Chapter 357
Everyone happily accepted the items, except for Kaguya, who was stunned for a moment. These were more than a dozen Chaos Item, worth more than 2,000 points in total.
"Are you really going to give me everything?"
"These items are too ordinary and don't fit everyone's skills, so we have to sell them."
"That's not what I meant." Kaguya gratefully accepted it, pinching her chin to maintain her ladylike composure. "Ahem, what I meant was, aren't you afraid I'll catch up with you after all this bribery?"
Yuki looked at her, seeing the fighting spirit in Ruby's eyes, and turned his head slightly to the side.
"Pfft."
"What are you laughing at? Is it that funny?"
"I wasn't laughing. Having such lofty goals should be encouraged, why would I laugh at you?"
"You were clearly smiling, Hayasaka! Tell me, wasn't he smiling just now?!"
"Miss, I think Yuki is happy, happy for your lofty ideals," the maid said earnestly, trying to comfort her.
Kaguya looked over suspiciously and saw Yuki smiling at her, giving her an expression that said, "You're so awesome!" His eyes were full of doting affection—the kind of doting affection one has for a child who wants to be a scientist when they grow up.
Ugh, I can't take it anymore! I was actually going to thank him!
Kaguya picked up her black tea, took a big gulp, and fled back to her room as if running away. She slammed the door shut, probably going back to her big bed to writhe like a maggot.
"You idiot, can you stop teasing Kaguya-chan?" The upperclassman gave her a reproachful look, wondering why Hayasaka Ai hadn't gone over to comfort her.
"Alright, alright, she'll be fully recovered in a couple of days anyway, I'm used to her being manipulated." Yuki, crossed his legs, and said, "Frieren, let me see your stats."
"Yes."
Because the game was constantly on my side, most of the rewards were used during the game, and the final rewards were all added to my physical strength.
A level 6 physique is sufficient for most unexpected situations. Then, the sapphire is upgraded to the Arcane Grade level, and even after it's used up, magic can still be created from the void.
This is normal; what's abnormal is that there's an extra element of Witch God's Thunder within Magic Control.
"Is this the ability of Apprentice Mage?"
"Yes, thanks to you for allowing me to collect enough magic frequencies, this spell has a short wind-up and is fast, and can replace some spells." The round-faced girl nodded slightly; she didn't really care how many props she had.
"I want to save up my points to increase my Aether Affinity level, and maybe then I can unleash the Witch God's thunder."
Her purple eyes held longing, and Yuki had to admit that this was a unique advantage she possessed. Don't forget that Frieren also had the Mana Restriction and Imagination Burst.
"Senior, tell Kaguya later to exchange a level 5 defensive item for Frieren. Don't be stingy with points; it has to be unique."
Yuki immediately explained that when Frieren joined the team, he was only at the Transcendental Grade IV level, and now he's not far from reaching Monster II.
"OK."
Mai Sakurajima responded without hesitation, making Frieren feel a little embarrassed. This team was really united, with everyone sharing items and points for free. She had never heard of such harmonious teammates.
Even without Yuki Sorajima, this is still an extremely powerful player team. Apart from Shiina Hiyori, almost all of them are monster-level players. Their teamwork is excellent, and their skills complement each other. In a real fight, they would be no less powerful than the Demon Extermination Squad.
'It's not just a matter of upgrade speed, but also of mutual trust, allowing each person to further highlight their unique characteristics.'
Frieren pinched his chin. For example, Kaguya Shinomiya invested every single enhancement point into archery, Shiina Hiyori had almost no offensive capabilities.
This is definitely not normal. Every player will build a power system around a core, and devote at least 30% of their energy to all aspects of development. Just like Frieren herself, she used to have many melee skills, precisely to avoid being sold out by her teammates and still being able to survive alone.
"In other words, when acting alone, each of them has extremely distinct strengths and weaknesses, but when they are in a team, their impact far exceeds that of ordinary players."
"What are you muttering about?" Yuki glanced at the Mushroom, clapped his hands lightly, and said, "That's it for the preparations. You're free to do as you please. Those who want to go to the Borderlands can travel with Kaguya, and those who want to stay home can rest well."
"You have plans? Kitahara has been looking for you several times, aren't you going to see your old friend?" Hayasaka Ai he could finish speaking.
Ah, the people from the Diving Club.
Yuki covered his face. He really wanted to get drunk with these clowns, but he was too busy to even think about it.
We should meet Mr. Ye; he's the head of the Arbitration Council. Satoru Gojo also get in touch with Gojo Satoru; the Demon Extermination Squad is quite sophisticated, and becoming friends with them might come in handy someday. We should visit the War Orphans; as a powerful faction, the favors they owe us are very valuable. We should also pay a visit to the Valhalla of Heroes; that's related to information about the 'Lost Ones'.
And there's Levi Ackerman, and the invitation from the Iron Faith...
I'm so busy. Everything is important, and dealing with 'daytime' tasks is the lowest priority.
