[System, what are these monsters? They feel different from those Evil Demons before.]
By now, Senju Kyogawa had already composed himself. He drew his Nichirin Sword (counterfeit) and decided to wait and see.
Although these monsters looked disgusting, they only circled Senju Kyogawa and showed no signs of attacking.
Even the monster Senju Kyogawa had slapped off his neck was still wandering around him after it fell to the ground, licking his ankle with a long, snake-like red tongue.
Senju Kyogawa felt something wet and sticky on his ankle. A chill shot from his ankle straight to the crown of his head.
So disgusted that he wanted to stamp his foot, Senju Kyogawa tried, but it was futile. His foot remained firmly stuck to the ground. He couldn't move at all, let alone shake off the revolting monster.
Senju Kyogawa resigned himself to his fate and tried to ignore the sensation on his foot.
He had no idea what sort of bizarre preference this monster had. Why did it like licking people so much?
The system fell silent for a long while before answering: [Host, according to my analysis, these "monsters" like you. The one licking your foot is the king of this monster group. The others don't dare come up and lick you without its orders.]
[Rest assured, these monsters were born from the collision between the ninja world and other worlds. They exist in the Space-Time Rift and don't carry the "Evil Demon" virus, so they're unrelated to this hidden mission.] The system paused, then added.
Senju Kyogawa pondered this:
[The Space-Time Rift?]
[Then where am I right now? I'm not inside that "wall monster's" stomach?]
The system seemed so shocked by Senju Kyogawa's vivid imagination that its entire interface flashed into a string of meaningless gibberish. Then it said helplessly:
[Of course you're not inside that "wall monster's" stomach, Host. This is the Space-Time Rift. And the "wall monster" you mentioned is actually just a "door" connecting to another place. It isn't an "Evil Demon" we need to destroy, either. Please stop imagining such outrageous things.]
Senju Kyogawa felt like the system was mocking him.
[Even "Evil Demons" showed up out of nowhere. You should be reflecting on yourself, System!] Senju Kyogawa complained. [At this rate, I'll have to rebuild my entire worldview.]
The system fell silent.
The "death countdown" and the cold electronic prompt, [Cuddle Points +1], sounded in Senju Kyogawa's mind again.
As it happened, although this monster looked disgusting and had the unusual habit of licking people, it had provided Senju Kyogawa with quite a few Cuddle Points.
It had only licked Senju Kyogawa for a little while with its long, snake-like tongue, yet his Cuddle Points had already reached [-225].
Just as Senju Kyogawa was thinking he could rely on this monster to survive the next few days, he felt the creature that had been leaning against his foot suddenly coil around his ankle.
Senju Kyogawa couldn't take it anymore. He bent down, pinched the "monster" on the ground, and lifted it up to examine it.
On closer inspection, he saw a dark-red mark on the "monster's" back that looked like the Chinese character for "king." Its eyes were redder than those of its kind, and the fluorescent green on its body was more dazzling. Maybe that was why it had become the "king."
[Why did this thing have to copy tigers and get a "king" mark on its back? It's way uglier than a tiger.] Senju Kyogawa couldn't help grumbling to himself. He had no idea what this freak could do, but it had latched onto him out of nowhere.
Even though it was the "king," it had only given Senju Kyogawa one Cuddle Point. He really didn't think it was particularly special or powerful.
Seeing Senju Kyogawa staring at its appearance, the "Monster King" seemed to think he liked it. It twisted its body with all its might and spread the fleshy wings along its sides. Even the eyeballs dangling in the air grew brighter, almost bright enough to serve as light bulbs.
Senju Kyogawa couldn't bear to look and turned away. He just couldn't watch any longer. The thing was already ugly, and now it was wriggling like a disgusting maggot.
But the slime on its body was incredibly sticky. Senju Kyogawa had just tried to toss it away when he realized the "Monster King" was stuck firmly to his hand.
It seemed all the slime covering the ground came from these ugly things.
