Chapter 427

This is a bit like this: you return from a business trip, and as soon as you walk through the door, you receive a special gift. Before you can even figure out what's going on, the gift itself is back.

What a temptation to return to the village! The atmosphere of a chaotic battlefield is so strong.

This Taiyi from Frieren. Back then, everyone was resting and had plenty of time to get to know each other. They knew Mona, but they didn't communicate at all, which caused a lot of trouble.

Should I act as if nothing happened and greet them with a smile? Or should I feign being killed by the Balrog to gain sympathy?

Reason prevailed, and he began frantically searching for a solution. Just then, it was Mona broke the silence.

"Brother, you're back so soon? Are you hurt?"

Elder brother?

This address caused the senior student and Hayasaka to exchange a glance. There was no cunning in Mona's eyes, only innocence and worry, just like an eleven or twelve-year-old girl.

Injuried?

This is the second key phrase. Hayasaka stepped forward and asked preemptively, "Yuki, where did you go?"

Wonderful! No wonder it's Mona.

Yuki almost gave her a thumbs up. Her persuasive skills were second only to his own. In just one sentence, she clarified their relationship and also diverted attention, instantly easing the atmosphere of accusation.

"Fortunately, Deathwing wanted to lead a team to surround and kill me, but I anticipated this and managed to escape in time."

"Deathwing? You went to the Aether Particles?" Just that one short sentence was enough to make Frieren jump out. She was a native of the Aether Particles and had become homeless because of the 'Monster Front'.

"Well, I'm doing some preliminary Reconnaissance before you guys come back. The 'Aether Particles' is a stage I deliberately left behind. By the way, Frieren, you'll be coming back with me later." Yuki said calmly, his face full of thought, but he secretly glanced at his senior's expression.

"Go back?" Frieren, who had just set up a small stool and prepared some melon seeds, immediately lost interest in watching the show. "The Aether Particles are very dangerous. The various forces both cooperate and oppose each other, so it's difficult to use them."

"The foreshadowing is ready. Mona sent me intelligence; I know which forces are irreconcilable. With just a gentle push, they'll start fighting."

"Yes, yes, Miss Frieren, please take a look at this intelligence and verify its authenticity." Mona stood up abruptly and brought over a large stack of documents.

"Uh, I used to be a mid-to-low-level player, how would I know the secrets between the major factions?"

Mai Sakurajima propped her head up with her hand, giving him a suspicious look. She opened her mouth several times, then quietly shut up again; she couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Wait, we were supposed to be condemning this idiot, how did the topic suddenly veer off course?

She glanced at Hayasaka, who was equally helpless. It would be difficult to Yuki. This idiot was too clever; he could deliberately steer the conversation away from danger.

"Hiyori, have you noticed that Mena Ryougi is deliberately steering the conversation for him?"

"Huh? I was just too engrossed in my book." Hiyori had obviously noticed some of the subtle movements, but pretended not to know anything.

"Hmph, this is definitely not over. Such a huge surprise for our return!" Hayasaka Ai shouted in the Reading Space, casually adding, "You guys go to the shopping street later, I'll give him a good interrogation."

"Hayasaka -san, you're not thinking of taking advantage of my misfortune, are you?"

"How could that be? Senior, we're on the same page. Besides, we've already discussed this. It was you last time, now it's my turn."

"I never agreed to that!"

You little punk, trying to use this opportunity to settle scores with me? I'm the man who turned the Reincarnation Game into a strategy game!

While analyzing the situation, Yuki glanced at the group out of the corner of her eye. Seeing their blank expressions, she knew that her seniors were having a meeting in the Reading Space.

No, there's nothing between me and Mona, why am I being so secretive?

He also sensed something was wrong, but he couldn't care less now. He predicted that his senior's next move was likely not going to let him go. To put it simply, Frieren and the others had to accept it reluctantly. They had only been gone for less than a month when Mona suddenly appeared.

If we don't condemn this properly, who will be next?

Hmm, we can't let you get away with this; it's a matter of face for a king of the harem.

"Ahem, Frieren, come with me. Didn't you used to hang out in the 'Sage's Tower' before?"

"Now? Aren't you afraid Deathwing will be lying in wait?"

"Don't worry, I have this ability." Yuki briefly described his ability, and not only Frieren, but everyone else was astonished and opened their mouths wide.

By infiltrating other factions' Outpost through devouring their permissions, and then forcibly escaping in full pioneer form—isn't that invincible?

They can come and go as they please. Other people's Outpost have become toilets, even simpler than a dungeon. At least Yuki can't forcibly leave the dungeon.

"This... this isn't someone who can come and go without a trace, killing whomever they want, and no one can stop them!"