"Yuki, you're too busy," Hayasaka Ai said with a helpless expression.
"That's what happens when you're a boss-type personality. You like to plan everything in advance, and working hard is a basic requirement for becoming a good boss." Yuki joked, but it was also the truth.
He dislikes the so-called protagonist the most, who knows nothing, does nothing, and always manages to turn the tide at crucial moments based solely on wishful thinking.
"I have to be this busy. Do you remember what I promised you?"
Mai Sakurajima and Hayasaka were taken aback, their eyes gentle and tender as they gazed at Yuki with a somewhat dazed look.
The man kept his promise, striving desperately to fulfill the impossible vow:
I'm going to take you back.
This isn't some cheesy love confession like "I'll love you until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble." Yuki is genuinely trying to find a way out, even at the cost of delving deeper into the Reincarnation Game and facing greater risks.
Frieren and the others' expressions changed slightly. Of course, they knew about Yuki's promise. It sounded like a joke, but a man who keeps his promises is the most attractive.
Hey, that's the look in my eyes.
Yuki raised his chin with a hint of smugness. This was a great undertaking that had to be accomplished in order to achieve the ultimate goal. As long as one was still within the Reincarnation Game, there was no way to feel safe.
"Everyone will do their best." Hayasaka Ai clenched her fist, realizing her thoughts were too selfish. Then, her eyes lit up. "Senpai, why don't you tell us about that plan?"
Mai Sakurajima was in a state of high energy and didn't think too much about it. She immediately said, "While you were dealing with 'Day,' we discussed it and decided to use our authority to increase the frequency of accepting missions and narrow the gap in strength."
"Just like before?"
Before the Calamity of Blood, the senior students and others had done the same thing. As an elite team, although their gains could not compare with those of acting with Yuki, the quantity always made up for the quality.
"Yes, just like back then, but no rush. I plan to rest for three days first, and start the mission after Kaguya exchanges the items."
"Senior, I'm really happy." Yuki smiled. I help everyone, and everyone helps me; giving is never a one-sided act.
"What are you so happy about? It's everyone's wish." The senior rolled her eyes at the man and waved her hand with an air of authority. "Then that's settled. Everyone, get ready. You can start doing some work, you idiot."
Can we do what happened last night a few more times?
Yuki almost blurted out a question, but seeing the girls' enthusiasm, she shut her mouth. She had set the bar too high, making it difficult for her to speak.
"Uh, I'll go see Mr. Ye first, then I'll go to the Borderlands."
"I'll go with you." Hayasaka Ai jumped out immediately, saying expressionlessly, "You're a strong person now, you should have someone following you. Don't worry, I have the Fool's Mask, it'll be hard for them to see through my disguise after I level up."
"Hayasaka, you..."
"Please take charge from home, senior. Preparations are very important." The maid turned around, pressed her finger to Mai Sakurajima's lips, and blinked gently. "You're the vice-captain, senior; you'll surely keep your promise, won't you?"
Okay, I knew you had ulterior motives!
With a glare in her purple eyes, Mai Sakurajima realized she'd been tricked. No wonder Kaguya had stormed off in anger; instead of going after her to comfort her, she had used her super-energized state.
She gently bit her lip, keeping her promise more like a reminder to herself that the maid had behaved well and hadn't caused any trouble last night.
"Alright... time is limited, remember to prioritize official business." Mai Sakurajima practically spat out these words through gritted teeth. She was a respectable person and also had to consider the unity of the entire team.
But after thinking it over, she was still unwilling to give up, so she turned her head, wanting to remind Yuki to behave himself with her eyes, but Hayasaka Ai had already taken the first step, grabbed Yuki, turned him around, and pushed his back to walk outside.
"Let's go, let's go, time is limited, we can't delay any longer."
The series of combos flowed smoothly, a plan devised since the last return when Hayasaka deliberately left an opportunity for her senior to go on a date with Yuki. As a rational person, Hayasaka's sense of crisis was much stronger than Mai Sakurajima's, and she was more direct and straightforward, clearly knowing how to achieve her goal as quickly as possible.
If my senior doesn't move, I can't move either. Rather than getting stuck in a stalemate with her on the ring and having someone else steal my base in the end, I might as well take the initiative to help.
Hmph, just like the principles I instilled in her, it can be considered to have replaced possessiveness.
That's what fairness is.
Chapter Eight: This is Taiyi (6K)
The senior student got tricked again.
Yuki walked out of the room. Ever since he guessed that the two had reached some kind of agreement, he knew that Hayasaka Ai had been scheming against her senior.
In the end, even though Mai Sakurajima was extremely unwilling, she couldn't bring herself to say "no" for various reasons.
Well done. No wonder he's a strategist second only to Hiyori.
Yuki chuckled softly. Don't let Hayasaka Ai's cold maid appearance fool you; she's incredibly clever and possesses a ruthlessness that no one else has. If she were to turn evil, she would definitely be a formidable boss who would stop at nothing to get away with anything.
