The apocalypse is coming, but thankfully I have a harem of paper dolls.

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Her husband was still the same young and handsome man she remembered—just like an adorable little puppy. So, don't blame this mature, no-longer-youthful mother for teasing her puppy-like husband!

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The chill, like an invisible shroud, tightly enveloped the ruined camp. Desolation and deathly silence were the dominant themes here, with only the biting cold flowing silently through the air.

A once majestic administration building is now nothing but a pale, frost-covered outline. Thick layers of ice cling tightly to the mottled walls, gleaming with a cold, hard sheen in the dim light. In the wide open space in front of the building, tents are piled up haphazardly, like an abandoned graveyard, devoid of any sign of life. Only the howling wind whistling through the holes in the tents adds to the desolation.

This is the official camp of Qixian County.

It was hastily converted from a former administrative building and once served as a beacon of refuge for people in despair.

However, at this moment it has been completely reduced to a frozen ghost town.

Outside the building, a thick fog pressed down on the horizon, swallowing everything further away into an unknown gray-white, leaving only a chilling, omnipresent sense of danger.

Meanwhile, in a relatively intact office in the administration building, Luo Jiajun was idly sinking into a cold leather sofa, casually flipping through a philosophy book he had found on the nearby bookshelf.

Ye Yibu lay quietly on Luo Jiajun's lap, its furry body pressed against him, bringing warmth to his body.

"Da, da, da, da..."

Suddenly, the sound of high heels clicking on the ground broke the silence of the corridor outside.

Luo Jiajun looked up at the sound, his gaze falling towards the doorway. "You Yongxiang, are you in Lin Kong? Lin Zai, are you in there...?"

Rin Uehara appeared first, followed by Yukari Yazu, Bayonetta, Mai Shiranui, and others. The once empty office suddenly became more lively, bringing with it the cold air from outside.

Luo Jiajun closed his book and glanced at the women: "So? Did you find them?"

Rin Uehara, who was walking at the front, shook his head and said, "No, this camp... seems to have been completely abandoned. We searched all the tents outside and didn't find a single living person."

When they were separated before, Archina, Zyra, Mai Shiranui, and Zhou Meiling had briefly stayed at the official camp in Qi County. After successfully defeating the Great Ice Dragon Polez and the Dragon Lord Banopald, Luo Jiajun had Mai Shiranui and Zyra lead the way, making a special detour to take a look.

But it was clear that the camp could not withstand the extreme cold and relentless icy winds brought by Polez and became an empty shell.

It's just unknown how many of those survivors who were forced to leave could struggle to survive in the face of the dense fog and biting wind outside.

"Owner."

Suddenly, Leda's voice came from outside the door, accompanied by another heavy sound—the sound of some huge object being dragged and rubbed on the rough ground.

Luo Jiajun looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Leda and Akiyama Rinko had arrived late. The two of them were dragging an unusually large prey, which was none other than a giant deer.

Its size is comparable to that of an adult Siberian tiger, yet its appearance exudes a ferocious aura. The most striking feature is the pair of exceptionally well-developed, sharp fangs in the giant deer's mouth, whose chilling gleam completely overturns the docile image of herbivores.

Clearly, this is a monster from that dangerous world beyond the mist. However, faced with Rita and Akiyama Rinko, it can only become prey.

"We have food, master."

Leda stood at the door, her voice carrying a hint of relief after completing her task. She herself didn't have a particular craving for food, but the thought of her master enjoying a long-awaited, fresh, and hot roast meat filled her with a sense of joy.

"Yes, thank you for your hard work." Luo Jiajun nodded, his gaze sweeping over the giant deer. "Then you guys clean this deer first, and we'll have to trouble Xiao Wu to start a fire and roast the meat later."

"Don't worry! Leave it to me, I'll make sure it's cooked to perfection!"

Mai Shiranui winked playfully at Luo Jiajun and patted her chest confidently.

Rinko Akiyama followed her into the room, her gaze unconsciously sweeping around the room, a hint of doubt appearing on her face:

"By the way, where are Mizuki-senpai and Yukikaze? Aren't they here?"

As soon as she finished speaking, almost simultaneously everyone's eyes in the room focused on Luo Jiajun. The reason they had been sent out to search the camp earlier was because Luo Jiajun, Mizuki Shiranui, and Mizuki Yukikaze, this "family of three," seemed to have some things to discuss privately.

Faced with the inquiring gazes of the women, Luo Jiajun calmly explained, "Xuefeng and her mother are in the next office. I don't know what they're talking about, so let's not disturb them."

However, just as Luo Jiajun finished speaking, a soft "click" came from the lock of the next room.

Immediately afterwards, Mizushiro Shiranui appeared, holding Mizushiro Yukikaze's hand.

The office, which was not spacious to begin with, suddenly felt even more cramped with the arrival of the mother and daughter.

"Everyone's back?" Mizuki Shiranui smiled gently, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "How was it? Did you find any other survivors?"

Luo Jiajun shook his head and said, "No, it seems that we are the only ones left in this camp now."

"I see..." Mizuki Shiranui nodded gently, then lowered her head, her gaze falling tenderly on her daughter who was holding her hand tightly beside her.

Luo Jiajun's gaze also turned to Xuefeng. When his eyes met the little girl's, she quickly turned her head away, avoiding his gaze, a hint of awkwardness on her face.

“By the way, Anada…” Mizuki Shiranui looked up, her face showing a mixture of encouragement and expectation. She gently stroked Yukikaze’s head and said to Luo Jiajun, “I’ve already talked to Yukikaze. As long as you agree to one condition from Yukikaze, she will get along well with you from now on.”

As she spoke, her gentle gaze seemed to silently convey a message to Luo Jiajun: 'You've secured the opportunity; now you must make sure to keep your daughter happy!'

Luo Jiajun raised an eyebrow, then a hearty smile spread across his face as he said to Xuefeng with a touch of magnanimity:

"Oh? What are your conditions? Just tell me!"

"Hmph!" Upon hearing this, Xuefeng immediately raised her little head and let out a soft hum with a lot of coquettishness.

She put her hands on her hips, turned around abruptly, and with a scrutinizing look on her small face, her sharp gaze swept over everyone in the room—especially those members of the "non-anti-demon ninja" camp:

For example, Mai Shiranui, Leda, Drael, Bayonetta...

"First of all, I want to make one thing clear!" The little girl's voice was clear and loud, with an undeniable emphasis, "This request is entirely my own idea! I didn't discuss it with my mother beforehand!"

She paused, seemingly gathering her strength, then suddenly turned around, her small finger pointing straight at Luo Jiajun:

"In short, my requirements are very simple!"

"That is--"

"From now on, you have to spend more time with Mom! You have to spend most of your time with Mom! Then come Rin-neechan, Ms. Murasaki, and Ms. Rin! Everyone else... has to come last!"

"..."

The air seemed to freeze in an instant.

Xuefeng's resounding words stirred up a silent yet turbulent wave in the room. Everyone, including Luo Jiajun, fell into a brief moment of astonishment and silence.

Mizuki Shiranui's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly understood why her daughter had insisted on declaring, "This was her own idea."

This silly girl is worried that this obviously biased request will attract too much resentment from her mother, and she wants to share the blame for her!

However, this idea was ultimately too naive, and Mizuki Shiranui couldn't help but sigh silently in her heart:

"Oh, silly child, I'm your mother! Even if this request wasn't something I conspired with you to make, so what? As long as these words came out of your mouth, those who are meant to be hostile towards me will still be hostile towards me..."

The struggle for power in the imperial harem has always been like this!

The thought that so many women present—besides her fellow anti-demon ninja juniors, others like Mai Shiranui, Bayonetta, and Leta, all powerful and distinctive individuals—would likely harbor overt or covert hostility towards her after hearing her daughter's words made Mizuki Shiranui instinctively want to reprimand Yukikaze.

I wanted to use the phrase "children speak without thinking" to ease the sudden tension.

But the words were on the tip of her tongue, and she swallowed them back.

Because... isn't this also her deepest, most secret desire?

Was she truly so loving and gentle as to be completely selfless? Her longing for and deep love for Luo Jiajun made her tolerate the many women surrounding him. But this absolutely did not mean that she didn't want to be the most special and valued one! Did she not want the status and title of "first wife"?

Moreover, among all these women, she was the only one who bore Luo Jiajun a child! This unique bond, this confidence that comes from "a mother's status rising with her daughter's," isn't that enough to support her in vying for the position of first wife?

The thought flashed through her mind like lightning, instantly changing Mizuki Shiranui's mindset. Her initial urge to scold her daughter vanished, replaced by an indescribable sense of pride and satisfaction.

Looking at her daughter's stubborn and earnest little face, she felt that her daughter was so smart and cute!

