Following Hayashi, they walked through the corridor of Hyakkaou Private Academy.
Arriving at the Academy Garden, Yuki and Asuna saw Hayashi's target for this trip.
—Jabami Yumeko.
She was wearing Hyakkaou Private Academy's signature red suit uniform over a white shirt, the colors strikingly vivid.
She had long black hair, a beautiful face, and crimson eyes.
She was currently sitting in the Flower Pavilion in the Academy Garden, sipping coffee that steamed gently.
At first glance, she looked exactly like a gentle, elegant, and beautiful young lady of high standing.
The moment she saw her, Yuki, who seemed to have realized something, was momentarily stunned.
Σ(°ロ°)
"Suou-senpai?"
Seeing Hayashi walk straight toward the girl whose gentle face held a hint of foxy charm, Asuna, who hadn't yet grasped the situation, called out to the suddenly stunned Yuki in confusion.
"Perhaps... it really is," Yuki's muttering caused Asuna to freeze, and she asked, puzzled:
"Suou-senpai, 'it really is what'?"
"Asuna, look at her neck." Yuki pointed at Yumeko's neck.
Asuna looked as instructed and instantly noticed the anomaly—
That girl's neck... actually had no burn marks!
It was important to know that every student Asuna had encountered while wandering the academy all morning had burn marks on their necks, but Yumeko didn't.
She sat elegantly, her posture gentle and refined, every bit a normal noble young lady.
Yet, she was wearing the Hyakkaou Private Academy uniform!
In this campus, which felt like a [Curse] Domain, her excessive normalcy... was the biggest abnormality!
"She's so normal... that it's abnormal!" Realizing this, Asuna felt a chill run up her spine.
However, compared to the hideous form of Saotome behind them, the outwardly normal Yumeko didn't scare Asuna into tears.
"It seems... she is the true [Curse] of this academy."
Yuki could not hide her surprise.
She had actually guessed wrong—the [Curse]of the academy really wasn't Momobami Kirari!
"But... aren't all the students in the academy are [Curse]s?" Asuna felt confused and asked doubtfully.
In response, Yuki shook her head.
"Those with burn marks on their necks are [Curse] slaves; she is the true [Curse]...
Hayashi really has something going on."
Saying this, Yuki informed Asuna of the fact that "the number of [Curse]s in an Instance is usually limited."
Only then did Asuna understand that the person before them was the real big boss.
'Hayashi-san actually locked onto the instance boss on the very first day! How amazing!'
Though she didn't know how he managed it, Asuna was currently filled with frustration. Her grades weren't bad back in school, but here, despite being a fellow newcomer, her performance and Hayashi's were worlds apart.
Although she was genuinely afraid of [Curse]s... A gap was still a gap!
'I still need Suou-senpai's protection, yet he is already confronting the final boss... He is so strong!'
Temporarily setting aside Asuna's feeling of admiration.
Hayashi had already taken a seat opposite Yumeko.
"Hoo~"
Yumeko's quiet yet slightly seductive face showed no hint of displeasure regarding Hayashi's abrupt interruption of a lady's coffee time; she continued to sip her hot coffee placidly. She even politely poured a cup of coffee for Hayashi afterward.
Elegant and polite, with a beautiful and refined appearance that carried a hint of inner seductiveness.
If she weren't in this academy but outside, she would definitely be a highly sought-after young lady—provided people didn't know her personality.
"Thank you."
Hayashi politely took the coffee she offered, but instead of tasting it, he spoke words that caused a slight change in Yumeko's expression.
"Miss Yumeko, how about a gamble?"
—Gamble!
This word instantly seized Yumeko's focus.
As if a mechanism had been triggered, her crimson eyes suddenly cracked, and dark fissures spread from her pupils, crawling across the corners of her eyes!
Her waist swayed, and she leaned half her body forward, soft as a snake, closing the distance.
Eerie, dangerous, her cracked, python-like vertical pupils locked firmly onto Hayashi.
Time ticked by slowly.
Hayashi's expression was calm, seemingly ignoring her terrifying transformation.
But Yuki and Asuna behind him felt immense pressure.
