"So it's Mrs. Izumi."
His preparations to head to the Apocalypse world were interrupted. Shirakawa looked over the young housewife standing at the doorway.
Her figure, concealed under loose loungewear, was still clearly well-proportioned.
She had just showered, and the ends of her hair were still damp. Her fair cheeks were lightly flushed. Even with a prepared excuse, this situation...
Felt a bit off.
Madam, please do not disturb my practice.
Even as he thought that, Shirakawa still stepped aside, letting her into the entrance hall. As for the reason she came looking for him—it wasn't hard to guess.
When he'd gone to the SAO world, he hadn't tried to hide any trace of his dimensional crossing.
What was surprising, though, was that Izumi Mio hadn't told anyone else about it. Not even Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"It's just... illustrations for isekai light novels tend to have pretty specific stylistic demands, so I thought I'd ask Shirakawa-kun. You're familiar with these things, right?"
Izumi Mio had clearly prepared her reason for visiting in advance. And in fact, it wasn't a lie.
The bestselling author from the FULLDRIVE imprint—Yamada Elf—had recently become more active in the illustration circle. Her new isekai light novel was looking for a test illustrator, and she had approached Mio.
"I'm fairly familiar. Of course I can help."
"..."
It was late enough to count as nighttime.
Izumi Mio hadn't expected herself to visit a high school student at such an hour. But the shock she'd experienced that morning... she just couldn't get it out of her head.
Changing into indoor slippers, she followed Shirakawa into the living room. Sitting on the sofa, she looked a little uneasy as she accepted a glass of chilled barley tea.
"Shirakawa-kun..."
"Is it really true that you can go to other worlds? Don't worry—I haven't told anyone about it. Not even Sagiri."
"Of course it's true."
"So, Mrs. Izumi, how exactly do you want to learn about other worlds? To be precise—what kind of isekai setting are you aiming for?"
Shirakawa spoke casually.
After all, not all isekai were the same. Some had the dark fantasy tone of Goblin Slayer, others the insane comedy of Konosuba.
However—
Judging by Izumi Mio's usual illustration style, it was probably leaning toward the lighthearted, slightly fanservice-y side.
"Shirakawa-kun, are you saying... there are actually many different other worlds?"
Catching the implication in his words, Mio's curiosity was fully piqued. Once she got going, she couldn't help but ask more questions.
Recalling what Yamada Elf had requested for the project, she quickly added:
"The light novel is told from a female perspective, set in an isekai. The working title is The Dark Elf of Explosive Flames."
"The character design is a bit... hot-blooded, I guess?"
"I really can't figure out what sort of illustration style would suit it."
"Hmm?"
The name The Dark Elf of Explosive Flames caught Shirakawa's attention.
That title sounded way too familiar.
Wasn't that...
A novel from the same anime as Izumi Sagiri, written by Yamada Elf?
After all the dimensional shifts he had made to alter timelines, Shirakawa hadn't expected to encounter Yamada Elf's work through Mio of all people.
Through Izumi Sagiri...
She had become her—Eromanga-sensei's first generation, Izumi Mio.
Especially after hearing the light novel illustration request for "Exposive Flames... Dark Elf," with a fiery and chuunibyou personality, for some reason, a familiar face popped into Shirakawa's mind—
Megumin.
Except for the slightly different identity, Shirakawa felt this novel was essentially an OVA tailor-made for Megumin—a gift of explosions to the wonderful world.
"I have a rough idea."
"But... it's really hard to describe it to you properly. This kind of thing is best experienced in person, Mrs. Izumi. You'd have to go to the other world yourself."
"..."
After hearing that, Izumi Mio's beautiful eyes froze.
To... to actually go to another world for material gathering—for someone living an ordinary city life, this held fatal allure.
Even more so because… she wanted to understand Shirakawa better.
"Re-really? Shirakawa-kun!"
"Of course. Though, going to another world comes at a cost. Let me explain my current identity first."
"Aside from being a high school student—"
"I'm also a newly ascended god with partial authority. If I were to take you to another world, you'd first need to become my follower."
"Follower..."
"You mean like a vampire's 'familiar' in light novels?"
As an illustrator deeply immersed in light novel tropes, Mio instantly associated "follower" with vampire familiars.
Over the past two years—
She'd come to understand Shirakawa's personality very well. He wasn't a bad person. Otherwise, he wouldn't have helped her and her daughter Sagiri so much.
"Something like that."
"But definitely more advanced than vampires. Once you become my 'Chosen of Pleasure,' you'll gain extraordinary power and can select a profession."
"Even adventuring in other worlds will be no problem."
At this point, the mood was perfectly set. Shirakawa didn't intend to hide anything about his identity and gazed seriously at the beautiful widow before him.
Her lashes trembled slightly.
A faint blush bloomed on her pale cheeks. Not only did she have the mature charm of a housewife, there was also the shy timidity of a maiden.
"..."
Under his gaze, Mio could feel her heart pounding uncontrollably. Emotions long buried under work began to resurface.
She wanted to avert her eyes.
But it was so difficult now. Shirakawa's refined and handsome face carried a fatal charm. She gently nodded, smiling as she asked:
"Then..."
"Shirakawa-kun, what's the cost?"
"You'll have to offer your body, your soul, and your faith—all your loyalty—to me. In return, I will grant you the title of 'Chosen of Pleasure.'"
"..."
The words "body" and "soul" were emphasized just a bit too much.
Mio's face instantly turned bright red. Though she had no experience in that area, how could she not catch Shirakawa's implied meaning?
So...
Should she make that choice?
Shirakawa-kun had helped her so much. She couldn't think of any way to repay him. And now he was inviting her to be his follower.
She bit her lip.
A sweet romantic fantasy—how could she not want it?
Even if...
Even if he was a high school student?
With that thought, Mio slowly stood up, her slightly trembling hands reaching up to wrap around Shirakawa's neck. She softly whispered by his ear:
"Shirakawa-kun..."
"Please... let me become your Chosen of Pleasure."
"You may."
"And also..."
Remembering that Sagiri was still at home, Mio panted slightly. Just saying these words had drained all her courage. Her voice was soft.
"And also... please send Sagiri a message saying I'm busy tonight and she should sleep early... after that, Shirakawa-kun, please do as you wish..."
"Mhm..."
"You're free to use the kitchen as you please!"