After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

But it's enough for now, at least for the time being.

Seeing that Hatsune Miku was temporarily appeased and could be used by him, Toyokawa Yuu breathed a sigh of relief.

Next, we should explore the problem of Metis.

And what exactly happened during those ten years, and how much the other people in Ave Mujica changed?

And what role did he play in all of this?

Chapter 10 Metis's Thanks

The day after Toyokawa Shoko's death, early morning.

Standing on the rooftop of the villa, Toyokawa Yuu took a deep breath and looked out over the Toyokawa family estate, which was practically the size of a mountainous area.

The morning mist and cool breeze filled his lungs, and the moist and cold sensation forced his brain, which had become somewhat drowsy from staying up all night, to clear up again.

It wasn't that he stayed up all night "remembering Xiangzi" with Hatsune Miku and became so exhausted; in fact, he still has some psychological trauma from that incident.

Who knows if Hatsune Miku will suddenly have another idea and strangle herself after we finish "remembering" Xiangzi?

The keepsake I found under the table yesterday should be enough to satisfy her for a while. The next step is to carefully suppress her desire to take advantage of me.

Just like cutting flesh to feed an eagle, you can't let Hatsune Miku go too hungry, nor can you let her eat too much.

When you're starving, you'll go berserk and plunder whatever you want, just like when you died last time.

But if she is fed too much, it will accelerate the expansion of her desires, and she will demand more and more until Toyokawa Yuu can no longer pay the price.

Yuu Toyokawa no longer wants to die. Even if she could die back ten years and then return to the present to reload her save, the fear of death would still make her resist it from the bottom of her heart.

The suffocating helplessness, accompanied by tinnitus and dizziness caused by lack of oxygen, made the world seem to spin in my eyes. The feeling of life slipping away in such a short time was so long and clear.

Therefore, although he had already frankly admitted in his heart that he did miss the feeling of "remembering Xiangzi" with Hatsune Miku, he still tried his best to restrain his desires and deliberately ignored her hints and invitations to "remember Xiangzi" together.

That's a very valuable amulet that might only work once, so it shouldn't be used up so easily.

Moreover, even if Toyokawa Yuu wanted to, she didn't have the time last night.

As a prominent family, the Toyokawa clan's so-called vigil was not just a matter of holding a candle and making a show of it. The segmented chanting of sutras by the high monks alone took several hours in total.

Yuu Toyokawa, who knew nothing about such things, was tormented by the wailing puppets and was on the verge of falling asleep, but as the organizer of the funeral, she had to put on a good show.

He only had a chance to come out and catch his breath just now, after the vigil officially ended.

The sun had already risen, and many more people who came to pay their respects entered the Toyokawa family's residence, which meant that Toyokawa Yuu would have to repeat yesterday's nauseatingly troublesome pretense.

"Youyu, you seem to be troubled."

A soft voice sounded behind Toyokawa Yuu, carrying an inorganic, dull quality, like a new seedling just breaking through the damp soil, or a cauliflower just blooming on a cucumber vine.

But Yuu Toyokawa knew that this calm demeanor was most likely an act, and the true nature of the person who spoke that voice was far more lively than the character she was portraying.

"Mu, did you sleep well last night?"

Donning a mask of sadness, a melancholy smile curled at the corners of Toyokawa Yuu's lips.

Turning to look at the green figure behind him, the morning breeze ruffled Metis's long, emerald-green hair, his face as indifferent as a wooden statue.

It's hard to believe that this woman, with her indifferent expression and seemingly detached from the world like a lotus in a secluded valley, is the same woman who broke down and caused a commotion at the funeral yesterday, even grabbing Toyokawa Yuu's collar.

However, for others in this era, this indifference is what they truly know about [Wakaba Mutsumi], the national actress who has surpassed her mother, Mori Minami, in her acting career.

Last night's vigil wasn't just about Toyokawa Yuu simply enduring the wailing and howling while sitting there; he also took some time to search online for information about the members of Ave Mujica ten years from now.

While online information is certainly not as detailed and accurate as firsthand accounts from people like Hatsune Miku, it still offers some reference value.

At least, he found information about Ruoye Mu.

Unlike Shoko, who disappeared from the public eye after the band disbanded and soon began to take over the Toyokawa family business, Mortis reappeared in the spotlight after being out of the public eye for nearly half a year.

