Plundering Traits, Ch 1-5

Chapter 1: Trait Plunder

In a village deep in the mountains, a warrior wielding a blade was fighting against a demon with pitch-black bat-like wings growing from its back.

But in the next instant, at the center of their battle, space suddenly twisted and warped. As a baby appeared, the fractures of the shattered space swept past both of them.

Their bodies seemed to be erased by an eraser, with more than half disintegrating in an instant, reduced to shredded flesh.

Splat!

The baby who fell into the pool of blood showed a confused expression. At that moment, a message popped up before his eyes.

[Ding! Trait Plunder System Loaded Successfully!]

[Ding! Randomly Plundered Traits: Hero Descendant (White), Devil Bloodline (Green)]

Before Shinryu Hayashi could process the fact that he had just transmigrated, a burst of hurried footsteps quickly approached.

“Over here! There’s a child here!”

…

…

“Kuoh Town, Chiba City, Kanagawa Prefecture. What a chaotic mixed up world.”

Hayashi looked at the small town he was about to arrive at, and a smile of excitement rose on his handsome face.

He had been in this world for over ten years now, growing from a newborn baby into a teenager.

The ones who found him were villagers from a Hero clan. Upon discovering he bore the bloodline of the Heroes, they adopted and raised him. But ever since his Devil Bloodline awakened five years ago, he had been banished from the village and began a life of wandering.

As the train was about to arrive at the station, Hayashi opened his status panel.

[Name: Shinryu Hayashi]

[Rank: Middle-Class Devil]

[Traits: Transmigrator (Rainbow), Protagonist Slayer (Red), Beast Power (Blue), Devil Bloodline (Green), Hero Descendant (White)]

[Transmigrator (Rainbow): An anomaly that should not exist in this world, unaffected by the Law of Causality, having neither past nor future. Possesses the power to travel between worlds and grants one random Red Trait.]

[Protagonist Slayer (Red): A being that hunts protagonists. Can completely plunder their existence, Traits, and fate.]

[Beast Power (Blue): A fusion of the strengths of various beasts and yokai. One man is the king of a hundred beasts.]

[Devil Bloodline (Green): Inherited the bloodline of an ordinary Devil. Has average potential.]

[Hero Descendant (White): Descendant of the Hero clan. Carries very ordinary aptitude.]

Trait Quality is categorized as: White, Green, Blue, Purple, Gold, Red, Rainbow.

When he first arrived, he already possessed the [Transmigrator (Rainbow)] Trait, and [Protagonist Slayer (Red)] was granted by that Trait.

[Beast Power (Blue)] was something he recently fused together from all the Traits dropped through days and nights of hunting beasts and yokai.

This Trait granted him a tenacious and resilient body, as well as animal-like supernatural abilities, making his actual combat strength far exceed the level shown on his panel.

Getting off the train, Hayashi closed his status panel.

The moment he stepped into Kuoh Town, he checked the progress bar of the [Crossing Gate].

Seeing a slight increase, the smile on Hayashi’s face grew wider.

The ability to transmigrate granted by the [Transmigrator (Rainbow)] Trait, after years of exploration, he had discovered, required the absorption of something akin to “fate.”

Killing those with abundant fate, or having “intimate” interactions with them, would significantly increase the progress bar.

“The progress is at 69% already. If I hadn’t been kicked out five years ago, I probably could’ve filled it up on Yuki back then.”

Hayashi thought to himself while efficiently handling a list of matters.

His transfer application, the house he bought... all these affairs needed attending to.

Even though he was highly efficient, the tedious processes weren’t something he could finish in a day.

“My grades have always been at the top. Kuoh Academy recently changed into a co-ed school, so the transfer application should go through quickly.”

“Good thing I managed to save up some funds these past few years. I can buy a new house outright and don’t need to rent one that a bunch of people have already lived in.”

“I’ll have to open a general services shop later. Still gotta make a living.”

Hayashi calculated his funds and realized that buying the house cost more than robbing someone—it drained all his savings.

Even though he wasn’t very interested in money, he still felt a twinge of pain.

“Looks like I’ll have to go find some thugs or gangs to ‘borrow’ a bit of money, and investigate Kuoh Town while I’m at it.”

This world and its population far exceeded Hayashi’s imagination.

Even though Kuoh Town was only classified as a town, its land area was comparable to a provincial capital in his memory.

Bathed in the afterglow of the sunset, Hayashi finished surveying the area around his house.