In those few brief seconds when Mizuki Shiranui's mind was racing and her thoughts were churning, all the women in the room's gazes, like searchlights, lingered on her briefly but meaningfully. Then, all their eyes, filled with a variety of complex emotions, fixed firmly on Luo Jiajun's face.

Rin Uehara, Yukari Yazu, and Rinko Akiyama, the anti-demon ninjas who were singled out by Yukikaze and whose status was second only to Mizushiro Shiranui, reacted relatively calmly. Their faces showed a hint of surprise, but more so understanding and acceptance. After all, Mizushiro Shiranui was a respected senior, slightly higher in status than them, which they found acceptable.

However, the atmosphere was quite different with the other women in the room.

Bayonetta's alluring eyes narrowed slightly at that moment, a scrutinizing and dangerous light shining through the narrow slits, and a faint, mocking smile seemed to linger at the corners of her mouth, silently exerting pressure.

Mai Shiranui puffed out her cheeks slightly, pouted her red lips, and gazed at Luo Jiajun with her beautiful eyes, which were full of coquettishness and grievance, as if silently accusing him: "What do you say?"

Leda reacted the most violently. Almost instantly, her body tensed, her brow furrowed, and her right hand instinctively gripped the hilt of her sword. Her icy gaze swept between Mizuki Shiranui and Yukikaze, a strong suspicion rising within her—this must be Mizuki Shiranui orchestrating this! Using her daughter to vie for favor, even at the cost of creating rifts within the team? Was this an act of rebellion?! Absolutely intolerable!

Draiel, Archina, Zyra, and others also had different expressions, some frowning, some silent, and some showing obvious displeasure.

The air in the entire office seemed to have been sucked out, filled with a silent yet tense atmosphere. Luo Jiajun felt as if he were in an invisible battlefield, where unseen swords clashed fiercely in the subtle glances and gestures of the women.

"Uh, well..."

Luo Jiajun felt a chill run down his spine. This sudden "internal family conflict" had escalated into a "battle for status in the harem," leaving him speechless for a moment.

At that moment, his gaze unconsciously turned to the instigator—Mizushiro Yukikaze.

The little girl remained with her hands on her hips, head held high, showing no remorse whatsoever for causing trouble. Instead, she gave him an extremely arrogant and smug smile, as if to say, "How about that? Stumped, aren't you?"

That smile struck Luo Jiajun like a bolt of lightning.

He suddenly realized!

So this girl wasn't just helping her mother fight for the position of first wife, but also using it to sabotage him, her father! After all, in this kind of situation, no matter which side Luo Jiajun favors, the other side will inevitably feel dissatisfied!

Got it.

Assessment complete—this little cotton-padded jacket is the kind that lets in the wind.

It's leaking air like crazy!

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Faced with Yukikaze's "conditions," which practically ignited a powder keg in the entire office, Luo Jiajun felt utterly overwhelmed. He quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, his gaze sweeping over the various pretty faces, each with its own distinct expression and underlying tension—Beyuneta's dangerously narrowed eyes, Mai Shiranui's aggrieved pout, Rita's tense hand on her sword hilt…

Finally, Luo Jiajun took a deep breath and gave a response that was as moderate as possible and also tried to appease everyone. He said that he had indeed not seen Mizushiro Shiranui, Yazu Murasaki, and Uehara Rin for a long time, and would definitely spend more time with them in the near future.

"Recently?" Xuefeng keenly caught this key word, her brows furrowing immediately, clearly extremely dissatisfied with this vague timeframe. She opened her mouth, ready to press her advantage and definitively seal off the ambiguous promise of "recently."

"Alright, Yukikaze." Mizushiro Shiranui stepped forward at just the right moment, her gentle voice carrying an undeniable softness. She reached out and gently stroked her daughter's soft hair, her movements as tender as if she were soothing a ruffled kitten. "Don't make things too hard on Daddy, okay? Be a good girl."

A miraculous thing happened. Just a moment ago, Xuefeng was like a spirited little rooster, but under the magic of her mother's gentle words, she instantly wilted. Her resentment deflated like a punctured balloon. She pursed her lips, swallowing back the argument that was about to spill from her mouth, only glancing at Luo Jiajun with a hint of resentment and grievance before ultimately choosing silence.

This proud and awkward little girl, only in front of her mother, would all her sharp edges be wrapped in gentleness. Growing up in a single-parent family and being raised by her mother alone made her dependence on and care for Mizushiro Shiranui far exceed that of ordinary people.

