bookbashuk Page 103
Page 103
Asuna Yuuki severed the player's right arm with a single sword strike, and then, without hesitation, used her exorcist's longsword to pierce the opponent's throat.
Meanwhile, the other three players hadn't reacted yet, their gazes still fixed on the direction where Asagiri was standing. As Yuuki Asuna began to move, Iwanaga Kotoko stepped out from behind Asagiri, her gaze meeting that of the three players, and activated the skill "Cursed Gaze".
Among these three players, none possessed a mental strength higher than Kotoko Iwanaga. Faced with her dark purple eyes that shimmered with an eerie light, all three instantly felt a dizzying sensation.
At that moment, Asagiri had already thrown the rope dart, which accurately hit the female player between the eyebrows. His body moved almost in sync with the rope dart, and in an instant, he pulled it out and stabbed it into the chest of another player.
Only then did the last remaining player barely recover from his dizziness. His pupils shrank suddenly in shock, and a large, dark green shield appeared in his right hand. He hid behind the shield and quickly chanted.
"Fireball..."
"boom!!!"
However, in front of Asagiri, he didn't even have time to activate his skill. He had only uttered two words when Asagiri struck his shield with a side kick.
The male player, who was nearly 1.8 meters tall, wielding a large shield, and possessing a robust physique, was thrown backwards as if hit by a speeding truck. His back slammed against a hard wall, making a crisp cracking sound. Blood spilled from his mouth and nose, and he collapsed to the ground, lifeless. The shield disappeared automatically after the player's death.
The two researchers behind them stared in astonishment at what they saw.
Is this human?
A simple, unadorned side kick, landing on such a thick shield, actually sent a grown man flying and crashing into a wall. The terrifying impact even caused his bones to shatter and his internal organs to be damaged, resulting in his instant death.
And that person in the crimson cloak, their speed was simply too fast! The two researchers didn't even see clearly what they were doing when they killed someone.
These guys... what kind of supernatural monsters escaped from which movie set?!
Seeing that the three people in front of them hadn't noticed them, the two researchers cautiously turned around, intending to try and take this opportunity to escape.
Please don't even think about running away.
When the two turned around, they saw Kato Megumi standing there, playing with a deep purple dagger in one hand.
Although Kato Megumi's voice was very gentle, the words she spoke made the two researchers turn pale with fright.
"If you insist on running away, I will have no choice but to sever your limbs. I don't like doing this kind of thing, so please cooperate."
The two researchers trembled violently, nodding repeatedly and speaking in a shaky voice.
"I...we understand, we'll cooperate...please don't kill us..."
"Violet, get these four players' phones out. It's time for the prize draw."
Asagiri said this first, then walked up to the two researchers and asked them with a smile.
"It's the same question again, where is the experimental data stored..."
"This, this is for you!"
Before Asagiri could even finish asking, one of the researchers took out a booklet from his pocket, held it out to him with both hands, and forced a fawning smile on his face.
"This... contains a map showing the interior of the research base."
38
Chapter 38 Losing is winning, and winning is losing.
"Well, it's fine."
Asagiri took the booklet handed to him, opened it and glanced at it. It did indeed contain a structural diagram of the research institute's interior. He didn't ask whether the information was true or false, because that would be pointless.
Judging from the current situation, it is clear that this is a trap deliberately set by the Ajin Countermeasures Bureau to deal with "players" and Sato.
The members of those mobile units were certainly aware of the situation, but researchers without any combat capabilities didn't really need to stay here.
Judging from the way these two researchers were trembling with fear, they were clearly not the kind of people who were willing to die for their country. It was impossible for them to willingly stay here as cannon fodder knowing that the research institute would be attacked.
The only explanation is that they were unaware the research base would be attacked; it was merely a pawn of the Demi-human Countermeasures Bureau, a bait deliberately dropped there to lure Sato into a trap.
Since neither of these two researchers knew that the research base would be attacked, why would they prepare false intelligence in advance?
