Unfortunately, given his current situation, all Nagami could do was daydream. He didn't have a single drop of energy in his body.
How could he possibly snatch a Herrscher Core from someone as seasoned as the original Herrscher, Welt?
Let's not forget: the First Herrscher's core contains the souls of over 300,000 people who perished in the Berlin Honkai outbreak.
With that many souls backing him, Welt had even freed himself from the erosion of the Honkai Will.
Even if CC used her Geass on him, it'd be completely useless—unless the true power source of Geass was switched back to the Alaya from Lelouch's original world.
Otherwise, it'd never work.
Besides, using Geass on someone like Welt just to steal a core... that went against Nagami's personal code.
———————————————————————
['Unnamed User' has joined the chat group]
[Kotori Itsuka has joined the chat group]
[Homura Akemi has joined the chat group]
[Accelerator has joined the chat group]
[Wakaba Hiiro (or Spider) has joined the chat group]
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Just as Nagami was deep in thought about what to do next, the group chat's invitations finally started getting responses.
The notifications pulled him out of his foggy thoughts.
Since pondering the future wasn't going anywhere, he turned his attention to the chat group instead.
Except for the first one, he recognized—or at least knew of—everyone else.
According to the chat group's manual, everyone could set their own username.
By default, it would be their "true name"—not necessarily their legal name or what others called them, but the name they themselves accepted in their heart.
Judging from the username "Wakaba Himekura (or Spider)," Nagami guessed this little spider hadn't been in her new world for very long.
As for the first user… what, were they a newborn who hadn't formed a sense of self yet?
———————————————————————
In the Itsuka household, Kotori had just returned from Ratatoskr. She was about to remove her black ribbon when she suddenly froze.
With a swift motion, she removed the white ribbon she'd already switched into and re-tied the black one.
Her expression shifted from her usual innocent smile to something far more serious.
Her brows furrowed tightly.
She had officially switched back to Commander Mode.
———————————————————————
[Kotori Itsuka]: Spirit?
[Nagami]: Not bad. You're the most well-composed one of the bunch.
———————————————————————
Nagami replied with an old meme no one else would understand, amused by himself.
———————————————————————
[Nagami]: Also, I'm not a Spirit. I'm just Nagami.
———————————————————————
On the other side, CC sat up in bed, supporting herself with her arms as she lazily brushed aside her disheveled hair, revealing the pale curve of her neck.
She walked over to the computer, launched her favorite game, and cracked her knuckles.
"Collector? Prepare to die!"
Now that she'd mostly adjusted to the strange sensation of having two bodies, the heightened sensory awareness excited her.
'I'm invincible now.'
The sudden addition of another body didn't bother Nagami in the slightest.
Dual consciousness felt as natural as breathing to him.
Playing a game while chatting? Child's play.
———————————————————————
[Accelerator]: Tch. What the hell is this? Another damn research experiment?
———————————————————————
Lying in his wrecked, battle-scarred bedroom, the strongest esper in Academy City had been resting with his eyes closed. But now, his face twisted with irritation.
Looks like Accelerator mistook the chat group for some new research project.
But after hitting send, he realized something odd. He should've had "Vector Reflection" on at all times, right?
Since when did those bastards invent something that could bypass his reflection?
His androgynously beautiful face slowly returned to calm, but a flicker of surprise lingered in his crimson eyes.
———————————————————————
[Nagami]: Hey there, Accelerator. This thing is way beyond what your little lab rats could cook up~
———————————————————————
Nagami fired off a taunt without hesitation. He had zero fear of Accelerator. What could a world-bound lolicon possibly do to him?
He had a weird sense of confidence, largely because the chat group had never explained how the previous group owners had died.
———————————————————————
[Wakaba Himekura (or Spider)]: Huh? Huh?? Chat group? Wait, is this my cheat ability?!
[Nagami]: Bingo. That's your golden finger. 🎯
———————————————————————
...But it's mine, not yours, Nagami thought silently.
