Chapter 90 - Is this magic?

Ryuu arrived at Justine hoping only to see her mother in the front door smiling at him as he arrived. He smiled back wondering why she was smiling rather differently.

"Has she confessed to you?"

"How can you tell?"

He didn't deny since there's no point and already passed all the drama, only asked her a question and the most effective way when dodging a question.

"Well she was squealing when she came back."

This made him chuckle imagining her girly squeal and rolling on her bed. Ryuu expected her to remain angry or in an inner turmoil but glad she wasn't. Justine's mother, Rhea, warmly smiled seeing his reaction.

"I must congratulate you as her mother but remember to not break her heart."

'Well I failed that one.'

He thought inwardly but shook that feeling since it's already in the past and simply needed to focus on the present.

"Well, I trust you enough, Ryuu since she grew up with you but I've been wondering why do you look….rather mature?"

Rhea commented that despite his face, the old one couldn't hide how he presented himself. It was difficult to describe but he appears to have experienced many kinds of things.

Even more was his eyes that were more serious and sharp than before. Ryuu always had bore expression but now it was like a blade prepared to slice anything

"Oh that, Don't tell anyone but I won the lottery a week ago and got a mansion with millions of pesos."

She looked at him shocked knowing how Ryuu isn't someone who likes to lie unless they are strangers. Ryuu took out his phone and showed the mansion, making her eyes grow wider.

"T-This is unbelievable!? Have you told your parents?"

"Of course but they refuse to stay and retire like I told them."

"Congratulations! Well now I don't mind my daughter being with you."

He flinched wanting to tell the truth but annoyed and buried the guilt and pain for now.

"Anyway, I'm here to invite Justine to breakfast with me."

"Oh hold on."

"Alright, I'll wait here if you don't mind."

She nodded and went inside as Ryuu listened to his phone for some song. Many wonder where Justine's brother is? The answer is most of them are working jobs overseas with two in the Philippines working as soldiers.

Ryuu only hoped he didn't die when they found out about everything. Though, he doubted he'd actually die where as long as there's a single cell living then he could eventually regenerate but it would take a long time to do and thankfully could speed up by consuming biomass.

His virtually unkillable as long his not vaporize or his soul damage. He really wishes to gain [ Long distance control ] and [ Abyss ] to become physically unkillable. Soon Justine arrives seeing Ryuu smiling at her.

"Hope you didn't wait long!"

"Nah, you're right on time. Have you eaten yet?"

"I was about to but I'm glad I haven't."

"Alright, let's go."

Ryuu took her to the Dimensional Room where everyone was waiting and set the dining table. Justine noticed two things, Tanjiro with two women that she recognized as Kanao and Aoi.

"Your name is…Tanjiro right?"

"Ah yes, are you Ryuu-Nii's first love? He always mentions you when we're training. Oh right, I'm Tanjiro Kamado and this is my lover."

"Hello there, my name is Kanao Tsuyuri."

"How are you, I'm Aoi Kanzaki."

"I'm well but I didn't expect someone else to have a harem. Hope you know what it is for."

Justine feels that she's the only one with common sense but the more she thinks about her common sense the more out of place.

"I know and I'm doing my best for them like Ryuu-Nii!"

"Don't look at me as if I'm the one who corrupted him. I warned him but he was too determined sooo…yeah."

Ryuu narrowed his eyes to Justine who gave a judging gaze. He only knew how time consuming giving each woman needed which is why he warned him but Tanjiro persisted. He trusts Tanjiro to stick to being a loving gentleman to them both.

Soon they started eating the chocolate pancake and yet again moaned in delight how delicious it was. After a few minute took a break in the living room with his girls chatting.

"Oh right, I've seen the chat group and I feel like you're going to get new girls soon?"( Shinobu )

The sound of glass breaking as they look at Ryuu who is slurping a bowl of instant ramen pasuing for a moment before swallowing the meal whole.

"What are you even talking about?"

Ryuu was confused at what she meant while Shinobu giggled while others only sighed knowing how things were going to be.

