Chapter 172: The Collaborator Symbolizing the Pope
Asagiri looked at the strange dark red patterns spreading around him and the pair of golden eyes brimming with mysterious pressure. In that instant, Crazy Mita, Ashikaga Miwa, and Kato Megumi all had the same thought.
We're going to die.
The power gathering in Asagiri's hand embodied the concept of [Death] itself, a force that could neither be resisted nor escaped.
Overwhelmed by absolute fear, Crazy Mita and Ashikaga Miwa felt their thoughts and awareness begin to drift. Forget resisting or dodging, they could not even move their feet.
Kato Megumi, however, gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on the dark purple dagger in her hand. Though her body trembled slightly, she still forced herself to raise it, preparing to use [Throw], her most lethal and only true offensive skill, against Asagiri once more.
Then, in the next second, the gold in Asagiri's eyes faded back to black, and the strange dark red patterns around him gradually disappeared.
"Well?" Asagiri asked with a smile. "Satisfied now?"
Hearing his teasing question, Crazy Mita finally came back to herself. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she dropped to her knees. Her body had gone completely limp, but she still managed to force out a reply.
"I I'm satisfied… I surrender."
"Good. Since you're satisfied, then stop being such a masochist."
Asagiri shook his head. Just as he was about to say more, a faint sensation stirred in his heart. At the same moment, his phone gave a notification chime.
[Your special profession Diplomat has undergone a unique upgrade and has advanced into the exclusive special profession: Unrestrained Tyrant]
[Unrestrained Tyrant: A special profession evolved from Diplomat. When using negotiation methods such as threats, intimidation, or coercion, their effects are greatly enhanced.]
[Exclusive Special Profession Passive: When you enter combat, you will continuously exert pressure on your surroundings according to the amount of power you display. All targets other than those you identify as allies will suffer a degree of mental interference, giving rise to emotions such as fear, trembling, and retreat.]
"Oh? Conqueror's Haki?"
Asagiri took out his phone, glanced at the system text, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Or rather, an upgraded version that activates automatically and exempts allies without needing extra control."
"Your profession upgraded?"
Kato Megumi walked over and looked at the contents displayed in the Eye Icon APP on Asagiri's phone, surprise clear on her face.
"And this is in the real world…"
"Didn't I say it before? Clearing Dungeons gives rewards, yes, but that does not mean new power can only come from clear rewards."
Asagiri canceled Crazy Mita's summon, switched his equipped Persona back to Human Asura, then looked at Kato Megumi with a smile.
"For example, if you had never gone through special training with Ashikaga sensei here in the real world, then even with the same stats and abilities, would your actual combat power be what it is now?"
He paused before continuing calmly.
"Our power probably does not come directly from the system itself. It comes from us. As for why we receive rewards after clearing Dungeons… perhaps because Dungeons are simply so dangerous that surviving them becomes the necessary condition for awakening that power."
"I see…"
Kato Megumi pinched her chin thoughtfully and murmured to herself.
"Hm… it's still all speculation. The true nature of this game remains unclear."
Then she looked up, a gentle smile appearing on her delicate face.
"Still, a profession upgrade and a new ability are both pleasant surprises."
"Indeed."
Asagiri nodded, then turned to the side, his expression shifting with mild surprise.
"Yo, Ashikaga sensei. You still haven't recovered?"
Ashikaga Miwa was still standing there in a daze. Nearly a full minute had passed, yet her eyes still carried the stunned look of someone who had barely survived a catastrophe. Her dojo uniform was soaked through with sweat.
When she finally heard Asagiri's voice, she returned to herself, lifted her sleeve to wipe the sweat off her forehead, and looked at him with lingering fear.
"You… what was that just now…? Are all Players… as terrifying as you?"
"How could that be? Ashikaga sensei, that question is a little insulting."
Asagiri walked over and lightly patted her shoulder, speaking with exaggerated seriousness.
"How can the light of a firefly compare to the brilliance of the moon? How can mere dust stand even half a step beside me? What is the strongest? The difference is self-evident…"
"Did I trigger one of your combo keywords again?"
Ashikaga Miwa cut him off helplessly, face stiff with exhaustion.
"I'm only asking one thing. At this stage, how strong are Players on average?"
She thought that by shifting the topic, she could escape Asagiri's endless self-praise.
Unfortunately, she had still underestimated the terrifying depth of his boastful vocabulary.
