Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

[The auction ends here. However, it will continue without anchoring. The sellers will present their items, and one of our team will keep the bidding on. Worry not, it will be monitored by the master of the auction.

Those who are invited to the after-party shall attend the party, while others participate in the auction. You should be able to see a helpline number on your television screen, and you can call us by dialing the number in the remote for further assistance.

We would be more than happy to help you. Don't use your personal phone to call us; the call won't get through, and you wouldn't want to risk revealing your identity by contacting us in private.

Happy bidding, and see you at the party! Your room's door will be knocked on in a few seconds. Follow the instructions, or you will be kicked out.]

After that, the screen with Kim on it turned off, and it was replaced by the sellers presenting their items.

"How could she say something like 'you will be kicked out' with a cheerful smile on her face?" Rias asked in disbelief.

"That's Kim for you. She personally doesn't care about the auction or anyone present at the event. She simply follows Lu Bela's orders. She is naturally programmed to be the best."

Rias squinted her eyes and said, "I don't want to start anything, but you seem to know a lot about her too. Did you research about her too?"

"No, Lu Bela told me. She once asked me if I wanted a bodyguard-- equipped with the best weapons and gadgets in the market available in the world-- and I turned her down. Obviously, I need no one to protect me.

Then she went to tell me about Kim. Lu Bela personally designed her. From her hair to her insides. Usually, they would make bodies in a program on their special computer. Sometimes they would just let the AI make one.

But Kim was handmade by Lu Bela. Of course, a person named Kim always existed and was Lu Bela's friend. But After Kim decided to select her gender and become a female, she asked Lu Bela to design her from scratch."

"Doesn't that mean the ancient civilization was actually more advanced than the current one?" Alice asked curiously.

"Yeah, it was. But everything that was lost is now called a lost civilization."

KNOCK~ KNOCK!~!

"They are here." Rudy got off the bed and walked to the door while saying, "I wonder what their next game is."

He opened the door and was greeted by the guard, who was asked to guard the room from the outside.

The guard handed three bags to Rudy and said, "This is the dress master has asked you to wear."

"Oh…"

Rudy took the bag and looked inside them to see black clothes.

"Will everyone have the same clothes?" he asked.

"No. There are various categories, and only the most valuable guests of the master are allowed to wear black clothes."

"Touche."

"She also asked me to say this if you asked me about the size of the clothes."

"I was going to ask you that, so go ahead and answer," he said calmly.

"Master herself designed the clothes for you and your… companions. She looks forward to meeting you at the hall."

"About that… where is this hall?"

"I would accompany you there."

"Alright. Give me a few minutes to change clothes."

Rudy closed the door and handed the bag to the girls.

"Here, your dress."

They all opened the bags and placed their clothes on the bed. Rudy had a black coat-like suit, and its design was custom, unlike anything Rudy had seen or worn before.

The girls had black dresses, but different. Alice has a party dress with nets for sleeves and her neck area. There was an attachment net for the back in case Alice felt uncomfortable with only the laces on her back.

Rias' dress was different from Alice's, and it was close to a traditional vampirish party dress. There was also a black mask bundled in the bags, which was the same for Alice and Rias but slightly different for Rudy.

"She truly knows her stuff…" Rias muttered. "I wasn't going to wear it if it was a normal dress the humans wear, but now I will have to wear it."

"Yes." Rudy sat on the chair facing the bed and the girls and said, "Please wear it."

"Umm…" Alice fidgeted a little and said, "What's the party about?"

"Probably dancing and drinking."

"Do I have to come? Is it okay if I stay here? I don't like parties with strangers."

"Do you want me to drop you home? It's already 4 AM, and the party will run till morning."

"When will you visit the castle?"

"After the party. But I will have to find a solution to keep it above sea level. We won't move in there for another day."

Rudy paused for a few seconds to gather his thoughts and then said, "I will take you there after you wake up at night."

"Okay," she nodded. "Take me home."

"In that case, I should go home as well," Rias quipped.

"Huh? Why?"

"There is no need for me at the party. Why would I dance in front of strangers? I am sure Jane is currently thinking of the same thing. I suggest you don't go to the party here. We have already done what we came here for," she stated.

"I have things to discuss with Lu Bela. And meet Lilim. I haven't met her ever since I… time-traveled. I don't really know what to call the event," he sighed.

"What's wrong with calling it time travel?" Alice wondered.

"It feels… unoriginal. I am still not sure if I actually time traveled or simply regained my memories of that event."

"Even if that's the case, doesn't that mean you time-traveled and experienced everything?"

"Yes, of course. I am not saying I didn't time travel. But… after my battle with Asura… something strange happened before I returned to this timeline. I don't know how to explain it, but it felt like I was living different lives at the same time. Makes me wonder if I am the Rudy from the past life or simply gained his memories."