<Author’s Notes>

The next chapter is scheduled for tomorrow, April 14th, around 9 PM.

[………………..]

[That being said, even this Asagi-san didn’t notice how dangerous Mimori-kun really was at first. Back in our original world, he was so perfectly camouflaged that stuff like that is something you wouldn’t believe would come from him. Compared to Hijirin and Kiri-chan, he’s in a whole other league. Can you believe something that dangerous was right there in our class? Even I couldn’t see through him.]

[……………….Are you stalling for time?]

[Hmm? Oh…… you’re thinking I’m just trying to buy time with chatter until Mimori-kun or Ayaka show up as reinforcements? Eh, you’re the one saying that, Vysis-chan? You’re the one who’s been doubting my offer from the start and wasting all this time making me explain myself though?]

Without moving an inch, Vysis let out a thin sigh.

[Every time I say something, you’ve got a comeback…… Maybe I really should just kill you.]

[If you’re that scared of my Unique Skill……]

Asagi reached both hands out toward Vysis.

[You can cut off my arms, if you want?]

[………………]

[I can block the pain with my Unique Skill anyway. And besides, Vysis-chin, you can reattach them later with that godly healing magic you used on Sakura-chan’s hand, right? If you cut them off, I won’t be able to use my hands for anything shady…… so come on, hurry up, we don’t have time. Ah, but I won’t be able to stop the bleeding, so I’ll leave that part to you, ‘kay?]

I could see it———- there was a change, ever so slightly, in Vysis’s eyes.

[I’ve been tricked by so many scumbags before…… so now, I make sure to observe people carefully, so I don’t get deceived again. Asagi-san, you…… you really do want to be on my side, don’t you? I feel like you’re not lying. And that certainty is honestly terrifying. If you’re acting, it’s quite the performance. Am I…… being deceived again?]

[I told you already, didn’t I? I’m serious. Totally serious. Come on, no time to waste, hurry up and chop———–]

[A- Asagi-san!]

Until now, I’d just been silently listening to their conversation.

It’s Asagi after all.

I kept telling myself: she’s tricking Vysis, this is just part of a strategy.

Maybe, like Vysis said, she’s just stalling for time.

That’s why I stayed quiet and watched.

Maybe she didn’t tell me or the Mad Emperor because———–

She was following the classic tactic of “deceiving your enemies by deceiving your friends first”.

The Mad Emperor must have thought the same.

That’s why both of us kept quiet, just listening to them talk.

But———

[I- Is it true!? Asagi-san, you’re really———- going to her side!? Does it really have to be this battle where you fight Mimori-kun!? Can’t you do it some other way…… l- like, after this fight is over, or when we get back to our original world, like in a normal game or something……? Isn’t there any other way……? I believed in Asagi-san…… I- I…… I believed in you———!]

The tears came.

Before I knew it, I was crying.

I believed in her.

I wanted to believe in her.

Vysis smiled at me.

[That slow-witted little Hero over there, what was her name again…… Kashima-san, was it? That clueless low-ranked Hero is saying all this, but what do you think, Asagi-san?]

[Here, here, Goddess-sensei.]

[………………]

[In exchange for joining you, I’d like to ask for one thing.]

[I’ll at least hear you out.]

[Please spare Kobato-chan, and my Asagi group…… and also Zine-chin and the folks from Mira.]

I——— was shocked.

When I heard that condition, I knew.

I felt it deep in my chest.

She really meant it.

Even the Mad Emperor couldn’t hide her surprise.

After a moment, Vysis spoke.

[Asagi-san’s group wasn’t particularly annoying, so I don’t mind…… but why the Mad Emperor? Don’t tell me it’s something stupid like you fell for his beauty? He’s one of the ringleaders of the rebellion, you know. I’d really like to make him pay……]

[Zine-chin and the folks from Mira helped us out after all. It’d leave a bad taste if people like that got caught up in something horrible, you know? And besides, if we end up staying in this world, we’ll need somewhere to live too, right? Mira’s pretty familiar, and it’d make a decent second home.]

[Hmm……]

Vysis touched her chin, pretending to think it over.

[But the Mad Emperor…… look, see how hostile he is? If he resists when we try to capture him, I might just kill him on the spot out of sheer annoyance……]

[Ah, don’t worry about that.]

