Chapter 59

Black mist rose and gathered, forming a terrifying outline behind Aki Tomoya.

Dozens of pained, twisted human faces emerged grotesquely across his back.

BOOM!

BOOM BOOM!!

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

To the horror of everyone present, the faces suddenly exploded one by one—each burst transforming into bloody projectiles that carpet-bombed the surrounding area with devastating force.

"Oh no!"

Ji Qiming's face turned pale with terror. She spun on her heel to escape, but the blood bombs were faster than she could react. In a blink, they were upon her, like arrows loosed from hell itself.

"Is this... the end? Am I going to die here?"

Just as despair took hold—

A sharp pulse of light flashed. Kato Megumi, acting on instinct, raised her hand and activated the command seal etched into her wrist.

In the next moment—

A familiar figure tore through the fabric of space, sweeping Ji Qiming into his arms, shielding her body with his own as the blood bombs collided with him instead.

"Aki Tomoya...?"

It was Kurosawa Ren—his crimson dragon-born physique effortlessly absorbing the flesh-bomb barrage.

The thunderous blasts echoed through the air, but none could even scratch him.

Ren stared at the grotesque monster that was once Tomoya, his eyes narrowing.

"Kurosawa Ren!"

Aki Tomoya shrieked. His entire body contorted like a serpent, and a symphony of tortured voices erupted from his many mouths.

"DIE! BECOME ME! JOIN ME FOREVER!"

"Hmph. So, this is what you've become..." Ren muttered coldly, eyes flashing with understanding.

He's been corrupted—possessed. This isn't just mutation—it's soul manipulation. Someone tampered with his essence.

Ren's gaze sharpened.

"Pitiful... You're blinded by rage. There's no saving you now."

He extended his hand, summoning an array of black keys etched with shimmering three-colored runes.

In a blur, he hurled them like arrows.

The black keys screamed through the air, whistling like banshees—each one a razor-edged blade of magical judgment.

Within seconds, Aki Tomoya was pinned to the ground beneath the crushing force of the magic, bound in place by glowing runes.

"I declare here—" Ren spoke solemnly.

"That I have killed and I have created. That I return what is taken to dust. That I show mercy to the soul before me—

Kyrie Eleison."

As divine light engulfed the battlefield, Aki Tomoya's hideous form began to convulse violently. His face contorted, screaming not in fury, but agony.

Like oil meeting fire, his body twisted, collapsed—and evaporated into a trail of curling black smoke.

Silence fell.

A prompt shimmer of light floated into Ren's hand.

+5 Saint Crystals Acquired

Item Gained: [Virtual Dust]

[Virtual Dust]: The residual essence left behind by corrupted shadows. Can be used as a component in crafting divine weaponry.

"Is it... really over?" whispered the girl with the Yin-Yang eyes, still nestled in Ren's arms.

Her cheeks flushed a bright scarlet, and she lowered her gaze shyly.

The other girls in the room just stared in stunned silence.

Aside from Kasumigaoka Utaha, Kirisu Mafuyu, and Kato Megumi—who were already familiar with Ren's power—most of the others stood paralyzed with disbelief.

The sheer supernatural strength he had shown, paired with the calm, measured way he handled danger—it left a deep impression in each of their hearts.

Later that evening, Kurosawa Ren led the still-shaken girls back to his home, where he began to explain the true nature of the world they now lived in.

"So what you're saying is... our world is no longer safe?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked, clenching her fists tightly.

Ren nodded grimly.

"Demons are on the rise. Spirits roam freely. If you don't have powers of your own, you could end up like those who didn't survive today."

Kaguya Shinomiya shivered. The memory of being so close to death clung to her like a cold wind. She silently gave thanks that Hayasaka Ai had waited for her outside the school gates—had she gone in, she might not have made it out alive.

Her eyes slowly drifted toward Kurosawa Ren.

Again, he had saved her.

He protected her against her estranged older brother before. Now he'd shielded her in the most terrifying situation she'd ever faced.

Her heart raced.