Moreover, the moment Asagiri saw the picture, she compared it with the route and structure that the four members of the team had taken after entering the research base from the north gate, and they matched.
"You two, take off your white coats and throw away your work badges."
"Huh? Oh... okay..."
Although the two researchers didn't understand why Asagiri had given such an order, they didn't dare to ask any more questions in the face of this monster who could kill with a single side kick. They immediately and obediently took off their white lab coats and threw their work badges aside.
"Yes, this is good."
Asagiri first patted the two researchers on the shoulder and said this with a smile, but then suddenly changed the subject.
"Necro, do it."
"Okay~"
Kotoko Iwanaga responded playfully, then reached out her hand to the two researchers who looked terrified and whispered.
"Touch of the Dead".
The moment Kotoko Iwanaga finished speaking, dozens or even hundreds of pale human arms extended from the ground and the surrounding walls. Before the two researchers could even scream, their mouths were firmly covered by the pale arms.
Seeing the two people bound and entangled by the ghostly hand, lying on the ground struggling incessantly, their faces filled with despair, Yuuki Asuna gently bit her lower lip, her eyes revealing a look of unbearable pity. She glanced at the calm-faced Asagiri and was about to speak when she heard Asagiri say in a flat tone.
"Okay, that's enough."
Upon hearing Asagiri's words, Kotoko Iwanaga immediately released the "Touch of the Dead," but even though the contact lasted for less than two seconds, the two researchers, who were just ordinary people, still fell into a coma because the pale ghost hand had absorbed too much of their spiritual power.
"What, you think I would kill them?"
Noticing Yuuki Asuna's slightly complicated expression, Asagiri shook her head and chuckled softly.
“They are not enemies we must eliminate, and they answered my questions honestly and even handed over intelligence voluntarily. I have no need to kill them.”
"Then why..."
"Of course we want them to live."
Asagiri waved her hand and explained casually.
"Do you think they can leave here alive if we let them run around on their own? Whether they run into Sato or the other players, they're doomed. So it's better to put them unconscious so Necro can recover some of his mental energy."
"Of course, the most important point is that since they are already unconscious, they cannot reveal the location of the stored experimental data or information about us to the other players or Sato."
"This is the best solution without killing them. As for whether they will be silenced by the higher-ups of the Demi-human Countermeasures Bureau after this incident, that's beyond my control."
Hearing Asagiri's words, Asuna Yuuki breathed a sigh of relief, took off the hood of her crimson cloak, and revealed a sweet smile on her beautiful and lovely face.
"I thought you were going to kill them outright. Thank you for being considerate of my feelings. I know I'm too kind..."
"Do not."
Before Yuuki Asuna could finish speaking, Asagiri gently took her hand and whispered something.
"Kindness is never a flaw; indecisiveness stemming from an overabundance of maternal instincts is. You are simply kind and gentle, but not indecisive, so there's no need for you to feel guilty."
Hearing Asagiri's heartfelt words, Asuna Yuuki's eyes couldn't help but show emotion. Just as she was about to say something, she heard the other person add a sentence with a smile.
"After all, you are my beloved concubine. You should not belittle yourself, otherwise you would be questioning my judgment."
"Go away, you're already getting into abstract thinking after just a few nice words, huh?"
At this moment, Kotoko Iwanaga also came over, peeking out and looking around, a little jealous.
"What about me?"
"You are also my beloved concubine."
Seeing the three of them talking, Kato Megumi raised her hand and tucked a strand of short hair behind her ear, her expression calm and indifferent, as she was already used to such scenes.
"OK, now it's time for the lucky draw."
Asagiri took the phone from Asuna Yuuki, then handed one to Kotoko Iwanaga and the other to Megumi Kato, smiling as she spoke.
"Since the other side has four players, let's have some fun and see who draws the best reward. As for the wager... the person who draws the worst item has to do something for the person who draws the best item, how about it?"
"Okay."
Upon hearing about the bet, Asuna Yuuki's eyes lit up with a competitive glint. She immediately tapped the eye icon app on her phone and confidently declared.
"I'm very lucky..."
