[Ding. Customer Aizen Sōsuke has completed his confession.]
[Customer Aizen Sōsuke: Hadō, Bakudō, Hollowfication Techniques, Soul-Extraction Technology… the host may select one ability.]
[Ding. Customer Xiao Zizai has completed his confession.]
[Customer Xiao Zizai: Great Compassion Hand, Flower-Picking Finger, Dragon Claw Hand… the host may select one ability.]
Ron thought for a moment and said calmly:
"Fuse Aizen's Hadō. And convert Xiao Zizai's Great Compassion Hand into a skill book—store it in the system warehouse."
[Ding. Skill book stored.]
[Ding. Beginning fusion: Hadō!]
As the system's voice faded, countless complicated incantations poured into Ron's mind.
But ever since merging with the Hōgyoku, Ron's reiatsu had grown so extreme that he didn't even need the chants to cast.
After the fusion completed, he closed the tavern doors, ending the day's work.
After washing up, Ron was about to enter his room when he suddenly sensed something off—
Several pairs of eyes were staring at him.
"Come out," he said softly.
Doors along the back courtyard swung open at the same time.
Thor, Rem, and Ram all appeared, their silhouettes framed in the doorways.
But before Ron could react—
A pair of arms grabbed him around the waist, hoisted him over a shoulder, and sprinted straight into a nearby room.
A heartbeat later—
Boom!
A barrier sealed the room shut.
Not even Thor could break through it.
"Lucoa!!"
Thor gritted her teeth, tiny fists trembling with fury.
During dinner, Lucoa had accidentally revealed that she planned to "discuss life" with Ron tonight.
That was enough for Thor, Rem, and Ram to wait in ambush in their rooms, ready to snatch Ron first.
But they were still one step too late.
A few minutes later—
Their ears picked up faint, rhythmic, high-speed "attack" noises coming from Lucoa's room.
They fell silent.
Early morning.
Ron's eyes snapped open—
Not because he woke naturally, but because he nearly suffocated.
After clawing his way out of a suffocating mountain of softness, he quickly dressed and headed out.
Lucoa, meanwhile, curled deeper into the blanket, showing zero intention of getting up for work.
A professional slacker.
After washing up, Ron entered the tavern from the courtyard.
Thor, Rem, and Ram were already sitting at a table with breakfast neatly prepared.
Today's menu: porridge, buns, pickles—simple and comforting.
As usual, Ron ate breakfast while reading the newspaper.
[Congratulations to the Marines on a grand victory at Sabaody Archipelago—Blackbeard has been slain!]
[Shocking news: The Red-Haired Pirates defeated the Beasts Pirates yesterday, then vanished from sight!]
Just as Ron became absorbed in the headlines—
Creaaaak.
The tavern door opened.
Aizen walked in slowly, offering a warm smile.
"Good morning, Boss. Has… King Grey Wolf arrived yet?"
Ron chuckled.
"There's no guarantee. Maybe later. Maybe not at all today."
"Have a drink."
Aizen sat at the bar, a faint disappointment flickering in his eyes.
Last night, he had stayed up the entire night thinking.
He still couldn't understand it—
How did Grey Wolf complete the Hōgyoku?
What was the theory?
What was the method?
Why could he start without data?
The question tormented him.
His genius mind had never been so helpless.
Thor set a bottle in front of him.
"Your drink, please enjoy."
Aizen smiled politely. "Thank you."
But his mind wasn't on the alcohol.
His eyes drifted to the door again and again, waiting for that wolf.
Every time the door opened and closed, a tiny spark of hope flared.
Subtle. Careful.
Like a shy schoolboy waiting for his crush—
(This entire line gets struck out in the author's tone, but hey, we keep the comedy.)
Moments later—
The door burst open.
Before anyone entered, an excited voice rang out:
"Ron, I'm here for a drink!"
It was Tu Shan Yaya.
She hopped to the bar and plopped down, her small mouth pouting.
"My sister locked me in the library to learn ice magic again! I thought I was going to explode!"
Ron ruffled her hair.
"She's doing it for your own good."
"I know…"
She sighed, then said more quietly,
"I told her what you said. She didn't say anything, but… she looked sad."
"Some steps must be taken," Ron said softly. "Otherwise the heart never moves on."
She didn't fully understand, but nodded obediently.
Soon, Thor, Rem, and Ram arrived with three huge jars of Nu'er Hong wine.
Yaya's eyes lit up.
She grabbed one jar and began chugging like a hero.
Her drinking style shocked even Rayleigh and the Holy Master's family.
Immediately, the Holy Master and Little Demon Dragon ordered several jars and began a silent drinking match with Yaya.
Predictably—
Little Demon Dragon got drunk first.
Even without Heart-Softening Spray, he clung to his father and sobbed:
"Father, I was wrong!"
"I shouldn't have peed on the bugs you eat, or poured corrosive potion into the succubus body!"
"And I shouldn't have interrupted you when you were leveling your alternate account—!"
The Holy Master's face darkened.
So THAT was why eating always felt strange,
and why the lower half of the succubus avatar always corroded for no reason.
If not for the Horse Charm and Dog Charm, he'd be dead and buried by now!
No hesitation—
The Holy Master hoisted the Little Demon Dragon and carried him out for education.
As the sun rose higher, Xiao Zizai stepped quietly into the tavern.
"I accept," he told Ron.
"But I need a week to settle things. I can't vanish from my job without warning. My supervisor would be blamed."
Ron nodded.
"As long as you don't reveal you're in another world—take your time."
Just as he finished—
The tavern door opened again.
Grey Wolf swaggered in, rubbing his round belly and picking his teeth.
Upon seeing him…
Aizen—who had practically turned into a stone sculpture waiting by the door—
finally stirred.
"You're late…" he whispered.
Grey Wolf glanced at him.
"Late? Late for what?"
"Since when do I report my schedule to YOU?"
"Remember—"
He jabbed a thumb proudly at his chest.
"You will address me as King Grey Wolf!"
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ZoroTL442