"It's settled then! We have plenty of anomalous information in our division."
Yuki nodded, agreeing to Hayashi's request, and then began to introduce him to the generous benefits and treatment of the Anomaly Control Division.
"Listen to me, our Anomaly Control Division has the best benefits.
A monthly salary of 650.000 yen, seven insurances and three funds, extra bonuses for missions, and no need to be in the office on weekdays—just keep communication open." [1]
"You're that popular?" Hayashi asked curiously.
"Once you have a cursed tool, you'll naturally understand why our division has such excellent benefits." Yuki's lips curved into a mysterious smile, keeping him in suspense.
"Cursed tools, huh..." Hayashi nodded thoughtfully.
It seemed the purpose of cursed tools was far more than just resisting three [Curse] attacks in the dungeon; they must have a more crucial use.
Seeing Yuki mention cursed tools, Hayashi seized the opportunity to ask,
"Suou-senpai, do you think there will be cursed tools in this instance dungeon...?"
"Definitely!" Yuki said with certainty.
But seeing Hayashi eager to search, she reminded him:
"However, I advise you to... behave yourself in this instance dungeon."
Hearing this, Hayashi cast a puzzled look.
Hayashi's eager gaze seemed to please Yuki—as if she had regained some of the senpai's authority lost due to Saotome.
She cleared her throat and said unhurriedly,
"Normally, the number of [Curse]s in an instance dungeon is limited. Even after the fourth dungeon, it rarely exceeds a dozen."
"But in the first gate you experienced, all the students in the entire academy were [Curse]s! Do you know what this means?"
Yuki didn't wait for Hayashi to answer, directly revealing the answer:
"It means that most of these students are just [Curse] Slaves, or so-called 'Inferior'. The true [Curse] of this academy... is probably only one!
I speculate that [Curse]... is none other than the student council president—Momobami Kirari. To obtain a cursed tool, you can only start with her."
At this point, her tone changed, and her expression suddenly became serious.
"But I advise you... to drop that idea as soon as possible."
At this moment, there was no trace of jest on Yuki's face; her gaze, fixed on Hayashi, clearly conveyed a warning.
"Won't it be fine if I just win against her in a gamble?"
Hayashi, following her serious demeanor, also showed some earnestness, but his tone lacked any fear.
"Heh..." Yuki sneered, her contempt evident.
"If my deduction is correct, then the entire Hyakkaou Private Academy is Momobami Kirari's [Curse] domain! Gambling against a high-level [Curse] in their [Curse] domain?
Are you crazy, or am I crazy?!"
Yuki's meaning couldn't be clearer: she believed there was no chance of winning.
"You should be glad this is the first dungeon, considered novice difficulty."
"You just need to gamble with those [Curse] Slaves to survive, or even win a [Curse] Slave to take back. Otherwise...
Courage and recklessness are separated by only a fine line. You will die!"
She gently patted Hayashi's shoulder with her lady's fan, feigning intimidation, trying to catch a hint of fear on his face.
However, Hayashi not only showed no fear but also developed an interest in the lady's fan in her hand—a chilling aura was seeping into his shoulder along the fan's surface.
Clearly, this fan was a cursed tool.
Hayashi understood in his heart, but his gaze met Yuki's without evasion, and a clear smile played on his lips, overtly telling Yuki that there was a trap here.
"Suou-senpai believes she can't win against that 'true [Curse]' in the academy?"
Hayashi's tone made Yuki slightly displeased, but she was not reckless and frankly admitted:
"Yes, I admit I am absolutely no match for her."
"Oh~ Suou-senpai is really lame~"
(｡•̀ ⤙ •́ ｡ꐦ)
Listening to Hayashi call her "senpai" repeatedly, yet mock her as lame without any respect, Yuki's slender hand clenched, wanting to punch him.
Knowing he was trying to provoke her, Yuki still couldn't help but retort, "You think you can beat her?"
Seeing Yuki getting worked up, Hayashi's smile became even more pronounced as he said.
"Naturally. If Suou-senpai doesn't believe me, how about a bet?"
Hayashi's tone, clearly saying, "I've dug a pit and am waiting for you to jump in," was unmistakable.
Yuki looked suspicious:
'Did this guy find a way?
Impossible! It's only the first day, and no one has died yet.
...Moreover, it's gambling against a high-level [Curse] who controls a [Curse] Domain! Nine lives wouldn't be enough.'
'What makes him so confident?'
