Chapter 121: Welcome Home, Aoi

[Since the Host has always insulted and treated me, the system, like trash and has shown no respect, the system has decided that I have an Urgent Side Quest to see what the Host can actually do.]

[Urgent Side Quest Triggered: Show The System Pain, Show Me What A Bum Like You Can Actually Do.]

"Seriously? No Dungeon raid or force Bond or whatever shit you always throw at me? Just pain?" Reiji side-eyed the system. "You’re a freaking masochist, you know that?"

[(⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)]

Reiji made a disgusted face as soon as he saw this and said, "Eww... That was not a compliment."

[Sadist ಠ⁠益⁠ಠ]

"I can’t believe I’m even talking to you... What a waste of my precious time," Reiji muttered as he went back to munching on his snacks.

There was no way the system was going to let Reiji off with such disrespect, so it added another notification.

[In a few days from now, being any day from now, you’ll get transported into a virtual world where you’ll have to prove yourself with Daily Quest Training and...]

"And?" Reiji asked, annoyed, but the system only responded flatly.

[You have not met the requirements to see the full information of this Side Quest.]

[You should work out more often. Maybe twice or ten times what you do now, Host. You’ll need it. ತ⁠_⁠ʖ⁠ತ]

Reiji was a little annoyed, but he knew that this system, as annoying as it was, would make something happen if it said it would. And it always did so right on time. So he needed to work out twice, no, ten times his average workout. Though he knew the system was intentionally blocking the crucial information at the end, there was nothing he could do about it.

Now he could only count on doubling his efforts in the Daily Quest. "What a pain in the ass."

Reiji then thought of something and asked, "System, how is the progress with the bond between me and Aoi? I haven’t gotten any Bond Points since."

[There are no Bond Points for you if you keep being a coward.]

"Excuse me?"

[Bond Partner No.2’s bond is already strong at 90%, but yours is at 73%. Create moments for genuine bonds. If she hits a hundred percent, you can get Bond Points despite being at 73%.]

Reiji thought about it and guessed the same must have happened between him and Hina, but at that time, there was no need to worry about this because her love for him was already strong enough to automatically reach 100%.

Reiji sighed and thought to himself, ’I guess if this is what I have to do, then it’s what I have to do.’

"But what would I do for a genuine bond?" Reiji pondered for a while. "If I set up a candlelight dinner, she’d be too exhausted when she comes home from work... So what?"

After a few seconds, Reiji suddenly had a light bulb moment. "That would work, but the mood needs to be just perfect."

Reiji turned his head and looked at Vel. "Hey, useless bum. Get your ass up. We have some preparation to make."

’My Lord, what could that be?’ Vel asked excitedly.

"None of your business. And you need to take a shower too. Hey, System, open the System Market. I got some shopping that needs to be done."

***

Meanwhile, at the office, Aoi was swarmed with work. She knew that sooner or later, she was going to make quite a lot of mistakes. Though she was only revising the documents Mayumi handed her and submitting them into the database, she knew that sooner or later, she was going to mess something up.

After all, her credentials weren’t real.

Hours passed, and Aoi was getting tired of the sound of the air conditioning, keyboard and printer. She couldn’t help but chat a bit with Mayumi.

"Manager Yamada, can I ask you something?" Aoi asked from across the room.

"Yes," Mayumi replied, her eyes still fixed on her laptop screen.

"Why is there so much work?" Aoi asked, going straight to the point.

Her boldness made Mayumi like her more. Mayumi paused and responded, "Well, it’s because my previous assistant quit right after we landed a big project."

"If I may ask, why did she quit?" Aoi asked, surprised, because no one in their right mind would quit after landing a big project. From the files she was handling, it seemed like a big deal, and the pay for the job was good, even better than what a rookie adventurer could earn. The only downside was that she wouldn’t get paid until the end of the month.

"Well, I don’t know the specifics, and from the intel I’ve gathered, some say it has something to do with the Night Empress approaching her."

"Eh?" Aoi was surprised.

"Yeah, even I didn’t believe such a thing. It’s still no reason to quit her job. And there’s no way the Night Empress would threaten her, right?"

