"Am I too heavy?" Patchouli, lying on Rin's back, asked somewhat sheepishly.
The moment they stepped outside, feeling the sunlight that was too harsh and hot for her, she slumped uncomfortably on Rin's shoulder.
"Not at all, you're light as a feather."
Rin smiled as he spoke. With this weight, he could carry her all day without letting go.
Of course, if it were someone like Reimu or the others, it wouldn't be as comfortable—they were a bit too bony.
But just a few steps away from the shop, the chain pattern on the back of their hands suddenly flashed with an eerie red light.
In the next second, several chains emerged out of nowhere, tightly wrapping around Patchouli and instantly dragging her back into the shop.
"?"
Patchouli, who had plopped onto the floor, was completely stunned.
She couldn't even leave the shop?!
Damn that contract!!!!!
Reimu, silently watching Patchouli writhing on the floor while clutching her head, had an awkward look in her eyes.
'What kind of new play is this?'
"Patchouli, are you okay?"
Rin's concerned voice rang out, his face full of worry and surprise.
The enforcement effect of this contract is pretty intense.
As expected of Patchouli!
Patchouli, lying on the floor, twitched her eye and struggled to get up, then reached out her hand to Rin—
"Let's try again. I want to see if I can block the chains."
"Alright!"
Rin nodded solemnly, looking like he was ready to accompany her through the experiment.
But just a few seconds later, under the subtle gazes of Reimu and the others who were lined up inside the store, watching like it was a show, Patchouli, her body radiating magical energy, was dragged back again.
This time, she didn't even move, her eyes unfocused as she stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling.
Rin, who had hurried back, promptly comforted her—
"Don't be sad. Look on the bright side—at least we got farther this time than last."
"For the next few days, you can stay at the shop and try to break the contract or strengthen your resistance magic. Maybe you'll succeed."
"Don't worry, it probably won't take too long."
Patchouli: ...
Hearing Rin's words of comfort, Patchouli's hollow eyes finally regained some focus.
After a long silence, she chose to accept her fate—for now.
"I'll have to trouble you for the next few days, Boss Rin..."
"It's nothing."
"Come on, I can tell you're breathing a bit off. Let's get you back to rest and have some tea to calm down."
"Okay."
After watching Rin carry Patchouli back to the inner room, the shop fell silent once more.
After a while, Reimu finally gritted her teeth and shouted—
"I know it, big is the root of all evil!"
"..."
Marisa glanced at her, then looked down at herself, and breathed a sigh of relief.
At least she wasn't the flattest board!
Not dwelling on the issue any further, she grabbed a squid snack and lazily sprawled on the chair.
Seeing her so carefree, Reimu poked her in frustration—
"How can you not be worried at all?"
"That existence is different from Yukari. Once she settles in here, we'll both be out of a job!"
"That's a good thing!"
"???"
Under Reimu's bewildered gaze, Marisa suddenly perked up.
"I was only caught here for forced labor, and I have to work for a full seven days!"
"If that Patchouli takes over, I might be able to get out early!"
"By the way, how long is your sentence?"
"My sentence..."
Reimu was stunned, as if she had only just realized something.
Oh right, she had only come here as a temporary worker after Marisa got knocked out, and she was just here to mooch lunch and dinner.
She didn't actually have to worry about losing her job?
At the thought, Reimu, who had been tense just moments ago, immediately lay down like a salted fish.
As long as it didn't affect her dinner, the boss could hire whoever he wanted.
Watching Reimu's mood shift faster than flipping a book, Marisa scratched her head in confusion.
What, did she realize her sentence was too long and just decided to give up?
In that case, I guess I'm pretty lucky?
Marisa mused to herself, unable to help but chuckle as she stuffed more snacks into her mouth.
Meanwhile, in the living room at the back, seeing Rin carry Patchouli back again and even head toward the bedroom, Yukari immediately perked up.
"Boss! I've already promised you a wife, so don't go sneaking around now. I'm watching you!"
"What are you thinking? Due to some special circumstances, Patchy has to stay here for a day or two. I'm just clearing out a room for her." Rin shot her an annoyed look.
As for sneaking around? If he married them all, there'd be no sneaking around!
Ignoring Yukari's skeptical expression, Rin carried Patchouli into the room, and she couldn't help but ask curiously—
"You have a wife?"
"Don't listen to her nonsense. The wife thing is still up in the air. I'm single right now."
"..."
"In a book I read before, there was a scumbag who used that exact line to seduce an innocent girl."
"'After the gruesome battle, as they left toward the exit,' the scumbag's wife came back, and both of them got stabbed 28 times..."
Hearing Patchouli's complaint, Rin's mouth twitched.
Even without witnessing the scene firsthand, he could feel a phantom pain creeping over his body.
"Patchy, you should really read fewer NTR books. I have some pure love stories here that I can lend you."
"You sell books here too?" Patchouli's eyes immediately lit up. As long as there were books, she could endure a few more days.
"I do, but there aren't too many, and some of them aren't suitable to put out, so I haven't displayed them yet."
"Take a seat, and I'll go look for them."
After settling Patchouli in a chair, Rin went to search through the other rooms.
In no time, under Patchouli's delighted gaze, Rin carried a whole box of books into the room.
"This is all I have for now. Some of them even involve magic, but I haven't studied them much. If you're interested, you can tinker with them."
"Great, great..."
Patchouli, who had been flipping through the books, suddenly paused, her expression breaking as she pulled out a few titles.
"Betrayal and Depravity Between Sisters," "I Will Protect You, Young Lady," "Just This Once," "Confessions in the Church," "The Twin's Substitution..."
'This is what you call pure love?' Patchouli's eye twitched, but she still put them back.
Well, since they're already here, she might as well flip through them to pass the time.
Compared to these, the few books radiating magical energy caught her attention.
They seemed to be teaching new spells!