Sure enough, it really was a carrot.
A vibrant orange object, resembling an apple, quietly hid in the shadows behind the TV. Alain bent down, picked it up, and held it out for everyone to see.
He turned to Mila. "Under what circumstances does a carrot turn into a virus?"
"Either the version is eroded," Mila began. She thought for two seconds, then added, "or perhaps the carrot itself was attacked?"
"Got it."
Alain looked around at the group, their eyes burning with determination. The girls' fervor shone through their gazes, igniting into roaring flames aimed at the Modified Entities—
"Everyone, let's split into groups. Search the rooms for carrots, then regroup in the living room."
"I want to team up with Alain!" Prankster Mita reacted fastest, raising her hand first.
"I... I too..."
Cool Mita's eyebrows hovered slightly, caught mid-air, as if she were unsure whether to lower them or raise her hand.
"Hey, friend. You wouldn't want to team up with Alain, would you?" Cute Mita said, clearly displeased. "Don't get too carried away with your lovestruck tendencies. I'm your perfect partner."
"I'm not lovestruck!" Cool Mita protested.
"Alright, alright." Alain hadn't expected grouping to cause friction. He subtly glanced at Mita.
"What?" She pursed her lips and glared at Alain. "If you want to team up with me, forget it. I'd rather go with Mita."
"Simp," Alain said, "lying again? I just wanted to ask for a solution."
"Hah? I'm not the simp! You're the simp!" Mita wanted to slap Alain but veered off-topic.
"Grouping? Easy—draw lots."
A moment later...
"...This part of your plan too?" Mila stared at the slip in her hand labeled with Alain's name, lost in thought.
Alain didn't suspect a thing. "You're overthinking. I can't predict the future."
They were assigned to the bathroom, still searching for possible carrots.
Teaming with Mila seemed like a plot to guide the girl.
"Just so we're clear, task first. If you're trying to capture me—"
"Pfft, found one." Before she finished, Alain pulled a carrot from the corner.
He turned back to Mila. "What were you saying? Task first, then what?"
He eyed the girl still ranting in place.
"Planning to stay stubborn forever? Total shut-in."
"I-I..." Mila neither stood nor leaned. "Aah, my bad, sorry."
The girl immediately opened a cabinet, searching for possible carrots. She'd thought this harem protag would use their alone time to chat her up.
But instead...
"Now I'm the idle one," Mila thought. Guilt welled in her as her view of Alain shifted slightly.
She sneaked a glance at the young man. He worked seriously, meticulously checking every bathroom corner, missing no clues.
"Found it." His words revealed another carrot.
Now he had two in hand, while Mila had none...
"I can't just be the homeowner doing nothing," Mila thought. Alain was here to help her, yet she, the shut-in, was lagging far behind...
No more slacking.
Go, fighting! Mila!!!
A while later...
"Good, most spots checked."
Alain held four carrots, turning to Mila. "How'd you do?"
"..." Mila looked at his four carrots, held up three fingers, then turned away.
Lost...
As homeowner, she'd utterly lost to Alain...
Why was he so efficient? Grabbing carrots like he had x-ray vision.
Alain eyed the virus scan arrow pointing ahead. He hadn't expected virus scan to prove useful now, helping him find plenty...
One last carrot...
The final one hid in the laundry basin. Bathroom total: eight carrots. Almost half.
Alain hoped no oversights elsewhere.
"Huh? Still more?"
Mila watched Alain squat by her laundry basin, rummaging, but said nothing.
Soon, he pulled several yellow vegetables from the shadows...
"Got it. Time to regroup—hm?"
Not just the carrot; a bit of milky-white fabric clung to its tip.
A soft rustle~
The fabric emerged from shadow; Alain shook his arm, dropping it.
"What's this?" Curious, he set the carrot aside to inspect the fabric.
Mila stared blankly at the fabric, a spark of realization hitting... She understood what it was.
"W-Wait—"
Too late; Alain fully spread it out.
"Oh, I see..." He glanced at Mila, then at her panties, which he folded into a pile and handed to her.
"Keep 'em safe. Don't leave them in such an obvious place next time."
"..." Mila watched his retreating back with a mix of confusion and indignation, suppressing a breath. "You... idiot who can't compliment a girl's panties!"
"Eh, they're cute?"
"Scram!"
"Compliment her and she's mad. Tough woman."
"What? I-I'm easy! No, what am I saying..."
...
When Alain exited, everyone gathered in the living room, each holding quite a few carrots.
"Alain, too bad we didn't group up..." Prankster Mita's pocket held Tiny Mita.
Alain smiled lightly, nodded, and placed his carrots on the table. Everyone followed suit. He silently tallied...
"Perfect, exactly 17." He sighed in relief, glancing at the girls.
He saw their resolute gazes.
Alain quietly opened the Safety Assistant panel, activated Cleaning Acceleration, and gripped the greatsword.
"...What's with that sword?" Mila and Cute Mita asked in unison.
"Never mind. Unpacked it from a JRPG next door."
He brushed it off casually... earning their "Huh?" as eyes focused on the carrots slightly outside the table.
Modified Entities were the prerequisite for cleaning Corrosive Entities...
And Corrosive Entities had burrowed deep into the game world's foundation.
As Alain pondered, under everyone's gazes, he swung the greatsword down—
Crack! The carrots split... strands of black mist seeped from the clean cuts...
___
🔥 New stories are available now! 🔥
✅ Access up to 40 advanced chapters of ALL stories!
✅ Receive exclusive content and updates!
Help us hit our community goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 180 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters of ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan