"So, having a girl stay overnight at your place, and even doing... hmph," Raiden Kunikuzushi sneered. "Is that appropriate?"
"It was merely a necessary action to complete the revenge plan," Lucas said indifferently. "If you want this place, it's yours. I'll move out."
"I order you," Raiden Kunikuzushi stared at Lucas, "to stay."
Lucas couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.
"You order me?" Lucas chuckled. "On what grounds?"
"Because your revenge plan requires my participation," Raiden Kunikuzushi pointed at Lucas with a smirk. "I want to push Kamisato Ayaka into the abyss, and you want to ensure Kamisato Ayato is utterly destroyed. If I don't continue to bully Kamisato Ayaka, if I don't help stir the pot for you, can your plan really proceed?"
Seeing Lucas momentarily fall silent, Raiden Kunikuzushi seemed to have an epiphany. She tugged at her collar and smiled. "Oh, I see. To stay here, I need to pay 'rent,' right? Just like what you did to Kamisato Ayaka."
"Don't misunderstand," Lucas said, rubbing his temples in exasperation. "This place isn't some shelter for 'kami-machi girls.'"
The so-called "kami-machi girls" refer to runaway girls who, lacking financial resources and a fixed place to stay, seek help from others. Those who offer help become their "gods," and in return, the girls must offer something very important—like their bodies.
Of course, it was said that there were also "kami-machi" girls who had traded with over two hundred different men in half a year. Whether they truly had nowhere to stay or had some special needs of their own remained unclear.
Who would have thought that Raiden Kunikuzushi would narrow her eyes and smile, saying, "If you want to treat me as a kami-machi girl, I don't mind. Look at my qualifications—I'm not any worse than Ayaka Kamisato, am I?"
It was only then that Lucas realized she didn't actually want to stay here. She just didn't want to lose to Ayaka Kamisato. That's why she wanted to showcase her charm in this way.
To be honest, Raiden Kunikuzushi was indeed no worse than Ayaka Kamisato—or rather, the two of them were incomparable.
Ayaka Kamisato was the epitome of a Yamato Nadeshiko, always following the rules and obedient. With just a glance or a gesture from Lucas, she would know exactly what to do next.
Raiden Kunikuzushi, on the other hand, was a mischievous little devil who loved to tease, full of sharp words but nothing more.
"Or perhaps…" Raiden Kunikuzushi placed her hands on the coffee table, leaning toward Lucas across from her with a smile, "You're all bark and no bite. You don't… dare to touch me, do you?"
The reason she dared to act so brazenly was largely due to her prominent family background. No matter what mistakes she made, her "foster mother," Raiden Ei, would handle everything. That's why she believed that Lucas, who knew her identity, would never dare to do anything out of line to her.
But who could have predicted that, in the next second, Lucas would suddenly grab her and pin her down on the sofa.
The girl's strength was utterly insignificant in the face of this man. Though a flicker of surprise passed over Raiden Kunikuzushi's face, she quickly feigned composure and said, "What? Can't hold back anymore? A mangy dog is still a mangy dog, completely unable to control itself…"
However, Lucas simply replied calmly, "I'd say this is your first time."
"W-what? How could that be?" Feeling belittled, Raiden Kunikuzushi's face flushed red, and she quickly retorted, "Let me tell you, I do it seventeen or eighteen times a day! If I miss a day, I feel completely uncomfortable!"
"Sure enough, even your stubbornness lacks common sense," Lucas sneered. "I know why you're so arrogant, but remember this—don't provoke those who have nothing left to lose. They… are capable of anything."
"Hmph, even though you're already an old man, you can still spout such cringy lines. Don't you feel embarrassed?" Raiden Kunikuzushi tilted her head, her eyes filled with mockery. "Even though your words sound impressive, you… don't dare to do anything to me, do you?"
"Then… let's give it a try."
With that, Lucas opened his mouth and bit down hard. This action clearly caught Raiden Kunikuzushi off guard. She felt a sharp pain and immediately tried to break free, but Lucas's hand clamped down on her like an iron vice.
Of course, Lucas didn't dare to bite with full force. After five or six seconds, he released her, and Raiden Kunikuzushi immediately sprang up like a startled rabbit, then slapped Lucas across the face with all her might.
However, this slap was all bark and no bite. At least for Lucas in Immersive Mode, it was practically painless.
Compared to the mark he had left on Raiden Kunikuzushi, this slap was insignificant. She looked down and saw two rows of distinct bite marks below her ribs, far more vivid and noticeable than the hickey on Lucas's chest.
"Y-you… are you a dog?" Raiden Kunikuzushi fumed.
"Didn't you always call me a dog?" Lucas wiped his mouth, seemingly still savoring the moment, and chuckled. "Isn't it normal for a mad dog to bite?"
"You!" Raiden Kunikuzushi pointed at Lucas but didn't know what else to say, only stomping her feet in frustration.
"Here." At that moment, Lucas tossed something toward Raiden Kunikuzushi. She instinctively caught it and realized it was a small, delicate key.
Raiden Kunikuzushi murmured, "What's this?"
"The key to this room. You can treat it as a secret base, but you'll have to follow my rules." Lucas held up three fingers. "First, when Ayaka Kamisato comes, you're not allowed to be here. Second, no overnight stays. And third, the most important rule… don't bully Hina."
"Got it, got it," Raiden Kunikuzushi, now holding the key, immediately broke into a smile, as if she had already forgotten about the biting incident. She giggled and said, "Really, do you think I care about your doghouse?"
"One more thing," Lucas stepped forward, grabbed Raiden Kunikuzushi's collar, and buttoned it up expressionlessly. "Don't expose the bite mark."
Unexpectedly, Raiden Kunikuzushi took two steps back, unbuttoned her collar again, and snorted, "What's there to be afraid of? In their eyes, I'm not exactly a good student anyway. Having something like this on me would actually make more sense."
