Chapter 158
As he walked, Yuki stopped and stood amidst the bones scattered on the ground, his eyes widening slightly as if he had witnessed a spectacle.
Lightning roared, and a crack appeared in the steep, wall-like mountain, a thousand meters high, stretching from the top to the ground, wide enough for two people to walk side by side. However, in the context of the massive mountain, it was just a crack. Upon closer inspection, the cut was found to be perfectly smooth.
It felt like being cut in two by a sword.
Yuki raised his right hand and swung it downwards. From his perspective, it really looked like a sword cleaving through something, which made him feel a surge of emotion.
If it really split open, being able to do that would be godlike, even if he has reached the Transcendental Grade, he can only imagine it in his dreams.
"What are you scribbling on?" Mai Sakurajima felt this pig-headed guy was having a bit of a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) episode, and raised her hand to ask, "According to the clues, this should be the exit. When do we leave?"
"Now, it's about time. Let's head back to Izu using my coordinates."
Only a fool would return to the same spot; Yuki never intended to help anyway.
"I'm fine." The senior student, who had skipped work to come out, turned around and asked, "Kaguya-chan, what about you?"
Kaguya Shinomiya shook her aching hands as she drew the giant skeleton, feeling exhausted and panicked.
Can I go home?
"No, there are definitely players guarding the area, and their return could cause spatial fluctuations." Yuki refused without even thinking.
Hayasaka Ai had taken leave to travel well in advance, as it would arouse suspicion if she suddenly returned home. The maid was also prepared to open up at any time, as it would be more convenient for her to be alone.
But I have so much to say to her.
Kaguya pursed her lips, knowing that now was not the time to be willful, and could only keep up with the two of them.
Like the broken bridge in the Ruined Battlefield, the Yuki around and realized that this was not a good place to ambush.
It was so clean, not even a trace of ashes remained. The walls on both sides were as smooth as a mirror, and the more you looked at them, the more they resembled the marks left by a sharp weapon. When you looked up again, the sky had changed its appearance.
The lightning and darkness were gone, replaced by a deep blue like the sea, but visibility was limited to only a few meters, like looking at the sky from the bottom of a well, unable to see anything else.
I really want to climb up and take a look.
Yuki felt a strange urge to imagine the view from the mountaintop. Could it be a breathtaking scene of thunder and lightning on one side and a cloudless sky on the other?
But even if you think about it, it's not worth it. This mountain range is a thousand meters high, and the smooth rock walls on both sides don't even have any handholds. How could anyone possibly climb it?
"Senior, do you remember how uncomfortable those people seemed just now?"
"I'm really not used to it." Mai Sakurajima was walking ahead, slowed down. Yuki wasn't stealing glances at her black stockings, but instead looked up at the sky.
"I secretly observed them when they entered the random instance, and they all looked like they'd seen a ghost. They probably weren't faking it."
At that time, they didn't know they were being watched, so of course they wouldn't pretend.
Yuki silent. Those seven players must have experienced many random dungeons, yet they hadn't encountered anything of the same type before, which didn't make sense.
And didn't the Tyrant say that random quests would also involve encountering dungeon enemies? I haven't encountered any in either of my two attempts, and they've all been battlefield ruins.
Yuki licked his lips, and suddenly a bold idea came to him:
Could it be that my random quests are different from those of regular players?
I don't know, this is just a guess, because these random tasks aren't targeted at anything.
So what information is it trying to convey?
Yuki turned to look behind him; beyond the narrow gap lay only darkness, giving him a desire to go back and take a look.
"What are you standing there for? Aren't you going to return?" Kaguya Shinomiya appeared in sight, blinking with some confusion.
This Yuki from a dream, and he nodded subconsciously.
"Yes, back."
Just a few meters ahead was the end of the canyon. Yuki saw the two girls' figures disappear in a flash of light and followed them. In the blurry sensation of spatial shifting, strange sounds entered his ears.
Click click click click.
It sounded like countless joints grinding together, which made him turn around in confusion. In the instant his vision was blocked by space, something pale appeared at the end of the canyon.
It was a massive skull, its head drooping, its empty eye sockets pressed against the gaps, within which flickered a ghostly blue Soul Flame.
She was looking at him.
Chapter Seventeen: Kaguya and Mai Sakurajima (4K)
The world spins, time and space shift.
