Chapter 119: A Game Affecting Reality
The news report was straightforward.
A few days ago, a large scale disappearance incident had occurred. In the folklore of Japan, this kind of sudden vanishing was called Kami Kakushi.
"Subways, shopping streets, buses… so many places where people witnessed Kami Kakushi happening…"
Asagiri read through the article and shook his head.
"There are too many foolish people. They know they must enter a Dungeon once a month, yet they still go to crowded places and gamble on luck. Judging by the report, the ones who disappeared in front of witnesses never made it back alive."
Iwanaga Kotoko spoke in her usual calm tone.
"They don't have the ability to clear Dungeons, not even basic psychological resilience. Running to crowded places is just panic. They didn't even think about what happens if they clear and return in a different location. The first stage Dungeons aren't that hard, but anyone who can't face danger will be eliminated sooner or later."
Yuuki Asuna's expression turned complicated as she quietly reminded him.
"Look at the comments."
Asagiri swiped down, scrolling into the comment section. Sure enough, one stood out immediately.
"This isn't Kami Kakushi, it's a death game! The people who didn't come back are all dead in another world!"
"Hoh. This netizen is really something."
Asagiri couldn't help laughing at the sheer recklessness.
"What's the point of posting that? People who don't know will think you're unstable, and you're exposing your Player identity too. Do you think using some random alt account makes you safe? You're seriously underestimating the internet. Whether you get doxxed by other Players or targeted by official agencies, it won't end well. That's basically digging your own grave."
Yuuki Asuna sighed softly.
"Even though we expected it, the changes this game will bring to the world… it's still worrying."
The four of them had known from the beginning that this so called "game" could not remain secret forever.
On the day the first stage ended, Players who lacked the courage to enter Dungeons voluntarily were forcibly teleported in. That many people disappearing on the same day could never be fully covered up. And the ones mentioned in the news, terrified enough to cling to crowds for safety, only made it worse. When the teleport happened in broad daylight, there was no hiding it.
Asagiri handed the phone back to Yuuki Asuna, then spoke evenly.
"Given the situation, we can assume official agencies and certain interested parties have already learned the basics of the game. They probably even discovered the hidden rule from Players who tried to seek help. They've likely started preparing to hunt Players, kill them, and take their phones to register as Players."
He looked at the three of them, voice steady.
"In other words, the second stage has officially begun. It's not just the danger inside Dungeons anymore. Concealing your Player identity in the real world has become an elimination mechanism too. Players who aren't careful enough, smart enough, or who act recklessly will get hunted like prey. The ones who kill them will take their place and become new Players."
Iwanaga Kotoko nodded, thinking it through with unsettling clarity.
"And anyone who craves power enough to murder just to enter the game will become a dangerous variable once they become a Player. If they can kill in the real world, they'll hesitate even less in Dungeons, where they won't be traced. So in future Dungeons, if we run into other Players, we should treat them as potential threats."
She paused, then added lightly, as if discussing the weather.
"Honestly, the safest method is to kill any Player we encounter in a Dungeon and eliminate future trouble. We can't bring real world weapons into Dungeons, and inside we're at the top of the food chain. But in the real world, we can't stay vigilant twenty four seven. And with our current strength, if we meet someone with a gun, escaping unharmed would still be difficult."
"Kill everyone we meet? That's a bit too…"
Yuuki Asuna hesitated. Even if the logic made sense, she still couldn't accept killing someone on sight just because they happened to be in the same Dungeon.
Iwanaga Kotoko smiled, as if she had expected that reaction.
"I'm only saying it as an option. Didn't Asagiri say a team has to adapt to each other and become a whole? You and Megumi wouldn't like that approach anyway, so we won't do it."
Then her eyes shifted back to practical matters.
"Oh, right. Kind Mita's specialty is electronics and hacking, isn't it? Can you summon her and have her trace the identity of the person who posted that comment? After that, I'll have the Yokai look into what's happening around him."
"No problem."
Asagiri nodded with a relaxed smile.
