"It's interrogation time!"
"Kitahara, state your criminal facts honestly."
"Not a single word of concealment is allowed, or you'll rot in jail."
"..."
The girls spoke one after another, entering interrogation mode.
"I'm not some kind of criminal, okay?"
Kitahara moved the corners of his mouth slightly, complaining while turning his head to look at Hitori not far away.
When he was chatting with Shimizu Rin in the hallway this morning, he noticed Hitori peeking from the corner, but because there were too many people around at the time, he didn't go over to greet her.
Now that Ryo suddenly asked this, she obviously knew about what happened this morning, and it definitely had something to do with Hitori.
"S-Sorry..."
Sensing Kitahara's gaze, the ahoge on top of Hitori's head trembled nervously, and she hurriedly lowered her small head in guilt.
"It has nothing to do with Hitori; the informant was me." Kita opened her arms, standing in front of Hitori, and raised her pretty chin. "Kitahara, tell us quickly what happened."
"No matter what happens, Kitahara-kun shouldn't bear it alone." Soyo pursed her lips and said in a gentle voice, "We will always be by Kitahara-kun's side."
Holding a small flower in her arms, Nijika looked over with serious eyes: "One person's counsel is short, two people's wisdom is long; everyone wants to help too."
"I remember Kitahara-kun saying he hates riddlers the most." Anon crossed her arms over her chest and hummed softly, looking over. "You don't want to become the person you hate the most, right?"
"..."
When the girls finally quieted down, Kitahara spoke helplessly:
"You guys were speaking one after another just now. I wanted to tell you, but you didn't give me a chance at all, okay?"
Sakiko crossed her arms in front of her chest, her arms lightly pressing out a flawless curve, her voice clear and pleasant:
"Kitahara-kun can speak now."
"Phew..."
Kitahara let out a light breath and pressed his hand against his brow:
"Since you want to know, then I'll tell you."
The girls soaking in the bedtime onsen with him right now were the people closest to him in this world. If he kept hiding things blindly, it would inevitably make everyone worry and care.
Besides... Kitahara indeed hated riddlers the most, so naturally he didn't want to become the kind of person he hated.
By telling them the situation, even if everyone couldn't help, the pressure in his heart could be reduced invisibly by a lot.
"The matter starts from this morning. At that time, the classroom was being decorated as a haunted house..."
Kitahara's voice was low as he slowly revealed the cruel truth.
The girls held their breath, listening quietly.
"Eh, a god-level existence trying to invade reality from the inner world?"
"Lord of Calamity... Just hearing the name feels so terrifying."
"Regardless of whether you see or hear it, once you learn the true name, you will be gazetted by its gaze, and those who can't bear the gaze will turn insane. No wonder every time I ask about the mastermind, the Book of Answers displays garbled code..."
"..."
After listening to Kitahara's narrative, the girls' expressions grew solemn one after another.
Of course, "Lord of Calamity" was just a title Kitahara made up, not its true name, so saying it out loud didn't matter.
"No wonder Kitahara's expression was super heavy at that time..."
Hitori hugged her legs tightly, murmuring softly.
A terrifying god was about to invade the real world, and when that time came, the entire world would be destroyed at once—it was like knowing the exact time of the end of the world. If it were herself, let alone having a heavy expression, her whole body would be trembling and filled with despair, right?
"Is there really no way to stop it?" Sakiko lightly furrowed her delicate eyebrows, her white teeth biting her lower lip. "The Management Bureau is an official organization, they should have a very powerful trump card, right?"
"Useless." Kitahara shook his head and continued to tell the truth. "I asked the Book of Answers this morning. Leading the Special Operations Team of the Management Bureau to the descent point of the Lord of Calamity, they only lasted for one minute before all members of the Management Bureau were wiped out, with no survivors."
"Afterward, I paid the price of burning out my life to drive the god back, but that could only delay it for three years."
"Three years later, the Lord of Calamity will descend again."
"..."
"Wait a minute." Nijika looked over with a face full of worry. "What does 'burning out your life' mean?"
"It's an ability I master. It can temporarily break through limits and match a god with a mortal body." Kitahara looked toward Nijika; since he had said what shouldn't be said, he naturally wouldn't hide a small detail like this. "The price is burning out everything."
