I don't suppose he has some instinct not to take it off even for a shower or something, does he?

[Ren smiles very briefly--it's just physically impossible for him to get through a conversation without trying to lighten things up a little--but he quickly sobers up again to make it clear that he is taking this seriously despite that.]

I don't intend to do anything that would endanger him. He's my shinki, and more than that, I like he a lot as a person already. I'll come up with something to tell Eric that will keep all of us safe.