- Snakes: The Duo Made In Chaos -
Holy Empire Valencia,
After following the knights, I finally made it to my room.
It wasn't anything fancy; just a basic single room, similar to what you'd find in a budget hotel. But I'm not one to fuss about it.
I tossed my bag onto the bed and pulled out some gear I had stashed under my books.
«Shadow Storage»
Now that I think about it, the special ability «Nightwalker Lv. 1» was quite overpowered. I could create a mini-subspace within a shadow and dive into shadows.
At a higher level, I could coat myself in darkness and be immune to physical attacks.
Thanks to «Analysis Lv. 2» of course, which I leveled up as the knights took me past the castle halls.
But that's all I can see now.
«Shadow Storage» only has about five slots currently, and it cannot hold anything larger than a standard filled backpack.
On that note, I can stash my backpack full of illegal stuff in there. "Yatta!" My survival knife will take up another slot.
[Special Ability]: [Nightwalker]
[Subskill]:
○ [Shadow Manipulation Lv.1 (+)]
○ [Stealth Lv.1]
○ [Weapon Mastery Lv.1]
I quickly glanced at my skill sheet using «Analysis Lv. 2», and with it, I could pretty much sneak across the entire castle.
Of course, that's assuming no one has the ability to sense hidden people.
And if they do, I'll just use analysis to monitor the entire castle for a while before that.
But just to be safe, I need to fully understand what all these skills can do before I make my next move.
[Shadow Manipulation Lv.1 (-)]
-Unlocked-
○ [Shadow Storage (5 slots)]
○ [Shadow Step Lv.1]
-[Locked]-
[Requirement: Class Upgrade. Required upgrade: Nightwalker Lvl 20+]
○ [Body Double]
○ [Shadow Control]
○ [Matoi Kajiri (Clad in Shadows)].
Thanks to the analysis, I was able to explore what all these skills could offer, but considering the different levels, it means…
I'd be grinding my way from beginner to who knows what level. Just trying to wrap my mind around that is exhausting.
Alright, time to stop overthinking.
As I cleared my head, I walked over to the window and glanced outside. It was late afternoon, probably around 4 to 5 PM.
No worries, there's still plenty of time—
Knock! Knock!
I blinked and turned toward the door. Who could that be?
Nakatani? He'd definitely want to know what's happening. With that thought, I approached the door and placed my hand on it.
"Hi~"
When I opened the door and saw who was there, my expression soured, and I quickly shut it again.
"Hey, come on. I just want to talk."
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Akane Sajo…
It was clear she was here because of what just happened a little while ago.
Honestly, we've only interacted a handful of times, so I don't know much about her except that she can be quite manipulative.
Manipulative in the way that she tends to cling to those she finds useful and exploits them for her own gain.
Most of my classmates wouldn't realize it, and that was my understanding of her.
Her approach to me now of all times is… fishy.
Extremely fishy.
And with her «Observation Sight», I can tell her skills are just like my «Analysis».
At the very least, that is what my special ability tells me.
"Mou~ Come on, don't be so harsh with me~"
Tsk. Ugh, fine. I hadn't actually stepped away from the doorway; I was just leaning against it.
But with my mind made up, I swung the door open.
"Thanks~"
She practically bounded in without waiting for an invitation.
"Well, it's been a rough day, hasn't it?"
She said this as she strolled over to my bed, plopped down on it, and even sprawled out like she was completely at ease.
'Is she trying to provoke me?' I mused with a weary sigh, folding my arms.
"What do you want, Akane?"
"Wow, how icy! And already on a first-name basis? How daring of you."
She propped herself up, flashing me a grin before she carried on.
"Or is it because of your special skill, or the others that are glitched away from my sight?"
"Oh? You can see those ones too?"
I said with feigned surprise, resting my back against the wall, and then continued.
"Then… what brings you here?"
Her smile grew more significant as I asked that, and she glanced around.
"I know you have a skill similar to «Observation Sight»; that's the only thing I could decipher from your glitched abilities earlier, when I noticed you chatting with Nakatani-kun.."
"Just get to the point."
At this point, I was no longer shocked. She had managed to observe everyone's skills through her «Observation Sight».
That included mine, with the so-called glitched abilities as she calls it, as well as Nakatani's absorption skills.
She's dangerous.
"Hmm. So you're aware that Nakatani's skills are restricted."
"Exactly. If things continue this way, it seems likely Nakatani will face exile, especially given how your boyfriend treats him; now it appears I'm in his sights."
I spread my arms as I watched her rise from the bed, walking toward me and standing directly in front of me.
"Boyfriend? No way. Initially, I thought you were just a brooding type. I'm pleased to see I was mistaken."
I raised an eyebrow at her comment. Clearly, she was probing to see what kind of person I was.
If I were easily swayed, she might attempt to build a rapport with me to uncover more about my abilities.
Am I overthinking this? Who knows? I guess I'll never really find out, but if I take a guess, I'm getting pretty close to understanding her motives.
After all, she's giving me that sly, calculating, and alluring look.
"And? Do your eyes reveal the truth hidden behind this kingdom's mask?"
