The bus ride back to Seika Academy was filled with excited chatter from various teams comparing their dungeon experiences. Most had cleared the first two levels successfully, with a few venturing into the third. Team Seven's accomplishment of defeating a hidden boss remained their secret Yukari had wisely advised keeping that achievement quiet to avoid unwanted attention.
Zororo sat in the back corner, exhaustion finally catching up to him. Between the Shadow Realm training and the boss fight, his body was reaching its limits despite his enhanced stats. He leaned his head against the window, watching the city lights blur past as evening settled over Kazekami.
A weight settled against his shoulder. Zororo glanced down to find Yukari had fallen asleep, her silver hair spilling across his arm. Her usually cold, composed expression had softened in sleep, revealing the vulnerability she kept carefully hidden.
Zororo didn't move, unwilling to disturb her rest. Across the aisle, he caught Mei watching them with a gentle smile, while Hiro pretended to be absorbed in his phone.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[YUKARI SHIROGANE'S TRUST LEVEL INCREASED]
[CORRUPTION POTENTIAL: MAXIMUM]
[WARNING: EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT DETECTED]
[REMINDER: VILLAIN PATH MAY REQUIRE DIFFICULT CHOICES]
Zororo dismissed the notification with irritation. His system kept warning him about emotional attachments, but he'd already decided his villain path would include protecting the people who mattered to him. Whatever "difficult choices" the system anticipated, he'd find another way.
The bus arrived at Seika Academy just after seven PM. Students filed off, tired but satisfied with their dungeon experiences. Yukari stirred as the bus stopped, blinking awake with momentary confusion before realizing she'd been sleeping on Zororo's shoulder.
"I... apologize," she said, her cheeks coloring slightly as she straightened. "I didn't mean to"
"It's fine. You were tired." Zororo stood and grabbed both their bags. "Good work today, team leader."
Yukari's expression shifted back to her usual composure, though her eyes held warmth. "You carried us through that boss fight. I should be thanking you."
They exited the bus together, finding most students already dispersing toward the parking lot or train station. Mei and Hiro waved goodbye, heading toward their respective homes with promises to meet for team debriefing tomorrow.
"Walk with me," Yukari said once they were alone. It wasn't a request.
They walked in silence toward the school's gardens a beautifully maintained area with stone paths winding through carefully trimmed trees and flowers. At this hour, it was deserted, providing the privacy Yukari clearly wanted.
She stopped near a fountain, moonlight reflecting off the water's surface. When she turned to face Zororo, her expression was serious.
"I need the truth, Zororo. Not the convenient half-truths you've been telling everyone else." Her ice-blue eyes held his golden ones. "What is your real system rank?"
Zororo had known this conversation was coming. Yukari was too intelligent, too observant to accept his vague explanations indefinitely. The question was how much truth to share.
"If I tell you, it could put you in danger," Zororo said carefully. "Some secrets are burdens."
"I'm already involved. The moment we started this arrangement, the moment I saw you fight that Shadow Knight I became part of whatever you're hiding." Yukari stepped closer. "I deserve to know what I'm really dealing with."
She was right. Their fake relationship had evolved into something more complex a partnership built on mutual need and growing trust. Keeping her completely in the dark felt wrong.
"Not B-Rank," Zororo admitted quietly. "Not even A-Rank."
Yukari's eyes widened. "S-Rank? You have an S-Rank system at seventeen?"
"Higher."
For several seconds, Yukari just stared at him. Then she laughed a genuine, disbelieving sound. "There's nothing higher than S-Rank. Unless you're claiming to have..." She trailed off, realization dawning. "No. That's impossible. SSS-Rank systems are legends. Only three have ever existed in recorded history."
"Make it four," Zororo said simply.
Yukari sat down abruptly on the fountain's edge, processing this revelation. "An SSS-Rank system. At seventeen years old. That's..." She looked up at him with new understanding. "That explains everything. The rapid growth, the advanced techniques, why you feel so different from other students."
"There's more." Zororo sat beside her, deciding that partial honesty required context. "It's not just an SSS-Rank system. It's specifically a Villain System."
He watched her carefully for reaction. Most people would recoil from that confession, associate "villain" with evil and danger. But Yukari surprised him.
"A Villain System," she repeated thoughtfully. "That's why you can manipulate shadows so effectively. That's why your presence feels dangerous. You're not just powerful you're designed to oppose hero systems."
"You're taking this remarkably well."
Yukari smiled slightly. "My family has extensive records about rare systems. SSS-Rank Villain Systems have appeared three times in the past century. Two users became criminals who terrorized entire regions. But the third..." She paused. "The third became one of the greatest dungeon explorers in history, protecting civilians from interdimensional threats. Villain doesn't necessarily mean evil."
Relief washed through Zororo. She understood. "Exactly. My system rewards certain behaviors, but I choose how to use the power. I'm not interested in becoming a terrorist or tyrant."
