With Akashi's head gently resting against her chest, Ran felt as though an electric current was coursing through her body. Her ears grew redder by the moment as she panickedly stared out the car window, unwilling to so much as glance in his direction.
Her thoughts spun wildly.
"This little guy is like a tiny sun, radiating warmth," she mused. "He's so precious... I can't help but hold him tightly."
*Ran found herself subconsciously tightening her embrace around Akashi. The feel of his small, soft body against hers was intoxicating.
Beneath her school skirt, her fair legs shifted and brushed together without reason, as if her body were responding on its own.
*She bit her lip, trying to suppress the whimper that threatened to escape her throat.
*The combination of Akashi's warmth and the unbidden movement of her legs was proving to be too much, a sensory overload that left her reeling confusedly.
Meanwhile, young Akashi seemed to bask in her warmth. He remained relaxed, enjoying the moment. However, after deliberately provoking Conan—the fiery, bull-headed boy sitting beside him—he eventually closed his eyes.
It wasn't mere rest.
Though his body was tired from using multiple rounds of hypnosis earlier in the day, his mind remained active. He directed his attention inward, summoning the system interface to inspect his progress.
---
『Succubus Check-in System』
- Host: Akashi
- Race: Succubus (dual forms)
- Strength: 5 (25)
- Speed: 6 (26)
- Constitution: 22 (35)
- Intelligence: 25 (25)
- Spirit: 30 (30)
- Racial Talents:
- Charm
- Yin energy Absorption
- Skills:
- Pear Drop lv2
- Imported Sugar lv1
- Hypnosis lv1
- Available Yin energy: 3458
---
Akashi noted the significant amount of Yin energy he had accumulated—more than 3,000. Ran's unguarded presence alone had contributed around 60 Yin energy per hour. Over the course of their time together, she had unwittingly provided nearly 200.
The remainder came from other sources: the chilling murder scene, Miss Yoko's kindness, and, most notably, the case resolution itself. The Yin Spirit's reward for uncovering the truth had been substantial.
"This is what I deserve," Akashi thought with a sense of accomplishment. "I've been cautious, solving cases step by step. Now it's time to make myself stronger!"
He clenched his fists mentally, determination flaring within him.
"Give me more power. I'm tired of being helpless—just a plaything for all these women to hold and cuddle. Men should take control!"
『Ding! Consumed 1,000 Yin energy. Congratulations to the host—strength attribute increased: 5 (25) → 5 (26)!』
Akashi's enthusiasm was dampened in an instant.
"Nani? 5 (25) → 5 (26)? Just one point?"
His expression darkened.
"Why does this only enhance the human form? Why can't it improve the child form's strength?"
Frustration mounting, he scowled inwardly.
"This cursed system is rigged! It's set up just to make me weak and vulnerable!"
The system's cold, mechanical voice interrupted his grievances.
『Explanation: The original succubus form has a soft body, a clear voice, and is inherently fragile. Strength and speed attributes in this form are fixed. However, the host can improve these attributes indirectly by enhancing physical constitution. For every 10 points added to constitution, the host will receive 1 bonus point to strength and speed.』
Akashi groaned in exasperation.
"This system just wants me to be helpless—to be toyed with by all these women! They'll treat me like a doll, taking turns playing with me!"
A chill ran down his spine at the thought.
Realizing that spending Yin energy wasn't going to make him more resilient in his child form, Akashi halted any further upgrades.
"How much Yin energy do I need to revert to my adult form?" he asked through gritted teeth.
『Transformation to adult form requires 10,000 Yin energy.』
Akashi made an instant decision.
"No more spending Yin energy on attributes. I'll save it until I reach 10,000. That way, when I face a situation I can't handle as a kid, I'll have my trump card—my adult form!"
Despite his resolve, the reality remained grim. For now, he was stuck being carried and cuddled by girls and women alike, powerless to change the situation.
"How annoying," he muttered inwardly.
With a weary sigh, Akashi relaxed his body, letting his head rest against Ran. Gradually, his furrowed brows softened as he drifted into a quiet, contemplative state.
---
Not long after, Takagi dropped everyone off at their destination, and the group began exiting the car.
With the exception of Ran, who seemed slightly unsteady on her feet, the rest of the group disembarked without issue.
As they made their way up the stairs, Kogoro finally took a moment to observe the two children accompanying them. The unkempt detective's curiosity got the better of him, and he cast a scrutinizing glance toward the pair before asking:
"Ran, what's the deal with these kids? Why are they following you around?"
Ran, who was holding Akashi's small hand, chuckled softly and replied with a cheerful tone:
"Dad, I was about to tell you!"
"He is Akashi. He's the child Mom is planning to adopt—my future little brother!"
She smiled brightly. "Isn't he cute?"
"What?!"
Both Kogoro and Conan were momentarily stunned, their eyes widening in disbelief.
While they had speculated that Akashi might be the child of one of Ran's acquaintances, neither of them had expected this twist. The idea that he was the child Eri wanted to adopt was beyond their imagination.
Kogoro immediately bristled, his face turning red as he huffed indignantly.
"That meddling woman decided to adopt a kid without even consulting me?!" he roared, blowing his beard and glaring at the boy.
"And this boy wants to become my son? Absolutely not!"
As he spoke, Kogoro leaned closer, scrutinizing Akashi from head to toe.
"No way. I don't agree!"
Akashi's expression darkened at the man's outburst.
"Damn it!" he thought bitterly. "Who in their right mind would want to be this guy's son? And the way he talks about Eri—completely unforgivable!"
Before Akashi could say anything, Ran intervened, her protective instincts kicking in.
Scooping up the young boy in her arms, she glared at her father and declared firmly:
"Dad, it doesn't matter if you don't agree!"
"Mom and I have already decided, and we both support this. Besides, Akashi and I are really close. I've already thought of him as my younger brother for a while now."
Her voice softened as she added, "He's been through so much... Akashi is very pitiful. The director of his orphanage was mistreating him. If we don't help him, who will?"
Ran's heartfelt words carried a hint of defiance—something uncharacteristic of her usual demeanor. Kogoro's jaw dropped in shock.
Conan, standing off to the side, was equally dumbfounded.
"Is this really Ran? She's contradicting her dad... all because of 'him'?!"
Meanwhile, Akashi's succubus talent seemed to be working its magic. Ran, usually gentle and docile, was standing up to her father like never before.
Conan could hardly keep up with how fast things were unfolding.
His mind reeled.
"So now my childhood sweetheart is about to gain a new little brother?" he thought, his inner voice dripping with sarcasm. "A little brother who isn't even related by blood?"
But what made Conan even more uneasy was the type of "brother" Akashi seemed to be. The boy was far too clever, unnervingly precocious, and—if Conan was honest with himself—annoyingly forward, constantly finding subtle ways to get close to Ran.
"No way. This can't happen," Conan muttered under his breath.
His hands clenched into fists as a wave of resolve surged within him.
"This whole thing needs to be stopped!"
Yet, as he opened his mouth to voice his objection, the reality of his position struck him.
Conan faltered. He realized bitterly that, in this situation, he was an outsider—a third party with no real say.
Worse still, his current childlike appearance only made his protest seem even less credible.
"Damn it," Conan thought, frustration bubbling within him. "What can I even do?"