Chapter 113: I Will Save All the Metas
Asagiri didn't react much. He only said flatly, "Then tell me."
"Okay."
Crazy Mita nodded once, then explained in a calm voice.
"I can use certain methods to remove the program bugs contaminating Mira and the room she lives in, but it will take at least ten minutes. During that time, I can't move or fight, and there is only one chance. If it gets interrupted, it will be impossible to save her again."
She paused briefly, then continued.
"As for why I said there would be a risk… I believe you, Player, and your three teammates who understand your abilities, know exactly what I mean."
Yuuki Asuna and the others understood immediately.
At this stage, Asagiri could not summon multiple Personas at the same time. If Crazy Mita began fixing Mira's bug contamination, she would be unable to move or fight, which meant Asagiri's unique talent would be effectively sealed during that window.
Not only that, to keep Crazy Mita summoned, Asagiri would have to keep her as the currently equipped Persona. That meant Human Asura's physical enhancement would no longer apply.
In other words, if they chose Crazy Mita's plan, Asagiri would lose both his Persona combat options and the superhuman physical boost he normally gained from Human Asura. His body would drop from beyond human limits to near human limits.
"I see. This might be Prototype Mita's strategy."
Iwanaga Kotoko rubbed her chin, eyes narrowed in thought.
"If this is a trap deliberately designed by her, then the moment Crazy Mita starts repairing Mira's bug contamination, Prototype Mita will strike. It will take advantage of the time when Leader can't use his full strength. This is her only chance to win."
Kotoko's tone sharpened.
"On the other hand, if we ignore Mira and abandon her…"
She didn't need to finish.
Yuuki Asuna and Kato Megumi already understood.
If Prototype Mita was willing to use such a method, it meant she wasn't confident in beating the four person team head on. Since they suspected a trap, the most rational choice was to leave Mira behind and keep moving. After all, with Crazy Mita already in Asagiri's hands, they held the initiative.
Give up the initiative, take a huge risk, and do it to save someone who was basically an NPC in a game based world?
It was impulsive.
But…
Yuuki Asuna looked at Mira. The girl was trembling slightly, her face pale. Yuuki Asuna parted her lips, then froze. She couldn't bring herself to say the cruel words that would leave Mira behind.
Even if it was the correct rational choice, Yuuki Asuna was kind. She couldn't do it.
Kato Megumi felt the same.
And Iwanaga Kotoko…
Kotoko's position was already clear. She was different from Yuuki Asuna and Kato Megumi. Yes, she spoke abstract nonsense and tossed dirty jokes around, but that was just her human side. She also had the side called the God of Wisdom, a part of her that did not waver, no matter what.
Rational to the point of ruthlessness.
Now the final decision fell to Asagiri.
The three girls all looked at him.
"I think…"
Asagiri had just started to speak when Mira suddenly cut in, voice trembling with emotion.
"Wait! As the person involved, shouldn't I be allowed to speak before you decide?!"
"Your opinion?" Crazy Mita rested her chin on one hand and stared at Mira with a teasing look. "Do we even need to ask? It'll be some boring plea like, 'Please save me, Player,' right? Nothing new."
"What Player? He's not my Player!"
Mira's response caught Crazy Mita off guard.
Mira pushed up her glasses, then glared at Asagiri with a tight frown. She pointed at Crazy Mita on the bed and snapped.
"You actually colluded with this crazy monster? She must have instigated you! You're not my Player, and I'm not Mita. I'm Mira! You, this monster, and your companions should stay as far away from me as possible!"
Her words came out fast, sharp, defensive.
"Don't come near me! You don't want to help me, you want to harm me!"
After she said that, Mira sat back down in her gaming chair, turned to the screen, and lowered her voice.
"I don't want to see you. Go away. Don't stay in my house."
"Since she said so, let's go."
Out of the corner of her eye, Mira saw Crazy Mita stand up from the bed. She heard the bedroom door open, then close.
Then…
Silence.
