Haruta Motono looked around. The Fireflame Rabbits were busy with production and hadn't noticed his little actions, which made him sigh with relief.
When he first got this object, Haruta Motono's first thought was that he now had a chance to commit suicide, but the grand will in his mind made him abandon this idea.
Power! Of course he wanted to obtain it.
Back in junior high school, he had the good fortune to come across a Sakura-translated version of a novel from the Celestial Empire.
It was called "Bean Breaking Through the Sky."
The protagonist of the novel was named Xiao Yan, who had a ring with an old grandpa living inside who could provide him with all kinds of help.
People from the Celestial Empire called this kind of ring-dwelling grandpa a "Golden Finger"!
How similar was his current situation to Xiao Yan's old grandpa?
Perhaps that grand will was his Golden Finger!
The moment for Haruta Motono's rise was about to come!
All morning, Haruta Motono worked diligently, afraid of attracting the monsters' attention.
And that grand will didn't appear again, as if everything that had happened before was just a dream.
But Haruta Motono knew it wasn't a dream, because that hard, unknown object was still safely tucked in his pocket.
Finally, lunchtime arrived. Haruta Motono ate something quickly and then returned to his room alone. At this time, Orihime-chan was still feasting heartily and had no time to mind him.
Although these monsters were very strict about their work, they provided plenty of food.
Haruta Motono couldn't help but feel somewhat fortunate.
He finally got a chance to be alone.
"My Golden Finger! This must be my Golden Finger! Power! I want strong power!"
Haruta Motono's chubby hands trembled as he carefully took the hard object out of his pocket. He wiped the dirt off the object, and his expression suddenly turned peculiar.
Because this object was actually a crystal banana?!
Damn it! Why a banana?
[What? Do you have something against bananas?]
The grand will appeared in Haruta Motono's mind again.
Perhaps because their connection had become closer.
At this point, the grand will could project its image in Haruta Motono's mind.
It was a muscular man with a bare upper body, wearing only white underwear, with dark skin and a red headband.
He wore a smile that symbolized freedom. Looking at this smile, Haruta Motono felt the gloom in his heart swept away, and the air around him became free and passionate.
"Great existence, I have nothing against bananas."
"On the contrary, I really like bananas."
"Bananas are not only sweet but also very filling. Eating one keeps you from getting hungry for a long time."
Haruta Motono's face was full of flattery and respect.
Regardless of the other party's identity, he was just an ordinary player. What could the entity want from him?
This flattery, he just needed to lay it on thick.
[Hmm~ Good, good. Since you were able to dig up my dwelling object, it means there is a connection of fate between us.]
The muscular man with the red headband's smile became even more free.
He seemed very satisfied with Haruta Motono's answer and even started dancing an intense, free dance.
"Uh... what are you doing?"
Haruta Motono was confused by the grand being's behavior, but he instinctively felt freedom from this great existence's dance moves and smiling glances.
[This is the Dance of Freedom. Fated one, you like bananas, so I will grant you power!]
In Haruta Motono's mind, the grand being's dance became even more intense.
These dance moves seemed to have a power that bewitched people's hearts.
It even prompted Haruta Motono to start swaying along with him.
[Accept the gift of the God of Freedom!]
[Look forward to the day you transform into freedom!]
As the grand being's words fell, Haruta Motono found that the free figure in his mind began to gradually fade and disappear, followed by a peach-colored energy spreading throughout his body.
The grand being had left.
He seemed to have simply bestowed some "power" upon Haruta Motono, unlike the ring grandpa in that novel who always accompanied the protagonist as he grew.
Haruta Motono was somewhat disappointed, but he still checked his status panel with anticipation, wanting to see if any changes had occurred in himself.
Then he discovered that he had two new golden passive skills:
[Dance of Freedom] When you perform the Dance of Freedom, it will apply a charm effect to specific humans around you. During the charm effect, specific humans will actively engage in philosophical discussions with you.
[Blessing of the Banana] You have gained the favor of the God of Freedom. When you wear a red headband and have dark skin, this passive skill will be activated.
Each philosophical discussion will provide you with one point of vitality attribute and one point of attack attribute. (Only effective once per person)
[You have obtained the unique legendary item: Freedom-Symbolizing Red Headband]
"Such... such powerful skills!"
Haruta Motono's eyes gleamed.
He felt that his springtime was about to arrive.
The skill description didn't mention any limit to the vitality and attack increases.
In other words.
As long as he kept dancing the Dance of Freedom, he would continuously increase his attributes and become stronger and stronger.
"Really, really too strong! Yoshi! Yoshi! But this philosophical discussion looks strange, what does it mean?"
"And why must it be philosophy? Why not postpartum care for sows?"
Haruta Motono was puzzled.
But he was a person with an exploratory spirit.
Recently, being baked under the sun every day, his skin had become very dark, so he met all the conditions for activating the skills.
With this thought, Haruta Motono put on the legendary equipment [Freedom-Symbolizing Red Headband].
The moment he put on the headband, he suddenly had a flash of insight.
Freedom like the wind, always by my side!
He left his room and went next door. By this time, many Sakura players who had finished eating had returned to rest.
"Eh? Haruta Motono, what are you doing in our room?"
Several Sakura players in the next room were puzzled by Haruta Motono's strange appearance.
But Haruta Motono said nothing.
A smile appeared on his face, a smile of freedom.
Then, he started swaying, his intense dance moves exactly the same as those of the mysterious being in his mind earlier.
The atmosphere gradually became heated.
The Sakura players' gazes at Haruta Motono changed from surprise to appreciation, and then gradually to philosophical.
Finally, a Sakura player with a full beard walked up to Haruta Motono, looked at him deeply, and put his hand on Haruta Motono's shoulder.
"Motono-kun, your dance is very beautiful! It makes me want to show you my muscles!"
With these words, the bearded Sakura player took off his equipment. He stood bare-chested, smiling, and began to show off his strong physique.
Other Sakura players seemed to be infected as well, and they all followed suit.
...
An hour later.
Haruta Motono returned to work in the experimental field with a gloomy face and pursed lips.
But his movements and eyes were dazed, and his mind was still echoing with various classic philosophical actions.
Things like [The King's Smile], [The King's Invitation], [The King's Slam], [The King's Chokehold], and so on...
There was also a huge handprint on his face.
That was slapped by Orihime-chan.
"Is this the price of gaining power?"
"Is this what they call philosophical discussion?"
Haruta Motono muttered to himself. His expression was sometimes desolate, sometimes sad, and he pinched his burning buttocks, but finally, the corners of his mouth turned up in a strange smile.
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