SCIAW: Chapter 534/536

Chapter 534: The Qualification Secured

"I'm home."

Ran also returned home.

Seeing the shoes placed at the entrance, she immediately knew her mother was home today.

First, she sniffed the air to check for any strange smells. After confirming there weren’t any, Ran walked further inside.

When she reached the living room, she saw her mother, dressed only in a bathrobe, sitting at the table, her eyes fixed on a stack of documents.

She was thirty-seven, but her figure and skin were so well-maintained that she looked no older than twenty-five.

Ran glanced at the coffee cup on the table and sighed softly.

"Mom, I’ve told you many times, your stomach is in bad shape because of coffee. You should drink less from now on."

The last time she had accompanied her mother to the gastroenterologist, the doctor had already warned her to cut down on caffeine and late nights, since both heavily affected her stomach and overall health.

Eri Kisaki reluctantly put down her documents, crossed her legs into another posture, rested one hand on her cheek, and looked at the coffee cup in front of her.

"Ran, this is my habit."

"I know~"

Ran stretched out her words as she approached the table, snatching the coffee cup her mother was about to reach for.

"But we agreed to cut down until your stomach recovers. It’s because of your excessive caffeine that your stomach’s been so bad, especially during your period."

"So, no more coffee at home from now on."

Watching her daughter take away her lifeline, Eri sighed helplessly.

She could now fully understand how much inconvenience having a caring daughter could bring.

When she lived alone before, she never had to think about such things. But ever since Ran moved in, she had realized just how unhealthy her lifestyle appeared in her daughter’s eyes.

Now, her adorable yet overprotective daughter was helping her correct all her bad habits.

To be honest, it gave her quite the headache.

After pouring the coffee down the sink, Ran poured her mother a glass of milk.

"Mom, I need to talk to you."

Eri, holding the milk, looked up at her daughter with slight surprise.

The serious look on Ran’s face told her this wasn’t a casual chat.

Eri thought for a moment, then nodded, adopting a serious attitude herself.

"Hmm, what is it?"

"It’s about something we discussed today..."

Ran briefly explained the topic from their club meeting at noon.

Listening carefully, Eri’s face twitched several times. She almost couldn’t keep a straight expression.

"So, the topic you discussed at noon was that you want to build a city called Tingen City from the story, using a TV series as the foundation? And you also want to develop that city into an independent city for your special group?"

Eri truly hadn’t expected her daughter to get involved in something so ambitious.

Building a city based on a story wasn’t the shocking part. What shocked her was that her daughter was participating in such a project and that it was being planned as a religious city, complete with gods and believers.

"Mm."

Ran nodded firmly.

Seeing her daughter’s serious nod, Eri could only take a deep breath to suppress the feeling of being too stunned to complain.

"You children are not only bold in thought, but bold in action too."

They decided on building a city just like that, between casual conversations.

"How did your he react?"

"Well, Ren was clearly stunned."

Eri wasn’t surprised at all by that answer.

Compared to these bold, ambitious girls, Ren God actually sounded more normal.

Who would so casually agree to build a city? He must have been caught off guard but later decided to go along with it.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be this conversation now.

"Ren was very surprised at first, but later he decided to act with us."

"Also, Ren said he could give us some support."

"So, I asked for a spot for Mom."

"...???"

The conversation, which had been somewhat normal up until now, suddenly veered into something she didn’t quite understand.

"A spot for me?"

Eri suddenly felt she should tread carefully. Perhaps she had misheard.

"A spot for an extraordinary person."

Her daughter’s words confirmed her suspicion.

"Ren also said the effect of the blessing has been greatly reduced by him, so it won’t have much impact on the recipient. So, I helped Mom get a spot."

Now Eri fully understood.

The so-called spot was exactly what she had imagined. She really hadn’t expected that at her age, she would still have the qualification to receive such a power.

"Before, Ren also gave Nagi’s friend a power. It seemed to be related to law. I think Mom should be perfect for that."

Ran remembered clearly that the ability given to Katsura Hinagiku was tied to the concept of a lawyer. She had kept that detail in mind, believing no one was more suited for that power than her mother.

