Chapter 126: One-Way Ticket Back To Japan

Reiji stared at the screen, dumbfounded.

He had just leveled up.

He could feel the subtle changes spreading through his body, the faint increase in strength and vitality that came with another level.

’Status.’

Ding!

_____

[Status]

[Host: Kurosawa Reiji] – [LV13]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Ordinary] – [Mage]

[Skills: Active] – [Charm (F), Water Jet (E), Soul Torture Flame (E) (LV2), Swift Arousal (F), Sword Dancer (E) (LV4), Wind Cutter (D), Strength Of The Overlord (D), Mana Manipulation (E) (LV1), Shadow Step (D) (LV5), Demonic Essence (D), A Thousand Slashes In One (D++), Forbidden Arts (5) (D+++), Rupture (D) (LV3), Verdant Grow (E), Rainfall (E), Blood Rage (D), King’s Summon (D), Hardening (C)]

[Skills: Passive] – [Detect Presence (D)]

___

[EXP: 75/200] [BP: 0/200]

[Health: 100] [Mana: 100] [Fatigue: 0]

___

[STRENGTH: 212] (Important for the accumulation of bond points through affection. Who doesn’t love a strong, thick man? Currently at solid ’Jacked Handsome Protagonist Who Can Suplex a Truck’ stage. Still a long way from true Overlord physique though – keep grinding, champ!)

[SPEED: 192]

[STAMINA: 205]

[PERCEPTION: 110]

[INTELLIGENCE: 107]

[AESTHETICS: 37] (Also vital for the accumulation of bond points. Handsome.)

[Free Stats: 50]

___

[Items / Equipment] – [Mana Suppression Weights (Intermediate)] [Knight Sword] [Soul Torture Blade (Broken) (D+)] [Undead King’s Bone Armor] [Undead King’s Bone Sword] [Devil’s Ring (D)] [Spatial Ring (D)] [Broken Bow (F)] [Large quantity of Anderite Stones(+999)] [Undead King’s Journal] ["Piercing Needles Swallowing Sun" skill book] [Magic Skill Books] [2 Dungeon Cores] [1 Monster Core] [Oversized Hoodie] [Mask]

_____

’I really did level up. I can’t believe it. Is it because I completed the quest quickly that the system granted me a bonus reward?’ Reiji thought, amused by the system’s generosity.

Aoi suddenly looked up and noticed the smirk on his face.

She couldn’t see the system, so she had no idea what had caused his sudden amusement. However, she did notice that Reiji’s grip around her waist had become slightly firmer, and her mind immediately drifted toward indecent thoughts.

’Is he thinking about doing those lewd things with me? And he’s even smiling about it. What a pervert.’

Aoi’s face turned red as she buried herself deeper into Reiji’s chest, almost as if she wanted to disappear inside him.

Reiji looked down at her confused expression and asked, "Aoi, what’s wrong?"

"N-Nothing," Aoi muttered weakly, pressing herself even closer against his chest.

’I mean, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do it with someone you love, right? And he also said he loves me. Hehe.’

[+4 Bond Points.]

Reiji glanced down at Aoi and couldn’t help but smile before leaning forward and kissing her forehead.

[+5 Bond Points.]

Reiji’s eyes widened slightly.

’Why’s hers even higher than Hina’s when I transmigrated?’

He thought about it for a while before suddenly finding the answer.

’The system did mention that Bond Rate matters. When I first transmigrated, I didn’t have any romantic feelings for Hina. All I wanted was to get away from that lovesick psycho.’

A small smile crept onto Reiji’s face.

’But now... I want my lovesick psycho to come back.’

With the two of them leveling up, things were going to become much easier.

’As much as I want more Bond Points so I can level up again, having sex now wouldn’t be a good idea.’

Reiji quietly considered the situation.

’For one, I don’t want Aoi to think I’m only interested in her body. And two, it isn’t the Crossover Period yet.’

The last time, his mother had taken Hina away just when she had entered her Crossover Period. If Aoi entered hers now, the amount of Bond Points he could potentially receive might be enough to make him level up twice, maybe even three times if he played his cards right.

’But what if Hina comes back while Aoi enters her Crossover Period...?’

That thought made Reiji’s expression turn serious.

’If Hina agrees, then great. But if she doesn’t, I’ll have no choice but to deal with it.’

He sighed internally.

’For now, I need to get as many Bond Points from Aoi as possible. That means our bond needs to grow naturally. And what better way to do that than spending the day together?’

A plan slowly formed in his mind.

’Tomorrow, Aoi can call in sick. Then I can spend the entire day with her.’

Satisfied with his plan, Reiji finally relaxed.

It didn’t take long before sleep claimed him.

