Chapter 55: Kato Megumi's Resume
"Um… Kato Megumi…"
Asuna stared at the girl standing quietly by the water dispenser, her voice hesitant.
"Aren't you… scared at all?"
"Scared?" Megumi blinked once, then gave a small nod, as if she finally understood what Asuna meant. "Ah. I see."
She casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her expression stayed calm, almost indifferent.
"Your appearance is… unusual. And the way you call each other doesn't sound like real names. But if the three of you are Players, then that's normal, isn't it?"
"You know about Players?" Asuna's eyes widened.
"Yes." Megumi answered without the slightest hesitation.
Asuna and Kotoko exchanged a glance. The thought was the same in both of their minds.
Too calm.
She just said it. Just like that.
"Because…" Megumi continued, her tone steady. "I'm a Player too."
For a second, the air went still.
Megumi seemed to notice their silence and added, almost politely, "Sorry. You might think I'm strange for saying it so suddenly."
Then she looked straight at them, unflinching.
"But if I pretended to be an ordinary student who knows nothing, you'd definitely suspect me anyway. Even if it was unconscious, I did activate my talent on you."
She spoke like she was describing the weather.
"I saw the entire fight with that monster. And I know very well that if you wanted to kill me, I wouldn't be able to escape. So… it's better to tell the truth. I really don't have any hostility toward you."
Asuna swallowed and turned to Asagiri, careful with her words.
"Leader… what should we do?"
"Kill her."
"…Kill her?!" Asuna nearly choked.
Even Kotoko frowned, though her objection was colder and more practical than emotional.
"There's no need. She didn't see our faces. She doesn't know our real names or identities. At worst, the school staff will be confused about the mess here."
Kotoko's gaze sharpened.
"But if she dies on campus, the police get involved. That's unnecessary trouble."
"Relax." Asagiri shrugged, a faint laugh in his voice. "I'm joking."
He said it like he'd made a harmless pun.
"I'm not some morally bankrupt devil. I'm not going to kill someone over something this small."
Asuna finally exhaled, one hand pressing lightly against her chest.
"Good… then let's leave, quickly."
"Not so fast." Asagiri's eyes stayed on Megumi. A smile curved at the edge of his mouth.
"In my opinion, Kato Megumi is pretty capable. Why don't we recruit her?"
He sounded almost cheerful about it.
"From now on, we clear Dungeons together, split the rewards, and everyone wins. Doesn't that sound nice?"
...
Fifteen minutes later, they were outside Private Toyonosaki Academy, tucked into a quiet alley where no one passed.
"So…" Megumi tilted her head slightly, her expression carrying a faint, honest confusion. "You want me to join your team?"
Asagiri, still masked, answered solemnly.
"Hard to say. Think of this as an interview. First, we confirm whether you have the intent to join our company."
Asuna couldn't help muttering under her breath, "We're a strategy group. When did we become a company…?"
"Same difference." Asagiri waved it off.
"An interview… I understand." Megumi nodded once, obedient, as if she were accepting homework instructions.
Then she thought for a moment and gave her answer.
"Yes. I'm alone right now anyway. And based on what I just saw, the three of you are far stronger than me. If I join you, I'll feel more confident clearing those dangerous Dungeons."
She paused, then corrected herself with the same calm tone.
"So yes. I'm willing to join your team… or your company."
Asuna let out a small sigh, looking helpless.
"You don't have to match his weird phrasing…"
"It's fine." Megumi said simply.
Then she pulled out her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and held it out to Asagiri.
"I heard them call you Leader, so you're the boss, right? This is my resume."
Her "resume" was her Player profile.
[Player Name: Kato Megumi]
[Physical Fitness Level: Normal (Regular Person Level)]
[Exclusive Talent: Weak Presence]
[Profession: Not Yet Unlocked]
[Player Level: Formal]
[Skills: None]
[Items: None]
[Equipment: None]
[Weak Presence: When this talent is activated, it will greatly reduce your presence. Moving while maintaining the effect will continuously consume stamina and mental energy. If you remain still, the effect will strengthen and will not consume stamina or mental energy.]
"The effect of this talent…" Asuna couldn't hide her surprise. "It's really strong."
Then she frowned, confused.
"But why don't you have any items, equipment, or skills? Have you only cleared one Dungeon?"
"No." Megumi shook her head. "Including the novice Dungeon, I've cleared two."
She explained without rushing, like she'd already rehearsed it.
"I was at the school because I entered a Dungeon inside this building on Saturday afternoon. I met you right after I cleared it and came out."
"Then how come…?" Asuna started.
"When I cleared the novice Dungeon, I got an A plus rating, but the only reward was unlocking my exclusive talent."
Megumi's tone never changed.
"The second Dungeon was an old mansion on the third floor, haunted by a Banshee. The objective was to survive until the Dungeon time limit ended."
Kotoko's eyes narrowed slightly, listening closely.
"In that Dungeon, I found an empty room, sat on the sofa, and activated my talent." Megumi continued. "I waited for ten hours and cleared it."
She said it like she was describing a quiet weekend.
"So I got a C level clear rating. The reward was a slight increase in physical fitness. Nothing else."
"A C rating…" Kotoko murmured. "Because you didn't do anything…"
Then she lifted her gaze.
"But if you got A plus in the novice Dungeon, you should've received a special hint when entering the second Dungeon, right?"
"Yes." Megumi nodded. "It said there was a piece of equipment in the basement."
"Then…" Kotoko's eyes sharpened. "Why didn't you go?"
"I ignored it." Megumi answered immediately.
There was no bravado. No shame. Just a calm decision.
"I don't have combat ability. And there were other Players in the same Dungeon."
Her eyes remained steady.
"In a situation with no safety guarantee, going into the basement for an unknown piece of equipment, even with Weak Presence, was too risky."
She spoke with quiet certainty.
"So I didn't go."
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