Asagi turned to look at us.

She was now standing right beside Vysis.

Vysis still seemed wary, keeping some distance to avoid Asagi using her Unique Skill.

[I already made sure the three of them drank a delayed-action paralytic.]

I froze.

[……Eh?]

[Just leave them alone for a bit, and they won’t be able to move soon enough.]

The Mad Emperor’s beautiful face twisted with realization.

[———That tea huh.]

Asagi pointed her finger at the Mad Emperor, like it was the barrel of a gun.

[Ding-ding, correct!]

Chester glanced at the Mad Emperor.

[Your…… Majesty……]

The Mad Emperor bit his lip and glared at Asagi.

[But when did you……?]

[On the way here, when we stopped by Monroy.]

[……Monroy!?]

[Unn. I’ve known about that place they call the Blood Colosseum for a while now. Well, it’s not just that one, since I’m a bit of a studious type, I’ve been doing my homework on the countries across this continent. And then, I stumbled across a pretty interesting rumor. Apparently, they used to make the Blood Champions in the final match drink some kind of delayed-action paralytic.]

Asagi blew lightly over the fingertip of her hand, posed like a gun.

[When a top Blood Champion, their star moneymaker, announces their retirement, the organizers have to find a new star, right? So, when a strong Blood Champion goes into their final match, they secretly slip them that special paralytic under the guise of some ritual before the fight. Then they make them lose——— get them killed. And so, the opponent who defeats the star, who couldn’t show their full strength because of the drug, inherits their fame and becomes the next big thing…… The clever part is that they’d let less popular Blood Champions retire normally, so it wasn’t like everyone died in their final match. Smart operation, don’t you think? Hahh…… If only the devs of that gacha game I used to play back in that world had been that clever with their management…… Such a textbook case of “great materials, wasted potential”……

“Ah, I’d better not ramble too much or Goddess-chan will accuse me of stalling for time again”, Asagi said as she steered the conversation back on track.

[The drug’s timing depends on how it’s mixed, you see. In your case, it’s been prepared to kick in a bit later. Oh, and by the way, I drank the same tea laced with the paralytic myself, so I’ll be paralyzed too before long. I do have an antidote tucked away in my pocket but… well, it’d be awkward if I drank it alone along the way and made everyone suspicious, right?]

I trembled all over.

[W- Why…… Why would you do something like that……? B- Back then, we didn’t even know who we’d run into……]

[Oh, well, I was already planning to fight Mimori-kun from that point———– And since we were getting close to Vysis-chan’s castle, I figured it was about time to put the plan into action. I actually debated it right up until the last second, y’know? But hey, if it turned out to be a mistake, I was just going to admit it honestly and apologize. Even if my betrayal got exposed, I figured there’s no way that Class Prez of ours would let them kill me. It’s just like back in our old country, if the punishment’s soft even when you commit a crime, you might as well go for it since there’s more to gain than to lose.]

[———-Asagi.]

The Mad Emperor spoke, his voice heavy with guilt.

[For me…… drinking that tea was also a way of showing my trust in you, Asagi Ikusaba.]

[Aw, that’s sweet…… like the tea you drank, Zine-chin. You seem all cool and aloof, but you’re really just a good guy at heart, aren’t you, Mad Emperor-san?]

With a soft sigh, the Mad Emperor smiled.

This time, it was a smile of acceptance.

[Touka said…… you wouldn’t betray us. I believed those words…… words from my very first friend. And so, this is the result…… there’s nothing left but to accept it.]

[Nice and dignified, Zine-chan. I like that.]

[However———– I never said I would accept your proposal. This is the consequence of placing my trust in you. I am simply acknowledging that fact.]

[Mmhmm, I see. But y’know, if you keep acting all self-righteous like that, scary little Vysis-chan’s gonna kill you, you know? Asagi-san can’t babysit someone who’s determined to kill himself. Do whatever you want.]

Both the Mad Emperor and Chester had already taken their battle stances.

But———- neither of them could attack.

Maybe it was because they already knew, even before making a move———-

They couldn’t win against Vysis.

Perhaps because they were both strong, they could roughly gauge her power.

