Shiba Miya slightly parted her dry lips and spoke weakly.
"Miyuki... Maya was right. I'm afraid... I won't be able to take care of you anymore... cough, cough..."
Shiba Miya's eyes, filled with longing, watched Shiba Miyuki with deep affection and reluctance.
She reached out a trembling hand, wanting to touch Miyuki.
Miyuki hurriedly clasped her mother's hand and pressed it against her cheek, her voice choked with sobs.
"Mom, don't say that. You're just ill; you'll definitely get better!"
Her heart and body trembled.
Hearing the same words from both the family head and her own mother made her realize—it might be true.
Her mother was going to leave this world...
Such a blow felt like a bolt from the blue to her.
Shiba Miya was still very happy to hear Miyuki's words of comfort.
But at this moment, she wanted more than anything to have a proper look at her daughter—and also...
She lifted a finger slightly to wipe away Miyuki's tears.
"Miyuki, before I go... cough, cough... there's something I've been hesitating to tell you... cough, cough..."
A violent fit of coughing caused blood to trickle from the corner of her mouth.
Her breath was faint, and her words were disjointed.
Miyuki felt a searing pain in her heart.
She pleaded, "Mom, please don't talk anymore. I—I'll take you to the hospital right now!"
Even if there was only a sliver of a chance, she had to try.
Shiba Miya shook her head bitterly.
She understood her own condition too well.
Her body and mind were already riddled with wounds; staying alive to this point was a miracle in itself.
She dared not hope for more.
She was satisfied just to see Miyuki grow up healthy.
But there were still regrets—such as watching Miyuki marry and have children...
Her gaze drifted naturally to Shiba Tatsuya, who stood straight not far away.
A faint darkness flickered in Shiba Miya's eyes.
She was terribly afraid that once she was gone, Miyuki would no longer be able to control her own destiny, even though... even though the current head of the Yotsuba Family, Yotsuba Maya, had offered her assurances.
Shiba Miya's emotions were tangled, and Miyuki's were just as conflicted.
How could she stand by and watch her mother pass away?
Yet she realized in this moment that aside from offering comfort, she could do nothing else.
"Why... why is this happening..."
Miyuki's sobbing did not cease.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind.
She remembered the chat group's existence!
She jerked her head up.
"That's right, there's still a way!"
Shiba Miya heard her muttered words and assumed it was just Miyuki refusing to accept her imminent passing. She was about to soothe her daughter—
But saw Miyuki's expression turn resolute as she said, "Mom, I will save you!"
"Rei Ao, were you guys enjoying yourselves just now?"
The tiny Ramiris flew to Rei Ao's ear as he was surrounded by the others.
She had been watching from the sidelines for a while, noticing that everyone who interacted with him seemed blissful yet somewhat embarrassed.
Even that ever-expressionless Luminous had shown the same look.
She was curious—was it really that pleasant?
Rei Ao grabbed the towel on his shoulder and threw it at her, nearly knocking her into the water.
"Wah! Why are you doing that all of a sudden?"
Pouting, Ramiris pulled at the towel with an indignant glare.
"Haha, just saying you're so small. Even using you as a cup would be difficult. Hurry and get used to your other form, then you'll understand how comfortable it is once you experience it."
Realizing what Rei Ao was hinting at, Ramiris flew up to his face and made a silly face.
Rei Ao was about to pull his arm free from the grasp of Shuna and Shion, who were clinging on both sides, to grab Ramiris.
Even if she couldn't be a cup, maybe she could hold onto a pillar and lick it...
[Ding! Shiba Miyuki has sent you a trade request.]
[Trade content: Save her mother!]
[Ding! Please set your trade conditions.]
Rei Ao paused mid-motion.
Shizue, who was leaning on him, noticed the slight change in his demeanor.
Rei Ao said briefly, then posted in the chat group:
Rei Ao: "@Shiba Miyuki, I've received your trade request."
Izawa Shizue: "Oh, so that's what's going on."
Stella: "What's happening?"
Mikoto Misaka: "@Shiba Miyuki, are you in trouble?"
Shiba Miyuki: "Rei Ao, please save my mother. She... she's dying."
This was her last lifeline.
By all rights, Miyuki's mother should have passed away long ago, but things had clearly changed from what he knew.
Rei Ao: "I can see you're in a hurry, but I need to remind you of something."
Rei Ao: "All you can offer in trade are your psion-based magic, your CAD, and... the rights to your body."
Rei Ao: "But I'm not interested in your psion magic or your CAD."
Frieren: "So that leaves only that option."
Miko Yotsuya: "Eh? Rei Ao isn't even interested in magic?"
Tohru: "He's powerful enough to bring about the end of the world with a wave of his hand. Why would he need ordinary magic?"
Miko Yotsuya: "Ah... I see... haha..."
It was indeed a harsh reality.
Which meant, for Miyuki to secure Rei Ao's help, there was only one thing left to trade.
Shiba Miyuki: "I know exactly what I'm doing."
Her gaze was resolute.
In choosing to initiate the trade, she had already thought it through deeply.
She was seeing her mother, who raised her, so frail and exhausted for the first time—pain filling her heart. She couldn't ignore those feelings; she wanted to do something for her mother.
Shiba Miyuki: "Rei Ao, I beg you, please save my mother!"
Rei Ao: "Since you insist..."
He immediately set the trade conditions.
Just as Miyuki had said, she agreed in an instant, without any hesitation.
[Ding! Trade initiated!]
[Trading with: Shiba Miyuki]
[Trade content: Save her mother!]
[Trade condition: "Rights to your body (once)"]
— Currently You can Read 140 Chapters Ahead of Others!