255 Boy, Become a Myth!
Chasing pleasure, toying with fate. ...The exalted god of Eden.
Hikigaya's heart completely stilled.
If he really was in Momobami Kirari's place, winning this gamble was certainly important—but winning was not the main point.
The main goal was to watch Hikigaya Hachiman and Jabami Yumeko struggle under this overwhelming pressure yet fail to break free from their disgraceful state.
Because even if she won, it would only mean Jabami Yumeko would leave Hikigaya Hachiman.
As for making Hikigaya Hachiman her slave, that was merely removing the biggest obstacle, prying open a tiny crack in his heart...
Now, Kirari was only one step away from achieving her goal.
Since this was a game, there must be a way to break through. Since it was about chasing pleasure, there must be a real flaw left for the opponent.
The lipstick mark was a distraction.
Perhaps at the very beginning, the card she held was actually two or even three trump cards.
Hikigaya drew this obvious conclusion from the clue.
Momobami Kirari wanted him to get caught up in a meaningless psychological game, to fight with the air, to try reading the air.
Hikigaya, thinking himself clever, was actually struggling with the air.
This kind of thing... was the work of Momobami Kirari, that malicious woman.
Hikigaya broke out in a cold sweat.
He was just one step away from falling into this laughable trap.
Now, that most obvious clue had already been ruled out by Hikigaya.
Then, what about other clues?
Hikigaya Hachiman fell into deep thought.
From the start, Momobami Kirari and Yomozuki Runa never mentioned the possibility of a draw.
At first, he thought they had overlooked it or might mention it during the game, but now it seemed everything was planned from the beginning.
Momobami Kirari had targeted a draw!!
Think again, fate theory...
What if her original intention was to twist my thinking, to make me believe in that vague, illusory fate theory?
The simplest and ultimate pursuit of pleasure is to completely control the normal course of the gamble, twisting the opponent's mind, right?
Why did Kirari specifically skip one trump card and choose the trump card with a card in between?
Unless, that middle one is...
Hikigaya Hachiman opened his eyes again, his gaze locked on the trump card covered between the [Upright Magician] and the [Reversed World].
Could it be that one?
Kirari's goal was to make me choose between fate theory and reason.
Choosing the path of reason means revealing the card with the lipstick mark.
Choosing to believe fate theory means revealing the card in the middle...
Insiders understand; outsiders get confused.
Standing nearby, Itsuki Sumeragi hesitated to warn Hikigaya Hachiman but was stopped again and again by Yomozuki Runa.
Helpless, Itsuki had to exchange glances with Miharutaki Sakura, the representative of the Hachiman faction beside her.
"What's Hikigaya Hachiman hesitating about? Didn't he notice the lipstick clue?"
"If it were him, he shouldn't have missed it!"
"This is the flaw the president left, right? A mark set to benefit herself, easy to use for drawing lots."
A silent exchange passed between the two women's eyes.
What they didn't notice was Jabami Yumeko standing beside Hikigaya, her eyes full of cold indifference.
Yumeko noticed this too but couldn't warn that it was a trap.
Choosing that trump card would be falling into Kirari's scheme.
Using such a despicable method to make Hachiman succumb to fate theory... truly vile.
Unforgivable!
"Hey, hey, Hachiman, have you made up your mind? It's been a while now."
"I have."
Hikigaya Hachiman took a deep breath, stepped forward slowly, and pressed his hand on the trump card marked with the lipstick.
At the same time, he raised his head, his sharp gaze locked on Momobami Kirari's face full of mockery, trying to find any flaw.
But unfortunately, there was no flaw at all!
"I don't know why the president made a mark on this card, but there is one thing I'm certain of: all the risk I bear by drawing this card was prepared by the president from the very start."
"Enjoying the burden of risk is an important matter; how could I let the president give that to me?"
"No, this trump card doesn't represent risk at all; it represents punishment.
You want to see me submit to your fate theory, and if I don't submit, divine punishment will undoubtedly fall, right? So this trump card is a trap!"
Hikigaya Hachiman said with utmost certainty.
"The one who makes the choice is me, and the risk I bear should also be decided by me!" "This is my gamble, Hikigaya Hachiman!"
Hikigaya stretched out his hand, and as Yumeko completely fell into delight, their fingers intertwined tightly.