As for the relationship between the two, there's no need to worry. As long as they don't physically fight, the more intensely the two women argue, the more secretly pleased Yuki, which also fits the strategy.
Just then, a warm hand was placed in my palm.
"Yuki, am I pretty clever?" Hayasaka Ai didn't tie her hair up today; her blonde hair flowed freely, matching her light blue school uniform, making her look youthful and energetic.
Her ability to seamlessly switch between the girl-next-door and her girl-next-door persona is truly amazing.
Yuki glanced at her, shook his head, and said, "Can't you two be a little more harmonious? Why do you have to scheme against each other?"
"There's nothing I can do. My senior is too shy, she's definitely not used to it. Besides, I'm a little possessive, so neither of us will feel comfortable with her around." Hayasaka Ai stretched beautifully, fully exposing her youthful and radiant figure.
"Actually, I have a somewhat immature idea, would you like to hear it?"
"You say."
The blonde girl turned her head, her girl-next-door smile turning manic, releasing a deep resentment. "If I divided you into more pieces, I wouldn't have to rack my brains like this."
Yuki stopped in his tracks, instinctively shivering, and quickly choked the girl on the forehead.
"No yandere personalities allowed!"
"Oh, just kidding." The maid stuck out her tongue, then returned to normal, a little smug. "Isn't it fun being with me? It's like having several girlfriends at the same time. And don't forget I also have the Fool's Mask; I can change my appearance anytime."
Oh, it really is.
Yuki suddenly discovered a blind spot. Some people say that dating a voice actress is a huge win, and Hayasaka Ai is an enhanced version. Not to mention her voice, she can switch her appearance and personality at will.
"It seems like we made a profit."
"So could you please give up your harem plan? Having me is enough."
"What harem plan? You can't just slander someone out of thin air." Yuki became alert; this maid was trying to trick him into revealing information.
"Huh? Really not?" A bright little face suddenly appeared in front of me, nose to nose.
"Really not." Yuki looked away.
"You seem guilty, but it's alright, I can physically stop your plan."
"W-What are you going to do?" Yuki instinctively squeezed his legs together.
"You'll find out later." Hayasaka snorted, tossed her head, and walked Lightness ahead.
According to efficiency theory, Yuki should have appeared around those people instantly, but he agreed to Hayasaka Ai's request, left the apartment, and walked along the road towards Central Park, taking the opportunity to inspect his territory.
There weren't many players in the Outpost, making it look rather desolate compared to the vast city. Most of them were uneasy, having clearly received news of the complete disappearance of 'Day' after a night of turmoil.
This is different from the previous gangs. Shinomiya Oko was a big shot with a lot of influence back in the Earth era. He was a true veteran player, and his forces were even able to rival the Arbitration Council, which made most players wait and see.
Who knew that the civil war would come to an abrupt end while it was still in the preparatory stage, and the psychological impact was quite terrifying.
The Outpost is not a lawless place; there are 'gods' watching over everything. The sword hanging overhead is the most terrifying thing, and no one knows when it will fall.
They were powerless to resist; dozens of powerful players were silently wiped out—a force they simply could not withstand.
They cannot escape; the restrictions are absolute. No matter how many points you have, you must return to the Outpost within 48 hours.
They are not even allowed to collude with outsiders, and while it's not absolute that they are not allowed to reveal information about their faction, no one wants to violate that rule.
"The unknown is my way of ruling. I'll leave a few words here, and the rest is up to your imagination."
Yuki sat on a bench and saw a dozen or so players kneeling in the middle of the square. Some were shirtless and bound with thorns, while others lay on the ground, whipping each other.
This isn't some kind of performance art; it's some players atoning for their sins. You can tell from their full-body tattoos that they didn't come from good backgrounds.
"The most crucial thing is that you have no presence. You neither show up, nor do you assign tasks, nor do you exploit anyone. There's no need for anyone to oppose you." Hayasaka Ai walked over Lightness and handed over a chocolate ice cream cone. This thing is also a consumable item, which can never be finished within a specified time.
It offers absolute mystery and an unspoken sense of the unknown, without infringing on any player's core interests, and aligns with the habits of most players.
Please abide by the laws.
This is a rule that most players are already used to. Don't forget that they also need to follow the rules in real life. Except for a very few crazy people, players do not recklessly challenge the order.
You could say it's a self-protective act of hiding one's identity, but because of habit, there's not much resistance to it.
"This is the true god." Yuki held an ice cream cone, arrogantly raising his chin. "If you go to a temple to worship Buddha, Buddha won't respond, much less speak to you, but believers will always restrain themselves, such as not killing, not eating meat, and doing good deeds, as if doing so will bring good results."
"Hmm? You even study theology?" Hayasaka Ai licked her ice cream cone, feeling it was odd that the two of them were discussing theology while holding ice cream cones.