"You sent your photos in the chat group and knowing how you helped all of us to avoid the story set for us means they would feel drawn to you."

Shinobu explained considering that she also fell for him because of what he had done while Ryuu shook his head.

"I doubt that…please don't look at me that way." Ryuu saw them intense gaze showing their doubts while Justine leaned back folding his arms.

"You mentioned your [ Harem Protagonist Halo ] and how all of the female members are the ones you're attracted to. With that in mind, I'm sure they can't help but fall for you." Justine said, giving her thoughts.

"Jeez you girls should—" Before he could finish her Childhood friend, her lover interrupted him.

"Don't me that crap I know you dislike the thought of them with other partners, right?"

She narrowed her gaze towards Ryuu who fell silent thinking about it and did feel a certain unpleasant emotion when he thought of the female members dating other men.

Though, it's a bit creepy on his part since he doesn't have a proper relationship with them yet he is already clingy to them.

"I guess you're right." Ryuu said thinking that he doesn't like the idea of them being with someone else.

"See, and I know how you can't really lie to me." Justine knows how often he would tell the truth and avoid lying.

"We also feel like that you'd attract more women as times goes by."( Kie )

"Furthermore, we know your not one who'll just leave a woman who has persistence and interest for you."( Kanae )

"There's no point of denying it, Ryuu."( Nezuko )

"Y-You should not let someone hope! That's bad!"( Mitsuri )

Ryuu sweat drops how things turned out and wonders if it was karma. He shook his head and looked at Justine who had a stiff smile.

"There's no point worrying about it." Justine reminded herself.

"We should take this later once you girls meet her. For now, why don't we start unlocking your aura and Magic?"

They nodded, even Justine putting aside the issue before heading outside the garden to train. Shinobu was taking a break from unlocking her Zanpakuto and the same for the others.

They're not in a rush to instantly grow stronger and it would be good for them to have time to relax instead of continuous training nonstop.

"I wonder what her magic is? I heard that her body is quick in adapting."( Shinobu )

"Perhaps something similar or close to her unique traits?" ( Kanae )

"Look, her aura was unlocked just like that!?"( Nezuko )

Cried out upon seeing Ryuu unlock Justine's aura that appears black with a red outline similar to his in a matter of seconds. Justine felt her body lighter and stronger than before, adapting rapidly until stopping at a certain point.

"Amazing! That was too fast even compared to Nezuko." ( Mitsuri )

"Perhaps her magic would be the same?" ( Kie )

"How do you feel?"

Justine didn't answer and tried to punch Ryuu but he caught it without flinching. Her fist caused a small shockwave behind him moving the leaves a bit.

"You can already guess how I feel?"

"Being punished?"

He twirls her around and gives her a light smack in the ass causing her to "Kyah" as Ryuu roared laughing.

"Perverted Bastard!"

"Hey you were the one who pulled the punch, not me. Don't tell me you want me to spank you again?"

Ryuu teasingly said while evading her punches with much effort but she was rapidly improving. He smiled before using [ Petrification Gaze ] to stop her from moving.

"Calm down, I'll stop. Let's focus on training you on getting your magic."

"W-What was that? I felt like my body was turned into stones."

"I use one of my skills but I won't use it unless you start attacking me again."

Justine is annoyed but calms down before nodding. Ryuu instructed her to meditate and just relax, trying to form a connection to the magical energy in the surroundings.

She takes deep breaths in and out gradually feeling something forming as Ryuu continues his instruction. Justine rapidly felt water flooding into her body churning within before a burst of magical energy as if a gate opened could be seen.

Everyone was baffled by her quick attainment of magic but calmed down since they were informed about her unique trait.

Ryuu heard a notification telling him about Justine acquiring the magic and turned to look at it.

[ Survival Empowerment ]

[ Description: Users become stronger, faster, more durable, etc. when they survive, possibly unlocking abilities related to the affinity and enhancing the existing powers. Some users may be able to draw sustenance from their affinity or even slow or stop aging.

In short, what doesn't kill the user simply makes them stronger. A great example is Zenkai Boost. Superior type of magic may be different. ]