Returning to Izu from the Bone Plains in an instant, the azure sea and moist sea breeze felt like stepping into paradise.
Yeah, a cheap rental room.
Kaguya Shinomiya looked around with some curiosity. She had never stepped into such an inexpensive house before, and had only ever seen it on television.
That bed would probably fall off if you rolled over even twice, and the table is too small; it can't even hold dessert. Wait, is this the bathroom? It's hard to even turn around.
Enjoying the service of a state banquet-level chef and sleeping in a bed almost the size of the living room, Kaguya was quite amazed, but she didn't show the slightest disdain.
The size of the room doesn't matter at all; what matters is who lives there.
She turned her head and looked at the desk by the window. Yuki was quickly flipping through her sketchbook. She didn't know what was wrong with this man. After returning, he didn't say a word and immediately entered a mental storm. She had no idea what he was thinking.
Well, at least that workaholic attitude explains why he's so strong.
Kaguya seemed to be targeting him. Just then, a teacup was placed in front of her; it turned out that Mai Sakurajima had brewed the tea.
He's a strange guy. After returning, he went straight to boil water and make tea without saying a word, acting more casually than if he were at home.
Wait, her own home? Are they living together? Humph, what a shameless woman.
"Kaguya-chan, I always feel like you're secretly cursing me in your heart." Mai Sakurajima, holding a tray with a gentle expression.
"No, you saved me, I should respect you." Yoruichi, remaining cold as she asked casually, "Do you usually live here?"
"I have a job, so I come here occasionally."
"Then how can we stay? There are no guest rooms here, and there's only one bed."
"Of course..." Mai Sakurajima propped her head up with her hand, parting her full lips, "To sleep together."
Pfft, cough cough cough.
Kaguya almost spat out her tea. She remembered that Mai Sakurajima was also a high school student, right? How could she, how could she violate the school rules like this? This, this is absolutely not allowed at Shuchiin!
"Just kidding, Yuki always sleeps on the sofa." Mai Sakurajima couldn't help but laugh; this ice queen was indeed quite interesting.
Oh no, I was too curious.
Kaguya realized she had given herself away and her brain was racing to save face, Mai Sakurajima flashed that same strange smile again.
"Of course he also wanted to launch a night raid."
"You, you all."
"But Hayasaka -san is keeping a close eye on us; there won't be any chance."
The beauty, whose iceberg-like demeanor had just melted, blinked and forgot to save face. How did she end up bringing up Hayasaka? Then Mai Sakurajima's next sentence made her eyes twitch wildly.
"I forgot to remind you, Hayasaka -san is monitoring everything at all times; she uses all her hacking skills for this purpose."
Ah?
Kaguya looked around blankly, as if she heard the arrogant laughter of a maid. Her imperial upbringing told her that she couldn't delve into this topic now, or she would lose all the dignity she had left as a mistress.
She picked up the teacup, formatted her previous words, and transformed back into a statue. "Mai Sakurajima, your tea is quite good. Could you teach me sometime?"
Wait, directly erasing memories and skipping topics you can't handle—is that what genius is?
Mai Sakurajima was also surprised. She had intended to tease the other person, but instead of changing the subject, Kaguya Shinomiya simply deleted the message.
"You don't need to learn it." Mai Sakurajima went along with the logic, having heard from Hayasaka Ai that there were dozens of people taking care of this young lady.
"In the Reincarnation Game, no one takes care of me. It would be much more convenient if I knew how to brew tea myself when I wanted to drink it. Besides, I cannot accept your care with a clear conscience, regardless of my seniority or ability."
Her voice was still cool and clear, but Mai Sakurajima found it pleasant to listen to, realizing that this legendary young lady of the Shinomiya family was a nice person.
Despite his stubbornness and arrogance, he can rationally assess his own position, which is what people commonly call having a good sense of self-awareness.
Mai Sakurajima added some water and asked softly, "No problem, but what about Hayasaka- san?"
This question made Kaguya frown slightly. Some habits are hard to break. She had to rely on that maid for many things, but she couldn't imagine herself sitting with Yuki while Hayasaka Ai served her tea and water.
Besides owing Hayasaka Ai, it's also because this team has only one core member: the man by the desk.
"It depends on Hayasaka's attitude, but having experienced both scenarios myself, I can accept whatever choice she makes."
