Asuna Yuuki didn't know what to say anymore. Her entire worldview was overturned at this moment. The existence of vengeful spirits in the dungeon was already shocking enough. But Kotoko Iwanaga was actually saying that in the real world, there were also oddities like yokai, spirits, and so on, but ordinary people just couldn't see them?
Asuna Yuuki took several deep breaths before she managed to calm herself down. She glanced at the time displayed on her phone and felt that the temperature in the room was starting to get higher and higher, so she looked at Asagiri Utsunomiya, who was sitting there, and asked a question.
"Captain, has your state recovered?"
"It's fine now."
"Then let's get ready to move. Two hours have passed since we entered the dungeon. To avoid complications and prolonged difficulties, let's resolve the source of the oddity as soon as possible."
After Asuna Yuuki finished speaking, Kotoko Iwanaga took the opportunity to speak up.
"When I went to the fifth floor, I found that the door to the stairwell there was locked and couldn't be opened. I tried to sense it, but there wasn't the slightest trace of oddity on that floor. If there really is a weapon in this Hotel that can be effective against vengeful spirits, then it must be on the fifth floor. I suggest that before we go to eliminate the source of the oddities in this Hotel, we first obtain that weapon."
◆—⊰✧⊱—◆
After discussing and deciding on the plan, Asagiri Utsunomiya took Asuna Yuuki and Kotoko Iwanaga out of the room together. Of course, the three of them didn't forget the two Players who had already been contaminated by the oddities.
The Man in Suit and the Woman with Heavy Makeup led the way, while Asagiri Utsunomiya, Asuna Yuuki, and Kotoko Iwanaga kept some distance from those two people, ensuring that they could hear the those two Players' voices at all times, while also not being affected if the two Players' bodies suddenly swelled and exploded.
"Captain, can I ask you for a favor?"
Hearing Kotoko Iwanaga's question, Asagiri Utsunomiya replied with a smile: "What is it, Necro?"
"My stamina isn't very good, and going down stairs isn't very convenient, so..." Kotoko Iwanaga first said with a sweet and cute smile, then asked with a somewhat spoiled tone, "Could you carry me on your back?"
Asuna Yuuki, who was nearby, couldn't help but frown when she heard that. She thought that Kotoko Iwanaga's stamina was indeed not very good, and because her left leg was a prosthetic, going down the stairs was indeed inconvenient. However, this was clearly not about the action, but about the intention behind it; it was clear that Kotoko Iwanaga wanted to take this opportunity to scheme against Asagiri Utsunomiya.
Just thinking about the scene of Asagiri Utsunomiya carrying Kotoko Iwanaga made Asuna Yuuki feel uncomfortable, so she volunteered, saying, "I'll carry you."
"Eh? Violet, you will? But you're a girl. In terms of physical strength and stamina, you probably can't compare to Captain, right? If carrying me affects your state and we encounter a sudden incident, that would be troublesome."
Facing the reason Kotoko Iwanaga gave, Asuna Yuuki couldn't refute it at all. Although her Job, Swordsman, was of a combat-type, and Asagiri Utsunomiya's Job, Diplomat, was of a support-type, her overall physical ability was far too inferior compared to Asagiri Utsunomiya's.
It wasn't that Asuna Yuuki was weak; her overall physical ability was outstanding among high school girls.
But Asagiri Utsunomiya was completely a monster.
He already had the physical fitness of an athlete, and he was called a rare sports genius in a hundred years. After gaining the passive enhancement brought by Hitoshura, his strength, defense, resistance, speed, etc., were already close to the peak of humanity.
"Hmm, Necro is right. I'll do it."
Hearing Asagiri Utsunomiya agree to her request, Kotoko Iwanaga's smile became even brighter. Just as she was thinking about pretending to be shy later, gently jumping onto Asagiri Utsunomiya's back, then pressing her cheek close to his neck, and occasionally pretending to sway to get closer to him, directly using this combo to charm and capture Asagiri Utsunomiya before this dungeon ended, she suddenly felt her body lighten.
"Huh? Huh huh huh?"
Asagiri Utsunomiya directly picked up the petite Kotoko Iwanaga with one hand, then, in a posture like carrying a rocket launcher, he directly hoisted her onto his shoulder and waved his other hand in the air.
"Alright, let's go."
"*Pfft!*"
Seeing Asagiri Utsunomiya carry Kotoko Iwanaga like that and the latter's helpless expression, Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but burst out laughing.
'Hehe, trying to take advantage of the situation? Necro, you still don't know how abstract our Captain is!' Asuna thought smugly.
"Um... Captain, can you do a princess carry?"
Hearing Kotoko Iwanaga actually ask something like this, Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but be startled.
This girl looked petite and cute, but who knew... she was actually a carnivore?
How could she be so direct?
"No." Asagiri Utsunomiya refused while shaking his head, then said solemnly, "There's a reason I'm carrying you on my shoulder like this."
Kotoko Iwanaga, who was on his shoulder, and Asuna Yuuki, who was beside them, were both curious.
Both asked at the same time: "What reason?"
Asagiri Utsunomiya explained earnestly: "Think about it, since Necro has that kind of unique talent, perhaps her physical constitution is also special. Even without any external force, she might be able to inflict fatal injuries on vengeful spirits."
Asuna Yuuki looked slightly puzzled as she said, "But... Necro's physical defects and the negative effects of her talent mean she's not suitable for direct combat."
"Exactly, that's why..." Asagiri Utsunomiya paused for a moment, his face revealing a hint of amusement. Then he said, "If we suddenly encounter a vengeful spirit later and I don't have time to summon my Persona, I can just throw Necro out and use her as a human projectile to catch the vengeful spirit completely off guard!"
Hearing that outrageous reason, Kotoko Iwanaga's expression stiffened slightly, and she said cautiously, "Um... can you put me down... I suddenly feel like going down the stairs isn't that difficult anymore..."
◆—⊰✧⊱—◆
In the end, Asagiri Utsunomiya didn't put Kotoko Iwanaga down. Instead, he continued carrying her and, together with Asuna Yuuki, arrived at the corner between the sixth floor and fifth floor of the stairwell.
From this angle, the three could directly see the Man in Suit and the Woman with Heavy Makeup standing in front of the fire door.
The Man in Suit extended his trembling hand and carefully grasped the doorknob. Just as he was about to try turning it, Kotoko Iwanaga frowned slightly, raised her cane, and shouted, "Wait! Don't open the door yet!"
The Man in Suit stiffened, and cold sweat instantly slid down his forehead.
"What's wrong? Is something not right?"
Hearing Asuna Yuuki's questions, Kotoko Iwanaga didn't immediately give the answer; instead, she looked directly at the fire door, with vigilance appearing in her deep purple eyes.
"Behind this door... there seems to be a presence of oddity."