"If I'd known that, I would've bitten a little lower," Lucas said indifferently. "Besides, there's more meat there."
"You can still bite there if you want," Raiden Kunikuzushi tugged at the edge of her collar, smirking. "If you dare…"
Before she could finish, Lucas leaned forward as if to bite. Raiden Kunikuzushi immediately dodged and laughed, "Trying to bite there? You mangy dog aren't worthy!"
With that, she pushed open the door and left, leaving Lucas alone in the room.
"Truly…" Lucas wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb and sneered. "She's even more naive than Ayaka Kamisato."
...
[Exiting Immersive Mode]
[Entering Text Mode]
[Mission Complete: Gain Ayaka Kamisato's Trust]
[Skill Reward Obtained: Kamisato Art: Frostflake Gate]
[Kamisato Art: Frostflake Gate]
[Rank: A]
[Effect: 1. Continuously cuts through enemies with razor-sharp frost winds, dealing Cryo damage; 2. Blooms at the end of its duration, dealing AoE Cryo damage]
So it's Kamisato's swordsmanship, huh?
The swordsmanship of Inazuma differs significantly from that of Liyue. Among the three great families, the long-standing Kamisato Art is comparable in status and power to Liyue's Yunlai Swordsmanship.
However, what surprised Lucas the most was that the swordsmanship he obtained this time was of the Cryo element.
Due to the rewards Lucas had previously obtained in the simulator, most of which were related to the attributes of the characters he had pursued, and since the majority of those characters were of the Cryo element, Lucas's "Cryo Mastery" had increased to a very high level, nearly 200%. However, he had never found a suitable martial art to match it.
The recently acquired "Kamisato Art: Frostflake Gate," while not the most powerful among Lucas's techniques, was undoubtedly the most compatible one at the moment.
[From that day on, everything seemed to have changed, and yet, it seemed as if nothing had changed at all]
[At school, Kamisato Ayaka remained the target of Raiden Kunikuzushi's bullying. Yet, she endured it all, and the reason was simple: no matter how much pain she suffered, as long as she could receive your "comfort," she would be fully revived]
[Of course, to make Kamisato Ayaka trust you more, you had "intervened" several times to stop Raiden Kunikuzushi's bullying. Naturally, she played along with your act]
[On the surface, you were the righteous and upright teacher who protected students, completely at odds with the misbehaving bully Raiden Kunikuzushi. But in private, you and Raiden Kunikuzushi were birds of a feather. In fact, many of the methods used to bully Kamisato Ayaka were your ideas]
[The more you understood Kamisato Ayaka, the more you knew her weaknesses and how to hurt her. And every time she was hurt, you would appear at the perfect moment to become her safe haven]
[That modest rented apartment became a secret hideout for you and Kamisato Ayaka. You would often comfort her there, in your own way]
[You were always waiting for the opportunity to take revenge on Kamisato Ayato, but the best time would only come when Kamisato Ayaka became completely dependent on you. You knew deep down that day was not far off]
[On the other hand, Raiden Kunikuzushi truly treated your rented apartment as her own "secret base." You never knew when she would suddenly appear in your home]
[Sometimes, you would step out of the bathroom to find Raiden Kunikuzushi lying on your couch, eating chips and watching TV. Other times, you would be woken up in the middle of the night to see her chasing poor Hina around the room. Bullying Kamisato Ayaka and teasing you seemed to be the two things that brought her the most joy in life]
[You occasionally regretted giving her the key to your apartment, or perhaps you had simply grown unaccustomed to someone barging into your life. Especially when that someone was Raiden Kunikuzushi, a bully, you despised the most]
[27 years old: In the blink of an eye, a year had passed, and you were almost ready to set everything in motion. Now, you had one final move to make—a move that wasn't originally part of your plan. But you decided to take the risk. If this new plan succeeded, not only would Kamisato Ayato get the retribution he deserved, but he would also be plunged into an irreversible abyss]
[On a night of torrential rain, as you were organizing the "materials" you had gathered, the sound of a key turning in the lock came from outside the door. You knew exactly who it was—after all, only Raiden Kunikuzushi had a key to your place]
[Entering Immersive Mode]
[Mission Objective: Fulfill Raiden Kunikuzushi's request]
By the time the door opened, Lucas was already standing at the entrance, ready with the lines he had prepared: "We had an agreement, didn't we? No staying overnight at my place... What's wrong with you?"
The Raiden Kunikuzushi standing before him had completely lost her usual domineering air. Drenched by the rain like a drowned rat, her eyeliner smudged, she looked like she had been through something—if not for her clothes being intact, Lucas might have suspected she had been mistreated.
But that thought was entirely unnecessary. With Raiden Kunikuzushi's skills, not only could she easily handle any ill-intentioned thugs, but Lucas himself might not even be a match for her.
"Heh, it's nothing," Raiden Kunikuzushi said, still wearing her usual carefree grin. "I just ran away from home... achoo... ran away from home, that's all."
Lucas felt a wave of helplessness. After all, it wasn't uncommon for girls her age to run away from home after a fight with their family.
Although Lucas wasn't "Brother Jay" and didn't have a habit of sheltering runaways, he couldn't just leave Raiden Kunikuzushi out in the rain. So, he stepped aside and said, "Anyway, come in and take a shower first. Don't catch a cold."
The situation was eerily similar to when he had taken in Kamisato Ayaka before. However, Raiden Kunikuzushi wasn't as reserved as the young lady of the Kamisato family. As she walked toward the bathroom, she had already started undressing.
"Hey, wait until you're in the bathroom before you take your clothes off," Lucas frowned. "I'm still a man, after all..."
"A man? In my eyes, you're just a male dog at best," Raiden Kunikuzushi poked her head out from behind the bathroom door and sneered. "What, did you install a camera in the bathroom so you can watch the footage later and... you know, 'relieve yourself'?"
"Just go take your shower," Lucas said, closing the bathroom door.
As the sound of running water came from the bathroom, Lucas opened his phone. On the screen, there were at least dozens of camera feeds—some from his home, some from nearby streets, but most were from various locations around the school.
Including, of course, the bathroom in his home.
Raiden Kunikuzushi's offhand remark had turned out to be correct.
Lucas didn't hold back, openly "admiring" the footage. But to his surprise, Raiden Kunikuzushi, with the water turned on full blast, wasn't actually showering. Instead, she was covering her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling slightly, as if... she was crying.
It seemed that even a delinquent who enjoyed bullying her classmates had her moments of vulnerability. Though Lucas didn't know the specifics, he could guess that both her running away from home in the middle of the night and her quiet tears in the bathroom were likely closely tied to her family—especially her adoptive mother, Raiden Ei.
Before long, Raiden Kunikuzushi stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Of course, there was no trace of tears on her face now. Instead, she was as brash as ever, grinning and saying, "What, are you ordering takeout? Planning to treat me to a midnight snack?"
"I'm calling a taxi," Lucas said calmly. "I'll take you home soon. We agreed—you can't stay here overnight."
"No!"
To everyone's surprise, Raiden Kunikuzushi , who always carried herself with an air of arrogance, now wore a look of panic on her face. She stepped forward without hesitation, snatched the phone from Lucas's hand, and hung up the call. "I thought... you were different from those adults!" she shouted angrily.
"Unfortunately, I'm just a very normal adult," Lucas said, extending a hand toward Raiden Kunikuzushi. "Having a girl stay overnight at my place is just too dangerous."
"Then why is it okay for Ayaka Kamisato?!" Raiden Kunikuzushi bit her lip. "What's the difference between her and me?"
"You already know the reason," Lucas replied calmly. "Her brother is my target for revenge..."
"Excuses! It's all excuses! You could have used this to take revenge on Ayaka Kamisato's brother a long time ago!" Raiden Kunikuzushi exposed Lucas's lie. "I think you just... can't bear to do it! You're afraid Ayaka Kamisato will find out you're using her, aren't you?"
It had to be said that Raiden Kunikuzushi's words weren't entirely without merit.
Over the past year, the relationship between Lucas and Ayaka Kamisato had grown increasingly close. And the closer the relationship, the more painful it would be to sever it.
Seeing Lucas fall silent, Raiden Kunikuzushi pressed on, "Am I right?"
"Fine, I won't send you back," Lucas finally relented, sighing. "But you have to tell me why you ran away from home."
Hearing Lucas's concession, Raiden Kunikuzushi's face immediately lit up with a smile. However, she still cautiously tucked Lucas's phone into her own pocket. "Because... I had a fight with my foster mother. I... hate her."
Raiden Ei?
Lucas nodded. "As far as I know, she's been taking care of you ever since your birth mother... left, right? Has she been unkind to you?"
"No, she's been very good to me," Raiden Kunikuzushi shook her head. "She fulfills almost every request I make, and she always cleans up the messes I cause, no matter how big."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Lucas smiled wryly. "Many people dream of having parents like that."
Indeed, in this simulation, Lucas had lost his mother early, and his father later died in an accident. He would have been content with just an ordinary family, let alone one with a mother as powerful as Raiden Ei.
"Because... she's never truly looked at me. To her, I'm just a 'relic,' a doll that needs to be taken care of," Raiden Kunikuzushi clenched her fists, her eyes filled with resentment. "She's never treated me like her 'daughter'! She's never acknowledged me."
It was no wonder. Raiden Ei wasn't good at expressing emotions, and Raiden Kunikuzushi wasn't her biological daughter. She could only love her in her own way, but unfortunately, the girl couldn't feel it.
Perhaps that was why her personality had become so unruly. Her resentment toward Ayaka Kamisato likely stemmed from the fact that Ayaka had taken away her chance to be "acknowledged."
"Today, she found me and told me she's arranged for me to study at the Akademiya in Sumeru. She wants me to withdraw from school immediately," Raiden Kunikuzushi said bitterly. "She's always been like this, dictating my future without ever consulting me. This time, I couldn't take it anymore. We had a huge fight, and then... I ran away."
"Studying at the Akademiya in Sumeru sounds like a great opportunity," Lucas said, puzzled. "Why would you refuse?"
"Be... because I haven't completely crushed Ayaka Kamisato yet!" Raiden Kunikuzushi quickly made an excuse. "Otherwise, I'd have no reason to stay in this lousy school!"
"Ding-dong!"
Just then, the doorbell rang, and both Lucas and Raiden Kunikuzushi's faces showed surprise.
Given Lucas's social circle, the number of people who would come looking for him on a stormy night like this could be counted on one hand.
If the person at the door wasn't Ayaka Kamisato, it was most likely someone looking for Raiden Kunikuzushi.
"Wh... what do we do?" Raiden Kunikuzushi's face couldn't help but show panic.
"Don't worry," Lucas remained calm. "Hide under the couch. I'll handle the rest."
Raiden Kunikuzushi didn't hesitate and quickly crawled under the couch. Fortunately, her slender frame allowed her to squeeze in. Once she was hidden, Lucas hurried to the door and opened it.
Standing outside was a tall woman holding a large umbrella that completely covered her face.
It was immediately clear she was a woman because the parts not covered by the umbrella were... rather prominent. The rain had soaked through her clothes, making them slightly transparent, and the black straps of her undergarments were faintly visible.
She definitely wasn't Ayaka Kamisato. Lucas knew Ayaka too well—she didn't have that kind of figure.
The woman lifted the umbrella, revealing a beautiful yet cold face. "Sorry to disturb you. Are you Raiden Kunikuzushi's counselor? Wh... why is it you?"