"G-great, Hachiman, just draw any card you want! Let's gamble together till we go crazy!"
Yumeko's voice trembled as she hugged Hikigaya from behind, her palm turned upward, clasping his hand tightly.
At this moment, the two seemed to merge into one, indistinguishable.
They transformed into the purest will.
Under Hikigaya's control, their palms both reached toward the trump card sandwiched in the middle.
Whoosh—
A fierce wind swept through the enclosed space, and the still pool of water stirred with terrifying waves.
Though it was just a tarot card as light as a feather, it felt like a giant stone weighing down on everyone's hearts.
Everyone held their breath, eyes glued to the corner of the card that had been lifted.
Even Juraku Sachiko straightened up, her expression more serious than ever as she stared at the movement of Hikigaya's hand.
This would determine whether anyone could defeat Momobami Kirari in a public formal gamble—it would make history!
Kirari's gaze remained lofty, like a cruel god.
"Boy—" "Become a myth."
She whispered.
That symbolic future—the trump card representing the fate of the three—was finally revealed.
[Upright Judgment] [Upright Magician] - [Upright Judgment] - [Reversed World]
The fate of the three seemed to close a loop at this moment, tightly intertwined.
Hikigaya felt his whole body weaken, barely able to stand with Yumeko's support.
Only God knew how much pressure he bore the instant he flipped the card.
Until now, he still couldn't figure out how Kirari had arranged these cards exactly according to her predetermined plan.
The limit of what he could do was to see through Kirari's psychology to break the game.
The gap really is huge.
No one could defeat Momobami Kirari in a formal gamble.
This was a reality more despairing than fate theory itself.
Hikigaya sighed.
He hadn't believed in fate theory, nor yielded to it.
What he lost to was the lord of Eden, the god of gambling, Momobami Kirari.
With a forced smile on his lips, he looked at Kirari: "President, we are all slaves to fate. But maybe we can still overcome fate."
"That's truly a romantic thing~"
Kirari smiled lightly, showing no embarrassment about the draw.
Perhaps Hikigaya was right— from the start, Kirari never planned to lose in despair nor to crush Hikigaya outright.
What she wanted to see was Hikigaya's reaction under the heavy weight of fate.
Now, she had enjoyed the feast fully.
Igarashi Sayaka called out the president's name as she ran toward her, but it seemed she slipped and fell into Kirari's arms from nervousness.
Shimotsukiuri Ouri, wearing a collar, squatted on the ground with her legs turned outward, her delicate face affectionately brushing Kirari's long legs wrapped in brown stockings.
She seemed eager to use her feet to help relieve her mistress's psychological stress.
"It's Upright Judgment, scoring 20 points! Positives and negatives cancel out, so the total score is 0!"
"In conclusion, the gamble [Tarot of Fate] ends in a draw!"
"How wonderful~ Yumeko doesn't have to leave school anymore. The president also avoids the stain of defeat. Truly a happy ending for everyone, ahahaha~"
Yomozuki Runa's tears streamed down her face, though whether she cried because she missed seeing the ultimate fun of one side losing or because of this happy ending, only she knew.
Miharutaki Sakura and a few others also came over to Hikigaya's side. She asked puzzled: "Hikigaya-sama, why didn't you choose the tarot card with the lipstick mark in the end?"
"That one should have been the right choice."
"No specific reason." Hikigaya pondered and summarized his thoughts: "If I had to say why, it was simply that I didn't think President Momobami would make such a glaring mistake."
"Oh, really?"
Miharutaki reached out toward the tarot card with the lipstick mark, wanting to flip it over to see the result.
Unexpectedly, Yomozuki Runa acted first.
With lightning speed, she reached out and quickly stacked the cards on the table back together, placing them into the box that held them.
Miharutaki looked at her in shock: "Wait... Runa, what are you doing?!"
"Some things are better left mysterious. Isn't it more interesting if we don't know? Let's just make it one of Hyakkaou Academy's unsolved mysteries~" With that, Runa slipped out of the conference room holding the box of tarot cards as if she had oil on her feet.
"Wait, those are my tarot cards!"
Itsuki Sumeragi slammed the table, stood up, and since the gamble was over, she saw no reason to stay and quickly ran out after Runa to chase the truth.
