If the White Devil was the final boss, then Lin Luo and the others could throw a grand celebration—eating their fill, drinking their fill, and then living a blissful, carefree, loving life together for a year without shame. Unfortunately, while the White Devil was powerful, it was at best a mid-tier boss.

There might not be a boss whose strength far surpassed it, but there were definitely stronger ones, and certainly more than one, so Lin Luo couldn't celebrate too early.

But having achieved such a great victory, they at least needed to pop champagne to celebrate. Although their usual meals were decent, they had implemented strict rationing to conserve food, considering they might be stuck here for a year; eating too lavishly now might leave them foraging for wild greens later.

However, to mark this victory, Lin Luo was unusually extravagant, pulling out a week's worth of rations as a reward. Don't underestimate a week's worth of food; with Artoria, the bottomless glutton who never gained weight, that amount was equivalent to what a family of six would consume in a month.

Everyone enjoyed the small victory feast immensely. Even Gui Chujuku and Mu Linxing, the girls who weren't big eaters, were stuffed, while Tachibana Kanade’s usually impassive face broke into an excited smile because she could eat seven plates of Mapo Tofu today—nothing could make her happier.

As for Artoria, it went without saying. For the past while, she could only eat to about seventy percent capacity daily, which left her feeling perpetually unsatisfied. Finally being able to eat her fill was a windfall... Seven-tenths of the food on the table disappeared into her stomach.

After eating, and resting briefly in the living room, Tachibana Kanade returned to her room, booted up her computer, and became utterly absorbed in the world of games—a world only she truly knew.

The other girls also retired to their rooms after showering, leaving only Lin Luo behind to clear the mess. After all, he contributed the least during the battle, and girls always took a long time showering, unlike him, who just needed a quick rinse. He had been tired enough during the day, so giving them more time to rest by handling this chore was only proper.

Lin Luo, acting as the household man, did this purely to let the girls rest early and conserve energy; it wasn't intentional. However, this simple act instantly raised every girl's favorability rating by five points.

For a girl to love a man, it wasn't necessary for him to be a great hero, nor did he need extraordinary abilities, and certainly not a noble birth. A sincere heart and genuine care were the best criteria for choosing a husband. This was especially true for girls hailing from the world of two dimensions; they valued this above all else. Haven't we seen countless anime and games where even a completely useless good-for-nothing guy, as long as he's gentle enough, ends up surrounded by women, creating a harem that makes countless rich, handsome men weep?

Lin Luo’s unintentional gesture struck the softest chord deep within their hearts. They felt sweet bliss, even letting out lovesick smiles while showering. Even when facing a romantic rival... well, they still had to compete; that was a matter of principle.

Fujibayashi Kyō and Gui Chujuku had both undergone the contract and were aware of each other's kiss pacts. In a sense, they had already kissed, albeit indirectly. Although they felt a slight pang of disappointment, understanding their unique situations and that it was necessary for survival, they could still accept it.

After all, they were all starting on the same line now—even if they were a step behind Tachibana Kanade, they were a huge step ahead of Artoria. Kanade, that little 'no-moe' girl, didn't show her feelings clearly, so the competition wasn't intense, which put them at ease. Simply staying ahead of the Saber was cause for celebration.

But how long this lead could be maintained? Only heaven, the Earth, and Gaia and Alaya truly knew.

Half an hour later, Lin Luo finished tidying the living room and returned to his room, heading into the bathroom for his final pre-sleep ritual. The bathroom held a fresh fragrance that felt vaguely familiar, but he paid it no mind. After a quick two-minute shower, he ran naked back to his bed.

The mattress was still wonderfully soft and bouncy, giving a feeling of floating on clouds. But the moment he touched it, Lin Luo felt a sense of incongruity; the bed's elasticity seemed less pronounced than before? And the blanket was slightly raised, as if someone were lying inside?

"Impossible, right?"

Lin Luo voiced his disbelief, but deep down, he was ninety percent certain of the possibility. And when he flung the covers aside, the last shred of doubt vanished, because nestled there was the delicate body of someone caught between a young