I noticed her eyes gradually widen before breaking into a smile.
"At this point, I'm no longer surprised by you."
"Exactly; my ability allows me to perceive the underlying motives and concealed intentions, and like you, I've managed to see through it all."
But she remains quiet, keeping the peace for the sake of the class, avoiding any rifts.
After all, it's only been about an hour since everything unfolded.
"So, you approached me, huh? What's your angle? Are you looking to use me?"
Maybe it was that strange sensation bubbling up inside me. I felt my shadow shift, and I noticed her gaze linger on it for a brief moment.
Then she flashed me a smile.
"No, let's work together. I can sense that we're a perfect match."
She said this while leaning in closer, her chest brushing against mine.
If her skill allows her to read hidden intentions, then she has long since known my intentions.
"So, you know what I want."
"Absolutely. But as long as it doesn't involve our classmates, is that acceptable to you?"
"I see you still have some concern for them, but sure, I can't guarantee complete safety."
"I'm fine with that."
As she spoke, she leaned in and kissed me. I allowed it; I wouldn't push away a girl who was coming closer, nor would I retreat.
Even my instincts suggested we were a good match, and perhaps they were right. After all, she had mentioned it herself.
Even before I had this ability, many of her classmates recognized her as a mystery.
I had always suspected she was only close to Miyamoto for her own benefit. And now, among all our peers, perhaps I truly am the only one who can keep up with her.
… Her hand found its way around my neck while mine settled on her hips as we drew closer together.
That continued until we finally parted after about a minute.
"With this, our agreement is finalized."
She said this while licking her lips as she stepped out of my embrace, leaving me slightly taken aback.
So, that was merely a tactic to solidify our arrangement. I should have anticipated that…
"Now that I think about it, it's Saya and Nagisa, right? I must admit, you have good taste."
"What? Are you going to tease me?"
"Not at all~ I could also lend you a hand, you know~?"
"Enough of that. Just tell me, what are they planning for us starting tomorrow?"
I left before them, so I might have ended up missing some crucial details I should have caught.
"Ugh, what a challenging partner I have here~"
She let out a dramatic sigh, prompting me to roll my eyes before she carried on.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll kick off our training on our skills and combat techniques. Pretty straightforward, right? That's about all there is to it."
She exclaimed, spreading her arms wide. That fool Miyamoto was quick to throw us into the deep end without a second thought—
But really, there's no point in blaming that hero complex of his.
"I suppose it'll be a breeze for you, huh?"
"Hehe. While I'm not exactly a fighter, I can be quite handy as support."
"At least you're in a safe spot, but I'm concerned about my friend."
As soon as I mentioned "friend," I noticed Akane stifle a laugh, her expression shifting.
"You mean Nakatani?"
"Yeah, I'd really like to help him with his training. After all, if there's anyone I can't stand, it's Onizuka. I think you're aware of that."
"Hm~ That makes sense. In that case, I'll catch you tomorrow. Minacchi will be worried if I don't show up."
She said with a wink and a wave before heading out. Just as she opened the door, another person stood right in front of it.
The newcomer froze, but Akane didn't seem to care as she winked and strolled away.
'Is she really expecting me to handle the fallout?'
I thought with an exasperated sigh as my friend walked in, looking taken aback.
"What? Just shut that silly expression of yours and close the door."
I shot him a sharp look, and he nodded quietly in response.
"Okay then."
As he complied, I settled onto a chair next to the bed, gesturing for him to join me.
"I can tell you have a lot on your mind, so feel free to ask anything," I said, crossing my legs and smiling.
"Um, about coming to this world and everything you mentioned… how did you know?"
I shrugged nonchalantly.
"I just had a feeling."
I knew that wasn't the answer he was hoping for, but why should I elaborate?
"As for your abilities, Akane and I have the gift of foresight, so we were already aware."
"She was also here to talk about the situation in this kingdom; the truth is, the king and his advisors are utterly untrustworthy—that's what we saw."
I noticed him swallow hard, clearly anxious.
Nakatani is clever enough to connect the dots on his own.
He glanced at me, hesitating as if he wanted to ask something but held back.
"Now, regarding you, I'm going to train you. I've got about eight years of experience under my belt, and even with your skills currently sealed, I'll prepare you to be a fighter in no time."
I said this casually, but I could see his eyes widen and his body tense up slightly.
Being attuned to body language, I recognized his surprise.
"W-why… are you doing all this for me?"
"Why? Is there any reason to despise those cowardly individuals? No. So, I've chosen to train you."
And if you're destined to be the hero of the demons, that suggests something intriguing is on the horizon.
This also serves to create a sense of obligation on your part.
I expect something in return from you, Nakatani; make this world… make my world captivating.
[Time until otherworld skill re-activation: 100 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds]
Then again, seeing this panel pop up in front of me…
So, this is what the [Traveller] skill is… Hahaha… I see, if that's the case, I shall make the most of it.
"Akane, Nakatani, let's make the most of this world."
I said as I was now alone, my shadows were swirling around as a chuckle escaped my lips.