The same silence that had always filled this room.
"Did they leave…?"
The moment the room truly went quiet, Mira's eyes dimmed.
On the computer screen, a two dimensional Mita character with perky twin tails and red calf socks stood frozen in place, bright and lively in a way Mira no longer felt. Tears welled up in Mira's eyes. Her hands clenched on her knees.
"Don't go… don't leave me alone… I'm so scared…"
Then she heard a voice behind her.
Warm. Amused. Smiling.
"With acting that clumsy, anyone can tell you're worried about our safety and trying to drive us away. If you're scared, why bother pretending? Why not just say it?"
"Huh?"
Mira spun the gaming chair around.
Asagiri stood there, smiling. Crazy Mita, Yuuki Asuna, and the others were behind him, quiet and steady.
They hadn't left at all.
"How could you…"
"This world really is great, isn't it, Leader?"
Iwanaga Kotoko whispered, jealousy dripping from every syllable.
"All the Mitas, including this one who calls herself Mira, put you first. Even though she's terrified, she still prioritizes your safety and tries to push you away with harsh words. Sigh. A dating game."
Mira stared at Asagiri, expression complicated, voice small.
"Player… why aren't you leaving?"
She didn't know his exact abilities, but from what she'd heard earlier, she could guess that saving her meant taking a huge risk. Maybe even dying here.
She didn't want that. Even if it meant she would fall into the deepest layer of the program and suffer forever, she still didn't want to see him die.
But Asagiri looked at her like the answer was obvious.
"Why would I leave? Is that even a question? Of course I'm staying to save you."
His smile softened. His voice turned quieter.
"Why do people pursue power? So that once they have it, they can do what they want, and protect what they want to protect."
He took one step closer.
"And if I truly wanted to save you, but abandoned you because I was afraid… would I still have the confidence to call myself absolutely strong?"
His gaze was steady, unshakable.
"Not just me. Our four person team would be affected. From that moment on, we would stop believing we can always do it. We'd become timid. We'd lose the most important thing about being a Player."
He paused.
Then he spoke slowly, each word landing with weight.
"The most important point is this."
"I'm a top Player who pursues a perfect clear."
His smile returned, gentle but sharp at the edges.
"I will save this world, and all the Mitas in this world, including you."
"Player…"
Mira's eyes trembled, shining with emotion.
Beside her, Crazy Mita pouted and muttered, almost annoyed by the sincerity.
"That's enough. Let's start already."
Then she looked at Asagiri.
"By the way, while I'm fixing the bug, I can't fight. But I can take a weapon out of my inventory for you to use. Do you need one?"
"Chainsaw. Bring it."
"Okay."
Crazy Mita reached into her inventory and pulled out the handheld chainsaw, then handed it to Asagiri.
The items in her inventory replenished themselves each time she was summoned, but she could only take out one piece of equipment or one item at a time. Even with grenades, she couldn't pull out ten at once. She had to throw one, let it explode, then take out the next.
And Crazy Mita's chainsaw was not an ordinary tool.
It was a reinforced, absurdly overbuilt version that could even cut through thick wooden doors. If the system rated it, it would be at least a purple level weapon.
As for the principle and material?
Don't ask.
Just accept it as the underlying logic of this dating game world.
"All right."
Asagiri pressed the button with practiced ease. The chainsaw roared to life with a hungry buzz, and a genuine smile of joy spread across his face.
"This really suits my profession."
Seeing him like that, eager, delighted, almost like a perverted murderer about to have fun, Yuuki Asuna couldn't help but sigh.
"Can we stop acting like a villain boss every time we're about to fight? Don't scare Prototype Mita into hiding like this one did."
Crazy Mita snorted, clearly offended, and shot back.
"I was only cowardly one time, and you're going to nag me about it forever?"
"P Player!"
Just as everyone finished preparing, Mira suddenly grabbed a long sword. She held the hilt with both hands, eyes fierce with determination.
"I want to fight with you too!"
.....
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