Unfortunately, Kuoh Town’s public security seemed pretty good. Even after wandering for quite a while, he didn’t see a single thug.

Bzzz~~~

Just as he was about to head home, a slight fluctuation of magical energy caught his attention.

“A repelling barrier?”

Even though he’d been banished from the Hero village, Hayashi had spent almost ten years there and still retained some basic knowledge of magic formations.

“Though repelling barriers are simple, anyone who can deploy one is at least at the level of a low-ranked mage or Devil.

Kuoh Town really is a treasure trove.

I wandered around for years outside and barely encountered any decent yokai or Devils.

And now, on the first day I arrive here, something already pops up.”

Overjoyed, Hayashi immediately rushed toward the park.

Meanwhile, in the park under the sunset, Hyoudou Issei, who had originally just been passing through, found himself going in circles and unable to leave.

“W-What’s going on? Why can’t I get out??”

This strange situation filled him with fear.

He looked around and suddenly noticed a man in a heavy coat and a round, hard hat standing at the edge of the woods.

Hyoudou Issei immediately brightened up and waved while walking toward the man.

“Hey~~! Hello there, I’m lost and—”

Before he could finish his sentence, the man before him suddenly spread a pair of pitch-black wings.

“A human hosting a Sacred Gear is a dangerous variable to us.

Though there’s no divine reward for eliminating you, just die anyway!”

Dohnaseek looked coldly at Hyoudou Issei and delivered his judgment.

Hyoudou Issei couldn’t understand what he was saying, but instinctively sensed that danger was imminent.

Run!

Run fast!

His body moved on instinct, sprinting in the opposite direction.

But Dohnaseek only needed to flap his wings once to instantly close the distance.

Black Fallen Angel feathers rained down, as if declaring the end of Hyoudou Issei’s story.

“Light Spear!”

Dohnaseek gathered light and instantly formed a glowing spear of light.

He hurled it, and in an instant, it pierced the fleeing Hyoudou Issei below.

Splurt!

Hyoudou Issei’s abdomen was impaled, and the searing pain and impact knocked him to the ground.

His head was spinning, and his vision blurred.

The fear of death made Hyoudou Issei reach out, grasping for a chance at life.

Thud thud thud!

At that moment, a set of approaching footsteps snapped him out of his fading consciousness.

He looked up and saw a boy, younger than himself, appear before him.

“H-Help me!”

Hyoudou Issei reached out and cried for help with all his might.

It seemed the other person heard him and quickly walked over.

Before Hyoudou Issei could feel even a second of relief, the sole of a shoe filled his vision.

In the next instant, Hayashi stomped heavily on Hyoudou Issei’s head.

Smack!

Hyoudou Issei’s skull burst open like a watermelon dropped from the third floor.

Chapter 2: Boosted Gear

[Crossing Gate Progress +8%]

[Ding! “Protagonist Slayer (Red)” Triggered. Do You Wish to Plunder the Target’s Existence?]

“Wahoo~ Just made it! What a haul!”

After viciously delivering another stomp, Hayashi’s face was filled with the joy of harvest.

He looked at the notification that popped up and immediately selected decline.

Once he chose Existence Plunder, he would replace the target on every level.

It would be equivalent to going back in time and re-living that “protagonist’s” life up until the present.

To Hayashi, Hyoudou Issei’s life didn’t have anything worth plundering.

With Hayashi’s refusal, the system panel continued to display new information.

[Ding! Acquired Traits: Boosted Gear (Purple), Favored by the Rich (Green), Protagonist Halo (Green)!]

Glancing at the three new Traits, Hayashi quickly reviewed them.

[Boosted Gear (Purple): One of the Sacred Gears, forged by the Red Dragon Emperor, Ddraig.]

[Favored by the Rich (Green): The wealthier a woman is, the more easily she will fall for you.]

[Protagonist Halo (Green): Your luck, potential, and so on will receive a slight boost!]

“Protagonist Halo is only Green in quality? Lower than I expected.”

Considering how complex this world’s makeup was, Hayashi let it go.

After all, there wasn’t just one “protagonist” in this world.

His internal musings had only taken a second or two in real time.

When he came back to his senses and looked up, he locked eyes with Dohnaseek’s stunned gaze.

Watching Hayashi suddenly appear and stomp Hyoudou Issei’s head into paste, Dohnaseek was utterly dumbfounded.

