Shino felt the abnormal ambient temperature inside the villa. Its heaters and air conditioning units automatically adjust the temperature based on the presets. The heat inside wasn't just about the temperature, but something else. Something that aroused Shino. Something so familiar she could not be mistaken by it.
Only when Kuroneko rushed off outside the villa did she snap back to reality. With a flushed face, she turned her gaze towards Eishi and Saeko before chasing after Kuroneko's back. All of her confusion and conflicts were buried at the back of her mind.
It wasn't until a while later did Saeko stop moving. Her blurred eyes stared at Eishi who had visibly calmed down. His uneven breaths touched her breasts. Like a child who had done something wrong, he did not dare meet her eyes.
'I am too excessive this time…'
Eishi inhaled the faint fragrance emanating from Saeko's skin. His mind had completely cooled off at this point. The effects of the sudden surge of his constitution was barely held under control. The mess they made during the past few hours was needless to say. If he was present in Yokohama, he would have been in three rooms at the very least. Saeko's decision to take him one-on-one is a monumental feat that placed a very large strain on her body.
Its effects became apparent. Her face hung limply on his shoulders. Her breathing became even as she fell asleep, not minding the wet couch and their sticky bodies.
'Everything I did here… it's all gone.'
Eishi could only sigh out of helplessness. If it was anyone else, they would have turned into a horndog whose life is dedicated to having sex. Being able to control his overflowing hormones is an extremely difficult feat. Fortunately, his spirit and agility attribute was high enough to pull it off. The former gave him clarity of mind. The latter allowed him to 'control' his body directly. It was very absurd, but that was how things worked.
'I'll go and focus on [Spirit Boost] next…'
*****
Another night passed by peacefully. Aside from some flying evolved animals and several aquatic lifeforms attempting to climb up the walls, the New Tokyo Shelter hasn't experienced any attacks.
Kaguya's ability granted Eishi three second-grade evolution fruits corresponding to physical, spirit, and Regeneration. He had used up the physical evolution fruit to level-up his [Constitution Boost] to the third-order. He had been lucky enough for this level up to happen right away.
Unlike life levels, talents' level up rely on luck. That was Eishi's experience with them since twenty-four days ago. Hence, he made up his mind to keep smashing evolution fruits the entire night. His efforts bore fruits when morning came.
Sitting on the corner of the bed, Eishi closed his eyes to feel the sense of 'coolness' seeping through his entire body. He felt the huge difference in an instant. His five senses grew sharper. Something as faint as wind entering the closed windows were caught by his ears.
'I am not a human at this point…'
[Eishi Hiraoka]
Innate Talent: Time Dominator (SSS, Third-order)
Non-exclusive Talent: Spatial Backpack (3,210,000 Cubic Meters), Constitution Boost (SS, Third-order), Weak Electricity (A, Second-order), Spirit Boost (B, Third-order), Metal Sharpening (A, Second-order), Clairvoyance (A, Second-order), Regeneration (A, Second-order)
Life Level: Third-order, Five-stars
Strength: 889 > 1,049 (948 > 1,368)
Agility: 883 > 1,046 (2,386 > 3,452)
Constitution: 2,585 > (8,531 > 9,059)
Spirit: 1,755 > 2,015 (2,282 > 2,620)
Looking at his absurd attribute panel, Eishi felt satisfaction welling up in his chest. Crushing evolution fruits is way easier compared to absorbing zombies' crystals. Kaguya's existence brought his leveling speed back to the usual.
'I need to raise her life level up. Her talent being SS rated is good enough, too.'
This was the first time he was generous towards someone not his own—his girlfriend. Still, Eishi was more than willing to invest in Kaguya. As for everything else, he doesn't care much. The number of potential confidantes are larger compared to his free slots. Eishi wasn't so pressed about it to the point he would embroil himself in a huge drama. He wasn't the type to forcefully harass others, either. So long as they remain loyal to him, he wouldn't mind handing out some benefits.
By the time he cleared his mind and left the room, an enticing scent came from the kitchen. Only then did Eishi remember about the 'maid' they took in a day ago—their physical chore laborer, per se.
Shino's [Heavenly Contract] makes it impossible for Ai to harm them. Coupled with her subservience, something caused by Kaguya's presence, he didn't think much of her. The moment he sat down on the clean couch, Eishi inadvertently recalled the madness they did yesterday. They had no qualms in being seen by Ai and Kuroneko.
'They should be fine…'
Saeko didn't come down for breakfast. He was the culprit in that regard. Having sex with Eishi tired her more than the night raid they pulled off. Only Shino came down to sit right beside him. Her expression remained shy as her irises recalled that scene in this couch.
'It's not only me…'
This was the place where she lost her first time, yet Eishi was decadent enough to fuck someone else here. No matter how much she liked him, it was inevitable for grievance and jealousy to arise.
Eishi's strong spirit caught her microexpressions. His right hand deftly wrapped around her waist, pulling Shino towards his side. This made the latter surprised, her eyes looking up to meet him.
"...Something went wrong while I was eating those fruits. Remember the three attributes I told you? They…"
He swallowed the sliver of guilt and explained things. He pointed out the rapid and abnormal increase of his constitution due to a talent he gained from eating fruits. This made him more prone to having 'outbursts'.
