My Eros System Grants Me Infinite Romance Routes-Chapter 188: The Rescue...

Akira crouched beside them, assessing the situation. There were at least eight exorcists, holy barriers at every exit, and Satomi-sensei was injured. Fighting their way out was out of the options... especially like this.

"Valerius gave them just enough info to make you a target," Ayaka said in a strained voice. "But not enough to identify you specifically. They’re hunting blind."

Akira thought for a moment. Fighting wasn’t an option. But running blind would just get them caught. They needed a distraction. Something that would pull the exorcists away long enough for them to slip through.

"Shirayuki," he said quietly. "I need you."

The air around them shimmered with a sudden chill. Frost patterns formed on the concrete floor, and the temperature dropped several degrees in an instant as Shirayuki manifested physically beside him.

She appeared exactly as she had before: silver-white hair cascading down her back, skin so pale it was nearly translucent, and eyes the color of frozen ocean water.

She wore a simple white dress that seemed to be made of condensed ice crystals. Her presence was sharp and cold, like standing next to an open freezer.

"Finally," she said, her voice carrying that familiar edge of irritation. "I was beginning to think you’d forgotten I exist."

"I could never forget you," Akira said. "I need your help."

Shirayuki crossed her arms, looking unimpressed. "Of course you do. You would only call me when you need something."

"That’s not true."

"Then when was the last time you summoned me just to talk?"

Akira didn’t have an answer for that.

Shirayuki sighed, a sound like wind through icicles. "Never mind. What do you need?"

"Can you create a false signature? Make them think I’m somewhere else?"

Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "You want me to project essence in multiple directions. Confuse their trackers."

"Exactly. Can you do it?"

"Of course I can do it." She sounded almost offended. "I’m not some fledgling ice sprite. How many targets do they have?"

"Eight confirmed. Maybe more."

Shirayuki’s lips curved into a cold smile. "Then I’ll give them a dozen false signatures. They’ll chase ghosts all night."

"Send them east. We go west."

"Understood." She raised one hand, and ice began forming in the air around her fingers. "This will take a moment. The constructs need to be stable enough to hold essence."

While Shirayuki worked, Ayaka looked at Satomi’s injury again. "We need to move soon. That burn is getting worse."

"I know," Satomi said through gritted teeth. "Just give her time to set up the distraction."

Shirayuki’s ice constructs began taking shape in the shadows outside the storage room. They weren’t solid forms, just vague shapes made of frost and compressed essence. But each one radiated demonic energy that perfectly mimicked Akira’s Fragment signature.

"Ready," Shirayuki said after a minute. "On your signal."

"Do it."

The ice constructs scattered in different directions, moving fast enough to trigger the exorcists’ detection barriers. The demonic essence they carried lit up every holy weapon in the warehouse district.

Immediately, shouts erupted outside.

"Contact! East side, moving fast!"

"Multiple signatures detected! It’s fragmenting!"

"All units converge! Don’t let it escape!"

The Silver Hand operatives abandoned their positions, chasing the false signals into the industrial maze. Their footsteps and shouted orders faded into the distance.

Akira helped Satomi to her feet. "Now. We move now."

Shirayuki glanced at Satomi’s injury, her expression shifting to something almost concerned. "That’s a holy burn. She needs proper treatment."

"I know," Akira said. "Can you maintain the constructs while we move?"

"Yes. They’ll hold for at least twenty minutes." She paused. "But I’m coming with you. If something goes wrong, you’ll need me."

Akira nodded. "Stay close."

Ayaka supported Satomi’s other side, and the four of them slipped out through the western exit, moving quickly through the shadows. Shirayuki stayed just behind them, her presence making the air around them noticeably colder.

Satomi bit back groans of pain with every step, but she kept moving.

They were almost clear when one operative rounded the corner ahead of them.

He froze, his holy weapon starting to glow.

Before Ayaka could react, Shirayuki stepped forward. The temperature dropped amd ice formed on the ground under the operative’s feet. He slipped, his weapon clattering away as he fell hard on his back.

Shirayuki raised one hand, and a wall of ice rose between them and the fallen exorcist, blocking his view completely.

"Go," she said. "I’ll handle him."

They ran.

Behind them, they heard muffled shouting, then silence.

Shirayuki reappeared beside them a moment later looking calm. "He’s unconscious. He won’t remember what he saw."

"Thank you," Akira said.

"Don’t thank me yet. We’re not safe."

They kept moving, staying to the shadows and back alleys, until the warehouse district was far behind them.

—

Three blocks away, they finally stopped.

Satomi collapsed against a brick wall, breathing hard. "That was too close."

Ayaka leaned beside her, shaking and looking pale. "I’m completely empty. I can’t do that again."

Shirayuki crossed her arms, looking down at them both. "You’re both in terrible shape. Where are we going?"

"Satomi’s apartment," Akira said. "It’s closer and safer than Rosewood."

Satomi nodded weakly. "Ten minutes. Northeast."

"Then we need to move," Shirayuki said. "Those constructs won’t last forever. When they dissolve, the exorcists will realize they’ve been tricked."

