Asagi’s eyes squinted half-closed, and her mouth shaped into a frown.

[I’m telling you, I really don’t intend to do that.]

Bzzzt.

Vysis’ right arm transformed into a blade, running across Asagi’s cheek, leaving a thin cut.

But Asagi———- didn’t even flinch.

Not even a twitch.

She didn’t blink. She didn’t move. Nothing.

[…………………I’m surprised. Asagi-san, you’re———- not afraid of death.]

[Cause death doesn’t mean much to me. For me, it’s just a game over.]

Asagi gave a fearless grin.

[Actually, I already have it active, but <Queen Bee: Pain Suppression> is seriously the perfect ability for me. See, I’m not afraid of dying, but I really don’t like pain. Same goes for most people who say they want to die but can’t, right? They wanna die, but the pain and suffering along the way? No thanks. So for someone like me who’s aiming for the blessed goal, pain is the biggest obstacle. And this skill neatly clears that path. So yeah, no fear.]

“More importantly, Asagi-san”, Vysis interrupted.

[Your Unique Skill, the one that lets you turn the tables…… Are you really not going to use it now?]

[I told you, right? There’s no way I can play this game with Mimori-kun without your help, Vysis-chin.]

[………………..]

This time, Asagi let go of her hand.

She tapped her own temple with a finger.

[I want to fight Mimori-kun up here. But as you can see, my combat ability is trash. So I need power from people like you, Vysis-chin, and the Sacrament army.]

[……Do you really think you can win?]

[Hmm…… At best, maybe just under 60% odds———- nah, more like a little over 50?]

[Ara ara, that’s quite the uncertain chance. Then again…… I suppose that makes it more believable than some bold boast.]

[It’s not like I’m underestimating Fly King-san either. He’s not your average opponent. It’ll depend a lot on how many pieces we have on the board, and how good they are…… Actually, how many usable pieces do we even have right now?]

Vysis returned her arm to its original form and relaxed her stance.

[Do you need that information right this second?]

[Hm? Nah, later’s fine.]

[…………………]

After a short silence, Vysis spoke.

[……Of the three Divine Servants, Yomibito’s already out. And Ars seems to be in a fully suspended state, so we can’t rely on him either. Unfortunately, the only one still functioning is Wormungandr. Though even he has…… let’s call them “issues” as a piece on the board.]

[Ehh? Two Divine Servants already down? Geez, Fly King Squadron seriously is strong. No wonder Vysis-chin is even considering relying on the power of this Asagi-san.]

[As for the rest——–]

[Some of the Sacraments are still active in the labyrinth, right? And then there’s that special Sacrament army meant for Heaven, currently in stasis down here……]

[……That’s about it. Your awareness of the situation is honestly kind of scary.]

Asagi waved her fingers side to side.

[You gotta have this level of awareness——— imaginativeness or there’s no way you’re outwitting that Fly King. Well, if you and that Wormungandr guy can handle the combat side of things, then it’s just a matter of how well the Sacraments perform.]

[So then…… I have to ask. How do you plan to win?]

[Hm? I haven’t really nailed down the specifics.]

[Haaaaah?]

[Well, you kinda have to adapt on the spot, right? Fly King-san’s scary flexible, remember? According to our very thorough investigations, we’ve uncovered a shocking truth…… That guy, for all his master planning, also has ridiculously high adaptability…… It’s honestly amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better opponent.]

[This isn’t the time to be admiring him…… I asked about your winning strategy.]

[Taking those guys down is actually simpler than you’d think.]

[Oh?]

[As long as Mimori Touka is crushed———– Takao Hijiri might be a bit of a pain, but the rest? They can be dealt with however you like.]

[……Is that really true?]

[Seras-ojouchan basically doesn’t function without Mimori-kun, you know? There’s this creepy clinginess about her, so I seriously doubt she’d be able to operate properly after losing Mimori Touka. As for Munin-mama, even if she uses Forbidden Curses, it’s still centered around Mimori-kun. And that cheat slime? It’s not a threat without Mimori-kun wielding it. Ayaka’s just an easy sucker against me, her classmate…… And we still got the card named Kobato here. The Mad Emperor’s already been dealt with, as you know. The Neia princess outside the labyrinth isn’t much of a threat compared to Mimori-kun either. And that tiny Loqierra-chan, even if she’s one of Vysis-chin’s fellow Deity, she’s lost most of her power and is basically just acting as an advisor. Again, only useful when she’s got others like Mimori-kun backing her.]

That was when it happened.

[……Huh?]

Vysis looked like she’d just been hit with some totally unexpected revelation.

[Loqi…… erra? Did you just say Loqierra? Asagi-san…… you never mentioned that in your letter, did you?]

[Unn. I told you, right? I didn’t write down everything. Left some stuff out, just in case.]

