Chapter 155: Losing Is Winning, Winning Is Losing
"Mm. Very good."
Asagiri accepted the booklet, flipped it open, and scanned it once. It was indeed a structural map of the research institute's interior.
He did not bother interrogating them about whether it was real or fake. There was no point.
At this stage, the situation was obvious. The Anti-Ajin Special Forces had laid a trap specifically for "Players" and for Sato.
The mobile unit members might have known, but researchers with no combat ability did not belong on the front line.
Judging by how the two men were shaking, they were not the type who could face death calmly. There was no way they would stay here willingly as cannon fodder, knowing the institute was about to be attacked.
Which meant they did not know.
They were pawns. Disposable bait left behind by the Anti-Ajin Special Forces to lure Sato in.
If they did not even know an attack was coming, how could they have prepared fake information in advance?
More importantly, the moment Asagiri saw the map, he compared it to the route the four of them had taken after entering from the north gate.
It matched.
"You two. Take off your lab coats and throw away your work IDs."
"Huh? O oh… okay…"
The two researchers did not understand why, but they absolutely did not dare question a monster who could kill with a single side kick. They hurriedly stripped off their coats and tossed their IDs aside.
"Mm. Good."
Asagiri patted their shoulders with a smile, then his tone turned flat in an instant.
"Necro. Do it."
"Okay~"
Iwanaga Kotoko answered playfully. She extended a hand toward the two researchers, whose faces were already drained of color, and spoke softly.
"Undead Touch."
The moment her words fell, dozens, maybe hundreds of pale human arms burst out of the floor and the surrounding walls. The researchers did not even have time to scream before ghostly hands clamped over their mouths.
They were dragged down and bound, tangled in a writhing net of arms. Their eyes bulged with despair as they struggled helplessly.
Yuuki Asuna bit her lower lip, unable to hide the discomfort in her expression. She glanced at Asagiri, who remained calm, and just as she was about to speak, she heard him say, still indifferent.
"That's enough."
At his command, Iwanaga Kotoko instantly released Undead Touch.
The entire contact lasted less than two seconds, but for ordinary people, it was more than enough. The two researchers collapsed, unconscious, their bodies limp from the spiritual power drained by the ghost hands.
"What, did you think I was going to kill them?"
Asagiri tilted his head, catching Yuuki Asuna's complicated expression. He let out a light chuckle.
"They're not enemies we need to eliminate. They answered honestly and handed over information on their own. There's no reason to kill them."
"Then why…"
"Because I want them alive."
He shrugged, like he was explaining something obvious.
"Do you think they can survive if they run around on their own? If they run into Sato, they die. If they run into other Players, they die. Either way, it's the same ending."
"So it's better to knock them out. It also lets Necro replenish a bit of spiritual power."
His voice stayed casual, but the logic was mercilessly clean.
"And most importantly, once they're unconscious, they can't go telling Sato or other Players where the experimental data is, or what they saw about us."
He added, almost as an afterthought.
"If the Anti-Ajin Special Forces decides to silence them after this is over, that's outside my control."
Yuuki Asuna finally exhaled in relief. She pulled down the hood of her crimson cloak, and a gentle smile returned to her face.
"I thought you were going to kill them. Thank you for considering how I feel. I know I'm too soft sometimes…"
"No."
Asagiri reached out and held her hand lightly. His voice softened.
"Kindness is never a flaw. Indecisiveness caused by excessive saintly compassion is."
His gaze was steady.
"You're kind and gentle, but you're not indecisive. So don't burden yourself."
Emotion shimmered in Yuuki Asuna's eyes. She was about to respond when Asagiri added, smiling again.
"After all, you are My beloved consort. Don't underestimate yourself. If you do, aren't you questioning My judgment?"
"Go, go, go." Yuuki Asuna's face warmed. "You say two nice things and then you start acting weird again."
Iwanaga Kotoko sidled over, pouting with obvious jealousy as she peeked between them.
"What about me? What about me?"
"You're also a beloved consort."
