Chapter 178: Mrs. Sawamura’s Assist and Sleeping Tea

Inside the Multiversal Chat Group, everyone watched the video feed with great interest.

Spoilers Are Fun: "He ran, he ran! No way am I being a third wheel right now!"

Big Sister is Supreme: "Running away +1. I'm really curious to see how that guy reacts when facing the blonde loser."

Pain Magnet: "I know it's kinda bad, but I'm really curious how Haruto will treat Eriri, since she's an old acquaintance. Ah! Is this the joy of dark humor? I see the truth now!"

Hall Master of Wangsheng: "You beast, what truth did you even see?!"

Pain Magnet: "???"

Hall Master of Wangsheng: "Ahem, sorry. I memorized too many scripture passages as a kid. That was just a reflex."

Portal Daddy: "Eriri is just a normal person, yet she's come into contact with an anomaly. Will he show favoritism and let her off, or will he strictly enforce the Foundation's rules?"

Big Sister is Supreme: "Hah, that guy will definitely erase her memories. The blonde loser won't even remember it afterward."

Spoilers Are Fun: "True. Under normal circumstances, memory erasure means Eriri would forget everything. That way, it wouldn't affect his reputation, and it aligns with the Foundation's rules."

Spoilers Are Fun: "Too bad… with the Multiversal Chat Group, Master Haruto and Eriri's relationship won't just disappear."

Blonde Defeated Dog: "Haruto would never be that cold-blooded!"

Big Sister is Supreme: "Fool. He never even told you about the Foundation's existence before. Clearly, the Foundation's rules are more important to him than some blonde loser."

Blonde Defeated Dog: "That's impossible!"

Even though she was arguing in the chat, Eriri was actually feeling anxious.

She was genuinely afraid that Haruto would erase her memories without hesitation. Even if that happened, their relationship wouldn't necessarily break apart.

But… Eriri would be heartbroken for a long time.

Not to mention, that damn Shinobu would mock her in the chat.

Although she trusted Haruto, it was also true that he had never once mentioned the Foundation's existence to her.

For a moment, Eriri, whose acting skills were already terrible, found her expression becoming even more rigid.

Just then, Haruto strode toward her.

Eriri: !?

'It's over. They were right after all.'

A bitter feeling welled up in Eriri's heart as she resigned herself to the memory wipe, already thinking about how she would hold her ground in the chat group afterward.

But in the next instant—

She felt a firm pull at her waist, her body tipping forward.

And then, she fell into a warm embrace.

"You're okay… that's such a relief. I was really worried."

A deep voice echoed in Eriri's ears, instantly washing away all the emotions she had just been feeling.

Being held like this, Eriri stood there in a daze.

She could feel the warmth of the embrace and hear that slightly hoarse voice.

The bitterness that had been weighing on her heart vanished in an instant, and even the lingering fear from encountering an anomaly melted away like a dream.

A sweet sensation of being cherished blossomed in her chest and quickly spread through her entire body.

'Haruto really is the best in the world!'

Eriri closed her eyes slightly, and this was the only thought left in her mind.

Meanwhile, in the Multiversal Chat Group…

Big Sister is Supreme: "Tch!"

Spoilers Are Fun: "Tearing up over here, folks! No questions about the anomaly, no explanation of his identity…"

Spoilers Are Fun: "The first thing he said when he saw her was just pure concern. Is this what sweet love looks like?"

Hall Master of Wangsheng: "Wow, I never expected Haruto to have this side to him. This is both surprising and impressive."

Portal Daddy: "This scene reminds me of her… Ugh, the pain, the pain is too much!"

Pain Magnet: "The cold and powerful President of the Foundation… has a side like this too?!"

At that moment, Haruto glanced at the flood of messages in the chat and once again felt grateful for his decision to keep a low profile and hide his true identity.

Otherwise, how else could he have witnessed a scene like this?

Everyone in the chat thought he was playing at Level One. But in reality, he was in the stratosphere!

After a long moment of warmth, Eriri gently pulled away from the embrace, lifting her head slightly as she said,

"Wh-what are you doing? Haruto, you're acting like such a kid! Of course I'm fine!"

Spoilers Are Fun: "There it is! The textbook tsundere response! Miss Eriri has chosen the most popular attack style!"

Pain Magnet: "Hiss! Tsundere creatures are truly terrifying!"

Hall Master of Wangsheng: "Your tenderness is strong, sure, but if—and I'm just saying if—I were to pull out the Tsundere card… and pair it with golden twin tails… how would you handle that?"

Portal Daddy: "I'm too old for this. Can't bear to watch. Off to save the universe."

Big Sister is Supreme: "Dropping a solid 6!"

While everyone in the chat was eagerly waiting to see how Haruto would respond to Eriri's tsundere act…

"Eriri, this is for your own protection. Now, sleep peacefully. There will be no more anomalies in your dreams."

With that, Haruto reached out and lightly tapped Eriri's forehead.

Eriri: "…!"

Before she could even protest, her body went limp, and she collapsed forward. Haruto caught her effortlessly, and she was already in a deep sleep.

Memory Erasure Technique, activated!

