Ten-some minutes later.
In the end, Old Crannichar still managed to walk out of Marquis Voban's castle.
Although Voban had been provoked, the thought of an imminent fight put him in quite a good mood, so he simply told Old Crannichar to crawl back wherever he had come from.
Meanwhile, on Akuto's side.
The day Akuto returned had been Saturday. That afternoon, Akuto had first enjoyed a black-and-white match with Sayaka and Fuyuhime, then killed Takemikazuchi, and after eating Shizuka's cooking, he had enjoyed Shizuka as well.
On Sunday, Akuto woke after sleeping with Shizuka in his arms, then received Marquis Voban's phone call.
After hanging up on Marquis Voban, Akuto turned and walked back into the kitchen, continuing to prepare lunch.
In truth, Akuto did know how to cook. It was just that Shizuka loved taking care of him far too much, so whenever she was around, he could never seem to find much of a chance to cook.
Today's lunch was perfect timing. Akuto had just obtained the mysterious culinary talent known as Golden Finger, and Shizuka's stomach had started rumbling after their morning exercise.
Since Shizuka's limbs were still weak because of him, Akuto could only shoulder the duty of cooking.
The Kusanagi family's cupboards were very well stocked. Akuto took a rough look and realized that many of the ingredients had been bought yesterday afternoon.
Then he thought back to the place where Shizuka had been attacked yesterday afternoon.
In other words, Shizuka was already preparing for the possibility of my return yesterday afternoon?
As expected, Shizuka was the kind of woman who could become my mother.
After making a statement worthy of Char, Akuto raised the slender kitchen knife in his hand.
Fusang knives differed from Chinese knives. They were long and narrow, more similar in shape to Chinese fruit knives. Of course, in terms of thickness, Fusang kitchen knives were still a little thinner than Chinese fruit knives.
The rhythmic sound of "tak, tak, tak" rang without end. Kusanagi Shizuka watched Akuto's skilled knife work with a face full of happiness.
Come to think of it, it had been a long time since she had tasted a meal made by Akuto himself.
After all, once Akuto had moved out, even though she still met him every day on the school rooftop, the number of times she cooked for him had been reduced to three times a week, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
With limited opportunities, Shizuka naturally chose to personally make meals for Akuto.
As for the bento she brought him every day?
Could dishes that had been left to cool for hours before being served really count as cooking a meal for Akuto!?
...
However, the more Shizuka watched, the more she struggled to keep her expression steady.
That was because as Akuto cooked, he started pulling out all kinds of ingredients from who knew where, many of which Shizuka had only ever seen on television.
"Whoosh~"
A perfectly shaped tuna was directly teleported by Akuto from the sea onto the dining table.
A flash of the knife later, sashimi was spread evenly across the porcelain plate. Because its spinal cord had also been severed, the tuna had not even felt pain before its life ended.
Even after its life had ended, the entire tuna remained in its freshest and most delicious state thanks to Akuto's Golden Finger.
After regaining his memories, the return of his close-combat attributes had not only given Akuto a boost in battle. His cooking had also received an enormous enhancement.
...
Half an hour later, afternoon sunlight slanted into the living room.
Aside from Akuto and Kusanagi Shizuka, several more people had appeared in the Kusanagi household.
Erica's red dress burned against the sofa like a cluster of flames, drawing Shizuka's gaze.
However, by this point, Shizuka, who had already reached the most intimate relationship with Akuto, had no objections to the presence of Erica and the others.
Shizuka knew that with Akuto's current strength and status, it was absolutely impossible for him to have no one around him.
Before they could be certain whether there were still families like the Kuhoutsuka family, outwardly obedient while secretly causing trouble, it was only natural for beautiful girls who shared an intimate relationship with Akuto to hold important positions.
Looking around, Shizuka observed these beautiful girls, each with her own charm.
Blonde hair, silver hair, brown hair, purple hair... Hm? There was even a dark-skinned beauty?
When she saw Saint Raphael, Shizuka could not help widening her green eyes. She had assumed Akuto would not like this type of dark-skinned girl and had only treated her as a bodyguard and high-level combat asset.
Now it seemed Akuto valued beauty more than the world.
On Akuto's side, after calling everyone over, he first asked them what dishes they liked.
Then he began working in the kitchen at astonishing speed.
Under normal circumstances, Akuto was too lazy to cook, but now that he had obtained Golden Finger, he had a strong urge to test it out.
Soon, the kitchen was filled with the sweet aroma of teriyaki sauce.
Akuto rolled up his shirt sleeves and stir-fried beef. When oil splattered onto his forearm, Sayaka silently handed him a towel.
After passing him the damp towel, Sayaka leaned against the doorframe. Her suit pants wrapped around a pair of exceptionally long legs, while the eyes behind her lenses watched Akuto's every movement.
