"Yes, they were wiped out by the heir of Jeanne."
"Jeanne?"
Asia looked genuinely shocked, her green eyes widening. 'Has Lady Jeanne actually been to this town?'
"Jeanne..." Ophis murmured, tilting her head as the name sparked some distant recognition.
After thinking for a moment, however, nothing concrete surfaced in her memory. The Infinite Dragon God could clearly remember Cao Cao and the other wielders of those toys called the Longinus, but as for Jeanne? She had no recollection whatsoever.
Takeyo's expression shifted slightly at the mention of Jeanne. Just as he was about to suggest taking Asia home, the familiar chime of his system rang in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for triggering a plot check-in! Sign-in level: Silver!]
[Sign-in plot: Shelter Asia]
[Sign-in time limit: 1 day]
[Remaining time: 1 day]
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for triggering a plot check-in! Sign-in level: Gold!]
[Sign-in plot: The Dragon God needs proper undergarments]
[Plot details: As the Infinite Dragon God, how can she not have proper undergarments? Help Ophis select suitable ones.]
[Sign-in time limit: 1 day]
[Remaining time: 1 day]
Looking at these tasks, Takeyo couldn't help but smirk internally. These were things he'd already planned to do anyway.
Shelter Asia? Of course he wanted to. If he didn't act now, he didn't know when someone else might swoop in and claim such a kind-hearted soul for their own faction.
And as for Ophis's underwear situation... that problem was genuinely serious. He couldn't just ignore it.
"Asia, if you don't have anywhere else to go, how about coming to my house?" Takeyo suggested. "I have plenty of space."
"Huh? To Takeyo-san's home?" Asia gently covered her mouth in surprise. 'Takeyo-san is such a good person!'
"But..." Asia hesitated, her expression troubled.
"I'm a clumsy person who tends to cause trouble for others, so I shouldn't impose."
Asia was the kind of person who always thought of others first, possessing a truly angelic heart.
"Actually, it's not that I'm simply inviting you out of charity," Takeyo adjusted his approach. "I have something I'd like to ask of you, Asia."
He couldn't help but smile internally. Asia was so endearingly kind. Even if it was just to protect her from being deceived by unsavory characters, he needed to bring her under his protection.
"You see, my house is quite large, and sometimes I can't clean it properly by myself. I usually don't bother cooking when I get home either, so I'd like to hire someone to help with these tasks."
"How about this? I'll provide you with room and board, and you help me with housework. Does that sound fair?"
This framing would make it easier for Asia to accept. She was the type who found it difficult to receive help from others but easy to accept commissions from them.
"Really? Is that true?" Asia thought carefully about the proposal.
"Well, I do have a maid at home, but honestly, one isn't quite enough," Takeyo continued smoothly. "Asia, you understand that we're all people from the supernatural world, and this kind of work isn't suitable for ordinary humans to handle."
"Hmm... indeed! That makes sense! Please let me help!" The ahoge on Asia's head bobbed excitedly as she reached this conclusion.
'Although I'm not particularly skilled at housework and cooking, I'll work extra hard!'
"Then it's settled," Takeyo said with a satisfied smile. 'Asia really is such a good girl.'
"Yes! Please take care of me, Takeyo-san!" A glimmer of tears appeared in the corners of Asia's eyes.
She could actually tell that Takeyo was saying this because he noticed her hesitation. She was simply worried about causing trouble for others, but if this was something only she could do, then she had no reason to refuse.
Having obtained Asia's agreement, Takeyo simultaneously completed the sign-in task.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for completing the plot check-in! Sign-in level: Silver!]
[Sign-in plot: Shelter Asia]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the reward: Advanced Heroic Spirit Summoning Circle!]
[Advanced Heroic Spirit Summoning Circle: Upon use, summons a Heroic Spirit of at least highest-tier quality, potentially reaching exceptional level. Note: The Heroic Spirit summoned manifests in spiritual form.]
"Oh, by the way, there's one more important matter to address," Takeyo said after reviewing the effect of the summoning circle.
Half an hour later, Takeyo, Asia, and Ophis arrived at the lingerie shop that Yuuma Amano had visited previously.
"Takeyo-san? Where... is this?" Asia gently covered her mouth as she took in the dazzling array of styles on display.
"A lingerie shop. Ophis doesn't have any underwear, which isn't acceptable," Takeyo sighed.
'Do you know I almost lost my composure when I saw you two fall earlier? I'm not a lolicon!'
"Huh? Ophis doesn't have any underwear?" Asia looked at Ophis in surprise, only now noticing this detail.
"Mm..." Ophis nodded lightly, then stretched out her small hand.
"I... have no underwear..."
As she spoke, she began lifting her skirt to demonstrate.
"Wait!"
Takeyo appeared at Ophis's side instantly, stopping the Dragon God's reckless behavior.
"Ophis, you can't do that kind of thing casually, especially with so many people around," Takeyo said gently with a smile.
"Why... not? I... truly don't have underwear..." Ophis tilted her head in confusion. She didn't understand Takeyo's concern.
In her understanding, why should a dragon concern itself with the thoughts of ants?
"Because I'm a selfish person," Takeyo explained, "so Ophis, this kind of thing can only be shown to me."
He knew that appealing to normal values wouldn't work with Ophis, so he changed his approach.
Sure enough, this method proved effective.
"Mm... I... promised Takeyo... This kind of thing will only be shown to Takeyo... But..." Ophis's dark eyes flickered with understanding.
"But you want to show me your agreement's validity, right? Didn't we just discuss this before?" Takeyo ruffled Ophis's hair a bit more firmly than usual.