Eri was left with no room to refuse.

At the same time, Hayasaka Ai also returned home.

Her mother, Hayasaka Nao, who had been called back for once, immediately learned about the big plan from her daughter.

"I see."

Nao wasn’t particularly surprised. She had long passed the age of showing shock easily.

"You and Miss Kaguya have come up with quite the grand idea."

"Now that Miss Kaguya has agreed, the future direction of the Shinomiya Conglomerate will have to change too."

There would need to be some reallocation of resources.

Just as her daughter had said, if they intended to build that city into their own, then the Shinomiya Conglomerate’s main base would inevitably revolve around it. That would require significant adjustments.

"Mom, there’s one more thing. I helped you get a qualification."

Nao, who had long mastered her composure, was briefly taken aback.

"Obtained from the god?"

Nao immediately connected the dots.

"Yes."

Receiving her daughter’s confirmation, Nao hadn’t expected Ai to be so daring.

"The direction of the power still needs to be decided, so, Mom, do you have time?"

Nao took a deep breath and tapped her daughter lightly on the forehead.

"How could I not have time?"

"Next time something like this happens, give me a heads-up first. And Ai, to think you actively asked the god for a qualification, you’ve grown bold."

Ai understood her mother’s tone. She hadn’t acted impulsively but had done it because she knew her role well.

"Mom, he’s not that scary, and not really a god."

"Once you get to know him, you’ll see, he’s actually just an ordinary boy."

"Oh~?"

Nao raised an eyebrow slightly, intrigued by her daughter’s tone.

Her normally disciplined daughter, who always understood propriety and restraint, was starting to sound... less composed.

As a mother, she could only think one thing.

Her daughter was beginning to lean toward that boy’s side.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 535: Three Sequences Suitable for a Governing Family

The ritual for receiving a boon did not need to be overly formal. It was mostly about careful selection.

Especially considering one's profession and the family's future, the choice of power was very important, with no room for jest.

So, after school on Friday, Chika sought out Ren.

"Ren, are you free tonight?"

She did not know about the others, but after she spoke with her family yesterday, her mother said she wanted to meet today.

"Yes, I'm free, but has your family decided this quickly?"

Ren did not expect the Fujiwara to be ready so soon.

"Mm, my mom has extremely strong execution. She made a decision after two hours of deliberation. Last night, she canceled all her appointments and told me to ask if you were free today."

Thinking about what her mother said yesterday, Chika could roughly imagine how much importance her mother placed on this matter.

She canceled her schedule just to ask if Ren was free tonight.

To be honest, it was not that they did not know whether Ren was free.

Knowing was one thing. Attitude was another.

"Canceled her appointments... your mother's execution is indeed very strong."

Ren also did not expect Chika's mother to be so proactive. While others had not even prepared, she had already started acting so quickly.

"Alright then, I'm free today, so a meeting is fine."

"OK. Then I'll tell Mom."

Chika quickly took out her phone and sent a message to her mother.

"Ding."

"So fast."

Less than ten seconds after the message was sent, a reply came back.

Was Mom holding her phone, waiting for her message?

Chika could not help imagining her mother waiting with the phone in hand.

She shook her head. Her astute and capable mother would not be like that.

She looked down at the message.

[Mom: Got it. Toyomi has been arranged to pick you up today. We will discuss other matters when you return.]

For some reason, Chika felt her spiritual perception growing sharper, as if she could already see what her mother was doing behind the scenes.

She shook her head, then looked at Ren.

"By the way, Ren, which Sequences do you think are suitable for our family?"

"Sequences for a political family?"

When asked this, Ren thought for a moment, then gave his opinion.

"One is the Spectator Sequence you chose. Politics requires understanding the deepest thoughts of others. High-Sequence Spectators, while understanding, can also implant their own ideas into others' minds, making them follow the Spectator's script."

"However, once someone becomes a Spectator, it is best to serve as an auxiliary for a political family. Spectators are not suitable for standing on the front stage."

"Mhm."

Chika strongly agreed.

