Chapter 336: Forget It, I'm in a Good Mood, No Jealousy Today!
After breakfast, Jashin-chan went out with Minos and Pekola to buy groceries—Ryohei no longer did such small tasks personally, delegating them to Jashin-chan and the others instead.
Acting more and more like a capitalist, Boss Tanaka strolled into the living room and sank comfortably into the sofa.
He took his phone out of his pocket, opened the group chat in his message list, and quickly typed a line of text, casually tagging Yusa, Kyon-Kyon, and Ran-Ran.
[Ryohei]: "Are you guys going back for the Demon World Festival in a few days?"
Seconds after the message was sent, his phone buzzed with vibration.
Kyon-Kyon: "Ah... do you mean the festival that happens once every hundred years? My sister and I are going back!"
[Ran-Ran]: "Can we take time off?"
Ran-Ran followed up, her text revealing a hint of cautious anticipation.
Ryohei wanted to reply "No" to tease this shy zombie girl, but after thinking about it, he decided against it.
His fingertips tapped lightly on the virtual keyboard—
[Ryohei]: "Of course you can. Jashin-chan, Minos, and Persephone II will also be going back."
At this moment, Poporon came online.
[Poporon]: "The Demon World's centennial festival? Does that mean everyone from the Demon World is taking leave to go back?"
[Yusa]: "Yes, Koji-kun and I need to take leave too. (￣▽￣)/"
[Poporon]: "Ah... as expected!"
"Suddenly losing seven key members of our combat force."
Yurine held her phone with slender fingers, looked down at the screen, and walked over to sit beside Ryohei.
"Yeah."
Ryohei casually replied with an "OK" sticker in the LINE group, sighing with feigned melancholy: "Especially without Jashin-chan and Yusa, it's like I've lost my right and left arms."
He paused, then continued, "Running the restaurant and the dessert shop with the remaining people feels like it's going to be pretty tough..."
"..." Yurine completely understood.
Whether it was the restaurant or the dessert shop, Ryohei was the absolute core. Without Jashin-chan and Yusa helping out as sous-chefs, his workload would increase exponentially.
Yurine gently held Ryohei's hand and suggested thoughtfully, "Why don't we take this opportunity to rest for a while too?"
"Sure."
Ryohei actually had the same idea. He continued, "Anyway, there aren't many days left until the New Year. Consider it taking our annual leave early."
Japan had adopted the Gregorian calendar after the Meiji Restoration, so the New Year was on January 1st.
It was already November, and by the end of this week, it would be mid-November!
Ryohei played with Yurine's slender white hand, interlacing his fingers with hers. He looked up at her and said, "I'm also quite curious about the Demon World Festival and want to go see it."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Lucoa and smiled, "Lucoa, take me there to broaden my horizons."
I knew you'd say that!
The corners of Lucoa's lips turned up slightly. She tapped her fair cheek with a finger, lifted her left eyelid, tilted her head, and said, "Sure, I'll smuggle you in!"
"Why smuggle?"
Persephone II, who had finished cleaning the kitchen and come to the living room, asked strangely, "Is it more exciting that way?"
This child...!
Feeling deeply that Persephone II was learning bad habits from them, Ryohei's mouth twitched. He looked at her and explained:
"I consulted Minos before. Going to the Demon World through official channels is quite troublesome, and the paperwork takes a long time."
"You even consulted about this?"
Yurine looked at Ryohei in surprise.
"Yeah."
Ryohei nodded gently, raised their still-interlaced hands, and smiled, "The world is so big, I want to see it!"
"Processing various procedures in the Demon World is indeed very slow..."
Persephone II agreed, pinching her fair chin and thinking for a moment before saying, "But I can ask my mom to pull some strings. It shouldn't take too much time."
"Really?" Ryohei looked over in surprise.
"Of course."
Persephone II puffed out her chest, happy to be of help. She took out her phone and said, "I'll ask for you right now!"
Saying that, she opened her contacts...
"Eh? Not smuggling anymore?"
Lucoa extended a hand, her tone tinged with disappointment.
"Don't be so wild!"
Ryohei looked at her with a smile: "If we can go through official channels, I'd prefer to go through official channels."
"Wow... you're calling me wild now?"
"Haha—!"
Meanwhile, Persephone II had gotten through to Persephone.
Under everyone's gaze, she briefly explained Ryohei's wish to attend the Demon World Festival. Persephone on the other end understood immediately: "Does he want a visa?"
"Piece of cake! Give me a photo of him, and I'll arrange it. We can get the application approved today."
"Okay."
Persephone II responded cheerfully, hung up the phone, and looked happily at Ryohei.
It's good to have friends in high places!
Ryohei was also happy and asked, "Are there any requirements for the photo?"
"Hmm... ID photos in our Demon World are usually full-body shots." Persephone II tilted her head and thought.
"Understood!"
Ryohei unlocked his phone with his fingerprint, selected two full-body photos from his album, and sent them to Persephone II, requesting, "Please help get one for Yurine too."
He wasn't the type to just think about his own fun!
"..." Yurine was slightly stunned upon hearing this, feeling a little touched, and looked at Ryohei with gentle eyes. Persephone II forwarded the photos she received and agreed readily:
"No problem!"
Helping one person with a visa was helping; helping two was also helping. She felt it wasn't a big deal.
Anyway, for her mom, it should just be a matter of saying a word...
"Chotto matte! What about mine?"
Lucoa raised her hand, speaking up for herself.
Ryohei looked over in surprise: "You should be able to go and come as you please, right? I feel like you don't need this..."
"That's true, but..."
Lucoa strode over with her long, full legs wrapped in black over-the-knee socks to Ryohei's side.
She pressed her left knee against the sofa, "locked" Ryohei's neck with her arm, and leaned her whole body onto him.
"Then... get one for you too?"
Feeling Lucoa's soft embrace and breathing in the faint fragrance from her body, Ryohei looked at Persephone II somewhat embarrassedly.
However, Lucoa refused: "No need, I don't need that kind of thing."
"Then what are you doing right now?" Ryohei was instantly speechless.
"Ehe—!"
Lucoa smiled slyly, let go of him, and said playfully, "Just seeking some attention."
"..." Yurine's eyelids twitched, and she glanced sideways at Lucoa—
Forget it, I'm in a good mood now, so I won't get jealous.
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