The woman had short, deep blue hair and wore a simple red beak-shaped hair ornament. She appeared to be around the same age as Lucas. It was none other than Kujou Sara, the woman who had once admired Lucas during their university days!
Even though years had passed, the two recognized each other instantly. However, this reunion was somewhat awkward.
"Yes, I'm Raiden Kunikuzushi's counselor," Lucas said, feigning composure. "Miss Kujou, what brings you here?"
Miss Kujou?
Hearing those words, Kujou Sara couldn't help but feel a secret joy.
He still remembered her surname!
That alone was enough to make her heart leap with joy.
Of course, her face remained completely expressionless as she said calmly, "After graduation, I started working under Raiden Ei. Her daughter has run away from home, and she's sent many people out to search for her. I decided to start with the school staff, so here I am."
"She ran away from home?" Lucas pretended to be surprised. "But why would she come to me?"
"To help Lady Raiden Ei find her daughter, I can't afford to overlook any clues," Kujou Sara said with a cold expression. "From what I know, you currently live alone, making you the most likely person to have taken in the young lady."
"That's just your speculation," Lucas replied indifferently. "Theoretically, she could be staying anywhere. After all, a young and beautiful girl… someone would surely be willing to take her in."
"You clearly don't understand the young lady. Although she may seem mischievous, she is deeply lonely at heart. If she ran away from home, she would never seek help from strangers," Kujou Sara said solemnly. "So, please cooperate with my investigation and let me search your room."
"That doesn't seem appropriate, does it?" Lucas frowned. "You don't have that kind of authority."
"Why won't you let me search?" Kujou Sara narrowed her eyes slightly. "Could it be… that you have something to hide?"
Lucas naturally couldn't fathom Kujou Sara's thoughts. Although she had once been infatuated with him, judging by her current demeanor, that affection had likely long since faded. Now, her mind seemed solely focused on her duties.
His current resistance to the search was indeed somewhat unreasonable. If he continued to refuse, she might grow even more suspicious.
"If you insist, I have no objections," Lucas said, crossing his arms and meeting her gaze coldly. "But if you find nothing, what then?"
This was naturally Lucas's psychological tactic, hoping to make her hesitate. However, Kujou Sara simply stepped inside, saying, "If I find nothing, you can do whatever you want."
Seeing Kujou Sara enter so decisively, Lucas's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm as he said, "Go ahead, search as you please."
"At least let me rest for a moment," Kujou Sara said, sitting directly on the sofa. "The rain outside is heavy."
As Kujou Sara's feet came within less than ten centimeters of Raiden Kunikuzushi, who was hiding under the sofa, Lucas felt a surge of tension. To avoid giving anything away, he smiled and said, "Right, I'll make some hot tea. Please wait in the living room for a bit."
With that, Lucas walked straight into the kitchen.
After Lucas left, a faint blush appeared on Kujou Sara's cheeks as she murmured to herself, "Am I… sitting on the same sofa he once sat on?"
Her voice was soft, but Raiden Kunikuzushi, hiding under the sofa, heard it clearly.
Lady Raiden Ei didn't have many trusted subordinates, and this "Aunt Kujou" was one of her closest aides.
In Raiden Kunikuzushi's memory, Kujou Sara, like her mother Raiden Ei, always appeared cold and emotionless. She never expected her to have such a side.
Kujou Sara suddenly leaned down, pressing her cheek tightly against the sofa's leather cushion, breathing deeply as she muttered, "It's faint, but… I can still smell his scent."
However, this seemed far from satisfying her. She suddenly reached out and began feeling around under the sofa, saying, "Maybe he has some personal clothing hidden under here…"
This nearly scared Raiden Kunikuzushi out of her wits. As Kujou Sara's hand was about to touch her, she quickly came up with an idea and took off one of her socks, placing it near Kujou Sara's hand.
"This is…"
Kujou Sara pulled her hand out from under the sofa, holding a sock with a cute cartoon pattern.
Raiden Kunikuzushi realized her mistake and cursed herself for being so foolish. How could a grown man wear such socks?
To her surprise, Kujou Sara let out an infatuated voice, saying, "He actually wears such cute socks. This contrast… it's… irresistible…"
As she spoke, Raiden Kunikuzushi heard soft, excited breaths and words like "So fragrant… so nice…"
Even without seeing, she could guess what Kujou Sara was doing with her sock.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen.
Lucas looked at the surveillance footage of the living room on his phone, his face showing an expression akin to the "Subway Old Man JPG."
Thankfully, Raiden Kunikuzushi didn't seem to have foot odor. Otherwise, with Kujou Sara sniffing the sock like "Shiji Niangniang sniffing a cat," she would likely end up with a lung fungal infection. Lucas had no doubt that if she added some soy sauce, she might even try to eat the sock.
That's right. Earlier, he had claimed he was going to make tea, but in reality, he was hiding in the kitchen, secretly observing Kujou Sara's actions through the surveillance camera. If she really intended to search under the sofa, he would step in to stop her.
But who would have thought that her true purpose for entering the house had nothing to do with finding Raiden Kunikuzushi? Her real target was Lucas.
Who could have imagined that after all these years, Kujou Sara… still held such strong feelings for him?
To be honest, Lucas's revenge targets were very clear, and he tried his best not to harm innocent people. Kujou Sara, who had once harbored feelings for him, was naturally not on his revenge list. But if she discovered Raiden Kunikuzushi here, it would undoubtedly lead to unnecessary trouble.
So… I'm sorry.
Having made up his mind, Lucas pushed the door open. However, by then, he had already put on a professional smile, placing two cups on the table and saying, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Having worked in a host club before, this was second nature to him.