The Multiversal Chat Group fell into absolute silence.

No one could process what had just happened. Just a moment ago, this boy was full of concern for Eriri. And in the next, without warning, he had wiped her memory.

As Eriri lost consciousness, the group video feed automatically shut off.

Holding Eriri in his arms, Haruto glanced at the screen and saw that the video had closed.

Then, he smirked.

Got them.

Without hesitation, Haruto carried Eriri straight back to her apartment.

With this, the situation was settled.

As for what would happen when Eriri woke up and saw the chat logs, realizing she had been memory-wiped…

Hadn't he told her? It was for her protection.

Surely, Eriri would understand.

Haruto pressed the doorbell.

Before long, the apartment door opened.

Mrs. Sawamura's face lit up the moment she saw Haruto. But when she noticed the unconscious Eriri in his arms, she froze for a second—

Then, her smile became even more dazzling.

"Oh my, oh my! It's Haruto-kun! What happened? Did my daughter cause trouble for you again? There's an empty guest room upstairs, or she could sleep in her own room, it's a double bed, and I've prepared, uh… safety measures… Never mind, it's fine!"

Haruto: "???"

Hearing Mrs. Sawamura's wild words, Haruto felt his brain short-circuit.

Lady, just how eager are you to push Eriri onto me?

Is this really something a mother should be saying?!

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Haruto forced a smile and said,

"Ahem, well… Eriri fainted due to low blood sugar. I happened to be nearby, so I brought her back."

Mrs. Sawamura's expression stiffened slightly at his words.

What?!

So it wasn't that kind of development?!

"Oh my, is that so? You must've had a hard time, Haruto-kun. Could you help carry Eriri to her room?"

She put on a delicate and pitiful expression.

Haruto felt another headache coming on.

Madam, are you seriously going this far just to play matchmaker?!

This is insanity.

Seeing no way to refuse, Haruto resigned himself to his fate and carried Eriri up to the second floor and into her bedroom.

He carefully placed her on the bed, then removed her outer coat and shoes. Adjusting her sleeping position, he pulled the blanket over her and tucked her in.

Haruto was very familiar with this routine.

Back in middle school, Mrs. Sawamura had gone through a phase where she was obsessed with traveling.

Eriri's father was always busy with work.

Middle school Eriri had been timid and would often, in roundabout ways, get Haruto to come over and sleep on the floor. It was during that time that their relationship deepened, and Haruto naturally became skilled at taking care of her.

After making sure Eriri was settled, Haruto closed the bedroom door and made his way downstairs.

But there, he found Mrs. Sawamura already waiting for him.

"Haruto-kun, thank you for your hard work. Here, have some tea."

Mrs. Sawamura smiled sweetly, carrying over two cups of tea.

Instantly, alarm bells rang in Haruto's mind.

'It shouldn't be, right? There's no way she'd go as far as spiking the tea with a sleeping agent just to play matchmaker…'

That thought alone made Haruto's scalp tingle.

"Uh… I appreciate it, Mrs. Sawamura, but I rushed here carrying Eriri, and my companions are still waiting for me outside. I should go explain the situation to them so they don't worry. Thank you for your hospitality!"

After saying that, Haruto quickly bolted away.

Although something like sleeping tea would never work on him, if he drank it and showed no reaction, that would also be suspicious.

Even if it wasn't actually sleeping tea.

After Haruto left, Mrs. Sawamura sighed, picked up a teacup, and took a sip of black tea. Then, she glanced in the direction of Eriri's bedroom upstairs.

Mrs. Sawamura sighed again.

What am I supposed to do to save you, my foolish daughter?

Bitter wine burns the heart!

Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp...

Meanwhile, Haruto had already returned to the containment station.

He arrived outside the containment chamber for the Clockwork Virus (SCP-217). At this moment, inside the room was… a Mechanical Angel?

For now, let's call it Mechanical Angel (SCP-217-1).

It had already completely transformed into a mechanical being, devoid of all emotions and other traits belonging to a human.

Due to the measures taken during containment,

Most of the Mechanical Angel's body had been damaged and reduced.

Now, inside the containment room, all that remained was half a mechanical torso, a bald metallic head, and two camera-like eyes.

Inside its torso, gears continued to spin relentlessly.

At the center of its "chest" was a mechanical heart composed of gears and pipes.

It seemed to sense Haruto's arrival.

The two camera-like eyes on its head turned in his direction, and their indicator lights began to flicker red.

Haruto locked eyes with it and gradually furrowed his brows.

Something felt off.

Looking at this Mechanical Angel, he felt a strong sense of disgust.

Tracing the source of this reaction, Haruto realized, it was coming from the Blacklight Virus inside his body.

That surprised him.

Could the Clockwork Virus (SCP-217) be on the same level as the Blacklight Virus, or perhaps even higher?

That was simply unbelievable.

The Blacklight Virus within Haruto had evolved to terrifying heights, and its conceptual nature had been greatly elevated.

At this point, it was practically a Supreme Divinity candidate representing the concept of "evolution."

Yet, it now felt threatened and repulsed by the Clockwork Virus (SCP-217).