Anime Multiverse: Building a Pantheon from Scratch

Faced with Mira Tsubakihara's killer question, Luo Shu's expression stiffened. He neither wanted to explain the ring's ability to her nor fabricate some lie just to dodge the topic. As a result, his face was locked in an awkward grimace.

Sitting across from him, Mira seemed to pick up on his discomfort. After glancing at him briefly, she softly offered, "If it's some kind of confidential matter, then please just forget I asked."

"…It's not exactly confidential," Luo Shu admitted after a pause. Although a certain immoral thought had flitted through his mind earlier, he wasn't so far gone as to let his lower half control his brain. After a brief silence, he finally explained in a measured tone, "That ring which called itself the 'Heart of the Demon'… it originally belonged to a member of the transnational crime syndicate 'True Celestial Astronomy.' Its function… is mental manipulation targeted at women. I think you can probably grasp the implications."

Mira blinked slowly at his words, seemingly frozen for a moment. "You mean…"

As the realization dawned on her, she instinctively scooted her chair back, further away from the jewellery box on the table. Seeing this, Luo Shu decided to just rip the bandage off and nodded. "Yeah, its effect is hypnosis—specifically, a particularly vile kind that only works on women."

"According to intel from Chief Tachibana, quite a few European film stars were victimized by the previous owner of this ring."

After hearing all that, Mira clenched the cushion beside her nervously and looked up at Luo Shu. "…Luo Shu-kun, you wouldn't use something like that on me, would you?"

Luo Shu rolled his eyes. "What do you think?" he said, clearly unimpressed. Here he was, going out of his way to explain the danger of the ring so she'd be on guard, and now she was doubting him?

Should I just make you a mother in ten months then? With twins, perhaps? he grumbled internally.

"I'm sorry," Mira quickly apologized, noticing the irritation on his face. "I didn't mean to suspect you. It's just… that ability is really disturbing. If possible, please seal it away completely."

"…I will," Luo Shu promised. Though he felt slightly guilty, he still gave his word like a proper man would. At the very least, he wasn't going to use it on her.

Mira, still feeling uneasy, grabbed a white pillow nearby and hugged it tightly, taking a few deep breaths. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she looked back at Luo Shu and said, "If possible, don't hand that ring over to Chief Tachibana's backers—Zeus Industries."

"Hmm?" Luo Shu blinked, caught off guard. He hesitated, unsure whether to ask further.

Noticing his uncertainty, Mira took the initiative to explain, "From what I've heard from my family, Chief Tachibana is very close with a high-ranking woman at Zeus Industries. Apparently, they were classmates in university. That corporation is obsessed with collecting Abyssal Artifacts like this and using them for research—especially to develop more powerful 'military tech.' It's because of their push, along with that executive and Chief Tachibana, that SDS was even created—to collect Abyssal Artifacts across Japan."

"So, please—don't let the Heart of the Demon fall into her hands," she added seriously. "To protect innocent women from being harmed."

Before Luo Shu could even react, Mira continued, "Also, if my family ever comes into contact with you, please don't mention this ring to them either."

She looked helpless as she said that. "My family shares the same mindset as Zeus Industries. Or more accurately, all six major arms manufacturers in America view Abyssal Artifacts the same way."

So, Tachibana's backer is Zeus Industries? One of the big six U.S. arms conglomerates? No wonder she can order around stationed troops and doesn't even bother with local Japanese authorities. She's working for daddy's boss… Luo Shu thought with growing cynicism.

Before he transmigrated, Luo Shu already knew how shady American arms giants were. Now, even in this world, they were just as ruthless—capable of controlling secret organizations remotely. No wonder their influence was terrifying.

So, Mira's family is also tied to one of these weapon giants… That explains why Tachibana won't mess with her casually, but still wanted me to secure the Heart of the Demon. She's afraid they'll get their hands on it first.

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Luo Shu nodded earnestly. "Don't worry. I won't let anyone else touch this thing."

I'll just use some points to forge a fake one… no big deal. I am the head of a shadow organization after all. A half-baked one, sure, but still. Luo Shu contacted the system in his mind and found that crafting a fake version would only cost 300 points—a bargain.

Incidentally, he had also checked the value of both the Heart of the Demon and the Lucky Wallet. The former required 60,000 points to replicate, while the latter cost 80,000. That price tag made Luo Shu's heart clench a little.

"You mean even my family?" Mira reminded him pointedly.

"Of course, them too," Luo Shu nodded, though in his head he couldn't help but wonder why she was so insistent. Did she think her family would get special treatment from him or something?

Are you maybe overestimating your influence on me…? Luo Shu held back the urge to make that snarky comment. No need to shoot himself in the foot by being blunt.

Seeing him agree, Mira gave a faint smile, though it quickly faded into a neutral expression.

Luo Shu, meanwhile, was still mentally calculating the cost of those two Abyssal Artifacts when he suddenly acted like he'd just remembered something, pulled out his phone, and checked the time.

It was 9:15 PM.

Seeing the time, Luo Shu finished off his tea, closed the box containing the Heart of the Demon, and stood up, making his intentions clear. "It's getting late. I should probably take my leave."

He glanced at Mira to gauge her reaction. Mira quickly pulled out her own phone and then looked surprised. "Ah, it's almost bedtime already?"

She immediately stood up. "Let me walk you out."

"No need. I'm just next door."

He pointed to the wall of Room 303. Healthy sleeping schedule, huh? Good for her, Luo Shu mused. Unlike me, who can't keep a routine to save my life…

Realizing that Luo Shu was staying right next to her, Mira chuckled. "Oh, that's right. You're just next door."

She then pulled out her phone, opened the LINE app, and playfully waved the screen at him with a sweet smile.

"Oh? Oh!" Luo Shu finally caught on, and they exchanged LINE IDs.

At the door, he put on his shoes, stepped outside, and turned back to glance at Mira, who stood just behind the half-open door.

"See you tomorrow, Luo Shu-kun," Mira said, waving lightly.

"See you tomorrow, Miss Mira."

The door closed. Luo Shu walked back to his room with a heavy heart. He really needed to research these two uninvited Abyssal Artifacts and figure out just what the hell they were.

Back inside, Mira leaned against the door, gazing toward the entrance steps and murmured to herself:

"He's eight whole years younger than me…"