whether it was the group's discussions or the way everyone interacted, Frieren found it all fascinating.
Though she had spoken little in the group these past few days, outside of her usual sleep and training, nearly all her attention had been fixed on the chat group.
Meanwhile, Natsuki Minamiya was also very satisfied with the atmosphere in the chat group.
In just a few short days, her sense of belonging here had grown stronger and stronger.
Now she could proudly say: The chat group is my home! The members are my family!
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Speaking of which, isn't it funny? Today's the day invitations refresh. Haven't you noticed?]
Of course, Eriri could simply have Little Skirt add everyone's chosen invitees all at once. But that would be boring.
So she had deliberately kept the invitation system. Aside from showing a little favoritism early on by letting Luo Cuilian and Myne in with a fresh batch of members, everyone else was treated the same.
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): That's right, it did refresh. Back then everyone was so eager about it. Now nobody even notices.]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Well, we've already invited almost everyone we wanted. Hardly anyone needs it anymore.]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Shut up, you damn lucky European! I haven't even gotten one yet!]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Ehehe~]
[Arche (Level 7, Stage 2): I could really use one too, but my luck's been terrible. I've never drawn one.]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): Invitations? I don't really need one. There's no one I'm eager to invite, and I don't have the points to spare anyway.]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): Same here.]
[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 5): I actually want to bring Eris in to play.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Then I suggest you call Eris over and stick close to her. She is the goddess of luck. No way your luck will be bad~]
[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 5): You're right! I'll call her right now!]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): That's cheating!]
[Arche (Level 7, Stage 2): Looks like I won't be getting an invitation again this time…]
Just after contacting Darkness in the heavens through special means, Lalatina saw Ruri and Arche's complaints and hesitated.
After carefully considering for a moment, she made her decision.
[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 5): Um… how about I give up my chance this time and let you two have it instead…]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Uh…]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): We were only joking! You don't need to take it seriously. Honestly, we're not that desperate for invitations, so don't worry about it.]
[Arche (Level 7, Stage 2): Exactly. Otherwise, why do you think Yue-chan said hardly anyone even pays attention to the refresh anymore?]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): With Eriri's World Gates, everyone can freely bring family and friends to members' worlds and even other discovered worlds.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Joining the chat group just adds a contact method and a way to use points to get stronger. But since none of us are lacking strength now, the desire to add new members has dropped a lot.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Just like they said, Lalatina, don't force yourself to give up over something so small. Our chat group doesn't work that way.]
[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 5): Don't call me Lalatina! …Alright, I get it. Sorry to make a fuss.]
Looking at the group messages, Darkness felt her heart warm, though she also felt a little embarrassed.
—
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