Aoi soon noticed his breathing becoming slow and steady.

She lifted her head slightly and stared at his sleeping face before settling back against his chest.

There was a small trace of disappointment in her eyes.

"Dummy... I was giving you signs to do it," Aoi whispered softly.

She lowered her head again, listening to his steady heartbeat.

’This is why women’s thinking will forever remain a mystery to us.’

’I know he was thinking that doing it with me would make me think he was only after my body, but weren’t my signs already clear enough?’

Aoi smiled faintly.

’Still... knowing you didn’t do it makes me happy.’

She closed her eyes and tightened her arms around him.

"I love you."

---

Meanwhile, in Dubai, the hotel room Kaori had booked for herself at the resort was quiet.

The peaceful atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the ringing of a phone.

Kaori reached for it and answered without checking the caller.

"Hello? Who’s this?"

"Kaori-chan?"

Kaori immediately recognized the voice.

"Mayumi-san? What’s the problem?"

"Kaori-san, did you perhaps lock those Tokyo project files with an authentication requirement?"

Kaori frowned.

"No, I didn’t do anything like that."

"That’s strange. Several files, including the Tokyo project, have been locked and now require your authorization before they can be opened."

Kaori suddenly jolted upright, every trace of sleep vanishing from her face.

"What kind of authorization?"

"Your thumbprint."

Kaori fell silent.

She couldn’t remember doing anything like that.

She had no reason to lock important documents before leaving, and the company’s security was among the best. She also doubted a hacker would go through the trouble of locking files instead of stealing or corrupting them.

Something wasn’t right.

"Was it like that when I left? Were the files already locked?" Kaori asked.

Mayumi quickly responded, "According to the analysts, the files were locked before you left. But..."

"But what?"

"Do you remember checking some of them a few days ago? There was nothing like this then."

Kaori remained silent for a moment.

Something was definitely wrong.

She finally sighed before making her decision.

"Don’t worry, Mayumi-san. I’m coming back to the company tomorrow."

"I’m sorry for disturbing you during your vacation."

"No, it’s not your fault, so don’t worry about it. If anything else comes up, tell me immediately."

"I will."

The call ended.

Kaori lowered the phone and stared at the screen for a few seconds before getting out of bed.

She didn’t like leaving things unresolved, especially when they involved important company documents.

Still, she had no intention of ruining the vacation for everyone else.

Kaori left the room and headed toward the adjoining suite where Keiko and Hina were staying.

She knocked lightly before entering.

Keiko looked up from where she was sitting.

"Is everything alright, Kaori-chan?"

Kaori nodded before sitting down.

"Something urgent came up at the company. Some important documents were locked and they’re requiring my thumbprint to access them. I’m going back to Japan tomorrow to handle it."

Keiko’s expression immediately became concerned.

"Then we’ll go with you."

Kaori shook her head.

"No. You and Hina should stay. I don’t want everyone’s vacation to be cut short because of a company problem."

Keiko smiled gently.

"Kaori-chan, we’ve already enjoyed ourselves a lot. You’ve done more than enough for us, and we’re grateful. If something important came up, there’s no reason for you to handle it alone."

Kaori appreciated the sentiment, but she remained firm.

"I understand, but I don’t want to ruin the rest of the vacation for you. I’ll take care of the problem and come back."

Keiko thought about it for a moment before nodding.

"Are you sure?"

"I’m sure."

Kaori then remembered something and added, "Besides, if Yuki returns from her friend’s wedding and doesn’t find us here, wouldn’t that be strange?"

Keiko blinked before slowly nodding.

"You’re right. I haven’t heard from Yuki in a while."

"Exactly."

"Maybe she switched off her phone to avoid disturbances during the wedding."

"That’s probably it."

Keiko smiled and finally relaxed.

"In that case, we’ll continue enjoying the vacation. You can go back tomorrow and deal with whatever happened."

Kaori nodded gratefully.

"Thank you."

Neither woman noticed the figure standing quietly on the other side of the door.

Hina had stopped the moment she heard her mother’s voice.

She had originally been looking for them, but the moment she heard that Kaori was returning to Japan, she stayed where she was and listened.

Her eyes slowly widened.

Then a mischievous grin spread across her face.

’Mom is going back tomorrow.’

Hina’s heart began beating faster. That was her one-way ticket back to Japan.

She had been enjoying the vacation, but there was someone waiting for her back home.

Someone she desperately wanted to see.

’If Mom is going back tomorrow, then I’m going with her.’

Hina’s smile widened. There was absolutely no way she was going to let this opportunity slip away even if she has to hide inside Reiji’s mother bag she was going to go back to Japan.

After all, her beloved Rei-kun was waiting for her... Or at least that’s what she thought.