Zumi remained seated on the couch — Carmella elegantly clinging to his right arm, Bia curled warmly into his left side like a loyal divine wolf.
Every girl in the room leaned forward. Some sat on the floor. Some stood pressed against the walls. Some perched on the armrests of chairs.
But all eyes were on him.
A single man. Twelve devoted women. And the beginning of an empire.
Zumi exhaled slowly… then spoke.
His voice was steady, deep, honest.
"In ten days… high school entrance exams begin."
Everyone froze.
Ana blinked. Jasmine raised a brow. Bethany tilted her head. Serafina smirked, already sensing this would be interesting.
Zumi continued:
"Growing up in the slums… I never had the money to enter high school. I couldn't support myself… so I just worked job after job."
Bia tightened her grip on him. Reina's chest tightened. Kasumi looked down quietly.
"But now… I need to get that education."
He glanced around the room, meeting every gaze.
"Well — I need the certificate. Because the future I'm building… requires something more than power."
Carmella brushed his cheek with her thumb. "My king speaking like a ruler…"
Zumi nodded.
"To take over the underworld of crime… yes, that's one goal. But to rule its heart — the economy, the businesses, the empire of New York City — I need the knowledge to control everything."
Every girl felt something tighten in their chest.
Admiration. Pride. Love.
Zumi straightened slightly.
"In ten days, after the exams… we move on the Umbra Court.
Victor Dragna will not meet me unless something forces his hand."
He looked at Carmella.
"And that's why I need you."
The Vampire Queen placed one hand over her heart.
"Speak the word, and it is done."
Zumi continued:
"Your family may be hidden from the public, but the top ten mafia families know exactly who you are. They know your seal. Your authority."
Carmella smirked. "They fear it."
"Exactly. I need you to send him a letter — one that hypes the rising Kogane family, and states that you personally stand behind us."
Every girl's eyes widened.
Bethany whispered, "That alone would shake the entire underworld…"
Zumi nodded.
"In that letter, demand a private meeting. Only two people may stand beside him: himself… and his daughter, Catherine Dragna."
Carmella didn't hesitate.
"Consider it done, my love. I will write it tonight."
Bethany nodded eagerly. "Mother writes letters like declarations of war — he won't dare refuse~"
Zumi shifted slightly, Carmella and Bia clinging closer.
"I've studied everything with Gia. Every subject, every possible exam question. And since the exams are standardized… all of you who will join me will take the same test."
He smiled faintly.
"Even without studying… I know all of you can pass."
A wave of blushes hit the room like a shockwave.
"But more importantly… now that all of you are System Characters, I can speak to you telepathically."
Hina gasped. Reina lifted a brow. Sakura's eyes sparkled. Jasmine's stoic mask cracked in surprise. Carmella smirked. Bethany nearly squealed.
Zumi continued:
"I can talk to one of you… or link all of your minds together."
He demonstrated:
— Zumi linked everyone's minds.
"Hello, everyone."
The girls jerked in surprise — not from fear, but awe.
Their responses came instantly, silently:
Hello, Zumi. Zumi! Master! Darling~ King. H-Hello… My love…
He released the link.
"I won't use it often. Linking all of you takes focus. But during the exam… it's perfect. If any of you don't understand a question, we share answers through thought."
Everyone nodded with understanding and respect.
"Next… training."
He scanned the room slowly.
"Everyone here is strong. Strong enough that any normal opponent wouldn't stand a chance."
Hina, Bia, Reina, Jasmine, and Carmella straightened with quiet pride.
"But the world we're stepping into… will be far heavier than anything you've faced."
His eyes sharpened.
"So train. Every day. For the next ten days. Never assume we are the strongest. There will always be someone stronger."
Serafina's dark aura flared in agreement.
"Well said, my king."
Zumi continued:
"Serafina — I want you to begin training Gia in Shadow Manipulation. You're the best teacher possible."
Serafina smirked darkly. "Oh, I'll take very good care of Gia~"
Gia immediately turned bright red.