"Mm... a promise..." A ripple passed through Ophis's eyes at the mention of promises.
"Promise," Asia echoed with an awkward laugh, not quite sure what to say about the interaction she'd just witnessed.
'I tried teaching Ophis about common sense earlier, but in terms of effectiveness and Ophis's acceptance, Takeyo-san is far better than me.'
After settling that matter, Takeyo led them into the store.
The reason he'd chosen this particular shop was simple: he'd seen many styles he liked during his last visit with Yuuma Amano, but she hadn't shared his preferences, so he hadn't purchased them at the time.
Under the clerk's somewhat peculiar gaze, Takeyo walked in with a girl and a loli in tow.
'I remember... this handsome guy was here a few days ago, wasn't he? And there was a different girl with him then?'
A few minutes later, Takeyo fully understood the hardships of taking care of children.
"Want that..." Ophis pointed at a particular piece of underwear.
"Okay, okay," Takeyo responded patiently.
Then...
"Aahn~" Ophis opened her mouth and swallowed it whole.
"Excuse me, customer?" The clerk's eyebrow twitched wildly.
"I'll pay for it," Takeyo sighed, directly employing the power of money to resolve the situation.
Similar incidents occurred multiple times.
"Hey, wait, Ophis! Don't forcefully change your body shape just to wear the model you're looking at!"
'A flat-chested loli trying to fit into adult sizes!'
"Also, this isn't meant to tie yourself up!"
Ophis had somehow managed to bind herself with numerous ribbon-style underwear pieces.
After an exhausting shopping experience that tested his patience in ways he never anticipated, Takeyo finally managed to purchase a suitable amount of underwear for Ophis. He'd specifically selected styles appropriate for children and ensured Ophis understood how to properly wear them.
Though he had to admit, explaining the proper use of undergarments to an ancient Dragon God was not something he'd ever expected to do in his life.
With shopping bags in hand and the second sign-in task completed, they prepared to head home.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for completing the plot check-in! Sign-in level: Gold!]
[Sign-in plot: The Dragon God needs proper undergarments]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the reward: Dimensional Storage Space (Enhanced)]
[Dimensional Storage Space (Enhanced): A pocket dimension with unlimited capacity for non-living items. Can store and retrieve items instantly through thought. Items within remain in perfect stasis.]
'Well, that's certainly convenient,' Takeyo thought, immediately transferring all the shopping bags into his new storage space. The feeling of accessing the dimensional space was surprisingly natural, as if it had always been part of him.
As they exited the shop, the sun had already begun its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.
Walking through the commercial district with Asia on one side and Ophis on the other, Takeyo noticed several people turning to stare at them. It was an unusual sight, after all: a handsome young man escorting a beautiful foreign nun and an expressionless young girl.
"Takeyo-san, thank you so much for everything today," Asia said earnestly. "I'll work very hard to repay your kindness!"
"Don't worry about repayment," Takeyo replied warmly. "Just help with what you can, and if there's anything you don't understand about Japan or the supernatural world, feel free to ask."
"Yes!" Asia nodded enthusiastically, her ahoge bouncing with the motion.
As they continued walking, Takeyo's enhanced senses suddenly picked up something unusual. There was a presence watching them from a distance. Not hostile, exactly, but definitely focused intently on their group.
'Someone's observing us,' he noted internally, keeping his expression casual. 'The question is: are they watching me, Asia, or Ophis?'
Given that Asia possessed the rare Twilight Healing Sacred Gear, and Ophis was the Infinite Dragon God herself, either could draw unwanted attention from various factions.
"Takeyo-san? Is something wrong?" Asia asked, noticing his momentary distraction.
"It's nothing," he reassured her with a smile. "Just thinking about dinner. Do you have any preferences?"
"Oh! I can cook!" Asia offered eagerly. "If you have ingredients at home, I'd be happy to make something!"
"That sounds wonderful," Takeyo agreed, though part of his attention remained on tracking the distant observer.
Beside them, Ophis walked silently, her small hand holding a bag of candy Takeyo had purchased for her. She seemed completely unbothered by everything around them, lost in her own thoughts about dragons, promises, and the strange human custom of wearing uncomfortable fabric under one's clothes.
As they turned down a quieter street heading toward Takeyo's residential area, the presence that had been following them suddenly intensified.
A figure stepped out from a side alley ahead of them.
Blonde hair caught the fading sunlight. Blue eyes assessed them with a mixture of curiosity and determination. The young woman wore a modified school uniform with armor pieces attached, and her posture suggested combat readiness despite her cheerful expression.
"Hello there!" she called out with surprising enthusiasm. "You wouldn't happen to be Takeyo-kun, would you?"
Takeyo's mind immediately placed the face with the name he'd heard earlier.
Jeanne. The inheritor of Jeanne's spirit. Member of the Hero Faction.
'Well,' he thought calmly, 'this evening just became significantly more complicated.'
"That depends," Takeyo replied smoothly, positioning himself slightly in front of both Asia and Ophis. "May I ask who's inquiring?"
Jeanne's smile widened, and she took a step closer.
"My name is Jeanne! I've been looking everywhere for you, Takeyo-kun. We have so much to talk about!"
Behind him, Asia tensed, recognizing the name from their earlier conversation. Ophis, meanwhile, simply continued eating her candy, seemingly unbothered by this new development.
The sun continued its descent, and Takeyo realized that his peaceful evening plans had just been thoroughly derailed.
'Just another typical day in my "quiet" student life,' he thought with resigned amusement.
☆☆☆
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