But the moment he sensed the aura coming from Hayashi’s body, Dohnaseek’s gaze turned completely cold.

“A Devil? But there’s human essence mixed in... You’re a half-blood Devil.

Who’s your master, and why would they let you roam freely here?”

Dohnaseek stared directly at Hayashi, his voice low as he questioned him.

But Hayashi didn’t respond.

The instant he sensed killing intent, he knew conversation was meaningless.

He began moving step by step toward Dohnaseek, who was hovering in midair.

Black feathers fell from the sky as the killing intent in Dohnaseek’s eyes surged even more.

“Not answering? Or is it that you don’t have a master? In that case, you’re a Stray Devil.

Hahaha~ That means killing you won’t be a problem, and I might even get a divine reward!”

Hearing the so-called reward from Dohnaseek’s mouth, Hayashi’s gaze grew even colder.

This was part of the world’s “rules”—heroes, magical girls, and the like could receive rewards for killing “evil.”

The form of that reward changed with societal perception, and currently, it took the form of Points Cards.

Points Cards could grant wishes, such as wealth, immortality, resurrection, and more.

Depending on the size of the wish, the number of required points varied.

Before being exiled from the Hero village, Hayashi had defeated a few monsters and earned three Points.

With just those three Points, he exchanged them for three million yen.

Unfortunately, after being driven out, he seemed to fall outside the “rule’s” definition, and received no more rewards for subjugations.

But judging by this situation, Fallen Angels killing Devils were still within the system’s recognition.

In that case, this really was a fight to the death!

Channeling all his magic power, the newly obtained Sacred Gear [Boosted Gear] instantly manifested within his body!

A crimson gauntlet wrapped around his left hand, with a brilliant green gem embedded on the back.

The moment he acquired the Trait, Hayashi instantly understood all of its abilities and could wield them at will.

The only limitation was his own physical limit!

“Boosted!"

As the gem on the gauntlet lit up, his strength doubled in that instant!

With his current physical endurance, he could double his power once every eight seconds.

“Not good!”

Sensing Hayashi’s surging energy, Dohnaseek immediately launched an attack.

But just as the light spear appeared in his hand, Hayashi’s figure had already leapt from the ground.

BOOM!!!

Under Hayashi’s explosive strength, the tiles of the park shattered and erupted!

His figure shot out like an arrow released from a bowstring, instantly reaching Dohnaseek.

Dohnaseek’s face filled with terror, and he reflexively thrust his light spear at Hayashi.

The sharp light spear blazed with scorching heat and emitted a holy aura that struck fear into Devils.

As the spear lunged forward, Hayashi didn’t dodge or evade. He took the hit head-on with his body.

A strike that should’ve easily pierced a Devil’s body only sank two inches into his shoulder blade before being shattered by sheer brute force!

Dohnaseek stared in disbelief, momentarily forgetting to retreat.

Hayashi seized the opening, swinging his seemingly boneless arm like a whip directly at Dohnaseek’s face.

“Snake Bone: Supersonic Whip Fist!”

His whirling arm, like a whip, suddenly tightened and lashed out.

Already faster than the speed of sound, the punch accelerated even further in that moment!

As two layers of supersonic force overlapped, it was like two tsunamis merging and roaring forth!

The punch struck Dohnaseek’s face, exploding in a shockwave!

The violent force ruptured the bones in Dohnaseek’s face.

It was as if hundreds of high-explosive grenades went off at once, unleashing a thunderous blast in midair.

The visible shockwave, carrying deafening high-frequency vibrations, slammed into every corner of the park, making the ground hum violently.

BOOM!!!

Like a meteor, Dohnaseek crashed from the sky, smashing hard into the ground.

His facial features collapsed inward, and his vision faded to black. Even his consciousness grew dim.

“How is this possible… how could I…”

From what Dohnaseek could tell, Hayashi’s aura was only at the level of a Middle-Class Devil.

Though Dohnaseek wasn’t the strongest among Mid-Rank Fallen Angels, with a type advantage, suppressing a Middle-Class Devil should have been effortless!

How could someone withstand his strike with just their body?!

Hayashi didn’t bother answering Dohnaseek’s confusion. He quickly closed the distance to him.

“Boosted!”

The Boosted Gear lit up again, doubling Hayashi’s strength once more!

The aura on him now approached that of a High-Class Devil, burning and surging.

Even in his half-conscious state, Dohnaseek’s body trembled instinctively.