"Part of the problem is with me…" He hesitated before pushing out the words outside his mouth. "...so I am sorry."
It was a word that felt foreign to his mouth. Eishi never explained things properly to his other confidantes. He expected them to resolve things on their own—jealousy, grievances, and the likes. Only now did he feel the weight of his actions… his scummy actions.
Shino's body froze. Her eyes turned moist as she looked at Eishi's face. The warmth flooding her chest was something she never felt before.
He cares about her, pretty much so!
Feeling at a loss on how to show her emotions, she snuggled her face on his chest. Eishi's hold over her waist grew slightly tighter.
This scene happened to be seen by Ai who had just finished cooking. She looked at the two speechlessly. A trace of shame appeared on her face.
'He… a playboy… how are girls falling for him?'
Thinking of the dazed look Saeko wore yesterday, Ai did not know what to say. She never dealt with matters regarding the bedroom even when she was a maid at the Shinomiya Household. Her knowledge wasn't rock-bottom, however.
For someone to make that kind of face, she could only imagine how intense the pleasure was. Eishi's image that night chilled her thoughts. That blood-chilling scene of his slaughter over hundreds all happened in a blink. She could not begin to think how she would fight against him, much less kill him. That was the biggest reason behind her surrender.
Shaking her head, Ai affirmed herself.
'He is a demon.'
"Eishi-sama. Breakfast is ready."
*****
Four days had gone by since Eishi left Yokohama. The women left in his villa did not sit still. Though they did not have any second-grade evolution fruits, Eishi left them with a bunch of zombie crystals. They also carried out their usual combat training every day.
Two days ago, they pulled off their biggest campaign yet—the subway.
Home to several fourth-order zombies, it is where the strongest zombies gathered. The population concentrated in that area when the apocalypse broke out is the largest. It gave birth to fourth-order zombies who ate their way through the food chain.
Zombies are far weaker compared to their human counterparts, however. Their attributes are heavily skewed towards only one. That means the two other attributes left behind would be weaker. A fourth-order zombie could be defeated by a third-order esper.
That was what Eishi's confidantes did. Upon gaining his approval, all eleven of them raided the subways. The Buffs on them are extremely powerful. Add to that the 'sure-block' against killing blows once per day, Eishi did not object to them wanting to become stronger.
Before, he wanted to turn them into a private female army of sorts to satisfy his vanity. Now, he only wanted them to become stronger so that they can protect themselves.
While they did not think much about it, the others did. The survivors managed by Haruno, for once, doubted their decision. Yet no one had the galls to speak up. The power of the villa's 'Valkyrie Team' was there for everyone to see.
Three days ago, a group of espers took advantage of Eishi's departure. They thought that the women around him wouldn't be as strong as him. That they could capture the safest villa throughout all of Yokohama.
The result of that battle was a one-sided massacre. Be it guns, ammunition, or individual powers as an esper, none could compare to them.
Interestingly enough, the man who seemed to be their leader survived. His strange, uncanny powers enabled him to cut through things with little effort. He was the one responsible for cutting through a quarter of the villa's thick wall in an attempt to flank them from behind. Indirectly, this failed attack marked the end of every other major esper group other than the city hall. The remaining ones either joined the city hall or the survivor camp managed by Haruno.
With less troubles to think of, Eishi ultimately agreed to their subway raid plan.
Splatter-!
The crisp explosion of a large deformed corpse rang across the railtracks. The dark lighting was compensated with a bunch of portable lamps. Several corpses had also been set in flames, providing vision in this decrepit place. Zombie corpses piled up high like a mountain. Their heads are taken off their necks by the fourth-order mutant zombies.
Shizuka-sensei stabbed the mutant zombie's head several times before letting out a sigh of relief. The faint orange light emanating from its corpse disappeared entirely.
'It's over.'
She looked around her. She wasn't the only one covered in sticky blood; everyone is. They did not split into several groups, opting to advance together as one. The ones with support-type superpowers are stationed on the safer areas, evading enemies while supporting others at the same time. The ones with long-ranged superpowers followed behind those with melee-talents, and at the same time, provided suppressive fire to maintain a buffer zone.
The combination of rifles and superpowers turned eleven women into an unstoppable force. When the numbers of zombies grew overwhelming, they barraged them with long-ranged attacks or threw explosives without restraints. If they experienced fatigue, they would pop up [Stamina Restoration Pills].
"Shizuka-san."
The busty Shizuka handed over a transparent sports drink over to her. The latter received it with gratitude, enjoying the cold sensation crawling down her throat.
"How are the others?" She asked.
"Doing quite well. There aren't many things in this place aside from… zombies."
The subway is a strategic location for zombies. Zombies can use the numerous pathways and the darkness as a cover to eat off any espers who would attempt to invade. If it wasn't for the 'Lucky Eyes' revealing their locations, things wouldn't have gone as smoothly.
Just then, a crisp ringing sound rang across the entire subway.
Bam-!
Everyone turned their heads and saw Megumi appearing out of nowhere. A figure flew past them—the one Megumi sent flying. The somewhat familiar face and the pair of shattered glasses gave way to his identity:
The leader of the attacking espers from two days ago!