"What kind of act are you putting on now?"
Eriri walked up to Kyoko and unabashedly looked her up and down.
The white lace semi-transparent negligee, except for the crucial areas, revealed everything else either vaguely or outright. It looked just like erotic lingerie.
Combined with Kyoko's outstanding figure, the whole scene was practically dripping with seduction.
But Eriri remained completely unaffected. She was long past the stage where mere physical allure could tempt her.
Of course, if Arifureta appeared before her wearing something like that after enlarging her body, Eriri would at least have to make her replenish fluids a few times.
"Ara ara, I thought you'd like this. Chika-chan said you really enjoy playing with her body~"
Kyoko had no intention of avoiding Eriri's gaze. On the contrary, she even puffed out her full chest and boldly presented her charms in front of Eriri.
"Uh..."
Eriri was a bit at a loss for words. After all, what Kyoko said was true—her intimate interactions with Chika weren't limited to just that initial visit to collect benefits.
What surprised her even more was that Chika had told Kyoko about such private matters.
"Alright, get dressed. You're nowhere near seductive enough to tempt me."
Eriri didn't dwell on the topic. After giving Kyoko another casual glance, she picked a random chair in the room and sat down.
Kyoko wasn't disappointed by Eriri's indifference. Her little stunt was only meant to leave a strong impression on Eriri, nothing more.
She then turned and pulled out a light blue spaghetti-strap dress from the wardrobe and began changing in front of Eriri.
Eriri, unfazed, watched as Kyoko removed her negligee, revealing her bare body, and then dressed herself piece by piece.
"Now that you're dressed, let's go deal with the King of the Night. I have more important things to do afterward."
Once Kyoko was done changing, Eriri got straight to the point about their next move.
Kyoko's previously cheerful expression instantly dimmed at Eriri's words. She knew the King of the Night would soon disappear from this world forever.
Though it was her own request, now that the moment was near, she couldn't help but feel a bit sad.
Over the past few days, she had explained the chat group to the King of the Night and told him about her request for Eriri to bring him true death.
The King of the Night didn't resent her in the slightest. Instead, he looked forward to the death that awaited him.
Of course, he wasn't entirely convinced that Eriri could truly kill him. After all, he was an immortal, undead being.
But he sincerely hoped she could succeed. That way, he wouldn't have to force any of his old friends to do it.
After a moment of silence, Kyoko managed to smile again, though her expression was somewhat forced.
"Alright. The King of the Night has been eagerly awaiting your arrival. I'll take you to him now."
She walked over to open the bedroom door, ready to lead Eriri to his location.
Although Kyoko worked for the King of the Night, they didn't live together. They only met during important occasions.
Just as she passed by Eriri, however, her left wrist was suddenly grabbed.
"No need for all that trouble. I'll take you directly."
Without waiting for a response, Eriri used her space transfer ability.
In the next instant, Kyoko realized they were no longer in her bedroom, but inside a pet shop.
Kyoko found the pet shop vaguely familiar—understandably so, since she had paid special attention to this place before.
After all, the King of the Night usually worked at this very pet shop, and it was also the exact destination Kyoko had planned to take Eriri to.
...
"So this is teleportation? Amazing and convenient!"
Through that brief experience, Kyoko finally got a genuine feel for Eriri's strength. Previously, she had only witnessed snippets of Eriri's power through memory clips in the chat group.
While this ability was nothing noteworthy to Eriri, it was already a power far beyond Kyoko's reach.
Kyoko knew that the King of the Night could also teleport, but his version was incomparable to Eriri's.
He could only teleport through black mist, with numerous restrictions, and each move took five seconds to complete.
Eriri, however, responded indifferently to Kyoko's amazement.
"You've already seen World Gates. To still be surprised by something as trivial as teleportation?"
"I mean, sure, but this felt way more direct. Unlike when using a Cross-Realm Talisman—it just felt like walking through a door..." Kyoko said helplessly with a shrug.
She had only been in the chat group a few days, but thanks to the welcome Red Packet Eriri had sent, she had earned several million points.
So a Cross-Realm Talisman, which cost a mere thousand points, was well within her budget.
She hadn't just stayed in her world these past few days—she'd used a Cross-Realm Talisman to visit another world.
Specifically, the world where Chika and Kaguya resided. Among all the group members, Chika was the one she got along with best.
So for her first cross-world experience, she chose to visit Chika.
It was during that visit that she learned from Chika just how much Eriri enjoyed playing with her body.
Eriri didn't respond to Kyoko's chatter. Her attention had been captured by something else.
Seeing Eriri ignoring her, Kyoko didn't say more and walked deeper into the pet shop.
Eriri stood in front of a row of iron cages housing various pets. Right in front of her, inside one cage, was a tiny kitten that looked like it had only recently been weaned.
The kitten had pure white fur and a pair of heterochromatic eyes—one blue and one gold—sparkling like gemstones.