Hayashi didn’t waste any movement—he just brought his fist down.

Splurt!

Dohnaseek’s head was pierced and crushed, reduced to a useless corpse just like Hyoudou Issei.

[Ding! Randomly Plundered Trait: Fallen Angel Bloodline (Green)]

[Fallen Angel Bloodline (Green): You are a fallen angel, possessing average potential.]

In an instant, a torrent of holy light surged from within him, intertwining with his magic power.

The magic that had once devoured aura now overwhelmed the light itself, consuming it completely in the blink of an eye.

Pitch-black Fallen Angel wings sprouted from his back—then vanished again.

“Some people’s starting points are others’ lifelong destinations.”

Before his Devil Bloodline awakened, he trained since childhood, and even then had not reached the level of a Low-Rank Fighter by the time he was exiled.

Yet the day after his Devil Bloodline awakened, he became a Low-Class Devil.

After wandering for a few years, even without the [Beast Power (Blue)] Trait, he’d become a Middle-Class Devil.

Now, with the acquisition of [Fallen Angel Bloodline (Green)], Hayashi felt that it wouldn’t be long before he touched the threshold of a High-Class Devil.

Chapter 3: Immortals Gather Together

“With my current rate of progress, I should count as fast among Devils.”

Devils lived nearly eternal lives. If one wasn’t a supremely gifted pureblood, then so-called training would need to be repeated for decades before it meant anything.

For him to make such strides within a few short years, it was likely that the Hero bloodline played a role too.

One raised his potential cap, the other elevated his aptitude for training.

Hayashi clenched his fist, retracting the Boosted Gear back into his body.

This Sacred Gear that he plundered and converted into a Trait no longer contained the soul of the Red Dragon Emperor—it felt more like an extension of his body.

“Even the Sacred Gear’s ultimate technique, Balance Breaker, I can use it now…

But with my current strength, using it would probably kill me instantly.”

With a sigh, Hayashi didn’t dwell on it further.

To gain this much right after arriving was already far better than the five years he spent wandering outside!

He looked up at the darkening sky, narrowing his eyes.

“Someone’s coming—and fast.”

The repelling barrier had vanished when Dohnaseek died.

This fluctuation must have caught the attention of someone in Kuoh Town.

Kicking off with both legs like a spring-loaded panther, Hayashi vanished from the park in a flash.

Just over ten seconds after he left the park, a pink silhouette streaked through the air and descended into the area.

Chiyoda Momo frowned slightly at the mess of scattered remains and two corpses.

“Fallen Angel?”

“Magical Girl?”

High in the sky, another Fallen Angel appeared.

Following Dohnaseek’s fading aura, Raynare looked down at Chiyoda Momo below.

When she saw Dohnaseek’s corpse, her expression turned to shock.

“Human Magical Girl, why did you kill my subordinate?”

Faced with Raynare’s accusation, Chiyoda Momo’s expression remained unchanged.

“I didn’t kill him. I sensed a magical disturbance here and came to investigate.”

After speaking, Chiyoda Momo looked up to meet Raynare’s gaze.

She calmly countered, “You Fallen Angels—why have you suddenly gathered here?”

Feeling the deadly threat from Chiyoda Momo’s presence, Raynare’s expression turned rather unpleasant.

Though she looked like an ordinary magical girl, her strength was far above Raynare’s—at the very least, she was an Upper-Class Magical Girl.

And as a magical girl, she probably wouldn’t lie.

Not wanting to provoke conflict, Raynare immediately gave up on pursuing the truth behind Dohnaseek’s death.

“There’s no reason why we should explain our purpose here to you. I won’t hold today’s matter against you.”

With a flap of her wings, she backed up a few meters, left a parting remark, and soared into the sky, disappearing from Chiyoda Momo’s view.

Watching Raynare leave, Chiyoda Momo didn’t try to stop her.

Although she was a Fallen Angel, in a certain sense she still belonged to the Light Faction.

Unless Raynare did something truly outrageous, Chiyoda Momo didn’t want to cause trouble with her.

“Didn’t even bother to clean up the corpses…”

Sighing softly, Chiyoda Momo then began casting magic to clean up the aftermath.

Two kilometers away, Hayashi gazed from afar at the scene near the park.

Seeing the appearances of Chiyoda Momo and Raynare, his heart began to murmur.

“This is getting messy. Kuoh Town really is a gathering of immortals.”