"Kitahara, don't be impulsive."
"That's right, there must be other ways."
"Let's ask the Book of Answers!"
"..."
The girls looked over nervously one after another, afraid that Kitahara would do something foolish on a whim and choose to sacrifice himself to save the world.
"Rest assured, I don't have such a noble character." Kitahara opened his arms to the girls and said resoundingly, "My wish is only one: to become the Harem King."
"Pah~"
"Lewd!"
"How do you have the nerve to shout that out!"
"..."
Kitahara intentionally exposed his own shamelessness, bringing upon himself the verbal attacks of the girls, but the atmosphere finally wasn't as gloomy as before.
"Although the god is unbelievably strong, it's not entirely without hope of victory." Kitahara sat up straight, his expression becoming serious. "Today's me can't do it, but that doesn't mean tomorrow's me can't win. I am getting stronger every day."
"Besides that, there's zero-cost trial and error with the Book of Answers. Starting tomorrow, I will gather intelligence to figure out the opponent's weakness as soon as possible."
Kita raised her right hand: "We'll help ask questions too."
"No." Kitahara shook his head lightly, refusing the girls' goodwill. "Once you learn the true name of the Lord of Calamity, you will be watched by its gaze. Intelligence regarding the Lord of Calamity can only be asked by me alone."
Sakiko lightly furrowed her delicate eyebrows: "Can't we help out at all?"
"That's not entirely the case." Kitahara said solemnly, "I need to complete certain events every day to become stronger. Some events are very simple, while some are quite special... If you want to help, then cooperate with me well to complete the events."
"So that's how it is." Anon blinked her eyes upon hearing this. "No wonder Kitahara always acts on a whim sometimes."
Sorry, it's all just System tasks.
"Just leave it to us." Kita clenched her fists. "To save the world, everyone will definitely cooperate well with Kitahara!"
"Well, I have a question." Ryo raised her right hand and spoke unhurriedly, never passing up a chance to stir up trouble when fanning the flames. "If Kitahara proposes wanting to host a naughty party, should everyone agree?"
"Eh-eh-eh?"
The girls were instantly shocked, their pretty faces flushing red one by one as they looked at Kitahara in shock.
"A super naughty party?"
"How could anyone agree to that kind of thing!"
"Refuse! One hundred percent refuse!"
"..."
After finishing their bedtime onsen bath, the girls went home one after another.
Hitori, who usually went home early, was in no rush to leave today. Instead, she pinched the corner of her pajamas and walked hesitatingly in front of Kitahara.
"Hitori, what's wrong?"
Kitahara asked gently.
"Sorry..."
Hitori lowered her small head, the ahoge on top of her head drooping limply, as she apologized in a low voice:
"This morning, it was me who saw Kitahara talking with that girl, it wasn't Kita..."
"I know." Kitahara's voice was warm. "I noticed Hitori at that time, but there were too many people in the hallway, so I didn't have time to speak with Hitori."
Just as his words fell, a red twin-tailed girl quickly flashed over, opening her arms to stand in front of Kitahara:
"I was the one who told everyone about it, it has nothing to do with Hitori-chan."
Hearing this, Kitahara looked toward Kita with a meaningful gaze:
"I originally planned to give Hitori a little punishment, but since Kita put it that way, let Kita accept the punishment in her place then?"
"Pah~"
Kita's small face turned slightly red, and she couldn't help but soft-spit under her breath.
Although she didn't know what the punishment was, it was definitely going to be very indecent.
"Accept it then accept it." Kita raised her snow-white little chin, crossed her arms over her chest, and said in a charming voice, "I won't be afraid."
"Don't involve Kita, punishing me is enough..."
Hitori spoke timidly, looking towards Kita with emotion as she spoke.
"A person takes responsibility for their own actions." Kita coughed twice and helped out, "I was the one who told everyone the secret. If anyone is to be punished, it should naturally be me, it has nothing to do with Hitori-chan."
"But..."
"No buts, Hitori, hurry up and go home." Kita pushed Hitori toward the bathroom while turning her head to look over at Kitahara, "That's all for today, as for punishment or whatever, we can talk about it when I have time."
"No problem."
