In the dim alley.
A figure slowly stepped into the moonlight, revealing herself before Luo Shu.
A golden-haired, blue-eyed girl whose ample figure even her loose dark blue nun's habit couldn't conceal walked into the moonlight.
"Good evening, my Lord."
The newcomer was none other than Luo Shu's Venus, his hidden Familia member—Sharon Holygrail.
"What an extraordinarily lively night this is."
Seeing Sharon's pleased smile, Luo Shu's mood likewise improved:
"Long time no see, Sharon. Though it's only been a week."
He then looked her up and down before adding with a smile:
"You seem well. That's reassuring."
Yet Sharon playfully countered:
"Is this a god's care for his believer, or a friend's concern?"
"...Let's say it's a friend's concern." Luo Shu's reply was somewhat ambiguous.
Although he was now a god, nine years of compulsory education made it impossible for Luo Shu to suddenly feel superior.
Moreover, his Familia consisted of stunningly beautiful girls who made his heart race—many of whom were his former crushes. This made it even harder for him to adopt a lofty demeanour.
Deep down, Luo Shu knew that even if he truly became a god, he'd likely end up like Zeus or Kama. Because of these less-than-noble thoughts, he was somewhat reluctant to let his Familia view him as some distant, exalted deity.
And as it turned out, Sharon didn't seem to care much about gods either.
"If we're friends, I'd very much like to punch you once."
Sharon smiled as she said something Luo Shu didn't find particularly amusing:
"Do you have any idea who's been making me fly back and forth to Europe so frequently lately?"
"Or do you perhaps enjoy the haggard beauty of jet lag?"
"Cough, cough!"
Luo Shu couldn't help but cough at such accusations. He really had no comeback—after all, the investigations into Truth Astronomy and the demon dossier requests were directly or indirectly his and Lacus's doing.
"After this job, I'd like a few days off. Paid leave, of course."
Hearing Sharon's request, Luo Shu immediately raised his hands in surrender:
"Naturally, I fully and unconditionally support that. Let me know if you need anything else."
Seeing him so accommodating, Sharon's lips curled up in satisfaction:
"Even trivial things like accompanying a believer on a shopping trip?"
Luo Shu's expression turned slightly awkward at that.
Noticing his reaction, Sharon blinked in surprise:
"That look... Has someone already invited you to something like that?"
"Ah... well, yes." Luo Shu nodded slightly before adding, "This Saturday, I'm going shopping with Lacus."
To be precise, Saturday was Lacus's last day in Japan. With her responsibilities in the Americas' SDS, she couldn't stay indefinitely. To free up time for this outing, Lacus had apparently been working overtime to clear some classified matters that had been piling up in Japan.
"Lacus Clyne?"
Sharon frowned slightly at the mention of the SDS's highest-ranking Supreme Chairwoman. She was well aware of that woman's capabilities. Was she trying to become the next Maria by getting so close to Luo Shu?
Feeling a twinge of displeasure, Sharon's smile faded. "In that case, surely you can spare Sunday afternoon?"
Luo Shu mentally reviewed the Hidden Management Department's schedule and, deciding the weekend was manageable, nodded:
"That time slot is free."
Wait, didn't that mean Saturday with Lacus and Sunday with Sharon? What kind of playboy itinerary was this?
Just as Luo Shu's mood turned complicated, Sharon's smile returned, her spirits seemingly lifted:
"As you commanded, I staked out near the Aogiri Tree's occupied base and successfully intercepted your designated target."
"Hmm?"
Luo Shu immediately caught the odd phrasing:
"You mean the mission where I asked you to stake out Kurumi Tokisaki near Aogiri Tree's warehouse and attempt a live capture—you completed it?"
"If that's what you specified, then yes, it's done."
Sharon spoke while reaching her left hand into her right sleeve, pulling out a strip of bandage.
The moment the bandage was drawn out, it swiftly and continuously coiled around her, gradually weaving into a mummy-like humanoid figure.
Luo Shu's eyelids twitched as he observed the figure.
At that moment, Sharon slowly approached the mummy, unwrapping the bandages around its head as she explained:
"A Grade 3 Abyss Artefact, the Holy Binds, possesses the ability to restrain higher lifeforms. This is my recent acquisition from the Roman Church."
'An acquisition from the Roman Church? Wait, did Sharon say she needed a few days' rest because she couldn't return to Europe after stealing something from the Church?'
Hearing Sharon's words, Luo Shu suddenly realised something, his expression turning slightly odd.
"Honestly, if I hadn't taken advantage of her covert observation of the Onmyou Agency's prodigy to ambush her, I really wouldn't have been able to capture her."