This time, however, she didn't form a band. Instead, she entered the entertainment industry and, with her monstrous acting skills and her mother's resources, quickly became another superstar after her mother.

Her quiet and reserved off-screen persona, coupled with her ever-changing on-screen acting skills, makes one wonder which one is the real her.

Recalling this information in her mind, Toyokawa Yuu couldn't help but sigh at how ridiculously skewed this timeline was.

Ruoye Mutsu...National Queen...

The combination of these two words easily evokes a sense of extreme fantasy.

However, this also made Toyokawa Yuu even more certain that the [Wakaba Mutsumi] in front of her was not the wooden person who could grow cucumbers at all, but Metis who had replaced her.

So, what exactly happened...?

"I'm sorry, I was presumptuous yesterday. I shouldn't have mentioned those names and reminded you of sad things."

With a hint of concern on her face, Toyokawa Yuu's acting skills, compared to "The Monster with Many Heads," might be slightly inferior, but they were still good enough that no one could find fault with her performance.

When dealing with natural actors, it's best not to let your true feelings show too easily; just keep acting together.

"I'm the one who should apologize. Xiangzi wouldn't want me yelling at her."

Metis tilted his head slightly and lowered his gaze, seemingly unable to look Toyokawa Yuu in the eye because of his rudeness and guilt yesterday.

"Don't say anything... that was the last thing she asked me to do."

The scene fell silent for a moment, not because the somber atmosphere made them speechless, but because both veteran actors knew that silence was the most appropriate state to express themselves in this atmosphere.

Yuu Toyokawa turned around again, leaning on the railing with both hands to gaze at the morning.

He didn't want to face Metis like this. His acting skills were clearly inferior to hers, and it was better to avoid confrontation for the time being if he couldn't find another weakness to exploit.

If they had been completely honest with each other from the beginning, then since he chose to communicate with Metis through acting, if his acting skills were truly exposed, he would always be at a disadvantage in front of Metis.

"Will Youyu... leave me like Xiangzi did?"

Metis's voice reached Toyokawa Yuu's ears, his indifferent tone tinged with a hint of anxious worry.

“It won’t last long… After I said that, Ave Mujica disbanded and never reunited, and now, Xiangzi has left me too.”

Standing beside Yuu Toyokawa, Metis raised her golden eyes and gently grasped the hem of his robe with her delicate hand.

"So, Youyu, will you also go with Xiangzi? Will you... also not last long?"

"I haven't thanked you yet. If it weren't for your words and Minami's encouragement, I probably would never have been able to leave that room and never have been able to give up my guitar and showcase my acting skills."

What are you doing?

If [Wakaba Mutsumi] becomes Metis, does that have anything to do with me?

She gripped the railing slightly to hide her surprise, but in Toyokawa Yuu's heart, a storm was brewing.

Let [Wakaba Mutsumi] throw away her guitar, lose the self she had finally found, and become a performance monster who can conquer everyone with her acting skills.

Did I make these?

Chapter 11 Flying Rain

Cold sweat began to trickle down Toyokawa Yuu's back; if it weren't for the black suit covering it, there might already be a wet stain on her back.

He hadn't forgotten that Metis was an "assistant" who appeared to protect the wooden man, although sometimes he would try to maintain his own existence and deliberately create an environment that would cause the wooden man pain.

But ultimately, one thing remains unchanged.

Metis will protect the wooden figure, do her best to fulfill all the wooden figure's requests, and protect her favorite band.

Undoubtedly, despite occasional conflicts, Metis cares about everything concerning the wooden figure, and she says she made [Wakaba Mutsumi] throw away her guitar...

In other words, ten years ago, I "killed" the wooden figure in front of Metis?

While browsing the internet last night searching for information about [Wakaba Mutsu], a rumor that I stumbled upon accidentally popped into Toyokawa Yuu's mind.

"Mori Nami announced her retirement after the rise of the new generation diva, Wakaba Mutsumi, reportedly showing signs of mental instability before her retirement."

【Wakaba Mutsumi】gave up guitar and playing instruments and instead embarked on an entertainment career, thanks to the "encouragement" from me and her mother, Mori Minami.

Now, Minami will never again appear in the spotlight she was once so proud of.