Yumeko's transformation was far more than just visual—even though the signs of [Curse]ification were still shallow, her oppressive aura far surpassed Saotome!
Even when only grazed by her gaze, not directly facing her like Hayashi, the two felt as if they had fallen into a serpent's lair!
Cold, fishy breaths seemed to drift across their faces, causing them to tremble all over.
Especially Asuna—if Saotome was a terror of sight, Yumeko was a fear that struck the soul directly.
This kind of direct confrontation with a [Curse] was simply too much for Asuna, a newcomer already terrified of [Curse]s, to handle.
"Don't be afraid, it's the first day! She can't attack directly!" Just as Asuna was on the verge of collapsing and tears were about to flow, Yuki held her hand and comforted her.
"Th... thanks?"
Asuna's voice trembled.
But the warmth radiating from the palm of her hand and Hayashi facing Yumeko ahead ultimately made her rub back the tears welling in her eyes.
'My performance is terrible! If Suou-senpai hadn't been willing to take me along...
If I had entered the dungeon alone, I would surely have died!'
Asuna had a clear understanding of her current performance, and she wanted to change her poor state.
But clearly, the fear of [Curse]s is deeply ingrained in ordinary people, especially since she was already extremely afraid of [Curse]s.
'If only I could be as calm and brave as Hayashi-san... how wonderful that would be.'
Asuna's thoughts were complicated, filled with admiration for Hayashi's composed attitude. Meanwhile, on Hayashi's side, Yumeko stared at him for a long time. She seemed not to detect the unique aura of a gambler, and her seductive, slightly hoarse voice spoke with disinterest:
"Gamble... what?"
But contrary to Yumeko's expectation that Hayashi lacked the exciting aura, Hayashi's next words thrilled her!
"I—bet—my—life!" Hayashi stated, word by word. As soon as his voice fell, the scene instantly became dead silent.
Showdown is a form of wisdom! Those who dare to bet their lives are excellent gamblers!
At this moment, Yumeko admitted she had misjudged him earlier.
Yuki hadn't expected Hayashi to be truly so daring. When he mentioned betting his life earlier, he wasn't exaggerating—he really intended to do it!
Asuna found Hayashi both brave and crazy, but knowing she was a novice, she dared not comment rashly.
Yumeko was silent for a moment, then her eerie vertical pupils suddenly widened.
The gentle, seductive mask peeled away inch by inch, swallowed by maniacal laughter. The smile was exaggerated and distorted, yet strangely radiating a breathtaking charm amidst the eeriness—as if Hayashi's single sentence had brought her to a state of ultimate... ecstatic expression.
The girl's sudden facial transformation was truly peerless.
"Hehe~~"
Yumeko laughed madly, filled with pleasure, surprise, and excitement... Clearly, Hayashi's words made her very happy.
"I accept!"
Saying this, Yumeko swept her delicate hand—the exquisite cup and saucer were knocked off and shattered instantly! She licked the corner of her lips like a snake's tongue, seductive yet dangerous.
As for what her stake was, there was no need to mention it; a stake equal to a life was naturally another life!
Even if she was a [Curse]!
A gambling fanatic like her loved this kind of wager the most! Regardless of winning or losing! She was obsessed with the ultimate rush of putting everything on the table!
"These two maniacs!!!!"
Even as a veteran of the dungeon, Yuki felt a chill in her heart watching the calmly confident Hayashi and the excitedly manic Yumeko, whose expression was almost abstract.
They truly were evenly matched opponents, both types who didn't value their own lives.
Yuki suddenly wondered if recruiting Hayashi into their section so early was inappropriate.
'This guy! I have a feeling he's going to cause a lot of problems'
But then her thoughts shifted—
'Who cares! I'm just the vice section chief, the second-in-command. As the saying goes, the second-in-command enjoys the privileges, and the first-in-command takes the blame. Kaguya is the section chief, and besides, we still have Elysia backing us up!'
Instantly, she felt completely justified: How was this trouble? She was clearly recruiting outstanding talent for the section! Kaguya and the others should thank her.
As long as Hayashi wins, Showdown is indeed a form of wisdom!!
TL Notes:
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