Chapter 14: Magic Line
"Weekends are way too short…"
Takumi let out his usual weekend lament, helplessly slinging his school bag over his shoulder as he trudged downstairs. At the same moment, his little tyrant of a sister emerged from her room on the first floor, wearing the bright red school uniform.
The Hoshino household actually consisted of two separate apartments. The upper floor was a compact 40m² one-bedroom unit, while the lower floor was a spacious 98m² three-bedroom, two-living-room layout. After knocking through the floors and doing a full renovation, Takumi claimed the 30m² bedroom upstairs for himself, with the remaining 10m² turned into a storage room—his secret treasure vault filled with all kinds of "very special" collectibles.
Downstairs were the three bedrooms for their parents, his sister, and an empty guest room, plus the living room, dining area, kitchen, bathroom, balcony, and so on.
This house was the greatest asset the Hoshino family owned. Bought more than ten years ago with a massive loan, it now felt like a prophetic decision. Takumi genuinely admired his parents' boldness back then—today, that same amount of money wouldn't even buy his bedroom. The more the country "regulates" the housing market, the higher prices climb. Some officials proudly call it "the effect of regulation"—otherwise it would have risen even more violently. Believe it or not, he chose to believe.
Little tyrant was born to wear anything well. Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail, secured with a tiny crown-shaped artificial gem hairpin.
Her "Empress Crown".
Mandatory equipment for going out.
Empress Aura +1.
"Empress, you didn't forget your cafeteria card, right?"
Takumi kindly reminded her. Both of them ate at the school cafeteria at noon. The middle school had far stricter rules than the high school—no leaving campus to eat outside. Mostly because if anything happened, the school would be held responsible.
"Would I, the Emperor, be so forgetful? So noisy. I'll lock the palace gate. You go to the garage and bring out the Imperial Carriage."
"Yes, Your Majesty. As you command."
Feeling slightly cheerful, Takumi hummed a little tune as he headed downstairs. While walking, he pulled out his phone, opened Line, and quickly logged in.
If anyone peeked at his contact list, they'd notice something unusual.
Besides the usual "My Friends", "Family", and "Blacklist" categories, there was one extra folder:
My Girlfriends
He tapped it.
The profile picture inside was none other than the heroine of the 2D world Kankin Shoujo [Re:Union]—Nao, the girl he had already completed the second step of mana replenishment with.
The chat window looked completely normal at first glance.
But the moment Takumi tapped the little video camera icon—
The phone screen instantly displayed the figure of Nao from that parallel 2D world.
She was sleeping peacefully, wearing a pure white nightgown that contrasted beautifully with her snow-white skin. Golden hair spilled across the sheets like molten sunlight.
Takumi smiled softly, closed the video, and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
Just yesterday—Saturday—he had suddenly received the mysterious Demonic Engraving.
It granted him the ability to enter 2D worlds.
By performing the trilogy of mana replenishment with the heroines—kissing, Fellatio, and rolling in the sheets—he could gain magical power.
There were various restrictions, but… it was undeniably an incredible ability.
The mana he earned could also be used powerfully in the real world.
Takumi was a fake otaku.
"Fake" not only because he didn't stay holed up at home 24/7, but also because—now that he possessed the power to cross into 2D worlds—he had no intention of completely abandoning reality.
After all, he still had very deep bonds in this world.
Even though he hadn't yet completed the third step of mana replenishment with Nao,
his final act of gentleness had unexpectedly moved her.
She had been fully conquered—heart and soul.
While he didn't receive the third-step mana reward,
he gained many other benefits.
First, the Kankin Shoujo [Re:Union] icon on his E: drive vanished—merged into his Line.
From now on, he could observe everything about Nao through this contact.
He could also chat with her via messages to her phone's email inbox,
and—by consuming mana—he could physically enter her world through Line.
This consumption was the same as the daily recovery type; it would automatically refill after 24 hours.
In the future, every time he conquered a beloved heroine from a 2D world,
she would be added to the "My Girlfriends" folder.
And when he reached three different worlds with a total of five or more girls…
there would be some mysterious additional benefit.
The Demonic Engraving had refused to explain what it was, claiming his current mana level was too low.
Speaking of mana level—it was now directly linked to his Line level.
This Line account had been newly registered yesterday.
It cost him 24 mana points and a resonance with the Demonic Engraving.
Even if company went bankrupt one day, this account would still belong to him alone—until the day he died.
"Magic power has already recovered…
During lunch break today, should I try meeting Nao through this?
Maybe have a date… eat together?"
While daydreaming, Takumi pushed out His Majesty's "Imperial Carriage" from the garage.
A bright Amii-red electric scooter.
He hopped on familiarly, rode to the building entrance, and gave a quick honk.
His sister came out, sat on the back seat, and lightly wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Depart!"
Takumi called out dramatically, shifted the electric bike to yellow gear 2, and began cruising at a steady pace.
He greeted the security uncle at the gate as usual, then headed toward school.
His sister's middle school and his high school were on the same road, only about 300 meters apart, so they often went to and from school together.
Quite a few people who didn't know the truth envied the sight.
"Red light."
Takumi braked gently and stopped behind the line.
He turned his head.
"Forgot to ask—Empress, is your foot completely fine now?"
"It's fine. Even if a few punks show up, I can kick them flying like always."
"Please don't casually kick people flying…"
"Imperial Brother, that Obasan officer seems to be coming toward us."
Takumi followed his sister's gaze.
Indeed, a female traffic officer—sunglasses, cap, nice figure—was walking straight toward them.
"You two."
Takumi instantly grew nervous.
"Um… Officer, did I break some traffic rule? Do electric bikes need helmets now?"
Hearing herself called "Obasan", the officer's forehead vein twitched violently.
However, seeing Takumi's still somewhat childish face and his sister's middle school uniform, she realized they were students and held back.
"Electric bikes are non-motor vehicles—no helmet required.
But the rule is clear: no carrying passengers.
The maximum is one child around five years old."
"There's such a rule?
I've been taking my sister to school on this thing for two years and no one ever said anything…"
"The regulation has existed for a long time.
Since you're both students, you should be even more careful about safety.
This is your first offense, so I'll let it slide this time.
But next time I catch you, there will be a fine—and possible confiscation of the vehicle."
"Uh… understood."
Takumi looked utterly defeated.
Looked like he'd have to switch back to that junky bicycle from now on…
After the officer waved them through, Takumi rode past the intersection.
His sister muttered from behind:
"That official was so arrogant just now."
"Official…? You mean the police onee-san officer?"
"Hmph. Onee-san? More like Obasan.
Too bad she's not one of my subjects—otherwise I'd have her fired immediately.
So many cars were carrying people, yet she only stopped us."
"Actually… I already knew about that rule.
But this is the first time someone seriously enforced it."
They reached the middle school.
Takumi stopped.
His sister hopped off.
"Don't listen to that female official.
After school, you must come pick your Emperor back to the palace."
"As you command, Your Majesty the Empress."
Takumi waved casually, then cranked the electric bike to its maximum red gear and sped off toward the high school like a red lightning bolt.
After parking at the school gate, he immediately heard someone calling his name.
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