So, will it be my turn next?

A question in my mind received a vague answer in that instant: if the wooden figure as the main body is lost, then what can Metis, the subordinate personality, rely on to continue to exist?

As she thought of the answer, a force traveled from the hand gripping the hem of her clothes to her waist, and Toyokawa Yuu's body inevitably tumbled over the low railing.

No wonder he's Bondori Superman, who can roll down stairs without getting hurt; how can he be so strong...?

As her gaze shifted, only this one thought remained in Toyokawa Yuu's mind.

..............................

Opening her eyes, Toyokawa Yuu found herself back at the desk she had only recently become familiar with.

The shadow of death descended once more, and Yuu Toyokawa, his body trembling involuntarily, accidentally clicked the mouse. The computer screen lit up, and the information that Sadaharu Toyokawa had sent him appeared on the screen.

Did I sleep for most of the day?

The time displayed on the computer indicated that it was already afternoon, the time when high school students were getting out of class.

So, I just died again, right? I was pushed down by Metis.

He instinctively clutched his chest; his heart was pounding frantically and rapidly, yet it also made him acutely aware that he was still alive.

It's good that you're still alive.

Grabbing a glass of water, she gulped down the overnight cold water inside. Toyokawa Yuu looked up at the unfamiliar ceiling, panting heavily.

Metis wants to kill him because he "killed" the wooden figures after Ave Mujica disbanded, but things are far more complicated than that.

What appears to be a simple "vendetta" actually signifies that he, as the so-called "son-in-law head of the family," has completely lost control of the Toyokawa family.

At the very least, given that Metis's abilities and experience surpassed those of Minami Mori, it was impossible for him not to know what killing someone in the Toyokawa family meant.

She's not like Hatsune Miku, the type who would kill without hesitation if someone stepped on a landmine.

Metis, who fears death, knows best how to protect herself; otherwise, she wouldn't have waited ten years for this opportunity.

If she were truly an avenger who didn't care about anything, she could have easily found an opportunity during those ten years to quietly kill herself.

As the other half of Toyokawa Shoko, finding such an opportunity couldn't be easier for her.

The reason they waited until now to take action was because Metis was certain that no one would care about this matter.

Perhaps her actions were even hinted at or tacitly approved by some people.

After all, for most of the Toyokawa family, how Toyokawa Yuu died was not important; what mattered was that he was dead.

The head of the family is dead, her husband is dead, and they have no children. The family is now completely finished.

The branch families who split off finally had a chance to take over, and rightfully so.

This perfectly timed death will not be investigated thoroughly, lest it uncover things that shouldn't be investigated.

He tried to force a smile, the phantom pain of death terrifying Toyokawa Yuu, but he just couldn't help but smile.

He already knew how to ensure his survival ten years from now.

Without Toyokawa Shoko, and without Toyokawa Shoko's descendants, those who divided the family wouldn't even wait a day; they immediately wanted to put him to death.

Therefore, if he wanted to survive, he either had to find a way to bring Toyokawa Shoko back to life, or find a way to have children with her.

Metis, thank you.

You won this time. I'm completely convinced of your superior skill in killing me at first sight. Thank you for the information revealed by your actions.

Consider this life your toll.

After catching her breath, Yuu Toyokawa hesitated for a moment before taking out her phone and dialing Sadaharu Toyokawa's number.

This old man has fought against the Toyokawa family his whole life, making him a very suitable person to learn from.

"Youyu, what's wrong?"

The call was answered shortly afterward, and a decisive voice came from the other end.

"I have some questions I'd like to ask you."

Without much pleasantry, Toyokawa Yuu got straight to the point.

Judging from Toyokawa Sadaharu's swift action of organizing and sending over the materials yesterday, Toyokawa Yuu was certain that the old man preferred concrete actions to meaningless pleasantries.

Especially in matters concerning Toyokawa Shoko.

"Xiangzi is still very inexperienced, and I don't have your qualifications and experience. If, during the vulnerable period of power transition, an ally betrays me and stabs me in the back, such as... Ruoye, how should I deal with it?"

My gaze swept across the computer desktop, and Minami Mori was prominently listed among the Toyokawa family's allies.

As a top-tier figure who promotes the Toyokawa family, she naturally has many vested interests with them.