Chapter 77

Shido's eyes widened, and he quickly stood up. Of course, their lips parted at that moment.

However, unlike the previous two kisses with Tohka and Lingmeng, this time there was no warm, soft substance flowing into his body.

Is it because the affinity level hasn't reached the requirement for sealing?

Shido thought to himself.

Then, at that moment, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded in my ears.

"What--"

Shido's expression changed instantly. Normally, this alarm should only sound when the Spirit's mood index drops.

"Could it be...?"

Shido cautiously turned his head towards Yoshino's direction.

But--

"Ouch, ouch, ouch... I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, Shido, it was all my carelessness."

Yoshino manipulated the rabbit puppet to make its mouth open and close, showing absolutely no displeasure.

What's going on? Since Yoshino isn't upset, then what's causing this alarm...?

Just as Shido was pondering this in his mind, he heard Kotori's voice, tinged with a sigh—

"Oh dear~ Shido in an emergency. And it's the worst... the most terrible situation..."

"Huh!?"

Shido couldn't understand Kotori's meaning for a moment and muttered something in confusion.

But not long after, he heard heavy footsteps behind him.

"No way... could it be...?"

Making movements like an unoiled machine, Shido turned his head away in embarrassment.

What she saw were two unexpected people.

One of them was Lingmeng, who was looking at him with an apologetic gaze.

Another one was Tohka, who was staring at him with a fierce look.

"Zhongsheng: "Hooray! My contract for another book finally arrived! Haha... even though I haven't updated it for several days now."

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Rabbit Puppet That Sows Discord

"Aya... Lingmeng... and Tohka, why are you two here? Shouldn't you be in the Shelter?"

Seeing the two who should have been in the Shelter suddenly appear here, and especially noticing Tohka's furious expression, Shido involuntarily broke out in a cold sweat.

Lingmeng simply scratched her cheek awkwardly in response.

"Ah, sorry. I was trying to stop Tohka, but it seems I failed."

"Hey~ Isn't this the lolicon older sister from yesterday? Are you here to hang out with Yoshino too?"

Seemingly noticing Lingmeng's arrival, the little girl excitedly waved the rabbit Doll in her hands.

"Well... it's just a coincidence."

"Hehehe, so it was just a coincidence? But since we're here, let's play with Shido like Yoshino did!"

Faced with Lingmeng's answer, the rabbit puppet's emotions did not change at all; on the contrary, they became even more excited.

"Oh, whatever."

Lingmeng shrugged in response.

Then--

"Shido!"

"Yes!"

Tohka shouted angrily. Shido immediately stood up straight like a soldier.

For some reason, even though it was just his name being called, Shido felt a chill run down his spine.

"What were you doing just now? I was so worried about you, and you were all lovey-dovey with this girl!"

Tohka's voice trembled. Seemingly very dissatisfied with Shido's kiss with the girl, she stomped her foot on the ground in a fit of rage.

"Thump--!"

Just then, the ground around Tohka suddenly sank and a net-like crack appeared several meters outwards.

"Huh!?"

"Oh no, is the Spirit Power Reversal? This is troublesome."

Shido looked surprised. Lingmeng, standing next to Tohka, muttered something after dodging the aftershocks.

"Tohka, calm down, things aren't what you think—"

Noticing that Tohka's power had begun to flow back into her body, Shido quickly explained.

Then a rather sharp sound came from behind.

"Wow, she really is a hot-tempered girl. It might be a bit much to say this, but guys like Shido wouldn't like your type~"

"What!?" Shido was completely dumbfounded.

"You can't just say things like 'little sister' so casually."

Arriving in front of the little girl, Lingmeng began to instruct her from a position of looking down at her.

However, the little girl showed no remorse whatsoever and continued to let out piercing laughter.

"Hehehe... Yoshina is just stating the facts. Most guys would choose a cute little sister over a rude girl, right?"

Also, Yoshino's name is Yoshino, not "little sister."

Tsk, she's so cute, how come she says such unpleasant things?