Momobami Kirari placed one hand on her waist and gracefully approached the two. "You really are becoming a believer in fate theory, Yumeko."
"Yes, there will definitely be even more interesting fates waiting for us in the future."
Suddenly, Yumeko took Kirari's hand in hers, gently stroking it, her face flushed with excitement.
"But to make me a believer in fate theory, there's still one more step~ Kirari-neechan, you know what I mean."
Kirari was momentarily stunned, licking her lips, and said meaningfully, "Of course I do."
256 Unobservable Basement
Holding a grotesquely shaped doll in her arms, Mushibami Erimi—with her hair tied into pink twin tails—looked coldly at the now-prisoner Yuri Blair.
She asked the subordinate officer in charge of the interrogation with some curiosity, "Still hasn't said anything?"
The officer quickly replied, "No. But we did find some information through his phone."
"Real name: Yuri Blair, 25 years old, an Interpol officer from Europe."
"Interpol?"
The officer hesitated slightly. "According to the encrypted information he was investigating the Honebamis"
"Tch—what a pain, becoming a scapegoat for the Honebamis," Erimi muttered with annoyance.
However, Yuri wasn't entirely wrong.
The Honebami and Mushibami families were like two sides of the same coin in the intelligence arm of the Hundred Devouring family.
One handled intelligence extraction through interrogation, while the other carried out violent purges—both operating in the gray areas of international law.
Over the years, they had eliminated countless eyes secretly watching the Hundred Devouring family.
As for legality... families of their scale—whose hands could possibly be clean?
Thinking of an Interpol officer from Europe reminded Erimi of a joint operation with the Honebami family about a year ago in Europe.
That accident had caused quite a stir.
Perhaps at that time, the international police had found some clues before they could clean up, which had led to this pursuit.
Erimi waved her hand, signaling the officer to continue.
"In addition, he was also tasked with tracking a killer active in Europe codenamed 'Princess of Thorns.'"
"How boring. If it's just something like that, then no need to go on." Mushibami only dealt with matters related to the Hundred Devouring family.
Assassins were entirely out of their jurisdiction.
"If he's a threat to the Hundred Devouring family, then—"
"Let's get rid of him!"
Her tone was chilling, her eyes flickering with a dangerous pink glow, and a strange giggle escaped her lips.
This was her first time holding real power—having partial control over the Mushibami family's interrogation unit—and she was itching to taste what power felt like.
The officer hesitated but finally gritted his teeth and reminded her: "Lady Erimi, to eliminate a high-ranking Interpol officer for this reason... the family head might..."
"Tch, just an Interpol officer."
Thinking of the clan head's orders, Mushibami suppressed her violent urges.
They—some of the most outstanding young heirs of the Hundred Devouring clan—would participate in the main family's succession competition next week at Hyakkaou Academy.
This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If she missed it, she might never get a chance to climb to the top and seize ultimate power again.
Moreover, if the Mushibami family head found out she was fooling around with interrogation instead of preparing for the gamble... and if she performed poorly, the punishment would be severe.
"Then spare his life for now. Let's talk after the main family's succession competition next week."
The officer breathed a sigh of relief.
If Erimi failed in the end, the family head might punish her—but as a mere side figure, he would be in far more trouble if she took her anger out on him.
"One more thing, Lady Erimi," the officer said. "When I was checking Yuri Blair's phone contacts, I found a name that might interest you."
"What?"
"Hikigaya Hachiman."
"Hmm? Him? "
Now Erimi was interested.
The Mushibami and Honebami families had a deeply cooperative—yet mutually monitoring—relationship.
So Erimi knew a bit about who Honebami Miroslava was in frequent contact with.
That Hikigaya Hachiman guy was someone Miroslava often kept in touch with.
Moreover, even the current Hundred Devouring clan head, Momobami Kirari, seemed to have a deep connection with this so-called "commoner."
"Interesting, interesting. The person both Miroslava and Momobami Kirari are involved with, actually appears in this guy's phone contacts."
"Is this really just a coincidence, or has Hikigaya Hachiman been an Interpol plant from the beginning to infiltrate our Hundred Devouring clan?"
