Asagiri nodded slowly, a flicker of genuine appreciation crossing his features.
Yuuki Asuna was truly impressive.
If it were any ordinary high school girl, having just cleared a death-trap of a dungeon a few hours prior and witnessed the grotesque, blood-soaked reality of mortality, they would likely want to avoid the game at all costs.
They would cower, beg for a way out, or simply break.
Yet, after a few moments of rational thought, she had made the coldest, most correct choice available.
“Then, let’s set the time for our next dungeon entry for this Saturday,” he said, leaning back against the desk.
“Saturday?” Asuna frowned slightly, her competitive edge showing.
“Why don’t we just queue up now?
If we register today, we can enter the dungeon on Thursday.”
Asagiri spread his hands, delivering a line she clearly never expected to hear from him.
“Thursday is a school day.
We have class.”
Asuna blinked, her expression twisting into utter confusion.
“Are you…
the type who actually cares about perfect attendance?”
Asagiri shook his head, a dry smile tugging at his lips.
“How could that be?
I skip class relentlessly.”
“Then why…”
“What if there are other Players lurking in our school?” Asagiri dropped the smile, his tone shifting into something sharp and serious.
“This is the first week of the semester, and it’s also our first day as active Players.
If there are other participants hiding among the student body, and we both suddenly take a leave of absence or skip class on Thursday—especially after walking through the front gates together this morning—the flaw in our cover would be too obvious.
We’d be painting targets on our own backs.”
“Hmm, you’re right.
I didn’t consider that angle.” Asuna nodded, her brow furrowing in thought.
“The app’s rules don’t specify the exact time of entry on the day of the dungeon run, so Friday is out too.
If we suddenly vanish into thin air right in the middle of a lecture, it’s all over.
However, there is one convenient loophole.
As registered friends on the system, if we queue together, we are guaranteed to enter the same instance.”
“Then it’s decided.” Asagiri tapped his fingers against the wood.
“I just hope this twisted game doesn’t use dynamic difficulty.
That mechanic is the root of all evil.”
“Dynamic difficulty?” Asuna had never been much of a gamer, and the jargon flew right over her head.
She tilted her head, asking curiously, “What exactly is that?”
Asagiri patiently adopted the tone of a seasoned veteran educating a novice.
“So-called dynamic difficulty is a sadistic little measure adopted by game developers to prevent a game from becoming too easy, which would normally cause players to lose interest.
Simply put, it means the monsters in each area will automatically scale up and become stronger as the player’s level or hidden matchmaking rating increases.”
“You mean…
because we secured such an absurdly high rating after clearing the beginner dungeon, it’s highly possible that the system will drastically inflate the difficulty of our next run?
Then…
if that’s the case, what is the point of risking our lives to get the highest clear rating every single time?”
“That is exactly why it is so important.” Asagiri’s eyes gleamed with a dark, expectant thrill.
He let out a low, light chuckle.
“If the system can actually handle scaling the horror to match my pace, then this game might truly be interesting.”
Asuna sighed softly, pressing a hand to her forehead in utter resignation.
“I’m starting to suspect that your little stunt—playing the kazoo in the middle of class—wasn’t some calculated move to fulfill a promise with Ashikaga-sensei or to draw strategic attention to yourself.
You did it simply for fun, didn’t you?”
“No need to doubt your instincts.” Asagiri answered smoothly, completely devoid of shame.
“I am entirely motivated by my own amusement.”
With that settled, Asagiri pushed himself off the desk and strolled toward the office exit.
“Alright, I’m going to go buy a bento.
I recall there being a decent gym inside Shuchiin Academy.
Let’s meet up there after lunch.”
Hearing the word ‘bento’, Asuna jolted, suddenly standing up.
“I knew I forgot something.
I’ve been so hyper-focused on the dungeon mechanics that I completely forgot to bring my lunch to school.
Wait, let’s go buy bentos together.”
“Are you sure about that?” Asagiri glanced back over his shoulder, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
“I’m a bit of an infamous celebrity at Shuchiin Academy right now.
Quite a few people are openly hostile toward me.
You’re a brand-new transfer student who just arrived mid-year.
If you’re seen walking side-by-side with the school menace, you might get targeted and ostracized right along with me.”
Asuna replied instantly, her voice crisp and unhesitating.
“Hmph.
Who I choose to associate with is my own freedom.
Besides, we’ve literally walked through life and death together.
Just because you’re unpopular with a bunch of spoiled teenagers, I’m supposed to pretend I don’t know you, only to shamelessly rely on your protection the second we enter a death game?
I’m not that kind of person.
I couldn’t stomach doing something so two-faced.
If I get ostracized, then I get ostracized.
I don’t care.”
Asagiri chuckled, amused by her fiery stubbornness.
“Oh?
After locking the office door behind them, the two handled the pristine hallways toward the on-campus supermarket counter.
It had to be said, Shuchiin Academy truly lived up to its elite pedigree.
The bentos sold at the counter weren’t just standard fare.
While they offered regular meals fluctuating around a modest 800 yen, the shelves were also stocked with absurdly high-end options—premium wagyu steak sets priced at 5,000 yen, and lavish seafood assortments reaching up to 7,000 yen.
After all, not every student at Shuchiin hailed from an old-money conglomerate with a fleet of personal chefs.
Some parents were simply busy executives who lacked the time to prepare homemade lunches, yet deemed the preservative-laden bentos from outside convenience stores too unhealthy for their heirs.
Hence, the academy provided this luxury catering service.
“What kind of bento do you want?” Asagiri asked, scanning the display.
Asuna looked up at the menu board and the staggering prices listed above.
“Just…
a regular pork cutlet bento, I guess.”
Asagiri turned to the clerk.
“Two pork cutlet bentos.
How much?”
“That will be 1,600 yen, sir.”
“Alright, put it on one tab.” Asagiri reached into his jacket pocket, his hand sliding inside as if to pull out his wallet and settle the bill like a gentleman.
Seeing this, Asuna quickly unzipped her own designer purse and pulled out her wallet.
“Let me treat you.”
What she absolutely did not expect was for Asagiri to instantly abandon all pretense of politeness.
He immediately yanked his empty hand out of his pocket and took a swift step back from the counter, leaving her standing alone at the register.
“I was just waiting for you to say that.
Alright, you go ahead and pay.”
“No, wait, you…” Asuna stared at him, utterly speechless.
She had sincerely wanted to treat him as thanks for the dungeon, but the sheer speed at which he accepted—the shameless eagerness of his retreat—was infuriating.
Asagiri maintained a perfectly calm, stoic expression and waved his hand dismissively.
“No need to thank me.”
“Thank you?” Asuna’s voice pitched up in sheer exasperation.
“I’m the one paying!
Shouldn’t you be thanking me?!”
“Hmm?
What kind of backward logic is that?” Asagiri countered, his tone dripping with matter-of-fact superiority.
“To be granted the privilege of treating the esteemed Asagiri-kun to a meal, and to simultaneously secure the rare opportunity of eating that bento in his presence…
facing such a monumental gift from destiny, do you not feel a deep sense of gratitude swelling in your heart?
This attitude is no good, Yuuki-san.”
[Inorin’s Note:
Hey guys, hope you’re enjoying the novel!
Hate waiting for updates and cliffhangers?