[System, System, what should I do? I'm stuck. How am I supposed to get out now?] Senju Kyogawa asked.
[Host, I suggest you form a contract with these Spacetime Rift Derivatives. They usually have great power, and since they like you so much, you shouldn't turn them down.] The system advised.
[Form a contract? But these things are so ugly, and I don't know why they like me. What if they want to eat me? Besides, you haven't even told me how to get out. How can I complete the hidden mission if I can't leave?] Senju Kyogawa complained. He had a feeling the system was up to no good. These creatures were far too ugly, completely at odds with his sense of aesthetics.
[If you want to know why they like you so much, Host, why not just ask them?] After saying that, the system never responded again, no matter how much Senju Kyogawa called out to it.
Could these ugly things understand human speech?
Senju Kyogawa decided to give it a try and asked:
"Do you like me?"
The "Monster King" in Senju Kyogawa's hand heard his question and happily shook its body. Its fleshy wings flapped even faster, and it kept making a "Sss-ha~ sss-ha~" sound.
Well, judging by that ugly thing's reaction, it definitely liked him a lot.
But it clearly couldn't speak. How were they supposed to communicate?
While Senju Kyogawa was puzzling over this, the ugly things that had been motionless all around him suddenly began wriggling.
Their fluorescent bodies stacked together in an orderly fashion, forming the words [I like you].
[All right, all right, I get it. This ugly thing really is the "king."]
"Then why do you like me?" Senju Kyogawa asked.
This time, the "Monster King" stopped shaking. It was a long while before it started wriggling again.
The monsters on the ground formed the words [fire].
?
[Do you like my "fire"?] Senju Kyogawa wondered.
Right after that, the ugly things formed the words [I'm hungry].
Senju Kyogawa was dumbfounded. These ugly things liked to "eat" his "fire"?!
[System, System, is that why I can't use my fire? Have they eaten it all?] Senju Kyogawa hurriedly called the system and asked.
[Don't worry, Host. If the Spacetime Rift Derivatives like to eat it, just let them. You can't use it anyway.] The system replied.
Senju Kyogawa was speechless. He felt like the system had gotten a lot more annoying than before.
Senju Kyogawa tried circulating the "fire" within him again. This time, he paid close attention and realized that some of the fire inside him flowed into his left hand, which was holding the "Monster King," while some flowed through his feet into the slime.
The Spacetime Rift Derivatives could clearly feel Senju Kyogawa circulating his "fire." They grew noticeably more excited, and their "Sss-ha~ sss-ha~" sounds kept reaching Kyogawa's ears from all around him.
The "Monster King" in Senju Kyogawa's hand also wriggled more cheerfully.
Well, that solved it. Senju Kyogawa really couldn't use his "fire" because of these ugly things.
But thinking about it, if these Spacetime Rift Derivatives could eat the fire that had made countless Senju clan members "tremble in fear" during the war, that proved these ugly things actually had some abilities.
"Ugly thing, I want to talk to you about something."
The "Monster King," which Senju Kyogawa had hurt, seemed displeased with being called that. It twisted violently, then smacked Senju Kyogawa's hand with one of its fleshy wings.
"Ow! You hit pretty hard." Senju Kyogawa's hand went numb all at once.
The "Monster King" thought Senju Kyogawa was praising it and proudly flicked out its snake-like tongue.
"Would you like to form a contract with me?" Senju Kyogawa asked.
The "Monster King" excitedly shook the red eyeball dangling outside its socket.
All right. This time, Senju Kyogawa knew it was willing without the other ugly things spelling it out.
Just as Senju Kyogawa was about to lay down some ground rules with the "Monster King," the ugly thing in his hand suddenly vanished. At the same time, his palm went numb for a moment. Then he felt a cool sensation travel from his palm up his arm, finally stopping at his heart.
"Master~" A childlike voice of indeterminate gender suddenly sounded in Senju Kyogawa's mind.
So, had he just formed a contract?
Senju Kyogawa didn't understand, but he was utterly shocked!
Before you continue