Chapter 37: A Teenage Girl in Love Won't Dream of an Abstract Male Lead
Asuna didn't know what to say anymore. In the span of a single hour, her entire worldview had been flipped over and shaken like a vending machine.
Banshees existing inside an instance was already absurd enough.
And now Kotoko was calmly telling her that yokai, spirits, and other oddities also existed in the real world. Ordinary people just couldn't see them.
Asuna took several deep breaths, forcing herself to steady her heartbeat. Then she glanced at the time on her phone.
The room felt hotter than before. Not by much, but enough to be noticeable, like someone had quietly nudged the thermostat upward.
She looked at Asagiri. "Leader, are you recovered?"
"I'm fine now."
"Then we move." Asuna's voice sharpened into that familiar, decisive tone. "Two hours have passed since we entered. To avoid this dragging out and getting worse, we resolve the source as soon as possible."
Kotoko spoke up on her own.
"When I went to the fifth floor, I found the stairwell door was locked. It wouldn't open." She narrowed her deep purple eyes slightly, recalling the sensation. "And I didn't sense the slightest trace of oddity there."
Asuna's brows lifted.
Kotoko continued, calm and confident. "If there really is a weapon in this hotel that can completely eliminate Banshees, then it must be on the fifth floor. I suggest we get it first before we go after the source."
...…
Once the plan was decided, Asagiri led Asuna and Kotoko out of the suite.
Of course, they didn't forget the two Players who had already been contaminated.
The Suit Man and the Woman with Heavy Makeup went first. Behind them, Asuna, Asagiri, and Kotoko kept a full landing of distance.
Close enough to hear them at all times.
Far enough that if their bodies suddenly swelled and burst like the ghost earlier, nothing would splash onto them.
As they descended, Kotoko tilted her head slightly. "Leader, could I ask you a favor?"
Asagiri answered easily, as if she'd asked for the time. "What is it, Necro?"
"My stamina isn't great, and going down stairs isn't very convenient." Kotoko smiled sweetly, her tone obedient to the point of suspicion. "Could you carry me on your back?"
Asuna's expression tightened.
She couldn't deny it. Kotoko's stamina really was poor, and with a prosthetic left leg, stairs were a problem.
But still.
The timing was too perfect. The request was too cute. The intention behind it practically had a neon sign.
Asuna stepped in without thinking. "I'll carry you."
Kotoko blinked. "Eh? Violet, you will?" She sounded genuinely surprised, then immediately added, gentle and reasonable. "But you're a girl. Your stamina probably can't compare to Leader's. If carrying me affects your condition and we run into an accident, that would be troublesome."
Asuna froze.
She hated how logical it sounded.
Her profession was combat oriented, sure, but compared to Asagiri, her physical ability wasn't even in the same category. It wasn't that Asuna was weak. Among high school girls, she was outstanding.
But Asagiri was a monster.
Even before entering Dungeon, he already had the physique of a top tier athlete. After that passive boost from Human Asura, his strength, speed, endurance, and explosiveness were pushed frighteningly close to a human limit.
"Hm." Asagiri nodded, completely agreeing. "Necro's right. I'll do it."
Kotoko's smile brightened instantly.
For a split second, Asuna could almost see the imaginary scene playing in Kotoko's head. A shy hop onto his back. A cheek pressed against his neck. A gentle sway. A perfectly timed soft breath.
A whole combo, all before the Dungeon ended.
Then Kotoko suddenly felt her body lift.
"Huh? Huh huh huh?"
Asagiri didn't crouch. He didn't offer his back.
He simply grabbed the petite Kotoko with one hand and hoisted her onto his shoulder like a rocket launcher. His other hand even swung casually through the air, as if he were about to go clear a stage.
"Alright. Let's go."
Asuna didn't hold back. "Pfft."
Kotoko's expression, trapped somewhere between dignity and despair, was so helpless that Asuna finally cracked.
Trying to take advantage of him?
Necro still didn't understand just how abstract their Leader could be.
Kotoko coughed delicately, still clinging to her last shred of elegance. "Um… Leader. Could you do a princess carry?"
Asuna jolted.
So direct?
This girl looked small and cute, but she was absolutely a predator.
"No." Asagiri's answer was immediate. He sounded almost philosophical. "There's a reason I'm carrying you like this."
Kotoko and Asuna both looked at him.
"What reason?" they asked almost in sync.
Asagiri spoke with complete sincerity. "Think about it. Since Necro has that kind of exclusive talent, maybe her physique is special too. Even without any outside force, she might be able to inflict fatal damage on Banshees."
Asuna frowned. "But her physical condition and the negative effects mean she's not suited for direct combat."
"Exactly." The corners of Asagiri's mouth lifted, slow and delighted. "That's why…"
His smile sharpened into something dangerous.
"If we run into a Banshee and I don't have time to summon my Persona, I can just throw Necro out and use her as a human cannon. It'll catch the Banshee completely off guard."
Kotoko's face stiffened.
Her voice came out cautious, almost polite. "Um… can you put me down? I suddenly feel like stairs aren't that hard anymore…"
...…
In the end, Asagiri didn't put her down.
He kept carrying Kotoko on his shoulder and, together with Asuna, arrived at the corner landing between the sixth and fifth floors.
From this angle, they could clearly see the Suit Man and the Woman with Heavy Makeup standing in front of a heavy fire door.
The Suit Man raised a trembling hand and carefully wrapped his fingers around the knob.
Just as he was about to turn it, Kotoko's expression changed. She raised her cane sharply.
"Wait. Don't open it yet."
The Suit Man froze. Cold sweat slid down his temple. "What's wrong? Is something off?"
Kotoko stared straight at the door, vigilance blooming in her eyes.
"Behind that door…" she said quietly, "there's an odd aura."
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