Let's have a date!
It's been a week since Kaoru and the other guild members completed their urgent quest.
Currently, Kaoru is at school, and fortunately, he managed to protect his purity. Just as he was about to head to school, he was attacked by thugs who mistook him for a girl. This continued even after a week, with Kaoru constantly drawing attention from both girls and boys at school.
Kaoru is still undecided about whom to invite to join the guild. If they refuse, it would mean wasting Kaoru's invitation quota.
[Notice to Makoto Kaoru: Please report to the teacher's room!]
Upon hearing the call, Kaoru snapped out of his thoughts and headed to the teacher's room on the top floor.
'If there's a fire or a gas explosion, the teachers are most likely to be the grilled meat. What a sad fate.'
Kaoru knocked on the door and entered the teacher's room, finding only one teacher inside, and he was sure this teacher had called him.
'I didn't expect her to be here too. It means those girls are also in this school, but I never saw them.'
Approaching the teacher, Kaoru greeted her.
"Excuse me, did you call me, Sensei?"
The teacher stopped her work, looked at Kaoru, and continued to stare at him without speaking. Unbeknownst to her, her cheeks turned red. Thankfully, her pink hair somewhat concealed her blushing face, and with only Kaoru and her in the room, she wouldn't be too embarrassed when she realized it.
However, Kaoru, being perceptive, noticed that this woman was also affected by his own unfortunate beauty.
"Excuse me, Kirisu Sensei , hello, are you awake?"
"Ah, sorry, I'm not feeling well, Makoto Kaoru. I heard you helped the Nakano sisters with their studies, right?"
Kaoru nodded, acknowledging and confirming Mafuyu's question.
"In that case, I'd like to ask for your help in teaching three of my students."
Kaoru knew who the three students were and why Mafuyu chose to ask for his help. However, he chose to inquire further to dispel any suspicions.
"Why me, Sensei? Isn't teaching the duty of the teachers?"
Hearing Kaoru's question, Mafuyu felt embarrassed. Asking a student to teach other students implied that they, the teachers, couldn't handle it.
"My students are geniuses in their fields, but their interests are in stark contrast to their expertise. No matter how many times I've told them, they remain firm in their choices. I became a bit harsh and stern, which made them hate me and the other teachers."
"It's true; it seems we, especially I, have failed as their teachers. But I don't want to give up and abandon them. Because they are so persistent, I'm now trying to compromise and ask for your help in teaching them whatever they want. I beg you."
Kirisu Mafuyu, a strict teacher not only to her students but also to herself, now bowed and pleaded with a student.
If anyone else saw this scene, various scandals that could disturb Kaoru and Mafuyu would surely arise.
To avoid this, Kaoru quickly stopped Mafuyu, who was still bowing and pleading.
"No need for that, Sensei. If that's the case, I don't mind helping your students with their studies. Just tell them to come to my house on holidays."
Hearing Kaoru's agreement, Mafuyu felt relieved. If one of the smartest students taught the three girls, they might be able to achieve their dreams.
"Thank you very much. Don't worry; I'll definitely pay whatever you want; I'm sure I can cover it."
When Kaoru heard those sacred words, he couldn't resist teasing and joking with Mafuyu.
"Sensei, please don't talk like that. With a beautiful face like yours, what would you do if I wanted you as payment for my work?"
Mafuyu, suddenly realizing the ambiguity of her words, blushed even more and quickly changed her statement.
Meanwhile, Kaoru just laughed at Mafuyu's reaction, finding her looking like a steamed bun, all red and steamy.
After learning everything he needed to teach his new students, Kaoru left the teacher's room, but before that, he turned around and said something.
"Sensei, I'm not kidding. I have all the wealth and power I need, even beyond what you can imagine. So, the only thing you can do, as I said before, is if you really intend to pay me!"
"Hmph! You kid, at least graduate first before talking like that!"
Kaoru quickly left the teacher's room and returned to his class.
------
After school, Kaoru went home with Ichika because she insisted on going home together, and Kaoru wasn't cruel enough to refuse her. Besides, he wanted to discuss their study program, which needed modification since Kaoru would soon have new students.
"Ichika, I want to inform you that during our next tutoring session, there might be additional students. So, how about you all study at my house?"
"Eh? Is this Kaoru-kun's way of introducing his new concubine? I'm so surprised!"
"They are Mafuyu-sensei's students, and how should I say it, their abilities in their chosen fields might be much lower than yours. So, sensei asked me to help teach them!"
"Wow, it seems Kaoru-kun really likes collecting slightly foolish girls as his women!" Ichika continued to tease Kaoru, even though she didn't get the response she expected.
Slightly offended by Ichika's continuous attacks, Kaoru, who wasn't a weak and passive protagonist, decided to counter.
"Hey, Ichika, how about we go on a date next week?"
Ichika, upon hearing this, stopped and fell silent. When Ichika managed to process Kaoru's words, her face suddenly turned as red as a boiled octopus.
"Wha- a-date?? I- th-that- but- date- okay- fine."
Ichika was a glass cannon, with an attack power of 9999 but has a defense power of 0. With Kaoru's sudden attack, the cannon immediately shattered into pieces. She could only respond with stuttering and small, embarrassed sounds.