She bit her lip softly, her ruby-red eyes locked on Ren with quiet admiration.

"He's helped me again..."

Utaha Kasumigaoka watched Kaguya's expression and rolled her eyes with a sigh, muttering under her breath.

"He's collecting girls like Pokémon cards."

"Mr. Ren, could you help determine which supernatural path suits me best?" Kitagawa Umi asked, brimming with energy.

The cosplayer was clearly the fastest to adapt to this new reality. She eagerly raised her hand and bounced on her heels.

Ren gave a nod.

"Alright, Umi. You'll go first."

Suddenly, the mood in the room shifted.

All the girls turned pink at once.

Because just moments ago, Ren had explained that the process of identifying one's supernatural affinity involved—well—intimate physical contact. Kissing. Touching certain pressure points. Magical sensory feedback.

For most of them, even a first kiss hadn't happened yet. And now they were supposed to... let Ren?

Some, like Yukino and Kaguya, were at least familiar with Ren in that way. But others—especially Eiriri and Teacher Yukino Momoka—looked like deer in headlights.

"Teacher Momoka... don't tell me you and Kurosawa-sensei have already—?"

The flustered teacher's cheeks turned crimson.

Her breath caught. Her voice trembled.

"Think of it like... a mosquito bite, okay?" Kirisu Mafuyu said dryly, trying to comfort the others.

That deadpan line caused a burst of laughter, lightening the tension.

Ren, however, glared at Mafuyu, and quietly made a spanking gesture when no one was watching.

The pink-haired teacher blushed furiously, her legs involuntarily weak as memories of earlier "lessons" came flooding back.

Soon, Ren began the "physical examination" of Eriri, Yukino, Teacher Momoka, and Kitagawa Umi.

Laughter, shy gasps, and the occasional squeal of surprise echoed through the house. Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kato Megumi tried to act composed, but their eyes occasionally drifted to the hallway, their minds reliving unspoken moments of their own with Ren.

The Next Day

After a full day of meticulous investigation, Ren had confirmed each girl's supernatural affinity:

Yukino Yukinoshita & Kaguya Shinomiya: Magic Circuit holders; ideal candidates for becoming magicians.

Momoka Yukino & Eiriri Spencer: Spellcaster-type physiques.

Kitagawa Umi: The rarest of them all—an innate Onmyoji.

"You two—Yukino, Kaguya—you'll train under Shiyu and Mafuyu. If you have questions, consult the [Clock Tower of Seals]."

"Momoka-sensei, Eriri—you'll study under An Diva."

"What about me, Kurosawa-senpai?!" Umi asked eagerly, waving her hand.

Ren scratched his head.

"Onmyoji arts... aren't my specialty. But don't worry—I'll find someone qualified to teach you."

He made a mental note to contact the Wano government. They surely had qualified spiritualists who could train a prodigy like Umi.

Later That Morning

Ren accompanied Yukino to her family's new company building in Tokyo. Now that she was aware of the supernatural world, there was no need to keep her in the dark.

The building had been purchased outright by the Yukinoshita family. With Ren's political connections, the government practically gave it away.

As they approached, a striking woman in a tailored gray business suit stood at the entrance.

Yangno Yukinoshita.

Yukino's older sister.

Her mature figure and curvy silhouette stood in stark contrast to her younger sister's elegant but slim frame.

"Welcome, little sis... and long time no see, bad boy."

Ren didn't wait.

He strode up confidently and embraced Yangno—his hand casually squeezing the curve of her hip as he passed.

"Hnn...!?" she gasped softly, her body tensing. Her pupils widened, clearly caught off guard.

Ren simply smiled and walked ahead, acting as if nothing had happened.

Behind him, Yukino blinked.

"Sister, do you... already know Kurosawa-senpai?"

"Yeah," Yangno said through gritted teeth, forcing a tight smile.

"Let's just say we've... crossed paths."

Her expression twitched as she watched the boy who dared tease her in public—her thoughts a swirling mix of outrage, embarrassment... and something else.