“Magical Girls, Devils, Fallen Angels… I wonder how many factions are hidden in this place.”

“When I discovered this place, I didn’t expect the waters to run this deep.”

Retracting his gaze, Hayashi walked back along the road.

He decided he’d better keep a low profile for now—focus on growth first before stirring things up.

The [Crossing Gate] progress bar was almost full now.

This transmigration ability that had lain dormant for over a decade was finally about to be useful!

Just thinking about it made his steps feel lighter.

Turning toward the nearby Toma Commercial Street, Hayashi prepared to take advantage of the remaining store hours to stock up on useful supplies.

By the time he stepped out with bags in both hands, the sky had already turned dark.

He hadn’t walked far from the commercial street when he noticed a red-haired girl standing by the roadside.

The instant she entered his line of sight, Hayashi’s gaze was immediately drawn to her.

Her face was flawless, and her fair skin was as smooth as a freshly peeled egg.

Her long crimson hair burned like flames, cascading in soft waves down to her waist.

She wasn’t tall—didn’t look like she even reached 160 centimeters.

But her figure was near perfection, with voluptuous and well-defined curves radiating fatal allure.

Her white, form-fitting sailor uniform wrapped tightly around her ample chest.

The slightly stretched fabric looked ready to burst at any moment, outlining a breathtaking arc.

Her collar was slightly open, revealing a faint hint of cleavage.

Her waist was slender, barely a handful, accentuating the perfect ratio between her chest and abdomen.

A black pleated skirt just barely covered the edges of her hips. With the slightest movement, it seemed one could glimpse what lay beneath—leaving anyone breathless.

A pair of black thigh-high stockings hugged her legs, the snug fabric highlighting the curves of her thighs.

The slightly indented white skin at the tops of her stockings gave off an enticing charm that made hearts race.

If full marks were a hundred, Hayashi would give this red-haired girl at least ninety-nine—one point deducted only to keep her from getting arrogant.

After a second of daze, Hayashi quickly calmed down.

“Red hair? And that kind of body… is she Rias Gremory?"

"No, wait. Hyoudou Issei hasn’t even been turned into a Devil yet. There shouldn’t be any connection between us.”

The thought that surfaced in Hayashi’s mind was quickly pushed down.

The biggest reason he denied she was Rias lay in her “aura.”

The youthful and naive temperament she exuded didn’t resemble what a pureblood Devil should have.

Meanwhile, the red-haired girl—Naruse Mio—also noticed the handsome boy staring directly at her.

Ordinarily, such behavior would’ve annoyed her. But to her surprise, she didn’t feel that way at all—instead, a sense of shyness bubbled up inside.

Naruse Mio blinked her wine-red eyes and bashfully turned her head, pretending to be aloof and cold.

“Maria said she’d be gone for just a bit, but why has it been so long with no sign of her?”

While she grew increasingly anxious inside, Hayashi was busy searching through his memory for her image.

Although more than ten years had passed, and his strength had improved to the point that he could remember most things,

Memories were still ultimately fuzzy, and given how complicated this world was now, Hayashi couldn’t pinpoint her identity.

But there was one thing he could be sure of: the red-haired girl in front of him was definitely a Devil.

Her aura was unmistakably pure—completely different from his own hybrid Devil blood.

And with the Devil aura on him now being neutralized by the Fallen Angel aura, he instead came across more like a pure human.

Just as Hayashi was about to walk up and ask her directly, his steps paused—

He had noticed dark mist gathering in the shadows.

Clusters of cursed energy were condensing and morphing into the shape of three thugs, who began stiffly walking toward Naruse Mio.

Chapter 4: Cursed Spirits and Devils

“Miss, why are you standing here all alone?”

“Wanna have a little fun with us?”

...

...

The three thugs appeared without a sound, immediately causing Naruse Mio to frown.

Compared to them, Hayashi—who had walked out from the commercial street and merely stared at her for a moment—seemed positively restrained.

Naruse Mio’s expression turned icy cold as she fiercely glared at the three thugs.

“Don’t come near me. If any of you do, I’ll kill you a hundred times!”

Faced with her harsh threat, the three “thugs” instantly stretched their mouths into ear-to-ear grins and let out low, excited growls.

“You can see me!!”

“You can actually see me!!”

“Haahhh!!!”

Their bodies twisted and warped before her eyes, reverting into their grotesque Cursed Spirit forms.

Naruse Mio’s pupils contracted as she sucked in a sharp breath.

