Ten minutes later.
Yotsuya Miko frowned slightly.
Following the method Arthur had taught her, she raised her life energy a little to lure out the evil spirit trailing behind her, planning to find a spot to exorcise it.
But after circling around, she still hadn't found a suitable place to strike.
So what now?
Slowing her steps, Miko's gaze swept casually toward the evil spirit hovering beside her, her mind racing for a countermeasure.
"Got it!"
"Miko's eyes lit up with excitement."
A sudden flash of inspiration lit up her mind.
Her eyes brightened as she thought of a solution.
Quietly, she channeled her Spiritual Qi.
This time, instead of increasing her life energy, she suppressed it—lower than a normal human's level.
"???"
The evil spirit froze, utterly baffled.
It was as if a giant question mark appeared over its head.
What just happened?
Why had the "delicious meal" in front of it suddenly vanished into thin air?
After glancing around uncertainly, it finally drifted toward a nearby alley.
"Yes! It worked!"
Catching the scene from the corner of her eye, Yotsuya Miko grinned with relief, a little surge of pride welling up inside her.
She felt clever—brilliant, even.
With the evil spirit issue settled, Miko turned toward the station.
"Next…"
She pondered where to go.
Should she head to Arthur's place?
The thought made her cheeks heat slightly, and after a moment of flustered hesitation, she made up her mind.
She'd go home.
For Arthur's sake, she told herself she ought to head back.
After all, she'd been out for hours, and her mom was alone at home. As a daughter, she couldn't let her worry.
Yes—that was a good enough reason.
Giving herself that excuse, Miko pulled out her phone, opened LINE, and sent Arthur a message.
Meanwhile, Arthur never received it.
The barrier enclosing the room blocked all external signals—including cell service.
An hour slipped by in a blink.
Inner Moka, in her full vampire form, clashed against Arthur's perfect body.
But of course, Arthur emerged the victor.
After all, a perfect body was overwhelming.
What did perfection mean?
It meant no flaws.
Every aspect of physical ability was without weakness.
If most warriors could be seen as hexagons on a stat chart, Arthur was a perfect circle—maxed in every attribute.
"Still think you can win against me?"
With a playful grin, Arthur looked down at Inner Moka as she collapsed, then flipped their positions in an instant, seizing the upper hand.
At the same time, Yotsuya Miko returned home.
After greeting her mother, she slipped into the bathroom for a shower and changed clothes.
Once done, she washed her laundry, then went back to her room.
Outside the window, the clouds rolled and scattered across the sky.
Another hour passed.
Inner Moka, thoroughly exhausted, made a strategic retreat.
On the bed, Akashiya Moka wore a blissful yet weary smile as her eyes fluttered shut, faint tear marks visible at the corners.
Arthur gently wiped away her tears.
Golden and violet starlight shimmered at his fingertips as he cast Sky Magic.
A warm, soothing sensation flowed through her.
Moka gradually drifted into peaceful slumber.
Arthur pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, tucked a light blanket over her, and slipped off the bed toward the bathroom.
As he reached the doorway, the barrier dissolved.
On the bedside table, his phone lit up.
No buzz, no ringtone.
During such intense "combat," distractions were forbidden.
Fifteen minutes later.
Fresh from his shower, Arthur returned to the bedroom.
He put on a white robe from the wardrobe, unlocked his phone, and saw the message notification.
It was from Yotsuya Miko.
She said that after shopping with Yurikawa Hana, she had gone straight home.
He read it and replied with a simple "Good."
"What took him so long?"
On her end, Miko frowned at the late reply. The message had even stayed unread for a long time.
It made her curious.
But she didn't pry.
Just then, a new message arrived.
"Miko, you've got a good sister now."
"Eh???"
Blinking at the screen, Miko tilted her head in confusion.
"Wait a second…!"
Then she suddenly remembered Arthur's earlier confession to her.
In that instant, she understood what he meant.
She hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself, when it truly happened, her heart still felt sour.
But before she could sink too deeply into that feeling, another message popped up:
"Once you know her identity, you'll definitely be shocked."
"Definitely shocked…"
Miko paused, her brows furrowing lightly, curiosity and doubt flickering in her eyes.
Clearly, this wasn't an ordinary girl.
For Arthur to say "definitely"—that meant her identity was anything but simple.
Another message arrived:
"She isn't human."
"??!!"
Miko's eyes widened, shock spreading across her face.
Not human? Then what is she…?
Wait!
Could it be—?
Typing quickly, Miko sent back:
"Is she… an evil spirit?"
The thought of those terrifying visages made her throat tighten as she swallowed nervously.
Her expression twisted strangely.
If it really was an evil spirit…
Then Arthur's appetite was truly outrageous.
In fact, she even wondered—if that were the case, was it too late to regret becoming his retainer?
The mental image of Arthur entangled with a grotesque spirit sent chills racing down her arms, goosebumps prickling her skin.
Ughhhh~~
Meanwhile, in Nerima Ward.
"Arthur froze, speechless."
Seeing her reply, Arthur was utterly speechless.
How had she jumped straight to evil spirits?
With how grotesque those things looked, there was no way he'd be interested.
Now, if it were a cute ghostly maiden, soft and easy to push down… or perhaps a sultry, gentle big-sister ghost—well, that would be a different story.
He quickly typed back:
"What's going on in that little head of yours? Moka's real identity is actually a vampire."
"V-vampire?!"
Miko's small mouth fell open.
Her eyes went wide with shock.
So vampires really did exist in this world!
And on top of that, her man had taken one as his retainer too?!
Before she could fully process it, another message arrived:
"Oh, and one more thing…"
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