Never Taking a Loss

"Now really isn't the time to tease me."

Life wasn't easy. Luo Shu sighed.

"Even though they found me out, luckily, the tool they used to identify me as an 'ability user' was a very unusual artifact. Something like that is an extremely rare treasure, too, so the odds of running into the same situation again are low."

The Lucky Wallet, made from the scales of a Demigod, cost eighty thousand points. If an Abyssal Artifact like that could be mass-produced, the world would have descended into chaos long ago.

"Of course, we can't rule out the existence of better detection artifacts that can find people like us, so we need to set aside some of our current points for concealment."

Naturally, this was a question for the system that called itself a "support tool." Before coming here, Luo Shu had already asked it how many points it would take to add a concealment function to the bracelets.

"I checked. For around two thousand points, we can give all the bracelets a special function that conceals our unusual nature. It won't work against anyone above the Hero rank, but given our current circumstances, that should be enough."

"While I appreciate you letting me know, please make decisions that benefit everyone more unilaterally, my divine lord."

Despite what she said, Utaha Kasumigaoka seemed to be in a much better mood after hearing Luo Shu's explanation.

"In short, right now, Sawamura and I are both safe, unlike you. And since you've joined the government's big boys, we can also get our hands on official intelligence about how they handle unusual incidents?"

Utaha Kasumigaoka's intelligence seemed to have come back online.

"That's how things look at the moment." Luo Shu nodded, acknowledging her summary.

"But isn't that the most dangerous part? You've made the Familia's central figure into an 'undercover agent' in another organization..."

Utaha Kasumigaoka felt helpless, but what was done was done. She couldn't very well criticize how Luo Shu had handled it. After all, she hadn't been there and didn't know what the situation had been like.

With that in mind, all she could do was remind him, "If you need my 'ability,' please don't hesitate to tell me."

Her Mind Reading might not be much use in combat, but it was quite handy for gathering intelligence.

"There's already something along those lines." As he spoke, Luo Shu explained, "The organization I joined has arranged for a transfer student to come here as my ability instructor. They'll also have two teammates enroll later. Most likely, they're doing this to build our teamwork."

"Three... transfer students?" Utaha Kasumigaoka stared blankly at Luo Shu, her expression growing peculiar. "Won't they be taking up all your time outside class, then?"

With three transfer students, an instructor, and teammates he needed to build rapport with, would Luo Shu still be able to participate in their newly established Astronomy Club?

Utaha Kasumigaoka had serious doubts about that.

"Most likely, yes."

Luo Shu knew perfectly well that, with an arrangement like this, he really wouldn't have much free time at school to spend with Utaha Kasumigaoka and Eriri.

Unless he had all three join the Astronomy Club. Not the real Astronomy Club, of course, but its public-facing cover. That was actually quite likely. After all, using a club as a cover for their gatherings was a good way to provide instruction nearby and build teamwork.

But that would make things a little troublesome for the three of them who knew the Astronomy Club's true nature.

"So, most likely, our club is going to get three transfer students all at once, and Sawamura and I will have to play 'ordinary students' in front of those three 'professionals'? Do you think Sawamura and I can pull off something that difficult... hmm?"

As she finished speaking, Utaha Kasumigaoka suddenly realized that it didn't actually seem all that difficult.

She and Eriri really were ordinary students. At least, they had been until a day ago.

"Suddenly, it doesn't seem so unacceptable. But how will you deal with accidents that might expose us?"

"I got a pretty useful artifact last night. It can make them overlook certain blind spots."

"Besides, when it comes to gathering intelligence, nothing is more accurate than getting it straight from the 'professionals.'"

Luo Shu concealed the specifics of the Demon Heart. After all, with Utaha Kasumigaoka's mind so thoroughly corrupted by anime and manga, something like "Hypnosis" would clearly give her some very dirty ideas.

Just then, Utaha Kasumigaoka muttered under her breath.

"Why do I feel like even meeting up is going to turn into a secret rendezvous from now on...? Besides, is there really a man in this world who can spend time with five girls at once without any of them noticing the others? Surely only a god could pull that off?"

"What are you muttering about?" Luo Shu asked, pretending he hadn't heard.

"No, nothing." Utaha Kasumigaoka shook her head, then asked, "So from now on, our real club activities will all have to take place in the Alternate Space where our base is located. Is that right?"

"Yes." Luo Shu nodded, then added, "Of course, I'll also test the waters and see if I can bring my teammates over to our side."

"Oh?" Utaha Kasumigaoka suddenly noticed something she had overlooked. "Don't tell me all three transfer students are girls? Pretty 'heroines,' at that?"

"..." Luo Shu froze for a moment at that, then frowned. "Two of them are. I don't know about the person who'll be instructing me."

"I see." Utaha Kasumigaoka smiled at Luo Shu. "It seems you picked the right organization to join, my lord."

The corner of Luo Shu's mouth twitched

slightly. Then he patted his head and asked,

"My ability instructor will probably transfer here today. Please help me keep an eye out for any new transfer students."

"They're not coming straight to you, but making you find them yourself? What is this, a test? A trial?"

Utaha Kasumigaoka quipped, then paused before continuing.

"I'll keep an eye out. As for Eriri, I'll contact her on LINE in a bit."

"Speaking of Eriri... where is she?"

Luo Shu looked around in confusion. Once he confirmed that only he and Utaha Kasumigaoka were here, his expression grew puzzled.

He remembered sending Eriri a message saying "Meet at the park," too.

At his question, Utaha Kasumigaoka replied in a slightly amused tone.

"Unlike loners like us, Sawamura is a hugely popular heroine!"

"Her 'friends' at school called her away?" Luo Shu caught her meaning. "I'm guessing she left with a stiff smile, too?"

"...Yes. I didn't help her out." Utaha Kasumigaoka calmly admitted to abandoning her teammate. "She needs to deal with those superficial friendships herself."

"You read Eriri's friends' minds, didn't you?" Luo Shu naturally understood how Utaha Kasumigaoka had arrived at that conclusion. "Playing the well-behaved young lady isn't easy for Sawamura, either."

With that, Luo Shu took out his phone and checked the time. Seeing that class was about to start, he immediately said,

"Let's leave the rest until lunch break, then."

Utaha Kasumigaoka responded mischievously.

"So, are you planning to walk to school with me and keep fueling the 'rumors'?"

Luo Shu gave her a playful smile.

"As a member of my Familia, you should decide that for yourself."

"..." Utaha Kasumigaoka was speechless. This man really couldn't bear to take even the slightest loss!