"Hm. I don't know."
Asagiri spread his hands, then went on calmly.
"Because most Players are just ants in front of me. Whether I brush aside one speck of dust or two makes no difference to me…"
"Please stop right there."
Ashikaga Miwa sighed in utter defeat.
"I am only asking one question."
"I know what you want to ask."
Asagiri had already guessed what Ashikaga Miwa truly cared about and replied with a smile.
"At this stage, most Players still cannot deal with firearms, not even low power handguns. That means that, for now at least, Players do not possess enough power to interfere with or shake the social order."
He paused.
"But later… that is another matter. Once the third phase begins, the very top tier of Players may gain the ability to confront firearms head on."
"Is that so…"
Ashikaga Miwa frowned deeply, as though turning over something weighty in her mind. Then she looked back up at Asagiri, her expression turning as serious as it had been the day she first invited him to enroll at Shuchiin Academy.
"Besides basic combat training, I think I can help you more than I already have. But first…"
Her gaze sharpened.
"You have to trust me."
"Of course I trust Ashikaga sensei. After all, you're my aunt."
"And fake turned real, no less."
Ashikaga Miwa gave a small, helpless smile before continuing.
"If you are willing to tell me about your special abilities, then I can develop targeted training plans for each of them. I can also help refine your team coordination, formations, tactical movement, and battlefield thinking."
She adjusted her glasses.
"In terms of tactics, I am confident."
"That's fine, but…"
Asagiri looked straight into her eyes and spoke clearly.
"I do trust you. The question is, are you helping us purely because of personal feelings?"
"Of course not. Personal feelings are only part of it. In the end, this is still a rational choice."
Ashikaga Miwa walked over to the nearby table, picked up her gold rimmed glasses, and put them back on. Then she turned to face Asagiri and Kato Megumi and spoke slowly.
"Even before all this happened, I already had dealings with you. Compared to looking for expendable pieces I know nothing about and cannot trust, it is far better to invest directly in you, whom I trust completely and who are the strongest Players at this stage."
She paused for a moment.
"And no, I do not intend to use this game or the Players to obtain anything for myself. My goal has not changed. I still want to change the atmosphere within Shuchiin Academy."
Her eyes softened faintly.
"After this period of special training, I have also come to understand Asuna Yuuki and Kato Megumi. Both are gentle and kind. From my perspective, I would much rather see Players like you survive to the very end."
Then she looked directly at Asagiri.
"And I want you to survive. I will do everything I can to help make sure you survive and fulfill what we agreed upon back then."
"I see."
Asagiri nodded thoughtfully, then walked up to her and held out his hand with a smile.
"Then the deal is struck?"
"Yes."
Ashikaga Miwa took his hand and smiled slightly.
"The deal is struck."
The instant those words left her mouth, a phantom Tarot card appeared in midair and slowly drifted down into Asagiri's left palm.
"A new Persona slot… The Hierophant…"
Asagiri watched as the ghostly Tarot card bearing the pattern of the Hierophant gradually melted into his palm. Then he looked up at Ashikaga Miwa with a grin.
"Congratulations, Ashikaga sensei. You actually turned out to be important enough to unlock a Persona slot for me."
"Even if I have no idea what a Persona is…"
Ashikaga Miwa sighed and held her forehead.
"You really are as arrogant as ever."
…
A little later, at Asagiri's house.
"Utsunomiya, here. Cola."
Kato Megumi had just finished showering. She dried her hair, stepped barefoot across the wooden floor, opened a can of Coca Cola she had just taken from the refrigerator, and handed it to Asagiri.
"Thanks."
Asagiri took the can, drank a sip, then set it aside. His eyes remained on the laptop screen, which displayed a series of combat manuals and weapon usage guides sent over by Ashikaga Miwa. Beside it lay a document folder containing handwritten special training plans tailored specifically to the abilities of the four team members, along with notes on teamwork, formation structure, and possible tactical options.
"You're not going home? Staying here to study with me instead? Won't your parents worry?"
"It's fine. They're traveling. I'm home alone for the next two days."
"In that case, if you stay up too late, you'll just end up sleepy in class tomorrow…"
"Utsunomiya, did you forget?"
Kato Megumi smiled faintly and spoke in her usual gentle tone.
"Even if I fall asleep right in class, the teacher won't notice."
.....
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