[You have extracted items and equipment from the deceased player, obtaining the item: Medical Bandage]
[Medical bandages: Ordinary medical bandages]
"Pfft."
Upon seeing the item that Asuna Yuuki drew, Kotoko Iwanaga couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Is this your luck? Watch me instead."
After saying that, Kotoko Iwanaga also clicked on the eye icon app on her phone screen.
[You have extracted items and equipment from the deceased player, obtaining the equipment: Sturdy Longsword (Blue Quality)]
[Note: You cannot equip this weapon]
"Tch, blue-quality equipment... that's pretty average..."
Due to the limitations of her unique talent, Kotoko Iwanaga was unable to equip most weapons and armor. After completing the extraction, she directly took out a long sword and tossed it to Megumi Kato, who was standing there.
“Leader has rope darts, so he definitely doesn’t need this. You should keep it. You’re good at dual-wielding, and daggers are too disadvantageous in head-on combat. From now on, you can use an axe in one hand and a longsword in the other.”
Kato Megumi caught the long sword, put it into her inventory, and gave a precise retort without any expression.
"If my profession could be upgraded, I probably wouldn't be a Shadow Assassin anymore, but would I develop into a Shadow Berserker?"
"It's pretty good too."
Asagiri looked at Kato Megumi and said in a serious tone.
"Imagine someone suddenly appearing with a long sword and a battle axe to attack you. While it may not be as elegant as a dagger, the intimidation factor is immense."
After saying this, Asagiri also clicked to confirm the draw of the deceased player's items.
[You have extracted items and equipment from the deceased player and obtained a blue one-time use item: Cursed Music Box]
【The Cursed Music Box: A music box thoroughly corrupted by some eerie force. If damaged, a vengeful spirit will break free and attack the target that destroyed the music box. The spirit can remain for a maximum of five minutes.】
"This stuff... works pretty well."
Kotoko Iwanaga leaned over to take a look at the item Asagiri had drawn, and said thoughtfully.
"It was identified as blue quality, mainly because its use is too restricted. It can only hunt down targets that damage music boxes, but its value should be higher than the longsword I drew."
At this point, Kotoko Iwanaga looked at Asuna Yuuki and said with a smile.
"So, the loser this time is you..."
"that……"
Just as Iwanaga Kotoko was speaking, Kato Megumi suddenly interrupted her.
"This is what I drew."
[A half-eaten chocolate bar: It tastes great, but it's a high-calorie chocolate bar.]
Kotoko Iwanaga: "...Very good, you have taken the loser's position in a very dominant way."
The medical bandages that Asuna Yuuki drew weren't very useful, but at least they could be used for bandaging. However, the ones that Megumi Kato drew were absolutely terrible.
The problem is, it's just a chocolate bar, and it's half-eaten. After Kato Megumi drew it, she immediately threw it away. After all, it's too unlucky to have a chocolate bar that a dead person left behind.
Today's outcome is Kato Megumi's defeat...
"Hmm? Wait a minute."
Kotoko Iwanaga suddenly realized what was happening, and a look of regret and annoyance appeared on her cute little face.
She then remembered that the winner this time was Asagiri, and the bet was that the loser had to obey one of the winner's orders. If she were to become the loser, Asagiri would definitely make some suggestive requests, and then she could pretend to be shy and reluctant, and then she could do whatever she wanted!
Did we win? If we did.
Did we lose? If we lost.
"Alright, that's enough for the short entertainment segment."
Instead of exercising his rights as the victor, Asagiri tossed aside his phone, which had already been used to extract the app and whose eye icon had completely disappeared, and said calmly.
"I've memorized the map of the entire research base. Let's move on."
Upon hearing this, Yuuki Asuna and the others were initially surprised, but then they thought about it again. Asagiri was a true genius who ranked first in the joint entrance exam, first in the Shuchiin entrance exam, and first in the spring exam, and he was the kind of person who didn't work hard at all.
It's not so surprising that someone could have a photographic memory; in fact, it's quite reasonable.