"Then I'll head back first. I'll call you after I find out."
"Okay. I've got a few small Yokai requests to handle too. See you at school tomorrow."
…
After leaving Iwanaga Kotoko's house, Asagiri and Yuuki Asuna walked for about fifteen minutes before boarding the same train. Asagiri lived in Shibuya Ward, while Yuuki Asuna lived in Ginza, in Chuo Ward, but from Iwanaga Kotoko's place, their routes overlapped.
"What's wrong?"
Noticing Yuuki Asuna staring down at her phone with a conflicted, hesitant look, Asagiri asked.
"I've never seen you make that face. What, you want to buy 'Purple Toy too?"
"Go away. What even is 'Purple Toy?"
Yuuki Asuna snapped with embarrassed irritation, then sighed, still troubled.
"My mom called while I was inside the Dungeon yesterday, but there's no signal in there, so I missed it. Now I'm scared to reply, and I'm scared to call back. I don't know how to explain any of this."
"Easy."
Asagiri smiled as if it were obvious.
"Just tell her you lost your phone and only just got a new SIM card."
"Huh?"
Yuuki Asuna froze. Then, after a moment, her eyes widened.
"Oh… right. That works."
She looked at him with a complicated mix of admiration and exasperation.
"As expected of you. Lies just roll off your tongue."
"Hey. I solved your problem and you're still attacking me?"
"I'm teasing you."
Yuuki Asuna's expression softened into a sweet smile. Quietly, she reached out and held his hand.
"I'm just worried that if this happens too many times, she'll come to Tokyo to find me. Or she'll hire someone to watch over the apartment, or something. That would be a nightmare."
Asagiri answered with mock seriousness.
"Then let's tell Mom."
"Tell my head… wait, why did it become 'Mom'?"
Yuuki Asuna realized it a beat too late, her cheeks flushing. Her voice dropped until it was nearly a whisper.
"We're not even married yet. You haven't even met. You're upgrading the title way too fast…"
"Then let's meet, when there's a chance."
"You mean… meet my mom?"
Yuuki Asuna hesitated, then waved her hands quickly.
"No, no. It's not that I don't want to introduce you. It's just… you know my mom. She's a university professor. She's serious. I'm worried you two won't get along."
"My dear concubine, please relax."
Asagiri laughed lightly, waving a hand.
"I'm a Diplomat. I can do Diplomacy with Banshees and the core programs of that game. As long as Mom isn't some Cthulhu evil god, it'll be fine."
…
The next morning, Monday, in the Year 1 Class A classroom at Private Shuchiin Academy.
"Good morning, Utsunomiya."
Hearing the emotionless voice beside him, Asagiri didn't even look up. He continued scrolling through his phone, browsing trending news and local Tokyo forums, and replied with a faint smile.
"Kaguya Shinomiya, why are you greeting me first today?"
Kaguya Shinomiya, her black shoulder bag neatly held at her side, answered calmly.
"Nothing special. Just respect for a competitor."
Her beautiful red eyes flicked toward his phone screen, catching a glimpse of the headlines about the recent Kami Kakushi incidents.
That only strengthened her certainty.
He wasn't a Player like her.
A Player's phone had that eye icon app installed. Even if ordinary people couldn't see it, Players would instinctively avoid drawing attention to their screens in front of others. And Asagiri, of all people, was openly reading news about the large scale disappearances caused by the "game."
With his personality, if he really were a Player, he wouldn't be this careless.
Unfortunately, Kaguya Shinomiya had ultimately chosen to make Hayasaka Ai the Player. On one hand, Hayasaka had grown up with her, closer to a sister than a maid. She could trust her completely.
On the other hand…
Kaguya had a lingering feeling she couldn't see through Utsunomiya Asagiri. His actions didn't fit cleanly into prediction.
And within Class A, there was another person like that.
"Good morning, Kaguya Shinomiya."
Iwanaga Kotoko approached with her cane, smiling brightly.
"Could you move a little? You're blocking my view of my handsome boyfriend."
.....
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