If someone else were with Ichika, they probably wouldn't hear her answer, but with Kaoru, who had become very powerful, hearing Ichika's mumbles was effortless. He also wasn't the protagonist who pretended to be deaf when the heroines said something important.
With the scheduled date, Kaoru returned home after accompanying Ichika, who blushed along the way and couldn't say anything, just bowing her head out of embarrassment and joy.
------
Kaoru, who arrived home, quickly changed his clothes. When he was about to relax and watch the news, Kaoru received a message from his guild chat.
Looking at the message from Chopper, Kaoru learned that they were heading to the Sky Island. They also got a new crew member named Robin, a very kind woman who always gave Chopper cotton candy. However, upon reaching Jaya Island, the inhabitants claimed that there was no Sky Island. Kaoru was asked for his opinion.
Kaoru replied, advising them to trust their beliefs. If they believed the Sky Island existed, then it was worth trying to find it. He also reminded Chopper to share knowledge about Haki with his pirate friends and cautioned them to be careful not to fall into the sea.
On the other side, Chopper, grateful for the reply, was confident that their crew would find the Sky Island.
After finishing the chat with Chopper, Kaoru saw another message, this time from Chifuyu. She informed him that all the documents needed for him to teach at the IS school were ready, and Kaoru could come anytime.
Kaoru's mischievous spirit flared up when he saw the message, and he couldn't resist the urge to tease Chifuyu, the innocent little brothe the protagonist.
Kaoru quickly arranged his schedule to visit Chifuyu's world during the long holiday after the semester exams.
After informing Chifuyu about his schedule, Kaoru read the last message, which was undoubtedly from Shirou. He mentioned that the Holy Grail War was over, and his relationships with the heroines had improved. Kaoru replied that he would visit Shirou next week after his date with Ichika.
With all the matters settled for the day, Kaoru realized he still hadn't used his invitation quota and Herrscher core.
Therefore, Kaoru teleported to the guild hall, where he asked Hibari to prepare a special room for him to absorb the core.
Shortly after, Kaoru was ready to start the unification process with the core.
Kaoru still felt scared, but he remembered Hibari's words. He couldn't progress if he let fear haunt him continuously.
Summoning his courage, Kaoru grabbed the core. As soon as he touched it, he gained knowledge of how to use it. Trusting his instincts, Kaoru chose to consume the core by putting it into his mouth.
Although the core was massive, oddly enough, the moment Kaoru inserted a part of it into his mouth, as if sucked by a black hole, it disappeared in an instant and was absorbed into Kaoru's mouth.
At the same time, Kaoru felt an intense pain.
"ARGHHH!!!!!"
Kaoru continued to scream in pain, and gradually, his cries faded not because the pain subsided, but because the pain kept increasing, making him unable to make any sound.
Kaoru's body continuously disintegrated and healed repeatedly. However, with each regeneration, his endurance increased to the point where his body stopped breaking down when absorbing energy from the core.
Nevertheless, Kaoru still felt an incredible pain, as it attacked not only his physical body but also his soul, modified to withstand the power of the Herrscher.
More than six hours passed, and this time, Kaoru opened his eyes. He had successfully undergone evolution, and he also learned what powers he now possessed.
Kaoru was astonished to learn that the Herrscher cores scattered and used by Herrschers in the world of Honkai Impact were replicas of the original core held by the Will of Honkai.
Now, the core Kaoru possessed was one of the genuine cores obtained by Featherine from the Will of Honkai.
Kaoru could now manipulate Honkai energy. Besides creating Honkai monsters, he could manipulate imaginary energy—something regular Herrschers couldn't do.
The core Kaoru possessed was closely related to the main character. He had become the true Herrscher of the Void, having absorbed the core not through the conventional methods directed by the core itself but by devouring it—essentially, forcing it.
Unlike Kiana's transformation, Kaoru didn't undergo a change in appearance this time. He only gained the power and abilities of the Herrscher of the Void.
Out of curiosity, Kaoru decided to test his new abilities. He opened a portal not connected to any specific location and created a separate dimensional space.
"Ohhh, this could be a fridge for Shirou's cooking or a large warehouse for all of Ichika's future shopping!"
Satisfied, Kaoru left the room and greeted Hibari before returning to his world.
-----
In an infinite and boundless space, two women sat together, with one of them laughing freely.
"HAHAHAHAHA! It seems you lost this time. The child wasn't influenced by your suggestions; instead, he devoured the core!"
The other woman, with a more mannequin-like appearance, entirely white, showed no expression. However, judging by her voice, anyone would know that her existence was also shocked by what had happened.
"You lost too. He didn't defeat the core; he ate it!"
"As you like to say, the loser will be devoured, and the child consumed the core. Indirectly, he won."
The mannequin decided to remain silent this time, knowing that the more she spoke, the clearer her defeat became.
She then looked elsewhere, and although no one was there, she continued speaking.
"According to the agreement, now I can spread Honkai energy into that world. I don't want you to obstruct it. I'm even giving a little bonus to that human!"
Though there was no response, the figure nodded in acknowledgement, continuing the unheard conversation, and resumed the game she played with the woman with purple hair.