Zumi continued:
"Ana — you will be learning martial arts from Reina. And Hina will join in sometimes as an instructor as well."
Reina placed a hand over her heart. "With pride."
Hina grinned and cracked her knuckles. "I'll make sure she learns fast."
"And now… the school group."
Every girl held her breath.
"Gia — you'll attend school with me. But I want you to find yourself an assistant. Use the Dojima connections. Find someone trustworthy and capable of fighting."
Gia bowed her head respectfully. "Yes, Zumi. I'll begin interviews immediately."
"Hina — you're coming too."
Sakura gasped, then squealed in joy. "My sister's going to school with me!"
Zumi smiled.
"And I should tell you all — Hina has ascended to godhood."
The room erupted.
"What?!"
"She WHAT—?!"
"Hina? A goddess?"
Hina shyly lifted her hand and activated a tiny burst of her dark-fire aura.
Her hair streaked red and purple. Her eyes glowed with divine flame.
Gasps filled the room.
Then she gently masked the aura, hair returning to silver-white.
Reina stepped close and hugged her tightly. "I'm so proud of you. Truly."
Carmella nodded slowly. "What a remarkable transformation…"
Zumi continued:
"Reina — you're also going."
Reina blinked. "Me? Back… to school?"
"Yes. With me."
Her heart nearly burst.
"Kathy — you're next."
Kathy froze, then smiled shyly. "O-okay…"
"Bethany — you as well."
Bethany clapped excitedly. "I get to go to human school?! This will be fun!"
"Ana — you too."
Ana nodded, determined.
"And Jasmine."
Jasmine inhaled slowly, giving a small nod of acceptance.
Zumi continued:
"When Catherine Dragna becomes a System Character, she'll join us there too."
Everyone murmured in surprise.
"In school, you won't always have the same classes. Stick together with whoever shares your lunch period. After school ends each day, meet in the gym and we'll go over everything together."
The girls nodded.
"And during school, while we operate normally… the Kogane shadow network begins spreading. Jonathan and Sebastian will start rumors of a rising mafia dynasty."
He turned to Gia.
"Which means… I need faculty allies. Gia — can you get Serafina, Carmella, and Bia hired as teachers?"
Gia's eyes widened — then she nodded proudly.
"I can do it."
Zumi pointed at each woman:
"Bia — gym teacher."
Bia smirked. "Oh, that'll be fun."
"Carmella — history."
The vampire queen smiled elegantly. "I will teach them real history."
"Serafina — literature."
Serafina flicked a strand of hair. "Those children have no idea the kind of poetry I'm about to unleash."
The entire room laughed.
A new era was forming…
And Zumi had just laid the foundation.
The moment Zumi finished laying out the school and empire plans, the entire room pulsed with an excited, chaotic, emotional energy.
For a few seconds, the women simply stared at him…
Then—
The room exploded.
Bia immediately threw both arms around his neck. "So I'm going to be a gym teacher… with you walking the same halls?"
Her voice dropped to a purr. "Zumi… you better visit me during class~"
Everyone laughed.
Serafina crossed her arms and smirked wickedly. "Oh yes… I'll be teaching literature." She leaned in. "Do you know how many love poems were written about the Monkey King? I might read them out loud to my class~"
The girls groaned. "SERAFINA—!" "Not fair!" "Don't flirt with the students!"
Serafina burst into laughter. "Relax. I only seduce one man in this lifetime."
She flicked Zumi's chin.
Carmella stepped forward next, bowing her head with queenly poise. "History… a perfect position. Students will learn my way."
Then her golden eyes warmed. "And I will see you every day in the morning, my king."
The room erupted in teasing shouts.
"Aaaah Carmella is blushing!" "She's totally excited!" "Zumi, you're making the vampire queen giddy!"
Carmella only smirked and kissed Zumi's cheek. "Let them tease. I know who I belong to."
When the excitement settled, the girls drifted toward Zumi one by one— drawn to him like gravity itself… asking silently for comfort, reassurance, closeness.
He opened his arms.
