Chapter 433
She wore a slightly cute pink swimsuit, her flat figure contrasting sharply with that of Frieren next to her.
Yuki didn't speak, but took a soft breath, raised his hand to unbutton his shirt, revealing well-proportioned muscles.
"What... what are you doing?"
"Let's change clothes and fight back. My black trench coat doesn't suit you guys at all."
"You're changing here?"
"What else?" Yuki silently began to take off his pants, seeing Kaguya's face instantly turn red, and then another handful of seawater came from his side and back.
"What are you all waiting for? Let's settle our scores!" This was Hiyori's attack; she seized the opportunity and threw Yuki into a panic.
The seawater surged in from all directions, without any Transcendental Grade power. Only the girls laughed and bent down to splash water. However, Yuki was more flustered than when facing the Judge' encirclement. He was immediately soaked, and his two hands were not enough to block the water.
"Hey, wait a minute, are you forcing me to act like a thug?"
"Who hit me on the head? No physical attacks allowed!"
"Mona, why are you taking off my pants? I didn't mean to actually take them off."
Yuki struggled to hold on, writhing in impotent rage, and fled in a disheveled state. Finally, gritting his teeth, he simply tore his clothes to shreds.
"Run! This idiot's gone berserk!"
Mai Sakurajima exclaimed in surprise and led the others to run into the sea. Yuki clutched his knees and gasped for breath.
Six heads were submerged in the seawater, their purple, black, and gold hair clinging to their rosy cheeks. Water droplets dripped from their wet hair, slid across their fair skin, and disappeared into the valleys, some flat and some deep.
"You guys conspired to gang up on me, didn't you?"
"Mr. Yuki, your strategy of dividing and weakening others won't work today."
Hiyori's words made Yuki blush. This was his basic tactic in the strategy game, but he hadn't expected that someone would see through it so early.
"Yuki, go change your clothes. You can't really become a pervert, can you?" Hayasaka Ai suddenly tossed a pair of beach shorts at you, adding, "Of course, I don't mind."
"Hayasaka- san, you didn't need to add that last sentence, did you?" Mai Sakurajima glared at the increasingly shameless maid, not noticing that Frieren's head was almost submerged in water.
"Hurry up, a sunset has been set up here. Otherwise, you won't have a chance for revenge."
Yuki nodded emphatically, turned and left, only to return a few minutes later, only to find that he had been tricked by his senior again.
Laughter filled the air as the group played by themselves, seemingly forgetting that it was a 'gift' for Jiecheng, and they were all thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Mai Sakurajima and Mona, Frieren and Hiyori, along with Kaguya and her servant, the six of them divided into three teams, were engaged in a fierce battle in the sea. The snow-white figures chased each other, and the surging waves were no less impressive than the tides.
Yuki stood on the beach for a while, then quietly retreated back to the parasol.
There were several deck chairs under the umbrella, and iced coffee was placed on a round table next to them. He lay down in a chair, put his hands under his head, and his red pupils contracted. He was somewhat unable to describe the scene before him.
Before them stretched an endless expanse of azure sea, the tide lapping at the beach, and beautiful young women chasing each other in the waves, their joyful laughter audible from afar.
Without Transcendental Grade powers, without Judge, without Taiyi, time seemed to slow down with the warm breeze, and all sorts of bizarre conspiracies dissipated in my mind.
How pleasant!
A word that rarely appears in Reincarnation Game comes to mind: I'm munching on my habit, sipping a slightly sweet iced coffee, and enjoying the vibrant daily life of youth.
Frieren's long purple braid fluttered, seemingly accustomed to her revealing attire, as she chased after Mona, who had ambushed her.
The gravity is wonderful; it makes me feel happy.
Yuki looked at the undulating waves, then glanced at Kaguya Shinomiya, who had been knocked down by the sea not far away. She was sitting on her back like a duck in the sea, raising her hand to cover her face while shouting, "Hayasaka, save me!"
Hayasaka Ai had no time to pay attention to her; she was already locked in battle with Mai Sakurajima. The two of them attacked with both hands, and even without using Transcendental Grade powers, they were already creating afterimages.
Before we knew it, we'd all become so familiar with each other.
While acting as a groin-watching cat, Yuki remarked that he had seen quite a few player teams, and probably none were as harmonious as his own.
It's important to understand that they are not from the same camp, nor even from the same world or work.
"Perhaps it is because of them that I can never become 'Taiyi'."