Although these words came from the Doll's mouth, Lingmeng's lips still twitched involuntarily.

Then, as if shifting to this girl who called herself "Yoshino," Tohka strode forward, glanced at Yoshino, and then at Shido.

"Shido, is meeting this girl the important thing you mentioned?"

Tohka frowned, looking very unhappy.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. After all, until just now, Lingmeng and Shido had been saying that Shido had serious business to attend to.

Unexpectedly, the "serious matter" they were talking about turned out to be leaving him to meet other girls.

The thought of this made Tohka feel resentful.

(Well, in a way, going on a date with this little girl is actually a serious matter...)

Lingmeng thought to herself.

Shido, however, was at a loss for words.

Then, at that moment, Yoshino suddenly let out a prank-like laugh.

"Haha... Yoshino probably already understands the situation. Hey, big sister--"

"Tohka."

Upon hearing the puppet's words, Tohka responded angrily.

"Tohka, I know this might hurt your feelings, but it seems Shido is already tired of you."

"What!?" ×2

Shido and Tohka cried out almost simultaneously.

"Hahaha... No, how should I put it? I overheard your conversation, and it seems that Shido broke his promise with Tohka and ran off to Yoshino's place."

"Well, it's not that Tohka is bad. But it's normal for Shido to choose the cuter Yoshino, right?"

Then those words acted like a fuse, directly detonating the Bomb in Tohka's heart.

"Nonsense... I won't be fooled by your nonsense!"

Tohka shook her head vigorously in disbelief.

"Sigh~ You call this seduction? If you don't believe me, listen to this: it's not just Shido, even the lolicon older sisters probably think the same way. Tohka is an unwanted child."

"Hey, I never said that!"

"Hmm... that's right."

Seeing that the rabbit plushie had suddenly shifted the topic to herself, Lingmeng couldn't help but retort. Shido, on the other hand, nodded in agreement.

But it was too late to say those words now, because Tohka was completely deaf to their advice.

She snatched the puppet directly from Yoshino and Tohka swung it around forcefully.

"I won't allow you to fool me! Shido and Lingmeng would never say such a thing. Hey! Why aren't you saying anything!?"

Seemingly thinking it was the puppet itself speaking, Tohka shook it vigorously.

"Um... Tohka, it's just a hand puppet; it can't talk on its own."

Lingmeng offered this reminder.

"...!"

Just then, seeing that Tohka had suddenly snatched the item from her hand, Yoshino let out a silent wail.

Gently pulling her hat down a little, Yoshino seemed like a completely different person compared to before.

Its whole body started trembling, and it looked just like a Chihuahua.

"... Please... give it back to me..."

Yoshino gently tugged at Tohka's clothes and spoke in a soft voice.

Then, in order to retrieve the rabbit Doll, she jumped lightly.

However, due to the significant height difference, Yoshino couldn't reach it at all and could only keep jumping.

No, she seemed so bold just now, even Tohka was joking with her. How come she turned into a timid and cute girl the moment the puppet was taken away? It's impossible that she has a split personality like Kotori, right?

Looking at Yoshino's drastically different appearance before and after, Lingmeng thought to herself.

"Um... Tohka, could you please give the puppet back to her? She's so pitiful like this..."

Just as Lingmeng was still pondering, Shido scratched his cheek and said...

As if realizing something, Tohka looked at Shido in astonishment.

"Shido... you really do... you still value this girl more than me, don't you?"

"Huh? No... no... it's not what you think."

"Waaah..."

Seemingly knowing that she couldn't get the puppet back by doing this, Yoshino's eyes welled up with tears.

Then, as if she had made up her mind, Yoshino raised her right hand high and slammed it hard on the ground.

"Zadkiel, the Zadkiel!"

And so Yoshino made the loudest sound Shido and Lingmeng had heard since yesterday.

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Rampaging Angel

After Yoshino shouted loudly, a giant Doll burst through the ground and appeared there in an instant.

"What!?"

"Whoa... what is this?"

"Oh dear, has the Angel appeared? This is troublesome!"