’What did that idiot do?’ Aoi muttered in her mind before answering, "Right. There’s no way the Night Empress would do that."

"Great. Now that that’s out of the way, please finish up the files I’ve sent to you."

[Incoming Documents: 104]

’Whaaaat?!’ Aoi screamed internally and felt that this woman had added even more work for her just because she talked during work hours.

"Can I at least have a break?"

"Yes, after you’re done with that and these." Mayumi said with a smile as she touched the long pile of documents on her table.

’Is this Karma for trying to steal someone else’s boyfriend?’

***

After a long day at work, Aoi finally left the office around 7:32 p.m. She had ended up working overtime with Mayumi, and by the time she stepped out of the building, her entire body felt like it had been drained of every last bit of energy.

She quietly entered the Uber she had ordered and leaned against the seat, letting out a long sigh.

All she wanted was to get home, take a shower and collapse onto the bed.

The thought of tomorrow’s workload alone was enough to make her want to cry.

When the Uber finally arrived, Aoi thanked the driver before stepping out and making her way toward the apartment. She was already imagining herself throwing her bag somewhere and falling face-first onto the bed.

However, the moment she opened the door, she froze.

The entire apartment was dark.

Aoi’s exhaustion immediately vanished as her heart skipped a beat.

"Reiji?" she called out softly.

There was no answer.

Her hand instinctively tightened around the strap of her bag as anxiety began creeping into her chest. She slowly stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the darkness.

Then suddenly, the lights came on.

But they weren’t the usual lights.

The entire room was illuminated by a warm golden amber glow, the kind of lighting she had only ever seen in fancy restaurants.

Aoi blinked several times.

"What...?"

Before she could process what she was seeing, something small approached her from the hallway.

It was Vel.

The chubby yellow cat was dressed in a tiny black tuxedo, complete with a little shirt, tie and even tiny shoes.

His fur had been carefully styled, making him look ridiculously adorable.

Vel stopped directly in front of Aoi and gave her a small bow.

’My Lord, am I doing good?’ Vel asked excitedly through telepathy.

’Yes. And you’d better not ruin it.’

’Never in my whole life would I do that, My Lord!’

Aoi stared at the scene for several seconds before her heart completely melted.

"You little cutie!"

She immediately picked Vel up and hugged him against her chest.

"Look at you! Who dressed you like this? You’re so adorable! Look at those tiny shoes!"

Vel didn’t resist in the slightest. In fact, he seemed to enjoy every second of the attention, happily accepting Aoi’s baby talk before leaning forward and licking her cheek.

"Awww! You’re so cute!"

’You little fucker,’ Reiji commented angrily from the shadows.

Aoi suddenly remembered Reiji and looked up. Immediately Reiji stepped out from the darkness to welcome her.

The moment Aoi saw him, she froze again.

He was wearing a perfectly fitted tuxedo, his hair neatly styled and his usual casual appearance completely replaced by the look of an elegant gentleman.

He looked clean, refined and undeniably handsome.

Aoi’s heart immediately began beating loudly.

’Why is my heart beating so fast?’

Reiji smiled when he saw her reaction and approached her.

"Welcome home, Aoi."

His voice was gentle, almost completely different from the teasing voice she was used to hearing.

Aoi swallowed and looked away for a moment, suddenly conscious of how exhausted and messy she probably looked after spending the entire day at work.

"You..."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Reiji chuckled before gently taking both of her hands.

"Come on."

Aoi allowed him to lead her upstairs, her mind still struggling to process what was happening.

She had expected to come home exhausted.

She hadn’t expected this.

As they reached the bedroom door, Reiji stopped and looked at her for a moment.

Vel was still in Aoi’s arms.

Reiji reached out and collected the chubby cat from her.

"Thanks for your service."

’My Lord, I believe I performed exceptionally.’

’You did.’

Reiji suddenly tossed Vel aside.

"MEOW?!"

Vel flew safely onto the ground and landed with an offended expression.

Aoi barely had time to react before Reiji stepped inside, pulled her along with him and closed the door behind them.