Encountering such a scene for the first time, she felt like her heart had stopped completely.

Her footing gave way, and she fell back on the roadside with a thud.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

At that moment, three slender beams of light shot forth, piercing the bodies of the three Low-Grade Cursed Spirits.

Magic imbued with holy attributes instantly evaporated the spirits into ash.

Standing not far away, Hayashi retracted his hand.

Ever since awakening his Devil Bloodline, he had also acquired a sort of “spiritual sight” similar to the Spirit Sight Eye.

These low-grade Cursed Spirits had startled him at first, but he later realized they were laughably weak.

[Ding! Points Card +0.03]

Seeing the point notification pop up, Hayashi looked slightly surprised.

“I haven’t acted as a Hero in years—how did I suddenly earn Points again?”

“Could it be because of the Fallen Angel Bloodline? Am I now considered part of the Fallen Angel faction?”

The thought flashed through Hayashi’s mind, but he didn’t bother thinking too deeply about it.

After all, earning Points wasn’t a bad thing. At worst, they could be used to repay debts or save his life—this was real hard currency.

The only pity was that these low-level Cursed Spirits didn’t even drop Traits. Killing them yielded no real benefits.

Exhaling softly, Hayashi walked over to Naruse Mio, who was still sitting on the ground.

“You alright? These low-grade Cursed Spirits like to deceive people—you’ll want to be more careful from now on.”

He extended a hand and helped Naruse Mio up.

The streetlamp cast a glow over her thigh, revealing a faint shimmer of moisture.

…Did she pee herself?

Hayashi was momentarily stunned before thoughtfully pulling a few tissues from one of the bags in his hand.

“Hmm?”

Looking at the tissues he handed over, Naruse Mio, still recovering from the shock, blanked out for several seconds.

A faint blush spread across her stunningly beautiful face, even reaching her ears with a soft pink hue.

“Th-Thank you~”

She spoke softly, then bit her lip and lowered her head, accepting the tissues.

Seeing that Hayashi made no move to leave, she shot him a shy glare and turned away to clean herself up.

As her panicked thoughts slowly calmed, Naruse Mio began to regain composure.

“Who are you? Why… why did you suddenly save me just now?”

Considering her current situation, she asked with a hint of caution.

Still, Hayashi had saved her. Even if it had caused her deep embarrassment, she still spoke with sincere gratitude.

“Let me introduce myself.

I’m Shinryu Hayashi. My main job is being a student, and I moonlight as a half-time Hero, exorcist, monster exterminator, and so on.

I just arrived in Kuoh Town today and was out picking up some supplies. Ran into you along the way.

And you?”

Listening to his long list of part-time titles, Naruse Mio was dumbfounded.

You have that many roles? Even if I don’t understand them all, you sound pretty amazing.

But when Hayashi asked for her name in return, Naruse Mio hesitated.

She didn’t know how to explain—her own story was quite bizarre.

She had originally been just an ordinary high school girl, until monsters suddenly began hunting her. Then she was rescued by someone who called herself a subordinate—“Maria.”

Eventually, she learned that she was a descendant of the Gremory clan, one of the 72 Pillars of Devil nobility.

The Devil family Gremory was one of the few surviving pureblood lineages.

Which meant she had more than her fair share of enemies in the Underworld.

The problem was, the Gremory clan hadn’t officially acknowledged her as one of their own.

This left her in an awkward position—neither fully accepted nor completely cast out.

Only Maria, a Succubus, had come to protect her.

And that was only because Maria’s mother insisted—otherwise, she wouldn’t have bothered.

Later, Naruse Mio started referring to Maria, now going by “Naruse Maria,” as her sister, and the two came to Kuoh Town seeking shelter.

The past six months had felt like a dream.

Just half an hour ago, Maria said someone had sent her important information, and she went to receive it.

But since she left, there had been no sign of her.

To put it bluntly, Naruse Mio was beginning to feel like she’d been abandoned.

As her thoughts wandered, tears the size of beans welled up in her eyes.

“Eh—hey, I just asked who you were. No need to cry…”

Seeing her tear up so suddenly, Hayashi was at a bit of a loss.

“I’m not crying~”

Stubborn as ever, Naruse Mio shook her head and forced the tears back down.

Then she lowered her head and mumbled softly, “My name is Naruse Mio. Right now… right now…”

At that point, she faltered.

She didn’t know how to explain everything that had happened to her.