"I paid the price of being targeted by the Reincarnation Game, so naturally I should reap the benefits. It's perfectly fair." Yuki picked up a cup of coffee from the table, took a sip, and said, "Senpai, I never imagined that I, who was so pathetic under the Crimson Moon, would one day become the sharpest blade in the Reincarnation Game."

A strategic meeting was being held over there. Upon hearing this, Mai Sakurajima paused for a moment, unpleasant memories flooding back, and nodded slightly.

The cost was heavy, but the gains were horrifying. That was indeed fair. If Yuki were a murderous maniac, probably no faction in the Borderlands could withstand his devastation.

If once isn't enough, try a hundred times. Keep going back and forth until one day you've wiped out the enemy.

"You're going now? Aren't you going to rest for a bit?" The girl's eyes were like crescent moons, her purple pupils filled with tenderness. "We've cleared two dungeons in a row this time, and I have so much to tell you."

Her voice was gentle and tender, not cloyingly sweet, but full of longing. Yuki immediately swayed. He missed his senior's curry and the smooth feel of her black stockings.

No rush. First, let them get to know Mona properly so they can avoid trouble at home. That little devil isn't a good person either; her innocent eyes hide cunning and eagerness.

"Frieren and I will be back in a few days. You two should get some rest. Mona, you should stay home too. Remember to 'get along well' with your seniors." Yuki emphasized the word "get along well" in his voice.

Huh? You're not afraid I'll cause trouble?

Mona was somewhat surprised. By their second meeting, she had already labeled the members of this team, such as 'the unapproachable empress,' 'the rebellious blond loser,' 'the spectator,' and 'the black-haired idiot,' among others.

This means they've truly accepted me. Well, after all, I can't avoid them; we'll have to fight side-by-side sooner or later.

"Yes, I will definitely get along well with my sisters." Mona nodded obediently.

This straightforwardness made Yuki a little uneasy, but maintaining stability in the home front was also important, so he could only trust Mona's emotional intelligence and IQ.

The small group had already formed, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to add new members. That's where the Reincarnation Game comes in. Like Frieren, after fighting side by side in two dungeons, he was completely integrated into the team.

"Alright, I'll go take care of it now. Maybe I can make it in time for the next dungeon." Yuki stretched out his hand. Frieren, who was kneeling, hesitated for a moment, placed his hand in his palm, and then took out his magic wand.

No one knew the full picture of the plan, but they were clear that every step Yuki was crucial. Mai Sakurajima naturally didn't stop them, and watched the two leave before turning back.

"Shall we take a shower together? Or have a meeting?"

"Something's not right, Mai Sakurajima- senpai. I have a feeling that I've been tricked by that guy," Kaguya Shinomiya suddenly said, feeling increasingly uneasy.

We agreed to use this as an opportunity to elaborate, and that we wouldn't be allowed to arbitrarily increase the number of participants again, but the topic was never developed further.

"Who among us hasn't been tricked by that idiot?" Mai Sakurajima lightly, looking at the obedient Lori: "Mona, what do you think of Yuki?"

The girl's eyes darted around, and she decided to tell the truth, "A complex, contradictory, but most reliable, and almost omnipotent older brother!"

Mai's answer was perfectly watertight, without even a hint of personal emotion. Mai Sakurajima and Hayasaka exchanged a glance, automatically ignoring the title of "older brother."

They were all too familiar with this kind of assessment; you could say that everyone in the living room fell into the 'trap' because of it.

Well, here comes another one.

Chapter Six: Killing is the only option

"Yuki, I think you're downplaying the real issues and using me to escape trial."

Aether Particles, public teleportation crystals in Sage Town.

Frieren held his staff, looking around at the familiar yet unfamiliar scenery, and muttered to himself.

"Nonsense, how could my senior possibly be willing to judge me?" Yuki scoffed, feeling the light sweep over his body.

Just like the first time, the public crystal will scan whether the entrant belongs to the Aether Particles, to prevent anyone from betraying their own faction and attracting players from other factions.

Of course, for true big shots, this is a valuable ally, and such people are impossible to enter through the public crystal.

The town is an outer outpost of the Sage's Tower. Although it is already within the territory, other Aether Particles players can come and go freely. The true core tower is like the Tenshukaku Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, which cannot be entered by players who are not in a team.

'But they really do want to settle scores with you, and there's nothing wrong with that.'

Frieren opened her mouth slightly. The addition of a new member to the team wasn't just related to Yuki; each member's interpersonal relationships would change. For example, it took her two dungeons to become good friends with everyone.

Even now, given her aloof nature, she would consider things from the team's perspective.

"That Mena Ryougi seems pretty clever, and the senior students are good people too. After spending a few days together and getting to know each other, there shouldn't be any problems."

"Frieren, you've truly integrated into the team." Yuki looked pleased. The girl beside him wasn't some android doll of the 'Mechanical Believers,' and their relationship was more important than anything else, except for him.

"Then please find fewer new teammates, so I have to adapt every time."

