There were so many holes in that statement that the snow-fox didn't even know where to start roasting him.
How could a Seraph possibly be the Demon King's subordinate? You're totally taking me for an idiot, right?
She glared at Riku, broadcasting her displeasure.
"Seraphs are enemies of the Demon King," the snow-fox said in the politest way she could manage subtext: don't try to flimflam me with basics like that.
"Who said angels can't serve under a Demon King? The angels on my payroll number well over a million," Riku replied, airy as ever.
'Over a million, huh. Maybe draft your tall tales before you tell them?' Hearing that, the snow-fox couldn't help rolling her eyes. Sure, her master was strong, but why did he have to be such a troll and such a braggart?
"And that whole 'angels and Demon Kings are enemies' thing? Ancient history. The two sides are practically neighbours now," Riku went on, teasing. "Your intel's out of date."
That made the snow-fox swallow a retort and reach for something more solid.
"Master, you just used holy light, didn't you? And at least at the Seraph class. How could a Demon King use holy light?!" she shot back. 'You're obviously a Seraph. Why keep pretending to be a Demon King? Aren't you afraid of falling from grace?'
"These days, what's a Demon King who can't use holy light, if not a deadweight?" Riku said, utterly calm.
"All right, Snow-Fox, stop embarrassing me out here. I don't keep pets who embarrass me like this," he added, giving her head a light tap, face full of disdain.
'Who wants to be your pet anyway!' The snow-fox muttered, aggrieved. Ugh, she really wanted to bite this shameless master to death.
"Also, 'snow-fox' is just my species. My name is Aoyuki. Some 'master' you are still haven't even asked my name!" She stared at Riku, annoyed.
"Pet names are whatever," Riku said offhandedly.
"…" Her fist clenched; the corner of her mouth twitched. She really wanted to plant one square in his face.
"Be good, cut it out, and go sleep in my room," Riku said next, ruffling her hair with a grin. He didn't know why teasing a little fox yōkai felt so delightful, but he couldn't stop.
No wonder people love petting cats and can't stop; petting a fox yōkai must scratch the same itch.
'Who's cutting it out? …Wait. His room?' Aoyuki's complexion ran the gamut from angry red to shy red, but red either way.
"Um, Master… you're not actually going to… do something inappropriate with me, are you?" Aoyuki's face flushed; she was both shy and flustered, her voice trembling.
If Riku did have that sort of intention, she really couldn't resist. They were going to be living together, after all; sooner or later it might…
"Would you look at that, you really do have the makings of an errand-fox. I never said anything of the sort," Riku said with a smile.
"Uh… then let's not," Aoyuki answered awkwardly, realising she'd been toyed with again and, this time, secretly relieved.
She did like Riku. But doing that after knowing him for only a day? She wasn't mentally ready.
After that, Riku stopped teasing her.
Once Aoyuki understood that he really didn't have that kind of idea about her, she relaxed and started cultivating. With the Sesshōseki purified, her training speed was downright scary; Aoyuki was over the moon, she literally couldn't stop.
Ring-ring!
Riku's phone suddenly chimed.
"Hello, Ms Machida, what's up?" he asked, picking up as cool as ever.
"Kurashō-sensei, we've found an illustrator for Devil's Interlude. Do you have time tomorrow? If possible, could we meet? It's easier to discuss in person," Machida Sonoko said, nervous yet expectant.
No one knew Kurashō-sensei's true face to this day. She'd suggested meeting largely out of curiosity, and she wasn't alone; millions of fans felt the same.
"A meeting? …Sure," Riku pondered a moment, then agreed.
"Eh, really?" Machida blurted, surprised.
"Of course. You decide the time and place; just let me know," Riku said casually.
"Y-yes! Got it!" Machida replied, delighted.
"Oh, right, Ms Machida, I've finished Volume 1 of Between the Little Garden. I'll bring the manuscript along tomorrow. The illustrations are done, too," Riku added, remembering.
In truth, the draft had been finished days ago, but Riku had been giving Sagiri time to draw.
Thinking of how ruthlessly picky Sagiri was about her own art, how she insisted on producing illustrations cute enough to match the work, Riku couldn't help the faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Ha! Already?!" On the other end, Machida sounded like she'd just heard something unbelievable and cried out on the spot.