And they could see it clearly——— They didn’t stand a chance.

Asagi tilted her head and flashed a bright smile.

[Ah, Kobato, you’ve already decided to accept my terms, yeah?]

[Eh……]

[As long as you stay quiet until things settle down, that’s all I ask.]

[Asagi…… san……]

[Zine-chin and Chester-san though…… if you want to die, be my guest. Whether you pick the red pill or the blue pill is up to you. Ah——— wait, the pills have already been slipped into your drinks huh? Guess that line doesn’t quite work. Tehepero~~♪]

Chester glared daggers at Asagi.

[Kuh…… Asa…… gi……]

And at that moment———-

[———-Then, what about the others……?]

Vysis finally spoke.

Throughout the conversation, she’d seemed to be deep in thought.

[If I kill all the others——– if I do whatever I want with them, you won’t complain, correct?]

When Asagi was asked that……

[Unn, I don’t mind.]

She answered.

Tears trailed down my cheeks as I caught my breath.

Hijiri-san…… Itsuki-san as well.

Mimori-kun too.

Everyone in our class, not just the Asagi group.

And all the people fighting alongside us, inside and outside this labyrinth.

Even Sogou-san……

[Asagi-san…… no, you can’t…… something like that…… it can’t be okay……]

[Fufu…… Poppo-chan, that was no good, y’know? That won’t do……]

[Eh……?]

[You’re getting so desperate because———- you think I might win, don’t you?]

[ ! ]

[Well…… that’s what it means, Vysis-chan.]

Asagi turned her gaze toward Vysis……

[Even against the current Fly King Squadron, I might just win…… that’s what even Kobato-chan is thinking deep down, without realizing it. Honestly? I’d say I’m probably the only one who can see a path to victory on this board, against Mimori Touka.]

[……Hmmm. And where exactly is that confidence coming from? Pardon me, but are you really such a grand tactician?]

[Well, not really a tactician…… if I were to say it in a chuuni kind of way, maybe it’s about the closeness of the sea area? On top of that, in this world, I’m probably the only one who can dive to a depth close to that guy’s. I’m sure there are plenty of people with dark pasts, but Mimori-kun and I…… we swim in slightly different waters.]

[Hmm, I don’t quite get the metaphor.]

[It’s exactly because Vysis-chan doesn’t get it that I can come up with plans you wouldn’t think of.]

[Hmm…… somehow, I feel like you’re just trying to fool me……]

[What? Are you still thinking I might betray you, or something boring like that?]

Asagi spoke, sounding a little annoyed.

[Come on, you’re not a kid anymore…… it’s time to grow up, Vysis-chan.]

Somehow, I feel like I could hear Vysis’ temple twitched with a vein bulging.

With a cold yet quiet gaze, she looked down at Asagi.

[So, what reason do I have to trust you? And for that matter, you’ve been acting far too cocky, you little brat.]

[That’s why I keep telling you, cut these arms off as insurance already, you old hag.]

Asagi shot back, her eyes just as cold and dark as Vysis’s.

[……………………]

But soon enough, Asagi gave a smirk.

[Fufun, c’mon, c’mon~~? If you don’t hurry, the terrifying Fly King-san might show up, you know? We’re running out of time~~ Hurry upppp~~]

[………… ———Pff.]

[Oryo?]

[Pwahahaha!]

Vysis burst into laughter.

Then———-

[I see, I see…… it seems I’ve been underestimating this Hero named Asagi Ikusaba. I didn’t expect you to be this useful…… I must admit, I need to reflect on this a bit.]

[Oh? Are we making progress?]

Vysis took Asagi’s right hand with her left.

[You——— You’re a little like me.]

[Ohh…… the seasoned powerhouse recognizing the protagonist, is that the vibe we’re going for here…… ———Oryo?]

Asagi’s right hand———-

It was pressed against Vysis’s left breast.

It wasn’t Asagi who reached out though.

Vysis had guided it there herself.

[Come now, Asagi Ikusaba…… show me what you can do.]

Vysis’s eyes widened as she sneered.

[While we’re in contact like this, you should be able to activate it, right? That trump card of yours——— your Unique Skill that can turn the tables. Look, now’s your chance, isn’t it?]

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