[Kaguya Shinomiya has been severely beaten by the Reincarnation Game. Although she didn't turn evil, her character design has changed quite a bit, and she should highlight the keyword 'rationality'.]
The senior student recalled Yuki's assessment, agreed with his statement, and breathed a sigh of relief.
The team can have another rational companion, but a rich young lady like her can't stand it.
"Mai Sakurajima- senpai, has he always been this hardworking? Preparing for everything in advance."
Uh, your flattery went a little overboard.
Looking at Kaguya, who seemed determined to study hard, Mai Sakurajima didn't know how to respond. Yuki was certainly a hard-working person, but she was used to seeing him as a lazy bum after every return.
"He's the kind of person who, well, gives it his all when it's time to work hard, but he doesn't put too much pressure on himself."
"Like the best students, studying diligently when they study and relaxing completely when they relax?"
Why do I get the feeling that the deeper your relationship with someone, the better you become at flattering them?
Mai Sakurajima's heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly asked, "You admire him a lot?"
"Isn't that strength and decisiveness something worth learning from and admiring?" Kaguya retorted matter-of-factly, immediately silencing her senior.
Unfortunately, the timing of their interactions was different. When Kaguya met Yuki, he had already reached maturity, leaving behind only his most memorable moments.
"He... is actually a very complex person; you'll understand as you get to know him."
"I know." The ice-sculpted girl looked away, trying to maintain her cold voice. "Like your little game, it looks really strange."
Mini-games?
Mai Sakurajima paused for a moment, then blushed slightly, picked up the kettle, and left.
"Please sit down, I'll go boil some more water."
Phew, we've won one round. This Mai Sakurajima isn't invincible.
Kaguya breathed a sigh of relief, having just fully experienced the significance of the title 'senpai', and looked at Yuki with a newfound interest.
Powerful, decisive, and ruthless, yet when facing Mai Sakurajima, he acts like an ordinary person. Yuki Sorajima, how many faces do you truly have?
Is that it?
Yuki gently tapped his sketchbook, automatically ignoring the gaze behind him. The last 'clicking' sound and the image of the massive skull lingered in his mind, and he immediately began researching after returning.
Looking at the sketchbook, at the monster with two spiral horns on its head, resembling a giant dragon, Yuki rubbed his temples. This feature was the same as the one he had last seen.
If it wasn't a hallucination, then this thing was spying on me at the end. But if it was alive and suddenly jumped out during the battle, it could probably crush all the players.
Using the small figures drawn by Kaguya Shinomiya as a reference, this skeletal dragon is at least twenty meters tall; such a large size could not possibly hide.
"There's something wrong with that skeletal battlefield. When it gets dark, it blocks the Demon Eye's vision of souls, making it impossible for me to confirm whether those skeletons are dead or alive. Could it just be a facade, awake but too afraid to come out?"
Yuki stroked his chin. This information actually matched what the Tyrant had said, but the second point was even stranger:
That feeling... wasn't hostile at all; it even evoked a sense of submission and nostalgia?
Yuki was a little confused. Bone Dragons didn't even have eyes, so confirming their presence through their eyes was out of the question; it was just a gut feeling.
Strange, a random task has left me completely confused; it was supposed to be a simple task.
My initial goal was to kill people, the more the better, and I've achieved that goal. I also picked up a strange golden pen along the way, and then I was rewarded with 3 enhancement points when I left the dungeon.
With the addition of soul energy, they made a fortune.
Yuki pushed the sketchbook aside; he didn't like to dwell on things, and if he couldn't figure something out, he simply stopped thinking about it.
"Last time it was a speed race, this time it's hacking and slashing. It's definitely more exciting than regular missions."
He had three enhancement points, Kaguya got one, while the senior, being a 'freeloader,' didn't get any, but picking up a Chaos-level Lightning Orb meant her trip wasn't a complete waste.
Then, as expected of a legitimate organization, when they realized there was no hope of survival, they did everything in their power to destroy their own equipment, never letting the enemy benefit from it.
After cleaning up the battlefield, Yuki didn't pick up many items, so he wasn't too disappointed. But at this point, he no longer cared about ordinary Chaos Item; he was only interested in those above the Transcendental Grade level, or those that might be useful.
Moreover, there's a prophet in 'Daytime' who believes that the more he collects, the heavier the karmic entanglement becomes, and he certainly doesn't want to be investigated.