"Master, don't make phone calls while I'm gathering energy!" At Machida Sonoko's shriek over the line, Aoyuki was jolted awake, her yōki thrown into disorder. She looked at Riku with aggrieved eyes.
"Tch. What a troublesome pet." Riku pulled the phone from his ear and curled his lip.
'Pfft! Disturb me at a critical moment, then blame me for it? I, this fox, have never seen such shamelessness!' Aoyuki ground her teeth at Riku. 'Brutal, unscrupulous master, just you wait. When I have a nine tails, I'll make this nasty seraph rue it. I'll bite you till you cannot function. Let it be known this fox has a temper!'
Aoyuki did not know that this wish would, in time, come true, only not as she imagined. Instead of making Riku unable to function, she ended up making him very pleased.
For now, though he could have thrown up a soundproof barrier, Riku simply stepped outside.
"Um, Mr Kuangshao, did you really mean it? Volume One is really finished?" Machida Sonoko felt as if she were hallucinating and asked again to confirm. 'Damn, no, who is this? I don't know any Kuangshao who's this diligent. The real Kuangshao should be a master of slacking, a shameless author who ignores deadlines! Begone, fiend. Speak, who are you, truly!'
"Of course it's done. I've no reason to lie. If you don't believe me, you can see for yourself tomorrow," Riku rolled his eyes. "Do I look like the type who slacks off…?"
He, a hardworking writer who sits at his computer and agonises over every word, why does everyone insist on calling him a slacker? Sigh. People's hearts just aren't what they used to be.
Riku's musings were the sort that make people want to mail him razor blades.
"A-ahem, I trust you, Mr Kuangshao," Machida forced out, fighting the pain in her chest. 'If you're not a slacker, who is!'
"Please be sure to bring the manuscript tomorrow," she said cautiously.
"Mm. That's that, then. I've got something else to do, so I'm hanging up." Riku spoke casually, ended the call, and slid the phone into his pocket.
"Has Mr Kuangshao started doing drugs? No, I have to talk to him tomorrow. Drugs are bad for your health," Machida muttered on the other end, questioning reality.
After reminding Aoyuki of a few things, Riku left the house again and returned to Tokyo's Ashikaga Ward.
…
"Big brother, do you meet a woman outside?" Riku had just come home when Shiro, who was watching anime, turned her head and spoke.
"Uh… why do you say that?" Riku broke into a cold sweat. It shouldn't be. Ever since seven years ago, when the little Shiro smelled a girl's scent on him, he had made sure to erase any fragrance.
In that instant, Shiro-chan's gaze turned razor-sharp as she looked up at him.
"You've been going out a lot these last few days. And you've been coming home very late," Shiro said quietly.
Riku gave a wry smile. This felt like the prelude to a crash.
Well, fair enough. Since confirming his relationship with Kei-chan, he had been spending most evenings on dates, glued to her side.
Today was more obvious still; he had spent the entire day with Sora. Maybe Sagiri would not notice anything unusual, but Shiro was different. Her IQ and EQ were high, and she was the girl who had been by his side the longest in this world.
"Shiro, when did you first notice?" Riku stroked her silver hair and chose to be frank.
That sentence was as good as an admission.
"Seven years ago," Shiro replied calmly, to his surprise. "From the day you came home late with the scent of a woman, no, a girl on you, I took note. Also, you never sleep together with me."
"Uh… so I was exposed from the start," Riku said, chagrined.
"Since you did not want to talk about it, I did not plan to ask. That was the original plan," Shiro said, shaking her head. "But you've been spending less and less time with me."
"Sorry." Riku rubbed his nose.
"You don't need to apologise. I am jealous," Shiro stated plainly. "You are a demon king. It's normal for a demon king to keep a harem. I will not stop you."
It was a shocking line to hear from the mouth of a girl.
"But I don't like it when you hide everything from me." Shiro's gold-crimson eyes fixed on him. Her face was as expressionless as ever, but Riku could tell she was utterly serious.
"Shiro, you're very understanding," Riku said, rubbing his cheek against hers. "I won't keep things from you anymore."
"Then tell me how many women you've found outside," Shiro said again. In that moment, Shiro-chan's gaze sharpened once more, carrying the air of the main wife.
"Actually, Kei-chan and I made it official," Riku said, rubbing his face. "Also, seven years ago, I adopted another younger sister named Sora. What happened to that child was tragic. Her personality is a bit willful. Considering that, I didn't bring her back here; I left her in Chiba City. As for the rest, for now there's nothing."
"So that's how it is for now… looks like there are quite a few women who are ambiguously involved with you, huh, Onii-san." Shiro looked at Riku and, unusually, let out a sigh.
"That's about it." Riku rubbed his face, feeling the air turn a little awkward in the end; the only relationship he'd actually defined was with Kei. Most of the rest were merely ambiguous; some didn't even reach that level.
"As expected of a Demon King," Shiro commented with a trace of grievance.
"What about Sora? You're not planning to bring her over here?" Shiro asked.
"The web of connections over there is already set. And Sora isn't as understanding as you are. If she learned the truth, she definitely wouldn't take it calmly. I haven't told her who I really am, either," Riku said helplessly. "Right now, only you and Kei know my real identity."
Of course, there was also a certain under-disciplined snow-fox yōkai. Though that one had somehow decided he was a Seraph.
"I see. Then forget it, just take care of yourself, Onii-chan." Hearing this, Shiro merely nodded slightly; she didn't press the issue.
Although Shiro cared a little about Sora, the girl Riku had deliberately taken in, she wasn't going to force Riku to do anything.
"Lastly, there's one more thing I want to ask," Shiro said, eyes sharpening again, face very serious.
"Kei and you did that thing?" Shiro abruptly asked something blunt and adult-only; Riku choked on the drink he'd just sipped.
"In this world, I haven't done anything like that with anyone. With Kei we've only… kissed," Riku said, rolling his eyes.
"Knew it, so that just means you've got plenty of women in other worlds," Shiro said with dawning comprehension, giving Riku a plaintive look.
"Shiro, you being this sharp makes things hard for me," Riku said, rubbing her head helplessly.
"It's Onii-san's fault, not mine." Shiro glared at him.
"Since you haven't done it in this world, then for now, I'll consider you a virgin." Shiro suddenly stood on a chair, staring at Riku head-on, so close they could feel each other's breathing. She said seriously, "So, I'll protect your chastity. I'll pretend it didn't happen where I can't see it, but I won't let other women get away with it where I can."
"Oni-chan's chastity is Shiro's." After a pause, Shiro declared.
Riku had no idea what expression to make; he could only stroke Shiro's small face.
Sure enough, even if she was sensible and broad-minded, Shiro wasn't a saint; she couldn't help but care.
"Okay, I've said my piece. Onii-chan, sleep with me tonight," Shiro said at last, her expression relaxing back to its usual calm.
"Mm." Riku smiled, kissed her on the forehead, and nodded.
"Ranked queue's about to start log in," Shiro added with a faint smile, as usual.
"On my way." Riku smiled as well. It was the same daily routine they'd kept for seven years.
Only this time, after gaming, Riku held Shiro as they slept.
The small barriers between them vanished.
…
The next morning, Riku got up without disturbing the sleeping Shiro.
He fixed her a nutritious breakfast as usual, kept it warm with a little sorcery, printed out his manuscript, and headed to Sagiri's house.
He still hadn't told Sagiri about what he'd promised Enko Machida yesterday.
"Riku, I just finished cooking breakfast want to eat together?" When Rie Kōsaka opened the door, she greeted him gently; her calm, warm "wife" aura was comforting.
"I already ate, thanks. I'm here for Sagiri." Riku lifted the manuscript in his hand, a small smile on his lips. "I'm actually meeting the editor about the novel. I want to take this chance to see if I can bring Sagiri out. She's bound to be a top-class illustrator one day, but staying cooped up at home isn't ideal."
"I agree." Rie clearly shared the view. Art comes from life. Though Sagiri's talent was high, staying indoors meant too narrow a field of view; to level up, she had to go out and see more.
But Sagiri was a deep homebody, fine at home, but as soon as she crossed the threshold, she turned into a trembling hamster, much to Rie's worry.
"If it's you, Riku, maybe you can get her to go out," Rie said with a gentle smile, thinking of their bond.
"I'll do my best to persuade her," Riku nodded.