Erimi tapped the table rhythmically with her fingers, resting her head on one hand, lost in thought. Suddenly, she said:
"Pull up Hikigaya Hachiman's profile. Three minutes. I want everything on him!"
"Yes!"
The officer's face turned serious and immediately took action.
Using the Hundred Devouring intelligence network, they quickly gathered data on Hikigaya.
Of course, their intel network still wasn't on the same level as Kirari's.
For example, they failed to uncover the hidden identity Hikigaya had maintained since middle school.
However, his gambling experience at Hyakkaou Academy had been thoroughly documented and presented to Erimi.
"I see, I see..." Erimi scanned the document quickly, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
So this Hikigaya Hachiman guy was this skilled at gambling? That suited her just fine.
No wonder Kirari Momobami was interested in this "commoner."
Now it all made sense.
And it wasn't just two members of the Hundred Devouring clan he was involved with—it was three!
Including a minor-ranked member of the Jabami family.
She muttered to herself, "In that case, it no longer matters whether he was a planted spy. What matters is that I might be able to use Hikigaya Hachiman's power to reach the position of family head."
"No, no... I need to figure out the connection between Yuri Blair and Hikigaya Hachiman first. If it's important, I can use it to threaten Hikigaya."
Erimi's eyes turned again to Yuri, still tied to the chair, her gaze now like that of someone staring at a glowing piece of gold.
What she had thought to be an ordinary Interpol officer now had enormous potential value.
"Good thing I didn't order his execution just now." Erimi let out a relieved breath. "Go investigate. As fast as possible. Find out the relationship between Yuri Blair and Hikigaya."
The officer received the order and quickly took out his phone to direct others to gather intel.
For people on their level, accessing this kind of data was ridiculously easy. The simplest method was to start with communications data.
With just one phone call, they pulled up the call records from Hikigaya's phone and cross-referenced them with Yuri's contact list. A matching number appeared.
"Hmm?"
Soon, Erimi received the file on the owner of that number:
[Yor Blair] [Current residence: Unknown] [Phone location: XX Apartment, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo]
Comparing the three individuals' profiles, Erimi reached a startling conclusion and said in disbelief: "No way… this guy Hikigaya Hachiman is actually living with someone nearly ten years older than him?!"
"This... really is unexpected news."
"In that case, the relationship between Hikigaya and Yuri is… brother-in-law and younger brother-in-law? Although they haven't married yet, and we don't know how their relationship has progressed..."
"But hey, a man valued by both Miroslava and Kirari Momobami probably wouldn't be the kind to ignore the feelings of his girlfriend's family.
As long as he isn't heartless, he's someone who can be threatened."
"If that's the case—"
"Perfect!"
In the sealed basement, Mushibami Erimi's arrogant laughter echoed.
In her mind, she was already constructing how to use this leverage to her advantage.
"Hikigaya Hachiman, you don't want your brother-in-law to become part of the foundation under a new building, do you? My demands are simple—help me eliminate my obstacles~"
At that moment, Yuri—unconscious until now—finally began to wake up.
Due to the black blindfold, his vision was blocked, and he could only vaguely sense a small figure swaying absurdly before him.
"Mmff! Mmff!" His muffled voice was full of rage.
Yuri still couldn't understand how he had been knocked out so easily.
Tokyo's depths... were far darker than he had imagined.
"Heh, don't worry, Yuri Blair. I'm not going to kill you now.
But whether you live or die will depend on whether the person connected to you... can bring me any benefit."
Mushibami Erimi deliberately lowered her voice, her tone dark and ominous.
Someone connected to me?!
Yuri instantly thought of his sister. He was overwhelmed with rage and began struggling violently.
But bound by expert restraints, all his resistance was in vain.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, Hikigaya Hachiman returned to his apartment.
That day, Miss Yor was uncharacteristically sitting on the sofa, seemingly lost in thought. Hikigaya asked curiously, "Miss Yor? What's wrong?"
"Yuri… Yuri hasn't messaged me for two days now." Seeing it was Hikigaya, Miss Yor seemed to regain her sense of support, quickly stood up, and anxiously said.
"Is that so strange?" Hikigaya responded, puzzled.
Though his little sister Komachi also pestered him every night with messages, for normal siblings, wasn't this level of contact a bit much?
"Yuri always sends me one message every day to let me know he's safe."