Based on the abilities of high-Sequence Spectators Ren had mentioned before, it was best for such abilities not to be on the front stage. Spectators should dilute their presence and work behind the scenes.

"And what else?"

"As for others, the Lawyer Sequence, chosen by Hinagiku Katsura, is quite suitable."

"Understanding rules, utilizing rules, and even defining things through one's own customized rules. Oh, right, if that city is built in the future, a high-Sequence Lawyer could formulate a set of rules, which would make city management more convenient."

Speaking of the Lawyer's abilities, Ren thought of Tingen City, which he wanted to establish.

The Lawyer's abilities were quite suitable for use within a city. As long as certain corresponding rules were set, public order could be assured, and confidentiality could be maintained through the rules.

"Eh? Can a Lawyer do something like that?"

Chika was slightly surprised.

"Of course. When weak, a Lawyer abides by rules and utilizes rules. But once a Lawyer becomes strong and gains greater authority, the Lawyer is no longer merely a Lawyer, but an Emperor."

"Besides abiding by rules, an Emperor can also formulate rules beneficial to themselves. Because an Emperor has the right to be willful."

"Abiding by rules, utilizing rules, and finally even formulating rules."

Listening to Ren's introduction, Chika became even more interested in the Lawyer pathway. Clearly, this was indeed a Sequence suitable for a governing family.

Especially the phrase that a Lawyer becomes an Emperor, and an Emperor can be willful.

What a governing family needed was to formulate its own rules, especially within its own faction.

While formulating rules, they could also make others abide by them.

This could create many conditions favorable to a governing family.

After understanding the abilities of this pathway, Chika could not help exclaiming.

"This pathway is too suitable for a political family. If someone reaches the end, would they be able to formulate rules that even the nation must abide by?"

"You've really hit the nail on the head."

Ren nodded slightly. As someone born into a governing family, it was normal for Chika to have such thoughts.

"The end of the Lawyer is the Black Emperor, and becoming an Emperor who controls a nation is also a necessary condition for the ritual of becoming a god."

"Eh? Is that really true?"

Chika's eyes widened.

Ren knew where her surprise came from, but he still explained it clearly.

"Chika, you need to pay attention to the difference between before and after."

"Every advancement after Sequence 5 requires a corresponding ritual. The Black Emperor's advancement ritual requires one to act like an Emperor, formulating a reasonable set of rules and implementing them in one's own country."

"In other words, it is not that you can formulate rules because you become an Emperor. Rather, you need to first have the conditions to formulate rules to be qualified to become an Emperor."

"The process is a bit more troublesome."

So that was how it worked. That made it more reasonable.

Chika patted her chest, immediately feeling that the power at the end of the Lawyer pathway was justified.

The difference in Sequence made the Lawyer pathway go from seemingly unreasonable to more reasonable.

After all, that kind of power also needed a corresponding auxiliary status.

Having the corresponding status allowed the Lawyer's abilities to be fully utilized, which made it reasonable.

"As for the other one, it is the Bard Sequence."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 536: I Won’t Be Like Toyomi-nee

After school, a sedan was parked in front of Teitan High School.

Such a scene was no longer anything special.

Teitan High School had many children from wealthy families, and people were used to it. Not many would even look twice.

However, another situation did make people turn their heads.

"Toyomi-nee, I'm here."

Chika, who had transferred to Teitan later, drew attention with every move due to her curvy figure that did not match her age.

She was cute, with a lovely chubby face and a particularly good figure, which made it hard for boys to look away.

But today, this cute Chika had an inconspicuous boy by her side.

A pair of thick glasses covered much of his face, making him look particularly unremarkable, and his presence was not very strong.

Yet such a boy stood beside Chika, which made the eyes of the bewildered boys glow with jealousy.

"Who is that guy?"

Those who knew recognized him almost instantly.

"Oh, him? He seems to be Suzuki's boyfriend."

"Which Suzuki?"

"You know, Mouri Ran's friend."

"Her..."

Reminded, they recalled who Suzuki referred to, the friend of Ran, the second-year school beauty. She was not bad-looking, and her figure was fine, but her impression was mostly as Ran's friend.