The last few drops of seawater trickled down his forehead, as if washing away the dust of continuous battles. Listening to the laughter, Yuki didn't feel neglected. As he always said, what he wanted was an atmosphere, not a king surrounded by women.
If it's the latter, each android belonging to Mechanical Believers costs 50 points, and their personality, appearance, and physique can be freely customized.
Splash!
Just then, a handful of sandy seawater was splashed onto my face.
"Hmph, you're just watching from the sidelines? You don't think I've forgotten, do you?" Mona put her hands on her hips, her face flushed, and whispered, "Aren't you going to take advantage of this? Sister Frieren is really comfortable to hug."
Why do you look so lesbian?
"No, I'm just getting a feel for things for my elder brother in advance. We'll take him down sooner or later anyway, won't we?"
Yuki. He was extremely wary of this brat, worried that the news might reach his senior's ears at any moment.
He wiped his face, spat out the sand in his mouth, and looked into the distance.
The senior students and others were exhausted from the battle and lay in a row on the beach, and the phrase "jade body lying horizontally in autumn" came to mind.
"Isn't that amazing?" Mona quietly leaned closer.
"Hmm, this little bit of exertion is enough to exhaust a group of monster-level players; it's somewhat beyond common sense."
"Who told you that? Being too serious doesn't attract girls. Uh, you're only serious on the surface." Mona wagged her fingers, her eyes sparkling. "I've been observing you for several days, and sometimes you guys really don't seem like players, much less like a player organization. I've even been influenced by you."
There is no distinction between strong and weak. In Mona's mind, an epic-level player, the core of the team, should be an absolutely authoritative figure. Everyone has to revolve around him, and a single glance or emotion from him can make people tremble with fear.
"Hmph, you were so engrossed in playing that you completely forgot about me, weren't you?" Yuki glanced at Mona, who was sticking out her tongue, and couldn't answer her question for a moment.
It may be somewhat disorganized, but when it comes to making sacrifices, everyone will risk their lives.
Perhaps from the very beginning, we never considered ourselves players; perhaps this is my true wish.
"So what do you think of this?" Yuki countered.
"Very good. I suddenly realize that it's this atmosphere that makes you seem so conflicted." Mona sat in the recliner, hugging her knees, her little face radiating wisdom. "After living with my brother for so long, I've finally figured it out. So this is the string holding the kite."
She clearly remembered how terrifying this man was during the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, truly unparalleled in his ability to cut down enemies; how ruthless he was in the Nighttime Murder, treating both sides as pawns.
It only seems strange when compared to the lazy, salty fish at this moment.
So logically, what should I look like?
A cold-blooded executioner? A meticulous schemer? A hero who rebels against the game?
He watched as his seniors and the others got up, the sky turning golden. For a moment, he couldn't tell if it was real or an illusion. Hayasaka Ai, holding a watermelon in one hand and Kaguya's hand in the other, was muttering to herself as she did a post-battle summary.
Frieren leaned forward, loosened her braids, and let Hiyori gently wipe them. Her senior walked backward in front, her hands behind her back, discussing what they were going to do later.
Everything seemed beautiful and relaxed.
"Those are me, yet not entirely me." Yuki gazed at the setting sun and inadvertently found the answer.
Yuki Sorajima will never become Taiyi.
Whether in the past, present, or future.
Chapter Ten: Yuki's Resolve
The setting sun bathed the sea and beach in gold, creating a magical feeling accompanied by a gentle sea breeze.
Everyone knows where they are, and most of the scenery before them is an illusion, yet no one cares. Perhaps when emotions run high, even the fake can become real.
"Everyone seems to be having a good time today."
Yuki was munching on a watermelon when he saw Mona building a sandcastle not far away. The kid seemed wise, but after letting loose, he completely reverted to his natural instincts.
Kaguya Shinomiya stood by, giving instructions, and when she got impatient, she even tried to do it herself. Considering their similar builds, the two really seemed like playmates of the same age.
"This kind of opportunity is too rare." Mai Sakurajima stretched and curled up in the recliner, not wanting to move. "I've done two dungeons in a row, and it's only just now that I can finally relax. You must have been very busy lately, the 'Taiyi' thing has caused quite a bit of trouble."
In fact, Yuki never gave a specific explanation of 'Taiyi', but the tacit understanding between the two of them was already beyond description.
"It has been quite hectic. Taiyi has brought me both convenience and trouble, and before that, I was preoccupied with how to solve this trouble."