Kato Megumi calmly lifted a hand and tucked her short hair behind her ear, expression unchanged. She had long since grown used to scenes like this.
"Okay. Lottery time."
Asagiri took the phone Yuuki Asuna handed him, then gave one phone each to Iwanaga Kotoko and Kato Megumi.
"Perfect. Four Players on their side. Let's get some entertainment."
His tone turned playful.
"Let's see who draws the best reward. As for the bet… whoever draws the worst has to do one thing for the person who draws the best. Deal?"
"Deal."
The moment Yuuki Asuna heard "bet," her competitive spirit flared. She immediately tapped the eye icon app with absolute confidence.
"My luck is really good…"
[You have drawn items and equipment from the deceased Player, obtaining item: Medical Bandage]
[Medical Bandage: Ordinary medical bandage]
"Pfft."
Iwanaga Kotoko burst out laughing.
"This is your luck? Watch me."
She tapped the eye icon app without hesitation.
[You have drawn items and equipment from the deceased Player, obtaining equipment: Sturdy Longsword (Blue Quality)]
[Note: You cannot equip this weapon]
"Tch. Blue quality… pretty average…"
Because of her exclusive talent restrictions, Iwanaga Kotoko could not equip most weapons or armor. She pulled the longsword out anyway and tossed it to Kato Megumi.
"Leader has the Rope Dart, so he doesn't need it. You take it. You're good at dual wielding, and daggers are a disadvantage head on. From now on, hold an axe in one hand and a longsword in the other."
Kato Megumi caught the longsword, stored it in her inventory, and delivered a deadpan verdict.
"If my class could evolve, I probably wouldn't become some Shadow Assassin. I'd become a Shadow Berserker, wouldn't I?"
"That's good too," Asagiri said seriously.
"Think about it. If someone suddenly charges you with a longsword and a battle axe, it might not be as elegant as a dagger, but the intimidation value is insane."
Then he tapped the confirmation on his own phone.
[You have drawn items and equipment from the deceased Player, obtaining a blue disposable item: Music Box of Entwined Curses]
[Music Box of Entwined Curses: A music box completely invaded by some kind of spirit. If damaged, the malevolent spirit within will break free and attack the target that damaged the music box. The malevolent spirit can last for a maximum of five minutes]
"This thing… not bad," Asagiri said, weighing it in his hand.
Iwanaga Kotoko leaned in to examine it, thoughtful.
"It's blue mainly because the restriction is harsh. It only chases the one who breaks it. But the value should still be higher than my longsword."
She turned with a smile toward Yuuki Asuna.
"Then the loser is you…"
"Um."
Kato Megumi cut in calmly.
"What I drew is this."
[Half-Eaten Chocolate Bar: Tastes very good, a high-calorie chocolate bar]
Iwanaga Kotoko stared for a beat, then nodded gravely.
"…Very good. You have seized the loser position in a truly dominant fashion."
At least Yuuki Asuna's medical bandage could be used for something, even if it was basic. But a half eaten chocolate bar?
That was beyond terrible.
Kato Megumi took one look at it and tossed it away immediately. Holding a dead person's leftover chocolate felt cursed in a different way.
Today's loser was Kato Megumi.
"Hm? Wait."
Iwanaga Kotoko suddenly realized something. Regret and annoyance bloomed across her cute face.
The winner this time was Asagiri.
And the bet was that the loser had to do one thing for the winner.
If she had lost, Asagiri would definitely make some shameless request, and she could pretend to be shy and resist a little. It would have been perfect.
Did she win? Not her.
Did she lose? Not her.
"Alright. Entertainment's over."
Asagiri did not use his winner's right at all. He tossed the phone aside, the eye icon app already gone after the draw, and spoke evenly.
"I've memorized the entire layout map. Move."
Yuuki Asuna and the others were briefly surprised, but then it made sense.
Asagiri was the true genius who ranked first in the joint entrance exam, first in Shuchiin Academy's entrance exam, and first in the spring exams, all while barely seeming to try.
A freakish, near photographic memory was not even shocking anymore.
It was just… Asagiri.
.....
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