Sure enough, the moment Lucas appeared, Kujou Sara immediately hid the sock in her hand, and her previously fidgeting body on the sofa instantly returned to a proper, upright posture.
"This is…" she said, looking at the amber liquid in the cup, slightly stunned. "Wine?"
"I happened to have a bit left at home," Lucas said, raising his cup. "I just realized that when old friends meet, how could we just drink tea? I'll drink first to show my respect."
With that, he tilted his head back and downed the wine in one gulp.
Meanwhile, Kujou Sara's heart was in turmoil.
Although she appeared dull and cold, when it came to the person she loved, she was an unapologetic romantic.
When a man suddenly invites a woman to drink wine, his intentions… are naturally self-evident.
Could it be that Lucas… has feelings for her?
For Kujou Sara, Raiden Ei always came first, and everything else was secondary. Naturally, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to the task of finding someone that Raiden Ei had temporarily assigned her, with no hint of negligence.
But now, faced with Lucas's "charm," she had momentarily forgotten about her important mission, only wanting to spend a wonderful night with her dream lover.
Yes, even if they couldn't be together forever, just a fleeting moment of passion would already be a dream come true for her.
Kujou Sara wasn't the type of woman to cling desperately. If Lucas had asked her to leave, she would have reluctantly done so despite her reluctance. But since he had taken the initiative to show interest, she naturally wouldn't let the opportunity slip. She quickly picked up the wine glass and said calmly, "I… I'll drink!"
With that, she tilted her head back and downed the entire glass in one go.
The wine was a special brew Lucas kept at home, aptly named the "seduction wine." As the name suggested, even women with a decent tolerance for alcohol would find it hard to resist after drinking it.
Moreover, Kujou Sara had always been a lightweight when it came to alcohol. Coupled with her long-held infatuation for Lucas, her face quickly turned crimson, and her vision began to blur.
Seeing her in this state, Lucas thought to himself, "This is in the bag." With just a few more casual words, he should be able to send her on her way.
"So many years have passed in the blink of an eye," Lucas began with a casual opener. "You've changed a lot."
"Oh?" Kujou Sara nonchalantly placed a foot on Lucas's lap, though her expression remained cold. "How have I changed?"
Wow, how does she manage to look so serious while doing something like that?
It seemed Kujou Sara was so used to putting on a facade that even when slightly tipsy, she instinctively maintained her composed demeanor.
But this only added to her allure.
"You've become even colder than before," Lucas shifted the conversation. "It's strange. With other women, I'd probably say things like 'you'd look better if you smiled,' but I feel like you're different. This icy demeanor of yours has its own charm."
He said… I have charm!
Kujou Sara felt her heart skip a beat. She stared at Lucas and said, "But you're still the same as before, not a single bit changed."
People change, but Lucas didn't. After his "rebirth," he had been disguising himself for the sake of revenge. The persona he projected naturally remained unchanged over time.
Lucas smiled. "So, what did Raiden Ei say to you back then that made you give up?"
Honestly, given how infatuated Kujou Sara was with him, Lucas couldn't imagine what reason Raiden Ei could have given to make her completely let go.
Could it have been that he was gay?
Kujou Sara frowned slightly. "After she returned that day, she told me she liked you and asked me to step aside. So, I had no choice but to give up. Of course, I only realized many years later that it might have just been an excuse to make me let go."
So that's how it was…
Raiden Ei sure had a clever way of doing things. To make Kujou Sara give up, she even dragged herself into it. But aside from this method, there really wasn't any other way to make her let go.
"However, deep down, I've never forgotten you," Kujou Sara said as she slowly lifted the hem of her shirt. "Look…"
On her perfectly toned abdomen was a tattoo of her name and Lucas's, with an arrow piercing through two hearts in between.
Without even thinking, Lucas knew what the tattoo meant.
Moreover, getting such a tattoo in that spot likely meant Kujou Sara had already made up her mind not to pursue any other men. After all, seeing that tattoo during intimate moments would be quite awkward.
Unless, of course, they always did it from behind.
However, Kujou Sara continued, "There's another one on the back, but… it's a bit lower."
This time, even Lucas couldn't help but be moved.
The thought of the usually stern and no-nonsense Kujou Sara at Raiden Ei's company, hiding something so bold beneath her professional attire, stirred something within Lucas.
If she had gone this far, it would be too heartless of him to just find a way to send her away.
Just as Lucas was hesitating, he suddenly felt a slight chill on his ankle, causing him to let out a soft "Ah."
Lucas's reaction made Kujou Sara curious. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing…" Lucas quickly tried to play it off with a smile. "Just… very surprised."
The sensation on his ankle was, of course, the doing of Kunikuzushi. As Lucas wondered what she was up to, he suddenly felt her fingers tracing something on his ankle.
Faintly, it seemed to spell out three words:
"Quick," "Do," and "Her."
Was she telling him to finish things quickly and send Kujou Sara away?
That made sense. If they continued reminiscing like this, who knew how much time would be wasted? It was better to get to the point.
"You know, having your name tattooed here feels like I can sense your warmth…" Kujou Sara suddenly grabbed Lucas's hand, and a hint of tenderness appeared in her serious gaze. "But now, I want to feel… your real warmth. That way, I'll have no regrets."
What else could he do?
The atmosphere had already been set.
Originally, Lucas had hesitated, especially since Kunikuzushi was still under the sofa. Would it be inappropriate to do this with Raiden Ei's close aide? But since Kunikuzushi had already given her silent approval… there was nothing left to say. Time to get to it.
Besides, it was cold under the sofa. If Kunikuzushi stayed there too long, she might catch a cold.
"Let's go," Lucas nodded. "The bedroom is over there."
But Kujou Sara grabbed his wrist and said, "I'm in a hurry. Let's just do it on the sofa."
Your sense of timing is a bit too strict, isn't it?
Can't spare a few minutes?
