"Chen Xiao, oh, Chen Xiao... you can't keep sinking into depravity like this. Having a maid wait on you every day will turn you into a helpless wreck with a complete loss of self-care ability!"
Sprawled on the sofa, Chen Xiao bitterly lamented his downfall.
But when Rem offered him an orange from beside him, he couldn't resist opening his mouth and eating the orange she had peeled for him.
And he "accidentally" licked Rem's finger.
Rem, however, didn't mind at all. She even deliberately peeled another orange for herself and put it in her mouth...
Along with the finger coated in Chen Xiao's saliva!
Chen Xiao: ... (overheating)
Are you sure this is the real Rem?
Anyone who didn't know better would think a certain black-clad maid (Alice) was impersonating her!
Nope! At this rate, I won't be able to stop myself from doing something I shouldn't!
I need something to do...
Oh-I've got it! (a flash of inspiration)
"Rem, about the superpower I awakened yesterday-aside from increasing the manifestation limit, does it have any other functions?"
It was his own newly awakened superpower, yet he had to ask someone else what it could do. If other superpower users found out, they would probably laugh themselves silly.
But right now, Chen Xiao needed exactly that sort of excuse to change the "subject."
"About that..."
Rem paused at his question, then thought for a moment.
"According to Miss Shana, Master's superpower is similar to [power of existence]. Aside from allowing us to manifest physically, it also lets you borrow some of our abilities, as well as do things like possessing Black Rock Shooter last night."
Shana?
A trace of nostalgia flashed through Chen Xiao's eyes at the name. As one of his favorite characters voiced by Kugimiya in his previous life, she had been among the first figurines he made in this life.
But because he had made her so early on, he now needed a moment to remember her.
Shana: A-Xiao, you bastard!
"Wait, I possessed Black Rock... wasn't that because I was in spirit form (Aibo) at the time and needed a vessel to keep me safe?"
Chen Xiao had assumed possessing Black Rock Shooter last night had been a special case. He hadn't expected it to be an effect of his awakened superpower.
"Well... Rem doesn't know either."
Rem shook her head.
Still, according to the speculation of several powerhouses among the figurines, if Chen Xiao's superpower resembled the power of existence Shana knew, that meant it was highly versatile.
It made sense that it would develop a function allowing him to possess his figurines.
"And then there's borrowing the figurines' abilities... if I use that properly, I could be invincible!"
The more figurines he had, the more abilities he could borrow.
As for having to consume a corresponding amount of manifestation time (power of existence) while using it, that was hardly a problem!
Living off his figurine girls was pretty sweet~
"In that case, let me try your abilities first, Rem."
Chen Xiao immediately rose from the sofa.
"Yes~ Master, please use Rem's abilities to your heart's content."
Rem stood up with a smile as well.
"I remember that using a superpower is instinctive. Even if you don't know how to use it, having the right sort of thought should trigger it..."
Chen Xiao raised his hand toward Rem while focusing his attention and mobilizing his mental energy.
Hummm-!
The next moment, a clear hum rang out. Chen Xiao felt his body grow a little stronger, and his forehead began to itch, as though something could sprout from it at any moment.
"I can even use Rem's oni transformation?"
Curious, Chen Xiao touched his forehead. Although it was as smooth as ever, a single thought would make an oni horn sprout from it immediately.
"It seems so, Master."
Rem happily applauded Chen Xiao, though her gaze wandered a little as she clapped.
After testing his enhanced strength with a few heavy objects, Chen Xiao stopped borrowing her abilities.
But then his body began to feel a little off...
"Rem, what's going on?"
Chen Xiao held his head, feeling a little dizzy and groggy.
His cheeks flushed as though he had a fever.
"Um, Master... borrowing abilities comes at a price."
Only now did Rem bashfully explain the side effect of borrowing abilities.
Chen Xiao: ?
What is this, the slave from Chained Soldier?!
Before Chen Xiao could question her or protest, Rem eagerly stepped forward, cupped his cheeks, and planted a kiss on him. He couldn't resist at all!
Here it came again-another French kiss.
"Mmph (I)..."
Several months had passed since Mahiru Shiina had forcibly kissed him. He hadn't expected to surrender another kiss so soon!
And once again, he had been forced into it!
Although Rem's lips were soft and sweet, and he was starting to lose himself in them... no, wait!
At that moment, Chen Xiao suddenly remembered how he had inexplicably wanted to stroke Black Rock Shooter last night, and how Mari had later called it a "reward."
Does possession come at a price too?!
At that thought, Chen Xiao felt his vision go dark.
There's really... something wrong with this!
"Slurp... thank you for the reward, Master... R-Rem will take her leave now!"
After finishing the kiss, Rem covered her mouth and turned to flee.
She had probably run back to the bedroom, turned into a figurine, and gone into the display cabinet to secretly celebrate.
"I'm done for. Done for, done for, done for... my own figurine girls have me completely wrapped around their fingers."
Chen Xiao felt a little dead inside.
Still, he was even more relieved now that he hadn't chosen to attend [Shenzhou Nova Academy]. With an ability and side effects like these, it probably wouldn't have taken long for everyone else to see him as the "Ultimate Pervert"!
Chen Xiao still had some sense of shame.
Doing embarrassing things in secret at home was fine, but if outsiders found out, he might as well leave Earth altogether!
"Master, we have a serious problem."
Just then, Ram pushed open the door and came in from outside, carrying a bag.
Despite saying there was a problem, however, Ram didn't sound particularly anxious.
"Huh? Ram, why are you coming in from outside?"
Having been occupied with Rem until now, Chen Xiao only just noticed that Ram had disappeared for a while.
Gasp...
Wait!
"What's all that stuff in your bag?"
Chen Xiao raised his trembling right hand and pointed at what Ram was carrying.
"Ingredients from the nearby supermarket, of course, Master. Did Ram do something wrong?"
Halfway through speaking, Ram noticed that Chen Xiao's expression had completely frozen-or rather, filled with despair.
Chen Xiao: ... (turning gray)
One minute I was thinking about keeping everything hidden at home, and the next, Ram stabbed me in the back!
She even went shopping in that distinctive maid outfit!
She was practically a walking magnet for attention!
Was this the innate "Civil War God" saint physique that people from Re:Zero came with?
Thanks. Now I understand how 486 felt in the original!
"S-so... what's the serious problem?"
Chen Xiao swayed as he sat back down on the sofa and asked Ram, pretending to be calm.
Had someone I knew spotted her-or had Lin Qi?!
Please, anything but that!
"It's this..."
Ram took out Chen Xiao's phone and deftly entered the passcode to unlock the screen.
Chen Xiao: There was nothing left to say.
Then he saw the latest text message.
[Account balance: 5033]
"Master, it seems our household is almost out of money."
Chen Xiao: Huh...?
I only have five thousand left?!
Before you continue