Asuna was at a complete loss for words. Her worldview felt like it had been turned inside out.
Banshees existing in the dungeon was already hard enough to accept, but now Kotoko was saying that beings like yokai and spirits existed outside, in the real world too? Just invisible to ordinary people?
She took several steadying breaths, trying to ground herself.
The temperature in the room seemed to rise imperceptibly, stifling. Asuna glanced at the time on her phone, then turned toward Asagiri.
"Leader, has your state stabilized?"
"It's fine now," he replied.
"Then let's move. We've been in the dungeon for two hours already. The longer this drags on, the messier it'll get. Let's eliminate the source of the oddity while we still have momentum."
At that, Kotoko stepped in.
"When I checked the Fifth Floor earlier, the stairwell door was locked. I couldn't detect any traces of oddities there either. If there's really a weapon in this hotel that can completely eliminate Banshees, it's likely on that floor. Before confronting the source, I suggest we retrieve it."
—
Once their plan was set, Asagiri, Asuna, and Kotoko left the room. They didn't forget about the two Players who had already been contaminated.
The Suit Man and the Woman with Heavy Makeup led the way—while the trio maintained one stairwell landing's distance, close enough to monitor them, far enough to avoid collateral damage if they suddenly… burst.
As they descended, Kotoko turned her head slightly.
"Leader, can I ask you a favor?"
Asagiri smiled. "What is it, Necro?"
"My stamina's not great, and going down the stairs is… difficult."
She smiled sweetly, her tone demure.
"Could you carry me on your back?"
Asuna's expression darkened slightly. True, Kotoko's stamina was lacking, and her left leg was a prosthetic, so stairs were inconvenient. But this wasn't about practicality—this was a scheme.
Just imagining Asagiri carrying Kotoko on his back made Asuna's chest feel tight.
"I'll carry you," she offered abruptly.
Kotoko blinked. "Eh? Violet, you will? But you're a girl… Your stamina probably isn't comparable to Leader's, right? If something happens and you're not in top form, it could be dangerous."
Asuna had no comeback.
She was a combat-class Swordsman, and Asagiri was a support-class Diplomat—but her physical prowess couldn't compare. Not because she was weak, but because Asagiri was simply… monstrous.
He was a once-in-a-generation athlete, and after gaining the passive enhancement of Human Asura, his strength, speed, and endurance were nearly superhuman.
"Hmm, Necro has a point. I'll carry her," Asagiri decided.
Kotoko's smile lit up. She was already imagining the moment—pretending to be shy as she clung to his back, cheek brushing his neck, swaying just enough to "accidentally" press closer. It was the perfect ambush.
And then—
"Huh?! Wha—!"
Before she could react, Asagiri grabbed her with one hand like a sack of rice and slung her over his shoulder—like he was carrying a rocket launcher.
He waved casually with his free hand. "Alright, let's go."
"Pfft."
Asuna snorted, barely holding back a laugh at Kotoko's frozen face.
Trying to pull something, huh? You really don't understand how weird our Leader is.
"U-Um... Leader? Could you maybe… do a princess carry instead?"
Asuna nearly tripped over her own feet.
This girl. She looked all cute and innocent—but she was bold. A full-on carnivore.
"No," Asagiri replied flatly.
Kotoko blinked. "...Why?"
He looked thoughtful. "There's a reason I'm carrying you like this."
Both girls stared at him.
"What reason?" they asked in unison.
Asagiri spoke with solemn weight.
"Think about it. Necro's talent is unusual. Her body might have some special properties too. Maybe—without doing anything—she can fatally harm a Banshee just by contact."
Asuna raised a brow. "But she's not suited for close combat. Her prosthetic leg, plus the toll her talent takes—"
"Exactly," Asagiri said. Then smiled.
"That's why if a Banshee suddenly appears and I don't have time to summon my Persona—"
He raised his arm theatrically.
"—I can throw Necro at it like a human cannonball. Surprise attack. Instant kill."
Kotoko twitched.
"...Can you put me down? Suddenly, going down the stairs doesn't seem so hard anymore."
—
But Asagiri didn't put her down.
Carrying her like a shoulder-mounted weapon, he and Asuna followed the contaminated Players to the corner between the Sixth and Fifth Floors.
From their vantage point, they could see the Suit Man reaching toward the fire door, hand trembling.
Just as he was about to turn the knob, Kotoko's expression sharpened. She raised her cane.
"Wait. Don't open it."
The Suit Man froze, cold sweat running down his temples.
Asuna stepped forward. "What is it? Did you sense something?"
Kotoko stared hard at the fire door, her deep purple eyes narrowing.
"...There's something strange behind that door. Something... wrong."
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