Still, he had to admit—the spider girl's immediate acceptance of the absurd was peak otaku behavior.
Her adaptability far surpassed that of ordinary people.
———————————————————————
[Homura Akemi]: ...Kyubey? Is that you?
———————————————————————
The girl who had been about to undo her braids paused, instinctively putting on her glasses.
Her pale violet eyes scanned her surroundings, and her delicate hand clutched the gem containing her soul.
In her experience, anything this unexpected was almost certainly the work of that cute but damnable white creature.
But why… why did it only happen in this cycle?
———————————————————————
[Nagami]: Kyubey? What's that? Sounds like non-burnable trash.
———————————————————————
Realizing he might have just insulted actual trash, Nagami quickly put his hands together and apologized sincerely toward the trash can by the door.
To avoid having to explain the same things to future newcomers over and over, Nagami cleverly decided to write a group announcement.
With his thoughts acting as a keyboard and the added advantage of two bodies working in sync, he typed at lightning speed.
Just in case any new members came from non-technological civilizations, he even included helpful annotations and explanations for the terms he used.
———————————————————————
[Group Announcement]
———————————————————————
[Nagami]: Alright, everyone, please read the announcement above. What you've encountered is about as likely as your world being destroyed in the next second.
It's a miracle beyond miracles that brought you all together here! Cherish this connection.
———————————————————————
After posting the announcement, Nagami stood up and walked over to the computer.
CC had already finished the daily quest of killing the Collector and had switched the game to It Takes Two.
For Nagami, this game was now a one-player co-op.
He sat directly in CC's lap, leaned into a soft, cushiony spot, and got comfortable.
With two slender people, even a high-end gaming chair had enough room.
'Hoh this is a really nice use...'
———————————————————————
['Unnamed User']: Is this… real…?
———————————————————————
Huh?
A voice message?
That newcomer actually sent a voice chat in the group.
———————————————————————
[Nagami]: It's reall, and it's absolutely free.
[Nagami]: By the way, you don't have a name?
['Unnamed User']: I… don't have something like that…
———————————————————————
This time it came as a text.
Judging from the response, she was likely someone with a tragic past.
Nagami, who had watched more anime than he could count, immediately picked up on the red flag.
———————————————————————
[Nagami]: Forgive me for asking, but… would you mind sending a photo? If you're uncomfortable, I apologize and won't press further.
———————————————————————
His tone was gentle and respectful. He could already tell this girl might be walking a tragic path in her own world.
———————————————————————
['Unnamed User']: …Okay.
['Unnamed User']: Like this?
[Photo]
———————————————————————
Nagami stared at the screen, stunned by the ultra-HD, crystal-clear image.
The background showed a recovery pod filled with translucent liquid.
The girl inside wore a pure white garment—something between a medical gown and a restraining suit.
The collar was slightly open, revealing a glimpse of her delicate collarbone and milk-white skin.
Her crimson eyes were filled with innocence and vulnerability. Long, curled lashes trembled softly, and a deep unease was etched into her brow.
Her long, flowing pink hair cascaded down her slender back like a waterfall in motion.
A ray of sunlight filtered through a gap in the lab ceiling, casting a soft, rosy glow across her pale face—it was a heartbreaking kind of beauty.
Nagami recognized her instantly.
———————————————————————
[Nagami]: Do you want a name? If you don't mind, I'd love to give you one.
———————————————————————
He sent a voice message this time, his tone as gentle and tender as humanly possible.
———————————————————————
['Unnamed User']: Is… that okay…?
———————————————————————
Her voice trembled like a small, hopeful animal afraid of being abandoned. She replied in voice as well.
———————————————————————
[Nagami]: Of course it is.
———————————————————————
His answer was instant and filled with warmth.
———————————————————————
[Nagami]: Your name… is Yuzuriha Inori.
———————————————————————