Elysian Realm Corridor
Kevin walked ahead, with Jack following closely behind.
Neither of them was particularly talkative, and only the rhythmic sound of footsteps filled the corridor. The atmosphere was as cold as the low-temperature field Kevin seemed to carry around him.
Everything should have continued peacefully like this until they passed a... trash can.
It was a cylindrical tin trash can with a flip-open lid.
It stood quietly on one side of the corridor, out of place with its surroundings, yet possessing a strange presence due to its overly "ordinary" appearance.
(Why is there a trash can in a data space?)
This thought flashed through Jack's mind, and it should have been immediately categorized as "irrelevant information" and filtered out.
However, as her gaze swept across the trash can's smooth surface and tightly sealed lid, a certain "instinct" deeply ingrained in her behavioral logic, one that even Madam Herta had never fully detected, was triggered.
It was an indescribable "craving" accumulated from countless times she had, under the identity of Stelle in Belobog's Underworld, reached her hand into similar containers.
An anticipation of unknown rewards, an urge to explore hidden areas, a... pure joy.
Her footsteps paused.
This slight pause immediately alerted Kevin.
He stopped instantly, his icy blue eyes sharply scanning the surroundings, a faint chill emanating from his body.
(Something's wrong?)
He didn't sense any enemies or unusual energy fluctuations.
Following Yae Sakura's frozen gaze, his eyes finally landed on that... trash can.
Kevin: "..."
(Is an enemy hiding in the trash can? No, there's no aura.)
He frowned slightly, looking at the somewhat stiff Yae Sakura, and asked in a deep voice, "What's wrong?"
His voice echoed particularly clearly in the empty corridor.
Jack's internal alarm bells rang wildly!
(Oh no! Instinct is causing trouble!)
Her brain raced, trying to find a reasonable explanation to cover up her momentary lapse.
The best option was undoubtedly to immediately look away, calmly tell Kevin, "Nothing, let's continue," and then put this damned trash can out of her mind.
But... it was too difficult!
That almost obsessive craving, originating from Stelle's desire to rummage through trash cans, screamed like a virus deep within her code, urging her forward to open that lid and see what was inside!
Was it empty? Or was some treasure hidden within?
Even a piece of scrap paper seemed to possess a mysterious allure.
(Can't go! It will expose me! Mission first! Madam Herta's plan must not fail!) Rational alarms blared.
(Just a moment! Just a glance! What if there really is something inside?) Instinct's temptation whispered.
Her body tensed slightly, caught in a rigid internal struggle.
Kevin frowned slightly, looking at Yae Sakura's seemingly abnormal state, and spoke again, his tone heavier with doubt: "Yae Sakura, are you alright?"
(Ignore it! Must ignore it! I am Yae Sakura, I am calm, not the Trailblazer who can't move when she sees a trash can!)
Jack frantically gave herself commands internally.
She took a deep breath, forced herself to look away and turn to Kevin, trying to keep Yae Sakura's cool and calm voice:
"I'm fine."
However, Kevin's gaze remained scrutinizing: "Is that so? But you..."
He didn't finish his sentence, because he saw that although Yae Sakura said she was fine, her foot had moved a small step towards the trash can.
Jack was also slightly startled.
(Damn it! The power of this instinct... is actually affecting my motor nerves at a subconscious level?!)
Now, she had to immediately resolve Kevin's doubts, otherwise, with his keen perception, he would eventually discover the flaw.
"Kevin,"
"I think this,"
Yae Sakura raised her hand and pointed at the trash can, her face still wearing the indifferent expression of an ice beauty, "might be problematic."
Kevin's gaze fell once again on the unremarkable trash can: "A trash can? What problem could it have?"
He truly couldn't see what threat this data-simulated everyday object could pose.
"Don't you think,"
Yae Sakura's voice was flat, as if stating an objective fact, "it might be... too clean?"
Clean?
Kevin scrutinized the trash can.
Indeed, in the data space, it lacked the stains, rust, or wear and tear it would have in the real world; it was as good as new.
But wasn't that normal in the Paradise?
Most data-simulated items were like this.
"Perhaps the data is cleaned quickly?"
Kevin offered a reasonable hypothesis.
Even he didn't realize that a disruptive force, preset by Black Herta, was subtly influencing his judgment, preventing him from immediately becoming strongly wary of Yae Sakura's somewhat far-fetched explanation.
(Excellent! He bought it! Long live Madam Herta's power!)
Jack silently gave a thumbs-up in her heart.
"Perhaps it needs to be checked."
Yae Sakura said, seizing the opportunity. Then, as if finally finding a "reasonable" excuse, she no longer suppressed the surging instinct. Her hesitant steps instantly became firm, and in a few strides, she was beside the trash can.
Kevin stood with his arms crossed, watching Yae Sakura's actions, the confusion deepening in his icy blue eyes.
In his perception, this was still just an ordinary trash can, with no need for inspection.
But out of trust for his companion, he didn't stop her, merely watched quietly, wanting to see what Yae Sakura could possibly discover in this trash can. (Interference)
At this moment, Jack's hand was already pressed against the cold trash can lid.
That familiar sensation coursed through her, a wave of anticipation like an electric current, making her almost unable to control a slight tremor.
(Here it comes! This is the feeling!)
She took a deep breath, as if performing a solemn ritual, and then, with a sudden motion, flipped open the lid!
"Click."
The lid opened with a sound.
In that instant, Jack felt her soul ascend!
An indescribable, extreme sense of exhilaration exploded within her!
She even had to exert great effort to keep her lips from curving upwards, maintaining Yae Sakura's ice-queen poker face.
But her body still trembled slightly from this immense satisfaction.
(This is the feeling!)
Meanwhile, in Kevin's eyes, he saw Yae Sakura's body stiffen for a moment after opening the trash can, and then... she fell into silent "scrutiny" of the trash can's interior.
(If this were a game, a yellow question mark would probably appear above Kevin's head. As Yae Sakura's obviously abnormal, almost 'appreciative' focus on what seemed like a treasure deepened, this question mark might grow larger, even starting to flash red.)
Jack knew time was short; she had to act quickly.
She suppressed the urge to immediately reach in and rummage, using all her acting skills to maintain Yae Sakura's cold expression, and nodded at the empty interior of the can, as if confirming something extraordinary.
What was most remarkable was Kevin's mind, subtly interfered with by Black Herta's power—even seeing Yae Sakura, a Flame-Chaser known for her calmness and swiftness, now showing extraordinary interest in a trash can, even... (as Jack finally couldn't resist and reached into the trash can to investigate)
He merely frowned slightly, his confusion outweighing his vigilance.
(She's just... checking. Perhaps there really is some detail I haven't noticed?)
Kevin thought, perfectly demonstrating what it meant to "force a rational explanation."
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