Especially after experiencing the extreme highs and lows of her mother's disappearance and subsequent reunion, her mother's opinions and feelings became the highest principles in her world. This is why Mizuki Shiranui was able to persuade this stubborn daughter to sit down and have this difficult conversation with Luo Jiajun, her "suddenly appearing father."

Unfortunately, years of resentment and dissatisfaction with her father's "womanizing" led Xuefeng to dig a huge pit for Luo Jiajun at the last moment. Now, it's up to Shuicheng Shiranui, his mother, to clean up the mess and mediate.

Mizuki Shiranui stepped forward to stop her daughter, her thoughts quite complicated.

On the one hand, she naturally wanted to save face for her husband and avoid embarrassing him in front of all the women; on the other hand, she was well aware that Xuefeng's "ranking theory" had already offended the women in the "non-Demon Ninja" camp quite a bit. If she allowed Xuefeng to continue pressuring Luo Jiajun to make a clearer promise, it would be tantamount to adding fuel to the fire and completely igniting the dissatisfaction of the other women, so she had to put on the brakes in time.

Delaire, Mai Shiranui, Bayonetta... these women, whom Yukikaze categorized as "others," all harbored some resentment towards the Mizuki mother and daughter, but Luo Jiajun's answer had emphasized "recently."

This answer, while not completely reassuring, was at least within their tolerance for the time being. Out of respect for Luo Jiajun, they chose to suppress their displeasure and refrain from reacting immediately. The almost palpable tension in the office eased slightly with the intervention of Mizuki Shiranui and Luo Jiajun's promise, but the invisible undercurrent still lingered in everyone's hearts. (The last sentence appears to be a nonsensical string of characters and is omitted from the translation.)

------

Time passed quietly in the silent camp. Several hours later, the thick fog completely sank into darkness. There was no electricity in the administration building, with only a few flickering lights barely dispelling the local shadows.

The corridor outside the office was cold and empty. Xuefeng sat alone on the high corridor wall, her slender legs dangling over the edge. Below her was a bottomless abyss of thick fog, the several meters below appearing like a precipice under the veil of mist, enough to make an ordinary person dizzy.

But Yukikaze paid no attention to this. She simply tilted her head slightly, her gaze piercingly fixed on the sky completely obscured by the thick fog, as if searching for something that didn't exist at all. A hint of melancholy and bewilderment, beyond her years, lingered on her small face.

"Silly girl..." A gentle voice suddenly broke the silence, and Mizuki Shiranui walked in from the other end of the corridor. "What are you looking at? The fog is so thick, there are no stars or moon for you to see."

As she approached, a rich, smoky aroma of roasted meat wafted over and entered Yukikaze's nostrils.

Xuefeng turned his head and saw that his mother was holding a thick iron skewer with a venison leg roasted to a golden brown and crispy crust, sizzling with oil. It was quite a generous portion.

"Eat up!" Mizuki Shiranui walked to her daughter's side, handed her the roasted deer leg, and smiled warmly. "Your dad roasted this for you himself~"

Xuefeng subconsciously swallowed, and his stomach growled in response.

She glanced quickly at the half-open office door not far away, where she could vaguely hear other people talking, but she didn't see Luo Jiajun.

After hesitating for a moment, she took the roasted deer leg her mother handed her, opened her little mouth, and took a big bite.

Objectively speaking, in this apocalyptic world of scarcity, roasted deer leg, lacking various seasonings, doesn't taste particularly amazing; it's even somewhat bland and gamey.

But for the little girl who hadn't eaten meat so heartily in a long time, it was a rare treat. She ate until her cheeks were bulging, and the grease quickly covered the corners of her mouth.

However, the deer leg was far too large for a young girl. Yukikaze struggled to eat for a while, but her pace inevitably slowed. Finally, she stopped, holding the remaining half of the deer leg in her hands, her gaze returning to the endless thick fog. She sighed softly, her voice barely audible, as if talking to herself:

"Mom, you said... if we could go back to the world we were in, and it was just the three of us... wouldn't that be wonderful..."

Her voice was filled with longing for that "home" she could never return to, a home without the apocalypse and without other women.

Hearing her daughter's sudden sadness, Mizuki Shiranui felt as if her heart had been pricked by a needle.

She took a step closer, stood behind her daughter, and reached out to gently tidy her hair, which was slightly disheveled by the night breeze. Her movements were full of affection, and after a moment of silence, she responded softly in a calm tone:

"We can't go back, Yukikaze. Because this... is your father's hometown."