"That's practically a demonic ability."
The morning's events didn't cause much of a public disturbance. Gou Himegi was carried away by people Makoto called afterward, but the girls around Alex all learned about his abilities.
The power to control time and lifespan.
Chloe and Anya hadn't seen the horrifying sight of the man being robbed of his lifespan and rapidly aging, but just hearing about it from Makoto made them gasp.
Imagining the scene sent shivers down their spines.
"I am a demon," Alex leaned back in his chair, opened his Lunch Box, and flashed a perfectly timed, wicked, devilish smile at the girls in front of him. "You all knew that already, didn't you?"
The girls sitting beside him—Chloe, Anya, Makoto Himegi, and even Yui Obata—had all, to varying degrees, experienced Alex's terrifying side and been dominated by him.
Even Yui-senpai, who was currently hypnotized, would probably see him as a demon once she woke up.
Alex never concealed this fact, nor did he shy away from it.
He knew better than anyone that he wasn't a good person, and he didn't intend to be one…
"Ugh, Alex isn't a demon at all," Chloe immediately pouted. She had once thought of Alex as a demon countless times, but now she couldn't stand hearing it and retorted, "At least not to us."
Though he's naughty sometimes.
"Exactly, Alex is a very good person. He helped my mother and me so much," Yui-senpai nodded repeatedly in agreement. "How could he be a demon?"
Alex gave the red-haired girl a strange look, feeling an urge to break her hypnosis right now just to see her reaction…
But he held back.
"Actually, there's nothing wrong with being a demon. It's cool," The white-haired Bad Girl was enthusiastic. Anya wasn't exactly a meek, good person to begin with. "Besides, the guy Alex beat up wasn't a good person either."
Speaking of which, she suddenly glanced at Makoto Himegi, who hadn't spoken, and shut her mouth.
She almost forgot that man was her brother. But she and Makoto Himegi don't have much of a friendship. Speaking of which, her brother was reduced to such a miserable state, and she doesn't seem very angry?
That's a bit strange. Her relationship with Alex…
"Makoto," Unlike Anya, Chloe's relationship with Makoto was much closer. She also sensed something and looked worriedly at her friend. "Makoto, Alex…"
"I know. I don't blame him," Makoto Himegi glanced at the boy who was eating with a complicated expression. "That man brought it upon himself. He deserved it."
He even attempted to Assault me, his own sister… The thought of that scene filled Makoto with disgust and revulsion.
Makoto Himegi just didn't know how to face Alex. He hadn't said anything this morning, just a kiss… but that kiss seemed to have said everything.
Because of it, she had completely severed her relationship with her childhood friend, Kaoru Furuta.
Now, joining them for lunch in the library… she still felt a bit uneasy, especially toward Chloe. Chloe was certainly a good friend, but Makoto's involvement with Alex was because of Chloe.
Now falling for the same person as her… It truly is a testament to the unpredictable nature of life.
Chloe noticed this. Not only her, but Anya and Yui Obata also noticed, sensing that a lot had happened between Makoto and Alex, though they didn't know the specifics.
But it was a good thing.
Her good friend's relationship with her lover was easing, even developing feelings… Chloe wasn't particularly jealous or upset; instead, she was happy. She fully supported Makoto joining them.
"My ability isn't just Lifespan Theft…"
Alex didn't notice the girls' thoughts. While eating the Rice Ball from Chloe's lunch box, he said, "I can also Grant Lifespan~"
"Eh?"
The four girls were stunned.
"Grant Lifespan? What does that mean?" Anya didn't understand.
Alex looked helplessly at the Bad Girl's bright red eyes, speechless. "It means that with this ability, I can achieve Immortality; I can have an extended lifespan~"
Since they were all teenagers in high school, young people, they didn't crave or desire immortality, so they naturally didn't think of it immediately. But after Alex reminded them, they all gasped.
An extended lifespan…
That's right. This is the true terrifying aspect of Lifespan Theft: taking others' lives to extend one's own, which is no different from being a devil.
But the power of Time was still greater than that. Alex found that using Time Manipulation—including time acceleration, deceleration, and the Game-Breaking ability of time stop—
—could be powered not only by consuming mental energy but also by consuming lifespan.
After all, his current Intelligence attribute wasn't yet at an unstoppable level, so he couldn't maintain it for too long. Lifespan, however, could be used as a consumable. Of course, consuming too much lifespan was also quite dangerous.
In any case, the limitations of the Time Manipulation ability were significant, but its utility was enormous.
A normal skill costing 20 Affection Points—it certainly lived up to its name.
"That's incredible," Anya recovered from her shock, her eyes sparkling. The Bad Girl exclaimed, "We all knew you had special abilities, Alex, but this one is just insane."
She then gave him a playful glare.
"Yeah, that's so exaggerated. Granting lifespan and all…" Chloe recalled his ability to control her, which was also terrifying, but eternal life was still too astonishing.
Makoto Himegi was also shocked by Alex's ability. However, no matter how powerful it was, she cared more about Alex's attitude than any other ability.
He kissed her so passionately and intensely this morning, yet now he won't even look at her. What does he mean? Does he not like me? Was the morning kiss just a game?
Did I just get dumped?
The girl lowered her head, almost burying it in her ample Cleavage that surpassed all the other girls, distractedly listening to their conversation.
Since they were in the library, their voices were kept low. This place was sparsely populated, and the quiet atmosphere was perfect for discussing private topics.
It was still quite unusual to eat lunch here, though. Didn't that black-haired librarian girl in the distance keep glancing over?
"Alex, with this ability, the lifespan thing, can you help Mom…"
Yui Obata trailed off, but Alex understood what she meant. He smiled. "Well, that depends on Madam Natsumi. I'm never stingy with my women, but Madam Natsumi and I only have a regular relationship."
"I'm just taking care of her as Mr. Obata requested."
They've done everything imaginable, and she has the Silver Mark representing his ownership. Is she not considered his woman?
Yui-senpai didn't doubt him and said softly, "I understand, Alex. Can you come to my house after school today…"
"Of course. I'll come to your place tonight, Yui-senpai, and have a good talk with Madam Natsumi about this~"
Alex flashed a wicked grin, making Yui Obata give a little moan, her face flushed red.
The girls beside them stared blankly at the scene, not pressing for details about what was happening between Alex and the recently acquainted Yui-senpai…