A thousand questions ultimately turned into one sentence from Yuki's mouth.
"What's the bet?"
Even knowing it was a trap, Hayashi's confidence made Yuki itch with curiosity, and she couldn't help but press for details.
"If I'm lucky enough to win," Hayashi said, a mischievous glint in his eyes, then added in an ambiguous tone:
"Then Suou-senpai will call me 'Onii-chan' while dancing for me—and I'll choose the dance costume."
Before Yuki could react, he suddenly changed his tone and said calmly:
"If I lose... the bet is naturally my life."
Hayashi's calm words made Yuki's eyelids twitch.
'Good heavens! Such an 'awesome' newcomer is truly unprecedented!
Just this courage to stake his life is worthy of admiration!'
Not angered by Hayashi's teasing, Yuki replied with interest:
"Oh my~~ Hayashi-san, you are indeed very interesting.
In that case, I accept this gamble. I'll be waiting... eagerly looking forward to dancing for the victor."
"It's a deal!"
Hayashi confidently extended his palm.
"It's a deal!"
Yuki proudly tapped his palm with her slender hand.
Although she believed Hayashi's chances of winning were slim, she appreciated his confidence.
However, appreciation aside, she still felt this was reckless... what a pity for such an interesting and compatible newcomer.
She had even wanted to develop him into a comrade.
Just as Yuki was secretly lamenting, Hayashi suddenly stood up.
"Why aren't you eating anymore?" Yuki asked, puzzled.
"Eat what? I'm going to find Yumeko." Hayashi said without looking back.
"Yumeko?" Yuki became even more confused. "Who?"
"Jabami Yumeko." Hayashi didn't stop. "Suou-senpai, you made a mistake: the 'true [Curse]' of this academy isn't Momobami Kirari, but Jabami Yumeko!"
Hearing this, Yuki blinked her crystal-clear, adorable eyes in confusion, a pure bewilderment flashing in her gaze.
Jabami Yumeko? Who is that?
Why is she a [Curse]? Is it because of her gambling skills? Is she the Gambling Goddess of Hyakkaou Private Academy?
The [Curse] in the academy isn't Momobami Kirari, who burned down the entire academy, but the unknown Jabami Yumeko??
Does this make sense?
It doesn't make sense!
But how did Hayashi know this with such certainty? How did he know? How did he investigate it?
At this moment, Hayashi seemed shrouded in layers of mist in her eyes, mysterious and unfathomable.
This guy... he isn't reckless but truly confident and truly brave, is he?
In less than a day, he found a way out of this instance dungeon? A sure-win method?
No way!
Recalling the bet just now, an ominous premonition suddenly seized Yuki's heart.
(ó﹏ò｡)
"Huh, Suou-senpai? Where's Hayashi-san? And... your expression is so complicated?"
Asuna, returning with her meal, happened to catch Yuki's changing expression and asked curiously.
"Nothing,"
Yuki shook her head, seemingly unable to believe her intuition, and continued.
"It's just a feeling... I might be in trouble."
"?"
Asuna tilted her head in confusion, her mind full of questions.
But Yuki didn't explain further.
Instead, she followed Hayashi's retreating back.
Just as Hayashi said, eat? What's there to eat!
How could she eat now! She had to follow Hayashi to see if Jabami Yumeko was truly a [Curse]!
And why was Hayashi so confident? If she was, wouldn't she really have to call him Onii-chan while dancing for him and even wear the dance costume he chose…?
~~~If it turned into a hentai manga scene.
Tsk~~
Leaving aside Miss Suou's rapidly racing thoughts at the moment.
Asuna looked at their retreating backs with a puzzled expression.
Suddenly—
Crunch
The sound of a shoelace being bitten made her look down, meeting Saotome's hideous [Curse]ly face, greedily staring at her ankle!
Asuna's face turned pale, and she cried out in her heart:
'Hayashi-san! Your [Curse] is still here!!'
Her legs turning to jelly, she no longer cared about eating and hurriedly chased after them.
TL Notes:
[1] In raw it was 30.000 with no currency, so I assume it's yuan and convert it to yen (round down from 667.729,9031 to 650.000 for convenience). Also the insurance and funds are paid in the *** to research if it exists in Japan, so I left it as it is.
Note that in raw Japan didn't exist and was just called Sakura Province, part of the "Celestial" dynasty, but it feels too… unnecessarily racist to me, so I change it. Comment if you agree or disagree.
Merry Christmas~