But for Hayashi, just hearing her name was enough for realization to dawn.

It really was Naruse Mio!

But clearly, her situation was complicated.

There was no Toujou Basara in the Hero village.

And from the looks of it, she seemed homeless, with her circumstances not matching his memory at all.

After thinking it over for a few seconds, Hayashi took the initiative and said, “If you don’t have anywhere to go right now, why don’t you come stay at my place for a while?”

Inviting a girl he’d just met home late at night—this was a first even for Hayashi.

Hearing this, Naruse Mio’s lips parted slightly, a glimmer appearing in her eyes.

Even though she felt shy and that it might not be appropriate,

At the moment, the only person she could rely on—the only one she felt she could trust—was Hayashi.

At the very least, based on the current situation, he meant her no harm.

“Well, well~ I was only gone for a little while, and Mio-sama’s already getting swept away by a man?”

A playful, sweet voice rang out from behind, snapping Naruse Mio out of her thoughts.

Hayashi turned his head to see a white-haired loli dressed in gothic lolita fashion.

Her features were exquisitely adorable, her skin porcelain-smooth and delicate.

Her long white hair flowed gently over her shoulders, the slightly curled ends paired with two round hair ornaments that added a cute, playful charm.

The black dress hugged her petite frame perfectly. The lace trim on the hem and the purple ribbon accents made her look even more girlish and sweet.

The knee-high boots lent her a hint of maturity, while the delicate curves of her legs gave away her small yet well-proportioned body.

At a glance she looked pure and lovable, but on closer inspection, she exuded a subtly seductive allure.

A violent desire surged within Hayashi’s heart—he wanted to ravage her thoroughly.

Chapter 5: Two “Capable” Little Sisters

The appearance of Naruse Maria immediately gave Naruse Mio a sense of relief.

“Maria!”

“Mio-sama.”

The two called out to each other and quickly reunited.

As they got close, Naruse Mio immediately whispered with a hint of reproach, “Maria, why were you gone so long? I was worried sick!”

A trace of helplessness and melancholy flashed through Maria’s eyes as she replied with a teasing tone.

“Mio-sama, you’ve inherited the Devil bloodline of the Gremory clan. Low-grade Cursed Spirits like that couldn’t possibly hurt you.

I really did have something urgent just now. The situation’s even more serious than expected—we need to find a temporary base and lay low for a few days.”

As she said this, Naruse Maria looked toward Hayashi in front of her.

A flicker of guilt crossed her face as she raised her pale hand.

“We’re very grateful for your help… but Mio-sama’s whereabouts must not be exposed!”

In the next second, her palm began to radiate a strange glow, an invisible wave sweeping outward.

Seeing this, Naruse Mio instinctively reached out to grab her, hurriedly trying to stop her.

“What are you doing, Maria?! He just helped me—”

Before she could finish, Maria cut her off.

“Mio-sama, he’s clearly an exorcist. His identity is far too sensitive.

But I don’t intend to hurt him. I’m just going to use my ability to alter his memory.

That way, we can borrow his identity to mask ours and temporarily stay at his house to recover.

Compared to those scummy liars, this is just a harmless little deception.”

Maria’s explanation left Naruse Mio speechless.

Back when her Devil bloodline awakened, her adoptive parents were killed, leaving behind a sizable inheritance.

The lawyer entrusted with the will had tried to trick her out of it.

And on her way to Kuoh Town, she had encountered several men with bad intentions.

No matter how unwilling she was emotionally, from a practical standpoint, Maria’s approach really was the safest.

As soon as Mio gave silent consent, Maria accelerated her memory-manipulation magic.

“From now on, we’re your distant cousins who’ve come seeking shelter and need a place to stay.”

This was a dream magic unique to their Succubus bloodline—a spell that implanted settings into a target’s dream, from which their mind would subconsciously generate the rest.

Confident in her power, Naruse Maria promptly withdrew her hand.

With a sweet smile, she cheerfully called out to Hayashi: “Good evening~ Onii-chan. Please take care of us from now on~”

She nudged the dazed Naruse Mio beside her.

Coming back to her senses, Naruse Mio looked at Hayashi in front of her.

Just moments ago, they had been strangers.

Now, he was suddenly her “older brother.”

A strange sense of embarrassment bubbled up inside Naruse Mio.

A blush crept across her lovely face as she lowered her head and softly mumbled, “B-Big Bro… hello.”