"And today?"
Yuki paused for a moment, then shrugged. "Right now, I'm just a lazy bum, not thinking about these trivial things."
Mai Sakurajima smiled. This was her true purpose. There were some things that Yuki had to think about and do, and all she could do was give this man a moment to catch his breath.
"It seems the operation was a success."
"Senior, aren't you afraid I'll really become a couch potato if you do this?"
"Would you?" Mai Sakurajima stared at him, and without needing an answer, gently shook her head. "No, on the contrary, I'm afraid you'll get too deeply involved in that area, so I'll have to find a chance to desperately pull you out. The person I like can't be a ruthless executioner."
Not long after the two parted, Mai Sakurajima had already keenly sensed some changes in Yuki. The long sword was becoming sharper and sharper, and it was also getting more and more stained with blood.
She didn't mind this, because the Reincarnation Game couldn't become a game of make-believe; if you don't kill, someone will kill you. But she was wary of this, just as she never knew Taiyi or cared about any legends, only knowing Yuki Sorajima.
My senior really understands me.
Yuki touched the soft hand and whispered, "Don't look around. Hayasaka is setting off fireworks with Hiyori. You're almost there if you try to stop me."
"You haven't already been corrupted by 'Taiyi,' have you?" Mai Sakurajima asked nervously.
"Uh, no, there's a grove of trees over there. Shall we have a proper talk?"
Grove?
Mai Sakurajima blushed slightly, secretly glanced around, and then furtively looked into the distance.
The sparkler emitted a faint glow, and the blonde girl turned her head to look at it, her azure eyes filled with innocence, making it impossible to discern her true personality.
Stare--
Mai Sakurajima looked away, suddenly remembering who had created the grove.
"Dream on. There are only a few of them. If we disappear, they'll definitely look for us."
"You mean... I should bring a few more team members?"
"Pah, I knew you had ulterior motives." Mai Sakurajima punched the man's chest, her lips twitching, but she didn't know what to say.
My senior is at odds with Hayasaka; this is really troublesome.
Yuki knew what she was thinking. Her feelings were like a tangled mess, impossible to unravel, and he couldn't interfere. Thinking about it, he actually felt a sense of pleasure.
As the old saying goes, relationships between androids are the simplest, but also the most boring.
'I need to figure out a way to win Hayasaka over. Is this blonde loser curse some kind of Destiny debuff? Maybe she should just change her hair color.'
This relationship also involves Kaguya Shinomiya and two bystanders; it would be great if they could be separated.
Hmm, could the Fool's Mask do that?
My eyes darted around; there was no Reincarnation Game today, only a strategy game, and then I got glared at.
Mai Sakurajima only needed to look at his eyes to know that this idiot was up to no good again, but she saw through him but didn't say anything, and stood up by supporting herself on the handrail.
"Let's go see what everyone's doing. Today, you don't just belong to me."
Yuki looked up in surprise at the fair-skinned figure in front of her, and suddenly realized that her senior had never been overly intimate with her, nor had she deliberately asserted her ownership.
Is this indulgence? What kind of goddess girlfriend is she?
No, it's more like a side effect of Reincarnation Game. People change because of their environment, and so far, very few people I've met have been able to maintain their original persona.
As Yuki's strength increased, especially after witnessing the chaos of the 'Aether Particles,' his perspective broadened, and he became inverted between good and evil, let alone petty selfishness and emotions.
"Hurry up, I don't want Hayasaka to complain." The girl turned around, the last rays of the setting sun casting a soft golden glow on her. She raised her hand to smooth her black hair adorned with rabbit ears. "You'll have to work extra hard tomorrow, for me, and for everyone."
"Senior, sometimes I wonder if I'm dreaming like that pig-headed kid."
"This is ridiculous. I don't want to have this nightmare. This awful Reincarnation Game has warped me."
"No, you're not twisted at all."
"Hmph, you're probably secretly thanking the Reincarnation Game, aren't you?"
"You noticed that?"
"Then you should experience it more, but don't go too far."
The two chatted back and forth, prompting Mona, who was building a sandcastle a few steps away, to look up with a rather amused expression.
Is this the legendary demeanor of an empress? Placing her elder brother above herself?
After observing silently for several days, she began to understand the complex relationships within the team. Yuki Sorajima was undoubtedly the core figure, but there was another key figure: Mai Sakurajima.