Chapter 41 41: The Unnaturally Record with Women

— — — — — — [Based on your performance in the latest mission, you've earned 10,800 points.] "Whoa~!" 10,800!? Even though Veyron had a feeling this mission would net him a pretty solid haul, seeing a number that high—over a third of the total possible points (30,000)—still caught him a bit off guard. He quickly hopped back into the group chat to let the others know he made it back safely. Seeing that everyone else had also returned to their own worlds without issue, he didn't stick around in the chat too long. Instead, he got up and opened his door. Right on cue, someone was already standing there, waiting. "You're back?" "I'm back." "Then, with how well Dad knows me, you should have a pretty good idea why I'm standing here right now, don't you?" "Relax, I know exactly what this is about." Veyron nodded. "This time everything really did go smoothly. And even if it wasn't for a physical checkup, I still needed to pay Eirin a visit for something else... But before that, I can give you the full scoop on what happened while I was gone." "Sounds good. Then let me change real quick." No sooner had she finished saying that, Houraisan Kaguya's clothes changed right before his eyes. Hmm... from the look of things, in the brief moment she slipped into the time rift using her powers, she not only changed outfits but even squeezed in a bath. "Come on in." Veyron stepped aside so Kaguya could enter the room. ... After telling Kaguya what happened. "Father, did you notice something... odd?" After hearing about everything that had happened, Kaguya, who had been comfortably lounging in a bean bag chair, suddenly sat up with a serious look on her face. "...What do you mean?" It was rare to see her with such a stern expression. Veyron frowned slightly, wondering if he had overlooked something important. "Don't you think your luck with women lately has been just a little... too good? And you are uh...you!!!" Kaguya stared him down, completely serious. "Has it?" Veyron tilted his head. "Let's see. That chat group you use to connect with other worlds—based on what you told me, you're the only guy there. The other six members? All girls, right?" Kaguya asked, ticking off her fingers. Veyron nodded. "Yakumo Yukari, the gap yokai, then that Flower Master of the Four Seasons, Kazami Yuuka—who didn't even attack you. Even the shrine maiden you met on the way back and the yokai puppy you took in—they're all girls too, aren't they?" Kaguya continued. Another nod from Veyron. "And now this latest isekai trip—you said that world had billions of people, but after the zombie crisis, there were only nine survivors left who needed cross-world assistance. And those nine just happened to all be women too, didn't they?" Third nod. "Put all that together," Kaguya said with a matter-of-fact tone, "and I think it's safe to say that your recent streak with women has been... unnaturally good." "Ahem..." Veyron cleared his throat and tried to play semantics. "I mean, some of them don't even count as people and even attacked me—like the gap yokai." "Heh~" Kaguya stood up, gazing down at him ever so slightly. "...Alright, alright, I admit, it has been kinda weird." Under her intense gaze, Veyron didn't bother denying it anymore. "So what are you trying to say?" "I'm just curious," Kaguya said, smiling as she ticked through the mental list. "Six chat members, powerful yokai, a shrine maiden, nine survivors... Out of all those girls, was there anyone who made you feel something a little... different?" "What kind of different?" "..." She didn't even need to say it. Her look said everything. "And I notice Eirin didn't make the list," Veyron replied, catching on fast. "So I guess that means she holds a special, untouchable spot in your heart. But then... what about you?" He dropped the pretense, locking eyes with her seriously. "Technically speaking, you've been with me the longest out of everyone." "Then... if you do count me?" Picking up on his tone, Princess Kaguya asked with a grin. Veyron stroked his chin. "I guess everyone is ok.... except you, of course." "!!!" "Except me, huh?!" Kaguya looked at him with disdain. "It's just... we're too familiar. I mean, I literally watched you grow up. That kind of familiar." Veyron blinked innocently. "You get what I mean, right?" "That gap yokai literally tried to kill you!" "Which is exactly why, if I get the chance, I'll give her a taste of unforgettable punishment." "Inukimi's a puppy yokai!" "She can shapeshift! Just look at her base form—you know she'll be stunning as a human." "Alice is still a kid!" "She'll grow up. A few years isn't a big deal for people like you—or the current me." "Is bullying me fun for you?!" "You're the one who brought it up first to your dad." Veyron chuckled. Fuming, Kaguya stormed out of the room, cheeks flushed pink. Her bare feet thudded against the plush carpet with heavy, angry stomps. "This girl..." Back in the room, Veyron let out a soft laugh then stood up from the beanbag chair where they'd just been sitting, stretched, and headed for the door. "Time to go see Eirin." . . .