No sooner had Yūki Asuna finished speaking than a line of dark-red text popped up on the phone screen.
[Due to the death of the original Player, within twenty-four hours, non-Players can register as Players by continuously tapping this APP icon three times. Upon successful registration, they will obtain all the deceased Player's items and equipment. Those who are already Players can also use the same method to randomly draw one piece of equipment or one item owned by the deceased Player.]
The startling information revealed in this single sentence caused Yūki Asuna's brow to furrow.
Besides being suddenly chosen like herself and Asagiri, normal people could also gain the qualification to register as a Player this way? Even if one didn't want others to become Players, one could randomly draw the deceased Player's equipment or item for themselves?
This was not good news.
Although the clearance reward Yūki Asuna herself received was mediocre, she had witnessed Utsunomiya Asagiri's power—the Persona, a force that completely defied scientific explanation and was beyond normal human imagination.
It was easy to imagine that if people knew they could gain supernatural power by entering the instance via the eye-icon APP and clearing it, many would certainly want to become Players.
And the method was to kill an already registered Player and steal their phone.
What would happen if a Player's phone was lost while the Player was still alive?
Yūki Asuna couldn't figure out the answer to that question. She merely watched Asagiri—who tapped the eye icon three times and randomly drew the only clearance reward belonging to Noguchi Kazuomi, the bottle of medical disinfecting alcohol—with a complicated expression.
"So, you carried him through the instance just to gain this information?"
"Yes, information is vital."
Watching the eye-icon APP on Noguchi Kazuomi's phone gradually disappear after he drew the item, Asagiri tossed the phone aside, looked at Yūki Asuna, and replied with a light chuckle.
"Now we know how others can become Players and what benefits can be gained from killing another Player."
"Most importantly, through Noguchi Kazuomi's clearance rating, we can confirm that the novice instance rewards for most ordinary Players won't grant any special power; they won't even unlock a talent or a class. Assuming we are the launch Players and there are no old Players around, our combat strength is an absolute crush compared to ordinary Players."
"Of course, we can't rule out the possibility of people who were already highly skilled—like combat experts proficient in fighting techniques, elite police officers, special forces members, or members of violent gangs—also becoming Players."
Hearing Asagiri's analysis, Yūki Asuna pursed her lips and asked a question that had been on her mind for a long time.
"Why... why do you adapt so quickly... and you don't seem scared at all when facing the unknown..."
Utsunomiya Asagiri smiled, then gave an answer that Yūki Asuna had not anticipated at all.
"Because I'm a coward."
"Huh? You? A coward?"
Yūki Asuna frowned, thinking this answer was too far-fetched. Did any of his actions, demeanor, or speech bear any relation to the word "coward"?
"Yes, I'm a huge coward."
Asagiri nodded, smiling as he spoke.
"It is precisely because I am so cowardly that I don't want to see any Player stronger than me, and I certainly don't want to become a weakling at the mercy of others. Therefore, I will not hesitate, and I will not stand still."
Yūki Asuna remained silent for a few seconds, then sighed softly, her expression complicated.
"You really are an abnormal person. By the way, where did you get that handgun from? And what did the action of shooting yourself in the temple mean?"
"This thing?"
The black handgun reappeared in Asagiri's hand, and he offered it to Yūki Asuna.
"This thing isn't an actual firearm; it can't fire bullets. It's a special object, condensed from the power within my heart, used to summon my Persona. The act of pulling the trigger on myself symbolizes directly facing the fear of death."
Yūki Asuna nodded, partially understanding, and then frowned.
"If this thing is stolen or lost, will you be unable to summon your Persona?"
"How could that be?"
Asagiri shook his head, tossing the black handgun in his hand far away. The next second, the black handgun disappeared, and an identical one appeared in his hand.
"As I said, it is a product of the power condensed from my heart, and I can summon it anytime. As for it being stolen... Here, try to touch it."
Seeing Asagiri's smiling face, Yūki Asuna felt that he seemed to be anticipating something. However, practical experience was the best teacher, and as future teammates for clearing instances, thoroughly understanding each other's abilities was necessary.
With that thought, she hesitantly extended her fair, slender right hand and cautiously rested her fingertips on the firearm in Asagiri's hand.
The moment she touched the gun barrel, Yūki Asuna's pupils widened instantly, and her body involuntarily trembled. After only a brief contact, she quickly retracted her hand, her breathing becoming rapid as she gasped with lingering fear.
"Wha... what was that..."
In that instant, Yūki Asuna felt an inexpressible terror, as if the concept of "Death" had suddenly taken on a concrete form and appeared right before her.
Despair, fear, trembling.
"That is the feeling of directly confronting Death. Do you understand now?"
"Mm... I understand..."
Yūki Asuna gently held her chest, slightly composing herself. It was only then that she noticed Asagiri was staring at her with an interested expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing much. I just want to admire a beautiful girl who is trying to act tough, with tears welling up in her eyes and her body trembling when faced with intense fear."
"Who... who has tears welling up in their eyes!"
Yūki Asuna retorted, pulling a tissue packet from her pocket and using one to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Just as she was about to say something else, her phone suddenly sounded a notification. She took it out and saw a line of text displayed on the screen.
[Instance Time Limit Reached. Leaving in ten seconds.]
"Time's up."
Asagiri also saw the same message on his phone. He picked up the chainsaw and drill from the ground, abandoning the books and magazines he had used for padding. Then, he looked up at Yūki Asuna and smiled.
"Well then, Yūki-chan, I'll see you at school."