However, the gap under the sofa was already quite narrow. Once things got going, wouldn't Kunikuzushi, hiding underneath, be squeezed into a pulp?
"I understand," Lucas, being experienced, nodded and said, "But could you turn around? I'd like to... take a look at the tattoo on your back."
"Of course, but please don't use the word 'please,'" Kujou Sara blushed slightly. "I'd prefer it if you used a commanding tone, demeaning me as if I were worthless."
So, this is what you're into?
If we were to rate her level of hidden seductiveness on a scale of 1 to 10, Kujou Sara would probably score an 8.5.
"Worthless slut," Lucas's eyes sharpened as he said, "Kneel down with your back to me, like a dog."
"Hmm!"
A hint of pink flashed in Kujou Sara's eyes. As she turned around as instructed, Lucas quickly gestured toward the space under the sofa.
Seeing this, Kunikuzushi, who had been hiding under the sofa, quickly crawled out and positioned herself behind it.
At this moment, she was separated from Lucas and Kujou Sara only by the sofa's backrest. If Kujou Sara were to glance to the side even slightly, she would immediately spot the target she had been searching for all night.
Now, it was entirely up to Lucas to control the situation.
He lifted the hem of Kujou Sara's clothes and, sure enough, found a tattoo similar to the one on her front, located just below the small of her back. It seemed like she was fully committed, leaving no area untouched.
To prevent Kujou Sara from lifting her head and spotting Kunikuzushi, Lucas pressed his hand against her head. For Kujou Sara, this invasive action undoubtedly hit her sweet spot, and she showed no intention of resisting.
Meanwhile, Kunikuzushi, to avoid making any noise that might alert Kujou Sara, had no choice but to press herself tightly against the back of the sofa.
Interestingly, although Kujou Sara's face was pressed against the sofa cushion and she couldn't see anything, from Lucas's perspective, there was Kujou Sara with her back to him on the left, and on the right was Kunikuzushi, who was hiding behind the sofa. The young girl was looking at him with a complex expression, as if she were blaming him.
Is this really my fault?
Lucas felt a surge of frustration. Those three words had been written on his ankle by her own hand.
What followed, naturally, was inevitable.
On this seemingly ordinary rainy night, Kujou Sara found fulfillment in her life. From this day forward, the two tattoos on her body would no longer be mere fantasies.
Kunikuzushi, hiding nearby, couldn't see anything, but the rhythmic tapping of the sofa's backrest against her cheek was enough for her to guess what was happening on the other side.
And, to her surprise, she even began to feel a sense of participation.
At that moment, a hand suddenly rested on Kunikuzushi's head. She instinctively looked up and saw Lucas gently patting her head, as if trying to soothe her emotions.
Damn it...
Kunikuzushi glared at Lucas, thinking to herself, Ugh, now the sense of participation is even stronger!
Whether it was out of frustration or being shaken by the situation, Kunikuzushi suddenly grabbed Lucas's hand and bit down on it.
"Ah!"
Caught off guard by Kunikuzushi's action, Lucas instinctively let out a pained sound, which startled Kujou Sara. She turned her head slightly and asked, "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
"A little pain... is good," Lucas immediately grabbed the back of Kujou Sara's hair with his other hand and said, "Turn around. I want to see your back."
Kujou Sara complied without suspicion, and Lucas, not to be outdone, pinched Kunikuzushi's lips firmly before pulling his finger away.
...
Half an hour later, the battle came to an end.
In truth, they could have continued for much longer, but Kujou Sara still had duties to attend to. Whether she found Kunikuzushi or not, she needed to report back.
While she went to the bathroom to freshen up, Lucas quickly instructed Kunikuzushi to hide in the bedroom.
When Kujou Sara emerged from the bathroom, she had returned to her usual cold and indifferent demeanor. It was hard to believe that she was the same woman who had shared such an intimate moment with him just moments ago.
"Thank you for fulfilling my long-held wish," Kujou Sara said calmly as she stood by the entrance. "It's getting late, so I won't disturb you any longer."
Her attitude was as if it hadn't been her who had been intimate with him, but rather Lucas.
Though... if you thought about it, that wasn't entirely wrong.
"Don't mention it. I... I'm also very satisfied," Lucas replied honestly this time. "I hope you can find Miss Kunikuzushi soon."
"What are you talking about?" Kujou Sara suddenly fixed her gaze on Lucas. "Isn't she right here?"
Hearing this, Lucas felt a chill run down his spine, but he maintained his composure and forced a smile. "Don't... don't joke around. How could she be here?"
"I forgot to mention, I'm very familiar with Lady Kunikuzushi. I even know the exact perfume she prefers. I caught a whiff of it lingering in this room earlier. Besides..." Kujou Sara pointed to the ground outside the door. "The footprints left by the rain stop right at your doorstep. They match the shoes Lady Kunikuzushi was wearing today."
It seemed he had underestimated Kujou Sara...
This woman was definitely not the type to be easily controlled by her desires.
Noticing the change in Lucas's expression, Kujou Sara continued, "You didn't really think I'd ignore Lady Kunikuzushi's safety just to... satisfy my own desires, did you?"
"You're right. She's here," Lucas said seriously. "Although it's not exactly appropriate for someone in my position to take in a runaway girl, I still hope to let her stay here for the night. Sending her home now would only escalate the conflict between her and her mother."
"I feel the same way," Kujou Sara nodded. "Don't worry, I'll inform Lady Raiden that Lady Kunikuzushi is staying at a classmate's place tonight. However, I'd advise you to be careful. Lady Raiden treats Lady Kunikuzushi as her own daughter. If she finds out about this, she's unlikely to let you off easily."
"I'll handle it," Lucas said, though he seemed to realize something and frowned slightly. "Wait a minute, so you knew all along that Kunikuzushi was here. Then what about what happened between us just now..."
