Finally, Kisaragi Rin realized that Koshi Torako was merely following Shikanoko Noko to the shrine, and Shikanoko Noko had no intention of letting her interact with Players yet.
While enjoying Black Tea, Koshi Torako brought up the junior high school class reunion happening this Saturday.
Since she had decided to abandon her identity as a delinquent older sister from middle school and start a fulfilling life as a beautiful, high-achieving student, she wasn't keen on the reunion. After all, running into a certain classmate who also lives in Chiba would greatly trouble her.
Kisaragi Rin thought about it for a moment, then informed her that he would not be attending.
The more one knew, the more one understood the risks.
Chiba was Shikanoko Noko's territory; whatever he did there, she would provide support.
And Tokyo?
Kisaragi Rin hadn't forgotten that a certain Shinigami Elementary Schooler lived in Tokyo's Beika District.
The level of disaster and hardship in that city was completely comparable to Fuyuki City in the Fate World.
If unnecessary, Kisaragi Rin planned to slowly accumulate his strength in Chiba.
Koshi Torako didn't know Kisaragi Rin's reason for refusing, but she was relieved regardless.
Hmm... as long as someone else wasn't going, she could use the excuse that she conveniently had something else planned.
After that, Koshi Torako discovered that the shrine maiden named Caren actually called Kisaragi Rin "Master." Only after learning that Kisaragi Rin was the High Priest of the Deer God Shrine did Koshi Torako manage to suppress the Black Tea she wanted to spit out, using the rationale that a shrine maiden should naturally serve the High Priest.
She realized that Kisaragi Rin and Shikanoko Noko must be hiding something from her!
When she tried to probe, Kisaragi Rin kept silent, and Shikanoko Noko simply allowed her pupils to scatter, using a vacant expression to block Koshi Torako's attempts at questioning.
Finally, accompanied by Kisaragi Rin, Koshi Torako paid her respects at the Deer God Shrine and left. Her younger sister, Koshi Anko, was a yandere; if she wasn't home before seven o'clock, Koshi Anko would genuinely come after her.
Watching Koshi Torako descend the mountain, Kisaragi Rin turned his head to look at Shikanoko beside him.
"Speaking of which, what's this prayer event all about?"
"It's just a normal event."
Shikanoko Noko: "The Chiba Zoo's year-end review ceremony isn't held here."
"Is that so?"
Kisaragi Rin: "Then what exactly is the Chiba Zoo's year-end review?"
"Hmm... simply put, everyone goes to the Blessed Land, finds a spot, and engages in smashing, looting, and grabbing. Whatever we snatch becomes the Chiba Zoo's year-end bonus."
Kisaragi Rin: "..."
Caren listened from the side, opening her mouth, but ultimately choosing to close it. Why did her Master's faction sound like some kind of evil organization?
"It sounds like those Players really deserve to die. So, be sure to bring me along next time."
Kisaragi Rin felt nothing much, especially since the Fate World line he had just traversed was destroyed by Players.
Since they are called Players, perhaps treating other worlds as games is normal behavior. Kisaragi Rin merely possessed a slight degree of bottom line morality.
"Then I'll lead the team next time."
Shikanoko Noko's expression remained vacant; she looked completely unconcerned while chewing on a deer biscuit.
Just then, the Listener Talent Kisaragi Rin had acquired today suddenly activated.
"Oh, I wonder if the Deer Senbei Tree I planted in the Blessed Land earlier has borne any fruit."
"Deer Senbei Tree?" Kisaragi Rin glanced at Shikanoko Noko, confirming she hadn't spoken. This was the voice he heard through his Listener Talent.
Then Shikanoko Noko also noticed this.
"Oh dear, Gecko Man?"
The Listener connection quickly broke off. Kisaragi Rin said helplessly, "I'm telling you, why did you decide to call me Gecko Man? Can you change the name? Even Nokotan is better than that."
At the time, he encountered that Lizard, and after killing it in retaliation, he became a Player.
Shikanoko Noko, whom he met after exiting the initial Trial, immediately started calling him by the strange moniker Gecko Man after discovering this fact.
Although he was used to it, Kisaragi Rin still wanted to resist this kind of workplace bullying.
"In that case, Kisaragi-tan?"
Shikanoko Noko suggested.
The character "tan" is otaku jargon, an affectionate suffix similar to "chan."
"Can we change it again? That sounds like some weird male best friend."
"But Kisaragi's name is really hard to make nicknames from."
"...I know. Yuigahama Yui also said something similar."
...Seeing that Nakano Maruo hadn't arrived yet, Kisaragi Rin pulled Caren back to organize his Equipment and Items.
Soon, he would have to enter a Trial World whose specifics were unknown. The existence of Equipment and Items would allow Kisaragi Rin to better handle unexpected situations.
Equipment: Ring of Stainless Blood
Description: That city, rife with sin, finally welcomed a Dark Knight whose hands were unstained by blood.
Effect: Wearing this ring prevents the enemy's blood from staining your hands.
Bonus: charisma +1, luck +1
Usage Requirement: Eradicate evil
Not long ago, this ring was still the bloody red hood. Because the mask was too ugly, Medea remade it into its current appearance.
Not only did the luck bonus remain, but the original charisma minus one was reversed to charisma plus one.
After putting on the black ring, Kisaragi Rin saw that his luck attribute had reached 3.
"With this level of luck, finding a decent Trial World shouldn't be an issue, right?"
After a while longer, Kisaragi Rin sensed Nakano Maruo's arrival at nine in the evening.
He wore simple black clothes, his expression still a cold, emotionless mask, seemingly completely unconcerned about whether his daughter could pass the Trial Mission.
And behind him, the Nakano Quintuplets had disappeared, leaving only one girl dressed in sportswear.
Wearing a star hair accessory, it was Nakano Itsuki.
"Is that child's main body Itsuki?"
Kisaragi Rin thought thoughtfully.
Hmm... just as Yurikawa Hana would feel hungry after encountering evil spirits, Nakano Itsuki, as the biggest eater, was indeed the most likely candidate for the Nakano Quintuplets' main body.
"Are you ready?"
Nakano Maruo asked.
Kisaragi Rin shrugged noncommittally. "You should ask your daughter that."
"I..."
Before Nakano Itsuki could finish speaking, her expression instantly changed. Flipping her hair, her entire demeanor shifted into the Nakano Nino that Kisaragi Rin was more familiar with.
"No problem, we are ready."
"I extended the flow of time for them. Aside from informing them about the Players, I also allowed them to familiarize themselves with their current body."
Nakano Maruo explained.