<h4>Chapter 146: Gradually Slipping into the Abyss</h4>


    Trantor: imperfectluck Editor: vb24


    ‘Honestly, Brother Seiji is so…’


    Shika was feeling embarrassed inside.


    But, strangely enough, it wasn’t ufortable… in fact, it felt rather nice.


    Eating together with him, speaking with him, and being praised by him… was really enjoyable.


    She almost felt like crying when shepared her current life with the way she used to live.


    ‘No, I shouldn’t cry here. I should be smiling in front of him at such a time.’


    Shika disyed a smile that came from her heart again.


    Her slightly shy and moving smile almost caused Seiji to fall into a daze.


    Only when she sat down again did Seiji regain his senses.


    ‘My little sister’s too cute! What should I do!?’


    He felt that he was gradually slipping into the abyss… No, he had to stop thinking about it!


    "Thank you for your performance. I understand what a ritual is now, so we can finish our meal."


    "Yeah…"


    Neither of them spoke for a while after this, and only the sound of the pair eating remained.


    Since the ‘ritual’ was what Shika just performed… then the [Beginning Technique] in the system was probably referring to the most basic version of what she just performed.


    Seiji presumed it was simr to an entry-level technique in martial arts.


    If he truly wanted to learn cultivation, he would have to wear a special outfit… he was rather curious about its appearance.


    ‘Would Shika-chan look even prettier if she performed that ritual again while wearing it?’ Seiji really wanted to see it. ‘Well, I’ll have plenty of chances in the future!’


    …The abyss was beckoning.


    ‘So what!? I really want to see!!’


    Seiji forcefully banished his idle thoughts after inwardlymenting on himself.


    "Ah… I have onest question: how do I be a Yin Yang Master? Are there any other conditions apart from Mana and Spiritual Power?"


    Shika shook her head. "I don’t know. I… I’m just a retainer, so I only know about retainers."


    "Oh…"


    "Sorry…"


    "Eh? You don’t need to apologize, it’s not like this is anything to apologize for. If you don’t know, you don’t know." Seiji smiled again as he patted her on the head. "Don’t say sorry so often, especially to me," he said in a forceful yet gentle tone as he looked into her eyes.


    "Okay…" Shika nodded slightly.


    She felt like crying again. How unseemly…


    She needed to get used to this feeling.


    The warmth andfort… that she received from being together with him.


    …


    After they finished eating dinner.


    Seiji brought the trays and tes back to the kitchen, where Mai informed him that Natsuya still hadn’t returned.


    Due to this, he decided to go back to his room and grind for some points.


    Even though absorbing the [Reaper’s Curse] today cost him 25 points, he still had plenty left over, so he wanted to exchange for something, but…


    ‘I have a new statistic now, with a new category of options and four lesser options within it, but there’s no new [Items] to go along with this update! Just what are you thinking, system!?’ As usual, Seiji had a stream of energeticments.


    This waspletely against the maxims of any sessful MMORPG!


    A massive update must be apanied by new items that people could spend money on! If a huge update didn’t have any new products to purchase, not only would the game lose out onrge potential profits, the richest yers would curse at the game developers!!


    This otaku that wanted to spend his money (okay, points) was angry!


    But in the end, it was all useless.


    After finishing his immature small fit of rage, Seiji could only silently grind whatever he could.


    Then he logged on to his email and discovered that Editor Yoshizawa had sent him a new message.


    The contents of the message stated that his short novel "I’ll Die If I Don’t Be Handsome!" had been formally epted by Thunderbolt Literature.


    As long as he printed the contract in this email, signed the bottom, and mailed it to their editing department, his novel would be published in next week’s magazine.


    Published! Published! Published!! Important things need to be repeated three times.


    ‘My story is going to be published!’ Just imagining it filled Seiji with a burst of overwhelming excitement.


    This story wasn’t one that he giarized from his own world; it was an original workpletely created using his own imagination!


    Although his system improved his writing level, he still came up with his own characters, story, and setting. Everything he wrote was a product of his own mind.


    This type of aplishment and joy was wonderful.


    Seiji had high expectations for when he would be able to first witness his story in a magazine.


    But before that, he needed to sign the contract.


    Was there a printer in this residence?


    Seiji left his room in order to search for Mai.


    There were some soundsing from the main hallway.


    "Houjou-san, I’d like to…" Seiji started—but when he entered the hallway, he instantly retracted his words.


    That was because he witnessed the scene of Mai Houjou watching TV while imitating the singing and dancing actions of the idol girl group that was performing.


    "I truly wish~~ You’d embrace me~~ On that sunset-stained hillside~~ I like you~~"


    The beautiful girl in ck-and-white maid attire was dancing happily with light, quick steps as she smiled brilliantly while making various cute poses with her hands.


    Seiji waspletely stunned at this sight.


    He just stood there at the entranceway to the main hallway with eyes wide open and mouth agape, watching Mai flutter around like she was a little girl.


    The former student council president…


    The Smiling Executioner…


    The person that even the drama club president, no that every Genhana High School senior feared…


    The older sister figure whom Natsuya trusted so wholeheartedly, the mysterious maid that Seiji felt seemed gentle on the surface and reserved on the inside, was actually… doing such…


    Seiji didn’t know how to describe his current feelings, nor did he know what his current expression was anymore.


    He was only capable of staring in shock at the figure before him.


    "Sunset shimmer~~ Color the sky orange~~ Your passion~~ Is burning like the sun~~ I love you~~"


    The idols’ song on television reached its climax.


    Mai also jumped together with them, forming a heart with her fingers as she sang together with them in a small voice.


    Finally, she turned around and did an extravagant pause for her finishing flourish.


    Of course, she locked gazes with the boy who was frozen solid.


    Mai froze solid as well.


    The idols on the television finished their poses and smiled as they stood in a neat row, bowed towards the audience, and left the stage.


    In the hallway, however, time itself seemed to freeze.


    The air was so heavy that it felt tangible.


    It was just as if Izayoi Sakuya cast her time maniption ability… oh right, that character was a maid as well.


    As was typical of Seiji’s mind, it startedmenting energetically as soon as it began working again.


    Mai was still frozen in that ridiculous cute pose. Not even her smile budged a centimeter, despite the fact that quite a while had passed.


    She seemed petrified.


    "Um… Senpai?" Seiji decided to break the silence.


    Mai’s body trembled.


    She slowly straightened herself from her pose, retracted her smile, lowered her head, and averted her gaze.


    Seiji could detect that something was brewing within her.


    It seemed… rather ominous.


    Just as he felt a sensation of danger and was about to do something to defuse it, Mai opened her mouth and spoke.


    "You… saw everything?"


    A low, chilling voice came from the maid who still refused to meet Seiji’s eyes.