"But how did Suzuki's boyfriend end up with Fujiwara?"

"That's not hard to guess. They're in the same club, the Occult Research Club with full special privileges."

"Oh, that club."

Almost no student in the school did not know about the Occult Research Club.

Mainly because this club's privileges were maxed out, and its members were all exceptions. Otherwise, the school would not have granted such privileges.

However, those unaware did not know what identities the main members of this club had.

"Close proximity... Doesn't Suzuki worry about her boyfriend getting involved with other girls?"

"Tch. Do you think a guy can be lucky enough to be fancied by multiple girls?"

In fact, that was indeed the common sense.

Anyone with sense knew that no matter how charming a guy was, once he was explicitly dating another girl, he would become an insulator in other girls' circles.

However, even such common sense had exceptions.

For example, Ren, who was already sitting in the back seat.

"..."

He glanced at the boys outside the window who were looking this way and sighed helplessly.

Chika watched the situation outside with interest, then nudged Ren beside her with her elbow.

"Neh neh, how does it feel to be the topic of conversation, Ren?"

Ren simply rolled his eyes at her.

"I just feel my ordinary daily life has gotten some ripples, and that more and more people will hold grudges against me."

"Hahaha. Isn't that natural?"

Laughing, Chika reached over and took off Ren's glasses, leaning forward with big, fluttering eyes to stare closely at his face.

"I feel that if you take off your glasses, Ren, those people definitely would not say you're not worthy. Not worthy."

He raised his hand and flicked her forehead. Chika immediately pulled back.

He did not want to cause trouble for himself. Being watched everywhere was not what he wanted. He did not wish to step into the limelight.

As an introverted person, he was least skilled at socializing.

So staying away from social situations was something he often did.

He certainly did not want to be thrust into the spotlight because of his face. He still had a bit of social anxiety.

"Eh, what a shame."

Touching her forehead where she had been flicked, Chika looked regretful.

If Ren were willing to take off his glasses now, the boys of Teitan surely would not say he was unworthy.

It was just a pity that Ren did not like it.

Toyomi, sitting in the driver's seat, glanced in the rearview mirror at her sister and Ren's playful intimacy and felt a bit surprised.

She had always known that their father disapproved of her easygoing personality, so he was strict with Chika's education.

In Shuchiin, there were almost no members of the opposite sex who could interact normally with Chika.

Chika had also been raised to stay away from matters related to boys.

Such close contact was truly rare.

Ren naturally noticed Toyomi's gaze from the front seat.

"Miss Toyomi, is something wrong?"

"I just feel like you and Chika have a very good relationship."

Toyomi had a hint of teasing on her face. She did not keep a stiff distance as her mother suggested, and instead treated him as Chika's friend.

"Because of me, Chika has always received conservative education from Father. In Kōchiin, almost no boy can have too much contact with her."

"Seeing Chika interact with a boy like this, I can almost imagine Father's crestfallen face."

"Pfft."

With that, Toyomi laughed even more freely.

"Your reason?"

Ren looked at Toyomi in the driver's seat, puzzled.

"Yes. Because the clothes I usually wear are quite revealing, and I don't really listen to Father, he always uses me as a negative example to educate Chika and Moeha."

"Revealing?"

Only then did Ren notice that Toyomi's outfit was indeed revealing. Her shorts exposed her thighs, and her short top revealed a bit of her stomach. He understood.

"Indeed, from a male perspective, the attire is a bit revealing."

Toyomi looked at the boy through the rearview mirror, smiling with some curiosity.

"So from a male perspective, is my attire not very good?"

"It's not necessarily bad. From the perspective of an ordinary male, seeing an older sister dressed like this would probably make them quite happy. But if it were Fujiwara..."

Ren turned to look at Chika and her overly voluptuous figure, feeling a bit awkward.

"...it is still not very good, right?"

Hearing this, Chika puffed out her cheeks, put her hands on her hips, and said angrily,

"I won't be like Toyomi-nee."

However, behind her anger, the slight curve at the corner of her mouth was hard to hide.

(To be continued.)