Kitahara agreed verbally, but his eyes were full of deep meaning.
Their eyes met.
Without needing to speak at all, Kita easily read the meaning in his eyes:
"Come over tonight to accept your punishment."
"..."
In the blink of an eye, it was eleven o'clock at night.
As the girls went back to rest one after another, the house quietly grew cold and quiet.
Kitahara went back to his room holding a water glass, sitting leaning against the headboard reading a book to pass the time.
Before long, the door was secretly pushed open a crack. A red twin-tailed girl peeked inside secretly, and after confirming that Kitahara was the only one there, she quickly slipped inside.
"I'm here." Kita walked over to the side of the bed, put her hands on her hips, and raised her small face, "After you punish me, you're not allowed to take advantage of Hitori-chan anymore."
"That goes without saying."
Kitahara reached out his hand with a gentle scoop and scooped Kita directly into his arms.
"Ah..."
Kita let out a soft cry, resting her red face against Kitahara's chest:
"Reading so late... Eh, it's actually the History of Western Philosophy?"
Kitahara closed the book: "Philosophy is the ultimate destiny of the human soul."
"It sounds very high-class, but it feels like so-called philosophy is just something rich people think about when they have nothing better to do after eating their fill." Kita raised her small face, "Did Kitahara understand it?"
Kitahara nodded: "Understood a little bit."
"Eh, what did you understand?"
Kita was quite curious.
Bang.
Kitahara tossed the book onto the storage shelf, then looked at Kita with burning eyes:
"I flipped through it back and forth several times, and finally understood one thing... Philosophy is not meant for me, lewdness is my true life destiny."
"Pah~"
Kita's small face turned crimson, and she couldn't help but let out a soft spit:
"Kitahara, don't fill your whole head with those kinds of things, you need to exercise restraint... Ah!"
As Kitahara began to tease her, Kita closed her eyes bashfully, but her arms had already instinctively raised to wrap around Kitahara's neck:
"Turn off the lights first..."
"Even if the lights are off, I can see clearly."
"S-See clearly or not, turn off the lights..."
"Kita, beg me."
"Mm, I like Kitahara..."
"How much do you like me?"
"As much as from the Earth to the Moon... Please, love you, love you..."
"..."
The girl's coquettish voice was charming and pleasant, gentle and lingering, as if it could wrap around one's fingertips; in short, it was exceptionally sweet to hear.
Kitahara was fully satisfied and raised his hand to turn off the lights. Just as he was preparing to devour Kita completely, he suddenly heard a soft 'clack' sound coming from the direction of the door.
"Eh-eh-eh?"
Kita heard the noise as well, opening her eyes in panic and bashfully hiding in the inner side against the wall:
"Someone's here!"
The lights had just been turned off, so the room was dim and dark. However, the curtains weren't pulled tightly shut, and a strand of cool moonlight spilled in from outside the window. Coupled with Kitahara's innate night vision, he could naturally see clearly who the newcomer was.
Pink hair reaching her waist, wearing pajamas, and a pair of black glasses on her face... It was none other than Anon.
"Eh, Small-fry-kun, are you sleeping this early today?"
Anon muttered in a low voice, walking over quietly with catlike steps.
When alone together, Anon super liked the nickname 'Small-fry-kun', even though she herself was the real small fry.
"It's already past eleven, how is that early?" Kitahara's voice sounded faintly, "There's school tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is just preparing for the school festival, it doesn't matter if we go a bit late." Anon pushed up the glasses on the bridge of her nose, her sharp little tiger tooth appearing exceptionally cute under the moonlight, "Seeing as Small-fry-kun is in a low mood today, I came out of great mercy to give you a reward."
"What reward?"
"Of course it's stepping heavily on Small-fry-kun with my feet. For Pervert-kun, this is a reward you'd beg for, right?"
She only stepped on your back once, she remembers it way too clearly!
"Heigh-ho~"
Anon came pressing down with a full body press, supporting herself with her hands on Kitahara's chest, looking down from above:
"Why isn't Small-fry-kun thanking me yet?"
Still have to thank you?
If you hadn't come over, I would've already devoured Kita completely, okay!
Seeing Kitahara not speaking, Anon leaned down closer, her breath like orchids:
"Hurry up and thank me. If you make me happy, I can give Small-fry-kun even more rewards, oh."