"Excuse me, then." He stepped into the entryway like he always did, switched into his own slippers, not the generic guest pair, but Riku's pair. It was clear that Rie and Sagiri treated him as family.
"Sagiri, there's something I want to discuss…" Riku walked easily to Sagiri's door and opened it.
What he saw made him freeze.
Uh..." Looking at Sagiri, who was wearing red striped panties, Riku didn't know what to say.
Because he prefers to enjoy life, he normally doesn't keep the Star of Omniscience and Omnipotence running at full tilt, and he even dials down his five senses. Otherwise, the whole world looks like a soap bubble to him: poke it and it pops. Which is how he ran into… this.
While Riku was momentarily stunned, Sagiri turned her head toward him first blank, then her pretty face went red at a speed visible to the naked eye; her mouth slowly opened, just a little.
Clack.
Riku silently shut the door and stepped out of the room.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" A high-decibel scream exploded out of Sagiri's room the next second, rattling eardrums.
"Idiot Nii-san, why don't you knock before coming into my room?!" came her mortified, angry shout.
"…," Riku rolled his eyes. He'd never knocked before either; he just hadn't run into this situation. Not something he could say out loud, though, unless he wanted to be barred from entry for the day.
"How youthful~," Rie said with a twinkle, glancing Riku's way.
"Rie, you did that on purpose, didn't you?" Riku said, half laughing. As Sagiri's mom, she definitely knew what Sagiri was doing this morning.
"Who knows~," Rie smiled. Her expression already sold her out.
Some mom is selling her daughter out so casually.
Ten minutes later, Sagiri's voice finally sounded: "Nii-san, you can come in."
Riku opened the door and walked in, unruffled.
Sagiri was dressed now, a green jacket thrown on, seated at her little table. Her cheeks were still faintly pink.
"Nii-san, don't get the wrong idea, I don't sleep naked. I was practising drawing," Sagiri said first.
"Mm, I know," Riku smiled and patted her head.
Her practice subjects were herself and Rie, and some images she found online. Of course, the pieces she traced from herself and Rie never went online; she kept those at home.
Worth noting: Riku had a collector's set at his place, too.
"So, Nii-san, what did you want to talk about?" Relieved by Riku's calm, Sagiri crawled over for her tablet, curiosity returning.
"Sagiri, the illustrations are done, right?" Riku asked, not really a question. Sagiri never let him down.
"Mm. I polished them a bit yesterday." She unlocked the tablet and fanned out a set of illustrations with a few taps.
"Very nice," Riku said with a smile. Over the years, Sagiri had kept grinding. Unlike in the original, she wasn't just good at drawing moe girls; she'd become an all-rounder. She could do anything, though, relatively speaking, moe was still her strongest suit.
"Hehe." Praise made Sagiri beam.
"I'm meeting a Kadokawa editor today to discuss the details. As the illustrator of Between the Little Garden, do you want to come with me?" Riku got to the point.
"Um, Nii-san…" Sagiri's face scrunched; she truly didn't want to go out, but this was Riku asking.
"Forget it, no rush," Riku shook his head, not pushing. This kind of thing had to be taken slowly.
"C-could I go by video call instead? As… Eromanga-sensei," Sagiri asked, embarrassed.
"That works too," Riku ruffled her silver hair, smiling. A step forward was still a step forward. "Settled, then."
"Mm-mm!" Sagiri brightened that this would be their first official collaboration, after all.
After chatting a bit more, Riku left with Sagiri's tablet.
"Hey, Riku, carry me for some runs, would you?" No sooner had he stepped out than Gabriel came loping over.
The sunshiney, refined heiress vibe she'd had when she first descended was gone. The silky hair that used to drape neatly down her back was now a dishevelled mane; she hadn't even bothered to brush it. In an orange jacket and with a tougher glint in her eyes, she looked like a delinquent girl from somewhere.
"Tch. Gabriel, ever heard of dressing up to go out?" Riku clicked his tongue. "I miss your ojou-sama phase."
"That was all unconscious disguise. This is the real me," Gabriel said, smacking her lips. "And who do you think turned me into this, huh? You, prime culprit!"
"Prime culprit? No. You begged me so earnestly that I reluctantly agreed to train you. You can't pin it on me now," Riku said, all smiles.