[……………………]

Vysis shot me a mildly irritated glare.

But then her expression shifted, like she was working something out.

[……I see. Then it all adds up. It wasn’t some unknown Deity I wasn’t aware of who came here…… it was that d*mn Loqierra using some hidden ability she kept from me, making a partition of herself…… and probably teaming up with Nyantan or someone to sneak out of Enoh and slip to the other side. I see…… So that’s what it was…… that buzzkill tanuki……]

“So yeah, anyway, like I was saying———”, Asagi continued.

[At a glance, our total forces look a little lacking, but if we can take out Mimori Touka, the rest of them will pretty much collapse.]

[What about Hijiri-san? Isn’t she a problem?]

[Compared to Mimori-kun, she’s a whole lot easier. Hijirin doesn’t have it in her to go full villain. Takao Hijiri knows what it means to go off the deep end, but she can’t bring herself to actually go there. Knowing my opponent’s gonna keep walking and won’t stray from the straight path, then to me? That’s not an enemy. That’s a solvable equation.]

[……Asagi-san.]

[Hm?]

[I wish you’d shown me this side of you sooner.]

[But Vysis-chin, you seem like you got a personality disorder, and it’s scary. You were way too ego-driven, making you terrible at using people.]

[……………………..]

[You’ve also got this habit of smiling while wordlessly pressuring people. you know♪? Ara ara ara, are you alright?]

[……Aren’t you quite the provocateur♪? Maybe…… that’s why you remind me a bit of myself.]

[Ara, I’m flattered. Anyway———- hey, Kobato-chan? Can you cut it out with the constant sobbing already? It’s seriously starting to annoy me……]

I……

I couldn’t do anything anymore.

I——– didn’t have the will left to act.

[Asagi……-san…… hic…… why…… hic…… why did you do…… something like this……?]

I could only cry and listen to their conversation.

I feel so pathetic for being like this.

But…… I still can’t do anything but cry.

Thereupon, Vysis chuckles.

[Ara ara, Kashima-san has always been like this, hasn’t she? Truly unable to do anything…… Fufu, but isn’t it nice♪? You’re being looked after so much by Asagi-san♪ Rest assured♪ As per the earlier terms, I’ll choose you as one who will survive♪]

Without reacting to Vysis’ words, I spoke.

[———Asagi…… -san……]

[Hm? What’s up, Poppo?]

I clasped my hands in front of my chest, as if to protect my body——– my heart.

The tears had lessened, but sobbing still won’t stop.

[……Does Asagi-san…… not want…… to return to our original world……?]

[Hahh…… we’re talking about this again? What’s the point of going back to a place like that?]

[……………….]

[Well, rather than listing examples and dragging it on, I’ll stop…… But seriously, aside from the lucky ones who hit the parent gacha, that place is a hellhole. Some idiots might say it’s more blessed of a world, but that’s not true. It’s like telling someone who’s devastated by the death of their pet “It’s not a big deal, it’s nothing compared to war”. The kinds of pain are totally different. It’s a lack of imagination.]

Asagi sighs.

[Well, for someone like me, it’s a pretty interesting place. But interesting or not———- it’s suffocating. It’s no drastic change like a natural disaster, but it’s like having your neck slowly strangled with silk and running out of oxygen. Eventually, you’ll just realize you got no air left and die. Even I, as a teenager, can tell “Ah, this place doesn’t have long”. Speaking of which, a country like that is probably a struggle for someone like you to live in, isn’t it, Poppo-chan? Ah, but since you got the looks and the body, along with your success in the parent gacha, you’ll probably survive if you make use of that. As long as you can still use youth as a weapon, that is.]

[Asagi-san……]

[Yes, go ahead, Kashima Kobato-san.]

[Let’s hang out together.]

[……Huh? Poppo-chan…… Have you finally gone crazy?]

[I…… I love our original world…..]

[Your head sure is floating in the clouds huh. And what do you mean “let’s hang out together”? That’s just funny.]

[I…… I don’t understand the difficult stuff about the world…… But…… if we go back to our original world, we can find many good things…… many fun things…… together…… I want to become closer to Asagi-san! I want to know more about you……!]

[———-The heck’s that? You trying to tug at my heartstrings? ……Ugh, so annoying.]

[Even if it’s annoying…… I still want to become closer to Asagi-san! I want to try it with you! I want to do all the things I love…… together, and then have you see it! Our original world…… it’s not that bad…… It’s not…… that bad…… Uweehh……]

Tears stream down my eyes once again.

I cried, shamelessly, without concern for my dignity.

[You lived in a happy world, didn’t you, Poppo-chan?]

[That’s why…… I want to know the world you lived in, Asagi-san! I…… I……!]

Asagi smiled softly.