Under Sharon's deft hands, the mummy wrapped in bandages finally revealed her true appearance.
Looking at the petite, delicate-faced twin-tailed girl with heterochromatic eyes, Luo Shu's mood grew somewhat complicated.
'After Natsuki Minamiya and I teamed up only to fail, Sharon goes out alone and successfully captures one? What is this, gods being outdone by their believers?'
Just as Luo Shu was muttering to himself, the partially freed Kurumi Tokisaki regained some sensation in her body and looked at Luo Shu with mild surprise:
"My, my. To think the one behind this vicious nun is Luo Shu? Now that is quite the unexpected turn of events."
Hearing Kurumi's words, Luo Shu fell silent for a moment before replying:
"I see. You let yourself be captured on purpose, didn't you?"
Hearing this, Sharon immediately frowned, her gaze towards Kurumi Tokisaki sharp and piercing.
Meanwhile, Kurumi Tokisaki, whose body below the neck was wrapped in bandages, unexpectedly asked:
"What do you mean, on purpose?"
At that moment, Luo Shu spoke quietly:
"Memories between your clones and main body aren't synchronised in real time, are they?"
Kurumi tilted her head, feigning confusion.
But Luo Shu wasn't fooled and continued:
"If Sharon really ambushed your clone near the warehouse when Suzuka Dairenji made her move, then that clone couldn't possibly know my name."
"Because your fight with Sharon must have happened around the same time Suzuka was acting at the warehouse - before we ever crossed paths."
"This proves your main body and clones don't share memories. Yet now, you've accurately called me by name, which means only one thing."
Luo Shu said calmly:
"You're a new clone, spawned after other Kurumi clones fought me and the main body gained those memories."
"In other words, your actual fight with Sharon happened after our battle."
"This contradicts Sharon's claim about acting during Suzuka's operation against the Ghoul."
Hearing this, Kurumi pouted with slight disappointment:
"Honestly... not just handsome but also this sharp..."
As her voice trailed off, countless Kurumi clones emerged from the walls, the ground, and even the broken street lamps of the alley, through portals opened by the black-red City of Devouring Time.
"Kekekeke~~"
The girl's madness and mocking laughter echoed endlessly through the night.
"My my, caught red-handed~ Looks like we'll have to fight again~~"
Seeing this, Sharon immediately placed her hand on Kurumi's head, her face dark:
"You little..."
But the bandage-wrapped Kurumi just giggled:
"Oh dear, you remembered? Seems that Abyss Artefact's effect wasn't strong enough on you~"
Hearing this, Luo Shu frowned at Sharon: "What's going on?"
"My deepest apologies, my Lord. My memories were partially altered by her Abyss Artefact."
She paused before adding:
"I actually captured the clone near the hotel..."
Internally, Sharon was lamenting.
After this blunder, whether Luo Shu would still trust her was completely uncertain.
As expected, Luo Shu's expression showed complete disbelief.
Once doubt took root after such a mistake, trust eroded.
This was precisely why Kurumi had deliberately lifted the Abyss Artefact's effect.
As for claiming it was "not strong enough" - that was pure deception. Though Sharon's resistance was absurdly high, Kurumi could have maintained the deception for another ten minutes.
But hey, Kurumi had never promised not to lie to Luo Shu.
However, what surprised Kurumi was that after a brief moment of distrust, Luo Shu said:
"I see. You captured one of her clones after our battle at the hotel."
"Was it simply because you were surrounded by numerous clones during the retreat, ambushed by Kurumi Tokisaki's main body, that you fell victim to her scheme? Your memories were altered, leading you to seek me out after escaping the encirclement?"
"I understand, Sharon. Keep control of Kurumi's clone like that. I'll cooperate with you and create an opportunity for you to take her away."
"My Lord..." Sharon looked at Luo Shu hesitantly, at a loss for words.
In truth, even Sharon was surprised that Luo Shu still trusted her.
Seeing Sharon's uncharacteristically timid demeanour, Luo Shu couldn't help but laugh:
"You fool, do you doubt my capabilities?"
Hearing this, Sharon's expression shifted as she realised her mistake. She had instinctively assumed Luo Shu wouldn't trust her, forgetting that a deity could naturally perceive their Familia's condition.
Previously, Luo Shu hadn't checked his connection with Sharon because she seemed normal. But now that he was aware of the issue, he could easily determine whether she was under control.
"My deepest apologies." In that moment, Sharon was so embarrassed she could have dug a three-bedroom apartment with her toes.
"Ara ara~~"
Kurumi Tokisaki watched Luo Shu's confident demeanour with surprise, noting how certain he seemed about Sharon's safe departure:
"Luo Shu-kun is truly quite special, isn't he..."
"Do you really trust your subordinate so easily, believing she hasn't been controlled by me?"
Though Kurumi continued emitting signals suggesting Sharon was under her control, the truth was she had little actual influence over her.
Her Angel Zafkiel could create various special bullets, among which the Seventh Bullet could freeze time for its target. It was through this that Kurumi had ambushed Sharon, seizing the opportunity to alter her recent memories using an Abyss Artefact obtained from Truth Astronomy. But that was the extent of her capabilities.
During the time freeze, Kurumi had considered crushing Sharon to interrogate her about who ordered the ambush. Yet despite exhausting all offensive methods, she couldn't inflict any damage. Sharon's defensive capabilities were so absurdly strong that Kurumi wondered if she was made of tank armour.
Moreover, this world's suppression of Spirits was so severe that Kurumi couldn't utilise much Spiritual Power. Even the cost of her time abilities had multiplied inexplicably, and offensive power had always been her weakness.
In reality, Kurumi had no means to prevent Sharon from taking her clone away. Sharon could simply endure Kurumi's attacks and leave with the clone, and if Kurumi pursued, she'd eventually exhaust her lifespan.
As for the Abyss Artefact in her possession, it was merely a trinket capable of briefly altering memories. Had her clone strategists not suggested bluffing to uncover who was behind Sharon—and by extension, who had orchestrated the ambush—she wouldn't have secretly followed to observe Sharon and Luo Shu's meeting.
Now, while she'd identified her ambusher, it seemed her clone was beyond recovery. If these two joined forces, she'd be powerless against them, even with Zafkiel.
"I bet you can't kill us."
Meanwhile, Luo Shu—having learned through the Mysticism Encyclopaedia that Kurumi's weakness was her feeble offensive power—curled his lips confidently.
Hearing this, Kurumi Tokisaki fell silent for a moment.
Losing one of her clones seemed inevitable—at least it was unavoidable now when she lacked concrete information about Luo Shu and Sharon and couldn't pinpoint their weaknesses.
In that case, she would just have to find an opportunity to eliminate the clone...
Having made up her mind, Kurumi Tokisaki immediately revealed an elegant, composed smile:
"Very well, I can only say you've bet correctly."
The numerous Kurumis, aiming flintlock-style weapons at the two, lowered their arms.
At that moment, the Kurumi wrapped in bandages smiled sweetly at Luo Shu and said:
"As a condition for becoming your spoils of war, could Luo Shu-kun explain what exactly happened just now?"
As she spoke, Kurumi looked at Luo Shu with slight confusion:
"Why were you able to simultaneously make thirteen of my clones experience that strange abdominal cramping sensation?"
The moment her words fell, Luo Shu's expression visibly changed under Kurumi's gaze.
'Eh? Did I ask something embarrassing?'
Kurumi found it rather odd as she watched Luo Shu's face turn red.
"You... really want to know?" Luo Shu asked with an extremely peculiar expression.
"Didn't Luo Shu-kun say you wanted to establish a mutually beneficial and trusting contract with me?"
Kurumi beamed as she replied:
"Honesty is the foundation of any contract, don't you think?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu fell silent for a moment before sighing:
"Fine, then."
"The pain you felt was from one of the three core abilities of my misfortune power—Calamity Endowment."
"Simply put, I can extract negative forces—things that could be considered suffering—from others and bestow them upon someone else."
"So, the reason for my stomachache is because you absorbed someone else's stomachache and bestowed it upon me?" Kurumi was dumbfounded.
'What kind of cheating ability is this?'
"More or less," Luo Shu replied evasively.
At this point, Kurumi frowned. "If that's all there is to it, you wouldn't have been so reluctant to explain."
She then said seriously:
"Luo Shu-kun~ Do you really have no sincerity at all?"
Luo Shu's face twitched slightly before he sighed again:
"Alright, fine."
"This stomachache... was extracted from my, ahem, let's say, my lover's best friend."
"Eh?" Kurumi froze. "Menstrual cramps? No, the pain was different... Then what was it?"
Seeing Kurumi's relentless questioning, Luo Shu hesitated before saying:
"Miss Kurumi."
"You might very well... be the woman in this world who best understands my... shape."
Kurumi blinked, not quite grasping what Luo Shu meant.
But the next second, the Kurumi advisory team within the City of Devouring Time provided their reference answer.
And the moment she received that reference answer—
Kurumi Tokisaki...
Had a complete mental breakdown!