They moved slower now, keeping to side streets and alleyways. Akira supported most of Satomi’s weight while Ayaka stumbled along beside them, barely able to keep her feet. Shirayuki walked ahead, her eyes scanning constantly for threats.

By the time they reached Satomi’s apartment building, all three of the humans were exhausted. Shirayuki, by contrast, looked as fresh as when she’d first manifested.

Akira helped Satomi to her bedroom as soon as they entered while Ayaka collapsed into an armchair in the living room. Shirayuki remained standing, looking around the apartment with mild interest.

"Impressive wards," she observed. "Beta-class work. Clean construction."

"Thank you," Satomi managed from the bedroom. "I take pride in my defenses."

"What do you need?" Akira asked, easing Satomi onto the bed.

"First aid kit. Bathroom cabinet." She winced as she shifted. "And sake from the kitchen. Top shelf."

Akira found both quickly and brought them back.

Ayaka had dragged herself to the bedroom doorway, leaning heavily against the frame. "Let me help."

She took the sake and knelt beside the bed, pouring it over a clean cloth. "This is going to hurt."

"I know." Satomi braced herself.

Ayaka pressed the sake-soaked cloth to the holy burn on Satomi’s side. Satomi hissed, her hands gripping the sheets, but she didn’t pull away.

"Sake acts as a purifier for holy damage," Ayaka explained. "Burns out the residual energy."

"Burns is right," Satomi managed through gritted teeth.

Akira watched, feeling useless. "You took that hit for us."

"Someone had to." Satomi’s breathing was ragged. "And I’m better at defense than offense. That’s why I went first."

Shirayuki moved to the other side of the bed, looking down at the injury with clinical interest. "The burn is deep. It’ll scar even with proper treatment."

"I know," Satomi said.

"I could help," Shirayuki offered. "Ice can numb the pain. Slow the spread of the holy energy."

Satomi looked at her, then nodded. "Do it."

Shirayuki placed one hand carefully near the wound, not touching it directly. Frost formed around the edges of the burn, and Satomi’s expression eased slightly as the cold numbed the pain.

"Better?" Shirayuki asked.

"Much. Thank you."

Ayaka cleaned the wound thoroughly, then began bandaging it. Her hands shook slightly from exhaustion, but she didn’t stop until the wrapping was secure.

"There." She sat back, swaying slightly. "That should hold."

Then she collapsed sideways.

Akira caught her before she hit the floor. "Ayaka!"

"I’m fine," she mumbled, but her eyes were half-closed. "Just... drained. Haven’t been this empty since the Frosted Inn."

"You need essence recovery," Akira said, lifting her carefully.

"I’ll manage. Just need to rest."

"No. You need more than rest."

From the bed, Satomi spoke up. "He’s right. Your essence is critically low. I can feel it from here."

Ayaka’s eyes opened slightly. "I know. But..."

"But nothing." Satomi’s voice was firm despite her injury. "Akira, take her home. Do what needs to be done. I’ll be fine here. The wards on this place are strong enough to keep out anything short of an Alpha-class demon."

Shirayuki nodded. "I’ll stay and guard her. If anything approaches, I’ll know."

Akira looked at Satomi, then at Shirayuki. "You’re sure?"

"I’m sure. Go," Satomi said.

He helped Ayaka to her feet. She leaned heavily against him, barely able to walk.

"Akira," Satomi said as they reached the door. "Thank you. For coming for us."

He met her eyes. "Always."

Shirayuki followed them to the door. "Keep her safe," she said quietly to Akira. "And don’t take too long. I don’t like being away from you."

"I’ll be back soon."

"You’d better be."

—

Meanwhile at the restaurant...

Sakura sat at the table, staring at her wine glass. She felt strange... foggy, like her thoughts were moving through honey.

She kept checking her phone. Akira hadn’t responded to her texts. Hadn’t called back.

"Is something wrong?" Valerius asked warmly, sounding genuinely concerned.

"I... I don’t know." Sakura rubbed her temples. "I feel odd."

"You’re just tired." Valerius refilled her wine glass. "You’ve had a long day. The festival, the game, all the excitement. Here, have a little more. It’ll help you relax."

She drank without thinking. The wine tasted sweeter than before. Warmer. It spread through her chest like liquid heat.

She didn’t notice the faint pink shimmer in the liquid.

Didn’t realize her pupils were dilating slightly.

Didn’t feel the corruption accelerating with every sip.

—

Akira supported Ayaka as they walked through the quiet streets. She was barely conscious now, her weight pressing against him with every step.

Just then, his vision was overlaid with an alert from the system.

—

[SAKURA HANAMURA: CORRUPTION COMPLETE — 100%]

[BONDED TO VALERIUS ASHFORD]

[ROUTE LOCKED TO DOMAIN HOLDER]

[CORRUPTION PERMANENT UNTIL DOMAIN BATTLE RESOLUTION]

—

Akira stared at the notification with a blank expression. Then a small smile crossed his face. "Done."

"Did you say something?" Ayaka mumbled, too weak to focus.

"Nothing." Akira adjusted his grip on her. "We’re almost there."

They kept walking, but his mind was already moving to the next step.

Sakura was gone... corrupted and bonded to Valerius. Exactly as planned.

Now all he had to do was win the Domain Battle. And take everything.