"Consider what we did earlier as my payment for keeping this secret," Kujou Sara waved her hand. "Thanks for the hospitality."
It seemed he had been played this time.
Watching her leave, Lucas smiled wryly and said, "I'm the one who should be thanking you for the favor."
"To protect you, I even put myself on the line," Lucas said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead after returning to the living room, raising his voice slightly. "Come out, she's gone."
Hearing Lucas's voice, Raiden Kunikuzushi cautiously emerged from the bedroom.
However, instead of showing any gratitude, her face was filled with anger as she exclaimed, "You... how could you do such a thing? You actually... with Aunt Kujou..."
"Hey, have some conscience, will you?" Lucas, who was usually calm, couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed. "Wasn't it you who told me to do it?"
"When did I ever tell you to do that?" Raiden Kunikuzushi demanded.
"Didn't you write on my ankle?" Lucas gestured in the air, mimicking the strokes Raiden Kunikuzushi had written earlier. "The characters for 'Quick,' 'Do,' and 'Her'!"
"What I meant to write was 'Quick,' 'Chase,' and 'Her'!" Raiden Kunikuzushi explained. "I was telling you to chase her away quickly!"
So that's what it was?
Thinking about it now, the character for "chase" did make more sense...
"But..." Lucas's tone softened noticeably. "What I felt was clearly the character for 'do'..."
"That's because I hadn't finished writing!" Raiden Kunikuzushi said resentfully. "I think you deliberately twisted my meaning..."
"Stop being unreasonable," Lucas said as he sat down on the sofa. "Anyway, you're safe for now. Go to sleep. Tomorrow, leave as soon as possible."
"But I still find it strange..." Raiden Kunikuzushi, of course, wasn't about to obediently go to sleep. She sat down next to Lucas, her face filled with curiosity as she asked, "I always thought Aunt Kujou didn't like men at all. Why... would she do something like that with you?"
This matter was indeed suspicious, but Lucas wasn't in the mood to recount his past with Kujou Sara and Raiden Ei. Instead, he pointed to the unfinished wine on the table and said, "Because I put an aphrodisiac in that wine. Even a stone-cold woman would be moved after drinking it."
This wasn't exactly a lie, as there wasn't much difference between a "seduction wine" and an aphrodisiac.
"Is it really that potent?" Without hesitation, Raiden Kunikuzushi grabbed the wine glass. "Let me try."
Seeing this, Lucas immediately grabbed her wrist and said, "You're not old enough to drink. Besides..."
"Besides what?" Raiden Kunikuzushi shot him a challenging look. "Don't worry, even if I were affected, I wouldn't have any thoughts about a dog like you. Besides, didn't you just finish? You probably can't even get up now, right?"
This girl sure knew a lot.
"Anyway, no drinking," Lucas said firmly.
"If you don't let me drink, I'll scream," Raiden Kunikuzushi said without hesitation, immediately starting to shout, "Help! Someone's imprisoning a minor... mmm!"
Lucas quickly covered her mouth and sighed, "Fine, drink. I'm really unlucky to have taken in such a troublemaker."
After getting the wine, Raiden Kunikuzushi smirked. She first took a cautious sip, seemed to find the taste agreeable, and then downed the rest in one go.
After all, the wine would at most make her head spin. Drinking it might actually help her fall asleep more easily, which could be a good thing.
"You've had your drink. Now go to sleep," Lucas said, pointing to the bedroom door. "If you dare make any more demands, I'll throw you out."
"But I still have one last request..." Raiden Kunikuzushi, her eyes slightly dazed, suddenly sat on Lucas's lap and said, "I want to take revenge on my mother."
Whether it was because of the alcohol or not, Lucas felt the girl in his arms was unusually warm. He pondered for a moment and asked, "How do you plan to do that?"
"She's always wanted to raise me into a proper lady, and when I come of age, find me a talented young man to marry, making me a tool for a business alliance..." Raiden Kunikuzushi stared straight at Lucas and said, "If I'm no longer pure, her plan should fall apart, right?"
Lucas chuckled inwardly.
It seemed this seemingly cunning girl still had a naive side to her.
Given Raiden Ei's status, who would dare refuse a marriage she arranged? Even if Raiden Kunikuzushi wasn't pure, even if she were a monster with four eyes and three mouths, there would still be plenty of people willing to marry her.
After all, the "resources" behind her were far too valuable.
"You don't need me for that," Lucas said indifferently. "You can just use a branch."
Raiden Kunikuzushi was momentarily stunned, and it took her a while to process what he meant. Her face flushed with anger as she said, "Why... why is it only me who's not good enough? Ayaka Kamisato is fine, Kujou Sara is fine, why is it only me who's not?"
Her competitive nature was always strong, especially in matters like this. To her, men were supposed to be at her mercy. How could anyone dare refuse her?
"Because the method you're suggesting won't actually harm your mother," Lucas shook his head. "Do you really want to take revenge on her?"
"Yes... yes," Raiden Kunikuzushi murmured.
"Then let me teach you how," Lucas said, pinching Raiden Kunikuzushi's chin. "But you'll have to make a great sacrifice yourself. Even so, are you willing?"
"Don't... don't underestimate my resolve!" Raiden Kunikuzushi gritted her teeth. "Tell me, what should I do?"
"Go to the bedroom and bring me the box at the very back of the second drawer in the third cabinet," Lucas ordered.
Under normal circumstances, Raiden Kunikuzushi would never obediently follow someone else's orders. But whether it was because she was drunk or too eager to get revenge on Raiden Ei, she didn't hesitate at all. She stumbled into the bedroom.
After a few barks from the dog, she came out holding a box.
"What's in this?" Raiden Kunikuzushi placed the box on the table. "There seem to be a lot of... small things inside. It's quite heavy."
"Open it and see for yourself," Lucas waved his hand.