[What could you possibly understand about me?]

[I don’t understand…… that’s why…… I want to know……]

[You’re such a nuisance, seriously. Well, I don’t really care about going back, okay? This world gives me more freedom. I’ve already had enough of the restrictions of our original world. I’ll guarantee your survival, so Kobato-chan, let’s just continue our life here in this world.]

[Now, now…… that’s really cold of you, Asagi-san.]

Vysis interrupted with a smile.

[Eh? Really? But I consider myself to be quite the earnest and kind person…… ——–Hm?]

Asagi tilted her head, as if noticing something.

[Arehh?]

[Ara? Asagi-san…… Is something the matter?]

[……A cat?]

[Yes? Huh? What did you say? A cat? ……Where?]

Asagi appeared to be deep in thought, trying to figure something out.

[Hmm? What’s going on……?]

Even as I continued to sob, I also felt confused by her actions.

Asagi covered her mouth with her hand, looking suspicious about…… something.

What’s with her all of a sudden……?

[From my observation…… the presence or absence of the “cat” has been confirmed…… yes…… when I opened the lid, there was no cat…… so the “fluctuations” have converged…… I’m definitely observing it…… Unn, so…… it’s not there, right?]

[ ? ]

Vysis tilted her head as well.

I too was confused.

It didn’t seem like she was talking to anyone in particular.

She mumbled to herself, as if she’s monologuing.

It was incoherent.

There was no context.

[The cat is no longer here. The cat is gone…… It’s been observed that it’s gone…… so I’m free now…… ———Huh? Why is that? The cat shouldn’t be here anymore……]

Asagi seemed to be carefully confirming something.

[My…… eyes……]

Thereupon, Asagi’s eyes narrowed.

[They can still see the cat?]

I don’t understand what she meant.

It’s just, there’s no coherence to what she’s saying at all.

Even when I try to read it as a sentence, I can’t find any intent or meaning in it.

Maybe it means something to Asagi.

But at least to me———–

I have absolutely no idea what Asagi is trying to say.

(Asagi-san……?)

[Hmm…… What is this?]

[Um…… are you alright?]

[……Ah, sorry, it’s nothing. Anyway, Vysis-chan.]

[Yes?]

[That Divine Servant, Wormungandr, is he useful?]

[He’s definitely strong. Or rather, Worm-san might actually work better in Asagi-san’s hands than mine.]

[Then for now, let’s regroup with that Wormungandr. Also…… is the reason we’re not moving from here because you can sense they’re nearby or something?]

[————-How do you know that? That’s kind of creepy.]

[I see nyow, so Vysis-chin does have some kind of method for knowing that. I mean, they do say it’s better not to wander around when you’re lost, right? So if Worm-san’s heading this way, let’s wait here just a little longer. How about it? While we’re at it, how about a little strategy meeting, Vysis-chan?]

[Sounds good…… I still haven’t heard much about how you plan to defeat Mimori-san, so I’d like to ask about that. Also…… I’m curious about what you brought up earlier, Asagi-san and the others’ world. Well, that’s something I’d like to ask about after the fight.]

[Mimori-kun huh. Like I said earlier, it depends on the situation, but <Queen Bee>———— in his case, the fact that he can always play the best move…… is ironically, a weakness……]

(T/N: The Queen’s Weakening Touch/Queen Bee)

Vysis’s eyes widened.

[Huh?]

Asagi also seemed shaken for some reason……

[Arehh? ……Huh?]

At something that seemed to have happened in front of them.

I couldn’t keep up with what’s going on.

(……Eh?)

Asagi touched Vysis’s arm———— and activated it.

That Unique Skill.

The Queen Bee’s hand touched the hand of a goddess.

And into the realm of her weakness———-

The Goddess had been invited.

What made it all the more inexplicable……

Was that Asagi herself looked just as surprised to have used it.

[………………..Haaah.]

Vysis let out a long, heavy sigh.

[Asagi-san…… What is going on? Judging from your reaction…… this seems like some kind of blunder? Could you explain?]

[……How? ……Huh?]

Asagi stared dumbfounded at her own palm.

And then, right after———-

[Kuh———- so that’s how it is……! Dammit!]

Turning her back to Vysis, Asagi bolted toward me.

And then she shouted———–

[My Unique Skill properly connected! If the paralytic hasn’t taken full effect yet———- do it, Mad Emperor! Take out Vysis!]

Asagi……

With an expression of frustration I’d never seen on her before……

[D*mn it———- so the cat was still here! D*mn it, how could I have missed that?! You were the cat’s illusion?! D*mn it! It’s all ruined now! Everything!]

With a face filled with a murderous rage I’d never imagined on her……

Ikusaba Asagi glared at me..

[This is all your fault, Kobato.]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep