Sylvia was appointed as the manager of the Southeast Tower the morning after she was recognized as Kousuke’s shrine maiden.
Knowing that Shurein was struggling in the Northeast Tower, Sylvia could only say that she would do her best.
From Kousuke’s perspective, he had no intention of developing other towers besides the Amamiya Tower with any real effort, so he simply told her there was no need to push herself.
The reason he had conquered the other towers in the first place was for the layer exchange with the Amamiya Tower.
Unfortunately, the two towers he acquired could not be layer-exchanged with the Amamiya Tower, so he did not consider them particularly important.
Even so, both Shurein and Silvia had witnessed Kousuke’s management of the Amamiya Tower up close.
While the natures of the towers were different, it was only natural that they would aim for similar things.
The two towers were not as spacious as the Amamiya Tower, so they were probably not suitable for building a village.
Kousuke had decided to leave the newly acquired towers to Shurein and Silvia, but what was troubling him now was about the Avatar.
Ever since he was told he had become an Avatar, he had gone to conquer the two towers as an escape and tried not to think about it, but he could no longer avoid it now that Silvia had become a shrine maiden.
In the first place, Kousuke had only been told this by Asura and Eris and had not truly felt it.
Of course, he had checked his status, but that too did not bring a sense of reality.
It was only after Silvia became a shrine maiden that he finally felt it.
“……Hmmmm.”
Kousuke grumbled with his arms crossed in the lounge space of the management layer.
Even though he could now feel it, if he were asked if he could do anything as an Avatar, the answer was nothing.
It might have been easier to accept if he had gained some obvious god-like ability, but he had no feeling of gaining such an ability at all.
The status display was a glimpse of Kousuke’s power as a god, but because the image of “power granted by Asura” still lingered, it was difficult for him to recognize it as his own power.
Of course, he had not forgotten what he had been explained when he went to the divine realm.
“You’re looking quite troubled, is something wrong~?”
“…Ah, Peach. No, I was just thinking about something…”
“I know you’re thinking~”
Peach said, then sat down next to Kousuke.
Then, for some reason, she began to poke Kousuke’s left cheek with the index finger of her right hand.
“Unlike usual, you’re not thinking about something good, are you~?”
Although Peach had an image of being laid-back, she could be strangely sharp at times.
It was probably because she was from the Succubus clan, famous for being a clan of fortune tellers.
“…Eh? Is that so?”
Kousuke, who hadn’t realized it, instinctively rubbed his other cheek with his right hand.
“So? What were you thinking about~? Please consult your big sister.”
“Hmm, well, about what to do from now on, you see.”
“? From now on? About the towers~?”
“Ah, no. Not that, but as an Avatar.”
“You don’t have to think about it so hard, do you~?”
At her casual reply, Kousuke found himself staring intently at Peach’s face.
Her beauty, which had not changed at all since they first met, still had the power to bewilder Kousuke at times.
And now, he felt that way again.
At the same time, he was able to confirm that nothing had really changed even after becoming an Avatar.
“……I see. That’s right. Pushing myself too hard won’t lead to anything good, huh.”
“Oh dear~? Did you come to a realization on your own?”
“Yeah. Thanks. I feel like I’ve at least calmed down.”
“You’re welcome~. If it’s something like this, I’m always here to help.”
Kousuke stood up and stretched his arms wide.
He had come to accept that there was no point in agonizing over things.
Thanking Peach again, Kousuke headed to the research space.
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Peach was left alone in the lounge space after Kousuke left, but Silvia soon entered.
“Thank you.”
Silvia, saying that, bowed her head to Peach.
“There’s no need for you to thank me for this~”
“However, I am glad you were able to handle it, as I, having just become a shrine maiden, would not have been able to.”
“It was just a coincidence that I was here.”
Colette and Shurein were away from the management layer on their respective errands.
Peach was the only one who could deal with Kousuke’s troubled state.
Silvia was also there, but since Kousuke’s reason for worry was related to her, she could not act.
As she was pondering what to do, Peach made a move.
“Is that so…”
“…What is it~?”
Peach tilted her head, as Silvia stared at her.
“No… From my assessment, you also seem to have the aptitude?”
“Oh my~. You could tell? Well, I’ve done various training to suppress my own power.”
“Then…”
Peach raised her palm to stop Silvia, who was becoming enthusiastic.
“However, I think it’s better not to act now~. I think it’s best to just observe for the time being.”
At those words, Silvia fell silent.
Indeed, judging from Kousuke’s current state, she understood that it was better to observe him for a while.
“…What can I say, not just Kousuke himself, but you all are also extraordinary.”
Floria, who had arrived at some point, said so.
Although they were hidden by Kousuke, Kouhi, and Mitsuki, the members who were actually around were also top-class talents in their respective fields compared to the general public.
To be precise, their levels had been increasing as they accompanied Kousuke.
“Oh, isn’t that the same for you?”
At Silvia’s words, Floria gave a wry smile.
“I believe I am aware of the power I currently possess, at least. I don’t want to be a frog in a well like I was before.”
After being thoroughly beaten by Mitsuki, and seeing the women around Kousuke, she had come to understand how little of the world she knew before.
“Do you also want to be embraced by Kousuke~?”
At Peach’s sudden remark, Floria’s eyes widened for a moment, and she smiled wryly again.
“Who knows. At least I don’t have clear romantic feelings for Kousuke like you all do. I doubt he would want to embrace a woman like that.”
Thanks to accompanying him on the conquest of the two towers, Floria was beginning to understand Kousuke’s way of thinking.
“It’s strange how he seems outwardly open but can maintain a clear line.”
At Silvia’s words, Peach and Floria nodded deeply.
“He probably has his own standards. In any case, I am satisfied with the current situation. I won’t do anything reckless.”
“That’s probably for the best~.”
Neither Peach nor Silvia intended to force Floria into Kousuke’s embrace.
This was because they knew that Kousuke himself did not want it.
“I feel like we’ve sidetracked the conversation… but it’s amazing how such a group of people has gathered.”
Silvia and Peach exchanged glances.
“It’s because Kouhi and Mitsuki are here~.”
“After that, it’s probably Kousuke-sama’s own power.”
“What do you mean?”
To Floria’s question, Silvia conveyed the feeling she had when she first saw Kousuke.
“Ah, I probably felt something similar, too~.”
“…Really?”
“It’s like… a… tingle?”
Peach tried to convey it somehow, tilting her head and waving her hand, but eventually gave up and lowered her hand.
Since it was a sensory thing, it was difficult to convey to others.
Thinking about it that way, it meant that even before he became an Avatar, both Silvia and Peach had sensed something from Kousuke.
Although the truth was unknown, it was likely that their intuitions were correct.
“I don’t know… I feel pathetic, as the one who responded to him so poorly at first…”
Upon hearing their conversation, Floria felt self-loathing.
It seems the main story has gone off track…
There are still four more towers left….
I’ve also started craving some fluffy content.
2014/6/27 Typo corrections