"Look at what you're saying. Mona went through many tests and was carefully selected, okay? I'm not going to find a few troublemakers for you to tear each other apart."

"I'm curious, what's your opinion on Mena Ryougi?" Frieren lowered his voice, becoming increasingly gossipy under Hiyori's influence.

How can we interpret it?

Yuki felt there was something more to the words. After thinking about it carefully, he couldn't come up with any specific character labels. The first image that came to mind was from "Nighttime Murder," where Mona was lying on the bed reading a book while swinging her legs.

Her slender legs were encased in white over-the-knee socks, small and well-proportioned, with delicate ankles adorned with ice cream cones the size of a palm.

As he was thinking, he noticed that Frieren's eyes had lost their luster, and he was looking at something dirty with a smug gaze. He quickly looked away.

"That's not important, we're in combat mode right now."

He was surrounded by players with a Western fantasy style, but humans were the majority. As Frieren added, he also noticed that the public crystals were not freely accessible.

Each major faction has a shared crystal with the same frequency. Ordinary players go to the same place and return to the same place, unlike Yuki who can choose freely.

If he wanted, he could even go straight to the Doom Volcano of the 'Monster Front'.

Not long after, the two arrived at the central square, where some players were tearing down wanted posters from the bulletin board. Yuki peeked out and saw that they were indeed looking for the 'Hidden Sage'.

In less than a day, the news had spread throughout 'Aether Particles'. Everyone knew that Deathwing had suffered a huge loss, not only giving away a Monster IV Balrog for nothing, but also that hundreds of players had checked every speck of dust around the battlefield, yet still found nothing.

The person seemed to have vanished into thin air; they couldn't be found even after digging three feet into the ground. Most of the players in the town were amused and gloating.

"There's a lot of hatred between the two sides, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend," Frieren explained quietly from the side, glancing around. "If the reward is good enough, the players here wouldn't mind selling you out."

The rewards are certainly sufficient; in this faction that adheres to the Dark Forest theory, loyalty is too much of a luxury that low- to mid-level players cannot afford.

"What about the opinions of the higher-ups?"

"I don't know them, they'll probably just wait and see. Your life or death doesn't really matter, but it's always good to kill a few more players from the 'Monster Front' or 'Great Tomb'."

Frieren had been in this area before and knew the Monster Front's vengeful nature; even if you hid in the opposing camp, you wouldn't escape their pursuit. As for seeking refuge?

Sorry, players at the Transcendental Grade level are not qualified yet.

But things are different now. I've already reached Monster II in just three dungeons. If I had this kind of strength before, the Sage's Tower would have come knocking on my door asking to join.

She puffed out her full chest, enjoying the exhilarating feeling of rapidly leveling up.

"These groups have been fighting all along, but players at Monster III and above have been relatively few to clash with each other."

"Why?" Yuki, quite curious.

"They're afraid of being taken advantage of by the remaining 'Adventurer's Guild' and 'Knights' Order,' and there are also many small factions composed of Monster IV players. The Sloth Bishop you mentioned earlier belongs to this category."

With seven factions, each a potential enemy and ally, and their entrenched power structures intertwined, wouldn't a full-scale war be inevitable?

Yuki pondered for a moment, looked around, and sighed softly.

That won't do. If things are too peaceful, how can the Judge continuously commit troops? If they don't disperse their forces, how can I withstand the attacks with the cards I have?

Yuki wanted was a faction war, a faction war involving the Judge. He couldn't let Valhalla do it, so he had to drag the 'neutral' faction into it.

"No rush, I have plenty of ways to make them fight. Deathwing will call for reinforcements, and once those reinforcements are exposed, all the remaining factions will unite against him."

"Who?"

"The Judge, aren't they looking for me? I can come and go as I please with these Aether Particles. I don't mind helping the 'Sage's Tower.' Once the Judge get involved, the stage is set." Yuki wagged his finger and yawned.

"Frieren, didn't you used to hang out here? Find a comfortable spot to sit and give the Judge some time to react."

Is this even trying to make my presence known?

Frieren isn't stupid. An ordinary player would never dare to get involved in such trouble; it would be tantamount to suicide. But she's already moved, so what trouble is there to be afraid of?

"There's a nice restaurant over there, come with me."

The harp emitted melodious sounds, mingled with the sounds of drinking games and boisterous toasts, and the Dwarves swiftly roasted chunks of meat. The monster flesh and blood brought back from the dungeon released a rich aroma through their special cooking methods.

The halflings and elves feasted, spilling ale onto the table, which was then evaporated by the charcoal fire, making the air slightly intoxicating.

Dungeon Gourmet?

Yuki glanced at the restaurant's name; no wonder the Dwarves grilling meat looked familiar. He looked around but didn't see the expressive elf named Marcille.

Indeed, each faction has its own unique customs and traditions.