The city felt different.
Not louder.
Not quieter.
Just—
Heavier.
Like something invisible had settled over everything.
Pressing down.
Watching.
Waiting.
Rishiro walked alone through the empty street.
The katana rested loosely in his hand.
The oni's hammer balanced over his shoulder.
Each step echoed softly against the cracked pavement.
Slow.
Steady.
Measured.
As if the world itself was listening.
As if something—
Was watching him.
"…Feels like it's getting worse."
His voice was quiet.
Thoughtful.
He stopped.
The wind brushed past him.
A faint breath escaped his lips.
"…Good."
No fear.
No hesitation.
Just—
Acceptance.
Then—
"…Status."
A faint blue glow cut through the air in front of him.
Sharp.
Unnatural.
[PLAYER STATUS]Name: RishiroTitle: Irregular PlayerLevel: 12 → 15Strength: 18Agility: 21Endurance: 17Perception: 20Belief Energy: 34
"…Fifteen already."
His tone didn't change.
No excitement.
No surprise.
Just—
Calculation.
His eyes moved slowly across the screen.
Breaking everything down.
Analyzing.
"…Agility's still highest."
A small pause.
"…That fits."
His movements.
His fighting style.
Speed over power.
Precision over force.
Then—
He paused.
Belief Energy.
The number lingered.
"…Still increasing."
The whispers echoed faintly in his mind.
Liar.
A small smile appeared.
Not amused.
Not annoyed.
Understanding.
"…So that's connected."
The screen flickered.
Just for a moment.
Barely noticeable.
But wrong.
[NOTICE]Title Effect Active: Irregular PlayerSystem Response: Unstable
"…Unstable."
The word stayed.
Heavy.
Out of place.
The screen glitched again—
Like something didn't want to show everything.
Like something was being hidden.
Then—
It corrected itself.
Back to normal.
As if nothing had happened.
Rishiro chuckled quietly.
Low.
Interested.
"…You're not supposed to react like that."
No answer.
The system stayed silent.
Cold.
Unresponsive.
The screen faded away.
Leaving only the empty street behind.
"…Still not enough."
He adjusted the hammer slightly on his shoulder.
Its weight—
Real.
Grounding.
"…Not even close."
A small pause.
Then—
"…Let's go back."
Later…
The abandoned house.
The door creaked open slowly.
Rishiro stepped inside.
The room shifted instantly.
Three heads turned toward him.
Maru.
Daichi.
Hikari.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
The tension was still there.
Not gone.
Just—
Thinner.
Less sharp than before.
Maru broke first.
"…You're back."
Her voice was quieter than usual.
"…Yeah."
Rishiro walked in casually.
Like nothing had happened.
Then—
THUD
The hammer hit the floor.
Heavy.
Loud.
All three flinched slightly.
The sound echoed through the room.
"…What is that?" Daichi asked.
Rishiro glanced at him.
Simple.
Direct.
"…Yours."
Daichi blinked.
"…Huh?"
"Oni weapon."
A small pause.
"Try it."
Daichi hesitated.
Then stepped forward.
Picked it up.
The moment he lifted it—
His arms dipped slightly.
The weight surprised him.
"…Damn…"
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"…This is insane."
Something in his expression changed.
Excitement.
Confidence.
Rishiro shifted his gaze.
Toward Maru.
Without a word—
He tossed the katana.
It spun once in the air.
She caught it instinctively.
"…Wait—"
She stared at it.
The blade.
The balance.
"…You're serious?"
"Better than a bat."
"Faster."
Maru looked down at it again.
Then—
She nodded.
Firm.
"…Got it."
No hesitation this time.
Hikari adjusted her glasses.
"…And me?"
Rishiro looked at her.
Measured.
Understanding.
"…You're not built for frontline."
She frowned slightly.
Not offended—
But thinking.
"…Then what?"
"…Think."
A small pause.
"…Watch everything."
His voice stayed calm.
Precise.
"…Tell us before things go wrong."
Hikari blinked.
Processing.
Then slowly—
She nodded.
"…I can do that."
And just like that—
Roles formed.
Naturally.
Without force.
Silence settled again.
But this time—
It was different.
Not heavy.
Not awkward.
Steady.
Grounded.
Daichi testing the hammer's weight.
Maru adjusting her grip on the katana.
Hikari already scanning the room.
Observing.
Learning.
Rishiro leaned against the wall.
Watching them.
Quietly.
Then—
"…You hesitated."
The words cut through the silence.
Calm.
Not harsh.
But clear.
Maru froze slightly.
Daichi looked away.
Hikari didn't respond.
Rishiro didn't push.
Didn't press.
Didn't judge.
"…Doesn't matter."
A small pause.
"…You're still here."
That—
That alone—
Changed something.
Subtle.
But real.
Rishiro pushed himself off the wall.
Stepped forward.
"…This world doesn't care if you're ready."
His voice stayed even.
Unchanging.
"…or not."
Another step.
"…You either keep up…"
A brief pause.
"…or you die."
No one argued.
No one denied it.
Because they already knew.
Rishiro looked at them.
One by one.
Then—
A faint grin appeared.
Sharp.
Certain.
"…So stop hesitating."
A small pause.
"…It's time to get stronger."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"…all of you."
Outside…
The wind moved softly through the empty street.
Nando-baba paused mid-sweep.
Her broom hovered slightly above the ground.
A chill ran down her back.
Unfamiliar.
Uncomfortable.
"…Is it too chilly today…?"
She looked around slowly.
As if trying to find the source.
But there was nothing.
Just wind.
Just silence.
Sweep.
Sweep.
But something—
Had changed.
And it wasn't going back.
End of Chapter 25