Raiden Kunikuzushi hesitated for a moment before opening the box. With a "click," the lid flipped open, and when she saw what was inside, her face instantly turned bright red.
Inside the box, neatly arranged, were... all sorts of "toys"!
Even though Kunikuzushi had never used anything like this before, as the saying goes, "If you haven't eaten pork, you've at least seen a pig run." She could more or less recognize a few of them.
However, there were still many items whose functions she couldn't discern just from their shapes. But their slightly suggestive designs made her think twice, and the more she pondered, the more unsettling they became.
Noticing the change in Kunikuzushi's expression, Lucas chuckled, "What? Scared?"
"Wh-what's there to be scared of?" Kunikuzushi retorted stubbornly. "But... how could you have these kinds of things in your house?"
After all, in the eyes of most people, Lucas always appeared to be a gentle and refined scholar at school. It was hard to imagine that his home could hide such explosive items.
"Of course, they're meant to be used. What else? To ward off evil spirits?" Lucas's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery. "To be honest, Ayaka has already tried some of these."
"Wh-what?"
Although Kunikuzushi knew deep down that Lucas and Ayaka had some kind of secret relationship, she never expected that they would take things this far.
The thought of the usually composed and dignified Ayaka interacting with these little toys made Kunikuzushi's face flush even more.
"Oh?" Lucas teased, "You're blushing?"
"N-no, I'm not," Kunikuzushi sneered. "These are just toys for kids."
Kids definitely shouldn't be using these.
"Let me cut to the chase," Lucas said, his smile fading. "You must know that Raiden Ei adopted you to fulfill her sister's wishes, right?"
"That wasn't adoption," Kunikuzushi retorted, raising an eyebrow. "She doesn't care about me at all. If I weren't her sister's daughter, she wouldn't even glance my way."
Typical rebellious teenager.
Neither she nor Raiden Ei were particularly good at expressing themselves, which led to the current misunderstanding.
But this actually gave Lucas a great opportunity.
"That's not important," Lucas said, crossing his arms. "What matters is that if you fall into corruption, it means she failed to keep her promise to your mother, right?"
"That's true..." Suddenly, Kunikuzushi seemed to realize something. She looked at the little toys in front of her and said, "So, your plan is..."
"Exactly. I'll film your descent into corruption and show it to her," Lucas nodded. "Seeing the child her sister entrusted to her lose her soul to depravity—her expression at that moment will definitely be fascinating."
"It seems... doable." The desire for revenge seemed to have clouded Kunikuzushi's judgment. She trembled with excitement as she asked, "So, who are you going to get to play me in this video?"
"Listen to yourself," Lucas shrugged. "No one can play you. You'll have to do it yourself."
"That's impossible!" Kunikuzushi exclaimed. "These... these things..."
"Didn't you just say these were child's play for you?" Lucas egged her on. "Don't worry, this video is just to threaten Raiden Ei. The master copy will be yours to handle."
"But..." Kunikuzushi still seemed hesitant.
Though she often acted like a rebellious girl, she actually had no experience in that area.
Not to mention a "corruption" video, even a more "innocent" one would probably require some thought.
Seeing Kunikuzushi's hesitation, Lucas didn't waste any time. He picked up the box and prepared to close it, saying, "It seems your determination for revenge isn't strong enough. Let's just forget what I said earlier."
Just as the box was about to close, Kunikuzushi suddenly reached out, her fingers caught in the gap. The pain made her frown, but she resolutely said, "I... I'll do it."
Lucas seemed to have anticipated this. He hadn't used much force when closing the box, or else it would have snapped shut with a loud "smack," possibly breaking a few of the girl's fingers.
"I hope you're not just saying that," Lucas let go of the box. "So, how many of these are you planning to use?"
Kunikuzushi looked at the array of toys in front of her. It felt like a prisoner being asked by the executioner to choose from a pile of torture tools: "Pick a few of these."
"Ayaka..." Kunikuzushi seemed to remember something and muttered, "How many did she... use?"
"Fifteen," Lucas replied without hesitation.
"How do you remember that so clearly?" Kunikuzushi frowned. "Are you just bluffing?"
"How could I?" Lucas said seriously. "I kept track by marking '正' on her. Exactly three of them—I remember it clearly."
The "正" (zhèng) tally mark system is a traditional Chinese method for counting by drawing strokes. Each complete "正" character represents 5 counts, as it has 5 strokes:
Kunikuzushi fell silent for a moment before murmuring, "Then... I'll take thirty!"
Thirty? Double Ayaka's number?
Even Ip Man only fought ten at a time. You're practically outdoing him three times over.
"Now's not the time to show off," Lucas shook his head. "Using so many for your first time will be too much for your body."
"Don't underestimate me!" Kunikuzushi grabbed one of the toys and asked, "This... this one that looks like a pearl necklace. Does it go around the neck?"
"Pfft..."
This time, even Lucas couldn't help but nearly burst out laughing. Leaning close to Kunikuzushi's ear, he whispered, "This is..."
The girl's face grew redder and redder. She instinctively covered her behind and said in disbelief, "It... it won't fit. There's no way it can fit!"
"Don't underestimate the flexibility of the human body," Lucas took the string of beads from Kunikuzushi's hand. "Since this is the first one you grabbed, it must mean you're destined to start with it."
"Who's destined to start with anal beads?!" Kunikuzushi said with a complex expression. "Let me pick another one..."
"No need to change. It's just a matter of order. You'll use them all eventually," Lucas firmly pressed down on Kunikuzushi's shoulders. "It's starting now, my... actress."
"W-wait! I'm not ready yet!"
Kunikuzushi's screams echoed in the room, but Lucas wasn't worried about anyone hearing them. He had already soundproofed the room.
An uncut video lasting four and a half hours began its first second at this very moment.