"But you are interested in my fake boyfriend arrangement," Yukari observed with amusement. "Because it provides cover for your true nature while building social connections. Very strategic for a villain."
"Also because I genuinely wanted to help you," Zororo added.
Yukari's expression softened. "I know. That's why I'm not afraid of you, despite knowing what you are." She reached out and took his hand not romantically, but as a gesture of alliance. "Your secret is safe with me, Zororo. But I need you to promise something."
"What?"
"Promise that if your system ever demands you hurt innocent people, you'll talk to me first. Let me help you find another way." Her grip tightened. "I won't let you become the villain the system wants you to be. Not alone."
Zororo felt something tighten in his chest. In his previous life, he'd been alone no one to share burdens with, no one who truly understood him. Now, in this second chance, he'd found someone willing to stand beside him despite knowing his darkest secret.
"I promise," he said quietly.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, hands still linked, watching moonlight dance on the fountain's water.
"So," Yukari eventually said, "an SSS-Rank Villain System. That must be why Kazuki sensed something unusual about you. His family specializes in detecting power levels."
Zororo had forgotten about Kazuki in the intensity of the moment. "About that duel"
"You accepted it, didn't you? That's why you've been training so intensively."
"He gave me no choice. Either fight him publicly or he investigates me thoroughly."
Yukari's expression hardened with anger. "That's exactly like Kazuki. Using threats and manipulation to get what he wants." She turned to face Zororo fully. "Do you think you can win?"
"Honestly? I don't know. He's level twenty-eight with years of training. I'm level nineteen with a week of accelerated growth." Zororo pulled up his stats mentally. "But I'm getting stronger every day. By the time we fight, the gap will be smaller."
"Level nineteen already?" Yukari looked impressed. "You really are growing at an absurd rate. Most users take months to gain a single level at that range."
"Villain system perks. High risk, high reward."
"Then we'll make sure you're as prepared as possible." Yukari's tactical mind was clearly working. "I can help you train. My Ice Princess system has techniques that could complement your shadows. And I know Kazuki's fighting style his strengths and weaknesses."
"You'd help me train to fight your own fiancé?"
"Arranged fiancé," Yukari corrected firmly. "And yes, absolutely. The sooner you defeat him, the sooner I'm free of that engagement." She smiled with icy determination. "Consider it motivation for both of us."
Zororo couldn't help but smile back. "When do we start?"
"Tomorrow morning, before classes. The training grounds will be empty at five AM."
"That's early."
"Winners don't sleep in." Yukari stood, brushing off her combat gear. "Besides, we only have five days until the duel. Every hour counts."
They walked toward the school gates together, their shadows merging in the moonlight. Despite the dangerous situation with Kazuki, despite the complications of his villain system, Zororo felt more confident than he had since accepting the duel.
With Yukari as an ally who knew his truth, he wasn't facing this challenge alone anymore.
His phone buzzed with a message from Himeko: "Where are you? Dinner's getting cold. Akari made your favorite."
"I need to get home," Zororo said, checking the time. "My sisters worry if I'm late."
"Tomorrow, five AM," Yukari reminded him. She hesitated, then quickly kissed his cheek just like that first public display, but this time softer, more genuine. "Thank you for trusting me with your secret, Zororo. It means more than you know."
She walked away toward her waiting car before he could respond, leaving Zororo standing alone with the lingering warmth of her lips on his cheek.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[RELATIONSHIP STATUS UPDATED: YUKARI SHIROGANE]
[STATUS: TRUSTED ALLY]
[CORRUPTION LEVEL: 85%]
[NOTE: SUBJECT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCED BY VILLAIN SYSTEM USER]
[CONGRATULATIONS: FIRST SUCCESSFUL CORRUPTION ACHIEVED]
Zororo frowned at the notification. That word corruption implied something sinister. But what had actually happened was mutual trust and honest alliance. Yukari hadn't been corrupted; she'd been understood and supported.
Maybe the villain system's terminology was just dramatic. Or maybe "corruption" in this context meant something different than traditional evil.
He'd have to explore that question later. For now, he needed to get home to his worried sisters and prepare for tomorrow's training.
As Zororo walked toward the train station, he felt someone watching him. His Shadow Sense detected a presence in the shadows fifty meters away someone with significant power trying to remain hidden.
He didn't turn around or acknowledge the surveillance. Instead, he calmly continued walking, mentally preparing for whatever new complication was about to emerge.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[HOSTILE OBSERVER DETECTED]
[LEVEL: UNKNOWN]
[THREAT ASSESSMENT: UNCERTAIN]
[RECOMMEND: REMAIN VIGILANT]
Another player had entered the game. Whether enemy or simply curious observer, Zororo would deal with them when they revealed themselves.
For now, he had training to prepare for and a duel to survive.
The villain's path was getting more complicated by the day.
But Zororo was beginning to enjoy the challenge.
[END OF CHAPTER 13]