"Is this Shichen's world?"
"Wow, amazing! What are all those things—magic tools?"
"Nope, those are cars," Aqua said proudly—from inside Shichen's body.
Unlike Megumin and the others, Aqua knew all about modern stuff.
On the way back, Shichen had explained everything to Megumin and Yunyun, and they accepted it right away.
They often read manga with Frieren, after all—plots like this are common. They just hadn't expected manga to be reportage instead of fantasy.
"Cars?" Darkness was puzzled. "Mm-hm. A means of transport that doesn't need mana to run… speaking of which, there's no mana in this world."
"No mana? Then what powers a car?"
"Uh… oil? Electricity? An engine? Whatever—don't ask me for the details."
"That's Aqua for you…"
"By the way, you're all just… not bothered?" Megumin suddenly asked.
"Bothered by what?"
"That half-naked woman…"
Megumin meant the one who'd been inside Shichen all along—Yatogami Tenka.
"You don't need to mind me," Tenka said breezily.
"How could we not?! Who even are you, and why are you inside Shichen?"
"I've been in his body longer than any of you. I know everything about you, so just pretend I'm not here."
"E-everything about us?" Yunyun suddenly realized something.
"That's right. I'm in this guy's body; I can see everything outside."
"Eh?"
"Don't be shy. I've seen plenty of this sort of thing. No need to worry," Tenka said with a soothing smile.
"Uu…" Yunyun wanted to crawl into a hole.
"What's wrong, Yunyun?" Megumin asked. "N-nothing…"
If what the girl said was true, then everything that happened with Shichen last night had been seen—every pose, knees on shoulders, or standing from behind with him holding her up like helping a toddler pee…
Mortifying!
"You can see everything? Then that means… mm~" Darkness had the same thought as Yunyun—but instead of shame, she got excited. Getting pushed around by Shichen while someone watched… just imagining it was thrilling.
Tenka's brow twitched. She decided to ignore Darkness. She understood the woman's pervy psychology; she just couldn't comprehend how someone could be like that.
"Shichen, who is she, really?" Megumin couldn't help asking.
"She's my daughter, Yatogami Tenka," Shichen spoke up for the first time.
"What? Your daughter? Since when do you have a daughter?" Megumin blurted.
"You have a daughter?"
"R-really?" Yunyun and the others flustered.
"Don't let him fool you. I'm not his daughter," Tenka shot back.
"Eh? Then what's going on?"
"In any case, I'm not his daughter. He's spouting nonsense."
"Then what are you?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Tenka didn't explain, and Shichen didn't either. Before long he stopped in front of the Time Café. He hadn't come straight back—he'd wanted Megumin and Yunyun to see this bustling yet ordinary world. Even without flashy magic or skills, it was colorful all the same.
"This is my home in this world—and from now on, it's your home too," Shichen said.
"This is your place? A café? Who runs it when you're gone?" Megumin went straight to the point.
Shichen didn't answer. He pushed the door open.
"Welco—Shichen-nii!"
"Shichen-nii, welcome back."
Right inside, busy at work, were Nishikigi Chisato and Inoue Takina.
"I'm back," Shichen said, opening his arms.
Chisato didn't hesitate; she set down her tray and flung herself at him. "Shichen-nii, I missed you so much~" She hugged him like she wanted to melt into him.
"Mm. I missed you too," Shichen said softly, patting her back.
Takina shook her head helplessly and delivered the plates. She didn't have the nerve to dive into Shichen's arms like Chisato.
"Shichen, who's that pretty girl? And the other pretty girl?" Megumin couldn't help asking.
"Maybe they're his sisters," Yunyun tried.
"No way! The love in her eyes is spilling over!"
"I get it—Shichen's been hiding beauties away. Figures," Darkness said.
"What? Shichen! Explain—are we not enough for you?!"
"Megumin, calm down. You're too loud," Tenka said mildly.
"How am I supposed to calm down?!"
"You'll need to pace yourself. There's more than just those two~"
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Shichen-dono!"
Before Tenka could answer, Tohru bolted out of the kitchen and leapt into Shichen's other arm.
He hugged one on each side.
"Tohru, I'm back."
"You finally came home—it's been a whole month!"
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Another one?! And she's a dragon girl—in a maid outfit?" Megumin yelped.
It didn't end there.
"Chisato, Takina—we're back."
The door opened again. In walked Irisviel and Artoria.
"Eh? Shichen, you're back!" Irisviel's flawless face bloomed into a brilliant smile the instant she saw him.
"Iri, Artoria—I'm back," Shichen greeted.
"Mm." Artoria pressed her lips together and nodded. Her face was still a bit girlish and calm, but her eyes couldn't hide their joy.
"Two more—and each prettier than the last! How many are there?!" Megumin was numb.
"And their chests get bigger each time~" Aqua added, twisting the knife.
"...Damn it!"
"Don't worry, Megumin—I'll explain slowly," Shichen soothed.
"I think I've got the picture already, you philanderer!"
"Haha—busted."
"You'd better explain later!"
"Okay."
After a bit of catching up with Tohru and the others, Shichen headed upstairs and let Megumin and Yunyun out. It was his first time bringing back this many; the family had grown in a hurry.
Tohru and the rest might not be able to take it all in at once, but that wasn't a problem—it just meant he'd have to spend a few days comforting them one by one.
There was nothing a vigorous roll in the sheets couldn't fix; if there was, a few more rolls would do.
"…They've got such strong mana in their bodies. And she is?" Artoria's gaze is fixed on Darkness.
In Shichen's room, besides Megumin and Yunyun who had just come out, Artoria and Irisviel were there too.
"And you are?" Darkness met her stare, serious.
They were quite alike—golden-haired knights with a commanding air. Artoria was just a little shorter and more petite. "You two really are similar," Shichen chuckled—though their personalities were worlds apart.
"Artoria, this is Darkness—a knight, like you."
"A knight? Pleased to meet you," Artoria said, offering her hand.
"I'm Darkness. Nice to meet you, Artoria," Darkness replied, shaking it.
"Shichen, hurry up and explain what's going on!" Megumin urged.
"No rush—we'll go over everything tonight. Some people are still at school."
"S-still more? How many?" Megumin asked, nervous.
"About eight more."
"S-so many…" Megumin plopped down on the bed in a daze.
"Megumin?" Yunyun looked at her, worried.
"I'm fine. I just need to process this," Megumin said, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling.
"Hehe. Iri, look after them for a bit, and fill them in on how this world works."
"Of course," Irisviel said with a warm smile.
"Aqua, Artoria—come with me."
"Eh? For what?" Aqua asked, curious.
"I need your help with something."
"Oh."
"Let's go."
Shichen headed out first. Artoria followed without a word. Aqua bounced after them.
"Where are we going?"
"The bath."
"Eh?" Artoria froze.
"Come to think of it, we haven't bathed together yet, have we?" Shichen said cheerfully to Artoria.
"…"