[Akaza]! My Hero

Aside from his cultist identity, Gu Xin personally held no particular ill will toward Asma.

So, Gu Xin also hoped that Asma could leave him behind a useful "relic."

After all, when a person died, their lamp went out. His soul had already gone to accompany the Lord he had longed for day and night. Gu Xin felt that he had done Mr. Asma such a huge favor.

He ought to repay him somehow, right?

Leaving behind his useful body to contribute to my great card-making endeavor—that's only right.

So, Mr. Asma, if your spirit is watching from heaven, please bless me!

This card had to succeed!

Gu Xin steadily fed mana into the alchemical furnace while continuously using his mental power to construct the form of the card.

About half an hour later.

A fresh new card slid out from the card slot.

"As expected of Mr. Asma. You're truly magnificent—you succeeded on the first try!"

Gu Xin wore a satisfied smile as he slowly picked up the new card.

Seeing the humanoid image on the card, Gu Xin's smile widened even further. Beautiful.

Dear Mr. Asma, I definitely wouldn't forget your contribution for at least a day!

[Akaza]

[Category: Summoning Card]

[Quality: Two-Star Purple Card]

[Attribute: Dark]

[Racial Trait: Flesh Regeneration]

[(Note: Weaklings—I hate weaklings most of all!)]

Not bad, not bad. Another excellent card.

Gu Xin was delighted. Sure enough, using cultists to make cards was the right choice—it had actually succeeded on the first attempt.

And for Gu Xin, this was also a milestone. It was his first time using a humanoid creature to make a card.

Well, in Gu Xin's view, deranged cultists with something wrong in their heads did not count as people. At most, they were vaguely human-shaped.

So Gu Xin did not think he was using his own kind to make cards. He felt no psychological burden whatsoever.

"Today really is a good day."

Gu Xin put away the card, then returned Macho Goblin to its card as well. Otherwise, he was afraid the guy might do something at night that would give him a splitting headache.

Then Gu Xin took off his coat, washed his hands, and headed upstairs.

"Hm? Miss Toyokawa, haven't you gone to bathe yet?"

As soon as he reached the stairway, Gu Xin saw Toyokawa Shoko standing outside the bathroom with a conflicted expression.

She had already washed her face. Her fair and lovely features were stunning, brimming with the collagen of youth. Even without makeup, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Boss, please just call me Shoko." Toyokawa Shoko clasped her hands before her lower abdomen, pressed her legs tightly together, and gave Gu Xin a slight, respectful bow.

Her posture and attitude were flawlessly elegant, making Gu Xin feel as though he had not hired a shop assistant, but a maid.

"Are you finished with your work?"

Gu Xin had been downstairs for over an hour. Clever as Toyokawa Shoko was, she could roughly guess what he had been doing.

"Yes. Is the room tidied up? Why aren't you getting ready to rest?"

"It's like this... It's a little embarrassing to say, but I don't have any clothes to change into..."

Toyokawa Shoko lightly bit her pink lip and lowered her head as she spoke awkwardly.

"That was an oversight on my part. But it's not very convenient to go buy clothes at this hour. I have some new clothes I bought that I haven't worn yet, so you can make do with them for now." Gu Xin suddenly understood.

"Thank you very much, Boss."

"I'll go get them for you."

Gu Xin went back to his room and picked out two sets of dark-colored clothes.

"Wear these for now. We'll buy new clothes tomorrow."

"Thank you so very much."

Toyokawa Shoko accepted them and finally let out a sigh of relief.

The dress she was wearing had already become very dirty, so naturally she could not wear it again. She couldn't exactly come out of the bathroom naked, could she?

"Go on. Have a good wash, then get a good night's sleep." Gu Xin said with a smile.

Toyokawa Shoko pressed her lips together. The boy's gentle smile was reflected in her golden eyes, and a warm current gradually spread through her heart.

Mr. Gu Xin... really was a kind and gentle person.

"Yes."

In the bathroom, steam billowed as Toyokawa Shoko washed her fair, delicate body, her thoughts in turmoil.

She had originally believed she no longer had a future. All that awaited her was that iron cage and the day she would be sacrificed.

She truly had not expected someone to rescue her from that prison.

"A hero...?"

Toyokawa Shoko softly murmured those two words. Hero—this was a word that even the younger Toyokawa Shoko had once longed for and dreamed about.

But after her family fell apart, she and her father fled to Yin City. Crushed beneath the weight of life, her world had already grown dim.

But now, at least she had a chance to keep living.

And she wanted to repay her "hero," too.

"Girls really take forever in the shower."

Gu Xin sat in the chair in his room. He could vaguely hear the sound of water from the bathroom, but rather than having any improper thoughts about a beautiful girl bathing, he merely grumbled.

Half an hour had already passed, yet Toyokawa Shoko was still washing. Gu Xin found it rather baffling.

He wanted to take a quick, clean shower himself and get ready for bed.

About another ten minutes passed before the bathroom door finally opened, and Toyokawa Shoko emerged wearing Gu Xin's clothes.

"Boss, I'm done washing."

The blue-haired girl stood there prettily, holding a washbasin containing the clothes she had changed out of.

"Mm. As expected, Shoko, you're really beautiful." Gu Xin did not say anything tactless. His emotional intelligence was quite high, and he showed no impatience whatsoever.

Besides, it was a sincere compliment.

Fresh from the bath, Toyokawa Shoko's fair skin still carried a faint flush. Her light-blue hair hung loose around her shoulders, making her look especially pitiful and lovely.

Gu Xin's clothes were clearly a little too large for her. Though they were dark-colored, the basin she held pressed them against her body, revealing the girl's figure.

Gu Xin subconsciously glanced over and even vaguely caught sight of a small protruding point.

He immediately looked away. Mm, judging by the curve, Toyokawa Shoko was considerably bigger than Tang Yueyue.

"Thank you, Boss. Please go take your shower. Shoko will wash your clothes for you later." The corners of Toyokawa Shoko's exquisite lips lifted slightly. She was clearly quite happy.

"Uh, actually, there's a washing machine. You can just toss them in."

"Your washing machine hasn't been cleaned in a long time, has it? There are already bacteria inside. And underwear can't be washed together with regular clothes."

Toyokawa Shoko's pretty face turned serious. While Gu Xin had been busy downstairs earlier, she had roughly inspected the various appliances.

"Is that so?"

"Yes!"

"Alright, then I'll have to trouble you, Shoko."

Gu Xin did not say something like, "I'll wash my own clothes." Since Toyokawa Shoko was willing to do it, he was happy to take it easy.

"Please don't mention it. It's what I should do."

Toyokawa Shoko gave a slight curtsy like a young lady, then carried the basin toward the balcony.

Watching Toyokawa Shoko's lovely retreating figure, Gu Xin tilted his head.

Maybe having one more person in the house wasn't so bad?