Kitahara looked at her with disgust: "Can't even last three minutes, so weak yet loves to play."
"Ooh—"
Anon's cheeks quickly puffed up, the little tiger tooth at the corner of her mouth gleaming coldly:
"I am not that weak, okay! It's clearly because Small-fry-kun is too, too..."
The content that followed was far too embarrassing; Anon ultimately couldn't bring herself to say it out loud, so she could only open her mouth and bite right onto Kitahara's neck with an "awoo".
Calling it biting, it actually didn't hurt at all—it was more like a cat playing pranks.
"Hmph hmph, saying no with your mouth, but your body is pretty honest."
Anon let out a soft hmph, her pretty face crimson. Just as she was about to push Kitahara down, she suddenly heard a soft 'clack' sound coming from the door.
"Eh, someone's here?"
Anon was startled and hurriedly rolled over to hide toward the inside of the bed.
Bang.
Two small heads collided directly into each other.
"So painful..."
The girl's soft cry sounded low.
Anon held her forehead, opening her eyes wide to look over:
"Eh, Kita-chan?"
"Cough..." Kita's small face was crimson, her voice filled with embarrassment, "Anon-chan, what a coincidence..."
The two shared a 'comradeship' from having fought side-by-side together, so being discovered by Anon didn't make her panic, but she still felt super embarrassed.
"Shh, someone came in."
Kitahara reminded them in a low voice.
"..."
The two girls hurriedly covered their mouths, blinking at each other under the blanket.
"Who could the person coming in be?"
"Don't know..."
"Could it be someone who also wants to night-raid Kitahara-kun?"
"Definitely."
"..."
The door closed quietly.
A girl stepped over lightly, dark fragrance floating in the air, followed by a gentle, pleasant voice sounding softly:
"Kitahara-kun, are you asleep?"
Kita and Anon instantly judged whose voice it was:
"Ah, it's Soyo."
"Such a gentle voice, it could only be Soyo-chan."
Kitahara looked toward Soyo, his feelings complex:
"I'm not asleep yet."
"That's good, I was worried that coming over so late meant Kitahara-kun would already be asleep." Soyo sat down by the edge of the bed, raising her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice gentle, "Kitahara-kun had a hard day today, I wanted to come over and give you a body massage. In the future, no matter what happens, please be sure to tell everyone and don't bear it alone anymore."
Soyo was often gentle, and only occasionally a bit scheming.
Without a doubt, Soyo at this moment was in her super gentle Yamato Nadeshiko mode.
When learning the truth at the onsen village, Soyo already wanted to gently comfort Kitahara. Unfortunately, there were many people around at the time and she was embarrassed to stay behind, so she chose to do a secret night raid instead. Compared to cold text on a phone, face-to-face comfort was naturally much more effective.
"It's already very late today, how about doing the body massage tomorrow instead?"
Kitahara coughed lightly, declining softly.
"Eh?"
Soyo froze slightly, her lips pursing lightly as she tilted her head and looked over.
If it were usual, Kitahara would have pounced on her impatiently long ago, yet today he didn't even budge... Something was wrong, very wrong.
"Could it be..."
Soyo's gaze turned lightly, looking toward the inner side of the bed. Although the light was dim, with the help of the moonlight outside the window, she could still vaguely see a bulge beneath the blanket.
"As expected."
Soyo's cheeks puffed up slightly, and she stood up preparing to leave:
"Sorry, I suddenly remembered I have other things to do, I'll head back first."
Although she didn't know who was hiding under the blanket, it shouldn't be Little Sakiko, so leaving quickly was best to avoid embarrassment.
Just as Soyo had stood up, she suddenly heard a soft 'clack' sound from the door.
"Eh?"
Soyo paused in her tracks, looking around frantically in a circle. Since she couldn't hide inside the blanket, she ultimately chose to hide out on the balcony.
"Someone came again..."
Kitahara closed his eyes in 'despair'.
As the old saying goes: one monk carries water to drink, two monks carry water together to drink, three monks have no water to drink.
Everyone coming over to night-raid him was naturally something to be happy about, but with everyone coming over to night-raid at once, he couldn't feel happy at all!