In terms of appearance, it was undoubtedly the most beautiful kitten in the entire shop, and also the most beautiful one Eriri had ever seen.
Normally, such a stunning kitten would be highly sought after—often reserved before even being weaned, ready to go home the moment it was.
But unfortunately, this kitten appeared very weak, seemingly on the verge of death. Its beautiful eyes were due to heterochromia iridum, a result of a condition.
That was likely the main reason why no one had bought her yet.
Right now, the kitten lay weakly at the front of the cage, stretching out one paw with all her strength toward Eriri.
Her heterochromatic eyes stared intently at Eriri, as if pleading to be taken away.
The kitten was a female—that much Eriri had instantly recognized upon seeing her.
Otherwise, no matter how cute the kitten looked, Eriri wouldn't have spared it much attention.
After all, to someone like Eriri, any creature had the potential to gain sentience, and she had zero interest in a potential male cat.
Looking at the little kitten desperately reaching out to her, Eriri did, indeed, feel a tug at her heart.
Before entering high school, Eriri had never owned a pet.
After Reina and Shea became her family, Eriri had become utterly enamored with Reina's fluffy fox ears and tail, often hugging and petting them. She also frequently pinched Shea's rabbit ears, which only made her even less inclined to consider getting a pet.
Of course, her winged Flügel companion didn't count.
But now, seeing this little kitten, Eriri couldn't help but feel a strong urge to adopt her.
Eriri was not one to hesitate. She immediately decided to take the kitten with her when she left.
With her mind made up, Eriri reached out her right hand and grasped the kitten's tiny paw. A soft, childish meow sounded from the cage.
Just seconds after the kitten meowed, an unfamiliar male voice spoke from the side.
"You seem to really like this little kitten? Unfortunately, her health isn't great, so we don't plan to sell her."
Eriri wasn't surprised by the voice. She had already noticed the person approaching.
"I do like this little kitten. I've already decided to take her," Eriri replied with a nod.
But as she said this, she didn't even bother looking up at the man. She continued gently holding the kitten's paw.
She then reached over, opened the cage, and picked up the little kitten.
"As for your shop's plans—what does that have to do with me~"
Only then did Eriri turn to look at the man who had spoken earlier.
He was a gray-haired young man with a ponytail, yet his eyes were utterly lifeless, like those of someone already on death's doorstep.
This man was none other than the King of the Night, while Kyoko stood quietly behind him.
When Eriri brought Kyoko to the pet shop, the King of the Night had been in the back preparing breakfast for the animals, which was why he hadn't greeted them right away.
Kyoko had just gone to fetch him.
Upon seeing Eriri's appearance, the King of the Night's usually placid gaze momentarily flickered with light—but that light soon faded.
"Such a willful customer," he said with a faint smile.
Knowing Eriri's identity, he didn't dwell on the matter and got straight to the point.
"So, how do you plan to grant me true death?"
"Wanting to die is easy. There, you're already dead."
Eriri had no intention of dragging out the conversation. If not for the kitten, she might have simply followed Kyoko to him and ended it right there.
But now wasn't too late either.
As her words fell, the King of the Night's body instantly turned into particles of light and vanished completely—without even a chance to utter final words like in the original story.
Though this was also a Word Command, its effect was far beyond what any loli necromancer could muster.
"Alright, Kyoko, I've done what I promised. I have other things to do now, so I'll be leaving."
Having finished off the King of the Night, Eriri didn't plan to stick around.
Perhaps comforting Kyoko at this moment could easily earn her favor—but Eriri had no such intention.
If she really wanted to earn Kyoko's favor, there were countless ways to do it. There was no need to take advantage of her vulnerable moment.
Just as she was about to walk out of the pet shop, Eriri suddenly paused, turned around, and looked at Kyoko, who still stood in place. She lifted the kitten in her arms.
"Oh right, I'm taking this little one with me too. Be sure to pay the shop owner for her later, okay~"
With that, Eriri turned and left the pet shop, carrying the little kitten.
Kyoko didn't try to stop her or chase after her. Watching Eriri disappear at the entrance, she felt an emptiness in her heart.
The King of the Night's death had left her feeling hollow, but not entirely hopeless.
It felt like losing a beloved elder—sorrowful, yes, but not enough to break her spirit.
Her emotions were complicated: a mixture of relief that the King of the Night's wish had come true, and a touch of regret for having asked Eriri to kill him in the first place.
Of course, she didn't blame Eriri. This was her own request, and if blame was due, it rested with herself.
Now that his death was a reality, there was no point in second-guessing.
With a sigh, Kyoko prepared to leave the pet shop.
But after taking just two steps, she suddenly remembered Eriri's request.
The old Kyoko probably would have just left and never bothered paying for the kitten.
But now, she felt she couldn't let Eriri down.
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