Seeing Mio and Maria bow so politely to him, Hayashi’s eyes flickered, and he stood in place for a few seconds.

Needless to say, Naruse Maria’s so-called dream magic had absolutely no effect on him.

But was this turn of events good or bad for him?

Two pretty “cousins” suddenly moving in with him—however he looked at it, it sounded like a good thing.

And they both carried rich fate energy. As he got closer to them, the [Crossing Gate] progress bar began to climb faster.

“Huh?”

Seeing that Hayashi still hadn’t reacted, Maria looked a bit confused.

Realizing that this situation brought him nothing but benefit, Hayashi finally spoke.

“Two cousins, huh? Pleased to meet you.”

He stepped forward and gently rubbed Maria’s head, giving her a meaningful look.

Believing her magic had succeeded, Maria immediately flashed a sweet, satisfied smile.

“Hayashi-nii~~ I’m Naruse Maria, okay? Don’t forget my name~”

Maria acted coy with practiced ease, enthusiastically playing the part.

As she spoke, she even stepped up to help Hayashi carry some of his shopping bags.

Seeing this, Naruse Mio also stepped forward and quietly said, “Um… Big Bro… let me help too.”

Looking at these two thoughtful “little sisters,” Hayashi was nearly moved to tears.

Helpful, proactive, and just the right kind of “capable” little sisters—why hadn’t he run into them earlier?!

If this had happened a few years ago, he might already be holding two kids by now.

Emotionally touched, Hayashi handed over all the bags he was carrying.

“These are some groceries and seasonings. The house I bought already has bedding. All we’re missing are toiletries.”

“Hayashi-nii, I’m actually a pretty good cook. I’ll make you something later to try.”

Maria was extremely obedient and offered to prepare dinner without being asked.

That moved Hayashi even more. You’re even tossing in a live-in chef?!

He’d just plundered the [Protagonist Halo (Green)] Trait and already his luck was turning around.

The past ten-plus years really did feel like a waste in comparison.

With emotion stirring in his heart, Hayashi brought the two girls back to the commercial street and finished buying all the toiletries they needed.

The detached villa he had purchased was still a distance away.

The three of them walked side by side along the street.

To Hayashi’s left, Naruse Mio wore a happy smile.

After fleeing and living in constant fear for so long, today was the first time she’d been able to truly relax.

She couldn’t help turning to look at Hayashi beside her.

He was nothing like the people in her past who had tried to deceive or harm her.

Ever since her adoptive parents’ deaths, this was the first time she felt she might’ve met someone she could actually trust.

And with that trust came a deep sense of guilt—because this time, she was the one lying.

“Ugh… how should I make it up to him? I’ll have to ask Maria later.”

Naruse Mio lightly touched her rosy lips, sinking into contemplation.

But before she could decide, Hayashi suddenly stopped walking.

His sharp senses had picked up on something—

The surroundings had suddenly gone deathly quiet.

So quiet it was unnatural—eerie enough to make one’s skin crawl.

“Another repelling barrier.”

Hayashi muttered, raising his head toward the sky.

Naruse Maria also noticed the shift and quickly grabbed Naruse Mio’s hand.

Her expression turned serious, and she spoke with rare sternness: “Mio-sama, be careful. We have an enemy!”

Black feathers rained down from above as a pair of dark wings spread in midair, blocking the pale moonlight.

Her figure was tall and her features were stunning.

Long, silky black hair flowed down to her waist. Her aura was icy and regal.

A tight black bodysuit clung to her curvaceous form, perfectly outlining her voluptuous silhouette.

As her violet eyes swept over them, both Naruse Mio and Maria froze with fear.

“A Fallen Angel!”

Maria gasped, her expression extremely grim.

Fallen Angels, who wielded holy light, had a natural advantage against Devils.

Even if the two sides were equal in strength, a Fallen Angel could usually suppress a Devil.

And this Fallen Angel before them—her unrestrained aura made it clear.

She was undoubtedly approaching the level of a High-Rank Fallen Angel!
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Author's Note: Heyyy guys! New book, I think you’re really going to enjoy this one too! I’ll be uploading more chapters here soon, but I’ve already posted 20 chapters over on Webnovel. Please check it out, add it to your library, drop some Power Stones, and leave a review if you can. It really helps me out a ton. Thanks so much, and love you all! ❤️

Here's the link: https://www.webnovel.com/book/multiverse-plundering-traits-starting-with-master-servant-contract_32504823208131505###