Chapter 334: Please Don't Have Other Motives When Approaching Komachi
Fine.
Following the System's reminder, Hikigaya Hachiman finally remembered. It seemed that during the previous battle with the Ghost Emperor, he had spent every last Spirit Coin he had. No wonder the System was acting like he couldn't do anything...
"Anyway, list out all the possible methods first. We'll worry about the Spirit Coins later..."
Looking at his empty account, which only contained a three-digit balance, Hachiman let out a sigh. As for being poor, he didn't have any particularly good solutions.
[Option 1: Consume 50,000 Spirit Coins to initiate a global search to find and kill the Puppeteer.]
[Option 2: Consume 100,000 Spirit Coins to purchase a Spirit-Restoring Flower from the System Shop to remove the puppet brands from both individuals and restore their sanity.]
[Option 3 (System Strongly Recommended): Consume 0 Spirit Coins. Host patiently waits for the mastermind to show themselves.]
Hachiman fell silent as he looked at the last of the three options provided by the System.
It's intentional, right? This is absolutely intentional!
There was even a line specifically added after Option 3 saying "Strongly Recommended." Wasn't this a blatant protest against his lack of Spirit Coins? Besides, regardless of which of the first two options he chose, the cost was far too high.
When he fought the Ghost Emperor, updating his equipment had only cost him 100,000 Spirit Coins. Now, just buying two flowers cost as much as his Demon-Slaying Blade and his Spirit-Locking Array combined.
"Because medicine capable of treating these two does not exist in this world," the System's mechanical voice echoed in Hachiman's mind. Hearing the reason, Hachiman didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Does the System Shop charge customs duties too?"
No, since it was another world, this tax should probably be called a "Cross-Realm Tax."
"For anything that does not exist in this world, the System must communicate with the World Essence to manifest it; therefore, an expensive price is inevitable. Of course, if the Host can travel to another world and find the Spirit-Restoring Flower himself, there will be no cost."
"How could I possibly run to another world just for two flowers?"
Hearing the System's suggestion, Hachiman looked at the two girls on the hospital beds and sighed. After traveling to the world where Sakura lived, he had vaguely come to understand
the concept of "World Rejection Force." Perhaps that was exactly why the price of the Spirit-Restoring Flower was so exorbitant.
If he happened to have plenty of Spirit Coins on hand, he might be willing to spend the fortune to save them. But to specifically travel to another world just to save two people he had only met a few times—he wasn't quite that kind-hearted.
"Um, excuse me, is there a way?"
The door to the ward was pulled open by Hachiman. The moment he stepped out, he was met with Kagura Tsuchimiya's expectant gaze.
However, Kagura was destined to be disappointed.
"Sorry."
No extra words. Those two syllables alone seemed to drain every last bit of strength from Kagura's body. She stumbled backward, murmuring things like "How can this be?" to herself.
"They aren't completely beyond saving, though."
Truly unable to bear seeing his sister's friend looking so heartbroken, Hachiman thought for a moment and revealed one possible solution.
"Their current state is the result of being turned into puppets. If the Puppeteer is killed..."
"Then Yomi can return to normal?!"
Kagura, who had been in despair, immediately rushed up to him in excitement upon hearing this.
"Most likely."
Despite being only a middle schooler, perhaps as a result of years of training, Kagura's physical development was much better than Komachi's. Sensing the faint, unique fragrance of the young girl, Hachiman expressionlessly took a step back to widen the distance between them.
He then added, "However, I suggest you wait patiently."
"Why?" Kagura was puzzled by the suggestion. If killing the Puppeteer could lift the condition from Yomi and Mei, she saw no reason to keep waiting around.
"Are you confident you could actually restrain the two of them?" Hachiman didn't answer directly, but asked a different question instead.
"For Sister Mei... if it's a sneak attack, maybe. But for Yomi..." At this point, Kagura suddenly realized what Hachiman was implying.
Indeed, the culprit who had turned Yomi and Mei into this state undoubtedly possessed the strength to subdue them both. If she charged in recklessly, it would only make things worse.
"But how much longer do we have to wait, Big Brother?"
Back in the same position of having to wait, Kagura looked up at Hachiman with pleading eyes, hoping he could give her a rough timeframe to soothe her anxious heart.
"How should I know something like that?"
He wasn't some blue robot cat from a TV show who could pull out a solution for any problem...
"I'm sorry." After saying it, Kagura realized she was asking too much. She forced a playful tongue-poke, trying to lighten the atmosphere, but Hachiman stopped her immediately.
"If you can't manage a real smile, don't force it. Wait until you're truly happy to laugh properly."
"Eh?" The expression on Kagura's face froze. Was her acting talent really that bad? To be seen through at a glance by him...
"I'm heading back. If anything else happens, you can keep coming to my house to find me. By the way, give me your phone for a second."
"Ah, oh, okay..." Hachiman's words came like a rapid-fire burst, leaving Kagura overwhelmed. She instinctively took out her phone and handed it over.
He took the phone and lit up the screen. A photo of Kagura and Yomi appeared before him. Comparing the Kagura in the photo—who was laughing from the heart—with the worried girl in front of him, Hachiman sighed inwardly. He then added his phone number and Line account.
"In the future, if something happens, just contact me directly. Although I know you had no other choice, I still don't want your approach to Komachi to be for other motives."
Having said that, Hachiman carried the small wooden box containing the Sessho-seki, brushed past Kagura, and walked toward the hospital exit. Kagura stood frozen on the spot for a long time after hearing his final words.
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