And they came.
Gia — the loyal hawk
She stepped in first, melting instantly against his chest. Her whole body relaxed like a sigh she'd been holding for years.
"I'll be your perfect right hand, Zumi…" she whispered.
He kissed her forehead. "You always are."
She trembled beautifully.
Hina — the new goddess
Hina walked into his embrace shyly, but once she was held… her arms tightened fiercely.
"I'll make you proud at school," she whispered.
"You already do," he answered softly.
Sakura — the shy archer
Sakura stepped forward next, eyes shimmering. She pressed herself into him hesitantly—
And Zumi wrapped his arms around her fully, gently.
She melted so hard she almost collapsed.
"T-Thank you… Zumi…"
Her tail (if she had one) would've wagged.
Ana — the fighter learning to love
Ana clung to him with quiet strength. The tough exterior broke the moment she felt his warmth.
"…I won't disappoint you."
"You never have," he told her.
Kathy — the sweetheart
She rushed into his arms, burying her face into his chest.
"I'm so excited for school with you…" she blushed.
Zumi brushed her hair tenderly.
Kasumi — soft but fierce
Kasumi hugged him like she'd been waiting all night.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"…I'm happy you want me with you."
"I always did," he said.
Jasmine — the stoic who finally opened
Her hug lasted the longest.
She melted into him as if the weight she'd carried her whole life finally slid off her shoulders.
She whispered:
"Thank you… for choosing me."
Zumi held her tighter.
"I always would."
Aurora — the devoted Blaze Whisperer
She jumped into his arms like an excited kitten, nuzzling into his chest.
"Masterrr~! Warm!!"
Everyone laughed as he patted her head until her tail practically wagged off her body.
Reina — the Black Flame
Reina approached quietly… but when Zumi opened his arms, she stepped into them with a soft gasp.
Her fierce heart softened completely.
She hugged him with trembling fingers.
"…I'll follow you anywhere."
"And I'll protect you everywhere," he whispered.
Her blush could've lit the whole room.
Serafina — the Goddess of Darkness
She didn't melt.
She collapsed into his arms with a sinful smile.
"Mmm… I could stay here for centuries."
He kissed her forehead.
"Then stay as long as you want."
She practically purred.
Carmella — the Vampire Queen
She stepped up like royalty—
But the moment she was in his arms, she turned into warmth and devotion.
She wrapped around him like she belonged there.
"My king…"
"My queen," he whispered back.
Her breath hitched.
Bethany — the Princess of Shadows
She hopped into his arms with zero hesitation, hugging him tightly and burying her face into his neck.
"I missed you sooo much!"
He spun her once just to make her giggle.
Before they knew it—it was nearly 4:00 a.m.
Carmella & Bethany
They kissed Zumi goodbye — both on the lips and the forehead — and promised:
"We will return tomorrow night… stronger, and ready."
Then they slipped into the shadows and returned home.
Reina
She hugged Zumi tightly kissed him softly and whispered:
"Goodnight… my king."
Then returned to her room in the hotel.
The rest of the girls dispersed. Goodnight kisses. Warm smiles. Soft touches. Promises of tomorrow.
And then—
Zumi, Bia, Hina, Gia, Sakura, Kasumi, Ana, Kathy, Jasmine, and Aurora all headed home.
Kaito greeted them at the door, bowing respectfully.
"Welcome home, Commander."
Zumi patted his shoulder.
"Get some rest soon."
Inside, exhaustion hit everyone at once.
And despite every girl having her own bed…
They all climbed into one.
One massive bed.
Dozens of blankets.
Warm bodies snuggling in.
Soft breaths.
Heads resting on Zumi's shoulders, chest, arms, stomach—
They refused to sleep anywhere else. They all wanted to sleep with him. Together. As one family.
And Zumi just smiled softly and wrapped his arms around them.
Content.
Calm.
Loved.
Protected.
The night ended with a peaceful silence…
A silence before the storm of the coming ten days.
The Kogane Family slept— all tangled together around their king.