"Do you need a decanter?" Sayaka shook the bottle of red wine she had brought and cast Akuto an inquiring look.
"Mm." Akuto nodded lightly.
"Pop~"
The next second, the wine bottle opened its own cap, then poured itself into the decanter.
Taking advantage of the chance to ask Akuto, Sayaka gave him a report.
"Akuto-kun, the Kuhoutsuka family has been completely purged."
"According to the investigation, it was Susanoo who gave the Kuhoutsuka family their orders. He had them move against Kusanagi Shizuka and Mariya Hikari at the same time."
"That way, they could use Kusanagi Shizuka as a hostage and demand that you not act rashly, Akuto-kun, while they unsealed the Western Heaven Palace."
"In other words, exactly as I expected." Akuto nodded, then looked over the glasses-wearing Sayaka.
To better display her charm, Sayaka had not been wearing glasses when she came to see Akuto. However, once she entered work mode, Sayaka still habitually put them on.
"As expected, Susanoo was never going to stay quiet over there."
"Still, it does not matter. Whether this happened or not, I never planned to let Susanoo live." As he spoke, Akuto smiled and wiped the kitchen knife.
Not just Susanoo. Akuto had already decided from the start to usurp the myths of all male gods, so to him, Susanoo's head had long since been recorded on the ledger.
Hearing this, Sayaka smiled helplessly. She did not know Akuto's plan. All she knew was that Akuto's trust in her was genuine. Akuto had not held the slightest suspicion toward her because she had eliminated the children of the Ki family.
Having worked in politics for many years, Sayaka knew how precious that kind of trust was. Therefore, she was also willing to devote all her strength to repaying Akuto's trust.
"In that case, during the next stage, we should study where Susanoo is located in the Netherworld."
"At this stage, I can only make some inferences about Susanoo's position. I cannot accurately determine his exact location." Sayaka told Akuto all the information she had collected regarding Susanoo.
Akuto understood very clearly why Sayaka was doing this, so he shook his head helplessly.
"No, there is no need. Kaoru, you do not need to do anything about Susanoo, and you do not need to prove your loyalty to me again."
"You only need to continue advancing the compilation of all mythology-related information in Fusang according to my plan."
"As for Susanoo... that is only a matter of time." Since Sayaka's favorability had reached the conquest level recognized by the system, Akuto absolutely trusted her.
Sayaka: "..."
Sayaka's red lips parted slightly, and a trace of composure appeared on her previously calm face.
"Akuto-kun, thank you for trusting me."
"Kaoru, is that what you came to tell me privately?"
"Yes. This is something I wanted to say no matter what." Sayaka nodded softly.
"Good. I understand both your words and your thoughts."
...
"Now... how about we eat first?"
Akuto picked up the last soup pot and walked toward the dining table.
...
Steam rose from the soup pot in the center of the long dining table, and everyone ate happily.
However, beneath the table, someone had already begun moving in secret.
When Arianna cheered over the hamburger steak, sauce smeared the corner of her mouth, and Erica smiled as she wiped it away with a napkin. Yet her violet eyes drifted toward Akuto at the head of the table.
That was because her white-stockinged foot was stretching toward Akuto under the cover of the table.
She knew Akuto liked all sorts of novel games. Coincidentally, she liked them too, so she had taken the seat opposite Akuto at the first opportunity.
Liliana did not have as many little schemes as Erica. She simply ate her chawanmushi in small bites.
Of course, not everyone was as pure as Liliana.
Suddenly, Erica's foot, wrapped in white lace thigh-high stockings, felt a strange sensation.
At the same time, Sayaka, who was seated beside Erica, unconsciously raised an eyebrow. Clearly, she had also sensed that someone seemed to be competing with her.
Without a doubt, the two of them had sat across from Akuto for the same purpose. It was just that Sayaka had been slightly slower.
And so, with the space beneath Akuto's table as their stage and their legs as weapons, the two of them began a silent battle.
As for Akuto? Akuto merely glanced under the table in amusement at the black-and-white butterflies fighting there, then quietly used Golden Finger to adjust both of them into their most appealing states.
Thanks to Akuto's efforts, everyone ate their fill.
Since everyone was full, it was time for Akuto to have his meal.
Why had Akuto called everyone over to eat with him? Was it not so he could enjoy them all at once?
That night, the bedroom curtains billowed in the wind. Erica and Liliana, that pair of twin stars, had already fallen asleep. Sayaka's glasses had slid down her nose bridge, but since she was already asleep, she naturally could not push them back up. Only Shizuka slowly stretched out her foot, presenting the black cotton sock she had deliberately changed into before Akuto.
In short, Akuto had indeed eaten his fill.
(End of Chapter)
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